The 2026 Asia Baptist Network Leadership Conference was held March 3-4, 2026, at Koza Baptist Church in Okinawa, bringing together church leaders from across Asia for two intensive days of worship, teaching, and fellowship. Under the theme “Being on Mission with God,” the conference drew participants from the network’s 12 Southern Baptist churches spanning Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Pastor Chris Eyre and the Koza Baptist Church family opened their doors and hearts to host the gathering, offering warm hospitality that set the tone for meaningful connections and spiritual growth. Conference attendees were shuttled around by church members who went above and beyond to ensure everyone felt welcome and cared for.
Anchoring Mission in Christ’s Authority
The conference opened with Chris Eyre challenging leaders to remember that good leadership starts with good followership. Drawing from Matthew 28:16-20, Eyre reminded attendees that before the disciples received the Great Commission, they first went where Jesus directed them. “We are all followers of Christ on mission with God,” he emphasized, noting that the mission starts with listening to God and following His direction. HPBC’s Craig Webb shared a message on the foundation of all mission work — the authority of Christ. This was an opportunity to carry forward the theme he shared at the HPBC Annual Meeting in Kona, applying it specifically to the Asia Baptist Network context. The core truth remains: our being on mission completely and utterly depends on whom we believe has the authority to complete it.
Walking through the “bookends” of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, the message showed how Jesus frames the command to make disciples with both a declaration of His authority (“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”) and a promise of His presence (“I am with you always, to the end of the age”). The challenge for leaders is to resist the tendency to carry ministry burdens in our own strength and instead surrender our work each day to Christ as Master, trusting His authority and presence rather than our own abilities.
A Cosmic Vision for the Church
Dr. Adam Groza, President of Gateway Seminary, expanded the conference’s vision by unpacking what he called “The Cosmic Mission of the Church” from Ephesians 3:7-13. Groza emphasized that the local church isn’t just accomplishing an earthly mission — it’s displaying God’s wisdom before all creation, both on earth and in the heavenly realms.
“Through the church, the manifold wisdom of God is being made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places,” Groza explained. “This is cosmic show-and-tell.” He reminded leaders that their churches matter eternally to God, displaying the finished work of Christ not only to people on earth but also to unseen spiritual forces.
Groza’s message concluded with three practical challenges: be bold in Christ’s victory, take hold of the access to God you have through prayer and communion, and don’t give up even in suffering. “God is on mission, and His eternal purpose is to make Christ known through His church before heaven and earth,” he declared.
Multiple Tracks for Deeper Growth
Beyond the plenary sessions, the conference featured excellent breakout sessions addressing various aspects of ministry and leadership. Diana Ventura, Director of Women’s Ministries for HPBC, and Barbara Webb led one track, while Donn Broeker and others facilitated discussions on missions and church health.
Special thanks to Cory Cloud and Annette McFarlane of Koza Baptist for their leadership in organizing the conference, and to Pastor Shane Tanigawa of University Avenue Baptist and HPBC president, for volunteering to take photos during the event.
The Asia Baptist Network, affiliated with the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention, continues to grow in its mission to support and strengthen churches across the Pacific Rim. As leaders returned to their ministries, they carried a renewed vision: they are not on mission alone but on mission with the God who has all authority and who promises to be with them always, even to the end of the age.
Photos by Shane Tanigawa