Mission%20spark%201406 by MissionSpark

Mission Spark Asia

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Content

1. Daftar Isi

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2. Thema Edisi

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3. Kemitraan

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5. Penginjilan

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6. JPIC

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7. Pengembangan

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8. Seputar Informasi

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9. Keuangan

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10. Pesan Editorial

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Diakonia

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Edition Theme THE UNDERSTANDING OF MISSION TODAY

By: Dr. Fidon Mwombeki / General Secretary of UEM Christianity is a missionary faith. When our Lord Jesus Christ left the twelve disciples in Jerusalem and went back to heaven he gave an order to them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the power of the Holy Spirit, which they would need as they went to bring good news of salvation to the whole world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20). The stories we read in the Acts of Apostles show how from such humble beginnings, but with great difficulties and opposition, the Christian faith spread especially through Asia westwards to Europe. At that time there was no single Christian in Europe, so Christianity is not a European religion as many today think. Europe was only a transit! MISSION IS INDISPENSABLE FOR A CHURCH As Christians we cannot abandon mission for at least three reasons. First, mission is a matter of obedience. It is an obligation, not an option. Our Lord Jesus Christ commanded his church to go into the whole world and make disciples of all nations, to proclaim the Kingdom of God, as well as serve the world just as Christ showed the disciples by doing. As Paul says: “… for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!” (1Cor. 9:16). We have an obligation to continue with mission. Second, it is a matter of love and compassion. When we love other people, we want to share with them what is good and helpful for them as well. If we find our faith and relationship with God making such a difference in our lives, we feel sorry for those still not yet experiencing the same. If the gospel is good, then it must be shared with those we love and liberate those who are still suffering. Mission is therefor to bring good news to the people of God. The angel told the shephereds in the night our Lord was born: “Do not be afraid, for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord”(Lk 2:1011). And indeed wherever the gospel has been accepted—in Europe, Africa, Asia or wherever else, Jesus liberates, or saves people. The gospel leads to liberation from all sorts of slavery: from enslaving cultural norms and traditions, from fear of witchcraft and superstition, from the powers of different spirits. People no longer fear God as angry and punishing God, but love and know God as loving in Jesus Christ, who comes to save and not to punish the sinner. The good news is that Jesus has paid all our debts and we are justified by God’s grace. Liberated people treat all human beings—men and women, children and adults, rich and poor as God’s children with the same dignity. People with disabilities are no longer hidden to die silently but are brought back into life with dignity. Since we have been set free from these traditions that kill people God fills us with compassion for those suffering in different parts of the world. We feel called to work for them to set them free through our work for justice, freedom, quality of life, etc. We have compassion also for those who have no lack of the material needs but are suffering from their estrangement from God, Creator—and they do not know it in their busy schedules and affluence.

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Third, it is a matter of survival! We know church history. We need to ask ourselves, how did the great congregations we read in the Bible, in Acts, epistles and Revelation disappear? One thing is very clear: without mission a church dies. Without mission, Europe could end up like North Africa or Egypt, which we read only in history as having vibrant churches before they were wiped out violently. Therefore survival of the Christian faith should never be taken for granted.

THE UNDERSTANDING OF MISSION The understanding of mission has evolved over years as God has continued to reveal to every generation the challenges and realities of the day. The discussions especially in the International Missionary Council meetings over years have shaped the understanding of mission over years, even though different strands of Christianity in the world have different understanding of the content, goals, and ways of doing mission. I would like to share with you how we in the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) understand mission. UEM, a communion of churches in three continents understands mission holistically as all diverse tasks of bearing witness in word and deed, to God’s love and care for humanity through Jesus Christ. Mission is for us simply “church in action.” Mission is not evangelism, but evangelism is part of mission. Therefore UEM in its Statement on Corporate Identity identifies five areas of church activity to define our understanding of mission—diakonia, evangelism, advocacy, partnership and development. We deliberately cite them without any specific order because there is no prioritization among the five. FROM EVERYWHERE TO EVERYWHERE What was said since many decades ago, that mission is from everywhere to everywhere, has become a reality in our century. Global communication advancement makes it much easier today to achieve that. The gospel of Jesus Christ has somehow reached almost every place on earth (not necessarily been accepted). The era of “missions” based in only certain parts of the world “sending” people to “non-Christian” areas for mission is over. The whole world is a real “mission field.” There are churches of God everywhere, which grew out of mission work of the last century and before. But these churches are also called into mission. And in fact, after the “mission fields” became churches independent of their “foreign mission boards” they grew and expanded faster than they did under missionaries. They developed their own theology and adapted it to local conditions and expanded quickly. They continue to bear witness holistically, building on their history, circumstances, and partnership with the global church. Some mainline churches are developing strategies to welcome the contributions of missionaries from other places, just as they also continue to send missionaries in the spirit of partnership. That is why UEM sends co-workers or missionaries from Africa to Asia and Germany, from Asia to Africa and Germany, and from Germany to Asia and Africa. In fact the majority of out co-workers at the moment are not from Germany any more. We recognize that no church is so poor that it has nothing to share, and no church is so rich that it needs nothing from others. That brings the question of the role of mission organizations, many of which are still there. The role of mission as an organization is therefore not to send people into mission fields. It is to bring together sister churches in three continents in order to share and enrich

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each other with their different gifts and experiences, and assist each other in the mission carried out by each and every member. UEM as a joint mission responds to the needs of the churches and addresses the needs of the members as they are jointly identified, prioritized and carried out. This is done through co-worker exchange, joint programs within a region or among all three regions, projects for development, etc. We realize that each church plans and bears witness. Just recently many members of UEM in Germany and Asia responded quite quickly to the needs of the church in places of disasters like Volcano eruptions in Indonesia and Typhoon in the Philippines. WE were amazed to see that people from other members of UEM in Indonesia collected money and materials, and others volunteered themselves to go to Mentawai and help their neighbors. The churches in Germany donated funds immediately, which were sent to their fellow UEM members to be disbursed immediately. In Germany diakonia is specialized institutionally, while in most other parts is directly performed by churches. Evangelism is done differently in Indonesia and Sri Lanka from Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo. Advocacy work is political in the Philippines, while in Tanzania it is focused on the rights of women suffering under domestic violence. Just as the church needs are, others come and join in. That way we enrich each other and learn from each other.

UNITED ACTION Because of our knowledge that mission is a mandate for all churches worldwide, we have started a campaign in UEM, called â&#x20AC;&#x153;United Action.â&#x20AC;? Through this campaign we want to encourage all UEM member churches in Africa and Asia to take up more responsibility for financial support of mission. Our churches are no longer those churches of poor, naked, and uneducated people. Because of mission work which started education even for non-Christians, we see tremendous independence of the churches and vigorous growth. Many churches are taking care of their own expenses without any need from Europe or America. And they are doing a lot to support each other. In the Asia region of UEM, I am greatly thankful for the strength of the churches there. They train their own pastors, employ them and pay them. They run their own projects. When there is a crisis they help each other. But all this goes unreported and therefore people around the world think the Asia churches are still those to be pitied. And there are still many in our churches who think of mission, or even UEM as only a source of receiving help. But this image is killing our dignity. We want all churches to assume their rightful place, also in financial contributions to go outside their own churches. When I hear scholarship funds by one Asia member church to support others, when we hear churches sending doctors and counselors and money to areas affected by disaster, we say, YES that is it! I therefore appeal to all members to contribute significantly to the United Action campaign, to show their commitment to joint mission and to change the image which we have always suffered from. Let us show that UEM is no longer a German mission, but a joint mission of all of us. And I am thrilled to hear how families and churches in Asia have already organized themselves to show their strength in this way as well. Let us give generously so that our gifts will go beyond our individual churches and go as far away as Germany, where for a long time we received from, and to Africa, where more is still needed than in Asia!

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Partnership

Joined Partnership Sunday at Köln and on Sumatra By: Reinhard Radloff, Cologne, Germany & Saidi Tambunan, Balige, North Sumatra This year's partnership Sunday of the church district Köln-Süd with its partners on North Sumatra / Indonesia was under the theme, "Be at peace". It was held on Trinity-Sunday, 15 June 2014, in the Evangelical church Cologne Raderthal. On the same day, but a few hours earlier, celebrated the partner community at the Protestant hospital in Balige on Lake Toba/ Sumatra the partnership worship with the same subject, the Pauline greeting words from 2 Corinthians 13:11-13. In Balige - Sumatra, the sermon has been given by Rev. Demak Simanjuntak, with the pressure that Unity is the heart of the Koinonia/communion, not uniform. Loves glues the communion and destroys conflict, difference and controversy, so that the beauty of peace could be felt of the people surrounding. The Staff of HKBP Balige Hospital, HKBP Nursing Academy students, DEL students and the family of the patients have joined to celebrate the partnership Sunday service. The Nursing Academy students have made the celebration more joyful through their songs in the choir. How wonderful that many young people are participating in the service in Sumatra, Indonesia. A small choir of PERKI community, Indonesian Christians in Germany, enriched the church with an Indonesian Chorale in the Toba Batak language that is also spoken in our partner church. Pastor Klaus Eberhard of the PhilippusParish Raderthal and Pastor Mery Simarmata from North Sumatra initiated worship together. Reinhard Radloff, Chairman of the Partnership Committee in Köln-Süd, welcomed the very open-minded community, the PERKI Choir and guests who had traveled from Aachen and other cities. This Sunday was seen and felt, how the Christian faith lived in other countries. At the subsequent meeting in the parish hall Reinhard Radloff gave an overview of the partnership activities with HKBPhospital in Balige and with church district Silindung. The young teacher Carmen Thomas and physician Niklas Westholt reported on their practical training in Balige and the village for disabled persons, Hephata, of the Toba Batak Church. In the subsequent Indonesian Food and German dessert, prepared by the Partnership Committee, we experienced good conversations with the Batak guests, partnership and community members

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Diaconia 1. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in HKBP HOSPITAL-BALIGE By: Nursini Sihombing This 2014 is the last year of implementation of the CPE training as a Joint Program among the member-churches in Asia. For such reason, two trainings of CPE are set this 2014. The first one was conducted in January- March 2014 at HKBP Hospital in Balige, North Sumatra. The said training had seven (7) trainees who were of different ages and background. They are Arivia (from GKJW) 26 years old, Donald Girsang (GKPS) 56 years old, Sariyani (GBKP) 41 years old, Anam Prayer (HKI) 35 years old, Merry Appiem (GKI-TP) 36 years old, Hotnida Siagian (HKBP) 47 years old, and Take Sister (GKPA) 31 years old. These different ages had helped the participants to learn and conform themselves to live together as a group for 10 weeks in the guest house of HKBP Hospital. This training was supervised by an Indonesian trainer-supervisor, Rev. Nursini Sihombing. Many challenges came up during the training like for instance the unpreparedness of church workers or church board in facilitating the visitation of CPE participants. But this dificulty has not discouraged the participants to be faithful in visiting the congregations. It is enhanced as well with their visitation to the patients in the hospital. The patients are very enthusiastic in accepting the presence of the pastor-trainees and the openness of the medical staff to cooperate for this holistic service. During the said training the pastors are being trained to explore their varied abilities towards increasing their own self-confidence. Many inputs and feedbacks were variably introduced in order to sharpen their skill on pastoral care & counseling which is the primary task of pastors in their fields of work. The 10 weeks schedule has disciplined the participants in managing their time and health. Therefore all the participants were happy to be assigned as Chaplains-On-Call throught the 24 hours in the hospital. The trainees are very grateful for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Outing Programâ&#x20AC;? for 4 days wherein they could visit some synod offices of UEM member-churches in North Sumatra. They also had the opportunity to visit the Mt. Sinabung refugees in Karoland and to enjoy the natural beauty and scenery of Lake Toba. The CPE training has started with happiness and ended with so much gladness as expressed by the participants themselves. The closing ceremony was held at the Chapel of the HKBP Balige Hospital as attended by the Hospital Director, dr.Tihar Hasibuan, and the Deputy Executive Secretary of UEM Asia, Rev. Rannieh B. Mercado. All the participants were given certificates as recognition of completing satisfactorily the one (1) quarter of CPE Training and they have received as well their respective evaluation papers on their personal and professional development as prepared by the trainer-supervisor. Hopefully this training will be useful for all participants who are devoted to their respective churches. CPE may only be one of the methods for pastoral approach which is needed in order to explore the ability of pastors to become a good person and a better professional as well.

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2. Hundreds of Orphanage Children Celebrate UEM Week Over 400 people have joined the celebration of UEM Week held at GBKP-Retreat Center Sukamakmur, North Sumatra, Indonesia on 7-8 June 2014. This year’s UEM Week festivity focuses on the participation of around 300 blind, differentlyable and orphanage children coming from the ten (10) diaconal ministries of UEM member-churches in North Sumatra. As conceived by UEM-Asia, the idea of having the UEM Week celebration among the orphanage children was introduced to the participants of the Consultation-Conference of Diaconic Institutions in North Sumatra as held on 29th April – 1st May in Pematangsiantar. The Rev. Rannieh B. Mercado, Deputy Executive Secretary of UEM-Asia and the the delegates of the said Conlsultation-Conference have agreed to hold the first-ever “Children’s Jamboree” as a form of celebrating UEM Week in Asia. As a good cooperation between UEM-Asia and the diaconic Institutions in North Sumatra, the planned CHILDREN’S JAMBOREE got realized on June 7-8, 2014 at GBKP Retreat Center in Sukamakmur. Some 430 people have participated, most of whom are the children from GBKP-Gelora Kasih, GKPI-Mamre, GKPS-BKM, GKPA-Deberora, HKBP-Elim, HKBP-Steet Children & Shoeshine Boys, the blind and differently-able kids from GBKP-Alpha Omega, HKBP-Hephata, GKPI-Yapentra. The others are the heads, trainers and volunteers of the above-mentioned diaconic institutions as well as the guests and UEM co-workers based Medan Office. T his two-day program included a Cultural Night-Talent Shows, Campfire, Outbound (flying fox, catching fish, fun competetions) and the UEM Sunday Service where an offering was collected as contribution to the United Action fund-raising campaign. During the Cultural Night a Yapentra alumnus named Lody Sitepu gave testimony on his challenging experiences since he entered Yapentra special school until he finished his theological studies at STT Abdi Sabda-Medan. Now he is working as a detaser and placed

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at the Radio ministry of GBKP -- Sora Mediate -- at GBKP Head Office. He encouraged and motivated all those who were in the Children’s Jamboree to be always thankful for the talents endowed by our loving God, like increasing the talents performed by all the children during the talent show-cultural night. Indeed, UEM has tremendously touched the lives of the hindreds kids through this Children’s Jamboree where each child got to enjoy the rare opportunity of meeting, playing, sharing, celebrating and worshipping together with all the other children from diaconic institutions around North Sumatra. “We do hope to be invited by UEM next year to the second Children’s Jambore,” as wished by a trainer from Yapentra, Mr. Jabes Silaban.(Y.S)

GKPM Activities in preventing HIV Mentawai, 27 May - 5 June 2014 By: dr. Ria Lumbangaol Mentawai is a cluster of small islands floatingbuoyant or even bobbing on the ocean highway. It is described as scratches in the map of Indonesia, besides that there are many potentials of human and natural resources need to be released and promoted. Climate, weather, and natural conditions can not be predicted because they can change any time and make the transportation stream somewhat difficult when travelling to Mentawai. Air and sea transportation can be cancelled any time because of storm. This is indeed a land of storms. The impact of those factors make Mentawai becomes isolated; consequently the development of its various resources is exremely retarded. Education and health sectors must be highlighted in Mentawai. It is observed that both of these development areas are off hand now. An unbalanced number of teachers and students occurs, and it becomes a serious obstacle in developing the educated young people in Mentawai. Provincial government in West Sumatra mentioned that less than 95 people have ever got education (7,676 people) in 2012 (Base on statistical data) but

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There are only 7 health centers for the entire Mentawai islands.The Government still continues to improve the quality of public health until now. Some high health cases which must be solved are tuberculosis, malaria, malnutrition, respiratory infections, rheumatism and filariasis. 12 general practitioners without a specialist work in Mentawai. How to solve the health problem if only 12 general practitioners are serving? Health care cannot be served as well, especially in the field of health promotion/prevention. The disease prevention programs need to be intensified in Mentawai, therefore UEM in close cooperation with Friska Simamora, the Head of the Youth and Children Bureau of GKPM, has conducted some activities as follow: 1. SEMINAR ON HIV PREVENTION AND DELEQUENCY PREVENTION FOR TEENAGERS AND JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS OF NORTH AND SOUTH PAGAI on June 30, 2014 Delinquency students, dangers of HIV, juvenile delinquency, promiscuity, and drug abuse have to watched out from early age. Because those problems can have predisposeunsapory consequences for young people. This seminar was attended by 150 junior school students of North and South Pagai. Materials which are introduced to them are about the dangers of drug abuse, reproductive health, internet and its benefits, as well as HIV and AIDS prevention. The one-day seminar took place in Sikakap church. The resource persons are coming from UEM and the chief of Police Department in Sikakap 2. WORKSHOP OF HIV PREVENTION AND TEENAGERS DELEQUENCY FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS OF NORTH AND SOUTH PAGAI on June 31, 2014 High school students from North and South Pagaiare coming from Sikakapand other villages from Mentawai islands, include the island of North and South Pagai. Sometimes they live in a boarding house which have no landlord. No parents supervision over them. There are men and women living together (room mate), that is why an unwanted pregnancy sometimes occurs. When it happens they can not go back to school. Throughout the background of this problem, this seminar is focused on reproductive health, especailly how to recognize the kids to keep themselves for their future. This seminar was followed by 136 participants and some activities done are role plays and simulation methods. The participants were very happy to participate. Some of the participants were selected to be the best participants and being a peer educator. 2. EXTENSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FOR WOMEN, GKPM PENATARAT ON 2 JUNE 2014 Several problems become obstacles in the implementation of health care in Mentawai. That is why a less optimal implementation in the community occurs, among them are the issues of human resources in the health department of Mentawai, the less quantity and quality of health workers and volunteers. Not only that, the lack of human resources also have impact on the early detection of diseases that exist in society. There is a lack of early detection of diseases by health team in the community. Knowledge, attitudes and behavior are still lacking on the prevention of diseases. Malaria, filariasis, tuberculosis come up and have been eradicated, but until now they are still quite high prevalence in Mentawai. Therefore UEM held an environmental health education and reproductive health to 25 women /Saina GKPM Penatarat in cooperation with the local health center.

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EXTENSION ENVIRONMENTAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FOR WOMEN, GKPM MATOBEK 3 JUNE 2014 Due to the similar problems a counseling was also held in GKPM Matobek ressort. A counseling emphasis on behavioral issues which is related to environmental hygiene. The villagers Matobek are relatively more pluralistic for religion and ethnicity. However, the villagers still let pigs roam freely in the village, as a result of that malaria mosquito is still a lot, high incidence of malaria occurs, number of TB and vomiting disease also occur. A continuous extension and formation of active health worker need to be held in Matobek village. The seminar on extension environmental and reproductive health for women was held and was attended by 102 women and mothers from GKPM Matobek ressort, extension was closed after distribution of anti-malaria bed nets from Surfaids.

3. SEMINAR ON THE HAZARD AND EARLY DETECTION OF CANCER FOR GKPM WOMEN IN NEMNEMLELEU on 3 JUNE 2014 A seminar on Hazards and Early Detection of Cancer for women was conducted during the meeting of Saina /GKPM Women in Nemnemleleu Church. Some common types of cancer for women are cervical cancer / Ca Cervix and breast cancer. This topics were discussed ranging from the causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnoses and treatment. Participants are also asked to check their own breasts. They can do that at home, and it is expected to be practiced once a month. So if there is an abnormality in the breast, it can be found and treated as early as possible.

4. TRAINING OF TRAINERS FOR HIV PREVENTION, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, SEX FOR WOMEN ATTRACTIVE GKPM, SIKAKAP 4 JUNE 2014

HIV and AIDS prevention in Mentawai Islands will not be successful if it is done only once, although it is conducted in a large scale. It needs a coach who will train the Mentawai people in order to prevent the HIV/AIDS. So that multiplication will occur continuously to help the community to consciously and actively prevent HIV and AIDS. Therefore, on June 4, 2014 a training for trainers to prevent HIV/AIDS was held in Sikakap. This training was attended

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by 56 women / Saina GKPM in Mentawai. The materials are about Danger HIV and AIDS, Reproductive Health, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Sex Healthy and Attractive. The methods being used during this training are lectures, discussions, role play and simulation. The discussion raised many questions from women’s group, because they are the members of PKK. A wide variety of questions sometimes make other mothers feel ashame. As it is a culture in Mentawai, which is somewhat introverted, the women are shy to talk about reproductive health, especially for them who come from a small island outside the four major islands of Mentawai (Sipora, Siberut, North and South Pagai). Training of Trainers is very useful for them like improving health status of the Mentawai people.

5. TALK SHOW FOR MENTAWAI YOUTH. I AM OKAY WITHOUT DRUGS", SINULA MANDIRI RADIO ON 4 JUNE 2014 GKPM realizes that it is difficult to reach Mentawai by land transportation. Radio SUARA SINULA (Radio owned by GKPM) has coveraged all corners of Mentawai. The media has routinely a program of sharing which have dynamic talk show with various topics. Topic about “I AM OK without drugs” is a kind of 3 hours teenagers-youth program which was held on June 4, 2014.

Evangelism THE UCCP & ITS SPIRITUALITY FOR THESE CRITICAL TIMES

By: Rev. Rannieh B. Mercado The UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE PHILIPPINES (UCCP) -- the lone member of UEM in the Roman Catholicdominated 95 million-populated country in the Fareast – held its historic 10th Quadrennial General Assembly and 66th Founding Anniversary on 24-28 May 2014 at LA (Legazpi-Albay) at the foot of the globally known perfect ‘cone-size’ Mayon Volcano in the South Luzon Jurisdictional Area. It is acclaimed ‘historic’ for in that General Assembly, the UCCP unanimously approves the Policy Statement on LGBT. That means, in the UCCP the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) are not discriminated upon but unconditionally accepted in the fellowship and membership of the Church. The LGBT persons are

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henceforth recognized and respected as having equal rights with the men, women and youth members of the Church. The said Policy Statement underscores with the title: Let Grace Be Total or LGBT! The General Assembly is being presided over by the Chairperson, a firm WOMAN, Ms. HELEN GRACE PARIS from the Northwest Mindanao Jurisdictional Area. Proclaiming its prophetic spirit in these critical times, the General Assembly -- being the highest decision-making body of the UCCP -- has also approved other Policy Statements that raise higher the awareness and unity of the UCCP constituency in responding to the impact of Climate Change as terribly experienced through the onslaught of the killer Typhoon Haiyan; and its fearless stand Against Large-Scale Mining, which is observed as wantonly destructive of God’s creation and the people’s communities for the sake of corporate greed & soulless profit. Its 66th Founding Anniversary on 25th May 2014 was celebrated through a “Festival of Faith” with variety of songs and choir singing, cultural dances and theatrical movements, and some testimonies of God’s faithfulness. The festival was financially supported by UEM (Evangelism Department). At its Closing Worship Service, the General Assembly has exceptionally recognized the “lone survivor” from among the 161 original signatories of the organic union that formally formed the UCCP in May 1948 at Ellinwood-Malate Church in Manila. He is Rev. JOSE GALIAS, from that Bicol Region, who at his age of 100 years and 5 months old could still stand erect and walk straight to receive the Plaque of Recognition and the delegates’ standing ovation. Indeed, it was an amazing moment for the over 500 delegates from around the Philippine archipelago and the partner-guests from around the globe to meet in person this original UCCPian. The General Assembly has likewise elected the Bishops, Officers and Commission members for the Quadrenium 2014-2018. Bishop REUL NORMAN O. MARIGZA is overwhelmingly reelected as General Secretary (equivalent to Ephorus) along with the election of the seven (7) Jurisdictional Bishops.

Bishop DULCE PIA-ROSE, the lone woman Bishop in the UCCP and the entire Philippines, is proclaimed as Bishop Emeritus of UCCP – meaning for life -- after completing a maximum term of eight (8) years as Bishop assigned in East Visayas Jurisdictional Area (the region badly devastated by Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda). She continues to be the UCCP woman delegate to UEM. As such, she remains a Council Member of UEM.

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JPIC Committed to protect God’s creation, Churches build an Ecumenical Park in Medan

The church leaders of Protestant churches from various countries have planted seedlings in the vacant spaces around the PGI-North Sumatra complex. This action signifies their commitment and serious involvement in protecting the environment or God’s creation. Hence, the idea of developing an ‘Ecumenical Park’ as a project of the PGI in North Sumatra. The ‘Ecumenical Park’ is located at Selamet Ketaren Street #100, in Pancing, Medan. It aims to develop awareness among the citizens of Medan City to care for the environment. This park envisions to showcase in Medan a kind of a “forest in the middle of the city.” The park comprises an area of two (2) hectares to be “reforested” with various types of trees as found in North Sumatra. The selected trees to be planted and grown are around 4,000 rods, among them are: mango, durian, soursop, sapodilla, rambutan, and endemic trees like frankincense or benzoin. The first tree planting activity was held on June 15 as done by the LWF delegates during its Council Meeting in Medan. The Ephorus of HKI, Rev. Langsung Sitorus, who is also the chairman of LWF National Committee, said that the churches should be involved in efforts to save the environment. "Hopefully through the tree planting in the area, the churches keep pace with this action by planting trees in the available spaces in their yards," he said. The development of this ‘Ecumenical Park’ is being initiated by HKI and PGI in North Sumatra in close cooperation with the United Evangelical Mission (UEM), a communion of churches in Asia, Africa and Germany. This program will run for one year, including maintenance efforts to ensure that those trees will successfully grow. (Reporting: Saurlin Siagian)

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Development ,,Non-formal learning in adult education'' By: Joana Beuker From the 18th until the 28th of May 2014 an international conference on non-formal learning in adult education was held in Wuppertal. It was organized by the Centre for Mission and Leadership Studies of the UEM. 21 experts working in that field from different members of the UEM were invited to share and to learn from each other about the methods they use, their work, and changes in the fields according to society, church and globalisation. The participants from Africa, Asia and Germany were eager to share the theories on how adults learn within their working areas and to put them into practice in their specific context. The UEM is asked to support further programmes for training the trainers on the topic of how adults learn since adult education is the biggest sector in the whole education area.

Breaking News

1. Youth for Children (YfC) Joint Program on 16-30 August 2014 in the Philippines The UEM Asia Department, through its Regional Office in Medan, is mandated to implement relevant Joint Programs as a form of service and support to the members in the Region. Among others, the “Youth for Children” (YfC) is a joint program that has been going on in Asia Region in the last four (4) years already as held in Medan (2010), Mentawai (2011), Papua (2012) and Sri Lanka (2013). The program envisions to help raise the awareness and capabilities of the youth in Asia towards enhancing their capacity for innovative actions and enduring commitment for the care and welfare of the children, particularly those ‘in need’ and with ‘different-abilities’ (not disabilities). Consistent with the current theme of the entire United Evangelical Mission (UEM) – that is, “Child Poverty & Trafficking: A Challenge to the Churches” – the YfC program for this 2014 is being designed to primarily focus on said issues.

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Based on what has been approved during the Planning Week as a primary goal of this Youth for Children (YfC) program in 2014, it is: to provide a meaningful encounter and deeper analysis on the intricacies of child poverty and trafficking towards enhancing the youth’s commitment to help address the issue. In connection thereof, the YfC 2014 is designed as a two-week Study-Exposure and Practicum focused on the issues of child poverty and trafficking and to find out how the churches are responding or the youth can respond to these challenges. UEM’s lone member-church in the Philippines – the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) – is asked to host the implementation of this program. This YfC shall be implemented in the two places: a.) the 1st week (16-23 August) in Metro Manila for study on topics and issues related with children as well as exposures to realities of child poverty and trafficking in an urban setting; and b.) the 2nd week (23-30 August) in Leyte-Visayas (National Heroes Institute in Kanangga) for practicum among the Typhoon survivors (children) and a construction of a “Mini playground for kids” as YfC’s small project. The holding in part of the YfC program in Leyte – for practicum & implementation of small project -- expresses UEM’s profound solidarity with and its innovative contribution in the recovery or rebuilding of the school children traumatized by the killer Typhoon Haiyan that hit Central Philippines on 8 November 2013. This YfC expects the fruitful participation of the Asian youths coming from the member-churches in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Hong-Kong and the Philippines. As a special arrangement, the Africa Region (Dar Es Salam Office) will send four (4) African youths to join this program in the Philippines. All the 16 member-churches in Asia are encouraged therefore to send one participant from each church, preferbaly an active youth leader. As a guideline, we wish the following to be observed in selecting the youth participants: 1. Within the age limit of between 18-30 years old 2. Ability to communicate in English (speak & write) 3. Possess a valid Passport (its expiration not earlier than March 2015) 4. Endorsed by the Church Leader (Ephorus/President/Moderator/Bishop) 5. Committed to take part in the program until its culminaton 6. Has the heart for the “Children in Need” An Application Form for Joint Program will be provided to the churches. The names of the participants as properly endorsed by the respective Church Leaders are expected to be submitted to the UEM Medan Office st not later than 31 July 2014 (Thursday). It can be emailed to the following addresses: - uem.afa.medan@gmail.com - Ms. Yuli Gulo, Assistant for Finance & Administration uem.occ.medan@gmail.com - Ms. Ira Sitorus, Assistant for Cashiering & Travels UEM will shoulder the cost for flights, visa, airport tax, local transportation, meals on travel and the food and accommodation during the program. However, UEM no longer provides “pocket money” for the participants to all the Joint Programs. For more details, please see the attached Daily Schedule of Activities.

Over-all Coordinator:

Rev. Rannieh B. Mercado Deputy Executive Secretary for Asia (DESA) UEM Asia – Medan Office

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Mobile Phones: +6260374344 (Indonesia); +632317054 (Philippines) Email: uem.desa.medan@gmail.com and mercadorannieh7@yahoo.com Local Organizers: 1. Metro Manila:

2. Leyte-Visayas:

Rev. Jerome M. Baris Coordinator, Program Ministries United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) 877 EDSA, West Triangle, Quezon City Mobile Phone: +639067733958 Landline: (632) 4261729 Email: barisjerome@yahoo.com Mrs. Dobert Moriles Coordinator, Rehabilitation Program UCCP-National Heroes Institute (NHI) Kanangga, Leyte Mobile Phone: +639215756774 Email: dobert_mahika@yahoo.com

2. PARTNERSHIP SEMINAR IN INDONESIA UEM will hold a partnership seminar in Indonesia from 21 July-1st August 2014 at Inna Dharma Deli Hotel, Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The partnership seminar will be held under the theme : “The role of church against the poverty and Child trafficking” as decided by the UEM General Assembly in October 2012. The objectives of this seminar are: a. To exchange News and experiences from the entire partnership boards in Indonesia and to strengthening the existing partnership among UEM Member-Churches b. To provide information on how to sharpen the awareness of partnership board under the theme “Poverty and Child Trafficking” and to touch the children and the social being of what they face. c. To inform and support the new billateral and multilateral forms of partnership in Asia d. To increase the partnership cooperation among the church networks in Asia/Indonesia e. To get to know and learn on how to develop the elementary - Senior high schools of UEM Member-Churhes in Indonesia. f. To introduce and review the partnership handbook which will be launched this year

Participants: It is expected to invite 45 people from 13 UEM Member-Churches in Indonesia to be participated in the aforesaid seminar: among them: 1. One delegate from district or institution who has partner in Germany 2. Each synod can send the partnership secretary or partnership staf who has been involved in partnership works. 3. One delegate from Educational bureau For further information, please contact the partnership officer in UEM Medan Office, Rev. Marudur Siahaan (uem.poa.medan@gmail.com)

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Finance and Fundraising 1. United Action 1.1. Promise of faith

No .

Churc h

IDR

BNKP

Oinike Harefa

BNKP

Sonia PareraHummel

BNKP

Tuhoni Telaumban ua

BNKP

EUR

PHP

HKD

PAYMEN T

ACTUAL REMITTED

AMOUNT PROMISES

Name

USD

LKR

IDR

USD

20,00

EUR

200.000,00

500,0 0

500,00

500.000,00

50,00

500.000,00

50,00

Yunelis Ndraha

100.000,00

CRC

Anneliese Wong

5.000,0 0

CRC

Iris Wong

18.000, 00

CRC

Lily

300,0 0

GBKP

Jennie Elliyani

500.000,00

GBKP

Yanti Sitepu

100.000,00

GKIT P

Jemmy Ayomi

100.000,00

GKIT P

Matheus Adadikam

1.000.000, 00

GKIT P

Mientje

500.000,00

GKJT U

Kurnia Setya Nurhayati

GKJT U

400.000,00

Petrus Sugito

300.000,00

GKJT U

Trisna Dian Pratiwi

200.000,00

GKJW

Sumardjan a

500.000,00

GKJW

Widhyawa ti

100.000,00

GKPA

Togar Simatupan g

250.000,00

500.000,00

GKPI

Ester Margareth a Munthe

500.000,00

GKPI

Patut Sipahutar

500.000,00

1.000.000,0 0

GKPI

Tetty Aritonang

500.000,00

GKP M

Panulis Saguntung

500.000,00

1.000.000,0 0

GKP M

Ridho Sunelju

200.000,00

GKP M

Netty

100.000,00

PHP

Cash during AsRA and cash during ARB (from Yanti Mar 10, 2014) UEM Wuppert al Acc dated 5 Dec Cash during AsRA Cash during AsRA

Cash during AsRA

Bank dated 2 Mar 2014 Cash during AsRA

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Bank dated 16 Jul 2013 Bank dated 16 Jul 2013 Bank dated 3 Mar 2014 (2 years) Cash during AsRA Bank dated 25 Oct 2013 Cash during AsRA Cash during AsRA Bank dated 19Dec20 13 Cash during AsRA

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GKPP D

Elias J. Solin Gijela Mariati Ujung

GKPP D

GKPS

Jaharianso n Saragih

GKPS

100.000,00

500.000,00

12.000.000 ,00

Wanda Lucia

500.000,00

GKPS

Jonarita Purba

200.000,00

GPKB

M. Syarif Simanjunt ak

500.000,00

HKBP

Basaria Lumban Gaol

500.000,00

HKBP

Benny Sinaga

500.000,00

HKBP

Daniel Sinaga

200.000,00

HKBP

Marudur Siahaan

500.000,00

HKBP

Welman P Tampubol on

1.500.000, 00

HKBP

Willem Simarmata

HKI

Desri Sumbayak

HKI

1.000.000, 00

2.000.000,0 0

1.000.000, 00

Evalina Pasaribu

300.000,00

MCSL

Albert Jebanesan

17.000, 00

UCCP

Leandro Karlo Suarez

500,00

UCCP

Rannieh B Mercado

2.013, 00

UCCP

Reuel Norman O Marigza

50,00

NO NAME

200.000,00

NO NAME

100.000,00

NO NAME

1.000.000, 00

27.650.000 ,00

550,0 0

2.513, 00

23.000, 00

350,0 0

17.000, 00

TOTAL

Equivalent to Rupiah Grand Total actual remitted in Rupiah

10.700.000, 00

20,00

550,00

10.700.000, 00

228.980,0 0

8.821.498, 00

Cash during AsRA Bank dated 26 Aug 2013 Bank dated 19 Feb 2014 and bank dated Mar 10, 2014 Bank dated May 5, 2014 Bank dated 24 Feb 2014 Bank dated 20 Dec 2013

Cash during AsRA and cash during ARB (bank dated 4 Mar 2014)

Bank dated 31 Dec 2013

2.013,00

Bank dated 11 Oct 2013

2.013,00

550.000,00

20.300.478,00

1.2. Offerings/Collection during ARB, AsRA, other UEM programs/activities.

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No.

Date

Details of Activity

Amount (IDR)

Remarks

25-Jan

New Year Devotion

17-Jul

Sunday Service AsRA in Hong Kong

18-Jul

ARB Opening Service in Hong Kong

18-Jul

AsRA Opening Service in Hong Kong

11-Nop

Opening Service of GPKB Leadership Training

232.000,00

Dated 5 Nov 2013, PPWG GBKP Kabanjahe

11-Nop

Closing Service of GPKB Leadership Training

282.000,00

Dated 8 Nov 2013, PPWG GBKP Kabanjahe

16-Des

Advent Service UEM and PGIWSU

10-Mar

ARB Opening Service in Cebu

10-Mar

ARB Closing Service in Cebu

01-Apr

Opening and Closing Worship of GPKB Meeting (Mar 10-13)

06-May

Diaconic Institutional Meeting

09-May

CPE closing worship

06-May

Music & Litugy on Healing

10 June

UEM Week Celebration – Children’s Jamboree GRAND TOTAL

Rev. Rannieh's house in Medan

257.000,00 10.817.827,00 1.069.563,00 3.101.721,00

Dated 14 July 2013 Dated 8 July 2013 Dated 11 July 2013

UEM Office

195.500,00

Cash Mar 10, 2014

791.950,65

Cash Mar 10, 2014

813.760,60

Bank dated Apr 4, 2014

412.000,00

Apr 30- May 3, 2014

650.000,00

HKBP Balige

265.000,00

GBKP RC, Suka Makmur

501.000,00 1.099.200,00

GBKP RC Suka Makmur

20.488.521,00

1.3. Collection for UEM Week No

Gereja

Jemaat

Jumlah

BNKP

Teladan, Medan

Sofian

GKI Tanah Papua

Efata

300.000.-

Agustina Homer

500.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Lembah Jordan

816.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Pengharapan

Benny Yoseph Labobar

520.000.-

Anna

853.000.-

1000.000.2.051.000.-

10.049.600.-

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Elia

993.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Getsemani

4.285.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Marni - Manokwari

1.600.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Bethesda Warkapi

219.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Getseman Bhayangkara

438.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Bakaro

123.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Elsye, Manokwari

200.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Ahmate - Manokwari

550.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Mozes Kali Acai

300.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Bahtera Rakyat

621.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Bukit Saitun Skyland

196.700.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Alfa Omega Kota Raja

GKI Tanah Papua

UEM Alumni

800.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Maramba Abepura

738.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Sem Kaiwei

665.000.-

GKI Tanah Papua

Petrus Amban Manokwari

1.381.000.-

2.647.000.-

Total 31.846.300,00

1.4. Special Donations from Individual/Family, Organisation and Institution

Church

Name

GKPS

Jahariannson Saragih

GKPS

Wanda Lucia

GKJW

Sumardjana

GKJW

Widhiyanti

HKI

Desri Sumbayak

HKI

Evalina Pasaribu

HKI

Manjalo Hutabarat

Amount

75.000,00 75.000,00 100.000,00 100.000,00 75.000,00 75.000,00 275.000,00

Remarks AsRA Travel Reimbursement AsRA Travel Reimbursement AsRA Travel Reimbursement AsRA Travel Reimbursement AsRA Travel Reimbursement AsRA Travel Reimbursement AsRA Travel Reimbursement

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GKITP

Elvira Makuba

BNKP

Sonia PareraHummel

UCCP

Rannieh B Mercado

Unidentified

GKJW

Widhyawati

AsRA Travel Reimbursement

580.000,00

Preaching Honorariums

850.000,00 500.000,00 250.000,00 50.000,00

Helmut Baehr

For 1 picture

5.000,00

Unidentified

Bank dated Feb 16, 2014

Unidentified

MCSL

Chinthani Abeysinghe

228.980,00

Cash on hand USD 10 (from Yanti Mar 10, 2014)

UCCP

East Visayas Jurisdictional Area

514.560,00

Cash on hand PHP 2.000 (from Yanti Mar 10, 2014)

200.000,00

Bank dated Feb 16, 2014

200.000,00

GRAND TOTAL

4.153.540,00

1.5. Walk amile

No.

Church

HKBP

Item

Hat : Scarf :

GKPS

Hat : Scarf :

GKPI

Hat : Scarf :

HKI

Hat : Scarf :

GBKP

Hat : Scarf :

GKPA

Hat :

BNKP

Hat :

Pledge

Actual Remitted

Remarks

100

5.000.000,00

100

5.000.000,00

1.500.000,00

2.500.000,00

2.000.000,00

1.500.000,00

100

5.000.000,00

4.000.000,00

100

5.000.000,00

500.000,00

2.500.000,00

Bank dated Feb 07, 2014 Bank dated Feb 07, 2014 Bank dated Feb 27, 2014 Will not paid this scarf Bank dated Apr 25, 2014 Bank dated Feb 10, 2014 Bank dated Feb 18, 2014

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Scarf : 8

GKPPD

Hat :

GPKB

Hat : Scarf :

Ira

Yuli

Sales activities in Sigumpar : Hat Sales activities in Sigumpar : Hat

2.500.000,00

1.000.000,00

2.500.000,00

1.500.000,00

131

6.550.000,00

114

5.700.000,00

20.000,00

50.000,00

300.000,00

150.000,00

50.000,00

100.000,00

50.000,00

100.000,00

1 scarf 12

Rev. Sonia Parera Hummel

1 hat

-13

Rev. Rannieh Mercado

6 hat

Melva Barus

3 hat

Rev. Marudur Siahaan

1 hat

dr. Basaria Lumbangaol

1 hat

Ira Sitorus

1 hat

Yuliani Gulo

1 hat

Manupak Kesogihan

1 hat

Julian Tampubolon

1 hat

Yanti Sitepu

2 hat

Local comitte HKBP

10 hat

Elvira Makuba

1 hat

UCCP

GRAND TOTAL

100 hat

free

Will not paid this scarf Bank dated Feb 07, 2014 Bank dated Feb 07, 2014 Bank dated Feb 07, 2014

Cash Feb 18, 2014 Cash Mar 20, 2014 Cash Feb 18, 2014 Cash Feb 19, 2014 Cash Feb 10, 2014 Cash Feb 10, 2014

Cash Mar 19, 2014

50.000,00

100.000,00

5.000.000.00

59.270.000,00

26.170.000,00

Cash during ARB (from Yanti Mar 10, 2014)

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Contact Us Mission Spark used to be published quarterly as a printed Magazine. In our desire to reach many readers expeditiously, we had started in September 2012 its publication in electronic form. It got published monthly. Indeed, as surfed in our website and sent out via email, Mission Spark has been accessed and read anytime by interested readers within and beyond Asia. Due to Asia Department’s desire to be coherent with UEM Corporate Identity, the Mission Spark is a bit redesigned and launches it last January 2014 edition. Noticeably, the five integral working areas of UEM – evangelism, diaconia, development, advocacy and partnership – serve as the bases of the reports, ideas and information concerning UEM and the Member-Churches’ programs and activities in the Asia Region. We covet our readers and recipients’ continued patronage and support to Mission Spark as we unceasingly work hard to cater to the readers’ interests and welcome their helpful feedback. This we do together for the glory of God and in the service of God’s people in Asia and everywhere.

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