Asia Evangelical Leaders Unite in Seoul to Rekindle a Disciple-Making Movement Across the Continent

Seoul, Korea / Jakarta, Indonesia | June 18, 2025

More than 100 evangelical leaders from 22 Asian nations gathered in Seoul, South Korea, for the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum (AELF) 2025, hosted by the Asia Evangelical Alliance (AEA), under the bold theme: “Disciple or Die 2.”

The message was unmistakable: “Making disciples is not an option. It was the last words of Jesus, his command to every believer, and the Church’s only path forward” declared Dr. Bambang Budijanto, AEA General Secretary.

The significant outcome of the leadership forum was the creation of strategies to double the Mission Force in Asia in 10 years, and to see the Great Commission significantly accelerated through the four strategic thrusts, namely: Youth Empowerment, AI Kingdom Deployment, Children and Family Discipleship and Mission Mobilization. Over three intense days at the Antioch Center, leaders exchanged strategies, prayed fervently, and forged fresh commitments across four vital fronts, called ‘thrusts’:

Family & Children: Gwen De Rozario (Singapore) warned of generational drift: “If the home doesn’t disciple, the world will.”

Youth Mobilization: A cohort of young leaders challenged the Church: “Give us 20, and we’ll give you 500,000”—a call to disciple half a million youth by raising 20 emerging leaders per country.

Mission Acceleration: Speakers urged pastors to move their focus from administration to multiplying disciple- makers who are deeply rooted in Scripture and community.

AI & Kingdom Deployment: Mark McClendon (CBN) reframed technology as a divine opportunity: “God is not surprised by AI. The question is—will the church leverage this awesome power to accelerate the work of the Great Commission?”

The forum ended not with applause, but with Communion, worship, and a call to action.

“Let this not stay in a room,” said Dr. Budijanto. “Let it multiply—in every home, church, and city in Asia.”

AELF 2025 was more than a forum—it was a rallying cry. Leaders left Seoul aligned, awakened, and mobilized for a shared mission: To double the mission force in Asia in the next 10 years, through a region-wide discipleship movement.