AEYA 2026: UKDW Lecturer Urges Asian Youth to Affirm Identity in Christ Through Reflection, Care, and Transformation
A lecturer from the Faculty of Theology at Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW), Rev. Jeniffer Fresy P. Wowor, Ph.D., took part as a speaker at the Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA) 2026, held on April 17–22, 2026, in Thailand. At the gathering of Christian youth from across Asia, she called on young people to affirm their identity in Christ amid the challenges of the digital age.
AEYA is a forum organized by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), bringing together youth from various Asian countries to engage in dialogue, build networks, and respond to social, humanitarian, and technological issues.
During the event, Rev. Jeniffer presented a talk titled “Break Every Yoke: When Faith Under the Yoke, Affirm Identity in Christ.” In this international forum, she introduced UKDW’s academic perspective into global theological discourse, particularly on the role of faith in responding to contemporary change. She emphasized that the message of the Prophet Isaiah about “breaking every yoke” extends beyond personal spirituality to encompass the transformation of social relationships and communal life.
She also elaborated on religious practices such as fasting and Sabbath observance in Isaiah 58, arguing that they must be understood more deeply. According to her, these practices should manifest as tangible expressions of justice, compassion, and living faith in everyday life. She further highlighted identity challenges in the digital era, where many young people shape their sense of self through social media.
As a response, Rev. Jeniffer introduced the concept of “place sharing,” inspired by how Jesus Christ engaged in the lives of others. This concept emphasizes authentic presence, meaningful relationships, and genuine care. She argued that such an approach is essential in countering the isolating tendencies of digital life, which often prioritize appearance over substance.
“Identity in Christ is not determined by how visible someone is in the digital world, but by honest, caring, and mutually supportive relationships,” she said.
As a concrete step, Rev. Jeniffer encouraged Asian Christian youth to adopt three core practices: reflection, care, and transformation. Reflection involves prayer, meditation, and digital fasting to cultivate greater sensitivity to God and others. Care is expressed through self-acceptance and sincere concern for others. Transformation, meanwhile, is realized through active engagement in addressing social issues at both local and global levels.
She stressed that these three practices are interconnected and form a holistic way of life. Through this approach, Asian Christian youth are expected to reject self-centered attitudes and actively contribute to meaningful change.
Rev. Jeniffer’s participation in AEYA 2026 underscores UKDW’s presence in international forums and highlights the contribution of Indonesian scholars to discussions on faith and life in the digital era.
By MPK | Eng. by DRR
