Dialogues in Asian American Theology and Ministry Podcast

In this episode of the Center for Asian American Christianity Podcast, host David Chao sits down with Dr. David C. Wang (ThM, PhD), the Cliff and Joyce Penner Chair for the Formation of Emotionally Healthy Leaders at Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Wang discusses the Global Formation Project, a multi-phase research initiative on spiritual maturity and formation that started in 2015. The conversation delves into the relationship between theological education and spiritual maturity, the impact of knowing oneself in spiritual growth, and the integration of psychological insights into spiritual practices. They also explore innovative practices in theological pedagogy, particularly the use of intergenerational panels and mapping of family trees in church settings to address intergenerational trauma and promote holistic formation. The episode highlights the importance of acknowledging both beauty and brokenness in the journey towards spiritual maturity.

This lecture by Sherry Thomas, JD, was recorded on June 7, 2025, at Seven Mile Road Church in Philadelphia, PA, at the conference “Our Story, Our Faith: South Asian American Christian Histories and Futures” (June 6–7, 2025). You can learn more about this conference here: https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/philly25/. View the plenary video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FpO9YtAICc.

Plenary description: This lecture will explore how South Asians, including South Asian Christians, came to “belong” in the United States, through the lens of landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases and legislation that both closed and opened doors to South Asian Christians. It will provide insight into why the South Asian Christian immigrant experience looked the way it did and how it continues to evolve as the country grapples with its relationship to race and religion.

View PBS’s video referenced at 24:02 of the video version (cut out of audio podcast due to copyright): https://youtu.be/0qggeLf4x-s?si=GGUf0z9rwBr3wvnv.

Check out Sherry Thomas’s oral history project with SAADA: https://www.saada.org/exhibit/philadelphia/malayali-story.

Sherry Thomas is Kerala born and Philadelphia raised. She completed her B.A. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Temple University. She is passionate about issues of social and economic justice and currently combines both in her career as a public interest lawyer. She focuses her work on tenants’ rights, defense and eviction prevention with the Legal Clinic for the Disabled (LCD), as its Director of Housing and Habitability and has also worked as a Legal Fellow and legal consultant for International Justice Mission (IJM), a global organization partnering with local justice systems to end violence against people living in poverty.

Sherry grew up in the Marthoma Church in a tight knit Malayali community in Philadelphia. She was always interested in the ways the church could be instrumental in bridging gaps between cultures and generations. Her experiences informed her work with the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA). Through SAADA, she preserved some stories of Malayali Christians living and working in Philadelphia, over several generations, which culminated in the publication of her project, “The Philadelphia Malayali Story: Decades in the Making.”

In this episode, David Chao hosts children’s literature author Marie Chan to discuss her 2024 book, Mamie Takes a Stand. They explore the power of storytelling in the Asian American church and how historical narratives can catalyze contemporary mental health conversations. Marie shares the meticulous research behind her book and the historical significance of Mamie Tape’s legal struggle to attend public school. Listen in on this engaging discussion about cultural heritage, resilience, and the transformative impact of sharing personal stories.

Photo by hoylee song on Unsplash

In this episode, David Chao, director of the Center for Asian American Christianity (CAAC), hosts a probing conversation with KimyiBo, the 2024-2025 Artist-in-Residence at the Overseas Ministry Study Center (OMSC) at Princeton Theological Seminary. They explore KimyiBo’s journey from Korea to the United States, Europe, and back to Korea, and how her experiences and faith have shaped her art. KimyiBo shares her reflections on motherhood, cultural identity, and the role of art in social change and personal healing. Join us for a deep dive into the powerful intersections of art, faith, and identity.

Image by KimyiBo, “A Tree Planted by Streams of Water,” 2000, woodblock print on paper, 15.5 × 13 in.

In this episode, David Chao introduces Chrislyn Choo, an artist and storyteller passionate about exploring family history and roots. Chrislyn shares her journey of discovering her ancestry and the transformative power of storytelling. They discuss her involvement with projects like My China Roots and the Parents Are Human Project, her experiences in reconnecting with her heritage, and how story work can bridge intergenerational gaps and aid in healing trauma. Join us for a profound discussion on the spiritual and emotional impact of storytelling within the Asian American community.

Photo by Jess English: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-weaving-red-threads-10253080/

This lecture by Dr. Sam George was recorded on June 7, 2025, at Seven Mile Road Church in Philadelphia, PA, at the conference "Our Story, Our Faith: South Asian American Christian Histories and Futures" (June 6–7, 2025). You can learn more about this conference here: https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/philly25/.

Plenary description: This presentation will provide a brief survey of the earliest arrival of Christians and the development of various languages and denominational churches established across the United States. It will include the current state of Indian American Christianity and many opportunities and challenges facing this thriving immigrant community using the lens of diaspora and World Christianity. It is based on a recent research project of the Global Diaspora Institute at Wheaton College, Billy Graham Center, and funded by the Louisville Institute.

Dr. Sam George serves as a catalyst of the Lausanne Movement and travels widely to teach and minister in diverse contexts. He holds degrees in Engineering, Management, and Theology. He studies at Fuller and Princeton Seminaries in the US and completed his doctoral research at Liverpool Hope University, UK. He has authored or edited 15 books including three-volume series on Asian Diaspora Christianity (Fortress Press 2021) and recent books titled Sharing Jesus with Hindus (William Carey) and Asians in Diaspora and Diasporas in Asia (Langham).

Photo by Lara Jameson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/compass-placed-on-a-world-map-8828681/

This lecture by Dr. Jaisy Joseph was recorded on June 6, 2025, at Seven Mile Road Church in Philadelphia, PA, at the conference "Our Story, Our Faith: South Asian American Christian Histories and Futures" (June 6–7, 2025). You can learn more about this conference here: https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/philly25/. View the plenary video here: https://youtu.be/Ab0BfiGWKNY.

Plenary description: Prominent historian Placid J. Podipara, CMI is often credited with the most succinct description of the identity of Thomas Christians as Christian in religion, Oriental in worship, and Indian in culture. Countering post-independence claims that Christianity was simply a tool of Western colonialism, Podipara emphasized that this ancient Christian community was not a product of Westernization, but rather as old as Christianity itself and as indigenous to the Indian soil as other religions in Kerala. My talk explores this narrative of origins and what it means for those in the diaspora who are rediscovering their ancient roots today.

Jaisy A. Joseph is an Assistant Professor of Ecclesiology and Theology of Ministry at Villanova University. She received her PhD in Systematic Theology from Boston College in 2019. Aside from the academy, she is very involved in the lay ministry of the SyroMalabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago. Her primary concern is to work with the emerging second generation of this immigrant community, particularly regarding issues of identity, domestic violence, and intergenerational healing.

Photo by Wietse Jongsma on Unsplash

In this episode of the Dialogues Podcast, David Chao speaks with Dr. Jessica ChenFeng (Fuller Seminary) and Dr. Joel Jin (University of Washington School of Medicine) about the special issue of the Journal of Psychology and Theology dedicated to Asian American contexts. The conversation explores the challenges and contributions of psychology and theology in relation to Asian American communities, as well as the importance of integrating cultural, spiritual, and mental health perspectives into professional practice. The guests also reflect on how these experiences offer insights for building a more inclusive theology and a more contextualized psychology.

We are pleased to announce a limited-time offer to this Special Issue on Psychology and Theology within Asian American Contexts guest edited by Joel Jin and Jessica ChenFeng featured in this podcast. For free access from now until September 3, 2025, click here to explore more!

In this episode of the Dialogues Podcast, David Chao interviews Father Joseph Cheah, OSM, PhD, about his timely 2022 book "Anti-Asian Racism: Myths, Stereotypes, and Catholic Social Teaching" published by Orbis Books. Father Joseph Cheah is Professor of Religious Studies and Theology and Chair of the Department of Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Studies at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut.

The only Catholic scholarly work addressing anti-Asian racism, Father Joe's book critiques two 2018 documents published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops—one a pastoral letter on racism, the other a pastoral response to AAPI Catholics—which he argues did not sufficiently discuss AAPI experiences of racism. It also examines historical patterns of anti-Asian racism and proposes a theological framework for addressing racism based on tenets of Catholic social teaching.

Resources

Cheah, Joseph. 2022. Anti-Asian Racism. Orbis Books.

Bransfield, J. Brian. 2018. Review of Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love – a Pastoral Letter against Racism. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. https://www.usccb.org/resources/open-wide-our-hearts_0.pdf.

Bransfield, J. Brian. 2018. Review of Encountering Christ in Harmony: A Pastoral Response to Our Asian and Pacific Island Brothers and Sisters. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. https://www.usccb.org/resources/Encountering%20Christ%20in%20Harmony%20A%20Pastoral%20Response%20to%20Our%20Asian%20and%20Pacific%20Island%20Brothers%20and%20Sisters_0.pdf.

‌Jeung, Russell. 2022. Stop AAPI Hate and Racial Trauma. In 2022 Mental Health and Asian Americans Conference.

‌Jeung, Russell. 2019. An Asian American Exilic Call to Politics. In 2019 Asian American Theology Conference.

Transformative Hope by Russell Jeung and Tammy Ho https://aparri.org/transformative-hope/

Noel Quintana:

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

From the 2025 Asian American Mental Health Conference "Navigating Transitions with Faith and Resilience: Asian American Mental Health Across Life Stages." This workshop presentation is by Pastor Peter Lim, titled "Asian American Spiritual Formation: A Journey of Integration," recorded January 18, 2025. Find out more about the conference here: https://ptsem.edu/academics/centers/center-for-asian-american-christianity/2025-mental-health-conference/.

Description: Exploring the intersections of faith, culture, and emotional well-being through spiritual practices contextualized for Asian American communities.

Photo by John Price on Unsplash