Eastern Hemisphere

Establishment of EHDWM

The Eastern Hemisphere Department of World Mission (“EHDWM”) was set up in the year 1997 and has been entrusted with the responsibility of promoting evangelical work in the Eastern Hemisphere. Prior to this, we had a Department of World Mission who is responsible for the world mission work through the world. As the work expanded, it was deemed necessary to divide the task of World Mission into two distinct regions, namely, the eastern and western hemispheres for the following reasons:

- to create a more concerted effort and a greater focus on the work of evangelism in the respective regions.

- to allow for better utilisation and mobilisation of resources within the respective regions.

- to enable a more effective and efficient conduct of the world missionary work.

Garnering the support of the various GAs and CBs in this region, the EHDWM organizes itself to support the work in the newly pioneered areas and to reach out to new areas. Working closely with the various departments in the International Assembly, it is able to continue to pioneer into new areas.

Organisation

Its organization structure is very simple. The various GAs and CBs in the Eastern Hemisphere come together to support the Eastern Hemisphere Department of World Mission headed by a department head appointed by the IA EXCO. Its main area of work is to pioneer into & support newly developed areas. It will also support various GAs and CBs when called upon to do so.

We have also set up two arms to assist us in the work:

- the South East Asia Theological Training Course (SEATTC)

- Eastern Hemisphere Voluntary Mission Team (EHVMT)

Other aspects of Mission Work

Taiwan GA - East, Thailand, Cambodia.

Malaysia GA - Vietnam, India, Bangladesh.

Sabah GA - Philippines, Sarawak.

Australia CB - Papua New Guinea, Fiji.

Singapore CB - Myanmar.

New Zealand Churches - Tonga, Samoa.

All General Assemblies and Co-ordination Boards in the Eastern Hemisphere would collectively form the Working Committee of EHDWM.

• The pioneering areas and new areas would come within the jurisdiction of the EHDWM.

• Although the collective responsibility of the pioneering areas is entrusted with EHDWM, the respective General Assemblies and Coordination Boards were each given the task to care specific pioneering area.

• South East Asia Theological Training Centre (“SEATTC”) and the Eastern Hemisphere Voluntary Mission Team (“EHVMT”) are two units formed to implement the tasks of the EHDWM.

• SEATTC is responsible for the training of the divine workforce in the eastern hemisphere;

• EHVMT consists of a team of volunteer workers offering their services to assist in the missionary work.

Role

• In pioneering areas – to assist the responsible Mission Committee of the pioneering area and provide the necessary resources, direction and guidance.

• In new areas – to explore and exploit new opportunities for gospel outreach.

• In existing countries – to assist in the divine plans of the local area and provide the necessary resources when called upon.