CCIH 2026 Regional Meeting Strengthens Health and Hope Across Southeast Asia
“The 2026 CCIH Regional Meeting was a meaningful and enriching experience. It provided valuable insights on integrating faith and health in practical ways while also creating opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals across the region. I am grateful to be part of a community that is committed to promoting health and wholeness.”
Reca Grace Lazaro, CURE Philippines
That spirit of learning, encouragement, and fellowship shaped the CCIH Regional Meeting held April 21–23 at the CCT Tagaytay Retreat & Training Center in Tagaytay City, Philippines.
Seventy-three Christian health practitioners, church and lay leaders, program managers, and global health professionals gathered from across Southeast Asia and beyond under the theme, Empowered to Lead: Advancing Health and Hope in a Changing World. Inspired by Isaiah 61:1, the meeting created space for participants to explore how faith-based health organizations can respond to today’s changing global health landscape with resilience, compassion, and hope.
The regional meeting focused on four major themes: leadership, preparedness, mental health, and mother and child health. Throughout the gathering, 49 speakers, facilitators, and moderators shared practical experiences, lessons learned, innovations, and challenges from their work in communities across the region. Sessions highlighted both technical and spiritual dimensions of health ministry and emphasized the unique role Christian health actors play in strengthening communities and serving vulnerable populations.
Each morning began with worship and devotions, helping foster a spirit of fellowship that participants repeatedly highlighted in their evaluations and conversations throughout the event.
The meeting was organized in partnership with International Care Ministries (ICM), whose local support and coordination were instrumental in connecting participants and facilitating preparations for the gathering.
Feedback from attendees reflected strong appreciation for both the content and the relationships built during the meeting. Networking and collaboration emerged as some of the most valued aspects of the event. Many shared that they had already made concrete plans to continue conversations, strengthen partnerships, and pursue future collaboration after returning home.
As Arbind Sah of Nepal Leprosy Trust reflected:
“The CCIH Regional Meeting was an invaluable experience for gaining a broader perspective on community health across Southeast Asia. Presenting our community health models allowed for a rich exchange of ideas that are directly applicable to our training and development goals. It was a meaningful platform for health leaders to align on strategy and data-driven solutions for the region.”
The meeting was made possible through the generous support of sponsors:
Engineering Ministries International (EMI)
Hope Rises International
World Renew
CMC Vellore
Imres
As the gathering concluded, participants expressed a strong desire to continue connecting and learning together beyond the meeting itself; a reminder that Christian global health work is strengthened not only through technical expertise, but also through fellowship, shared purpose, and mutual encouragement.
Find presentations and more resources from the Regional Meeting here.
