Asian pastors gather in Corpus

CORPUS CHRISTI?Asian pastors from around the state gathered in Corpus Christi in late July for the fourth annual SBTC Asian Pastor’s Family Retreat.

Some 136 people from 12 ethnic groups attended the conference. Forty-six Asian Baptist churches are affiliated with SBTC.

Speakers at the conference included Mike Gonzales, the director of SBTC’s Hispanic Initiative and Ethnic Ministries; IMB Korean Coordinator Gihwang Shin and pastors from around the world. Programs for youth and children were provided as well.

Speakers at the conference emphasized unity within the Asian community as well as the body of Christ as a whole.

The unity spoken of in the auditorium was displayed throughout the conference as attendees encouraged one another.

“Every year pastors feel renewed of God. They really feel encouragement from one another, and pastors’ wives also really feel the grace of God through the retreat and the meeting. And their children really enjoy it every year,” Hyoung Kim, SBTC consultant for Asian ministry, said.

The encouragement the conference provides is particularly important for Asian church planters; the conference will be the only vacation some of them take this year, Kim said.

Kim said next year’s conference is being planned. The SBTC website, sbtexas.com, will include details when available.