Dialogues in Asian American Theology and Ministry Podcast

This workshop by Tansy Kadoe, LMFT, titled “Coping When a Loved One Struggles with Addiction," was recorded on August 8, 2026, as part of the Our Stories, Our Faith conference "Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: Celebrating Our Stories, Embracing Our Challenges." More information about the conference can be found at https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/.

📄 Burmese/English Bilingual Resources 📄Workshop slides: https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Indianapolis_Coping-When-A-Loved-One-Struggles-with-Addiction-1.pdfWorkshop handout: https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Indianapolis_Worksheet_Coping-When-A-Loved-One-Struggles-with-Addiction-1.pdf

This workshop offers practical support for families and friends navigating the challenges of a loved one’s addiction. Participants will learn skills for setting healthy boundaries, communicating effectively, and caring for their own wellbeing while supporting someone in recovery.

Tansy Kadoe, LMFT was born and raised in Burma and immigrated to the United States in 1993, following the pro-democracy uprisings of 1988 that disrupted education and intensified civil conflict. She belongs to the Karen ethnic group, one of the largest minority communities in Burma, and remains deeply connected to her people through church, counseling, and storytelling ministries. She and her husband were part of the group that started the Arizona Karen Baptist Church, which now has more than 400 members. Beyond her local community, she has worked closely with the network of 133 Karen Baptist churches across the United States.

Professionally, Tansy initially trained in business, earning an undergraduate degree in finance and economics and an MBA in business leadership. At age forty, motivated by the suffering and needs of resettled Burmese refugees, she pursued a second career in counseling. She earned her Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2016 and has practiced as a licensed therapist in Phoenix since then. She is now pursuing a Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Fuller, focusing on developing models of lay counseling and peer counseling within ethnic churches.

Photo credit (thumbnail & slide): Jacob Him, Svolta Film

This plenary, “Refugee Resettlement: History and Laws Our Community Needs to Know,” by Lun Kham Pieper, was recorded on August 8, 2026, during the Our Stories, Our Faith conference, “Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: Celebrating Our Stories, Embracing Our Challenges.”Lun Kham Pieper is an Indiana attorney, mediator, and founder of the Law Office of Lun Kham Pieper, LLC.Learn more about the conference at ourstoriesourfaith.org

This session, recorded on August 7, 2026, was part of the Our Stories, Our Faith conference "Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: Celebrating Our Stories, Embracing Our Challenges." This lament, prayer, and worship service features Rev. Dr. Joe Cheah, Rev. Dr. Timothy Tseng, Pastor Joseph Liana, worship leader Biak Chin Tial, Dr. David Thang Moe, CIin Kham, LMFTA, Theodora Eddison, and Van Kio, co-chair of the Burma Advocacy Group. More information about the conference can be found at https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/.

Photo credit (thumbnail): Jacob Him, Svolta Film

This panel session featuring Burma Christian diaspora oral history fellows Bawi Tin Par, Van Sui, Ma May Si, and Ciin Kham was recorded on August 7, 2026, as part of the Our Stories, Our Faith conference "Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: Celebrating Our Stories, Embracing Our Challenges." More information about the conference can be found at https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/.

Meet the Oral History Fellows

Bawitin Par currently works as a home-based case manager, supporting individuals and families through compassionate care and advocacy. She is pursuing a Master’s degree in Biblical Counseling and Clinical Counseling in Mental Health, integrating faith-based principles with professional counseling practices. In addition to academic and professional responsibilities, Bawitin serves as a Ministry Assistant for the High School Ministry, where she is passionate about mentoring and encouraging young people in their spiritual growth. Through her work, studies, and ministry involvement, she is committed to serving others with empathy, integrity, and Christ-centered guidance.

Ciin Kham is a Licensed Minister and LMFTA (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate) serving the southside community of Indianapolis. With a deep passion for supporting the Burmese diaspora facing mental health challenges, Ciin offers holistic care that integrates clinical expertise with faith-based counseling. Their work fosters emotional healing and spiritual growth through culturally sensitive support, practical teaching, and accessible resources. Rooted in compassion, clarity, and hope, Ciin equips individuals and communities to thrive in both faith and life.

Ma May Si, also known as Maysi, is a passionate Matu Chin leader in the community. She obtained her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Missouri-Columbia, with an emphasis in Promotion and Policy, and recently moved to Indiana to reunite with family and to better serve the Burmese community. Maysi currently serves as the Vice President for the Matu Affairs Organization USA, volunteers at the Chin Center, and is a youth leader at her church in Indianapolis. Through the OSOF Fellows Program, she hopes to amplify the stories of the Burmese Christian diaspora and highlight the profound role God has played in the lives of community members.

Van Sui is the founder of JeSui Strategies, a Kingdom-focused public affairs, political, and government affairs consulting firm. She is a civic leader who demonstrates leadership through government and community services. Van has participated in competitive leadership programs such as the Global Young Diplomats Forum, Global Leadership Series, and National Leadership Academy of Congressional Studies in Washington, D.C. She earned a master’s in leadership and public service (LPS) and a bachelor’s in political science, philosophy, and economics (PPE), both from private Christian universities. As a pastor’s kid, Van grew up in a church-centered environment in Burma/Myanmar. She came to the U.S. in 2013 and has called Indiana home since then.

Photo credit (thumbnail): Jacob Him, Svolta Film

This plenary by Rev. Dr. Hrang Hlei, titled “From Displacement to Diaspora: Resettlement History of the Myanmar Diaspora in the United States," was recorded on August 7, 2026, as part of the Our Stories, Our Faith conference "Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: Celebrating Our Stories, Embracing Our Challenges." More information about the conference can be found at https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/.

Download Rev. Dr. Hrang's presentation slides here: https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Social-History-of-Myanmar-Diaspora-.pptx.pdf.

“The history of the Myanmar diaspora in the United States is not one single story. It is a story of many people: Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Mon, Rohingya, and others. Many came not simply as immigrants seeking opportunity, but as refugees fleeing dictatorship, civil war, ethnic persecution, religious discrimination, poverty, and displacement. Their story is a story of struggles, hardships, challenges, and resilience. Their story reminds us that being a refugee is not only about finding a new country. It is about rebuilding human dignity, preserving memory, forming faith, and preparing the next generation.”

Rev. Hrang Hlei, PhD came to the US in 2006 as a seminary student, and currently serves as the Congregational Care Pastor at Indiana Chin Baptist Church, Indiana. He was recently elected the new General Secretary for Chin Baptist Churches, USA, which connects over a hundred local congregations across the country. He did his doctoral research among the Chin immigrant churches and published it as The Formation of Chin Immigrant Congregations in the United States: Discovering Their Ecclesiological Identities. Rev. Hlei is passionate about helping and nurturing immigrant churches in God’s calling to preach the gospel and make disciples here in the US and beyond. He is an ordained minister of American Baptist Churches, USA, and in his free time he enjoys watching historical documentary movies.

Photo credit (thumbnail): Jacob Him, Svolta Film

This plenary by Dr. Pum Za Mang, titled “Scripture and the Scattered Church: Biblical Theology of Migration and God’s Faithfulness," was recorded on August 7, 2026, as part of the Our Stories, Our Faith conference "Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: Celebrating Our Stories, Embracing Our Challenges." More information about the conference can be found at https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/.

Download Dr. Pum Za Mang's manuscript here: https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Pum-Za-Mang-Manuscript-Scripture-and-the-Scattered-Church_-A-Biblical-Theology-of-Migration-and-Gods-Faithfulness-.docx.pdf.

"When Burmese Christian immigrants left Burma, India, Malaysia, and Thailand for the United States, they brought with them nothing but their own bodies and the clothes on their backs. Upon arrival in the United States, they have built their new lives: they founded churches, communities, businesses, and more. Their story of notable transformation has been a testament to the abiding love, amazing grace, and enduring faithfulness of God."

Pum Za Mang, educated at Luther Seminary (Ph.D.) and Princeton Theological Seminary (M.A), is associate professor of world Christianity at Myanmar Institute of Theology. He is presently a visiting scholar at Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ.His writings have appeared in Asia Journal of Theology, Christianity Today, Church History, Journal of Church and State, Church History and Religious Culture, International Review of Mission, International Bulletin of Mission Research, International Journal of Public Theology, Studies in World Christianity, The Review of Faith & International Affairs, and Theology Today, among other journals.

Photo credit (thumbnail): Jacob Him, Svolta Film

In this presentation, Dr. David Chao, Director of the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary, explores the relationship between Christian doctrine, culture, ethnicity, and race. Dr. Chao holds a PhD and ThM from Princeton Theological Seminary, an MDiv from Regent College, and a BA from Yale University.

This session was recorded on August 7, 2026, as the opening session of the Our Stories, Our Faith conference "Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: Celebrating Our Stories, Embracing Our Challenges." More information about the conference can be found at https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/.

00:00 Welcome and Prayer: Rev. Michele Turek (ABHMS)01:29 Conference Welcome: Naw Eh Phaw15:19 Sponsor Greetings: David Chao (CAAC), Tommy Dyo (Epic Movement), Michele Turek (ABHMS), and Tim Tseng (AACHI)22:24 Burma Diaspora Leaders Welcome: Ci Lian Kap (CBANA), Hrang Hlei (CBCUSA), Lian Hang Do (First Zo Baptist Church in GA), Joseph Liana (Mizo Christian Church)33:21 Psalm 77 Devotion: Rev. Michele Turek42:08 Conference Vision and Themes: David Chao56:55 Closing Prayer

The Our Stories, Our Faith conference series is produced by the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary, the Asian American Christian History Institute at Fuller Theological Seminary, the Asian Ministries of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and Epic Movement, a ministry of Cru.

🔗 Links

* Falam Baptist Church of Indiana: https://fbciusa.org/

* Chin Baptist Association of North America (CBANA): https://www.cbana.us/

* Chin Baptist Churches USA (CBCUSA): https://cbcusa.org/

* Center for Asian American Christianity (CAAC): https://ptsem.edu/academics/centers/center-for-asian-american-christianity/

* Imagine Otherwise by CAAC:

* Epic Movement, a ministry of Cru: https://epicmovement.com/

* American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS): https://abhms.org/

* ABHMS Scholarships & Grants: https://abhms.org/empowering-leaders/scholarships-grants

* Asian American Christian History Institute (AACHI): https://aac.fuller.edu/initiatives/asian-american-christian-history-institute/

* Pearl Dive by AACHI: https://pearldive.net/

* Burma Diaspora Christianity Project: https://fulleraachi.substack.com/t/burmese-american

Photo credit (thumbnail): Jacob Him, Svolta Film

In this Center for Asian American Christianity podcast episode, host David Chao interviews Dr. Jean Neely, a Korean American literature professor with a PhD in English literature and author of Christ in the Abyss: Cultivating Deep Faith Amid Depression and Despair (NavPress, June 2026). Neely recounts growing up in a Korean American church as a pastor’s daughter, experiencing severe depression and manic episodes in high school that led to crisis, hospitalization, and medication, and wrestling with Christian messages that “good Christians” shouldn’t struggle. She explains how supportive family, community, contemplative practices, spiritual direction, and reading beyond her tradition helped her move toward a more merciful understanding of God.

This expert panel and closing remarks were recorded on April 11, 2026, as part of the 2026 conference “Our Flourishing, Our Faith: Navigating Rupture and Repair in Asian American Christian Communities,” presented by the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary and the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. The panel, titled “Panel: Spiritual Formation,” featured reflections from Dave Wang, Thomas Okamoto, and Ciin Kham.This video also includes the conference closing remarks from David Chao and Carissa Dwiwardani. You can learn more about this conference here: https://ourflourishing.org/.Building on the conference’s plenary sessions and workshops, this closing panel asks how practices of repair can become more than isolated moments or helpful tools. Together, the panelists reflect on how repair can become a long-term pattern of spiritual formation—taking root in families, churches, ministries, and communities over time. The conversation explores self-awareness, intergenerational trauma, emotional regulation, psychiatric care, small-group practices, church leadership, gender roles, the role of fathers and mothers in congregational life, and the need for Asian American Christian communities to create spaces where pain can be named with honesty and held with care.