Asian Churches Unite 10 Groups in SBC's Largest Gathering

When Bishop A.B. Vines asked 200 people to form a circle and link arms, he was making a point about the power of unity. Playing the role of "disunity," he tried to break through their locked arms in several spots around the room but couldn't penetrate their intentional grip.

The demonstration at the Asian Collective's Kickoff celebration in Orlando captured the spirit of a historic gathering. Ten Asian ethnic fellowships brought together Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Myanmar, Thai, and Vietnamese church communities for the first Southern Baptist Convention event of its kind.

Vines, a Black pastor from California, received the first Kingdom Unity Award for his work bridging cultures. "Unity can change everything," he preached from Psalm 133. "Unity takes guts and intentionality."

The gathering marked a turning point in how Asian churches see themselves within American Christianity. Victor Chayasirisobhon, executive director of the SBC Asian Collective, emphasized that these communities are no longer just receiving missions support but actively sending missionaries worldwide.

Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee, highlighted the transformation. "Asian churches no longer are objects of mission," he said. "They are partners in the mission of getting the gospel to all the world."

The numbers back up that shift. Todd Lafferty from the International Mission Board reported that 380 Asian missionaries currently serve globally. The goal is to double that number within the next decade.

The Ripple Effect

The Asian Collective now rivals major state conventions in size, edging out California itself. Educational resources like "Navigating the SBC" are being translated into multiple Asian languages to help churches engage more deeply with denominational partnerships.

Charles Grant from the SBC Executive Committee stressed that these aren't just symbolic gestures. The translations into Korean, Chinese, and other languages give Asian congregations real tools to shape denominational direction and contribute to global mission strategy.

The vision extends beyond American borders. The International Mission Board set an ambitious target for 2033: zero unreached people groups by the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus' resurrection. Asian churches will play a central role in reaching that goal.

First Lady Karen Vines joined her husband in receiving appreciation for 25 years of ministry building bridges across cultures. Their work exemplifies what happens when different communities choose unity over uniformity.

The circle of locked arms in Orlando wasn't just a sermon illustration but a picture of growing strength through diversity.