SOLA Network

Connie Leung Nelson shares her journey into writing, her passion for youth and Asian American identity, and her insights on faith, culture, and ministry. She speaks on how her personal experiences shape her impactful contributions to Christian literature and community.00:00 Introduction and Connie’s background02:07 Connie’s journey into writing and her first articles03:58 The story behind the Turning Red article and rooted Ministry07:00 Connie’s passion for writing and her ministry involvement08:55 Themes of Asian American identity and parenting in her work12:02 Connie’s insights on youth ministry and the silent exodus16:04 The importance of understanding youth and cultural context18:59 Connie’s contribution to the Bible devotional for teenagers21:54 The impact of writing on youth and faith development24:00 Connie’s reflections on her first concert and faith experiences25:56 Closing thoughts and future conversationsDisclaimerOur guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.BiosConnie was born in Hong Kong and has lived in Alberta, Canada since she was 6 years old. She has served in youth ministry for over 10 years and is a leader in the college fellowship at her church in Edmonton. She's on the Parent Steering Committee and writes at Rooted Ministry and also works with a Guatemalan missions organization, Impact Ministries. She and her husband Chris have 1 teenager, 2 kids and a ridiculous number of houseplants.Aaron Lee is our Editorial Curator. Aaron also serves as the Social Media Officer of First Chinese Baptist Church of Walnut in California’s San Gabriel Valley, home to the largest concentration of Asian American communities in the United States. Visit him online at https://www.diveindigdeep.com/

This episode explores the complex history and current state of the church in China, the impact of political shifts, and how American churches can engage with global Christian communities. Featuring insights from Jon, who has lived in China, and discussions on persecution, church growth, and cultural responsibility.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:37 The Responsibility of Asian American Churches03:24 Historical Overview of China’s Religious Landscape04:12 Mao’s Cultural Revolution and Religious Suppression05:09 Reopening and Growth of Christianity in China06:06 Government Control and the Three-Self Church07:25 Underground Churches and Persecution09:21 The State of Zion Church and Recent Crackdowns11:38 Religious Life During and After Mao13:59 Religious Demographics and Atheism in China16:21 Economic Opening and Its Impact on the Church18:41 Urbanization and Middle-Class Christianity20:42 Current State of Zion Church and Persecution23:53 Recent Developments and Political Shifts27:54 Prison and Advocacy for Persecuted Christians30:36 Church Responsibility and Global Engagement33:03 The Role of the Asian American Church36:41 Building Heart Connections and Cultural Stewardship43:29 Living with Joy and Sorrow in the Global Church50:38 The Church’s Unique Role in Holding TensionsOur guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.

In part 4 of the series “What Parenting Does to Parents,” discussing the impact parenting has on parents, Monica and Danny talk about how the struggles of teenagers can activate the anxieties and stressors in the life of parents. They discuss how parenting, for various reasons, might be harder today, and how the stresses of our teenagers can cause stress and anxieties for parents. They also discuss how stress and anxiety on parents can be both good and bad, and what parents can do about their own stress and anxiety that is caused by what they see in their teenagers’ lives.Our guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.

I interviewed Jon Szeto, my former young adult pastor at FCBC Walnut, who received the unexpected diagnosis of terminal cancer and will soon be with the Lord. He is 44 years old and currently serves as the senior pastor at Laguna Chinese Baptist Church. I hoped to learn from his experience, and I was encouraged by his faith, hope, and love.Article transcript:https://sola.network/article/my-help-comes-from-the-lord-interview-w-jon-szeto/Related: https://www.9marks.org/article/gone-and-back-again-my-departure-and-return-to-the-immigrant-church/Disclaimer:Our guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.Jon Szeto:Jon Szeto: Raised in Southern California in a Christian home, Jon became a Christian during elementary school. He graduated from UCLA and worked for a couple of years in public accounting before enrolling at The Master's Seminary in 2006. After graduation, he served as a young adult and college pastor for 8 years. Jon has a special passion for young adults and strengthening families for Christ. In 2015, Jon completed a Doctor of Ministry from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a focus on Biblical Counseling. Jon joined the pastoral staff at Laguna in October 2017. He enjoys playing with his five children and spending quality time with his wife Miranda. Jon also enjoys playing sports (tennis, swimming, volleyball) and reading fiction (Tom Clancy and Vince Flynn type novels).Aaron Lee:Aaron Lee is our Editorial Curator. Aaron also serves as the Social Media Officer of First Chinese Baptist Church of Walnut in California’s San Gabriel Valley, home to the largest concentration of Asian American communities in the United States. Visit him online at DiveInDigDeep.com.

In part 3 of the series “What Parenting Does to Parents,” discussing the impact parenting has on parents, Monica and Danny talk about life before becoming parents and the impact parenting teenagers has on the life and marriage of parents now. They discuss healthy and unhealthy ways of parenting now, which can impact life and marriage both positively and adversely. Finally, they discuss ways of reclaiming healthy parenting and marriage. ResourcesParents, When Jesus Says, “I’ve Been There,” He Means It by Steve Eatmonhttps://rootedministry.com/when-jesus-says-ive-been-there-he-means-it/Fixing Life a Father by Clarissa Moll https://rootedministry.com/fixing-like-the-father/Other Resourceshttps://rootedministry.com/parenting/resources/ Christian Parenting ResourcesCall to ActionSubscribe and follow the Asian American Parenting Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTubeJoin us for our annual Rooted Conference this October 22-24 in Nashville, TN, to be refreshed, equipped, and reminded that you’re not alone in ministry.

This episode features LA pastors sharing insights on ministering in the diverse and spiritually vibrant city of Los Angeles. They discuss cultural narratives, effective outreach to the emerging generation, and practical strategies for church growth and community engagement.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Sola Network Leaders Podcast

00:01 Amplifying Voices in Ministry

00:19 Introduction to the LA Church Landscape

03:23 Understanding the Culture and Spirituality of LA

08:08 The Duality of Dreams and Disappointment in LA

13:23 The Gospel’s Relevance in a City of Self-Fulfillment

17:52 Practical Ministry Approaches in LA

22:54 Honoring the City While Resisting Its Idols

27:13 Navigating Cultural Idols in Ministry

28:52 Discipleship as the Core of Church LifeDisclaimerOur guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.

In part 2 of this new series “What Parenting Does to Parents” discussing the impact parenting has on parents, Monica and Danny talk about parenting teenagers when your teenager calls you out or talks back to you. This phenomenon varies from Asian Parents’ generation, where children rarely or never talked back, in contrast to how teenagers today have grown up. Hence, talking back or calling out parents might be the normal way teenagers interact with their parents today. However, how parents of teenagers respond to it is important. Timestamps (Reverse Clock Countdown)18:15 “I remember one of our boys saying to me…” Monica16:20 “Even from a social perspective…: Danny8:20 “The gospel…and being able to still parent your teenagers…” MonicaResources“Impacting the Spiritual Lives of Parents So They Can Lead Their Teenagers” Podcast by Dr. Richard Rosshttps://rootedministry.com/podcasts/impacting-the-spiritual-lives-of-parents-so-they-can-lead-their-teenagers-by-dr-richard-ross/Parenting Through Conflicts With Your Teenagers and Children- Podcast by Danny Kwon and Monica Kimhttps://rootedministry.com/podcasts/parenting-through-conflicts-with-your-teenagers-and-children/

In this episode, worship leaders from diverse backgrounds share their journeys, insights on song writing, team building, and the future of Asian American church worship. Discover practical tips and inspiring visions for authentic worship in local and broader church contexts.Chapters0:00 — Welcome to the Conversation0:45 — Meet the Worship Leaders2:22 — How They First Started Leading Worship5:11 — The Story Behind Their Worship Ministries10:47 — Writing Songs for the Local Church17:17 — Planning Sunday Sets and Rehearsals27:01 — Heart Posture Before Musical Skill33:24 — Balancing Structure and Free-Flow Worship43:25 — Finding the Right Worship Team Members55:17 — The Future of Asian American Worship

Our guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.

In this new series from the Asian American Parenting Podcast, we explore issues of raising teenagers from the parents’ perspective and the impact issues of parenting has on them. This first episode explores co-parenting teenagers and when parents have disagreements in raising teenagers. ResourcesOh Lord, Be My Help: A Cry For The Weary Parent by Lindsay Funcheshttps://rootedministry.com/oh-lord-be-my-help-a-cry-for-the-weary-parent/Breaking Generational Patterns of Control in Our Parenting by Sherene Josephhttps://rootedministry.com/breaking-generational-patterns-of-control-in-our-parenting/God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well by Anna Meade HarrisChristian Parenting Resourceshttps://rootedministry.com/parenting/resources/

In this episode, we explore the profound history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II, the role of the church, and the importance of storytelling for healing and understanding. Featuring insights from Pastor Tom Sugimura, Tommy Joe, and Pastor Ted Esaki, this conversation highlights faith, resilience, and the power of community in the face of adversity.Chapters00:00 Opening and Introduction to the Sola Leaders Podcast00:20 Welcoming Tom Sugimura, Tommy Dyo, and Ted Esaki01:53 The Motivation Behind Writing “The Church Behind Barbed Wire”05:15 Historical Context of Japanese American Incarceration08:22 Exploring the Reasons Behind the Targeting of Japanese Americans10:18 Examining the Role of the Church During the Incarceration Era17:20 Shared Memories of Camp Life and the Power of Community20:39 Navigating Silence, Resilience, and Legacy Across Generations26:22 Expressions of Faith and Unity within the Camps31:09 Finding Healing and Redemptive Purpose in Collective Suffering36:11 Cultivating Hope for Future Generations and the ChurchOur guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.