Rose Waligora worships at the 2023 Asian Collective Kickoff in New Orleans.
INDIANAPOLIS — A sense of excitement is palpable among Asian Southern Baptist churches, as seen in their plans for meetings at the Indianapolis Convention Center (ICC) and elsewhere this summer, as part of the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting.
The excitement was triggered when Peter Yanes, then the SBC’s Asian mobilizer, started the Asian Collective in 2021. The excitement built in 2022 and 2023, and continued in March, with the Asian National Leader Summit, said Ezra Bae, Asian Church Mobilization strategist for the SBC’s International Mission Board (IMB).
“There are nine Asian national fellowships and associations,” Bae told Baptist Press. “We need to get to know one another, to make a network and build a strong and secure partnership with the IMB to carry out the Great Commission together.
“Asian NextGen pastors have lots of potential to carry out the Great Commission,” Bae continued. “They can mobilize young Asian people from their churches and they can go to the nations who [otherwise] couldn’t have even a chance to hear the gospel to fulfill the vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language vision of Revelation 7: 9-10.”
The Asian Collective Kick-Off Celebration is set for 3-5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 9, in ICC Rooms 103-106. The Celebration is to include Asians from the nations of Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the Hmong people group from those last-named four nations, though all Southern Baptists are welcome to participate.
The Asian NextGen Pastors Network Luncheon is set for 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, June 10, in ICC Rooms 143-145.
The next Asian NextGen Pastors Summit is set for Sept. 10-12 at IMB headquarters in Richmond, Va. At least 25 NextGen Asian leaders from across the United States are anticipated, some of whom are to be guest speakers.
Asians also will be a part of the Ethnic Leaders Fellowship Breakfast, an invitation only event set for 7-8 a.m. Tuesday in ICC Room 211.
The nine Asian fellowships also plan to meet and strategize in Indianapolis and elsewhere.
Cambodian: The Cambodian National Baptist Convention (CNBC) is to meet June 26-29 at its new Blessing Field near Statesboro, Ga., for CNBC’s 40th annual gathering. During the SBC’s annual meeting, the Cambodians plan to be a part of the Asian Collective. Seang H. Yiv is executive director.
Chinese: The Chinese Baptist Fellowship of the United States and Canada Reception is set for 5-7 p.m. Tuesday in ICC Rooms 120-121. “Everyone is welcome,” leaders say. Guest speakers are to include the Chinese Fellowship’s Executive Director Jeremy Sin and President Howard Li.
“This is a time of fellowship and a chance to catch up on each other and what’s happening at Chinese Baptist Fellowship,” Senior Liaison Officer Amos Lee told Baptist Press.
The 22nd biennial meeting of the Chinese Fellowship is set for Sept. 16-19 at Mandarin Baptist Church in the Alhambra suburb of Los Angeles. Its theme is to be “Missional Discipleship.”
Filipino: The annual meeting of the Filipino Southern Baptist Fellowship of North America is set for 2-6 p.m. Monday, June 10, in ICC Rooms 123-124. The theme is “Transformed by the Truth,” referencing 1 Peter 3:15 as the Scripture.
Andrew Walker, a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS), is to be guest speaker. Breakout speakers include: Bethel Bumanglag-Webb, the women’s ministry coordinator at SBTS and director of the Christian Psychological Institute; and Victor Dela Cruz, pastor of Biblical Community Church East in Dallas.
The Filipino Fellowship is to “learn how to minister and navigate in today’s cultural challenges, such as transgenderism, transhumanism, mental well-being, and pastoral use of technology,” according to its website. Dan Santiago is executive director.
Hmong: The Hmong Baptist National Association (HBNA) plans to gather June 29-30 at Como Park in St. Paul, Minn., for its annual Fourth of July celebration. The women’s ministry team plans to host a stage session to share the gospel with music and preaching in addition to traditional Hmong games, food and fellowship.
The HBNA’s 33rd annual meeting is set for Oct. 4-5 in Fresno, Calif., with a theme of “One Mind, One Voice” from Romans 15:5-6.
Korean: The Council of Korean Baptist Churches in America plans to meet June 10-12 at the Indianapolis Marriott East for its 43rd annual meeting. Worship is to be led by Shinil Kim of Korean Grace Baptist Church in Mishawaka, Ind., and Byungman Park of New Hope Baptist Church in Lansing, Mich.
Guest speakers are to include: Sung Kun Park, pastor of Berendo Street Baptist Church in Los Angeles; J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, N.C.; and Greg Mann, affinity group leader at the IMB for the Asia-Pacific Rim region.
The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening worship services are to be “powerful messages,” Executive Director James Kang told Baptist Press. The Tuesday morning service is to have a world missions focus. Tuesday afternoon, Koreans plan to attend the SBC annual meeting sessions.
Wednesday’s business sessions are to include reports, elections and resolutions, including a resolution to form a constitution study group “not related to SBC issues,” Kang said. President Nak Cho, pastor of Tidewater Korean Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Va., is to preside.
Lao: The United Lao Southern Baptists’ conference is set for June 27-29 at The Vines Center in Little Rock, Ark. Its theme — Pass on the Mission — is taken from 2 Timothy 4:6-8.
Myanmar: The Myanmar Baptist Churches USA fellowship is to gather from noon-7 p.m. Monday, June 10, in ICC Rooms 120-121 (first level) for its second annual meeting.
Three Burmese worship leaders are to lead worship. Victor Chayasirisobhon, former SBC vice president and association missions strategist for the Orange County Southern Baptist Association, is to speak.
President Thuam Khai, pastor of Siyin Chin Baptist Church in Laurel, Md., is to preside over business matters, including the annual report given by Executive Director Hre Mang of Falum Christian Church in Indianapolis, Ind. Officers were elected last year to two-year terms.
The focus of this year’s Myanmar annual meeting will be on worship, preaching and fellowship, Mang told Baptist Press.
Vietnamese: With a theme of “Mature in Christ” from Ephesians 4:13, the Vietnamese Baptist Fellowship is to meet July 3-7 at the Atlanta Airport Marriott in Georgia.
Worship is to be led by praise teams from Atlanta, Dallas and North Carolina. Speakers include: Executive Director Christian Phan Phước Lành of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; Peter Lê Hồng Phúc of Dallas; Henry Phan Minh Hội of Gilbert, Ariz.; Hồ Thế Vũ of Seattle; Đặng Quy Thế of Fort Worth, Texas; Bryant Wright of Marietta, Ga.; and Đỗ Đăng Phú of Lake City, Ga.
Fellowship President Peter Le, pastor of Vietnamese Faith Baptist Church in Dallas, is to preside. Business is to consist of planning all programs in detail, reports and preaching, The only election is to be that of the first vice president.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Karen L. Willoughby is a national correspondent for Baptist Press.)
