Category Archives: Asia/Pacific

Christians are Called to Justice

Posted on August 17, 2011 by | 4 Comments

This is a guest post by Fernando Sihotang, Indonesia, a former intern in the LWF

Churches and Christians should be in the position to promote justice within the society and in the earth. To take responsibility for a sustainability of human lives and other creations has been given by God. Promoting economic equality, environmental sustainability, and justice of all forms must be regarded as a non-derogable task of both Christians and Churches.

Today, there are millions of people throughout the world facing obstacles as they try to gain justice. Continue reading →

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Posted in Asia/Pacific, Justice

Peace starts with us!

Posted on May 23, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Introduction to the WCC IEPC and Peace with the Earth

Greetings from Kingston, Jamaica! We are participating in the World Council of Churches (WCC) International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) along with about 1000 people from around the world and WCC member churches.

The theme of the convocation is “Glory to God and Peace on Earth.” The main objectives for the IEPC are many, but most broadly:

  1. Sharing inspirations and reflections
  2. Network-building, strategy development and other actions.

This is a harvesting event and celebration for the Decade to Overcome Violence. This is not a decision-making body, but rather a group that will crystallize emerging peace issues on the way to the 2013 WCC Assembly in Busan, South Korea.

The four themes of our days together are:

  1. Peace in the Community
  2. Peace with the Earth
  3. Peace in the Marketplace
  4. Peace Among the Peoples.

Today, we will focus on Peace with the Earth.

Part of our life together at the convocation includes bible study. The text for “Peace with the Earth” is Isaiah 11:6-9. Take a look at the text. Share it with your friends. To start your conversation, here are two questions:

What does the ‘knowledge of the Lord’ refer to in this passage?
Is the world painted in this passage possible?

In the daily plenary, the focus was to: Raise awareness on the various threats to creation, present churches’ statements and actions addressing caring for creation, offer theological and spiritual insights from various religious perspectives on peace and creation, and share practical examples on what churches can do on peace with the earth.

As three young people from the LWF, we felt connected to this work, since this same theme, sustainability (with a focus on climate change and food security) was expressed as an emerging issue among the youth at the 2010 Lutheran World Federation (LWF) assembly. Currently, groups of young people from around the LWF communion are reflecting together on bible texts that relate to this theme. Groups are sharing with one another through the worldwide web—a very “green” option!

One of the objectives of LWF Together is to use the outcomes from the bible studies and reflections to work toward sustainability in your own community. Peace with the earth begins with us!

For more information visit www.lwfyouth.org.

In a d’ Lates (Compliments of Peter Powell, Campus Security),

Daniele, Mikka and Sanna

P.S. Come back again soon! During the week, we will take turns reflecting on the remaining three themes.

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Posted in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Church, Ecumenism, Enviroment, Europe, Faith, Justice, Latin America/Carribean, Life, LWF, LWF together - the earth needs you, Middle East, North America, Spirituality, Youth participation

Meet Ms. Dika Napkai who is the first youth female as a district youth Coordinator of one of ELC-PNG’s 17 Districts.

Posted on April 5, 2011 by | 4 Comments

Ms. Dika Napkai

Ms. Dika Napkai

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG) has a membership of about 1 million and about 600 parishes throughout the country. Each of the district has a youth desk where a district youth coordinator is appointed by the respective 17 ELC-Districts at their district’s Council meeting to administer the youth programs within their respective districts. For more than 50 years since ELCPNG was established there has not been a youth female who has hold a position of such responsibility. It is a privilege for the first time to have a young female being one of the 17 ELC-PNG district Youth Coordinators.

Throughout this week the ELC-PNG National Youth office is running a review workshop on its programs. Among the other 16 male district Youth Coordinators who participated was Ms. Dika Napkai who is currently the Youth Coordinator of Papua district. Papua district is one of the few Urban Church district of ELCPNG. I caught up with her and asked her some questions.

Tell me more about yourself personally?
I am 26 years old and I come from a mixed parentage of Siassi (in the Morobe Province) and Hanuabada (in the Central Province). I come from a family of 7 of which I am the second born and the eldest daughter. My family resides in Port Moresby City and we attend the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, English Congregation.

I work as the Administration Officer for iTEL (PNG) Microtech, a nationally owned IT Firm. I enjoy baking, traveling and taking pictures of the natural environment.
Continue reading →

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Posted in Asia/Pacific, Youth participation

Being a young Lutheran in Indonesia

Posted on March 10, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Currently, the leadership of LWF member churches in Asia meets in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Limantina Sihaloho presented the contribution for women and young people to the general debate. It gives a great insight to Lutheran identity today and to some challenges for the LWF: Continue reading →

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Posted in Asia/Pacific, LWF, Youth, Youth Ministry, Youth participation

Praying for Egypt

Posted on February 3, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Our friends from the World Student Christian Federation have invited their members to pray for Egypt and the young people there who are on the streets. Perhaps, we can join. Here is the call by Christine Housel, WSCF General Secretary:

The World Student Christian Federation invites you to join together infasting (skipping lunch or another meal) and prayer tomorrow,Friday, 04 February, 2011, at 12 noon for Egypt.

We will send our prayers to God in our own languages and traditions, and in our own time zones, thereby holding a concerted prayer vigil that will go throughout the day and reflect the diversity of our ecumenical family.

 

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Posted in Asia/Pacific, Church, Ecumenism, Spirituality

Cancun Update

Posted on December 9, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Here is a message by Sergio Rios Carrillo, who represents the Lutheran World Federation and its use at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico: Continue reading →

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Posted in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Church, Ecumenism, Enviroment, Faith, Latin America/Carribean, LWF, UN, Youth, Youth participation

Meet the young members of the LWF Executive Committee – Eun Hae Kwon

Posted on November 29, 2010 by | Leave a comment

The Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation just concluded their meeting. For the first time, Eun Hae Kwon, a young member of the Lutheran Church in Korea was part of the meeting. She is Vice-President elect for the Asia region:

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Posted in Asia/Pacific, Church, Youth, Youth participation

World YWCA announces award for young women human rights activists

Posted on October 5, 2010 by | Leave a comment
If you are a young woman, under the age of 30 or know a potential candidate involved in Human Rights work – Please nominate yourself for the Mary Robinson Award for Young Women’s Leadership in Human Rights.
The deadline for submission of the reviewed nomination is October 31, 2010. Download the Nomination form at http://www.worldywcacouncil.org/Mary-Robinson-Award or find attached.  Email the completed nomination form to maryrobinsonaward@worldywca.org Continue reading →

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Posted in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Justice, Youth, Youth participation

Lutheran Student Congregation launches new website

Posted on September 18, 2010 by | Leave a comment
LSC-UPNG outreach team carrying out an awareness at the Markham Valley
LSC-UPNG outreach team carrying out an awareness at the Markham Valley

The Lutheran Students Congregation (LSC) of the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) has just launched its new amazing website.

LSC-UPNG is a unique congregation that is made up of mostly students and few University staff. These are the Lutheran students of one of Papua New Guineas two main Universities which is the University of PNG.

The LSC’s congregational activities and programs are all run by these committed students. The congregation is now formally recognized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG), Papua district as one of its member congregation under its hierarchy.

As faithful fellow Christians in Jesus Christ, LSC always have made it part of its life to abide by the Holy Scriptures and teachings of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Among everything LSC members do as a student congregation, they have made it a commitment to make the heart-beat of God (that is to see people saved and enter into the kingdom of God) as their core vision of existence.

By this year 2010, among the normal worship programs of a congregation; LSC has instrumentally taken the initiative to launch a Children Ministry where they reach out to Children of the University’s lectures and staff, a Country Outreach program where they team up during the end of the year school holidays and go out on adventurers mission to remote rural villages in the country to worship and fellowship with the local people and carrying out educational awareness on social, climate, church, political, environmental issues etc…

All the cost of travelling through land, sea and air for these outreach are mostly met by the students themselves. Their commitment is a real inspiration to many local Papua New Guineans in the local congregations when they visit. Some congregations are very remote that hardly no government officer or church rep normaly visit. The students have touched many local people’s lives.

Currently they are pushing on a project to buy themselves a new Truck which they have already initiatively been carrying out fundraising activities for the cause. The main purpose of purchasing the truck is to help them reach out to more villages during their school holidays carrying out awareness and fellowshipping with the local people.

Read more on LSC by visiting their new website designed by one of its own members at http://www.lscupng.org.pg.

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Posted in Asia/Pacific, Ecumenism, Faith

A church of ideas – Make youth participation real!

Posted on September 16, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Are you interested in your church? Do you care how well the church is participating in God’s mission?

One of the aspects you will have to care about is how well young people can participate in the church – including its decision-making. A new publication of the LWF looks into the details, how churches include young people better. The back cover says:

Young people bring new ideas to the church. But sometimes they are not heard. Frequently, they don’t even sit at the table where the decisions are made.

This booklet offers a stock take of how your congregation, diocese or national church includes young people in decision making. It contains case studies from five continents, theological reflection and practical tips how the participation of young people can be improved.

You can download the pdf-version of a Church of Ideas in English, French, Spanish or German.

Also, you can order printed copies of the booklet in these languages here. Individual copies are free of charge, for bulk orders we charge postage.

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Posted in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Church, Ecumenism, Europe, Faith, Justice, Life, Youth, Youth Ministry, Youth participation