The Asia Pacific Baptist Youth (APBY) organised the South Asia Regional Leadership Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal from November 3 to 6, 2011 hosted jointly by the Nepal Baptist Church Council and Nepal Baptist Youth Front.
"Although we had originally planned to hold this conference for only 150 leaders, an approximate of 285 delegates registered!" said Rev. Vesekhoyi Tetseo, President, APBY with a broad smile on his face. "There were delegates from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Philippines, Indonesia and Japan. Although Myanmar, Indonesia and Philippines were not part of this regional event, we are happy that one delegate each from these countries attended. Bhutan and Sri Lanka went unrepresented. We missed them." Rev. Tetseo said.
In the opening session, the key note speaker was Mr. Bijoy A. Sangma, Chairman of APBF Communications on the theme "Find the Need-Share Your Gift." Rev. Bonny Resu, General Secretary, APBF was the main speaker for the following three evening worship services.
The two-day workshop topics were:
Effective Leadership Skills
Love, Sex and Marriage
Worship Leadership: Content, Structure and Style
Media in Ministry
Developing an Effective Team for Ministry
Violence against Women
Synergic Leadership
Developing a Strategic Vision and Mission
Mobilising Youth for Holistic Mission
Youth Counselling: Do's and Don'ts
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: Encouraging Indigenous Music for Worship
Organising Conferences: Plans and Actions
3 Max of Youth Ministry
Resource persons for the workshops were from New Zealand, America, Indonesia, India and Japan comprising Iwao Kochihira, Tracy Daniels, Samaresh Nayak, Vesekhoyi Tetseo, Asha Sanchu, Ardi Wiriadinata, Solomon Francis, Vesato Theluo and Bijoy A. Sangma.
Rev. Zanietso Vero, missionary to Nepal sharing his experience said: "It was really a blessing and great challenge to the Baptist Churches in Nepal. It was an eye opener to many of the delegates."
Another participant said that "the conference has broadened my vision and helped me to focus on my objective in the service of the Lord." The participants expressed their happiness over the gathering and learnt that APBY is a platform which brought Asia Pacific Baptist Youth leaders together to learn from each other for a better relationship for the Lord.
A regional APBY conference is being planned for towards the end of 2013. APBY is also open to invitation from any country who will like to partner and host regional leadership conference.
