FECC

A Short History of the FECCC

The struggle for the historic Christian faith in Asia may be said in modern times to have begun in 1927. In that year, over 30,000 believers in China, under the leadership of two faithful Servants of the Lord, Dr. Chia Yu Ming and Dr. Albert B. Dodd organised a "League of Christian Churches in China" to offset the modernist-controlled "National Council of the Churches of- Christ in China." Meanwhile the same struggle was raging in other part of the world, particularly in Europe and the U.S. After the second World War it became International in nature with the formation of the "International Council of Christian Churches". in Amsterdam in August 1948 under the leadership of Dr Carl McIntire to offset the modernist-controlled ecumenical movement which was simultaneously being organised in the same city, as the "World Council of Churches." In this inaugural conference of the ICCC, Dr. Chia Yu Ming was elected Vice-President of the Councils for China.

The next year in December, the WCC and its missionary arm, the International Missionary Council, resolved to bring the "younger churches" in Asia into their fold, and called an "East Asia Christian Conference" in Bangkok. The ICCC rose to the occasion and came to the same city to inform their Asia brethren of the danger confronting them. Eighteen delegates from six Asian countries, theme U.S.S, Canada and Europe, sought admission to the East Asia Christian conference, but were refused. They therefore held a send separate meeting, and issued a call for a Conference of Christian Churches in Asia to meet in-Manila, November 25th to December 2nd, 1951. The Conference of Christian Churches in Asia which met in 1951 was attended by 151 delegates and observers from nine Far eastern countries, including Australia. The theme of the assembly was 'The Great Commission.' This conference was constituted the First General assembly of the Far Eastern Council of Christian churches. In 1953, July 26th to August 2nd, the Second General Assembly of-the Council was held-in Karuizawa near Tokyo, Japan.166 delegates and observers from eleven countries in the Friar East, including Australia and New Zealand, were present. The theme of the assembly was "Witnessing for Christ in the Far East."

In 1956, Aug. 5~12, the Third General Assembly of the Council was held in Singapore, with over 140 delegates and observers from eleven countries attending. The theme was "For the Word of Go and for the Testimony of Jesus Christ."

In 1960, August 14 to 20, the Fourth General Assembly of the Council took place in Seoul, Korea owing the withdrawal earlier of the 500,000 member Korean Presbyterian Church from the World Council of Churches. 24 delegates from 10 countries attended the Assembly and among the hundreds of Korean Church leaders and brethren who were present, 65 registered officially as observers. The theme was again "For the Word of God and for the Testimony of Jesus Christ."

In 1964, July 23 to 29, the Fifth General Assembly of - the Council was held at the Mandarin Church. Taipei Taiwan , Re public of China, with 87 delegates from ten countries attending besides observer. The theme was "Christian Co-operation in the Far East."

In 1968, January 7 to 14, the Sixth General Assembly of the Council was held at Hubli, Mysore State, India. Over 309 delegates and observers, mostly from the length & breadth of the subcontinent of India, attended the Assembly, with the night sessions turned into massive open-air evangelistic meetings at the "Nehru Maidan" Stadium. The theme of the Assembly was "Valiant for the Truth".

The Seventh General Assembly of the Council, with the first ICY-Asia and the Far East Assembly, was held in Singapore, April 21 to 26 -under the theme of 'Preserving Biblical-Christianity in the Far East." Preceding-the Assembly- was a 4 night Evangelistic Crusade and a Musical-Recital. A stereo record was cut presenting solos by Prof. Springman and items by a 1OO Voice choir formed by the choirs of Bible-Presbyterian Churches in Singapore and the (Chin Lien Bible seminary).

The Eighth General Assembly of the Council was held at the Hachioji Inter-University Seminar House, Tokyo Japan, Nov. 8 to 12, l976, attended by 77 registered delegates and 33 registered observers besides a large number of visitors. The Assembly's twin theme was "Evangelising Asia in the Last Days" and "Proclaiming Liberty throughout the Land".

The Ninth General Assembly of the Council was held at Baguio, The Philippines November 14-18, 1978, with the concluding Rally held in Metro Manila on the Lord's Day, November 19 With all messages centered on the theme "Preserving Biblical Christianity in the Far East", the Assembly was fully used of the Lord to His glory and to the great blessing of the participants and participating churches. Hardly had there been a general assembly of the Council so well represented. Apart from the 46 delegates from seven other FECCC countries, the USA and the Netherlands, there were from the length and breadth of The Philippines 112 voting delegates, 163 non-voting delegates, 41 observers and 28 visitors, registered with the Secretariat of the General Assembly—a total of 396.

The Tenth general Assembly of the Council was held in Singapore (for the third time), June 8—12,1981 under the theme "Serving God and Country till Jesus Comes." A total of over 250 delegates and observers came from overseas, representing some 130 church associations and groups in 12 countries The Philippines, India, Japan, Korea. Taiwan (Republic of China), Indonesia, Thailand, East and West Malaysia, Australia, U.S.A., Canada and The Netherlands. Delegates from Pakistan, Burma and New Zealand regrettably could not come because of passport and other reasons. And among the 1,159 Singapore participants who registered with the General Assembly to attend the morning sessions at Life Bible Presbyterian Church and/or the evening sessions at Calvary B-P Church, some 300 came from over 80 non-B-P groups. The Assembly was in many ways blessed of God beyond measure.

The Eleventh General Assembly of the Council will be held, D.ET, in Seoul, Korea- September 24-29, 1984 at the Glory Bible Presbyterian Church pastored by Dr Choi Kwang Jae. The theme used from Phil. 1:27 " Striving together for the Faith of the Gospel in the Far East." This General Assembly coincided with the Centenary Anniversary of the coming of Christianity to Korea.

The Twelfth General Assembly of the Council was held at Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China, (for the second time), November 15-19, 1988 at the Taipei International Youth Activity Center, Shin Hai Road. The theme was "Hold Fast Till He comes" from Rev 2:25.

The Thirteenth General Assembly was held, for the third time, in Seoul, Korea, Sep 24-29, 1992 at the Korean Center for World Missions." Under the theme "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" from Rev 2:20 with Ps 119:89 "Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven" as the sub-theme, this General Assembly was held under the sponsorship and hospitality of the recently expanded Korean Fellowship of ICCC Churches.

The Fourteenth General Assembly of the Council was held for the second time in India, at Madras January 18-24, 1995. Under the theme "Jesus the only way ". The General Assembly was held on the spacious compound of the Hindustani Bible Institute. Rev Choi Kwang Jae, FECCC President spoke on "Jesus Our Hope" because He is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life.

The Fifteenth General Assembly of the Council is due to be held for the third time in Philippines at the Caliraya Recreation Center near Manila the Capital from Nov 1 to 5 under the theme of "A Good Minister of Jesus Christ" from 1 Timothy 4:6.