OA SEA Embarks on 3 Initial Steps Toward Raising Local Leaders

Laying a firm foundation to welcome and raise thousands of new leaders across the region, Olivet Assembly of Southeast Asia churches have recently taken initial steps to speed up the process of raising local leaders to inherit several church leadership positions.

With local leaders holding a greater advantage then foreign missionaries in terms of their knowledge of native languages and cultural practices, in addition to many of them being formerly from non-Christian faith backgrounds, setting them up as leaders of local mission is especially crucial.

Among the initial steps that OA SEA churches have taken since the beginning of this year are the following:

1. Set Up Church Leadership Team

During last month, several churches in Laos, Philippines and Thailand have taken the step forward to delegate ministry responsibilities to local leaders. With local leaders taking a more active role in ministry, it is anticipated that they will grow more in serving in addition to listening to God's Word regularly. 

2. Organize Education Materials in Native Language

In preparation to raise native leaders effectively, churches in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam have also begun developing Bible study materials in the languages of Khmer, Lao, Thai and Vietnamese respectively. Cambodia church has recently completed the materials for the Four Spiritual Laws in the native Khmer language, while Laos church has completed the materials to guide seekers towards receiving Christ as their Savior. Thailand church has begun to prepare materials for the Beatitudes in Thai, while Vietnam church has completed the basic 4 Spiritual Laws curriculum in Vietnamese to be used for cell groups. 

3. Involve Local Leaders in Mission

Towards guiding native leaders to familiarize themselves to evangelize, teach and study God's Word daily, churches in Southeast Asia have been actively involving young leaders in daily mission. Vietnam church has employed the cell group system that is being led by native leaders, and they are being entrusted to focus on reaching out to certain evangelism areas and target groups, while evangelizing and discipling newcomers on their own. It is anticipated by creating these opportunities for local leaders to involve in mission, it would cultivate a passion among the local believers to be actively involved in the Great Commission and reaching their own people for the Gospel.