VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 7/17/13)—In 1981, the Alumni/ae Association of American Baptist Seminary of the West (ABSW) began a tradition of honoring one of its own who shows excellence in ministry and support of the seminary. It is ABSW’s privilege to name the Rev. Florence Li as Alumna of the Year for 2013.

Li graduated from ABSW in 1985 and was ordained into Christian ministry in 1987. Since accepting her call to ministry, Li has served as a youth leader, pastor, public mission advocate, author and speaker. She was commencement speaker for ABSW in 2004.

Li joined American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) in 2004 as national coordinator for Intercultural Ministries, Asian churches strategist. In this role, she works with the Intercultural Ministries Team to strengthen Asian church ministries, empower leadership and build relationships with the larger American Baptist family. She also serves on the Discipleship/Transformation Team to identify and encourage emerging leaders for ministry. Li is a strong proponent of providing the necessary education to meet the demands of diverse ministries.

“We are simply delighted that the Rev. Florence Li is being recognized in this capacity,” says the Rev. Dr. Marilyn P. Turner, ABHMS associate executive director of Missional Life and Leadership. “Her commitment to Christ and her heart for ministry is evident in her service to others.”

As a member of the national staff of American Baptist Churches USA, Li has demonstrated her desire to serve people of diverse cultures and does so with compassion, grace and integrity. “As national staff, I want to listen to concerns and lend support to pastors of churches,” she says. “All of our conferences and activities come back to looking at the vision: serving Christ.”

Li was born in Hong Kong and came to the United States in 1973. In addition to her Master of Divinity, she holds a Master of Social Work Administration from Hunter College, New York City, and a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Ottawa (Kan.) University.

ABHMS—the domestic mission arm of American Baptist Churches USA—ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on discipleship, community and justice.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.