More than 80 people representing 25 ethnicities and various ministries gathered at First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, May 25 for a meeting to discuss planning and strategy for hosting a three-day national ethnic summit in 2012.
From left, Jim Goodroe, director of missions for Spartanburg County Baptist Network, Mark Thao, pastor of Calvary Mong Alliance Church in Spartanburg, and Chandler Im, national director of Ethnic America Network, pray during a planning meeting for the 2012 EAN Carolinas Summit.Attendees also represented a wide swath of ethnic backgrounds. Some were originally from Vietnam, Venezuela, Nigeria, Pakistan and Nigeria.
Jim Goodroe, director of missions for the Spartanburg County Baptist Network, presided over the meeting, which included presentations from leaders of Ethnic America Network, a coalition of groups dedicated to encouraging churches to share the gospel in every ethnic community in North America.
Participants discussed possible venues to host the 2012 summit and named members to some of the 17 task forces that will handle planning details. Final details will be forthcoming. Another regional EAN meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25 in Spartanburg.
In addition to Spartanburg County Baptist Network, the only other South Carolina EAN member is Columbia International University Graduate School of Missions. Southern Baptists are represented on EAN by the North American Mission Board.
Goodroe is looking for involvement in EAN from more than members of Southern Baptist churches. “While Southern Baptists’ numerical strength in South Carolina tends to make them major players in kingdom events,” he said, “EAN welcomes all evangelicals to get involved.”
For more information: 2012summit@bellsouth.net.