CWM General Secretary Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum brought greetings to the 11th General Assembly of Cevaa, which also coincides with its 50th anniversary. With the theme “Let’s keep the flame”, it was held electronically from 4 to 8 October.

Read the full greetings below:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

On behalf of the Council for World Mission family, I bring you greetings of peace and joy in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. My heart is filled with joy as I see you virtually those in Montpellier and those participating from the respective countries. But, unfortunately, even though I want to be there physically to celebrate the longstanding partnership and close missional engagement between Cevaa and CWM, I could not come because of the ongoing Covid-19 global pandemic.

The world today is facing numerous challenges. We are experiencing social, political, and economic inequalities; poverty, discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, and gender; geopolitical conflicts, and environmental degradation. In fact, the world is plagued with not just one pandemic but many. However, Covid 19 has changed our lives so much, disrupting our lives; creating fear, anxiety, and sorrow; and confining us to the screens and computers. It forced us to close our worship places, pause our missional activities, and halt our community projects. Most of our local and global exchange ministries have also been hindered. As a result, we are experiencing an unprecedented stagnation in our ministerial activities. In short, the Covid-19 has poured cold water on the fire of all our missional activities.

It is in this context, I see the theme of Cevaa’s 11th General Assembly as well as the Jubilee, “Cevaa, Let’s keep the flame,” very relevant and important to rekindle the fire that is being slowly drenched by the ongoing challenges.

Apostle Paul, while going to Jerusalem with alms of support during his third missionary journey, encourages the church in Rome to keep the flame. He writes, in Romans 12:11-13,

11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

In the midst of all the challenges we have been facing today, the message of Paul is still relevant to our context. We need to keep the hope alive and be persevering while we continue to do the works of God. Let us not allow cold water to be poured on our zeal to serving the Lord among the people amid their challenges.

  • Let us continue to ignite hope and be fervent in Spirit.
  • Let’s continue to feed the flame with our zeal keeping it alive.
  • Let us continue to be watchful, resilient, creative, finding opportunities to serve God and the communities even in the midst of the Pandemic.

I firmly believe that Cevaa, as the Community of Churches in Mission, will continue to carry out the mission of God despite the ongoing challenges to the mission, keeping the flame on and igniting zeal to serve God and his people beyond the boundaries. And I assure you that the CWM accompanies and walks with Cevaa in this great mission.

Finally, I would like to congratulate all the leadership of the Cevaa for this successful conduct of the General Assembly and wish all the best for the Jubilee. I pray that God will continue to lead you and guide you in all the days to come.

May the blessings of our Triune God—God the Creator, and God the Liberator, and God the Comforter—be with us all, always.