[1]RICHMOND, Va. – The International Mission Board hosted the first-ever Mission School for Lay Leaders of Korean Baptists Nov. 11-12. Fifty-four Korean American pastors and lay leaders from eight different churches in the U.S. traveled to Richmond to attend.
Korean Southern Baptists are the largest ethnic group who send missionaries to serve with the IMB. There are 860 Korean Southern Baptist churches in the Southern Baptist Convention, and Korean American churches have sent around 200 missionaries to the nations through the IMB.
Ezra Bae, the IMB’s Asian Network Strategist, said the missions school provided Korean Baptist pastors and lay leaders with an opportunity to see, experience and learn more about the IMB.
“My hope is that this will serve as a catalyst for strengthening and expanding collaboration between local Korean churches and the IMB,” Bae said.
Some of the leaders’ churches have sent out missionaries already, others are looking to do so in the future.
The lead pastors of many of the churches may have a greater understanding of the IMB, but often, Ezra has found, the lay leaders’ knowledge of the IMB may just be of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
“It is essential for each local church to deepen its understanding of the IMB and to actively engage in the mission by praying, giving, going and sending more missionaries to the nations,” Bae said.
During the event, pastors and lay leaders toured the International Learning Center campus and the IMB headquarters on Monument Avenue, learned about the history of the IMB and how they can partner with the IMB to reach the nations.
Ed Herrelko, the vice president of U.S. engagement, and Chris Martin, director of convention strategies, shared about the mechanics of the organization.
The leaders heard from Jacob Boss, the vice president of global engagement, and Victor Hou, the associate vice president of global advance, about the IMB and the organization’s ethos and what sending to the nations looks like.
Dr. Tom Hicks shared about the IMB’s health care ministries. Leaders also learned about IMB jobs and pathways to the mission field.
IMB President Paul Chitwood addressed the pastors and lay leaders during the IMB’s weekly chapel service.
“We thank the Lord for you. We thank the Lord for your partnership in the Gospel,” Chitwood said. “We celebrate that you share the same heart for the nations that we share, and a passion to get the Gospel to the nations. It’s a privilege to host you, and it is a privilege to partner with you in sending your missionaries through the IMB all around the world.”
Chitwood recently spoke at New Vision Church in Milpitas, Calif., and praised senior pastor David Yi and his congregation for their dedication to partnering with the IMB. Yi was one of the mission school attendees.
“I am truly thankful to IMB for providing such a wonderful time and opportunity,’ Yi said. “I deeply appreciate that the IMB’s president, vice presidents and directors all came to greet us, present and serve us. Their humble and joyful service was a great encouragement.”
Yi reiterated his commitment to the IMB during a debrief session and his desire for increased involvement from Korean churches.
“Moving forward, we want Korean churches to take a more active role in praying, giving, going and sending in partnership with the IMB – and even become key leaders in these efforts,” Yi said.
Yeonjae Kim, the senior pastor of Bridge Community Church in Nashville, Tenn., appreciated learning about the IMB.
“This was an opportunity to clearly understand the IMB and the SBC, which I previously only vaguely knew about. All the lectures and presentations — covering mission understanding, dialogue and discussion — were very beneficial,” Kim said. “I was deeply moved to see how even small contributions from churches can be greatly used in IMB missions and SBC ministries.”
For Sangjo Lim, a lay leader from New Wave Korean Baptist Church in Buford, Ga., the Mission School for Lay Leaders of Korean Baptists provided affirmation.
“Coming from a Presbyterian background, this was a chance to reaffirm that the SBC is the largest and most Gospel-centered denomination,” Lim said. “Instead of supporting the LMCO vaguely, I now understand it concretely and can participate more actively and joyfully.”
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