ATHENS, GREECE (September 24, 2012) – The Covenant Church of Mexico will host the General Assembly of the International Federation of Free Evangelical Churches (IFFEC) when the ecumenical organization holds the gathering in Latin America for the first time.

The General Assembly, which meets every four years, will take place in Oaxtepec, Mexico, on October 6-12, 2014.

The federation is a group of churches from the Free Church heritage that meet for mutual support, networking, and cooperation in mission. The General Assembly includes 30 international church denominations from 22 countries, reflecting continued growth in representation from Asia, Latin America, and Africa in particular.

Leaders of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) were among those who gathered in Greece last week to plan the meeting as well as participate in IFFEC’s theology conference.

Marti Burger, director of youth and family ministry for the ECC, chairs the IFFEC youth committee and gathered a group of leaders from around the world during the conference to plan a youth ministry track during the General Assembly. Donn Engebretson, ECC executive vice president, serves as president of IFFEC and assisted with the planning.

ECC leaders also played key roles in the theology conference where church leaders from around the world explored the theme, “The Global Church and the Challenge of Diversity.”

Jay Phelan, professor at North Park Theological Seminary and chair of the IFFEC theology committee, was the primary architect of the conference. He also preached during the closing communion service. Speaking at the conference was Soong-Chan Rah, the seminary’s Milton B. Engebretson Associate Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism.

Participants also explored historical sites in Greece that were important to the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul.

Engebretson and Phelan preached at churches belonging to the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Greece on the Sunday before the beginning of the conference.