About Abide — Abide Gathering

Members of the Abide Gathering board at standing outside

Our mission is to encourage Asian Christians towards flourishing and deep relationships with God and others.

Our Story

The Abide Gathering journey began in a small, beachside town in Florida, where a group of older and younger people formed a community in 2010 called Telemachus.

David and Jean Park, Andy Chan, Aisea Taimani, and Peter and Jessica Kim all met at Telemachus, and were encouraged by the experience there of openness, friendship, and deep connection.

Over the years, these friends felt a burden to bring this model of transformation and growth through peer and intergenerational friendships to their “home” community of Asian Christian friends.

With the encouragement of Rick Woolworth, who founded Telemachus, this group of friends began the conversations that led to starting the Abide Gathering in 2022.

Our Core Values

Spiritual Growth

We seek to be people who are committed to continually growing and becoming more of who God created us to be.
Openness

We open ourselves up to be known by others and to learn from others. We’re willing to share from the hard parts of our life stories.
Not Performance Oriented

In order to promote a relational rather than a performative culture, we remove pressures and barriers that inhibit sharing and connection.
Deep Relationships

We seek to foster deep, meaningful relationships through intergenerational and peer friendship or mentorship.
Having Fun

We create space for relaxation and fun together in community.

Our Team

Andy Chan

Board Member
Given my very full professional life and the ever-changing, unpredictable world, I often seek new ways to experience God's presence, beauty, and peace in my life. Abide brings together authentic, inclusive Christan friends to "abide in Him," and I hope many will join us in forming this new community.
Peter Kim

Board Member
Abide is not a traditional retreat or conference - it’s a community where I have been encouraged in my faith and growth in a way that I haven’t before elsewhere.
Jean Park

Board Member
Abide is a place where shame is in retreat, and where transformational healing and growth can happen because of the openness and connection our community encourages.
David Park

Board Member and Founder
I can’t wait for each Abide Gathering - a place where we can lean into rest, friendship, and growth. My deep hope is that each person that comes to Abide will find something life changing in what we experience together.
Josh Cheng

Board Member
Abide feels like coming home. It's a community of deep spiritual friendships, rooted in authenticity. Here, we embrace our whole selves - faith, heart, mind, culture, and vocation.
Rema Cheng

Community Engagement Coordinator
Abide is a space that is safe and sacred, where people can come as they are and find that they belong. A place to learn and grow towards wholeness. As well as a place of deep fellowship and joy!
Grace Lee

Event & Advancement Advisor
Abide is a space where I felt immediately safe to be my whole, unedited self with people I was meeting for the first time. Everyone’s commitment to going deep, being vulnerable, and being themselves enables sacred connections and conversations that lead to healing and growth. I didn't know this kind of community could exist, and I am deeply grateful to have found it.

Special Contributors

Aisea Taimani

Aisea has been crafting memorable worship and musical experiences for the Abide community since its founding. More than anyone else, he has brought our culture to life by embodying what it truly means to abide.
Jeremiah Lepasana

Jeremiah has cultivated Abide's youth and childcare programs since their inception. His thoughtful leadership has created spaces where our next generation genuinely look forward to participating and growing.
Erin Dong

Erin's passion for cooking and hospitality has blessed the Abide community at our annual gathering and beyond. As our onsite event coordinator, she has ensured our gathering is full of warmth and runs smoothly.