VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 8/8/06)-Asian American Baptist church leaders anticipate they will gain renewed vision for their ministries during events in Seattle, Wash., August 17 to 19. A retreat for pastors, seminarians and young adults will be held first, leading into the First Asian American Baptist Convention, which begins August 18.
"We want to help Asian churches build strategies to reach their missional goals within varied contexts," says Rev. Florence Li, National Ministries' Asian churches strategist and National Coordinator for Intercultural Ministries. "The backdrop is transitions among American Baptist churches, as traditional approaches to church mission face contemporary issues."
Both events provide opportunities for representatives of Asian churches to hear perspectives from leaders of American Baptist Churches USA. General Secretary Dr. A. Roy Medley will address the gathering, as will Executive Director Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III, from National Ministries, and Acting Executive Director Dr. Charles Jones, from International Ministries.
At the convention, Dr. Sam Chetti, executive minister of the Los Angeles Baptist City Mission Society, will share his experiences in that region from 30 years of service. Other events include interest group sessions on National Ministries' Children in Poverty Initiative and International Ministries' country-specific mission possibilities, in addition to sessions on effective church planting efforts and reaching the younger generation.
The convention offers a question to consider: "How then shall we serve?" The retreat will be guided by another question: "How then shall we live?"
This year's retreat highlights the need to recognize diversity in the group called "Asians" as a whole. From within that cultural framework, facilitators will engage participants in dialogue with specific mission objectives related to American Baptist Churches USA. Groups will form during the retreat for spiritual refreshment and connectedness, which will include enjoying the tranquility of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and journeying in prayer on a labyrinth walk.
Rev. Donald Ng, senior pastor of First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco, Calif., who served many years in Christian education at the national level, will be speaking at the retreat. Rev. Zau Ya Lahpai, pastor of the Burmese Christian Community Church of Silicon Valley in San José, Calif., will offer his ministry gifts in a Bible study.
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches, USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/