Landmark mission consultation convenes in Asia

The Thailand Retreat and Consultation (TRAC) was a landmark for Mennonite Brethren mission work in Asia. Hosted by MBMS International Oct. 24–31 in Pattaya Park, Thailand, it was the first regional consultation to work toward a common plan for mission in Asia. It also brought together, for the first time, all the MB groups serving in one region.

Eighty missionaries and their children, national church leaders from India, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, key staff from North America, MBMSI board members and guests gathered for the purpose of seeing Jesus Christ become Lord and Saviour of Asia. Many were meeting in person for the first time. Relationships were built and community experienced.

Meeting of global partners in mission: India, Philippines, Japan, Canada, Indonesia, USA

TRAC was over a year in the making. It was decided during MBMSI’s fall board meeting in 2003 to replace the annual North America-based missionary retreat with regional consultations held on the mission field. Asia was chosen to test the idea.

The first three-and-a-half days of the Thailand event were set aside for an all-Asia MBMSI missionary retreat. Jim Holm, president of MB Biblical Seminary, led the group in looking at spiritual formation in their lives.

“The whole week was bathed in prayer,” said Doris Goertz of Japan. “I was encouraged to become a better pray-er and to spend more time listening to God.”

Missionaries also enjoyed sharing the joys and struggles of their work. Many expressed how difficult language learning in their particular field was; they were relieved to find they were not alone.

The second half of the week was spent in consultation. Led by a Global Disciples staff member and long-time missionary to Asia, this section focussed on where God is at work in the region. The group, now with national leaders present, was challenged to consider ministry opportunities in the continent where 60 percent of the world’s population lives. National leaders shared about what God is doing in their conferences and countries.

Several “gateways of opportunity” surfaced as the group considered what ministries MBMSI already has in Asia and what the national churches desire to do in partnership with the organization. These included ministry to the tribal and urban peoples of Thailand, ministry to northern India through the emerging partnership between the India MB Conference and MBMSI to send a team to New Delhi, ministry to central Asia through the work of missionaries Robert and Marlene Baerg, and the ministry in Japan, Indonesia and Philippines. During a special time of prayer, “gates” were formed by the raised arms of missionaries and national leaders.

By the end of the week, the group began to realize prayer was needed not just to find a strategy for Asia, but that prayer is the strategy for Asia. Mennonite Brethren in North America are encouraged to join in prayer.

TRAC-like events will cycle each year in other continents, returning to Asia in four years, after meetings in Africa, Europe and Latin America.

—Megan E. Richard, Global Bridge News