[1]ORLANDO, Fla. – The Chinese Baptist Fellowship of the United States and Canada’s dinner Tuesday evening, June 9, at First Baptist Church of Orlando was a precursor for members of their biennial meeting set for September in Texas.
The dinner took place in conjunction the with the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando.
“We have a fellowship gathering at the SBC annual meeting to provide an opportunity for messengers and leaders from Chinese churches in SBC to fellowship together and share what God is doing in their communities,” Executive Director Jeremy Sin told Baptist Press. “We had more than 120 people from at least 13 states who attended the reception.
“We are grateful for the love and support of the First Baptist Church of Orlando who let us use their wonderful facility,” Sin continued. “We are thankful for the wonderful meal provided and served by the Chinese Baptist Church of Orlando.”
Deep respect and homage for those who came before is ingrained into the Chinese culture. This was evident during the gathering, when Sin, born in Hong Kong was honored with a cake to celebrate his 69th birthday.
“I am just thankful for the love,” Sin said later, telling Baptist Press he wasn’t planning on retiring any time soon. He plans to participate in a 10K race on July 4, and perhaps a half-marathon on Thanksgiving.
Sin moved to the U.S. in 1987 and completed a D.Min. degree in 1991 from what today is Gateway Seminary. He pastored in California and Georgia for 17 years before accepting an assignment from the North American Mission Board in 2004, as a national church planting catalyst among Asian groups. In that role he creates awareness of church planting needs among Asian people groups in North America as he discovers, develops and assesses church planters. He also facilitates church planting activities in the U.S. and Canada, connecting planters with partners and resources.
Several others were recognized at the Chinese Fellowship’s gathering.
“The Chinese Baptist Fellowship honor and respect our pastors,” Sin said. “We are glad to hear from pastors who shared with the group on what the Fellowship means for them and how the family of the Fellowship blesses them and their churches. We are excited to see church planters and missionaries attend this event and we seek to pray for them and care for them.”
Orlando Chinese Baptist Church provided the meal. Sean Ma, pastor there for seven years, told the group he, his family and his church have been blessed by the Chinese Fellowship.
Tim Chan, pastor of First Chinese Baptist Church of Atlanta, Ga., offered a prayer before the meal. Matthew McGee of First Orlando welcomed the Chinese Fellowship. He is provost at Orlando Christian University.
Sin introduced Stephen Pan, being sent by Redeemer Baptist Church in Riverside, Calif., to serve with the IMB in Japan. His father, Pastor Moses Pan, is a long-time Chinese pastor in the Bay area.
Next, Sin introduced Augustine Hui, son of Mark and Florence Hui, who started Brooklyn Chinese Baptist Church 52 years ago. As they retired, their son was named pastor of the church. Augustine Hui, who recently received his doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, served a church in the New Orleans area and was ordained when he was studying in New Orleans. As a teen, Sin said, Augustine Hui made it known he would never be a pastor.
“We are glad to have next-generation pastors who are active in the Fellowship,” Sin said. “His parents are long time leaders of the Fellowship. His father served as the president of the Fellowship in the past and is one of our advisors.”
Sin introduced Garrett Ho, associate director of the D.Min. program at Gateway Seminary, police chaplain with the city of Alhambra, Calif., and formerly served as a staff pastor at Mandarin Baptist Church of Los Angeles.
“We pray that more Chinese pastors will be involved in the community,” Sin said. “What Dr. Ho does as a police chaplain is very unique, and very needed.”
Abraham Chui prayed for church planters and missionaries. He was a church planter in Texas and became pastor in 1990 of Chinese Baptist Church of San Jose, Calif. While pastoring in San Jose, he started 2000 Crosspoint Chinese Baptist Church of Silicon Valley, in Milpitas, Calif., in 2000, plus three subsequent campus churches. He served two terms as president of the Chinese Baptist Fellowship of the United States and Canada and today serves as an advisor to the Fellowship.
Pastor Mark Hui of Brooklyn, N.Y., included in the evening’s benediction, prayer for the daughter of a pastor in Atlanta, Ga., who with her family was involved in a severe car crash.
About 250 churches that worship in a Chinese cultural context in the U.S. connect with the Chinese Baptist Fellowship of the United States and Canada.
The Biennial (every other year) Conference of the Chinese Fellowship is set for Sept. 8 -11 at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
“We are looking forward for the participants to fellowship with one another, to learn from one another of their unique experience, and to seek opportunities to serve together on mission,” Sin said.
Alan Chan, senior pastor of Mandarin Baptist Church in Los Angeles, Calif., is to be speaker for the Chinese track, and Alan Bandy of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is to be speaker for the English track.
“It is a time to be encouraged, inspired, and connected for mission,” Sin said. “We are looking forward for the participants to fellowship with one another, to learn from one another of their unique experience, and to seek opportunities to serve together on mission.”
Karen L. Willoughby is a national correspondent for Baptist Press.
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