This week at SOLA Network, Pastor John Chung shares Lessons from Korean and Japanese Churches to Reach Younger Generations. And Pastor Cory Ishida started a mini-series on Letters from Grandpa: A Theology of Work, with the final installment coming on Monday.
In case you missed it: We’re writing a book! We just announced our SOLA Network Book Project: Writing the Next Chapter of the Asian American Church. We believe it is time for SOLA Network to put in writing thoughts that would help the emerging generation of Asian American leaders and churches. Our book will launch at the 2024 Asian American Leadership Conference. More details coming soon. Registration for the conference is now open!
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 to win! Thanks to P&R Publishers for providing these books for our giveaway, in partnership with my newsletters for @diveindigdeep and FCBC Walnut. 1 winner will receive physical copies of these excellent books!
A Treasury of Thanksgiving: Illustrated Poetry, Prose, and Praise: How can you help your heart give thanks? A Treasury of Thanksgiving by Leland Ryken is the perfect book to help you have a grateful heart. Read my review.
Plus a trio of books by Kris Lundgaard: The Devoted Mind: Seeking God’s Face in a World of Distraction, The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin, The Glorious Christ: Meditations on His Person, Work, and Love.
Articles From Around The Web
1. Faith Chang: The Sovereign Lord is My Strength
“God enables me, not just in green pastures and by still waters, but in the precarious, jagged rocks in the heights. In the guarantee of grief ahead, there is the promise of divine presence.”
2. E. L. Sherene Joseph: I Started Attending Diwali Parties to Break Out of My Christian Bubble
“I was raised in a vibrant Indian community. How I’m trying to build relationships with Hindu friends in America.”
3. Jerry Riendeau: Don’t Overlook Commuter-Campus Ministry
“Ministering to such students may require adjusting the expectations of involvement and success for your ministry.”
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. 9Marks: Church Planting: One Step at a Time
The latest edition of Church Matters focuses on plants, pastors, and the connection between churches and their plants.
2. Rooted’s TGC 2023 Micro-event: The Important Role of the Church in Family Discipleship
At the 2023 Gospel Coalition Conference, Rooted presented a micro-event workshop to equip churches to invest in the next generation. “How the Whole Church Can Disciple Young People” (Terrence Shay) provides an overview of how all people and all departments of a church can contribute to biblical discipleship of young people. “The Critical Need and Simple Direction for Equipping Parents to Disciple Kids” (Cameron Cole) paints a picture of how any church, regardless of size and resources, can facilitate an effective family discipleship ministry. “Ministry to the Modern Child” (Clark Fobes) explains how today’s youth are growing up in a shame / honor culture due to the ubiquity of social media and technology. Finally, the workshop includes a panel discussion with Cameron Cole, Danny Kwon, Clark Fobes, Anna Meade Harris, and Terrence Shay.
3. Aaron Lee: Related Works
Book reviews: The Advent Devotional by Alabaster, A Treasury of Thanksgiving by Leland Ryken. Listen to our TGIF playlist on Spotify. Join my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group.
Our new Books and Reviews page is your one-stop resource for all of your reading needs. It features Asian American authors and issues, book recommendations, and interviews.
Featured This Week On SOLA Network
1. Cory Ishida: Letters from Grandpa: A Theology of Work, Part 3
Work is a great place of learning. It helps us become mature followers of Jesus.
2. Cory Ishida: Letters from Grandpa: A Theology of Work, Part 2
The average American spends about 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. That’s a lot of hours. This devotional series will attempt to answer the following question posed by Ecclesiastes 3:9: “What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?
3. Cory Ishida: Letters from Grandpa: A Theology of Work, Part 1
We’ll begin the series with this verse from Colossians 3:23. “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men…”
4. John Tung: Lessons from Korean and Japanese Churches to Reach Younger Generations
“I hope that as Asian American churches in the United States practice these steps, they can reach the younger generations for the glory of God.”
5. TGIF: Roundup for November 3, 2023
Martin Luther and Sola Fide / The History of Chinese Bible Translation Is Full of Cooperation / Christ and Careers / Life and Works with Jonathan Leeman / Is My Painting Hobby a Wartime Waste?
6. 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.