SOLA Network

Tim Challies is a Christian, a husband to Aileen, and a father to two daughters who are young adults and one son who is waiting for him in heaven. He worships and serves as an elder at Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto, Ontario. He is a blogger and book reviewer and has written a number of popular books.

We discuss in this interview: How Tim heard about SOLA Network, how it feels half a year after releasing his book (Seasons of Sorrow), behind the scenes of his article for SOLA Network (If God Would Outsource His Sovereignty), how platforms and parachurch ministries like SOLA Network can achieve longevity and faithfulness, and his upcoming projects.

Video and transcript:

https://sola.network/article/learning-and-writing-about-god-and-the-church-an-interview-with-tim-challies/

Shownotes:

Everlasting Joy: A Book Review of “Seasons of Sorrow”

https://sola.network/article/seasons-of-sorrow-book-review/

If God Would Outsource His Sovereignty:

https://sola.network/article/if-god-would-outsource-his-sovereignty/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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In Finding God, Finding Me, Izzy Koo tells her powerful testimony of how her life changed after encountering god at sixteen years old. She openly her fears, struggles, and insecurities as a high school student, as well as how God helped her find her identity and confidence. 

SOLA Network is proud to present an interview with Izzy Koo, who is now a freshman in college. She is interviewed by Soojin Park, a SOLA Editorial Board member. They discuss how Izzy began writing her book, the process of writing and publishing a book, how to be a witness for Jesus in high school, college, and beyond, and the importance of building up personal and community-based faith.

Video and transcript:

https://sola.network/article/finding-god-in-high-school-college-and-beyond-an-interview-with-author-izzy-koo/

Links:

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Website: https://sola.network

The relationship between immigrant and second-generation churches has—to put it lightly— been complex. Language and cultural barriers make things lead to misunderstandings and disagreements. Many churches have stories of conflicts over vision, worship times, and lack of parking. 

But it is possible for first and second-generation churches to worship together. At SOLA Network, we want to highlight the stories that show us new ways to approach old problems. We want to encourage churches and leaders to think differently about “the way things are” and find ways to pursue the kingdom of God together. 

We are proud to present an interview that Steve Chang, SOLA Council chairman, conducted with  Pastor Paul Kim and Pastor John Cha of Open Door Presbyterian Church in Herndon. Pastor Paul Kim is the lead pastor of the Korean-speaking Congregation, while Pastor John Cha was the previous lead pastor of the English-speaking Congregation and is now the Congregational Care pastor. 

In their wide-ranging conversation, the group discusses the journey ODPC made in becoming “1 Vision, 2 Households, 1 Family.” They talk about how the leaders of both congregations interact regularly, how the two lead pastors share power, giving the English-speaking congregation the 9:30am worship slot, their mission as a church, how to appreciate what the other congregation is doing, and plans for the future of the church.

Video and transcript:

https://sola.network/article/how-immigrant-and-second-generation-churches-can-coexist/

For more on Open Door Presbyterian Church, check out our previous interview with John Cha, in which he discusses in more detail how their church structure came to be:

https://sola.network/article/interview-interdependent-church/

Links:

Weekly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/sola/tgif

Monthly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/sola/newsletter

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqsoKbSYBbZZoovA24PhqAg

Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network

Esther Liu’s book Shame: Being Known and Loved made it to both SOLA Network’s Best Christian Books by Asian American Authors in 2022 and SOLA content curator Aaron Lee’s “My Favorite Asian American Christian Books I Read in 2022.”

In this interview with Aaron, Esther shares more of the practical part of being an author—the actual writing of the book. She gives advice on how aspiring authors can tackle writing. We hope this encourages writers to continue to share their perspectives and create stories for the glory of God. 

Video and transcript:

https://sola.network/article/writing-advice-with-esther-liu/

Shownotes:

Full interview with Esther: https://sola.network/article/writing-about-shame-interview/

Aaron's book review: https://sola.network/article/shame-book-review/

P&R book page: https://www.prpbooks.com/book/shame_31dd

Esther on CCEF: https://www.ccef.org/people/esther-liu/

Links:

Weekly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/sola/tgif

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Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network

SOLA Network editor Hannah Chao speaks with Aaron Lee about SOLA Network’s Hidden Gems of 2022 and the 2022 SOLA Network Magazine.

Video and transcript:

https://sola.network/article/2022-sola-network-magazine-interview/

Shownotes:

https://sola.network/article/hidden-gems-of-2022/

https://sola.network/article/introducing-the-2022-sola-network-magazine/

Links:

Weekly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/sola/tgif

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesolanetwork

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesolanetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SOLANetwork

Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network

On May 15, 2022, a gunman entered a Taiwanese church in Orange County, California. He killed one person and wounded five others. Police later disclosed that the crime was committed out of a political hatred of Taiwan. The shocking crime brought attention to the tension between China and Taiwan even here in the United States. 

Pastor KC Liu wrote about the incident for SOLA Network in “Response to the Laguna Woods Shooting on May 15, 2022.” In the article, he shared the dark history between the two nations but also looked for a way forward through the Gospel. 

SOLA Editorial Board member Daniel K. Eng interviewed Pastor KC Liu a few months after the incident, and we are publishing it now in the new year. They talked about Pastor KC’s experiences growing up in a Taiwanese family, and how his own family was affected by the political tensions within the country. He also discusses the current animosity between Taiwan and China. But he also ends with a call for unity, and he has great hope for the future. 

We hope this interview will be enlightening for American Christians, especially Asian American Christians, as we truly learn what it means to be united in Christ.

Video and transcript:

https://sola.network/article/healing-the-division-between-taiwan-and-china-through-the-gospel/

Related:

https://sola.network/article/more-powerful-than-the-hate-that-divides/

Links:

Weekly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/sola/tgif

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SOLANetwork

Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network

This was originally delivered by Aaron Lee as a devotional Sunday School lesson to youth students at FCBC Walnut.

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.”

Article version available at SOLA Network: 

https://sola.network/article/shaping-your-identity-with-spotify-why-its-better-to-be-a-new-creation-in-christ/

Three implications for the idea that your identity belongs in Jesus:

1. God knows our hearts.

2. Authenticity matters.

3. Root yourself in Christ.

A flush of heat floods your face and neck. You want to hide, escape, or melt down into the floor—you feel ashamed. Shame is worse than embarrassment. It affects your identity, making you want to hide parts or even all of yourself. But the way to combat shame isn’t to “fix” yourself or cover your misdeeds—it is to be truly known and loved. 

That is the message of Esther Liu’s book Shame: Being Known and Loved. Her 31-day devotional explains how Jesus gently asks us to bring our shame into the light. He too suffered shame and shows us how we can be covered in his grace and love. 

SOLA social media editor Aaron Lee interviewed Esther Liu, the author of Shame. In their conversation, they discuss her life story and how she came about writing the book. They also discuss the effects of honor-shame culture, the need to succeed to avoid shame, how she wrote to her “younger self," and combating shame while writing the book

Video and transcript:

https://sola.network/article/writing-about-shame-interview/

Shownotes:

Aaron's book review: https://sola.network/article/shame-book-review/

P&R book page: https://www.prpbooks.com/book/shame_31dd

Esther on CCEF: https://www.ccef.org/people/esther-liu/

Links:

Weekly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/sola/tgif

Monthly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/sola/newsletter

Facebook: https://facebook.com/thesolanetwork

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesolanetwork

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesolanetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqsoKbSYBbZZoovA24PhqAg

Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network

What does it look like to be a faithful Asian American youth pastor? How can youth pastors equip parents? What are the changes that Asian American youth ministries need to make as both immigrant and second-generation/third-generation churches in the present day? For some expert perspective, SOLA Editorial Board member Daniel K. Eng interviewed Dr. Danny Kwan, who has been leading family and youth ministry for three decades. 

Listen in as they talk about: 

Video and transcript:

https://sola.network/article/serving-in-asian-american-youth-ministry-interview/

Links:

Weekly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/sola/tgif

Monthly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/sola/newsletter

Facebook: https://facebook.com/thesolanetwork

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesolanetwork

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesolanetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SOLANetwork

Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network

Corrie ten Boom is ardently admired today as the ringleader of an underground movement in the Netherlands that saved hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust. This work that she is known for occurred during the span of two years of obedience to God and led to her incarceration in a Nazi concentration camp. At several points, she struggled to comprehend how she could live out God’s commands, pleading with Him to provide for her needs. And He did, proving that Biblical miracles aren’t limited to the Bible. Here is Corrie’s story.

SOLA Network is excited to present a 4-part series focused on missionaries in the past who can inspire us in the present. We hope you are encouraged by these stories to remember the Great Commission and proclaim the kingdom of Christ to the world.

Video and article, read and written by Karisa You:

https://sola.network/article/the-miracle-filled-life-of-corrie-ten-boom/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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).

Links:

Weekly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/sola/tgif

Monthly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/sola/newsletter

Facebook: https://facebook.com/thesolanetwork

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesolanetwork

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesolanetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SOLANetwork

Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network