The 2nd Leaders’ Conference for Asia-Oceania was organized by the ICCRS Sub-Committee for Asia-Oceania (ISAO) in the Star City Conference Event Centre, Kota Kinnabalu, East Malaysia from 24 to 27 November, 2011. 1050 participants from 19 countries participated in the Conference. The theme of the Conference was “For such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). The event was hosted by the Sabah Archdiocesan Service Team. ISAO is the extended arm of International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS) for service and promotion of the CCR in the Asia-Oceania region.

The Conference commenced with the inaugural Eucharist presided by Archbishop John Lee of Sabah, welcome address by George Thien, Chairman of Sabah Service Team and introduction by Cyril John, Chairman of ISAO. The main speakers at the conference were Mark Nimo (USA), Charles Whitehead (UK) and Cyril John (India). Bro James Shin (South Korea), Ann Brereton (Australia), Gerard Francisco (Singapore), Fr Bart Pastor (Philippines), Brendan Woodnutt (New Zealand) and Fr Joy Menacherry OFM Cap (Bahrain) led the workshops and the holy hour of intercession. Bishop Dominic Su of Sibu, East Malaysia and Bishop Petrus Boddeng Timang of Banjarmasin, Indonesia presided at the Eucharistic celebrations.

On the third day of the conference, a healing and revival rally was organized for the public. It was attended by about 2500 people. It was decided to organize the 3rd ISAO Leaders’ Conference in Cebu, Philippines in 2014 and a Youth Conference in South Korea in 2013. Yes, I must say that by God’s grace the conference was a great success. The conference proved to be a great time of deepening in prayer and maturing in ministry for all participants. In a nutshell, what can I say about the just-concluded 2nd ISAO Conference? I would like to summarise the 2nd ISAO CCR conference in the words of Jesus in Luke 10:23”… blessed are the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it, to hear what you hear, and never heard it.”

The 1st ISAO conference in Jakarta was a different experience. The next one may be a different experience again. But this particular 2nd ISAO conference has definitely been a great blessing to everyone that many will remember for a long time to come and I believe it will have far-reaching results than we dare to imagine especially for our local participants. The feedback that we have been receiving so far has been nothing short of amazement and wonder. To God be the glory! Thank you ISAO for your commitment and service to the work of Renewal in this Asia-Oceania region.

- Daniel Kong, Secretary, Local Organising Committee, Sabah, East Malaysia

On Nov 5th, 6th, 7th November KCCRS hosted very successfully the 2nd GCCRS Conference- AMEN with more than 2750 attendees from all over the GCC attending the event. Thanks to the tremendous efforts by NST of Kuwait led by Bro CV Joseph and Spiritual Director with the total surrender to the Holy Spirit and their continuous intercessory prayers, made this possible.

Initially, the Bahrain National Team was chosen to hold the 2nd GCCRS Conference in November 2010 after the 1st GCCRS Conference in Abu Dhabi, with the Theme: Put out into the Deep and Let Down Your Nets for a Catch – Lk.5:4. with the acronym Logo of AMEN – One Abba, One Mission, One Empowerment and One Name – Jesus – as our symbol. Intensive preparations soon commenced with the formation of Executive Committees and sub-committees to facilitate Intercession, Administration and registration, Finance, Publicity, Liturgy, Accommodation, Food and Music Ministry. All preparation and venues were being arranged and preparations were happening in full swing .However, at the beginning of 2011, Bahrain entered into a state of turmoil and the political scene was not very encouraging with the situation deteriorating day by day. Following the same an emergency meeting was convened in Doha at the request of Spiritual Director of Bahrain NST in April 2011 together with Br. Cyril John with some of the available NST chairmen & Spiritual Directors together with HE Bishop Camillo Ballin & HE Bishop Paul Hinder when the transition of Vicariates were taking place .it was decided to change the venue of AMEN and to Kuwait based on internal discussions. The NST & HE Bishop accepted to host the event in spite of the limited time.

NST under the leadership of Br.CV Joseph , sprung into action and preparations were going on and the Gulf charismatic Renewal Steering Committee comprising of the two Bishop ,the spiritual Directors and NST Chairmen, had the 1st progress review meeting of the AMEN conference in Kuwait in June .In the meeting, the need for a coordination of both the vicariates were brought up and accordingly during the 2nd review meeting held in Muscat in Oct 2011 , both the Bishop decides to nominate two co-ordinators for the Vicariates . Accordingly in Sept 2011 ,Mr. Roy Pascal was choosing by HE Bishop Camello as the Co-ordinator of CCR for the Vicariate Northern Arabia and Bro Darley was chosen by HE Bishop Paul hinder as the Co-ordinator for CCR for Vicariate of Southern Arabia.

Following AMEN conference, the GCCRS co-ordination team met again to discuss the conference & plan for future activities. The first was to fix the next Venue. While all eyes were on Qatar for hosting it ,considering the availability of space & they had also expressed their willingness , it was HE the Bishop’s decision that since this year as the event was held in Northern Arabia , the next GCCRS conference in 2014 , the chance should be given to Southern Vicariate and accordingly Muscat was suggested as the next Venue . The NST chairmen & associate agreed to the decision and was asked to work out the details and present the details in the next scheduled Gulf Co-ordination committee meeting on March 3rd 2012 in Muscat. Qatar was asked to be as a backup host country. It was also decided during the meeting to work on various formation courses during the year with the co-ordination of the Vicariate coordinators.

Accordingly some initiatives are already being taken by Vicariate coordinators planning for 2012 activities for having a common formation programs & other renewal growth activities with the help of ICCRS /ISAO. The discussions are still on and we are hoping to have a plan drafted wetted by the Spiritual Directors before being approved by HE the Bishops of both the Vicariate to proceed with the activities with the total support of the clergy starting 2012 in a more co-ordinated manner.

his was attended by 525 leaders from 21 countries. It was indeed a time of new awakening for the Renewal in the region. We experienced tremendous fellowship and unity at the gathering. We as a body sensed the Lord telling us: “I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Is 43:18). Incidentally the ISAO Conference was held in the Krakatau Convention Hall in Mercure Hotel, North Jakarta, named after a volcanic island-mountain in Indones

A meeting between ISAO Executive Committee Members and the PMST, in the presence of His Grace Archbishop Murphy Pakiam and His Lordship Bishop Selvanayagam was held at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. The dates for the 1st ISAO South East Asia CCR Conference, was finalized for 12 to 15 August 2010. St. Anne’s Church at Bukit Mertajam, Penang was chosen to be the venue, being a place for pilgrimage.

A follow up leadership formation program conduced by Cyril, Felix and Gerard followed, with both Bishops also contributing to the inputs. Gerry Pereira, a PMST Member reports  –  “It was truly a joy to see about 120 leaders from all the four language groups, our African brothers and sisters (community in Malaysia), from Sabah as well as members of covenant communities assemble for the Pre-ISAO Conference for Leaders. Simon Mathew, Chairman of PMST encouraged those present to work together for greater unity, and to strive to be more effective leaders in order to carry out the vision and mission of CCR. He also thanked former PMST leaders for their leadership and contribution. It was truly a blessed time of formation, prayer and healing, as they were also led to ministering and reconciliation.

The International Leader’s Conferences by ICCRS in June 2009 was the first such Conference being held outside Italy, and the place chosen was Kkottongnae, two and a half hour by bus from Seoul City, South Korea. This was yet another opportunity for the leaders of the regions to also come together in large numbers to interact even more with CCR at the International level. Kkottongnae is a home where the sick, destitute and handicapped are taken in and cared for. From June 01 to 09, Kkottongnae was the location of the 2009 International ICCRS event, “Love in Action”. And what better place? Kkottongnae means in Korean “fields of flowers”, and for the volunteers and full time workers, the flowers are the ones being cared for. For the 1,000 participants who flew in from 43 different countries, it was a sincere opportunity for experiencing love in action.
For the first two days, early arrivals from outside of Korea had the opportunity to serve alongside the 200 Korean volunteers and 340 full-time workers, most of which are religious. On the third day, there was an official opening mass held in the evening, which was

presided over by one archbishop, three cardinals, ten bishops, and many priests. ICCRS President Michelle Moran lit a symbolic torch and welcomed the participants to the conference, and the evening ended with much praise and worship.

Throughout the next few days, informative and inspiring talks were given. During the last two days, event participants visited various holy places of martyrdom, where the ICCRS Council prayed for healing and peace throughout the world. The highlight of the Love in Action event was an open-air rally, where the participants of the conference were joined by over 50,000 Koreans, who came to celebrate mass and worship together in harmony. This entire event was a powerful demonstration of love.

In January 2009 at the Majodi Center in Johore, Malaysia, a meeting between representatives of ISAO Executive Committee and the PMST (Peninsula Malaysia Service Team) for CCR was held to begin discussion, prayer and discernment for the proposed

ISAO Regional Conference in Penang, Malaysia scheduled for August 2010. Following the meeting, Cyril John, Francis D’ Souza, Felix Ali Chendra and Gerard Francisco conducted a two-day Pre-ISAO Conference Leadership formation program where leaders from PMST, and the three Diocesan Service Teams attended. His Lordship Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing, Bishop of the Melaka-Johor Diocese, celebrated the opening Mass and inaugurated the event.

Being the first of the Regional Conferences to be confirmed and organized, this event will see participation from CCR entities from the Gulf States, who in December 2008 organized the ISAO 1st Gulf Conference for CCR. The Conference Committee comprise of members from the Bangalore Service Team for CCR

During the ISAO Executive Committee Meeting, as well as Committee Meeting held in Kkottongnae, South Korea on 01 June 2009, four regional follow-up conferences to be organized over a span of two years

besides a Priests’ Retreat and a Businessmen Retreat scheduled to be held in 2010, was planned for.

The Gulf was a region where Renewal entities and groups never before came together even at the national level for a Conference. For the first time 1800 leaders from six Gulf countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – came together under the banner of Gulf Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (GCCRS) for a conference in Abu Dhabi from 07 to 09 December 2008. “Let the Fire Fall again” was the theme of this conference. As a follow up, the Bishop of Abu Dhabi and Kuwait has officially recognized the Renewal by drawing up and giving the Kuwait National Service Team (KNST) a set of Statutes. The Bishop of Abu Dhabi is taking personal initiatives to appoint National Spiritual Directors in each of the Gulf countries in his Vicariate and set up National Service Committees to

This was attended by 525 leaders from 21 countries. It was indeed a time of new awakening for the Renewal in the region. We experienced tremendous fellowship and unity at the gathering. We as a body sensed the Lord telling us: “I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Is 43:18). Incidentally the ISAO Conference was held in the Krakatau Convention Hall in Mercure Hotel, North Jakarta, named after a volcanic island-mountain in Indonesia that ejected in August 1883 approximately 21 cubic kms of rock, ash and pumice and generated the loudest sound historically reported. It was heard in Australia, Philippines and even Mauritius, more than 5000 kms away. A tsunami followed the explosion and its impact was felt all around. At the end of the Conference, we had several reasons to believe that this conference was a spiritual eruption, a tsunami that had greatly impacted the region leading to a New Springtime.