CDI Staff

2025 Asia Theological Association Triennial General Assembly

Franklin Graham preaches in London as thousands reportedly turned away from packed evangelism event

Thousands filled ExCeL London to capacity on Saturday evening for the return of the God Loves You Tour, led by Rev. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse. With attendance exceeding 17,000, the venue reached its increased maximum capacity of 15,000, prompting security to turn away several thousand people, according to organizers.

‘Like Joseph, North Korean defectors were sent ahead for God’s mission’: Gospel-centered reunification festival held in South Korea

North Korean defectors and members of the South Korean church gathered on June 21 at Saejoongang Church in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, for the 2025 Pan-Korean Reunification Festival, a time of worship and prayer centered on the dream of reunification through the gospel. The event was jointly hosted by the North Korea Christian Association (led by President Rev. Seo Kyung-hwa) and the Global Mission United Training Center TMTC (chaired by Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim).

‘Disciple or die’: Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum closes with call to action for churches across Asia

The Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum concluded Friday evening in Seoul with a solemn and hopeful call to rededicate the Church in Asia to Jesus Christ and his commission to make disciples. The three-day gathering, held June 11–13 under the theme “Disciple or Die 2,” brought together evangelical leaders from across the continent for strategic collaboration on advancing disciple-making as the central focus of Christian mission.

‘We must not lose the generations’: Gwen De Rozario outlines family discipleship strategy at Asia evangelical forum

Gwen De Rozario, Executive Director of the Family & Children Commission of the Asia Evangelical Alliance (AEA), presented a detailed strategy report at the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum in Seoul on Friday (June 13), calling on church leaders across the continent to prioritize family discipleship as a central method for long-term church growth and generational continuity.

‘Give us the 20, we will give you the 500,000’: Youth leaders propose bold discipleship strategy at Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum

At the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum (AELF) in Seoul this week, younger leaders outlined an ambitious strategy to mobilize and mentor a new generation of disciple-makers. As part of one of the four key thrusts of the forum—Youth Empowerment—two co-leaders presented their findings and vision to fellow delegates, arguing that young people are not only receptive to the gospel but are uniquely positioned to catalyze spiritual renewal in their communities.

‘Now is the time’: Evangelical media expert urges Church in Asia to harness AI for the Great Commission

In a sweeping keynote address on the morning of the second day of the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum (AELF), Mark McClendon, Regional Director for CBN Southeast Asia & South Korea, called on Christian leaders to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) not as a threat but as a God-given opportunity for the global Church to complete the Great Commission.

‘Disciple-making cannot be optional’: Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum urges churches to embrace Jesus’ final command

As church growth stagnates in many parts of the world, evangelical leaders at the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum (AELF) in Seoul issued a clear call to return to the core mandate of the Christian faith: making disciples.

‘He doesn’t call us to perform—he calls us to follow’: Sri Lankan leader challenges Asian evangelicals at Seoul forum

At the opening ceremony of the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum (AELF), Sri Lankan evangelical leader Jerome Yasodan Rasiah delivered a passionate and challenging address, calling on Asian church leaders to embrace the call of discipleship with radical obedience, daily renewal, and gospel-centered innovation.

Photos from opening day of Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum in Seoul

A selection of photos from the opening session of the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum on June 11 in Seoul, South Korea, on the theme “Disciple or Die 2.” The event, hosted by the Asia Evangelical Alliance, brought together about 100 leaders from over 20 countries for a three-day working forum focused on renewing the Church’s commitment to discipleship.

Asian evangelical leadership forum opens in Seoul with renewed call for discipleship: 'Every season, God creates a new movement'

With a clear and urgent call to renew commitment to discipleship amid a rapidly changing global landscape, the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum (AELF) officially opened Wednesday in Seoul, South Korea. Organized by the Asia Evangelical Alliance (AEA), the three-day gathering brought together approximately 100 evangelical leaders from over 20 countries across Asia for prayer, strategy, and collaboration under the theme: “Disciple or Die 2.0.”

‘Christians must sing to the [communist] party before praising Jesus’: worship restrictions intensify in China

Churches affiliated with China’s state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement have effectively been required to sing a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) anthem before the closing benediction in Sunday worship services, according to recent reports. The mandate has sparked serious concern, as it is viewed not merely as a formal adjustment but as a deliberate shift intended to displace God from the center of worship and replace Him with loyalty to the Communist Party.