For the month of June I plan to highlight some podcasts I produce. I hope they encourage and inspire you as we start our summer. If you would like your work to be on my radar, please tweet me @musicgoon or email me at aaron@musicgoon.com.
I host the Walnut Commentary podcast featuring Pastor Hanley Liu from FCBC Walnut. We talk about life, ministry, and friendship together in the Asian American church. In the latest episode, we discuss Pastor Hanley speaking at AACF UC Riverside. We also answer a listener question: How should I set boundaries for male/female relationships? Listen on YouTube, Spotify, Facebook, or via Podcasts.
This week on the website we continued “Why My People Need the Gospel,” SOLA’s June series to highlight the global need for the good news of Jesus Christ. Read these testimonies, remember to pray, and rally to act for the spread of the Gospel.
We recently reached over 2,000 likes on our Facebook page! Liking and sharing our content is a great way to show your support. I also plan to publish a podcast with Hannah Chao, the editor and digital administrator for SOLA.
Link Roundup
1. Albert Mohler: Human Rights Under Fire in Hong Kong: What’s Really Behind the Massive Protests
Albert Mohler offers a Christian worldview on human rights, history, and Hong Kong.
2. Aaron Earls: How a Worship Song Is Fueling Pro-Democracy Protests in Hong Kong
“According to the website Shanghaiist, an English-language Chinese news site, ‘Sing Hallelujah to the Lord’ has become the unofficial anthem of the Hong Kong protest movement.”
3. Javier C. Hernández: With Hymns and Prayers, Christians Help Drive Hong Kong’s Protests
Javier C. Hernández writes for the New York Times and calls our attention to the Christians.
4. Alex Wong: Jeremy Lin, ‘Reppin’ Asians With Everything I Have,’ Is Bigger Than an N.B.A. Title
“The Toronto Raptors guard became the first Asian-American to win an N.B.A. championship, but the moment meant more than the sport or its trophy. Lin always has.”
5. Fred Mok: When the Overachieving Immigrant Narrative Fails
SOLA contributor Fred Mok on the grace of God and his father.
Weekend Recommendations
1. Russell Moore: A Conversation with Jamie Ivey
Listening to Russell Moore and Jamie Ivey talk about adoption, life in ministry, and parenting was refreshing for me as my wife and I take care of our son, Linus, who is adopted. Reading Moore’s book, Adopted for Life, marked the beginning of our adoption journey.
2. Jeremy Begbie: 6 Works of Classical Music Every Christian Should Know
Jeremy Begbie writes for The Gospel Coalition and challenges us to think theologically about classical music. Links to YouTube and Spotify are provided for his song selections in the article. I appreciate this article as a worship leader who is not familiar with classical music.
3. Hershael York: Writing, Teaching, and Women in Ministry with Jen Wilkin
In this podcast from Southern Seminary, Hershael York and Jen Wilkin discuss complementarianism and women in ministry, Jen’s writing and her desire to teach people how to read the Bible, and her best advice for young women preparing for ministry.
From SOLA
1. Anonymous: India: Why My People Need the Gospel
“SOLA: What are some of the biggest barriers to Christianity for the people in India?
CP: To be succinct, barriers are still being realized. Certainly, the political climate is prohibitive towards overt evangelism. However, the problem of disunity among churches/parachurches is real. […]Also, converts from other faiths often testify that to become a Christian feels like losing India, or Indian-ness — both to the convert and the unconverted and now ashamed families. Significant questions like these are being asked – what does it mean to be an Indian Christian? How do we move from merely a Jesus moment to a Jesus MOVEMENT?”
2. Billy Lo: Sweden: Why My People Need the Gospel
“SOLA: How can we pray for Sweden and the people in Sweden?
BL: Pray for the mental health among people in Sweden. Our country is very wealthy but at the same time many people have mental disorders. My own explanation is that every human has a body, soul and spirit. But unfortunately in our society, we only focus on the body and don’t pay so much attention to the needs of the soul and spirit. I believe that is why we have a materially rich society but are still not feeling whole.”
3. Ronald Laldinsuah: Myanmar: Why My People Need the Gospel
“SOLA: What are some of the major cultural struggles of the Myanmar people?
RL: Myanmar is comprised of over 100 different ethnicities. Each ethnic group has distinct cultural values. The majority ethnic groups are Buddhists, while the minority ethnic groups are primarily Christians. Distrust or misunderstandings between different nationalities, due to political and religious values, are major cultural problems.”
4. Benea Lukwe Amakhungu: Kenya: Why My People Need the Gospel
“SOLA: What are some of the major cultural struggles of Kenyans?
BA: Female circumcision and child marriages.
SOLA: What are some of the biggest barriers to Christianity for Kenyans?
BA: Cults, witchcraft, and, in some places, illiteracy.”
5. Thank God It’s Friday: Weekend Roundup
In case you missed it, here is our roundup from last week: An Unexpected Strategy for Reaching the Muslim World, 4 Lies That Give Us an Unbalanced View of Singleness, Breaking the Power of Shame, Why Your Parents’ Limitations Aren’t Limiting, and The FAQs: Southern Baptists Release Urgent Report on Sexual Abuse.