HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD – APBF CONGRESS & BWNA
NEW GENERAL SECRETARY FOR ASIA PACIFIC BAPTIST FEDERATION
V
ESEKHOYI (VEE) TETSEO OF JAPAN BY WAY OF INDIA IS THE NEW GENERAL SECRETARY FOR ASIA PACIFIC BAPTIST FEDERATION (APBF).
Tetseo’s appointment was confirmed when he was formally elected during the APBF congress in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, last September. APBF is one of six regional fellowships of the BWA. He succeeds Bonny Resu of India, who retired after holding the position for more than 20 years. New general secretary for Asia Pacific Baptist At the time of his appointment, Tetseo was Federation, Vesekhoyi Tetseo and wife, Ai Nohara co-lead pastor of the Okinawa Daiichi Baptist Church in Okinawa, Japan. He is founder and director of Live to Worship Ministries International, which conducts seminars and workshops for worship, music and leadership for churches and Christian groups in Asia.
He has had longstanding involvement in Baptist life globally. Since 2010, he has been vice president of the BWA Youth Department and president of Asia Pacific Baptist Youth. He was worship band leader during the BWA-planned Baptist Youth World Conference in Singapore in July 2013, for which he composed the theme song, “Reach.” His band also led worship and he composed theme songs for APBF congresses in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2006; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2012; and Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in 2017.
CHANGE OF NAME FOR NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST WOMEN
T
HE NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST WOMEN’S UNION, a continental union of the Baptist World Alliance Women’s Department (BWAWD), changed its name to Baptist Women of North America (BWNA). The change formally occurred at its meeting in Toronto, Canada, from October 19–22. A new executive was chosen led by newly elected president, TaNikka Sheppard from the state of Ohio in the United States. Sheppard, a mentor, minister and spiritual leader who engages with teens and young adults, is now a vice president of the BWAWD.
Born in Nagaland State in Northeast India, Tetseo studied English Literature at the Baptist College in Kohima, Nagaland; earned a masters degree in church music, majoring in voice and conducting, at the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary in Baguio City, Philippines; and completed a doctoral degree in worship studies with the Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary. After pastoral and teaching assignments in the Philippines, he moved to Japan in 2001 to become music teacher at Okinawa Christian School International, where he also served on its board. He became actively involved in Baptist life in Okinawa, serving as chair of the Okinawa Baptist Convention Music Committee and member of the convention’s World Mission Committee. Tetseo has written or co-authored three books on worship and youth ministry and recorded or produced several musical CDs. He is married to Ai Nohara and they have three sons, Levito, Kozo and Setsuri.
TaNikka Shepherd
BAPTIST WORLD | JANUARY–MARCH 2018
19