What kind of event would draw over 400 Asian-Americans from 85 different churches in southern California?  A one-day seminar on “Finding the right spouse”?  Or “Discovering a career that’s right for you?”  How about “Ways to improve communication with your parents?”  Or “Growing Asian-American churches”?  Actually…none of these!  Rather, the participants of this event all came together because they were captured by one common vision:  To exchange their Asian-American dream for the God-sized dream that impacts the nations! 

The Passion for the Nations Conference was held on March 14, 2009. Behind Passion for the Nations conference is a partnership of over 10 different organizations, united together by a single desire: to mobilize the Asian-American congregations to abandon their own plans and become more intentionally engaged in God’s global purpose.

The attendance far exceeded everyone’s expectations!  But it wasn’t just that a lot of people showed up; it’s that they showed up with a sense of readiness to respond.  The atmosphere throughout the entire day was one of longing to hear from God and eagerness to take action! A number of pastors and missions leaders commented during the conference: “God is definitely doing something very special here!”

At the end of the conference, as the various missions organizations were wrapping up their display booths, one representative said to me:  “We have had more people sign-up to join our ministry from this one-day conference of 400 people, than from the past two years being at a local seminary’s missions conference which lasts 3 days and has over 2,000 people in attendance!”  Incredible!  Indeed, God has been preparing this demographic of people to respond to His global heart!

One of the plenary speakers, after the evening session, said to me in amazement: “Wow…I was not ready for this!”  I responded: “You know what?  Neither were we!”  Once in a while you just happen to get involved in something and suddenly, it becomes clear that what is happening is way beyond any group of people or any organizations’ doing.  And that the only reasonable explanation is that it is simply the work of God! Passion for the Nations was such an event.

People at the conference were inspired by messages from Asian-American pastors with global visions. Furthermore, their perspectives were broadened from workshops held by missionaries, seminary professors, and missions mobilizers on topics ranging from Business as Missions to Cross-cultural Ministry, from HIV/AIDS to Spiritual Warfare, from Reaching Int'l Students to Serving Long-term Overseas.  The hope is for each person to discover their unique place in God’s salvation plan for the nations!

Could it be that God desires to raise up thousands of Asian-Americans…some to be released into the most neglected parts of the world, and others to live intentionally radical lives in the U.S. with a love for all peoples? Is it upon God's heart to invite more Asian-Americans to invest their lives for the sake of the gospel and on behalf of the poor and the oppressed around the world?

God has given Asian-Americans a unique and strategic role in declaring His glory and displaying His love among all nations. Caught between two cultures, the Asian-American has the blend of American education and resources together with Asian family and social values. This bi-cultural identity makes them very suitable for cross-cultural ministry among some of the least reached people groups on earth!

The overwhelming response to Passion for the Nations 2009 conference confirmed what many already had an intuition about...namely, that God is doing something unique and significant among this generation of Asian-Americans in terms of global missions involvement.  Essentially, here is an army of bi-cultural, educated, motivated, tech-savy people, hungering for a purpose greater than what their parents have in mind for them and what the American society tries to sell them. 

The question now is: Will we move from inspiration to action?  Will this generation of Asian-Americans rise up and take their role in the expansion of God’s kingdom into all the world?  For us to respond to what God longs to do through us will require significant sacrifice, perseverance, faith, and courage?  Are we ready?

A large number of post-conference surveys indicated that people are wanting to see this conference held on a regular basis.  But more importantly, it is clear that God is moving.  So plans are already progressing for Passion for the Nations 2010!  Be on the lookout for what the King of kings is doing!  We hope to see you there…for the sake of His renown among all nations, language, tribes, and people.

 

 
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