The Fall 2022 SOLA Leader’s Dialogue was a time filled with teaching and encouragement. The theme for the day was, “The Potentials and Perils of Working With the Asian Immigrant Church.” One of the speakers was Steve Chang, senior pastor at Living Hope Community Church and the council chairman of the SOLA Council. 

Speaking to a live audience, Pastor Steve Chang spoke about the dynamics that pastors may encounter as they lead in the immigrant church. His hope was to help pastors to better guard their hearts and navigate some of the cultural nuances in an immigrant-led church. 

Pastor Steve discussed three potential problems or “perils” for pastors:

1. The problem of competing issues

2. The problem of uneven relationships

3. The problem of mismatched callings

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9-POS_a2iSI

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SOLA Network had the privilege of speaking to Pastor Owen Y. Lee, senior pastor of Christ Central Presbyterian Church in Centreville, VA. He is also a SOLA Council member. 

Owen Lee spoke to Aaron Lee, social media manager at the SOLA Network, and Jason Chao, the video editor at the SOLA Network. They discussed the importance of ethnic-specific ministries and how to encourage pastors who serve at immigrant churches. 

Their conversation also included: How Asian American pastors should seek leadership roles, being thankful for immigrant churches that came before us, ways in which ethnic-specific churches excel.

Video and transcript: 

https://sola.network/article/the-need-for-ethnic-specific-ministries/

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SOLA Network had the privilege of speaking to Dr. Daniel K. Eng, assistant professor of New Testament at Western Seminary. He is an editorial board member at the SOLA Network and is the author of the commentary on James in the forthcoming New Testament in Color.

Daniel spoke to Hannah Chao, editor at the SOLA Network, and Jason Chao, the video editor at the SOLA Network. They discussed how Asian American churches tend to view the academic/seminary sphere and how to encourage more Christians not to see such a big divide between pastors and lay people. 

Their conversation also included: Understanding your own cultural lens and personal experiences when viewing Scripture, reframing the conversation around pastoral vocation , and the challenges of Bible illiteracy.

Video and transcript: 

https://sola.network/article/supporting-asian-americans-academics-in-seminary-interview/

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SOLA Network had the privilege of speaking to Dr. Alexander Jun, who serves as executive director of the PCA’s Korean American Leadership Initiative (KALI). He is also a professor who conducts research on equity and justice in higher education; a ruling elder at New Life Presbyterian Church in Fullerton, California; and moderator for the 45th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America in 2017. 

Dr. Alexander Jun spoke to Jason Chao, the video editor at the SOLA Network. They discussed the history of the immigrant church, the importance of Asian American voices, and the importance of ethnic-specific spaces like KALI. 

Their conversation also included: The difference between segregation and separation in ethnic churches, the role and growth of second-generation Asian American churches, and the national role of Asian American Christians.

Video and transcript:

https://sola.network/article/journey-value-of-asian-american-churches-interview/

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"People are yearning for Truth, and if we are willing to open our eyes and mouths, God will gladly point us to them. We don’t always get to see the work that He’s doing, but we trust that there’s always more going on under the surface, and we don’t have to cross oceans to see lives transformed by the Gospel—just our neighborhood streets, apartment hallways, and college campuses."

Video and article, read and written by Karisa You:

https://sola.network/article/how-jesus-is-reaching-international-students/

Karisa You was born in Massachusetts but grew up in Orange County and earned her Bachelor of Arts at UCLA and Juris Doctorate at USC. She teaches business and political science at California Baptist University, Concordia University Irvine, UC Riverside, and Hope International University. She also serves on the board for Tutapona, a nonprofit providing mental health services to refugees, and previously worked in legal public service, advocating for indigent clients' housing, benefits, and constitutional rights. She believes God is passionate about justice and calls His followers to defend those who cannot speak for themselves. Karisa loves storytelling, especially writing about how Jesus changes lives (karisayou.blogspot.com). She published the young-adult novel, Seeing Triple, and her “chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” (Westminster Catechism).

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The president of The Gospel Coalition, the president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and the executive director of the Korean American Leadership Initiative of the PCA walk onto a stage. What’s the punchline? 

But there’s no joke. The three men, united by the Gospel and their God-given unique Asian American heritage, entered into an encouraging and challenging conversation during the final session of the AALC Conference. Julius Kim (TGC), Tom Lin (Intervarsity), and moderator Alexander Jun (KALI) discussed the lessons they have learned over the years about leadership through adversity, ministry pain, and pressure. 

We hope you are encouraged and challenged as they discussed: The role of ethnic identity and culture, ways they guard against discouragement, and what they foresee in the future of the evangelical church in North America.

Watch the video on YouTube:

Dr. Julius Kim (M.Div, Westminster Seminary California; Ph.D, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is president of The Gospel Coalition. Julius also serves as associate pastor of New Life Presbyterian Church and visiting professor of practical theology at Westminster Seminary California, where he previously served as dean of students. He is the author of Preaching the Whole Counsel of God and numerous articles. Julius and his wife, Ji Hee, have two daughters and live in Escondido, California.

Tom Lin currently serves as President/CEO of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He is the author of Pursuing God’s Call (2012) and Losing Face, Finding Grace (1996), as well as co-editor of the Urbana Onward book series (2012), and a contributor to Still Evangelical (2018), all published by InterVarsity Press. He holds a BA in Economics from Harvard University and an MA in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Dr. Alexander Jun is a professor of higher education at Azusa Pacific University and an elder at New Life Presbyterian Church of Orange County. He was moderator of the 45th General Assembly for the Presbyterian Church in America. He is also an author, and his most recent book is title, White Evolution: The Constant Search for Racial Consciousness.

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SOLA Network had the privilege of speaking to Tom Lin, who serves as president and CEO of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Tom is the author of Pursuing God’s Call (2012) and Losing Face, Finding Grace (1996), as well as co-editor of the Urbana Onward book series (2012). 

Tom Lin spoke to Heidi Wong, SOLA Editorial Board member and college ministry director at Exilic Church in New York City. They discussed the current state of the college generation in terms of faith, especially Asian American college students. 

Their conversation included: Supporting college students moving to a new city, using social media to reach out to new students, spending time with students to learn about them, and conversations around mental health.

Video and transcript:

https://sola.network/article/how-church-support-college-students-faith-interview/

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Tom Lin is president and CEO of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He is the author of Pursuing God’s Call (2012) and Losing Face, Finding Grace (1996), as well as co-editor of the Urbana Onward book series (2012). Tom Lin spoke during the ninth session of the AALC Conference. His talk was titled, “Resilient Leadership and Submitting our Asian American Idols to the King.”

In his talk, Tom Lin asks the question: “What does leadership look like in this post-COVID, cultural moment of the church?” He shares the primary calling of Asian American leaders to submit all of who we are and all of our leadership under the authority of Christ the King. Only then can we respond to two invitations for leaders in this season – resiliency and collaboration in leadership.

Watch the video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/XYzI1hLldOs

SOLA Network had the privilege of speaking to Pastor Cory Ishida, the senior pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church of San Gabriel Valley (Evergreen SGV) for over 40 years before retiring in 2018. Cory Ishida spoke to Jason Chao, video editor at SOLA Network, about his longevity in ministry and how pastors can have long, fruitful ministries. 

Their conversation included: Adapting to changes in technology, the blessings of ministering to multiple generations, how to incorporate the old and the new, the importance of Sabbaticals, and exhortations to pastors.

Video and transcript:

https://sola.network/article/longevity-and-the-importance-of-change-in-ministry-interview/

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Pastor Cory Ishida was the senior pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church of San Gabriel Valley (Evergreen SGV) for over 40 years before retiring in 2018. He spoke during the eighth session of the AALC Conference. His talk was titled, “The Way of the King.”

In his talk, Pastor Cory focused on the moments that Jesus was King here on earth and how it applies to us today as leaders of His Church. Jesus was a manufacturer of furniture. He was a maker of disciples. He was a miracle worker. But he was also a king. Pastor Cory shared examples of kingship from his 42 years of senior pastoral ministry.

Watch the video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/dDXGU5Y1EQ8