International Ministries host a Swatow Church Leader's Retreat in Hong Kong
March 28-29, 2005

For two days in March around 60 partners from the various Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Churches met together to fellowship, share and learn about Conflict Management within the Church. This two day retreat was hosted and sponsored by International Ministries. Rev. Ben Chan Area Director for East Asia & India facilitated a discussion on our future partnership and Rev. Dan Buttry Global Service Missionary for Peace and Justice facilitated two workshops on conflict within the church. IM missionary John Gravley led the planning committee for the retreat and shared about IM's current work in Hong Kong.

It has been over ten years since we last shared together in this type of setting. Since we have been partners with Swatow Baptists for 170 years, Rev. Chan was eager to learn about our partnership and ways the partnership could be strengthened. We currently partner with 22 Swatow Baptist churches and chapels in Hong Kong. With only two IM missionaries in Hong Kong it is not always easy maintaining a significant partnership with each church. But there are ways we can share our resources and work together in areas of common interest. One common interest is the ongoing support and care for churches in Swatow, China. We will continue to explore ways to work together in this area of interest.

Rev. Buttry was invited to share with the group because of his work in conflict resolution and mediation within the church. The church leaders face conflict often within the church. The level of interest and participation in the sessions was an indication both of Rev. Buttry's expertise and the need within the church. Rev. Buttry share very practical information and also offered a series of Bible-studies to the group. These Bible-studies are in the process of being translated and will be given to the participants when they are available.

It was a very meaningful retreat. The feedback has been very positive. We hope to invite Rev. Buttry to Hong Kong to share in a more intensive training event. It is exciting to be able to share IM's resources with other Brothers and Sisters. We are all strengthened as we learn together!