Global ICN has churches in six regions; Africa, Asia Pacific, Eurasia, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean and Northern Asia.
Each region now has a ‘champion’ whose role it is to help gather international churches into the network and create connection.
In this ‘Question & Answer’ article, we feature Dave Kenney, the champion of our Asia Pacific Region, and his church, International English Service in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he serves as pastor.
Meet Dave…
1. Where have you served in overseas ministry?
I’ve served in Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Indonesia.
2. How long have you been involved in international church work?
Since 1980, where in Hong Kong I was an assistant to Alfred Cawston and later Eldon Brown. After a few years break, I’ve served in international church ministry in Indonesia for the last 22 years.
3. Tell us about your church.
International English Service is 13 years old. We meet in 4 different locations in Jakarta with a weekend attendance of 2,200-2,300 per weekend. We have people from about 25 countries in the church. In addition to IES, there are 11 other International, English speaking churches in Jakarta.
4. What do you feel makes your church special or unique when people are looking for an international church?
We have a strong church culture.
5. What are your thoughts about Global ICN and how it will help you and other international churches/pastors connect?
I hope that we will be able to help our congregation members, who live, work and travel internationally to be able to find places to worship whenever they are in other cities. I also hope that we can share best practices and ideas to reach a globally mobile community.
6. What are the challenges of serving in international church ministry in Indonesia? In Asia Pacific?
In Indonesia we have to find the right people to open different international churches. I honestly believe that we could start 10 new international churches in Indonesia in the next 12-18 months if we had people who could pastor the congregations. In Asia Pacific the same issue arises, finding the right people to lead the congregations.
7. Do you have a favorite resource (book you are currently reading, website you visit frequently, etc.) that you’d like to share with the group?
Best book I read recently was “After Paul Left Corinth” which helps to dig down and understand some of the things in 1 Corinthians based on recent scholarship. It is fascinating to learn how modern finds can help us understand some of the texts in 1 Corinthians. Reading stuff like that challenges me to keep reading and learning.
Contact Information:
Dave Kenney
E-mail: dave@iesjakarta.org