Asian-American Missions

When you say "Asian" you may think of Toyota, chopsticks, egg rolls, Buddhist temples, as well as people groups. These people greatly assisted America in becoming a progressive country by helping build railroads; working on farms, plantations, and fisheries; serving in the military; providing nurses, doctors, dentists, and bilingual experts in technological professions; and establishing family-owned businesses.

These people—the Southeast Asians, the South Asians, and the Pacific Asians—are from different multiethnic and multinational Asian groups. They bring to North America their varying languages, religions, cultures, and subcultures. One may come from Christianized Manila, Philippines; another from one of the still-animistic tribal villages of Laos. One Asian may come from the overcrowded Buddhist city of Bombay, India; one from the multireligious modern city of Tokyo, Japan; one from the culturally traditional island of Tonga; and still another from a Muslim town of Pakistan. They keep coming because of the open doors of migration, and the military, marriage, and money-making opportunities under the umbrella of freedom and justice. They become part of the American mosaic and experience the confusing and dividing tensions of religious, social, political, and cultural changes in their new country.

Many Asian families in America have more than one generation level. First-generation Asians are still mostly monocultural and monolingual. Many of this generation still feel like outsiders, aliens, or strangers. Second-generation Asians are assimilated into the American language and culture. Whether they are foreign-born or American-born, you can help them make a better transition into the American society. In so doing, you will have an opportunity to share with them the new life to be found in Jesus Christ and help them become part of a New Testament fellowship of believers in their communities.

Asians in North America: In Brief

Asians in America—the third largest and fastest-growing US ethnic group—encompass Southeast Asians from Cambodia, China, Korea, Laos, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam; South Asians from Bangladesh, Bautan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka; and Pacific Asians from Guam, Micronesia, Samoa, and Tonga. Asians immigrated to the United States as early as the 1800s. Today they continue to come. Thousands come every year to join their families. Others come seeking the traditional benefits of the American society. In 1998, there were an estimated 20 million first- and second-generation Asians in North America. The US Bureau of Census predicts that these numbers will more than double by the year 2020. California has America's largest Asian population of nearly 4 million. California is followed by New York, Hawaii, Texas, and Illinois.

However, Asian-Americans live in metropolitan cities in all states. Linked by more than racial similarities and origin, Asians exhibit strong ties to family and traditions. While they are eager to learn the skills necessary for American society, they are reluctant to give up some customs and native languages. Religion is important to Asians. It is part of their culture. Most Asians come to North America as non-Christians. Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, animism, and a combined form of Christian and non-Christian beliefs dominate the religious lives of Asians. Southern Baptist witness and ministry to Asians in the United States and Canada is growing dramatically.

Nearly 2,000 Baptist congregations have been established among the Asians, and more are envisioned for the twenty-first century. An example of this is the more than 700 Korean congregations and the more than 180 Filipino churches across North America. Yet great opportunities still exist. Southern Baptists face a dynamic challenge in the United States and Canada to reach out to both foreign-born and American-born Asians.  You can help.  Pray for those working with Asians in North America. Give to support North American missions.  Be active in missions among Asians in North America.