programme

Our focus is children who are in different ways invisible. Invisible children are often those who are most in need and whose situation means they are least likely to benefit from development and social service. In the Kingdom of God, the least important are the greatest. What will it take for us, and for the wider society, to see, respond to and engage invisible children in the ways of the kingdom? Follow our blog at http://vivaasia.wordpress.com for more thoughts on this.

• Download the timetable here (pdf).

Part 1. The Academy
(Monday, Nov 19)
This is a full day of workshops before the main conference on key topics led by people with significant expertise. A great place to connect and sharpen the cutting edge in your practice.

1. Strategic leadership: How to provide leadership – maximising your organisation’s possibilities
2. Growing your team: How to grow your staff and grow your team. Helping you fulfil your role in God’s plan for each team member.
3. Fundraising Internationally: How to ask for money!
4. Advancing the kingdom through CRC: How child rights can be effectively used in Christian advocacy and practice.
5. Current key issues in child development: Improving our knowledge of current key issues, strategizing advocacy
    

Part 2. Asia Cutting Edge Conference 2007
(Tuesday, Nov 20 to Thursday, Nov 22)

A. Plenary Topics include:

1. The Uniqueness of the Christian Response to Invisible Children
2. Disability, AIDS and Ethnic Minority
3. Prison and Protection
4. Migration
5. Positive Parenting
6. Invisibility in Cyberspace

B. Practices for Learning

• Examining and exploring case studies to deepen understanding of the issues and enhance responses. These smaller group sessions will follow the plenaries each day. If you have an excellent practice in your ministry that you would like to share with others, you are invited to submit a presentation proposal for approval by the programme committee. Presentations should be relevant to the plenary issues listed. To receive a proposal outline please contact the Conference Coordinator. Deadline for proposals is 1 August 2007.
   

Part 3. Working Groups
Friday, Nov 23 till Saturday, Nov 24

1. Asha Forum – child sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking
   Sharing strategies and expertise, developing outcome-driven partnerships to address issues of child sexual abuse.
2. Holistic Child Development
   How seminaries facilitate the Christian response to children at risk and next steps in training for childcare workers.
3. Spiritual Formation for Children at Risk
   Good practice in spiritual formation for children at risk, resources, gaps and opportunities.
4. AIDS and Children
   How much AIDS planning is really child-focused? What can be done?
    

Resource Area

• The Resources Area will enable you to share your ministry resources and discover new resources useful for your work. If you have resources that you would like to display and/or to sell please contact the Conference Coordinator for more information.

Spiritual Refreshment and Fellowship

• We pray that Asia Cutting Edge 2007 will be a significant time for God to refresh his people. Devotions and pastoral input will help us hear from Scripture, and take time for prayer, worship and reflection. There is a chapel on-site; and the Mustard Seed Café and other areas for relaxing and sharing with friends.