As we count down the days to Rev Meewon Yang’s departure from the BUV and retirement from ministry, we pause to celebrate her incredible 26 years of service to the wider Baptist union.

Meewon has worked tirelessly for a large portion of her life, to help give a sense of support and hope to refugee and asylum seeker communities across Australia.  Last year, her passionate service to refugees and asylum seekers in Australia and to Baptist churches in Victoria was recognized officially when she was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM) in the King’s Birthday Honours. But Meewon’s passion to advocate for these communities began a lot earlier during her study at Whitley College and while pastoring at Brunswick Baptist Church, where she became keenly aware of “God’s compassion and justice for the most vulnerable in our society”.

In 1989, Korean born Meewon came to Australia as a student. Coming from a Korean culture and church, Meewon believed that “multiculturalism is a vision of God’s Kingdom” and so she was keen to experience other cultures. But until she engaged in her ministry it was a dream. Joining the pastoral team and sharing at Brunswick opened her mind to other cultures and it was where Meewon learnt many of life’s invaluable lessons.

In 1995, an opportunity arose for Meewon to help Somali women she had got to know through ministering at the church. Meewon released the women were adamant about one thing – they wanted to sew! With the assistance of both Brunswick Baptist Church and the local Council, Meewon was able to set up some sewing machines, find teachers who volunteered their time every Wednesday and Saturday for sewing class. And so began the Somali Women’s Sewing Group. When refugees from East Timor and Kosova came the sewing class extended to them. This group has been a long term ministry of the Brunswick Baptist Church and has been a true blessing to so many refugee women across Melbourne.

Whilst at Brunswick Baptist Church, Meewon also initiated an accommodation program for asylum seekers in the house next door to the church and in conjunction with Baptcare’s Sanctuary project, she acted as the chaplain to the program.

After completing her studies and ordination formation, Meewon was ordained by the Baptist Union of Victoria in 1997. It was during this time that leaders at the Baptist Union of Victoria had seen Meewon’s work and engagement with multicultural groups with realised the potential she had to connect multicultural groups to the BUV. It was then that she was appointed, along with her role as a pastor of Brunswick Baptist Church to the role of Multicultural Minister of the Baptist Union of Victoria.

Meewon’s commitment to God’s heart for hospitality and inclusion has been evident throughout her tenure at the BUV Support Hub. Her tireless work and dedication have been pivotal in the growth and development of our culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community. Under her guidance, the number of CALD churches within the BUV has grown from humble beginnings to over 113 congregations in 2024 representing 33 languages and dialects. Many of these congregations and churches in their own right speaking a language other than English; others are mono or multicultural congregations within a larger CALD church.

But Meewon’s role as BUV’s Multicultural Consultant has not only been about growth. Much of her time has been invested in supporting and nurturing our current LOTE and multiple language churches. Those of you who know Meewon will agree that she has worked tirelessly with the pastors and leaders of our culturally diverse churches to help them flourish – from the most basic practical help, to assisting with internal issues, to advising on strategic direction for the church.

As a practitioner, pastor, and consultant for many years, she has also taught at Whitley College on the Multicultural church, asylum seekers and refugees, and has done additional research study on the different ways of being a multicultural church. She has also been until recently, a member of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce.

Meewon is deeply esteemed by our BUV family, and her presence will be greatly missed. 

May your retirement be a time of true blessing, as you have blessed so many.