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TGIF: Roundup for September 1, 2023

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

School is back in session, so we’re sharing a new devotional next week for those who feel far away from God. We encourage you to send it to students or anyone who could use some comfort in Christ. We’ll post the full devotion Monday on our website, but you can subscribe to our Substack to get it in daily installments delivered directly through email.

We hope you have a restful and relaxing Labor Day weekend! 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 this outstanding book! Thanks to Reformation Heritage Books for providing this book for our giveaway, in partnership with my newsletters for @diveindigdeep and FCBC Walnut. Do you want to help your family engage better with the resurrected Christ? In the Family Worship Bible Guide, you have a book that will help you lead your family devotions with the truth of Scripture. Read my review.


Articles From Around The Web

1. Renee Zou: Escaping to Work

“Next time we are tempted to turn to work to escape from difficulties—be they conflict, tough questions, the depths of sin (both ours and others’) or and the complexities of human relationships, let us turn instead to God, who can provide, and has provided, infinitely more.”

Related: Work Life Series: The Goodness, Purpose, And Dignity Of Work by Owen Lee

2. Paul Worcester: 3 Simple Ways to Reach College Students

“A college campus is a recruitment culture. Evangelism fits right into the cultural landscape.”

Related: Finding God in High School, College, and Beyond: An Interview with Author Izzy Koo by Soojin Park

3. Sara Kyoungah White: Necessary Secrecy

“The kingdom of God is the most psychoterratic and solastalgic place I can think of. It is a kingdom that, for now, is built mostly of hidden refugia tucked into unlikely, unseen places. We pass through life, tripping on these pockets of hope where we did not expect them.”

Related: Insa: How the Korean Word for “Greeting” Can Change How We Pass the Peace by Sara Kyoungah White

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. Heidi Wong: A Tale of Two Cousins

“Season 2 of The Bear traces the renewing of Richie’s mind, while Carmy struggles to break the pattern of a merciless world.”

2. Ask Pastor John: Ten Authors for Your Soul

“Rich doctrine makes the heart sing. So, where might Christians start if they want to read time-tested, soul-deepening books?”

3. Aaron Lee: Related Works

Book review: Biblical Theology: A Canonical, Thematic, and Ethical Approach by Andreas J. Köstenberger and Gregory Goswell. 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.


1. Aaron Lee: Perfect Life with Christ Forever: A Book Review of “Anxiety” by Liz Edrington

What can we do when anxiety attacks? In Anxiety: Finding the Better Story, Liz Edrington offers a 31-day devotional for teenagers to calm anxious hearts with the peace of Christ.

2. Aaron Lee: Writing About Her Faith: An Interview with Ashley Kim 

“As God and the gospel became more precious and more beautiful to me, I just naturally started to gravitate toward writing more about that… Writing about my faith helps me reflect and see how God has been faithful to me in specific ways.”

3. Ashley Kim: Grace in the Midst of Writer’s Block and Beyond

It is true that the gifts God gives us require our effort and diligence to cultivate. But it is still God who empowers us each and every time we use them.

4. Aaron Lee: Telling Her Own Story: An Interview with Ruth Chou Simons

Ruth Chou Simons will be a main speaker at the Asian American Leadership Conference, which takes place on April 23-24, 2024, in Orange County, CA. Learn more and register at aalc.network.

In this interview, Ruth tells her testimony as it comes to being an Asian American Christian, serving Christ and stewarding our gifts, and shares encouragement for Asian American women authors.

5. TGIF: Roundup for August 25, 2023

Recognizing Revelation 7 in American Born Chinese / Why Seminary Is Worth It for Women / Let God Prove Himself / Ten Criticisms of John Piper’s Preaching / On Staffing Titles

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.