Asia Pacific Brethren Conference on Missions (APBCM)
Wonju Campus, Yonsei University
Wonju City, Korea
(August 15-18, 2006)
Photos

The theme of this year's Asia Pacific Brethren Conference on Missions (or APBCM for short) was "Here am I! Send me." (Isaiah 6:8) The objectives of of this conference were to:

  • promote deeper fellowship and understanding among believers in the Asia Pacific regions,
  • foster interest in missions by presenting the current states and the future prospects of missions, and
  • spur international church participation in global missions through transnational fellowship and increased awareness of the Great Commission.

Participants flew into Incheon International Airport in Seoul and travel 2-1/2 hours by bus to the city of Wonju. Once in Wonju, a shuttle bus takes 30 minutes to the Yonsei University's Wonju campus where the participants were housed in a newly built dormitory complex consisting of 700 double-occupancy rooms, all equipped with private bathrooms and air-conditioning.
 

The first batch of the Penang delegation (Mr. & Mrs. Edward Low and Mr. KC Ung) left Penang International Airport for the Pacific Asia Brethren Conference on Missions 2006 in Wonju, Korea from 15th to 18, August by Korea Airline on Sunday at 11.50p.m. They left early to spend two extra days in Seoul. Mr. & Mrs. Teo Pek Beng left by MAS on Tuesday. The Korean Incheon International Airport opened in early 2001, replacing the old Gimpo Airport (formerly Kimpo International Airport). It sits on a reclaimed island off the coast of the Korean peninsula.

The airport serves as a hub for international civilian air transportation and cargo traffic in East Asia. Security facilities are state-of-the-art and medical inspection equipment is also very advanced, in response to terrorist threats and various epidemics in southern Asia. As a result, Incheon International Airport is considered Asia's most technologically facilitated airport. The 2005 AETRA passenger survey, jointly administered by the IATA and Airports Council International, voted it the best airport in the world. [Picture and extract sourced from Wikipedia].
Being met at Incheon Airport by Mr. Y.K. Park, an "old" friend who had worked in Penang for over three years before. He would be the one responsible for our very enjoyable stay in Seoul outside the Conference. Mr. Edward Low was the photographer while his wife, Mrs. Rosalind Low posed.
Mr. & Mrs. Teo Pek Bing, the remaining two of the Penang delegation of five, and Mr. & Mrs. Koo Hak-Mo, the co-ordinator of the Conference.
Having our first Korean meal together at night.
Having our first Japanese meal together the next night before leaving for the Conference the next day.With us was bro. Park's family. His son, James took the photograph.
A view of the surrounding area from Wonju University where the Conference was held. The university sits on a hill amidst scenic landscapes.
The hostel where the Conferees stayed.
The Conferees had to walk down the steps to the dining hall at the bottom for their meals everyday.
The Conferees had to take a 15-minute hike up in the opposite direction to the Conference Hall.
Another view of the hike up to the Conference or the Hostel.
Registration at the Conference. The Registration fee was USD200.00


Dinner time after Registration. Some of the Malaysian delegation lining up for their food in the dining hall for "foreigners".
Typical Korean food served to the foreign participants. At the top left is a whole chicken steamed in ginko-herbal soup and the ever-present kim-chi found in every Korean meal.
The over 485 Korean delegates lining up for food leading to the dining hall. Another 159 Japanese delegates had to dine in another part of the building. Altogether, there were 798 delegates registered for the Conference officially.
At the entrance of the Conference Hall
In the lobby of the conference hall - a display of banners showing statistics of mission fields where Korean missionaries are located.
Display boards showing reports of the work from participating countries at the entrance leading to the Conference Hall
Front view of Conference Hall with a Korean sister giving an item.
The Korean delegation presenting a choral item.
A general view of the audience appreciating the items being presented.
The song-leading team leading the congregation in an action song.
The congregation responding to and participating in the action song.
Every day a prayer meeting was held at 6.30a.m. This was the scene of the prayer meeting in session on the 1st morning of the Conference after the 1st night's General Session which ended at nearly midnight the night before. Three country representatives would pray following a morning devotion givenby one of the Conference/Seminar speakers.
Conference Speaker taking the General Session in the Conference. There were three main Conference speakers, niz. Jim McCarthy (USA), John Short (Hong Kong) and Kim Joo-dal (Korea) speaking on the Conference Theme: Here Am I send Me. Here John Short was challenging the audience with The Great Commission.
Translators hard at work translating the main messages into four languages, viz. Korean, Japanese, Mandarin and English.
Listening to a translated message through a ear-piece.
Apart from the main conference messages, different seminars were held for the Conferees. The topics ranged from World Mission, Qualifications of Missionaries, Missionary Training, Support for Missions, The Missionary's Warfare and Victory, and others. Here Boyd Aitken from Hong Kong spoke on the last-mentioned topic.
Lim Hong Sang  giving his country report of the Lord's work in Malaysia. Other country representatives who gave their reports were from Australia, India, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and U.S.A.
A vibrant group of representatives from India giving their country report.
A section of the audience listening to the messages - general view 
Saying goodbye to one another at the end of the Conference. The Korean brethren had done an excellent job organising this Conference. Congratulations to them and to God be all the Glory.
The Conference dispersed. Here the conferees were taken to their various destinations. Some were taken to the airport, others were taken to homes of believers and hosted by them to sightsee Seoul and neighbouring towns, others proceeded to hotels for the same purpose, while still others, like the three from Penang, stayed back for the weekend to have fellowship with the local assemblies of believers. We would probably meet again in two years' time (DV). Potential venues are India, Japan, Singapore, and even Malaysia (?).
Asia Pacific Brethren Conference on Missions 2006 Korea Brochure - Page 1
Asia Pacific Brethren Conference on Missions 2006 Korea Brochure - Page 2