Asia Pacific Regional Forum 2024
Overview
Prison Fellowship International’s (PFI) 2024 Asia Pacific Regional Forum took place from February 27-29, 2024 at Prison Fellowship Singapore’s Community Hub. 62 delegates representing 20 countries participated in the forum. Among these nations, 14 National Ministries and 3 prospective Chartered Affiliates were represented.
Gathering under the overarching theme of Leading for Greater Impact, delegates were reminded of the importance of effective leadership and out-of-the-box solutions in navigating the complexities of our time. The forum objectives were clear:
- Empower leaders to lead effectively and inspire others.
- Explore innovative approaches to address emerging trends in prison ministry.
- Draw insights from the experience of Singapore, the host country.
Delegates not only gleaned key learnings from the insightful sessions but found meaning in prayer and fellowship among likeminded peers.
Forum Events
On the first day of the forum, Andy Corley and Timothy Khoo, current and former Prison Fellowship International President and CEO respectively, spoke about Biblical leadership and emphasized the importance of placing trust in God at every juncture. This was followed by a presentation on Prison Fellowship Singapore’s Integrated Ministry Strategy, which brings together In-Care, Aftercare and Family Care in their ministry approach. Voice For Prisoners, a Hong Kong-based non-profit, shared how its advocacy efforts has raised awareness on drug mules in drug hot spots.
Prison Fellowship International President and CEO, Andy Corley, shares about Biblical leadership with forum delegates.
Day two focused on developing partnerships to achieve a holistic approach in transforming the lives of prisoners. Participants gained insights from our speakers Eddie Tan (Board Member, Faith Comes By Hearing Asia), Jason Wong (Founder, Yellow Ribbon Project) and Joseph See (CEO, Agape Connecting People), highlighting the value of Kingdom partnerships to expand impact in local contexts. Roundtable discussions around the topics of rehabilitation, reintegration and reconciliation facilitated in-depth discussions on critical themes. These discussions were led by Reverend Tobias Brandner (Professor of Theology at the Divinity School of Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong), Dr. Sreenivasa Rao (Inspector General of Prison, Andhra Pradesh India), Siew Lin Poh (Director of Community Development, Malaysian Care) and Samuel Lim (Coordinator of Community Development, Malaysian Care), and Tobias Merckle (Executive Chairman, Prison Fellowship Germany).
Panel discussions provided an opportunity for forum delegates to hear from a range of experts from a variety of organizations.
On the third and final forum day, delegates visited Singapore Changi Prison and the largest Christian halfway house in Singapore, The Helping Hand. Those who visited the prison learned about Singapore Prison Service’s rehabilitation approach and toured the accommodation facilities and Visual Arts Hub. Others who went to The Helping Hand learned about their reintegration approach and experienced work training facilities for ex-prisoners.
Forum delegates visit The Helping Hand, Singapore’s largest Christian halfway home that transforms the lives of ex-offenders.
A private dinner on the last night of the forum served as an occasion for PFI President and CEO Andy Corley, PFI Board Vice Chair Mason Tan and PFI Asia Pacific Regional Director Daniel Bey to engage with supporters in meaningful conversations. Attendees were afforded the opportunity to glean insights into PFI’s trajectory through Andy’s sharing on the impact that the organization has had and the journey ahead. Additionally, Sabun Ou and Visal Soun from Prison Fellowship Cambodia shared about program and capacity building partnerships which shed valuable perspectives on collaborative endeavours within PFI’s global network. The event acquainted new individuals with PFI’s mission and initiatives while fostering enduring relationships with established supporters. Such interactions served as the cornerstone for cultivating sustained patronage and collaborative partnerships in the future.
Summary
This forum would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship from Far East Organization and like-minded donors, and collaboration with partner organizations including Faith Comes By Hearing and Prison Fellowship Singapore (Host Office), and our faithful volunteers. Overall, forum participants were blessed in both knowledge and relationships through this event. Delegates shared that they, “learned so much over the few days” and found that there was a “good balance of information and collaboration.”
Forum participants gleaned key learnings during the event and built relationships with other National Ministries in the region.