Watch a summary of our last Global Gathering 2022
October 3 – 6, 2022
Bangkok, Thailand
Come join us and invite other staff, volunteers, supporters, and partners,
so we can all gather together for the advancement of God’s International Church Movement!
The Global Gathering will start on Monday night October 3 with a Street Food Festival
and end on Thursday evening October 6 with a Dinner River Cruise.
If you are interested in the working groups meeting in Bangkok Sept. 28 – Oct. 1,
contact David Fresch
| MAIN SPEAKERS |
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Dr. T.V. Thomas was born in Malacca, Malaysia. He studied in Malaysia, India, Canada and the United States of America. The Thomas’ have three adult children. Dr. Thomas is Founder and Director of the Centre for Evangelism & World Mission (founded in 1984) in Regina, Canada. For four decades T.V. has enjoyed trans-denominational and transcontinental ministry of speaking, teaching, consulting and networking. From 1984 to 1994, Dr. Thomas served as the Professor of Evangelism for the Murray W. Downey Chair of Evangelism at Canadian Theological Seminary. His deep commitment to the cause of world evangelization calls for extensive national and international travel to minister at camps, churches, colleges/seminaries, retreats, seminars, conferences and consultations. T.V. has been a plenary speaker at Urbana Student Missions Convention, Keswick Conventions, Mission Fests, Ethnic Ministries Summits and Promise Keepers Conferences. Dr. Thomas currently serves on numerous national and international boards: Chairs the Board of Directors for FullSpectrum Network; Lausanne Global Diaspora Network (GDN); Co-Chair of the International Network of South Asian Diaspora Leaders (INSADL), Vice-Chair of MECO Canada Board and Advisor to Lausanne Canada. He also serves on the Perspectives Canada National Team and is Multicultural/Intercultural Ministries Consultant for The Alliance Canada. “The sessions promise to be INFORMATIVE, INVIGORATING and INSTRUCTIVE to help you recalibrate and reimagine your missional worldview and ministry pathways.” T.V. |
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Richard Blackaby is the oldest child of Henry and Marilyn, and the president of Blackaby Ministries International (www.blackaby.org) Richard has a Ph.D. in church history from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as a senior pastor and as a seminary president. Richard travels extensively and speaks internationally on spiritual leadership, experiencing God, revival, and God in the marketplace. Richard regularly works with Christian CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. You can follow Richard on Twitter at @richardblackaby, Facebook at Dr. Richard Blackaby, or his podcast at The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast. Richard and his wife Lisa live in Atlanta. Their three children all serve in ministry. They also have eight grandchildren, 5 boys and 3 girls! Richard has co-authored numerous books with his father, including: Experiencing God, Experiencing God: Day by Day, Fresh Encounter, Spiritual Leadership, Hearing God’s Voice, Called to Be God’s Leader: Lessons from the Life of Joshua, God in the Marketplace, Being Still with God, When God Speaks, and Flickering Lamps: Christ and His Church. Richard has also written: The Seasons of God, The Inspired Leader, Unlimiting God, Putting a Face on Grace, Living Out of the Overflow, Rebellious Parenting, Experiencing God at Home, Spiritual Leadership Coaching, and Developing a Powerful Praying Church. “Dear Friends – God is always at work around us, and I look forward to seeing you in Bangkok in October so we can together celebrate His goodness and blessings. While these are challenging days around the globe, God is not overwhelmed or at a loss for what He wants to do and how He wants to use leaders like to you make a difference in the place where He has planted your life. God uses leaders to accomplish what is on His agenda and it is my prayer that this year will be the greatest year of ministry you have experienced and will bear much fruit for God’s glory. See you in October!” Richard |
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REGISTRATION The cost includes registration fee, one Street Food Festival, 3 lunches, and one Dinner River Cruise. Full price $259 individual Full price $518 couple |
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GATHERING SITE Thank you Evangelical Church of Bangkok (ECB) for hosting our 2022 Global Gathering. |
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HOTEL INFORMATION Make your hotel reservations at Centre Point Sukhumvit 10 by emailing kessara.ae@centrepoint.com and mention in your email MICN Global Gathering for our group rate. Good rates. Nice rooms. Breakfast included. Click here for room type, rates, airport transfer, and more.
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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
| BREAKOUT SESSIONS |
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Richard helps churches and Christians improve their Digital Evangelism, and he will be speaking about how to utilize digital platforms, what he sees on the horizon in the area of technology and evangelism, and can even tell you about grants that fund your church’s advertisements on Google. Everything Richard speaks about will be rooted in his belief that churches must be Kingdom focused, and while we all want that, we can too easily be tradition focused and miss out on the call God has for us today, and He often wants to do a new thing in a new way. Richard has had an extensive career in Media, both in secular Radio in Australia and also in radio and then on the cutting edge of technology through online platforms with his work at Christian Vision. He believes the church must harness the power of technology to fulfill the Great Commission, and he works toward equipping the Church to do this in his current position as Asia Pacific Director for Christian Vision. Richard is currently a Board member of Christian Media Arts Australia CMAA (the Association of all Christian Media in Australia), the Chairman for Asia By Media, an association of Media Ministries that work throughout Asia, and a Board member of a ministry called Project 114 who reach out to persecuted Christians in several countries. |
The Future of Evangelism|
Healing Prayer and Restoration Do you ever wonder if you’re really hearing God correctly? Are you puzzled over troubling emotional, spiritual, or addictive issues in your extended family that seem to recur from generation to generation? Do you replay an endless loop of shoulda-woulda-couldas in your mind over issues from the past? Are you curious as to how unforgiveness impacts even your physical health? Come join us for a time of sharing in fun interactive exercises and teaching as we examine and demonstrate biblical principles for physical and emotional healing and deliverance ministry in the body of Christ today. Applying tools and techniques developed through our interdenominational/multicultural church and hospital healing prayer ministry, we will focus on clearly discerning God’s voice, the relevance of forgiveness to healing, and how to pray specifically for physical, emotional, and relational healing and deliverance. Online resources will be offered to add to your arsenal and facilitate starting a healing and restoration ministry in your IC. Philippe and Jan love serving the Lord together around the world. Married since 1988, they are now both ordained in ministry after having pursued secular careers, Philippe as an airline pilot with United and Jan as a professional musician and professor of music at Rice University. Called to teach to the nations, they served for many years as Global Leaders with International Leadership Institute prior to joining the MICN leadership team as prayer ambassadors. With a passionate desire to see individuals and families healed and restored through prayer, they have established the Christian Healing Prayer (CHP) ministry, establishing centers of healing prayer in hospital chapels. Jan and Philippe were also founding members of Christ Restoration Ministries, an inner healing prayer ministry. They have had the great privilege of teaching on healing prayer in many churches around the world. They are blessed to be the parents of an awesome son, Paul. For more information, visit their website, www.glimpses of hope.org |
Love in Action: How ICs Can Start and Strengthen Citywide Movements
Dr. Jacob Bloemberg
Hanoi International Fellowship (HIF), one of the first members of MICN, launched the Love Hanoi campaign in 2012, which has become a citywide movement where they have coordinated over 50 churches (mostly local churches) in doing work for the good of the city they are in. This has led to so many improvements in the city (helping local street children, beautification programs, engaging with business people, healthcare, and more) that it caught the attention of the mayor who ended up allowing them to share the Gospel publicly at a major festival where they saw over 4,000 decisions for Christ from local Vietnamese! If you are interested in learning more about how you could take similar steps to coordinate with other churches in your city and effect city-wide transformation, then you should definitely plan to check out Jacob’s breakout session, where he will be laying out steps you can take to start a Love [Your City] movement!
Our hope and Jacob’s desire is to catalyze similar movements in cities all over the world through International Churches, and it looks like Love Bangkok will likely be the first one to launch outside of Vietnam (Love Danang and Love HCMC are already in the works).
Jacob moved with his family to Hanoi, Vietnam in 1997 and became Lead Pastor of HIF in 2005. Jacob holds a Doctorate in Transformational Leadership: City Transformation from Bakke Graduate University.
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Equipping Church Members for Monday Jim Lapinski “I either pay the bribe, or the shipment sits in customs and our factory closes!” “I must pass the government leader’s son (who is failing) or lose my teaching job!” “Everyone in my industry entertains clients in compromising settings – I have no choice!” These real-life workplace vignettes aren’t the exception but the rule. How do we equip our people to both stand fast in the face of worldly pressures and boldly reflect Christ in and through their work, families, community, and life? Amazed by his church members’ stories and thirst for guidance, one IC pastor exclaimed, “I’ve been here 10 years…I thought I knew my people!” In this workshop, hear real-life stories and experience powerful Gospel-centered approaches for discipling church members for Monday. Your people and church may never be the same! Jim Lapinski, President / Founder Jim and his wife, Sue, have been married 42 years and live in Kansas City, MO near their three grown daughters and families. |
 Leading Intercultural Bible Studies For WomenLana Packer
Leading my first Intercultural Bible Study was challenging! That was over 27 years ago, and I still remember the faces of the women representing different nations. How could I communicate the life-transforming message of the Bible to so many different cultures? I was unqualified, so I sought to learn not only about the different cultures but look to Jesus, who was and is the greatest culture crosser. That first study started small and grew to over 80 women weekly, and the Word of God was becoming real to women! In this breakout session, we will look at cultural distinctives and the whole of the Bible and Jesus and learn from them how they communicated across cultures.
Lana Packer has served with her husband, Dr. David Packer, in the pastoral ministry of international churches worldwide for over 35 years. The couple share 35 years of intercultural experience. Both have been speakers at various multicultural conferences in over 30 countries and have spoken in over 30 different countries. During two separate International Church speaking tours in the Middle East, God used the book of Nehemiah and Ruth to open her eyes to the vulnerability of people. Moved by this, Lana informed herself about the situation in Stuttgart and found out that Stuttgart is a hot spot for sex tourism and that women from all over the world come there. She then helped to establish Kainos-eV in June 2014, a ministry to reaching sexually exploited women and a Home where Christ’s love dwells and the space for healing. Intercultural Communication is essential in this ministry as well. |
 YouthCompass InternationalThomas Speckhardt
There are approximately 300 million people residing outside of their passport cultures. The UN estimates that 40 million are under age 20. This presents a vast opportunity to share the Gospel in our international cities with cross-cultural and third-culture youth. This session will cover topics such as:
LEADING THROUGH TRANSITION ENGAGING YOUTH IN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXTS This session is for any IC leader, staff or volunteer who is interested in reaching out to youth in the international community context and desire to make their IC a trusted hub in the international community which understands international families, transition and adjustment, and seeks to serve their needs across cultures.
Thomas started his career in the aviation business, founding and operating a company focused on commercial aerial photography and aircraft leasing. After growing the business for ten years, he and his wife followed a call to full-time ministry overseas. Thomas served for sixteen years in Europe where he worked with the corporate, diplomatic, and educational communities to raise the level of support for expatriate families on assignment, creating ministry models and organisations to communicate the Gospel effectively to teens residing outside of their home countries. During his time in Frankfurt, Germany he was a member of and served on the eldership of the International Christian Fellowship Frankfurt (ICF). Thomas is the Board Chairman of YouthCompass International founded in London, England. YouthCompass supports international youth and families in mobile environments. Through local activities and partnerships in developing countries, YouthCompass challenges adults and youth to serve and gain a truly global perspective. Thomas also serves on the World Leadership Team of Youth for Christ International, representing ministry to diaspora/cross cultural young people and families. Thomas has lived and worked in an expatriate settings for 27 years and is an adult TCK (Third Culture Kid). Together with his wife he has raised four TCK’s on two continents. Thomas continues to work with the corporate, diplomatic, and educational communities to raise the level of support for expatriate families around the world. He has spoken in international communities in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Europe on the topics of globalisation, parenting, and support of international youth on the move. |
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Discipleship is Hard Work KR Paton
Would it help to know there is an organization that will mentor the discipleship process in your church or community with a goal to raise up lay leaders who are trained disciple-makers who in turn train other disciple-makers? In this breakout session we will:
KR Paton is President of Foundation For Living Society based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. (www.foundations4living.ca). He also serves on the board of directors of MICN USA. |
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2 Breakout Sessions with David Packer
2 Separate Times
Dealing with Burnout in Ministry: How to rediscover your joy in serving the Lord: The danger of burnout is always a threat to effective ministry. We all need to know how to live and serve effectively in the strength that Christ provides. Dealing with and overcoming burnout requires knowing the symptoms, recognizing the unhealthy work habits and difficult people that tend to encourage burnout, learning how to release tension, and especially understanding the spiritual principles to serve daily in the strength of the Lord. If ministry has ceased to be fun, this breakout group can help you reclaim your joy in service.
Doctrinal Dodgeball: How to navigate the doctrinal differences in ICs: There is an old saying that we go where we are celebrated, not where we are tolerated. Every IC has a higher than average element of doctrinal differences among the congregation and this can lead to a division and conflict, as well as distraction from the church’s message and ministry. Maintaining unity means majoring on the majors, celebrating the Christ-experience of believers, accepting that differences will exist, and having practical knowledge of the divisive issues of today. Born in Texas USA, David is a graduate of Howard Payne University (1975 BGS) and a two-time graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, receiving both a Master of Divinity (1977) and Doctor of Ministry with a focus in World Missions (1988). He and his wife Lana served as missionaries in the Philippines from 1980-89, as Senior Pastor and wife of the International Baptist Church of Singapore (1992-2004), of International Baptist Church of Duesseldorf Germany (2007-2009), and of International Baptist Church of Stuttgart Germany (2009-2020). |
 Spiritual Leadership and TransformationDr. John Gerlach
This breakout session is designed to give ministry leaders, pastors, volunteers, and marketplace workers practical steps to grow as transformational leaders.
Dr. John Gerlach is the lead pastor of Crestview Baptist Church in Midland, Texas. He has traveled to over 40 countries speaking, teaching, and training. John is married to Alta Lynn who leads Platform 320 which focuses on spiritually empowering women all over the world. John and Alta Lynn have two married daughters and two granddaughters. |
 Maintaining a Healthy Life and Healthy Marriage in MinistryEric and Rachel Dufour This breakout session is as much for singles as it is for married couples. Rachel and I will discuss practical ideas and solutions when facing difficulties conciliating personal life, married relationships, and family while ministering an IC. We will approach without taboo, sexual tensions, and challenges often met in those contexts, how to recognize them and how to answer them in an appropriate way.
Eric and Rachel have over 30 years of counseling experience as pastors, missionaries, therapists, and marriage counselors. Rachel is also a sexologist. They travel the world as counselors and therapists, to provide help and teachings through various platforms and media. They are the parents of five boys, now all adults.
They began their work in ministry in the 90’s, with the establishment of a church in Alsace (France), all while working in a rehabilitation center for drug addicts and abused women. They pastored several churches in France. After answering God’s call on their lives to become missionaries, they moved to South-East Asia in 2000 where they led International Fellowship gatherings in a restrictive access country.
In 2008, they established themselves in Colorado (USA) and started helping pastors and missionaries in need from around the world. They are also co-leaders of a fast-growing church (Eglise MLK) near Paris, France. |