The Exchange initiative partners ABHMS with Asian American Christian leaders to preserve heritage, amplify voices, and build Beloved Community

VALLEY FORGE, PA (08/27/2025)—Asian American Christian leaders convened in the San Francisco Bay Area on August 1 for two days of activities combining pilgrimage, storytelling, and dialogue across cultures and spanning generations. Titled “The Exchange: Stories of Rooted Faith,” the event sprang from a collaboration of American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), the Arc Initiative at Berkeley School of Theology, and the Asian American Christian History Institute at Fuller Seminary’s Asian American Center under ABHMS’ The Exchange initiative.

The West Coast gathering began at First Chinese Baptist Church of San Francisco with a faith pilgrimage through the city’s historic Chinatown. The walk encouraged participants to reflect on the legacy of one of the oldest Asian American communities in the United States, where stories of resilience and struggle have been woven into everyday life. Afterward, participants met at the church for a panel discussion moderated by Rev. Michele Turek, ABHMS’ national coordinator for Asian Ministries. Panelists included Pastor La Hkawng of Oakland Burmese Mission Baptist Church, Longshibeni Kikon, a recent graduate of Berkeley School of Theology, and Rev. Sebastian Ong, senior pastor of First Chinese Baptist Church of San Francisco, who shared perspectives from Burmese, Northeast Indian, and Chinese American contexts.

The first day’s emphasis on hearing and discussing stories of ancestors and their communities shifted when the conference resumed for day two at Berkeley  School of Theology. Now the participants focused on their own stories, both as individuals and in the context of their churches. In workshops led by Rev. Dr. Lauren Lisa Ng, senior program officer with the Arc Initiative and a former ABHMS program director and board member, they connected personal narratives with their call to ministry and found new ways through story sharing to link identity, vocation, and intercultural understanding.

The Bay Area conference was the second event involving The Exchange initiative. In early June, a consortium including ABHMS hosted  “Our Story, Our Faith: South Asian Christian Histories and Futures” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the historic Seven Mile Road Church.

The two-day exploration of the experiences of South Asian American Christians included plenary speakers Sam George, director of the Global Diaspora Institute, Jaisy Joseph, assistant professor of Ecclesiology and Theology at Villanova University, and Sherry Thomas, director of the Housing and Habitability Initiative at Legal Clinic for the Disabled, addressed themes of migration, identity, and community resilience. Panel discussions brought together South Asian storytellers and creatives, ministry leaders, and voices from across the broader Asian American community. And a story work session led by spiritual director and story coach Sandhya Oaks invited participants to reflect personally on their own narratives in light of shared histories.

ABHMS was deeply involved as an organizer and sponsor, collaborating with Princeton Theological Seminary’s Center for Asian American Christianity (CAAC), the Asian American Christian History Institute (AACHI) at Fuller Theological Seminary’s Asian American Center, and the Epic Movement, a college campus ministry of Asian American students and faculty affiliated with Cru, formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ. Turek worked tirelessly behind the scenes and also served as a panel moderator.

“The Exchange is more than just a program,” said Turek, reflecting on the two events. “It is a sacred space where Asian and Asian American leaders can share their stories and listen deeply to one another. At the same time, it acts as a catalyst for dialogue and storytelling across generations, helping people of Asian heritage hold onto their history and identity while making sure their voices are not marginalized. In both ways, The Exchange strengthens our communities and broadens the church’s witness.”

Together, the 2025 conferences showcased the diversity of the Asian American diaspora, from South Asian congregations in Philadelphia to multigenerational Chinese, Burmese, and Northeast Indian communities on the West Coast. Event organizers anticipate that the work started in Philadelphia and San Francisco will continue, with another gathering expected in summer 2026, likely in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Additional reflections on the Philadelphia event are available in an article published by the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary: “Standing in Solidarity with St. Thomas.”

Learn more about the work of Intercultural Ministries at ABHMS by visiting abhms.org.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.