Chinese Baptists focus on being ‘Together on Mission’ at conference

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Chinese Baptist Fellowship of the United States and Canada met on the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary campus for their biennial conference Sept. 8-11, hearing from plenary and breakout speakers, including Southwestern faculty members and alumni.

The event, which had the theme of “Together on Mission,” included an English and Chinese track and had almost 300 participants. Alumnus Alan Chan (’84), pastor of Mandarin Baptist Church in Los Angeles, was the plenary speaker for the Chinese track, and he also preached in chapel on Sept. 8.

Lilly Park, associate professor of biblical counseling, led a breakout session on healthy conflict resolution and how conference attendees could apply it in their churches, religious organizations, or their personal lives.

“I think sometimes as Christians we think we should not be having conflict if we are spiritually mature, if we are loving enough, forgiving enough, etc.,” Park said. “But conflict will happen, and if it doesn’t, then someone is not being real.”

Park pointed out that conflict is a work of the flesh, not the Spirit, according to Galatians 5. While the world gives advice on how to resolve conflict, Park said believers must remember that it comes from a deeper problem of the heart and can only be resolved with wisdom from God and the work of the Spirit.

Park, who also holds the Hultgren Chair of Ministerial Counseling at Southwestern, said important questions to ask in times of conflict are: what does the Bible say, is it an issue of sin or preference, what is the motivation, are those involved listening in order to understand, what can be controlled, and are they seeking to trust and glorify God.

“I don’t know what conflicts you are having or have had, but you’re not responsible to God for reconciliation,” Park said. “You are responsible for pursuing peace, but reconciliation requires both parties to seek peace. I think that’s really helpful, because sometimes when we are trying to resolve conflict, we’re trying to force that reconciliation, and we can’t control the other person.”

Park encouraged that pursuit of peace through the confession of personal sin, seeking prayer, and remembering God’s love and presence.

During a time of Q&A, conference attendees asked questions about conflicts they might have with family members or congregants who follow different Chinese traditions more closely and how to deal biblically with conflict at an organizational level in Christian entities.

Jim Graham (’84), a Southwesterner from Canada who served with the North American Mission Board for nine years and currently with the International Mission Board for more than 23 years, led a breakout session on the state of global Chinese diaspora.

“We’re seeing Chinese people go everywhere in the world,” Graham said, saying many have immigrated to the United States.

Sharing from Acts 8, Graham pointed out that when the early church was persecuted, they dispersed, and “As the church was scattered, they preached the Word.” The goal of Graham’s IMB team is to connect with Christian Chinese immigrants to partner with them as they start new churches.

Around North America and Europe, where he specifically ministers, Graham said he has witnessed Chinese churches not just thrive in their new locations, but then reach the world through international missions and church planting for locals where they are.

“It’s amazing to think about what happens when we go together,” Graham said, encouraging Chinese church leaders to send missionaries to the nations from their congregations. The IMB has resources available to help Chinese churches become churches on mission, Graham said.

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For more information about the fellowship, visit its website here: chinesebaptists.org.