Break out speaker Bethel Bumanglag Webb, a counselor with the Christian Psychology Institute, worships during the Filipino Southern Baptist Fellowship of North America gathering in June 2024 in Indianapolis.
DALLAS — Nine Asian fellowship groups enrich the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) diverse membership, and three more — Thai, South Asian and Nepalese — are in the formation process.
This in addition to the National African American Fellowship, National Hispanic Baptist Network, Ghana National Convention fellowship, North American Haitian Baptist Association, Pacific Coast Slavic Baptist Association and the Brazil Baptist Fellowship.
“The SBC’s ethnic fellowships complete the SBC in the sense that they complement Revelation 7:9,” Charles Grant told Baptist Press. Grant is the SBC Executive Committee’s associate vice president for Convention Partnerships. “They fit cooperatively and missionally. They promote and reinforce the importance of the Cooperative Program’s value within their fellowships. Additionally, each fellowship exists with the common thread of strengthening efforts to make disciples and carrying out the Great Commission.
“While committed to being in the SBC, there is still a need for ethnic churches to have a place to connect culturally,” Grant continued. “The support these fellowships give as a place to identify with strengthens involvement in the SBC. Ethnic fellowships help churches contextualize educational resources, trainings and worship experiences, and the fellowships also all exist to connect churches to the right people and resources within the SBC.”
Among the Asian fellowships, four will have gatherings concurrent with the June 9-11 SBC annual meeting at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center Dallas. Five are gathering at different times throughout the year. The as-yet-unorganized Thai, South Asian and Nepalese groups communicate through email, texts and phone calls.
Chinese
The Chinese Baptist Fellowship of the U.S. and Canada, which meets for its next annual meeting in 2026, plans to host a reception for Chinese messengers to the SBC annual meeting at 6 p.m. June 10 at King’s Buffet restaurant in Dallas. The dinner is free, but registration at chinesebaptists.org/dinner-sbc-2025 is necessary.
Pastor Howard Li is president of the Chinese Fellowship and pastor of the Trust in God Baptist Church in New York, N.Y.
“This will be a time to learn and celebrate what God is doing among Chinese churches in North America,” Executive Director Jeremy Sin told Baptist Press. “We also are planning several regional pastors’ retreats. The first one will be on July 7-10 at Ridgecrest, N. C., and we are working on two more later this year elsewhere around the country.”
Filipino
The annual meeting of the Filipino Southern Baptist Fellowship of North America (FSBFNA) is set for 2-6 p.m. Monday June 9 in the Greenville Anvil Room, Level 2 at the Omni Dallas Hotel, adjacent to the convention center. Its theme, based on 2 Peter 1: 5-8, is “Excellence in Character, leading with integrity and purpose.”
Pre-registration is required. See FSBFNA.com/events. The cost of dinner is covered for each pastor, wife and one additional guest. Others are $20/person. Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, is to be the guest speaker. Lito Lucas, Philippine International Christian Fellowship in Lakeland, Fla., is president of the FSBFNA.
“This meeting is for fellowship and to equip our pastors and church leaders,” Executive Director Dan Santiago told Baptist Press. “We are encouraged that we are able to provide an equipping portion for our pastors as well as time to interact with one another. It is our joy. We are so happy to do this.”
Korean
The 44th annual meeting of the Council of Korean Southern Baptist Churches in America, which has as its theme “Hold Fast,” is set for June 9-11 at New Song Church in Carrollton, concurrent with the SBC annual meeting some 24 miles south on I-35E in Dallas.
The $200 registration fee includes all meals for three days for the entire family.
Guest speakers are to include Peter Hyun, senior pastor of New Song Church; David Lee, senior pastor of Good Community Church in Torrance, Calif.; David Dockery, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas; and Hance Dilbeck, president of GuideStone Financial Resources in Dallas.
Young Min Pi, president of Korea Baptist Theological Seminary in South Korea, is to be a special guest.
Worship teams from several churches are to lead in worship at each service.
Among business items to be discussed during the Wednesday sessions are an election of officers and major structural change — moving some details — from the constitution to bylaws, Executive Director James Kang told Baptist Press. Young Ha Kim, Shalom Mission Baptist Church, Anaheim, Calif., is outgoing president.
People should attend this year’s annual meeting “because it is part of our churches’ responsibility to send their messengers,” Kang said. “It will be important to participate in the SBC annual meeting, which we will join on Tuesday.
“We anticipate this year’s Korean Council will be one of our most attended annual meetings, with more than 1,000 people present.”
Myanmar
The third annual meeting of the Myanmar Baptist Churches USA (MBCUSA) is set for 2-4 p.m. Monday, June 9, in Trinity Ballroom 3 on Level 3 of the Omni Hotel, adjacent to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas.
The cost-free celebration is to include praise and worship, guest speakers, fellowship, and Executive Director Hre Mang’s annual report. Mang also will give the main message. He is the senior pastor of Falam Church in Indianapolis, Ind.
MBCUSA’s president is Thuam Khai, pastor of Sihyin Chin Baptist Church in Baltimore, Md.
“Come and join in worshiping God with the SBC Myanmar believers in the USA,” Mang told Baptist Press. “Learn how God the Holy Spirit is moving in and through the SBC Myanmar local churches and enjoy the fellowship of believers from diaspora Myanmar Baptist churches.”
There will be networking opportunities to get to know the Myanmar church leaders and pastors, learn more about the Myanmar Baptist believers and missions opportunities across the United States among more than 300,000 immigrants from Myanmar, Mang said. Learn also about missions opportunities in the nation of Myanmar, formerly called Burma, where the majority of the population is Buddhist.
Fellowships meeting apart from the SBC annual meeting
Five Southern Baptist ethnic fellowships plan annual gatherings at times and in places other than the SBC’s early June annual meeting.
Cambodia
The Cambodian Southern Baptist Fellowship (CSBF) plans to gather July 2-5 at its Blessing Field in Statesboro, Ga., for the fellowship’s 41st annual meeting. The theme of “Whom Shall I Send?”is based on Isaiah 6:8.
The cost includes rustic lodging and Cambodian meals: $70 for those 65 and older; $90 for teens 12-17; $60 for adults 18-64; $30 for children 6-11; no cost for youngsters under 6 years old.
Worship leaders and guest speakers: Pastor Sithon Nuon of Chet Creeks Church in Jacksonville, Fla.; Pastor Map Voeun of Chet Creek Church; Pastor Caleb Soch of Jacksonville; Pastor Sokhom Khim of First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Ga.; Executive Director Seang Yiv of Summit Church in Garner, N.C.; and Pastor Sam Ros of Philadelphia, Pa.
This year’s annual meeting is to focus on worship and fellowship, Yiv told Baptist Press.
“We have prayed and expect a larger attendance of the young generation this year,” Yiv said. “Because the focus of our theme will be on the gospel of Jesus Christ, we hope that the Lord will renew and rekindle the Spirit of many who come.”
Hmong
The 34th annual meeting of the Hmong Baptist National Association (HBNA) is set for Oct. 9-11 at the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake County, Wis., with a theme of “Firm Foundation” based on Psalm 62:1-2.
The average cost of $230/person is to include lodging and meals as well as worship, training and fellowship.
Worship is to be led by Alexander Thao, pastor of First Hmong Baptist Church of Broomfield Colo., and the Ceebtsheej Hmong Baptist Church Worship Team of Winder, Ga.
Guest speakers are to include Joseph Young, Sr., pastor of First Hmong Baptist Church of Coon Rapids, Minn., Chales Grant of the SBC Executive Committee, and Chong Pao Thao, outgoing president of HBNA and pastor of First Baptist Church of Broomfield, Colo.
Special guests are to include Jeremy Sin of North American Mission Board (NAMB); Menwoo Jang of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS); Na Her of Minnesota Wisconsin Baptist Convention; Aaron Jameson of Training Leaders International; Ezra Bae of International Mission Board (IMB); and Hoon In of GuideStone Financial Resources.
While the business session will be primarily about an election of officers, there will also be specialized training in small groups.
“This year, we celebrate the 34th Annual Conference of the Hmong Baptist National Association, marking an important election year for leadership in the Hmong Baptist community for the next two years,” Thao told Baptist Press. “We look forward to inspiring worship sessions tailored for church leaders and a wonderful opportunity to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
Japanese church planters
The 23rd annual meeting of the Japanese Church Planting Network (JCPN) is set for June 23-26 at Japanese International Harvest Church in Brentwood, Mo., with a theme of “The Church as God’s Companion” from 1 Corinthians 3:6-9. The cost is $350 for non-members.
Pastors, their wives and church leaders from member churches are to lead in worship. Guest speakers are to include Pastors Mitch Yokoi and Kenji Yokoi from Japanese International Baptist Church in Tigard, Ore., and Pastor Tom Yaso of Japanese International Baptist Church of Phoenix, Ariz. Jeremy Sin, national church planting catalyst with NAMB, is to be a special guest.
Church planting strategy is the main purpose along with the vision of planting churches across North America and Japan in order to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“We encourage wives to support their husbands to pursue the vision,” JCPN Director Mike Yokoy told Baptist Press. “We also encourage and help to pay their airfare for PKs [pastor’s kids] to attend the youth and children’s program held separately during the main session at JCPN’s annual conference, in order to learn about the work of JCPN. There’s no pressure; they want to come,” Yokoy added with a grin.
Japanese fellowship
The 33rd annual meeting of the Pastors’ and Pastors’ Wives’ conferences of the Japanese Southern Baptist Churches of America (JSBCA) fellowship took place April 29-May 1 at Gardena Valley Baptist Church in Metro Los Angeles.
“The Work of the Pastor in the Baptist Church” was the theme for the pastor’s conference study. Pastor’s wives studied “Wisdom from God to be a Wise Woman.” There was no cost for the event, but each person was responsible for his/her own expenses.
Business this year was to include an election of officers and consideration of one church’s acceptance in the JSBCA fellowship. Messengers approved, and Kahului Union Church Japanese Ministry on Maui has been added. The other purposes of the annual meeting were to worship, study and enjoy fellowship, Secretary Hiro Sakamaki told Baptist Press.
Yutaka Takarada, President of JSBCA, is pastor of Japanese Baptist Church of North Texas in Dallas. Masashi Sugita, President of the Pastors’ and Pastors’ Wives conferences, is pastor of Dublin (Ohio) Baptist Japanese Chapel.
Laotian
The fourth annual gathering of the United Lao Southern Baptist (ULB) fellowship is set for June 27-29 at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla., with “Love God Serve Others” from Matthew 22:37-39 as its scriptural basis.
The $110 cost per attendee provides for two nights’ lodging and five meals, ULB President Patrick Sookaserm told Baptist Press. He’s pastor of First Baptist Lao Church in Tomball, Texas.
Guest speakers are to include Boon Vongsurith, pastor of First Baptist Church’s Laotian congregation in Amarillo, Texas; Houmphan Vongsurith, pastor of First Laotian Baptist Church in Dallas; Soulin Xaiyarath, pastor of First Laotian Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio; and Jacob Sisombath, youth advisor at First Laotian Baptist Church in Dallas.
The worship team from Lao Liberty Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Ark., is to lead worship in Lao. The Lao Baptist Youth and Lao English Adult Fellowship team is to lead worship in English.
On the agenda: Training, fellowship, approving new members and election of new officers.
“Individuals who attend this year’s conference will have opportunities to equip themselves to love God and serve others,” Sookaserm said. “We have multiple workshops, fellowship, worship, and sport activities for them. This is an annual meeting and everyone is looking forward to meeting their brothers and sisters in Christ.”
Vietnamese
The 2025 annual conference of the Vietnamese Baptist Union of North America (VBUNA) is to gather July 3-6 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott for its 40th annual meeting with “His Wondrous Works” as its theme, based on Psalm 105:2. The $250/person cost includes a shared room and meals.
Guest speakers are to include Peter Lê Hồng Phúc of Dallas; Christian Phan Phước Lành of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; Jeff Iorg of Ontario, Calif.; Nguyễn Cao Sơn of Laurel, Md.; and Trần Lưu Chuyên of Dallas. Worship is to be led by Duy Tran and chorus from Dallas, North Carolina and Orange County, Calif.
“Special guests will be two presidents — An Dien Nguyen and Giam Khanh Nguyen — and leadership team members of two main Baptist Groups in Vietnam will join us,” VBUNA Executive Director Christian Phan told Baptist Press. “Representatives from NAMB, IMB, GuideStone and the California Baptist Convention will be also joining us.”
Election of officers is the main agenda item for the 2-5 p.m. Sunday, July 6, business meeting. President Peter Le, Senior Pastor of Faith Vietnamese Baptist Church in Dallas will finish his second term this year and is term-limited. Messengers are to select a new president for a two-year term.
“Our annual conference is an opportunity for Vietnamese Baptists in the United States and Canada coming together to worship God, to be spiritually edified through sermons, to learn new things from seminars, to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ after a year of not meeting, to elect leaders for the Union, and to hear about missional and educational works,” Phan said. “For us, the annual conference is like our holiday. We gather together like a big faith family.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Karen L. Willoughby is a national correspondent for Baptist Press.)
