The 10th Chinese Congress on World Evangelization (CCCOWE) concluded in Kuching on July 24 after five days of sessions, drawing more than 1,700 pastoral staff and lay leaders from across the globe.
During the closing business assembly, organizers announced the reappointment of the Rev. David Doong (董家驊) to a second five-year term as General Secretary, extending his leadership through 2021 to 2031. The International Board of Directors also selected Johor Bahru, Malaysia, as the host city for the 11th CCOWE conference in 2031, to be co-hosted by regional committees from Singapore and West Malaysia.
In his closing address, Doong urged attendees to anchor their partnerships strictly in the Christian Gospel rather than institutional pragmatism or platform influence.
"A Gospel movement should never be about position, title, or platform rights," Doong said. "It is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and following the example of the self-giving Christ."
Doong highlighted an "Under-35 Youth Gathering" initiated spontaneously during the summit by young delegates from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, which attracted over 100 young ministry leaders. He commended senior leaders who stepped behind the scenes to mentor younger pastors, calling on the movement to continue empowering the next generation.
Calls for Global Collaboration and Missional Renewal
Addressing the assembly via recorded video, the Rev. Rick Warren, founder of Saddleback Church in California, delivered a keynote address on "The Power of Collaboration." Warren stressed that no single church, denomination, or mission agency can complete the Great Commission in isolation.
Citing historical research analyzing approximately 700 denominational efforts to fulfill the Great Commission over two millennia, Warren noted that most failures stemmed from a lack of inter-organizational cooperation and an inability to mobilize lay believers.
"Division destroys vision, but collaboration builds it," Warren told delegates, encouraging global Chinese churches to establish citywide ministry networks.
The Rev. John Wang (王欽慈), International Director of Gospel Operation International, challenged attendees to cultivate mission-minded congregations by pointing to Latin America’s shift from a receiving mission field to a mission-sending force over the past four decades.
Wang presented three case studies of Latin American missionaries serving in high-risk environments in Mexico, Germany, and Mali, urging Chinese churches to demonstrate similar resilience and commitment in global outreach.
Ceremonial Handover and Communion
The closing program featured a Holy Communion service presided over by the Rev. Su Chii Ann (蘇慈安), General Secretary of the World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches, assisted by the Rev. Caleb Soo (蘇立忠), Moderator of The Presbyterian Church in Singapore.
Following communion, outgoing organizers participated in a formal handover ceremony, passing operational leadership to the incoming 2031 host committees represented by Soo and the Rev. Teng Perng Shyang of West Malaysia.
The 11th CCOWE conference is scheduled to convene in 2031, with logistical operations led by the Singapore and West Malaysia regional committees.
