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In case you missed it, James Lee wrote an article Introducing Youth Ministry Leader Interviews and the Youth Leaders Cohort. We’re eager to provide encouragement, fellowship, and guidance to youth leaders.
Keep in touch on X and Instagram. For more, check out my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group and TGIF Playlist on Spotify. This weekly newsletter is one of the many ways you can get connected with SOLA Network. Find us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Aaron Lee, Editorial Curator
Enter our giveaway! Thanks to Serge.org and New Growth Press, in partnership with @diveindigdeep, SOLA Network, and FCBC Walnut. One winner will receive these excellent books!
From Serge.org: We are a grace-based, international missions organization bringing together mission and spiritual renewal. At Serge, we realize we need the grace of the gospel in our own lives, even as we take the message of God’s grace to others. Our work consists of helping people experience on-going gospel transformation and equipping them to move outward into mission.
- Daniel: Standing Firm in Adversity: Paul S. Kim’s study of Daniel guides Christians in how to live with courage and conviction in a world that is not their home.
- Lamentations: How Christ Lifts the Burden of Sin and Sorrow: In his Bible study of Jonathan Gibson helps participants recover the lost, biblical art of lament and points us to Christ, who bears all our burdens.
- Is God Disappointed with Me? Resting in God’s Approval: Marc Davis shares what it means to live your life under the grace of God, knowing that your identity, security, and relationship with him are not based on your performance but on God’s love and kindness through Jesus.
ARTICLES FROM AROUND THE WEB
1. Ashley Kim: The End of New York
“But I have learned that because I do not have to worry about food for the day or shelter for the night, I might as well be very rich. Wealthy or not, the reality is that I have more―more money, more agency, more resources―than many of the people that I walk by each day. What is my responsibility to them? What am I to do with the much that God has given to me? Surely, I must share.”
2. Ahrum Yoo: Learning to Forgive the Country That Oppressed Mine
“On Korea’s 80th Liberation Day, I exhort fellow evangelicals to view Korea and Japan’s relationship through one of Jesus’ parables.”
3. Eugene Park: I Miss the Pews: Why Uncomfortable Togetherness Mattered
“Proximity was nonnegotiable in the pews. They reminded you, I’m here, and they are too.”
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.
BOOKS, PODCASTS, MUSIC, MOVIES, AND MORE
1. Sean DeMars: Are You Wired More Like an Artist or Engineer in Corporate Worship?
“Here’s the thing: God made the artist and the engineer. But both need to be discipled. Our instincts—whether toward passion or precision—must be shaped by Scripture.”
2. Christopher Kuo and Michael Luo: Some Wisdom on Loving Your Craft
A chat with the Executive Editor of The New Yorker.
3. Aaron Lee: Related Works
Book reviews: Good News for Parents by Adam Griffin, The Gospel-Centered Community for Teens: Study Guide with Leader’s Notes by Robert H. Thune and Will Walker. Listen to our TGIF playlist on Spotify. Join my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group.
On Kindle Now! A Letter to the Asian American Church.
The collective voices in our book argue that there is underappreciated beauty, diversity, joy, benefit, and place for the Asian American church. Asian American leaders need to joyfully embrace the call to serve the Asian American church, not only for the emerging generation but for the broader church. Find a sample, links to purchase, and a free discussion guide at sola.network/book.
FEATURED THIS WEEK ON SOLA NETWORK
1. Steve S. Chang: SLP Episode 3: Culture, Keller and New York City with Aaron Chung
“In this episode of the SOLA Network Leaders’ Podcast, host Steve Chang interviews Aaron Chung, founding lead pastor of Exilic Church in New York City. They discuss Aaron’s personal journey, the unique challenges and opportunities of ministry in New York, and the influence of Tim Keller on their approach to church planting. The conversation also touches on the resurgence of spirituality among Gen Z, the importance of nuance in ministry, and cultural dynamics affecting the Asian American community.”
2. James Lee: Introducing Youth Ministry Leader Interviews and the Youth Leaders Cohort
“Although we may not have the power to sway the leadership of the church or perform miracles, one thing we can do is strengthen and encourage one another often. Many church leaders often feel isolated in doing the work of ministry for various reasons, however one thing remains clear: Ministry cannot be done in a vacuum. Youth leaders, like all church leaders, are in need of encouragement, fellowship, and guidance.”
3. Mike Ruamthong: The Hidden Blessing of Being a Single Parent
“When I couldn’t carry the full weight of parenting alone, I began to not just know theologically but actually experience in real life that God could. In the long days and quiet nights, in the missed milestones and messy moments, I saw that His strength really is made perfect in weakness.”
4. TGIF: Roundup for August 22, 2025
Where Comfort Goes to Die: Christian Community Beyond Homogeneity / Sola Scriptura: A Firm Foundation for Making Disciples / When a Parent Runs Low On Energy / What Should Remain Hidden? / ‘Without God’s Permission, I Cannot Go to Prison’
5. 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 Colin Lloyd on Unsplash.
Aaron Lee is our Editorial Curator. Aaron also serves as the Social Media Officer of First Chinese Baptist Church of Walnut in California’s San Gabriel Valley, home to the largest concentration of Asian American communities in the United States. Visit him online at DiveInDigDeep.com.