Reflections and Impressions on the Pacific Rim Conference

Last April, Steve Hope, an elder at Kings Church Norwich, headed to Seoul with others from the UK to take part in the Pacific Rim conference. He shares his experience:

Steve: Spending a week in Seoul for Relational Mission’s inaugural Pacific Rim conference was quite the adventure!

There were a few of us who travelled from the UK to join church leaders and their families for this groundbreaking event.

Attendees hailed from South Korea, Japan, the USA, the Philippines and Taiwan, to name but a few. It was great to reconnect with some familiar faces I hadn’t seen for years, including Sarah Burns from Living Stones Church, Hawaii.

Although there were many nations and many languages, there was one spirit, and the sense of unity during the worship and prayer sessions was beautiful. The atmosphere was powerful, and the Lord was speaking directly into our hearts and addressing a number of specific situations.

The church in Seoul was warm and generous. They provided delicious food that often appeared unexpectedly. The intimate morning Bible studies in coffee shops–a core practice of their community–were especially delightful.

I’m still processing much of the week, but the importance of the global as well as the local was certainly a key takeaway. Being immersed in this wonderful community, even if it was only for a short while, reminded me how small seeds can grow into big trees. May the Lord continue to bless the work in the Pacific Rim.