Chicago pastor David Choi is the first of 12 preachers who will be featured at the 2017 SBC Pastors’ Conference in Phoenix next month. The conference, which traditionally includes pastors of larger Southern Baptist churches, is this year focused on a diversity of voices from small to medium-sized congregations.
Choi, pastor of Church of the Beloved, was recently interviewed by Wheaton College’s Ed Stetzer on his blog “The Exchange” about his church’s ministry in the city.
“In our downtown location we have anywhere from 30-45 nations represented in our church on a given Sunday,” Choi said. His congregation presents unique opportunities to him as a pastor, Choi told Stetzer.
“You have to be cross-cultural in your language. You have to be sensitive to a kind of political climate, the social climate of the city. You have to be aware of the fact that there are certain cultural realities in Chicago that need to be addressed.
“You can’t not talk about race in Chicago. You can’t not talk about some of the violence that’s going on in our cities. There are certain things that you have to talk about if you want to be validated as a speaker in Chicago.”
Choi takes the stage in Phoenix during the opening session on Sunday, June 11, at 6 p.m. Fellow Chicago pastor Michael Allen will preach during the Monday evening session. Additional information is available at sbcpc.net.
– Baptist Press, ChristianityToday.com