Overseas Council September 2008 eNewsletter

As the world's largest and most populous continent with over 3.5 billion people, Asia is home to many religions, including most of the world's Hindus, hundreds of millions of Buddhists and more than half of the world's Muslims. Islam is the majority religion with Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh each having more than 100 million adherents. Asia also has more than 2,200 languages, the largest number spoken in the world, according to Ethnologue. These religious, cultural and ethnic diversities present great challenges and opportunities for the Church in Asia. Theological education is the key to transforming lives of future leaders who in turn will transform communities for Christ. OC's partners in Asia are finding unique ways to be catalysts of change. The following are a few examples:

To reach the “malling” generation, Dr. Ferdinand Pabrua, an alumnus from Alliance Graduate School (AGS), Philippines, initiated a church planting project in fast food chains. Now expanded into two McDonald’s and two Burger King outlets in the city of Marikina, Metro Manila, Philippines, Marikina Christian Alliance Fellowship is reaching out to the managers and crews of each chain and planning to conduct leadership development module classes in the facilities. One particular chain attributes its top sales ranking in the country to the presence of the Christian fellowship. Dr. Pabrua serves as the Senior Pastor, while his wife, Beth, a Bible school faculty member and AGS alumnus, and three other couples serve as Associate Pastors.

Tiranus Bible College (TBCI), Indonesia, located in Bandung, is mostly inhabited by Sundanese, the largest unreached people group in the world. In keeping with traditional Sundanese literature that is basically oral, the seminary is working with Beulah Ministries of India and a local foundation to record the New Testament in the Sundanese language in drama/music form. Several Sundanese students, alumni and TBCI staff are supplying their voices for this project being recorded in TBCI’s facilities. The principal, faculty and staff also take part in a weekly broadcast, speaking on and answering questions about Christian beliefs.

Situated in a religious-cultural center where hundreds of villages have not heard the Gospel, students at Allahabad Bible Seminary (ABSI), India, are able to learn the best cross-cultural approaches to a wide range of people representing all the major religions of India. “Highly commended” by church leaders for their notable work and ministry, ABSI students and faculty have established 26 prayer and worship groups of increasing attendance (35 people or more) in the surrounding villages. ABSI says, “Each week, people from other villages are requesting that we visit their villages for ministry.” In addition to holding worship services, the students and faculty teach the villagers literacy classes and good health and hygiene.

2 Corinthians 3:18 – And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.