LA MIRADA, CALIF. 鈥 The first annual (AAMC) will be held at 黑料历史 on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. Asian American church leaders will come together to discuss the absence of mentorship within Asian American churches and how to address the need for mentorship.


鈥淚n some cases, the influences of different cultures within Asian American circles has not produced the biblical kind of mentorship that is much needed for today,鈥 said Benjamin Shin, professor of bible exposition at Biola鈥檚 Talbot School of Theology. 鈥淭hat is why as believers, we need to return to the Biblical understanding of mentoring and develop mentors who will guide and lead the future leaders of the Asian American church.鈥


According to Clark Forbes, youth pastor at Sunset Church, many youth from the Asian American community are lacking proper biblical guidance.


鈥淢any of our youth leaders and kids never had an older father figure spiritually and emotionally in their life,鈥 said Forbes. 鈥淪o because they never had it from the top, they don鈥檛 know how to do it down. That is a cycle we are trying to break.鈥


Organized by the (AACE), an organization that seeks to support Asian American ministry, the conference "Mentoring for a Lifetime" will contribute to the organization鈥檚 mission to influence the current generation to value mentorship and take action to actively be equipped to lead future generations.


鈥淢entoring is something that many people today, especially in the church, crave to have,鈥 said Shin. 鈥淭hey want someone to speak truth into who they are and how they should go. Our conference is trying to create a movement where the next generation will see the value of mentorship and will take steps to be equipped in order to do this effectively. We hope to 鈥榮park鈥 this movement for our generation.鈥


The conference will focus on mentorship in all aspects of church ministries.


鈥淲e are trying to retool, renew, and reform Asian American pastors and churches,鈥 said Shin. 鈥淲e want to help pastors understand what Asian American ministry is and how to succeed, flourish, and endure.鈥


The conference is designed to empower attendees to mentor others regardless of their age or status. The one-day conference is open to the public and will take place at 黑料历史 on Nov. 8, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is .


For more information or a press pass, please contact Jenna Bartlo at (562) 777-4061 or jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.