DALLAS (BP) — “United” is the theme and Ephesians 4:3 the scriptural admonishment for the fourth annual gathering of the Asian Collective, an umbrella fellowship group of Southern Baptists from nine Asian nations: China, Cambodia, Hmong, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines and Vietnam.

The Collective plans to meet from 3-6 p.m. Sunday, June 8, in Ballrooms C2 and C3 of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas. Southern Baptists from the nine Asian nations and others interested in Asian ministry “diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us” (Ephesians 4:3) are to gather “as iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17) reinforcing the positive impact of strong relationships, leaders say.

“God is doing amazing things through the Southern Baptist Asian community in partnership with the greater family of the (Southern Baptist Convention) SBC,” Victor Chayasirisobhon told Baptist Press. He is the director of the Asian Collective and director of missions for the Orange County Baptist Association in southern California. “Coming and hearing what is going on would be an encouragement that the Kingdom continues to move forward in Asia and amongst Asian-American churches.”

Mixing, mingling and networking with others present for the Collective’s annual meeting will help attendees establish relationships while also learning how to be a part of Asian ministry across the Pacific Ocean as well as in North America through Asian, Asian-American and Asian-Canadian Southern Baptist churches, Chayasirisobhon said.

Senior Pastor Ryan Lee of Semihan Church in Carrollton, 18 miles northwest of downtown Dallas, is to be one of the guest speakers. He is the host this year of the Asian Collective. The worship team at Semihan Church is to lead in worship.

An election of officers is to take place during a business session.

“We are still working on the agenda,” Chayasirisobhon said in mid-April. “I will address the Collective. There is the hope we will present some guiding documents agreed upon by the Collective fellowships.”

In the year Chayasirisobhon has been director, he has worked to develop unity and build consensus among the fellowships. 

“We are Southern Baptist Asian fellowships advancing the Kingdom as One,” the director said. “Our mission is to raise awareness of the contribution and presence of Asian Southern Baptists so as to help educate and promote partnerships with all Southern Baptists so we all can serve better together. 

“It is my hope that by meeting together we can better do missions in each other’s countries, planting churches, overcoming prejudice and ancient rivalries that sometimes exists between Asian fellowships and other ethnic groups. I hope to educate and encourage our fellowships to participate in all the different SBC entities, learn to navigate the different annual meetings and make a coordinated effort to help serve the Lord in the SBC.”

Asian NextGen Pastors Network addresses church hurt with gospel hope

DALLAS — The fourth annual meeting of the Asian NextGen Pastors Network is set for 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, June 9, in Room C3, Level 2, of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas. Cost to defray expenses is $10/person for early registration; $15/person by June 6; and $20 at the door.

Showing its commitment to the SBC as a whole, the Asian NextGen annual meeting is called a “pre-conference” because it takes place the day before the SBC annual meeting starts.

“Hope Beyond Hurt: Loving the Local Church” is the theme for this year’s Asian NextGen annual meeting, National Co-Coordinator Terrence Shay told Baptist Press. He’s the Family Pastor of First Chinese Baptist Church in Walnut, Calif. Hyung Lee, pastor/elder of Living Rock (Multicultural) Church in Pasadena, Calif., is the other national co-coordinator. They serve with 11 regional coordinators who stretch from New York to California.

“In a world where pain, division, and disappointment often shape our experiences, the local church can sometimes become a place of hurt rather than healing,” Shay told Baptist Press. “Yet, amid the struggle, there is always hope. Join us for an inspiring and restorative pre-conference that explores the theme Hope Beyond Hurt: Loving the Local Church.

“This event will help pastors and ministry leaders to reflect on their experiences within the church, acknowledge the wounds that have been caused, and discover the transformative power of the gospel,” Shay continued. “We will explore how we can still find hope, rebuild trust and rekindle our love for the local church, despite past hurts.”

Lee discussed “Family Matters” last year, and “Church Hurts” this year are because of their relevance to younger Asian church leaders.

“If healthy church leaders contribute to healthier churches, then we want to encourage and equip leaders through open discussion,” Lee said. “We don’t want to avoid subjects just because they might seem taboo in Asian cultures because that would imply the gospel doesn’t speak to all our heart issues, hurts, and sins.”

The SBC Asian NextGen Pastors Network exists as a hub for English-speaking pastors and church leaders to encourage and equip one another through friendship, collaboration, connection, mentoring and resourcing.

Guest speakers for the Asian NextGen event include Jamie Dunlop, associate pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C.; Lilly Park, associate professor of Biblical Counseling at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas; and Brett Imamura of Dallas. There also will be a panel discussion on “Church Hurt.”

For more on the Asian NextGen Pastors Network see sbcasiannextgen.com.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Karen L. Willoughby is a national correspondent for Baptist Press.)