Merry Christmas from SOLA Network! Check out our new Christmas Collection of articles, celebrating the birth of Jesus and the beginning of the new year.
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 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 our giveaway! Thanks to P&R for providing these books for our giveaway, in partnership with my newsletters for @diveindigdeep and FCBC Walnut. 1 winner will receive a physical copy of these excellent books. Links open to my reviews:
- What are the foundational truths of our faith? In Concise Systematic Theology, John Frame presents an introduction to Christian belief.
- How can the Christian be warned and prepare against backsliding? In The Pilgrim’s Regress, Mark Jones writes on guarding against backsliding and apostasy in the Christian life.
Articles From Around The Web
1. N. Gray Sutanto: ‘Be Fruitful and Multiply’: The Cultural Mandate Is Work for Image-Bearers
“God gave the tasks of work and cultivation before the fall, showing the inherent goodness of human labor in culture making.”
2. T. Kim: Raising Kids to Love the Nations
“As our kids grow up, the responsibility to love the nations will belong to them. For now, though, we can show them the good way and urge them to walk in it, trusting the God who loves the nations to work what is pleasing in and through our children.”
3. Sara Kyoungah White: Put ‘Mas’ Back in ‘Christmas’
“The holidays are overwhelming. As a Christian and an introvert, I take refuge in church.”
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. Daniel K. Eng: Joseph: Called to Faith
In this series of devotionals, Ben Witherington III, Amy Peeler, Darrell L. Bock, Daniel K. Eng, and Patty Pell take a close look at the key figures of the Christmas story. Why did God choose these people to be a part of the birth of Jesus? What role do they play in the story as told in the Gospels? You’ll come away with a better appreciation of the significance of the Christmas story and why we must continue to proclaim the message of good news for all people.
2. Sam Koo: Top Ten 9Marks Podcast Episodes from 2023
“As the multimedia manager at 9Marks, I have the joy and privilege of overseeing and editing all our podcasts. Out of the 100ish episodes we’ve released this year, here are my top 10. I hope these resources will continue to bless our listeners.”
3. Zachary Lee: Balancing Bloodshed and Beauty in Blue Eye Samurai
The animated series asks us to consider if anger has a place in a life of faith.
4. Aaron Lee: Related Works
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. Patreeya Thorn: Miracles in the Mess: An Advent Reflection
When we slow down and look closer, we see the God who loves surprises, the same God who is unchanging, trustworthy, constant, and yet never fails to confound our expectations.
2. Michael Agapito: Was Jesus Created? Why We Need The Nicene Creed
Jesus is God by nature. He is not some creation or emanation of God, like light from the sun. He is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.”
3. Karisa You: Meeting Jesus in the Parking Lot this Christmas Season
Instead of being prideful for our ability to save up for our possessions, could we make it our aim to love people generously and be like Christ?
4. Tom Sugimura: Finding, Obeying, Honoring, and Proclaiming the Christmas King
“Let me encourage you to sit down this Christmastime and ponder the Good News according to Matthew. Jesus invites you to his kingdom and welcomes you as family.”
5. TGIF: Roundup for December 15, 2023
Cultural Mandate and the Image of God: Human Vocation under Creation, Fall, and Redemption / Blessed Are the Bearers of ‘Han’: What Koreans and the Israelites Teach Us About Collective Grief / Chinese Lessons in Apologetics: Learning From a Church Under Pressure
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.