Berkeley School of Theology, Berkeley, CA<\/p>\n
Florence is first <\/em>and Li will not be the last.<\/p>\n While Florence was the fifth Asian Ministries director, she is the first<\/em> to have served the longest at 18 years.<\/p>\n Florence was the first<\/em> Asian American Baptist to write Sunday school curriculum for me in the Judson Bible Series.<\/p>\n After graduating from the Berkeley School of Theology, Florence was called to Providence where she was ordained at the First<\/em> Baptist Meetinghouse in America\u2014another first!<\/p>\n Florence\u2019s life was first <\/em>impacted by American Baptist missions in Hong Kong that eventually led her to dedicate her life to missions in America.<\/p>\n We often speak about different generations when we meet as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, but while Florence is \u201cfirst\u201d<\/em> generation, she has been relevant with all generations.<\/p>\n In her position at ABHMS, Florence has warmly welcomed the many Burmese Baptists who are first <\/em>generation Americans to settle and to begin their new life in America.<\/p>\n Florence is often the first <\/em>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.<\/p>\n Because Florence has often been the first<\/em>, we believe that Li will not be the last. Florence\u2019s faithful and productive ministry is leaving a strong testament that there will be many Asian Ministries directors to come.<\/p>\n I am grateful to be one of the first<\/em> to congratulate Florence\u2019s effective ministry and value her as a good friend and loyal colleague.<\/p>\n Today is just one of the first <\/em>of many recognitions of Florence Li\u2019s service to God and to the American Baptist family and we know that today is not the last.<\/p>\n Florence is first <\/em>and Li will not be the last.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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