Dialogues in Asian American Theology and Ministry Podcast

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

This recording is from the hybrid conference: "Healing Heritage: Stories of Faith, Selflessness, and Service of Filipino Nurses."

Recorded on April 11, 2025.

Find out more about the conference here: https://ptsem.edu/academics/centers/center-for-asian-american-christianity/caac-events/healing-heritage/

In this guest episode of the podcast produced by CAAC partner Healing Heritage, principal investigator of Healing Heritage Dr. April Manalang delves into the profound experiences of Filipino nurses who served on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring firsthand accounts, the episode highlights their immense sacrifices, the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Filipino healthcare workers, and the resilience they displayed despite facing structural and cultural violence, including anti-Asian discrimination.

Through intimate interviews, several nurses share their struggles, fears, and unwavering faith that helped them navigate the crisis. They reflect on the emotional toll, the feeling of invisibility despite their essential contributions, and the deep-rooted strength within the Filipino American nursing community. The episode also explores the critical role of faith, cultural identity, and advocacy in overcoming adversity.

Join us for a moving and eye-opening discussion that honors the lives, sacrifices, and heroism of Filipino nurses—unsung warriors in the fight against the pandemic and social injustice.

This podcast episode is produced by Healing Heritage in collaboration with the Religion, Race, and Democracy Lab at the University of Virginia.

Photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography 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 Dr. Christina Kim, titled "Bridging the Gap: Spiritual Growth in Times of Conflict and Transition," 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/.

Abstract:

This interactive workshop explores how Asian American Christians can navigate seasons of transition, conflict, and loss with faith and relational wholeness. Drawing from personal experiences, attachment theory, and spiritual formation, we will reflect on the default patterns we bring to these spaces, the factors that shaped them, and how God might be inviting us to steward these moments for growth. Through guided questions and discussion, participants will gain tools to deepen their spiritual and relational journeys in times of uncertainty.

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 Dr. Sonia Prasadam, titled "Being Imperfect Parents: Transforming Parental Anxiety and Shame to Nurture Secure Children," 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/.

Abstract:

This workshop aims to help parents discover the strength that lies in their imperfections. It will map out how parents can model working through their failures to their children. This would address their feelings of anxiety and shame while helping their children feel less shame and anxiety across different areas of life. Together, we’ll cultivate a home environment where both parents and children feel supported in embracing mistakes as opportunities for growth and connection.

Photo by The Wedding Fog

In this episode of the Dialogues Podcast, David Chao interviews Tommy Dyo, a leader in Asian American ministry with Epic, to discuss intergenerational trauma, family history, and faith.

Tommy shares his personal journey of uncovering his Japanese American heritage, including his family's incarceration during World War II, his grandfather’s experiences as a U.S. veteran, and the lasting impact of these historical injustices. He reflects on how growing up in a multicultural environment shaped his identity and how understanding his family's past transformed his approach to ministry.

Photo by Bob Chambers 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 Dr. Julia Lee, titled "How Not to Die: All the Way to the Bitter/Better End," 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/.

Abstract:

In general, North American society has difficulty in contending with the issue of death and how it “works,” and this manifests in multiple different ways. Throw in some Asian culture into the mix, and the avoidance of the topic of death is magnified.

In relating stories of the ways people die, we hope to gain some insights as to how we can die “to the Lord,” and how we might be able to start creating ways that, even in our deaths, we can testify to the world of the goodness of God, not only in our own lives, but in all of God’s people.

From the 2025 Asian American Mental Health Conference "Navigating Transitions with Faith and Resilience: Asian American Mental Health Across Life Stages." This lecture is by Sonia Prasadam, titled "The Grip of Perfectionism and the Freedom of Grace," recorded January 17, 2025. Find out more about the conference here: https://ptsem.edu/academics/centers/center-for-asian-american-christianity/2025-mental-health-conference/.

Abstract: This session brings to light how striving for perfectionism can quickly move from being something that motivates us, to being something that fills us with anxiety. We will look at some of its root causes such as “the fear of failure,” “fear of being judged by others,” and “feelings of shame,” which might emerge in adulthood, but develop throughout childhood. We will then see the beauty in experiencing failure, and how it might be even necessary as part of our Christian walk – an invitation to experience Grace, an invitation to learn dependence. 

From the 2025 Asian American Mental Health Conference "Navigating Transitions with Faith and Resilience: Asian American Mental Health Across Life Stages." This lecture is by Carissa Dwiwardani, titled "Liminality and Relational Wholeness in a Fallen World," recorded January 17, 2025. Find out more about the conference here: https://ptsem.edu/academics/centers/center-for-asian-american-christianity/2025-mental-health-conference/.

Abstract: Social disconnection and isolation have become increasingly prevalent in the United States. For Asian Americans, these experiences exist within a larger context of migration, racialization and intergenerational trauma. In addition, life transitions, such as career decisions, marriage and health-related challenges could introduce disagreements and conflicts that exacerbate disconnection and alienation. Focusing on themes of Holy Saturday, this talk focuses on spiritual formation as it occurs in these “spaces in between.” Drawing on psychological research and theory on attachment, this session focuses on the dynamic interplay between interpersonal relationships and spiritual growth as we navigate liminal spaces.

From the 2025 Asian American Mental Health Conference "Navigating Transitions with Faith and Resilience: Asian American Mental Health Across Life Stages." This lecture is by Sangeetha Thomas, titled "Navigating Death and Meaning: Life Transitions, Trauma, and Faith in Asian American Mental Health," recorded January 17, 2025. Find out more about the conference here: https://ptsem.edu/academics/centers/center-for-asian-american-christianity/2025-mental-health-conference/

Abstract: How do we courageously and faithfully navigate the reality of death and the pain of loss throughout our lives? This session will examine the themes of Holy Friday – the passion and death of Christ, to discern a blueprint from which we can better understand and respond to death. Leaders will explore Christ’s transformational act of love through His death that has fundamentally transformed our experiences of suffering and loss. This session will challenge leaders to see death through a lens of grace and hope while still recognizing the tragic pain and trauma of loss – ultimately, embracing the paradox of our Christian faith.