VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 3/30/11)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), in partnership with the Ministers Council and the Burma Refugees Task Force, sponsored the “Together in Ministry [TIM] Retreat for Pastors with Burma Refugee/Immigrant Ministries” March 16-18, 2011, at the Mission Center in Valley Forge, Pa.

Led by Ministers Council Executive Director Dr. Joe Kutter, the retreat included prayer and readings from Acts 2, 9 and 11. A presentation about the missional church was provided by Rev. Dr. Ronald Carlson, ABHMS missional church strategist. Two case studies focused on key issues surrounding immigrant refugees and existing congregations.

Thirty-five pastors from 17 American Baptist Churches USA regions across the United States spent significant time meeting in small groups and identifying common issues and challenges as well as sharing the joys of ministering to refugee immigrants from Burma (now officially known as Myanmar).

The retreat resulted in the formation of six TIM covenant groups, in which pastors will convene throughout the year via electronic media, conference calls and face-to-face meetings. The groups will provide vital support to pastors involved in cross-cultural ministry with people who come from a different cultural orientation and who have great needs.

“If past studies of the benefits of being in such a covenant group are any indication, we can expect some of the learnings from these groups to be multiplied within the congregations,” said Rev. Rothang Chhangte, task force liaison.

Read the full story on ABHMS’ Web site at www.abhms.org.

For more information about the Burma Refugees Task Force, contact Rev. Florence Li, ABHMS national coordinator of Intercultural Ministries, Asian churches strategist and task force member at florence.li@abhms.org or 800-222-3872, x2468. For more information about Burma Refugees Ministries, contact Chhangte at rothang.chhangte@abhms.org or 800-222-3872, x2426.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.