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NASHVILLE (BP) — Calling it “a new day,” Peter Yanes said he was encouraged by the tenor and content of discussion during the first online meeting Thursday (April 30) of the Southern Baptist Convention Asian American Collective.
More than 150 Asian American pastors and leaders participated in the Zoom call hosted by Yanes, the executive director of Asian American relations and mobilization for the SBC Executive Committee. Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC EC, fielded questions and shared his heart with the participants.
“The SBC needs to look like the America that we’re trying to reach,” Floyd said, noting the steps being taken to promote Asian American involvement in the SBC.
The SBC Asian American Collective is a collaborative network of more than 2,000 Asian American churches, which Yanes notes are composed of “different ethnicities distinct in culture and language, but collectively committed to the Great Commission.”
The goal of the online meeting was twofold: To bring together various generations to hear from Floyd and to provide connections and facilitate collaboration among Asian leaders of all ages, backgrounds and networks. Yanes said the participants were committed to becoming more involved with SBC life and ministry and that he hoped the call would help forge better relationships and trust among Asian American leaders and churches.
Daniel Yang, director of the Send Institute and one of the leaders on the call, noted the sovereignty of God in purposefully placing Asian peoples in America for direct ministry platforms.
“God is sovereignly allowing Asians to grow in numbers — we’re the fastest growing racial group right now — and to also grow in influence,” Yang said. “We’re actually joining in His mission by being here. This call is very important.”
Yanes, who joined the SBC Executive Committee staff last December, described his role as more than just representation; he’s attempting to find ways to “maximize involvement and participation among all Asian American churches, networks, national fellowships and ministry groups” in the SBC. Floyd also noted that Yanes’ role on the EC staff includes participation on Floyd’s leadership team.
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Source: Baptist Press
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