2018 SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas

DALLAS (BP) -- Struggles and opportunities unique to second-generation Americans pastoring beyond their cultural heritage are a new focus of the 2nd Generation Asian-American Fellowship. The Southern Baptist fellowship drew about 20 pastors to a noon panel discussion June 12 in Dallas, kicking off a mentoring initiative to help second -- and even third -- generation pastors successfully navigate cross-cultural church planting and pastoral ministry. The event was held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting.

DALLAS (BP) -- "We have a citizenship in heaven and we are true brothers and sisters in Christ," D. August Boto told attendees at the National Asian American Fellowship's June 11 meeting in Dallas. Boto, interim president of the SBC Executive Committee, said the EC is "available to enhance the way God has gifted you in and through the ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention." Paul Kim, the EC's Asian American relations consultant, presented Roger S. Oldham, EC vice president for convention communications and relations, and Ken Weathersby, vice president for convention advancement, with awards of appreciation for their continued support for the National Asian American Fellowship.

DALLAS (BP) -- Panelists on the Cooperative Program stage in the exhibit hall prior to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Dallas, discussed a variety of cultural and denominational issues during 20-minute segments live-streamed on talkcp.com. Among topics on the stage were the state of the SBC, abuse in the church (see related story), racism, diversity and Calvinism.

DALLAS (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship has expressed concern that a group some SBMF members claim opposes Jewish evangelism was among exhibitors at this year's June 12-13 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Dallas. During its June 10 annual meeting, the SBMF -- which comprises largely Messianic Jews (Jews who follow Jesus as Messiah) -- also finalized an organizational restructuring plan, heard ministry reports and discussed apparent spiritual warfare surrounding efforts to win Jewish people to faith in Christ. Nearly 30 Messianic believers and friends attended the meeting, held at a TGI Fridays restaurant in Dallas.

CARROLLTON, Texas (BP) -- More than 900 Korean leaders and their families heard International Mission Board President David Platt's challenge to reach the world during the annual gathering of the Council of Korean Southern Baptist Churches in America. The fellowship, known informally as the Korean Council and encompassing 850 Korean-language churches, meets for three days each year in the same city and same week as the SBC annual meeting. Tuesday afternoon is left free and bus transportation is provided so the Koreans can participate in the day's session of the SBC annual meeting and vote for the next SBC president.

DALLAS (BP) -- The Filipino Southern Baptist Fellowship of North America (FSBFNA) met together June 12 at Dallas Metroplex International Church to celebrate ministry accomplishments from the previous year and to worship followed by fellowship over lunch. The meeting was held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Dallas, June 12-13. From June 2017–June 2018, according to a ministry report distributed to those who attended the meeting, the FSBFNA:

DALLAS (BP) -- "We use the culture of the American Indian to draw a crowd," said Warren "Junior" Pratt, a Pawnee chief. "We use Scripture to share God's truth." Pratt spoke -- and with his family performed -- during the Fellowship of Native American Christians annual meeting June 10-11 in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Dallas.

DALLAS, Texas (BP) -- Ruba Abbassi, CEO of the Jordan-based ministry Arab Woman Today (AWT), is the recipient of this year's Dellanna West O'Brien Award for Women's Leadership Development. Abbassi was honored during national Woman's Missionary Union's annual missions celebration June 10 in Dallas. The meeting was held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting, June 12-13. The O'Brien Award, named in honor of former WMU executive director Dellanna West O'Brien, has been given annually since 1998 to recognize Baptist women who lead well and foster leadership potential in others.

DALLAS (BP) -- Native Americans balance life in both the Native and white culture and too often lose to both, Gary Hawkins said in his executive director's report during the Fellowship of Native American Christians sixth annual gathering in Dallas. "Spiritual needs are tremendous among Native people," Hawkins said during FoNAC's June 10-11 meeting in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. "Fewer than 10 percent of Natives have an ongoing personal relationship with Christ Jesus, and a lot of them are dying without a clear presentation of salvation, making it so important we reach out today on our reservations and in our cities with ways of contextualizing the Gospel to best reach Natives," Hawkins said.

DALLAS (BP) -- Nearly 60 Hispanic pastors and leaders gained discipleship insights and resources during a LifeWay Leadership luncheon June 12 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. Craig Featherstone, LifeWay Global vice president, welcomed the group and noted LifeWay's new centers in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil in addition to short-term Bible studies in Spanish. These developments, he said, were steps toward creating resources to help churches -- including Hispanic churches -- make disciples and leaders.