The fourth session of the “Young Generation Global Missi

on Series” was held on Thursday, February 25, from 19:00 to 20:45.

We invited Mr. Ray Oliver, a former Global Mission Fellow from the Philippines, as our guest speaker.  He served at Asian Rural Institute in Nasu-Shiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, from 2016 to 2018 as a Global Mission Fellow of the Global Mission Fellow Program, a long-term mission program targeted at the young generation Christians in the Generation Transformation Program of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church.

We recorded an interview film and showed it online.  He, like the speakers of the three previous sessions, spoke of the reason for applying for the Global Mission Fellow Program, the activities of the program, and how the experiences as a Global Mission Fellow impacted his life.  He also talked about how young people are involved in volunteer activities in churches in the Philippines and how and where they are tackling with the Philippines’ severe social justice issue, poverty.

Working in Family and Children’s Ministry in a truly international church in Hong Kong, he talked on various topics, such as his role in a Hong Kong church and his visions on his future.

In the Q&A Session after watching the pre-recorded film, one participant asked him how he/she could find his/her ministry.  Mr. Oliver responded, “Anything you can feel passion in can be your ministry.  Only you can find your ministry, but you may start from thinking what you can be passionate about.” That response must have given a big hint to the young participants who are in the midst of considering their future.

The fact that young people in the Philippines are enthusiastically involved in the service activities was very impressive, conveying a message that churches are not buildings, but people that act.

When we hear the word ‘Ministry’, we seldom think of telling the Bible and Christian stories to others, but mission activities of the Global Mission Fellow Program indicate ‘Ministry’ as the social activities that a person should dedicate oneself to, using one’s talents (experiences and skills) as a Christian.  Of course, Christian faith is necessary, but the interest in social justice issues and a will to wrestle with the issues are equally important.

The Wesley Zaidan is also an official application reception organization of the Global Mission Fellow, a long-term mission program of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church.  Anyone interested in the program is welcome to send a message to the address below.

Contact:  program@wesley.or.jp