Brian McLaren speaking to the crowd at Friends in Conversation.
(Christian Today)
The conversation has not only provided the opportunity for Christians from different denominations and fields of ministry to hold open discussions on specified topics, but also has enlightened the young minds of many participants, who were mostly in their 20s or 30s, on the viewpoint of their Christians leaders.
The coordinator of emergentMalaysia had earlier highlighted the purpose of organising the event; that it hoped to provide a platform for people to engage in conversation.
“We do not see this [event] as a conference… to promote a programme or a quick-fix or one-size-fits-all solution for the problems before us. For us, we just want to create a space and opportunity for people to talk and to listen, and also connect with those exploring similar concerns,” Rev. Sivin Kit said.
Brian McLaren and conversation partners; Father Jojo Fung (L), Steven Wong (C), Rev. Hermen Shastri (R).(Christian Today)
“I think it [the conversation] has gone very well. I like the way that this being set up. For me having such conversations in Malaysia, I learned so much,” McLaren told Christian Today after the event.
Brian McLaren is an influential author and speaker from United States who recently was recognized as one of “25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America” by Time magazine.
He travels widely to network and resource the emergent conversation globally.
The other twelve conversations partners were: the General Secretary of Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM), Rev. Hermen Shastri; Bishop of Lutheran Church in Malaysia & Singapore, Rev. Philip Lok; the coordinator of I.N.T.R. Asia and priest from Roman Catholic, Father Jojo Fung; Pastor of City Discipleship Presbyterian Church, Rev. Wong Fong Yang; Director of Kairos Research Centre, Dr. Ng Kam Weng; NECF Research Commission Chairman, Steven Wong; author and speaker from Grace@Work, Dr. Tan Soo-Inn; Director of Spiritual Formation Institute, Dr. Alex Tang; lecturer from Seminari Theologi Malaysia (STM), Dr. Voon Choon King; DTh Candidate and adjunct lecturer from STM, Sherman Kuek; Elder Tan Kong Beng from Subang Jaya Gospel Centre, and Elder Chris Leong from Bandar Utama Chapel.
