SOLA Network

Why is there a Chinese museum in the middle of Mississippi?

That’s the question Baldwin Chiu and Larissa Lam asked when they visited his grandfather’s home in Mississippi—yes, Mississippi. It turns out there was a whole community of Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans who made their home in the American South.

The history they uncovered during their journeys turned into Far East Deep South, an award-winning documentary feature film that followed the Chiu family as they uncovered their lost family history. The film, directed by Larissa, interviews local residents, historians, and of course, Baldwin’s own family. It also shows the racially complex history of the early Chinese in the segregated South, including the effects of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

In this interview with SOLA video manager Jason Chao, Baldwin and Larissa share how they discovered this amazing story, and how it has helped them to redefine what “American” and “American Christianity” means. They also challenge Asian Americans to ask questions of previous generations to learn their stories.

Our “Artists in Motion” series hopes to platform Asian American Christian artists, as well as encourage all artists to root their identities in Christ and use their callings to share art and truth with the world.

Watch the video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/IUi7-BR19mk

Read the transcript on our website:

https://sola.network/article/chinese-american-christians-from-the-deep-south-interview/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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

Baldwin Chiu grew up influenced by hip-hop, eventually becoming the first Chinese American hip hop rapper. But when church leadership invited him to bring the sound to his immigrant church’s picnic, he didn’t get a standing ovation. 

“I remember some of the older Chinese ladies like going up to my dad, and my dad was like, ‘What are you doing?” I had a little scolding when I got home: ‘What are you doing!? You know, there's like, Christian Chinese old ladies!”

But through his faith in God’s calling, support from other hip hop artists, and even encouragement from his local church, Baldwin became the rapper Only Won, releasing several EPs and LPs throughout his career. Oh, and he’s also a professionally licensed mechanical engineer, actor, and producer. 

In this interview with SOLA video manager Jason Chao, Baldwin shares his testimony, as well his thoughts on how Christian artists can grow and thrive, especially through pushing past comfort zones. He also challenges churches to think beyond what is “traditional” and remember that our God is a God who is the creative creator. 

Our “Artists in Motion” series hopes to platform Asian American Christian artists, as well as encourage all artists to root their identities in Christ and use their callings to share art and truth with the world.

Watch the video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/J3jvotCZ4II

Read the transcript on our website:

https://sola.network/article/singing-and-rapping-a-new-song-interview/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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

“Nothing is certain.” These are not the words you want to hear from a hospital chaplain after you tell him about your dream of being an actor. 

But these words were far from discouraging for Derek Ting. He saw it as an opportunity to follow God’s calling in faith. If nothing is certain, then failure is not certain either! Derek overcame many obstacles as an Asian American in the film industry to become an actor, writer, producer, and director—with his latest film being released on Amazon Prime Video.

In this interview with SOLA video manager Jason Chao, Derek shares his testimony, as well his experiences with Asian American representation in the film industry. We hope this conversation encourages other Christians who are facing obstacles in their callings to follow God in faith. 

Our “Artists in Motion” series hopes to platform Asian American Christian artists, as well as encourage all artists to root their identities in Christ and use their callings to share art and truth with the world.

Watch the video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/-PhvJniPm9k

Read the transcript on our website:

https://sola.network/article/facing-uncertainty-with-faith-interview/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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

How do pastors address a world that tries to minimize pain or avoid it altogether? Pastor and professor Dr. Matthew Kim addresses the problem of pain and its importance in pulpit ministry in his new book Preaching to People in Pain. 

In this interview with SOLA Network social media manager Aaron Lee, Dr. Kim talks about his own painful experiences and encourages pastors to preach on the topic—even if it is difficult. He also exhorts church members to encourage their pastors, many of whom may be hurting, as well as to encourage one another to be vulnerable by being a safe community where people can share.

Watch the video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/Z8RlmbswRWM

Read the transcript on our website:

https://sola.network/article/preaching-to-people-in-pain-interview/

Read Aaron's review of the book:

https://sola.network/article/preaching-to-people-in-pain-book-review/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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

The new SOLA Network website has been launched. In this conversation, SOLA’s social media manager Aaron Lee interviewed SOLA Network editor Hannah Chao about the redesign and how she hopes it will help people to discover more stories.

This video was recorded LIVE on Instagram:

http://instagram.com/thesolanetwork

Watch the recording on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/t5HHCxVjhQc

Read the transcript on our website:

https://sola.network/article/celebrating-the-sola-network-website-redesign/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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

Larissa Lam believes God orchestrated her many unexpected career changes. How else would a Chinese American teen decide to be a music producer? Or become the lead singer of a band while CFO of a record company? And now, Larissa is the director of a documentary called Far East Deep South, an award-winning documentary feature film that follows a Chinese American family on a surprising journey through Mississippi in search of their lost family history. 

In this interview with SOLA video manager Jason Chao, Larissa shares about her faith journey, as well as her thoughts on Asian American representation in the music industry. She also shares how churches can support artists, especially musicians. All of it, of course, is tied to her belief in God as creator who is sovereign over all things. 

Our “Artists in Motion” series hopes to platform Asian American Christian artists, as well as encourage all artists to root their identities in Christ and use their callings to share art and truth with the world.

Watch the video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/5oG3TyYb6Cg

Read the transcript on our website:

https://sola.network/article/a-life-full-of-god-incidences-interview/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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 if you’re an artist who hasn’t quite “made it” yet? What if it’s taking longer than you hoped? How would you keep your faith, especially if you believe that God has given you these talents and this calling? 

In our next installment of “Artists in Motion,” SOLA video manager Jason Chao interviews actor Jo Sung. He has been a working actor for the last two decades with roles in shows like Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. Jo Sung has been a working actor for more than 15 years, but he isn’t exactly a household name. But while he hasn’t had his big break, he has become a leader in the Asian American Christian acting community. Jo is the guy everyone loves to talk to because he loves his craft, he loves people, and most of all, he loves Jesus. 

This conversation is made for people who feel pressured to “make it” in any creative field. We hope you are encouraged to learn to love your art and craft, no matter what the outcome, as long as it brings God glory and gives you joy. 

Our “Artists in Motion” series hopes to platform Asian American Christian artists, as well as encourage all artists to root their identities in Christ and use their callings to share art and truth with the world.

Watch the video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/KYgf2zmwhbk

Read the transcript on our website:

https://sola.network/article/the-struggle-to-have-faith-as-an-artist-interview/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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

SOLA Network is pleased to release its new series “Artists in Motion.” We hope to platform Asian American Christian artists, as well as encourage all artists to root their identities in Christ and use their callings to share art and truth with the world. 

In our first installment, SOLA video manager Jason Chao interviews rapper and activist Jason Chu (also stylized jason chu). The two discuss how Jason Chu’s Christian journey impacted his art, how the Asian American church can support artists, and more. Check out their conversation.

Watch the video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/MltlS4CXu98

Read the transcript on our website:

https://sola.network/article/speaking-hope-and-healing-in-a-broken-world-an-interview/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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

The situation for Christians in Afghanistan was dire even before the United States began withdrawing its military from the country last month. 

According to the World Watch List, which ranks countries based on the amount of religious persecution, Afghanistan landed as #2, only behind North Korea. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity wrote that less than 3 percent of people in Afghanistan personally know a Christian. 

To help give us context about the situation in Afghanistan, Hannah Chao, editor at the SOLA Network, interviewed Scott Oh, pastor at Rooftop Church in Brea, California. Scott used to help operate an orphanage in Afghanistan from 2004-2007, and he still has contacts in the country. 

We hope this interview will give us new insights into the people of Afghanistan and encourage us to pray for the people there.

Watch the video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ls5qwc1axq0

Read the transcript on our website:

https://sola.network/article/my-time-in-afghanistan-interview/

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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

Deconstruction is a buzzword in Christian circles as stories of prominent Christian leaders leaving their faith become more commonplace. Of course, the questioning and even unraveling of faith is not limited to pastors and worship leaders but to everyday churchgoers. 

How can churches and pastors understand deconstruction? How should they walk with those who are doubting their faith? SOLA Editorial Board member Kevin Yi interviewed two pastors to talk about this phenomenon and how to address it, with additional emphasis on the Asian American church. Barnabas Piper is an associate pastor at Immanuel Nashville church and the author of many books. Jason Min is the lead pastor of Citizens La church. 

We hope this conversation can be helpful for the local church to walk compassionately with those who are deconstructing.

Read the transcript on our website:

https://sola.network/article/addressing-deconstruction-in-the-church

Email us your questions or conversation topics: 

[email protected]

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