Rev. Dr. Edmound Teo is the Senior Pastor of International ChristianAssembly. He has served in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malaysia and Singapore before coming to Hong Kong.
He is on the Board of Ecclesia Ministries Limited which is the recognized equivalent of Assemblies of God General Council of Hong Kong. He also sits on the Board of the Global University (a fully accredited Christian University) and Network211 Global Vision Board.
Dr. Teo is widely recognised as a Bible teacher with a strong apostolic anointing and a pastoral heart. He is also a mentor to pastors and leaders in ICA and believes in raising up home grown leaders.
His visionary and servant leadership have been pivotal in bringing ICA to new levels of influence, strength and growth. He has a great love for Hong Kong and constantly inspires ICA to be a church that gives back to the poor and powerless. ICA’s biennial citywide ‘1 PEOPLE 1 CITY’ (http://www.1people1city.org) is one of the fruits of his commitment and compassion for Hong Kong.
He is married to Yvonne and they have two wonderful children, Charis and Caleb.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU … EDMOUND TEO
Q: Tell a bit about your background: where you were born and raised, where you went to school and what you studied.
A: I was born in East Malaysia and after finishing high school went on to study theology. I did D.Min. at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong.
Q: Please share a brief version of how you met Jesus and how God called you into full-time ministry.
A: I was born a Catholic but accepted Christ in an Anglican Church. However I grew up spiritually in an AG church. In 1986 I received my full time call during a private prayer time. I physically felt the Lord walking into my room and touched my head as he called and consecrated me.
Q: Tell us about some (or all) of the places you served and how your ministry path led you to work with international churches.
A: In 1987, I was doing church planting in Zambia & Zimbabwe and subsequently pioneering language churches among Indonesians and Filipinos in Malaysia & Singapore. It was in 1998 that I was invited to ICA, Hong Kong as Associate Pastor.
Q: What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing international churches today?
A: I believe that we must present our message in such a way that people understand and see that we are people of the Word.
Q: How do think the international church has evolved or changed over the past 30-40 years and what have been the driving factors behind those changes?
A: ICA started with reaching Internationals English speaking and eventually went on to minister to Internationals that are non-English speaking in the 80s. After 2000, the church saw an increase of overseas Hong Kongers (local English speaking) attending. At the same time we moved into ministering locals non-English speaking as well. Looking back, the Lord was transforming ICA to be more Glocal (act locally, impact globally), where we are a church for all people and from all places. To be more inclusive rather than exclusive.
Q: What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing international churches today?
A: We lack resources, experience as well as theology to define and describe how we do church.
Q: What do think are the biggest opportunities for international churches today?
A: Inclusive, influence, and freshness.
Q: How do you believe that organizations like the Fellowship of European International Churches and the Global International Church Network can help the international church movement today?
A: Exchange ideas, provide training, sending of workers and exposure to IC in the other continents.