Berkeley School of Theology, Berkeley, CA
Florence is first and Li will not be the last.
While Florence was the fifth Asian Ministries director, she is the first to have served the longest at 18 years.
Florence was the first Asian American Baptist to write Sunday school curriculum for me in the Judson Bible Series.
After graduating from the Berkeley School of Theology, Florence was called to Providence where she was ordained at the First Baptist Meetinghouse in America—another first!
Florence’s life was first impacted by American Baptist missions in Hong Kong that eventually led her to dedicate her life to missions in America.
We often speak about different generations when we meet as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, but while Florence is “first” generation, she has been relevant with all generations.
In her position at ABHMS, Florence has warmly welcomed the many Burmese Baptists who are first generation Americans to settle and to begin their new life in America.
Florence is often the first to defend the rights of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders standing against AAPI hate and violence and crusade for their rightful place in US history.
Because Florence has often been the first, we believe that Li will not be the last. Florence’s faithful and productive ministry is leaving a strong testament that there will be many Asian Ministries directors to come.
I am grateful to be one of the first to congratulate Florence’s effective ministry and value her as a good friend and loyal colleague.
Today is just one of the first of many recognitions of Florence Li’s service to God and to the American Baptist family and we know that today is not the last.
Florence is first and Li will not be the last.