Asian Ministries is a mission program of National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA. At present, there are over 130 Asian American Baptist churches, congregations and fellowship groups within the ABCUSA. These groups are comprised of first, second, third and fourth generation Asian Americans, and their descents include Japanese, Filipinos, Chinese, Koreans, Indians, Myanmar, Chins, Karens, Kachins, Mienh, Vietnamese, Thais, Laotians, Indonesians and Cambodians. Over 18 different languages and dialects are spoken, a fact that makes Asian Ministries one of the most culturally rich and ethnically diverse groups within our denomination.

We are strengthening Asian Ministries' mission and ministry and responding to National Ministries' mission goals by providing:

• Pastoral and lay leadership development
• Church planting and transformation
• Evangelism and discipleship
• Recruitment and placement of professional church leadership
• Resource development
• Scholarships for theological and higher education
• Conscious-raising and sensitizing for Asian American concerns
• Bridge-building and networking among language groups
• Interacting and cultivating relationships with Intercultural Ministries
• Support for Asian women in ministry
• Partnership with the Asian American Baptist Caucus

"Taiko" (traditional Japanese drums) create a dramatic musical opening for the Multi-Cultural Celebration.

Asian Ministries Demonstrates Mission-Focused Teamwork "How Then Shall We Live?" and "How Then Shall We Serve?" were twin themes respectively of two Asian Ministries events held back-to-back in Seattle, Wash., in August. A retreat hosted by Asian Ministries for emerging leaders took the lead, followed by the first Asian American Baptist Convention sponsored by the Asian Caucus. FULL STORY