SOLA Network

As we gather to remember and give thanks for the blessings around us, let us not forget to be grateful for our pastors who shepherd our churches. Listen or read "How We Can Bless Our Pastors for Pastors Appreciation Month" by Alice Kim (Emmausccs.com), and we hope you will reach out to and pray for your pastors today.

"There are many thoughtful and creative ways to encourage our pastors. May we consider blessing them so that they could fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:7) with steadfastness, faithfulness, and joy."

Video and article:

https://sola.network/article/how-we-can-bless-our-pastors-appreciation-month/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

Alice Kim is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Emmaus Counseling and Consulting Services (emmausccs.com) where she offers gospel-centered therapy to the DC Metro area. She finds deep fulfillment in engaging people’s stories and bearing witness to the good work of God to redeem and restore. She is married to Sam Kim, pastor at Christ Central Presbyterian Church in Centreville, VA and they raise their two high-school-age daughters and goldendoodle. Her past times include treasure hunting at thrift stores and catching up with friends over a cup of coffee.

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As part of the Fall 2022 SOLA Leader’s Dialogue, Asian American leaders shared their experiences pastoring in the immigrant church context. Each leader shared stories of how their churches uniquely partnered with the immigrant church for the sake of the Gospel and the glory of God. 

Daniel Low, English pastor at Bread of Life Church, shared about the cultural issues of being a part of the Asian immigrant church and yet the benefits of being in that environment. He also shared the principles that have helped his three-language-congregation church to stay united.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e3p5qOrcoH4

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Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network

As part of the Fall 2022 SOLA Leader’s Dialogue, Asian American leaders shared their experiences pastoring in the immigrant church context. Each leader shared stories of how their churches uniquely partnered with the immigrant church for the sake of the Gospel and the glory of God. 

Will Chang, senior pastor of New Life Presbyterian Church, discussed the difference between “preference” and “potential.” He shared how following our preferences can be detrimental, but by looking for potential, we can better partner with the Asian immigrant church and spread the Gospel.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CRrNdUIqvJc

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

Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network

As part of the Fall 2022 SOLA Leader’s Dialogue, Asian American leaders shared their experiences pastoring in the immigrant church context. Each leader shared stories of how their churches uniquely partnered with the immigrant church for the sake of the Gospel and the glory of God. 

Ben Pun, lead pastor of Anchor Church, spoke about how his second-generation church is fully independent of its Chinese-immigrant church but maintains a strong partnership that continues to this day.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RkWx5LwNbP8

Links:

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

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Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network

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/

Links:

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

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

Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network

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/

Links:

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Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network

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/

Links:

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Website: https://sola.network

"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.

Links:

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Podcast: http://anchor.fm/solanetwork

Website: https://sola.network