At the start of March, evangelicals from 40 countries gathered in Seoul, South Korea, under the umbrella of the World Evangelical Alliance's International Leadership Forum to discuss joint strategies on issues facing the global church, such as evangelism and Bible illiteracy. But in a region as divided as the Korean peninsula, it was peace and reconciliation that weighed heavily on hearts and minds.
The gathering of 90 evangelical leaders took place amid growing concerns around North Korea's nuclear weapons capability and increased hostility towards the South and its allies.
At the close of the meeting, a 'Message of Goodwill from the WEA to All the People of Korea' was issued in which the alliance offered its prayers for the peninsula and urged both governments to work towards peace.
"All our nations bear the scars of history and strife of previous generations, which we all regret and none of us would have chosen. We want to be those who heal the wounds of the past and leave a lasting legacy of peace for our children and future generations," the message read.
"We pray that the governments both in and outside the peninsula may be guided by God to undertake peacemaking initiatives in a spirit of mutual respect, not of condemnation. We commit ourselves to pray that the God of peace will be with all those who undertake these difficult tasks, which appear to be impossible in our own strength but with God's help we can achieve lasting peace."
In addition to the message of goodwill, participants in the ILF visited the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, a place where the tensions dividing the nation for decades are all too visible.
The Reverend Ndaba Mazabane, Chairman of the International Council, led prayers for peace and the reunification of the two Koreas into one nation.
"Korea is the only nation that is still divided and the pain felt by its people and the separated families on both sides are difficult to describe in words alone. It is our hope that God will make possible what seems impossible to man: to grant peace and an end to the division of the Korean peninsula," he said.
The need for peace and reconciliation within the church too did not go unmissed. The World Evangelical Alliance had intended to hold its General Assembly in Seoul in October 2014, but it was abruptly cancelled a few months before it was due to go ahead.
At the time, the WEA stated that collaboration among the country's evangelical churches was "untenable". The WEA had explained: "The decision centered on recent internal divisions among the evangelical community and challenges they pose for holding an Assembly there at this time."
If there were any lingering sore feelings over that decision they were nowhere to be seen during the ILF's opening ceremony, which was attended by 700 Korean church leaders, as well as representatives of the Korean government.
Bishop Tendero acknowledged the importance of hosting the ILF in Korea this time.
"After the cancellation of the General Assembly in 2014 that was to be hosted in Seoul, our coming to Korea allowed us to connect again with our member CCK and church leaders," Bishop Tendero said.
"We have strengthened our relationship with the people of a nation that has been richly blessed by God and in response has sent out over 20,000 missionaries into the whole world. We were overwhelmed by their generosity and hospitality and are looking forward to continuing to work together in the Great Commission."
