This week we revealed the endorsements and chapters to our forthcoming book: A Letter to the Asian American Church, edited by Pastor Steve S. Chang. Our book will launch on April 23 at the 2024 Asian American Leadership Conference and be available for purchase on Amazon. Learn more about our book here: Introducing Our Forthcoming Book: A Letter to the Asian American Church.
Daniel K. Eng interviewed Pastor Steven Siu of Chinese Evangelical Church of San Diego about exploring the call into vocational ministry. Along with personal stories as well as stories of those at his church, Pastor Steven highlights the Render West Coast conference for those considering full-time ministry or currently attending seminary.
This newsletter is one of the many ways you can keep in touch with us. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more, check out my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group and TGIF Playlist on Spotify. You can reach me on Twitter and Instagram.
Aaron Lee, Editorial Curator
Enter our giveaway! Thanks to The Good Book Company for providing, in partnership with @diveindigdeep, SOLA Network, and FCBC Walnut. 1 winner will receive this outstanding book.
Faith Chang’s book Peace Over Perfection has just been released! Christianity Today published an excerpt from Peace over Perfection on the command to “be perfect,” the exhaustion of scrupulosity, and rest in Christ.
How can Christians find rest when they struggle to be perfect? In Peace Over Perfection, Faith Chang guides you to enjoying a good God when you feel you’re never good enough. Read my review of her book and be on the lookout for an interview coming soon.
I am happy to have written an official endorsement for this book: “Faith Chang is a natural storyteller, a gifted writer, insightful and encouraging. In my anxious pursuit of perfection, Chang points me to Christ—the founder and perfecter of our faith—and his perfect love casts out my fear.” – Aaron Lee, Editorial Curator, SOLA Network; Social Media Officer, First Chinese Baptist Church of Walnut, CA
Articles From Around The Web
1. Faith Chang: A Simple Request for Good Friday and All of Life
On seven-year-old Faith and what if I’m not getting Holy Week right?
2. Grace Pike: A Sacred Silence: How Witholding Words Helped Me Heal
“This newfound, intentional spiritual discipline led to a realization that I had unintentionally made an idol out of communication. My good desire to cultivate community and encourage others had soured the moment I began prioritizing conversations with friends or processing through a publication above time in the Word. In the hushed moments with Scripture, God gifted a sacred silence that spoke volumes.”
3. Connie Leung Nelson: Parenting Our Introverted Teenagers
“Being introverted is neither good nor bad; it is simply who God made our child to be. But we can’t let our teenagers use their love of being alone as an excuse to avoid people. We want to strengthen their skills in interacting with others so that they can enjoy the gift of being in community with other people. Ultimately, we want them to understand that their true identity as followers of Jesus does not mean remaining isolated and alone, but walking together meaningfully with other believers.”
Asian American Leadership Conference 2024: “Writing the Next Chapter.” April 23-24, 2024, Orange County, CA. Registration and more info can be found at aalc.network.
The vision of this conference is to equip Asian-American leaders with gospel centered, contextual resources that will empower men and women for local church ministry. Our conference strategy is to equip leaders, platform voices, and connect with one another for life-giving relationships.
The theme of our conference is “Writing the Next Chapter: Empowering Asian American Voices for Gospel Ministry”. The Asian American church today is at a unique inflection point with leaders in diverse stations across multiple generations. This conference will be an opportunity to learn from these voices for the sake of continued and future Gospel work together.
Books, Podcasts, Music, And More
1. TC Movie Club: Creation Care Through the Lens of Hayao Miyazaki
Elijah Davidson, Josh Larsen, and Zachary Lee discuss My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and more.
2. Patrick Miller: Could Podcasts Save the Church from Stupidity?
What if ministry leaders didn’t settle for “any podcast is better than no podcast” but instead said, “Make sure you’re consuming podcasts that unmoor you from the faux-authentic world of social media and challenge you to be the sort of person who can deeply engage the text God gave us”?
3. Aaron Lee: Related Works
Book reviews: Ask Pastor John by Tony Reinke, Incomparable by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, The Humble Life by Michele Howe. Listen to our TGIF playlist on Spotify. Join my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group.
Our Books and Reviews page is your one-stop resource for all of your reading needs. It features Asian American authors and issues, recommendations, and interviews.
Featured This Week On SOLA Network
1. Aaron Lee: Endorsements Reveal: A Letter to the Asian American Church
Endorsements from Peter Cha, Raymond Chang, Steven Chin, Dr. Daniel K. Eng, Matthew D. Kim, Rev. Julius J. Kim, Sharon Kim, Rev. Tae Kim, Danny Kwon, Daniel D. Lee, Esther Liu, Michael Young-Suk Oh, Soong-Chan Rah, Benjamin C. Shin, Pastor Albert Ting, and Daniel L. Wong.
2. Daniel K. Eng: Considering Vocational Ministry? An Interview with Pastor Steven Siu
Daniel K. Eng chats with Pastor Steven Siu of Chinese Evangelical Church of San Diego about exploring the call into vocational ministry. Along with personal stories as well as stories of those at his church, Pastor Steven highlights the Render West Coast conference. This conference is for those who are contemplating the potential of entering into full-time ministry, seeking to affirm God’s calling for full-time ministry, or are already attending seminary.
3. Amy Baik Lee: Hot Air Balloons And The Posture Of Hope
It takes energy to sing that nothing is impossible with God — that there will be an end to the tightrope of mental struggle — when none of my senses says that it is coming.
4. Ben Chow: Easter Sunday
From Jesus’s humble entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to His death on the cross on Good Friday, God was at work. Likewise, throughout all the Scriptures—in the genealogies, miracles, and signs—in all the pain and waiting, God was at work. He was weaving together His redemptive plan, with Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday at its center.
5. Michael Park: Do You Let It Be Good?
“Although none of us have ‘good’ to boast about today, all of us can have Jesus to boast about. He was compassionate yet mighty until the end and that is very, very good.”
6. TGIF: Roundup for March 29, 2024
The Importance of Gospel Centrality in Asian American Youth Ministries / I Am One of The Eighty-Five Percent Who Did Not Persist in Pastoral Ministry / I Don’t Know What It’s Like / On Counseling Talk / The (Christian) Legacy of The Sopranos
7. SOLA Network: TGIF Subscription
Get our TGIF installments delivered straight to your inbox for free every Friday. Join today so you never miss out.
General disclaimer: Our link roundups are not endorsements of the positions or lives of the authors. Header image by Spencer Backman.