The 33rd General Assembly of the Southeast Asia Region concluded on October 31, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand, with a closing service that marked the end of a three-day gathering focused on mission direction for the coming year. The General Secretary of the Olivet Assembly of Southeast Asia (OA SEA) delivered a message from Acts 20:17-31 titled “Be Shepherds of the Church of God, which He Bought with His Own Blood,” urging delegates to reflect on their calling as they prepared to return to their respective fields.
The OA SEA General Secretary opened by emphasizing the urgency of time and the need to understand their commission, drawing from Apostle Paul’s ministry as an example. While Paul traveled widely, he invested deeply in the churches he served, particularly in Ephesus. In the same way, delegates were reminded that the General Assembly was a time of gathering, but their calling now was to scatter and continue the work with renewed clarity and purpose.
Referencing Paul’s farewell to the elders in Acts 20, he described the emotional weight of the moment as Paul anticipated suffering and hardship. The speaker highlighted Paul’s charge to shepherd the church, connecting it to Jesus’ command in John 21 to care for His sheep and His compassion in Matthew 9:36 for those without guidance. He stressed that those in ministry are entrusted with caring for people who belong to God, requiring both responsibility and compassion.
He also addressed the realities of ministry, noting the challenges of guiding others and the perseverance it demands. Citing Acts 20:19, he pointed to humility, tears, and endurance as essential qualities of a shepherd, especially when facing difficulties or slow progress. He encouraged delegates to remain committed in prayer, emphasizing that true change comes not through human effort alone but through the Word of God and persistent intercession.
As the service concluded, delegates were reminded to carry the heart of a shepherd marked by humility and prayer as they entered a new season of ministry, leaving the General Assembly with renewed unity and expectation that its impact will shape and strengthen the Southeast Asia mission in the year ahead.