The AACC Podcast

In today's rapidly changing world, many churches are grappling with a significant shift: the rise of a post-Christian culture. This has led to a profound change in how younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Gen Alpha, relate to faith and community. In this episode of the AACC Podcast, our host, Ray Chang, chats with Clark Fobes, Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church of San Francisco, about these trends and their implications for the church.

Join our conversations about the Next Generation and share it with a friend!

Linked resources: @fobesman

Host: Raymond Chang

Guests: Clark Fobes

Podcast Manager: Gracie Hulse

Producer: Daniel Harris

Coordinator: Amber Rhee

Follow us on IG: @aachristcollab

To find out more about AACC's work, donate, or learn more visit asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com.

In this episode of the AACC Podcast, our host, Izzy Koo, chats with Pastor Michael Lee of Encounter Church in Seattle, Washington. During the conversation, Pastor Michael highlights the stereotypes that often limit the perception of Asian leaders. While Asians are seen as responsible and capable, they are rarely viewed as primary leaders. This observation has fueled Michael's passion for creating spaces where Asian voices are not just included but celebrated. His commitment to a multi-ethnic church is a response to the need for diverse leadership that reflects the community's demographics.

Join us in our new series of conversations about the Next Generation and share it with a friend!

Linked resources: https://www.encountereastside.org/

Host: Izzy Koo

Guests: Michael Lee

Podcast Manager: Gracie Hulse

Producer: Daniel Harris

Coordinator: Amber Rhee

Follow us on IG: @aachristcollab

To find out more about AACC's work, donate, or learn more visit asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com.

In this episode of the AACC podcast, our host, Izzy Koo, engages with three members of the AACC Next Gen Leadership Cohort—Aimee Ebeling, Daniel Fang, and Jehuda Kusuma—to explore the complexities of Asian American identity and faith. The conversation delves into personal experiences that shaped their understanding of their cultural identities, the role of faith in their lives, and the values that resonate with Gen Z. They discuss the importance of community, mental health, and authenticity, while also reflecting on the challenges they face in navigating their identities in a diverse world. Throughout the conversation, they also stress the significance of mentorship and the ongoing journey of faith as they seek to understand their place in both their cultural and faith communities.

Join us in our new series of conversations about the Next Generation and share it with a friend!

Host: Izzy Koo

Guests: Aimee Ebeling, Daniel Fang, and Jehuda Kusuma

Podcast Manager: Gracie Hulse

Producer: Daniel Harris

Coordinator: Amber Rhee

Follow us on IG: @aachristcollab

To find out more about AACC's work, donate, or learn more visit asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com.

In this episode of the AACC podcast, our very own NextGen Coordinator and co-host, Izzy Koo, and psychotherapist, Ayna Kaur Virk, talk about Ayna's journey as a second-generation Punjabi woman navigating her faith, mental health, and cultural identity. Ayna discusses her encounter with Christ during a challenging time in her life, the role of therapy in her own personal growth, and the unique challenges faced by South Asian Christians. She shares how cultural competency in therapy and the need for the church to address mental health issues with understanding and compassion needs more attention, now more than ever. Ayna also offers practical steps for integrating faith and mental health, highlighting the significance of community support and spiritual practices.

Join us in our new series of conversations about the Next Generation and share it with a friend!

Linked Resources: https://aynakaurvirk.com/

Host: Izzy Koo

Guest: Ayna Kaur Virk

Podcast Manager: Gracie Hulse

Producer: Daniel Harris

Coordinator: Amber Rhee

Follow us on IG: @aachristcollab

To find out more about AACC's work, donate, or learn more visit asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com.

In this episode of the AACC podcast, our host Ray Chang has a conversation with Pastors Terrence Shay and Hanley Liu from First Chinese Baptist Church, Walnut. Terrence and Hanley explore the essential partnership between the home and the church, highlighting the importance of nurturing young people and understanding and appreciating the cultural context of the congregation. Both pastors acknowledged the need to move away from segregation models that separate generations and instead focus on building relationships that empower the next generation to take ownership of their church.

Join us in our new series of conversations about the Next Generation and share it with a friend!

Linked Resources:

Host: Raymond Chang

Guests: Terrence Shay and Hanley Liu

Podcast Manager: Gracie Hulse

Producer: Daniel Harris

Coordinator: Amber Rhee

Follow us on IG: @aachristcollab

To find out more about AACC's work, donate, or learn more visit asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com.

In this episode of the AACC podcast, our host Ray Chang speaks with Pastor Justin Wong about the challenges and opportunities facing Gen Z within the Asian American church. While touching on the importance of understanding generational differences, the highlight of the conversation is on the impact of COVID-19 on youth ministry, and the need for churches to adapt to the unique needs of younger generations. Justin shares insights from his research emphasizing the significance of the older generations building trust, engaging with technology, and empowering the next generation of leaders through deeper connection. He also highlights the spiritual hunger of Gen Z and the necessity for churches to create safe spaces for discussion.

Join us in our new series of conversations about the Next Generation and share it with a friend!

Linked Resources: @justinhwong

Hosts: Raymond Chang Guest: Justin Wong Podcast Manager: Gracie Hulse Producer: Daniel Harris Coordinator: Amber Rhee

Follow us on IG: @aachristcollab

To find out more about AACC's work, donate, or learn more visit asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com.

Welcome to Season 6 of the AACC Podcast!

In this episode of the AACC podcast, host Ray Chang and animator/editor Kevin Yi discuss the intersection of Asian American identity, youth ministry, and media. Kevin shares his journey from ministry to animation, highlighting his work on the Disney+ series, Armorsaurs, and the book The Jesus I Wish I Knew in High School. They explore themes of cultural translation, shame, redemption, and the importance of engaging in conversations about spirituality with younger generations. They also emphasize the need for Asian American voices in literature and the role of parents in fostering meaningful dialogue with their children.

Join us in our new series of conversations about the Next Generation and share it with a friend!

Linked Resources:

Hosts: Raymond Chang Guest: Kevin Yi Podcast Manager: Gracie Hulse Producer: Daniel Harris Coordinator: Amber Rhee

Follow us on IG: @aachristcollab

To find out more about AACC's work, donate, or learn more visit asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com.

In this episode of the AACC podcast, Ray Chang interviews Steven Kim, the Founder and Executive Director of Project Kinship, a community-rooted organization dedicated to serving marginalized communities impacted by incarceration. Steven shares his personal journey as a Korean American and the challenges he faced growing up, including racism and trauma. The conversation explores the role of the church in supporting marginalized individuals, the need for cultural understanding, and the importance of engaging younger generations in faith. Steven advocates for a shift from a 'saving' mentality to one of 'serving' and 'standing with' those in need, highlighting the power of kinship and community in healing and transformation. Join us in this important conversation about how we need pioneers to bring change.

Linked Resources: https://www.projectkinship.org/

Hosts: Raymond Chang Guest: Steven Kim Podcast Manager: Gracie Hulse Producer: Daniel Harris Producers & Coordinators from Newsong: DJ Estioco, Jean Lee, Steven Kim Editor: Paul Yeej Kong

In this episode of the AACC podcast, Ray Chang speaks with Professor Jennifer Koh about the complexities of immigration law and its intersection with human rights, social justice, and faith. They discuss the current state of immigration in the U.S., the myths surrounding immigrants, and the role of faith communities in advocating for vulnerable populations. The conversation also touches on the historical context of immigration laws, the challenges posed by current policies, and the importance of community engagement and support for immigrants. While recorded before January 2024, the insights in this episode remain remarkably timely today.

Linked Resources: https://law.pepperdine.edu/faculty-research/jennifer-lee-koh/ www.newsong.net

Hosts: Raymond Chang Guest: Jennifer Koh Podcast Manager: Gracie Hulse Producer: Daniel Harris Coordinator: Amber Rhee Producers & Coordinators from Newsong: DJ Estioco, Jean Lee, Steven Kim Editor: Paul Yeej Kong

Follow us on IG: @aachristcollab

To find out more about AACC's work, donate, or learn more visit asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com.

In this episode of the AACC Podcast, our host, Ray Chang, continues his conversation with Pastor Dave Gibbons of Newsong Church in Southern California. Pastor Gibbons explores the profound impact of storytelling on healing and self-discovery. He shares insights on how personal narratives can resonate with readers, providing them with the words to express unspoken emotions. Pastor Gibbons presses on the importance of shared experiences and connections fostered through literature, highlighting the transformative power of stories in people's lives. Tune in to today's episode and share it with a friend!

Dave Gibbons is also the author of The Shape of My Eyes. His book beautifully weaves historic reference points of the oppression and discrimination against Asian Americans with Dave's own personal story. Dave's wrestling with belonging in his family, in America, and in the church creates a raw, thought-provoking memoir about race, religion and finding home.

Linked Resources: www.davegibbons.org www.newsong.net

Hosts: Raymond Chang

Guest: Dave Gibbons

Manager: Gracie Hulse

Producers: Daniel Harris & Josh Huver

Coordinator: Amber Rhee

Producers & Coordinators from Newsong: DJ Estioco, Jean Lee, Steven Kim

Editor: Paul Yeej Kong

Follow us on IG: @aachristcollab

To find out more about AACC's work, donate, or learn more visit asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com.

A huge thank you to our episode's sponsor, Brazos Press. Brazos Press is a proud sponsor of the Asian American Christian Collaborative Conference 2025. Brazos Press publishes books that creatively draw upon the riches of the Christian story to deepen our understanding of God's world and inspire faithful reflection and engagement. Learn more at BrazosPress.com.