We, the members of the Asia Pacific Free Methodist Missions Association, in growing obedience to the Great Commission given by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and in fulfillment of the mission of the Free Methodist Church

"To make known to all people everywhere God's call to wholeness through forgiveness and holiness in Jesus Christ, and to invite into membership and to equip for ministry all who respond in faith",

declare our aspirations:

We recognize that there is need for more understanding of cultures and that peoples and communities may have been offended because of our insensitivity in this area. We will be more respeciful of people and show greater sensitivity to their needs. With the help of God we will do everything possible to reconcile communities to each other and to present to them the Shalom which only Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, can give.

We pledge ourselves to the task of making disciples of all nations, so that under God, we shall endeavour to increase our membership both in deeper life and in number.

Asia has a strategic and pluralistic influence in the world scene. We in the Asia-Pacific region are increasingly made aware that we are living in a pluralistic world where opportunities and challenges constantly change from country to country. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, we will innovate, develop and implement the best strategies in our respective places to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all peoples, especially those who have been resistant to the Gospel. This we will do in partnership with each other worldwide, networking our resources for this common cause.

Affirming the strategic importance and influence of cities in reaching the world for the Gospel, we will give priority to planting churches in strategic urban centers of Asia. We will continue to respond to God's calI to "disciple nations" never neglecting the poor and the disadvantaged.

Seeing that new mission opportunities exist for people from each of our conferences to serve in other places, we shall multiply our present missionary activity by forging agreements among our conferences and with other Free Methodist areas to send and receive missionaries. We will develop servant-leadership training programs which are appropriate to various cultures, not neglecting the impact of globalization on all our societies.

Affirming the major role of all Christians, both women and men, in the proclamation of the Gospel, we will train our lay members in evangelism, discipleship and missions, taking special note of opportunities for workers in different occupations to minister in places where career missionaries are denied access.

We shall endeavour to support people who are suffering because of natural disaster or political upheaval.

We shall devote ourselves to fasting and prayer for our sisters and brothers who are being persecuted. We will do our best to encourage them to persevere in their faith. We will use every opportunity to demonstrate Christ's love, compassion and His great power to those who are in various kinds of bondage and present to them the deliverance that is in Jesus Christ.

• Biographical information
  
  
• Recent news from Asia
  (updated 9/7/2001)
  
  
• Commentary