The International Mission Board hosted the first-ever mission school for lay leaders of Korean Baptists on Nov. 11 and 12. Fifty-four Korean American pastors and lay leaders from eight different churches in the U.S. traveled to Richmond, Virginia, 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.
‘Catalyst for strengthening and expanding collaboration’
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.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Tessa Sanchez and originally published by the International Mission Board.
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