This year, our Executive Director Paul Bendor-Samuel was privileged to be invited to attend the third gathering of COALA (Christ Over Africa, Latin America, and Asia) in Panama City from April 27-30, 2025, as one of the few representatives in the form of listener and bridge builder. He joined 46 mission leaders from the Majority World brought together to dialogue, strengthen networks and collaborate on global mission approaches. It was a great opportunity for Paul to meet many friends of old as well as connect with many new scholars and practitioners.
A Growing Movement
COALA represents an organic development within global Christianity, emerging from conversations between Korean and Latin American mission leaders in 2023. What began as informal discussions has evolved into “a growing coalition of Global South mission leaders to strategize for the next phase of global missions.” The Panama gathering coincided with COMIBAM’s decennial conference, providing an ideal opportunity for broader Latin American engagement.
The conference emphasised several key themes that resonate deeply with OCMS’s mission and values:
Mutual Partnership: Rather than replacement models, participants advocated for genuine collaboration across the global Body of Christ. There was clear appreciation for Western mission contributions while simultaneously calling for more equitable partnerships.
Contextual Mission: A strong desire emerged for developing contextualised approaches to mission that move beyond simply adapting Western models. The concept of “polycentrism” featured prominently in discussions about multiple centres of mission leadership.
Intercultural Empathy: Leaders recognised the unique contribution that Majority World missionaries bring to cross-cultural contexts, particularly their ability to connect with communities that share similar social and economic realities.
Research and Academic Connections
The gathering highlighted significant opportunities for academic collaboration. Many participants expressed interest in developing contextual missiology through research and theological reflection. Several leaders showed interest in pursuing doctoral studies, with some specifically interested in OCMS programmes.
The conference revealed a hunger for rigorous academic engagement that takes seriously the diverse experiences and perspectives of the global church. This aligns perfectly with OCMS’s commitment to fostering scholarship that serves the worldwide Christian community.
Building Relationships
Beyond formal presentations, the conference provided invaluable opportunities for relationship building. OCMS was able to renew connections with friends across the global mission community while establishing new partnerships with leaders from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
These relationships are particularly significant given OCMS’s strong connections with INFEMIT and our substantial community of Latin American alumni. The conference reinforced the importance of these networks and opened doors for future collaboration.
Looking Forward
The conference concluded with recognition that COALA is still in its formative stages, transitioning from an informal gathering to a more structured network. Plans are already underway for COALA 3.5 in Seoul this October, coinciding with the WEA General Assembly.
For OCMS, the conference highlighted several important opportunities:
- Research Collaboration: Supporting the development of contextual missiology through academic partnerships
- Student Recruitment: Connecting with emerging leaders seeking advanced theological education
- Network Building: Strengthening relationships with key mission movements across the Majority World
- Resource Sharing: Exploring how OCMS resources and platforms might serve the broader global mission community
Conclusion
The COALA Panama gathering demonstrated the vitality and vision of mission leadership across the Global South. As the global church continues to evolve, initiatives like COALA play an increasingly important role in fostering collaboration, developing contextual approaches to mission, and ensuring that all voices contribute to the Great Commission.
OCMS is grateful for the opportunity to participate in this important conversation and looks forward to supporting the development of global mission scholarship and leadership in the years ahead. The relationships built and renewed in Panama will undoubtedly contribute to our shared mission of understanding and advancing God’s mission in the world.
You can read more about the conference on the Christian International Daily website.
You can find out more about OCMS programmes here.