DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING CENTRE
presents
Dr. Michael Griffiths
on
Mission in an age of technology
Is it easier for us than for David Adeney?


2nd DAVID ADENEY MEMORIAL LECTURE


Rev David Adeney was the founding Dean of DTC where he and his wife, Ruth, served from 1968 to 1976. On his retirement from DTC, he was appointed the Dean Emeritus.

Rev Adeney began his missionary service with China Inland Mission after his graduation from Cambridge University. He served in church-planting and student work in China for many years. After his work in China, he served as Associate General Secretary of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students and was involved in the pioneering and establishing of many IFES groups in various countries of East Asia. At the invitation of OMF, he founded and established DTC before handing the leadership of the Centre to Rev Howard Peskett. After his retirement from DTC and until his death in 1994, he continued to serve the Lord actively as Minister-at-large for OMF, speaking at student conferences and serving in China ministry.
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In honour of this great missionary statesman, the Board of DTC initiated the David Adeney Memorial Lecture by inviting distinguished speakers to deliver lectures on issues relevant to the Church, particularly the Church in Asia.

In memory of his significant contributions to missions, student work and theological education in Asia, the Board set up the David Adeney Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships to Resident Fellows at DTC to study and reflect, research and write on issues relating to missions, student work and theological education. This is to recognise and honour Rev Dr Adeney's significant lifelong contribution to the Church in Asia in these areas. It is also part of DTC's continuing effort to serve and support the work and ministry of the Church in Asia. An offering will be taken towards the David Adeney Scholarship Fund.

Mission in an age of technology:
picture Is it easier for us than for David Adeney?

The world of 1997 is very different from the world of 1934 when David Adeney first went as a missionary to China. Modernizing trends in travel, marriage, health, social behaviour, technology have changed the ways in which Christian Mission operates.

Dr. Michael Griffiths will consider the impact these developments have made by examining the life and the experience of David Adeney. He calls this an exercise in 'historical missiology".

Michael Griffiths was born in Wales, studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge, before training for ministry at Ridley Hall. After three years as a Travelling Secretary with IVF (UCCF) visiting students in the twenty two universities then existing in Britain, he and his wife Valerie arrived in Singapore by ship in October 1957. David Adeney persuaded OMF that Mike should be seconded to work with the still small and relatively new VCF at the then University of Singapore and Malaya for six months. Leading students of VCF then included Dr. Bobby Sng, Dr Chew Pin Kee, Jimmy Chew and Prof. Lawrence Chan. Their first son, John Griffiths, was born at KK hospital shortly before they set off by ship for Japan.

After language study, and an apprenticeship up country in church planting, Mike was invited by KGK to serve as their Tokyo staff worker, among the 110 universities in Tokyo while his colleagues travelled the country. During this period David Adeney, based in Hong Kong as IFES Associate General Secretary for the Far East often visited them in Japan. Moving to Singapore, as OMF General Director, Mike was among those who encouraged David to 'settle down" to a less itinerant life at DTC, and Valerie assisted as a part-time Old Testament lecturer (once their fourth child Glyn had been born at Mt. Alvernia).

Moving as Principal, to London Bible College after thirteen years in Singapore, Mike and Valerie, continued to meet many Singaporeans who studied there during the '80s, as well as others studying at Regent College, Vancouver (90-93). It was there that teaching a course on "Missionary Activists", Mike interviewed David Adeney shortly before he died.

Theoretically retired, the Griffiths still work (part time) as ministers at large with last year visiting Latin America, South Pacific, Japan and Canada, and this year Nepal, Cyprus, Slovakia and Singapore.