Harold Kim

We do live in a very broken, fallen world. More often than intellectual or theological excuses or objections against the Gospel, more than theological or intellectual objections against the church, I have found so often people who have stories of pain, stories where they were turned off, and they just don't want anything…

Justin Kim

Most people in the church know that serving is important for their own benefit. It’s something that God calls us to do. But I think we burn out so quickly because I don't think we're doing enough to do what I would call “soul care self care”. A friend of mine gave me some great insight about this. He said there are four categories…

Ben Shin

As a seminary professor, I have the privilege of preparing students to be future pastors. I'm often asked the question: What are the priorities that would allow them to be in the game for the long haul? Not only to just stay there, but to flourish in their ministry? The first thing I would say is that they need to have good character…

David Larry Kim

I remember hearing from a couple who were sharing their story of how they got together. He was a great guy, and she was a great girl. But for whatever reason, she was hesitant to pull the trigger on getting married. She had had some challenges. She had had some bad relationships and was struggling with trust issues, not…

P.J. Tibayan

“We’re leaving the church.” The words a pastor hopes he’d never hear. I confess that as soon as I hear those words, a wrestling match begins in my soul: Their good versus my preference. My discouragement versus their encouragement. My frustration versus their joy in God. In those moments, I feel desperate for God to grant…

Brett McCracken

As tense and as kind of fraught the relationship between the church and artists has been in the past, there's a lot of great things the two offer each other. One thing the church offers the artist is limitation, which sounds counterintuitive that that's a good thing, but artists can be prone to be freewheeling — everywhere and…

Tony Thomas

Nuanced. That might not be a popular word or concept in a world that is becoming increasingly polarized. In this world you are either on the left or right. Republican or Democrat. Jordan or LeBron. Yanny or Laurel. Now how about a topic inside the church? “Ethnic-specific” versus “Multi-ethnic.” Is it possible to see both sides…

Bryan Loritts

Of the many things that Jesus said, one of the closing things that he told his disciples in that upper room discourse in John 13 is, “By this will all people know that you are my disciples…,” not by the arguments you have on Facebook. not by the blogs that you write, but by the love that you have for one another. Love is one…

Daniel K. Eng

Have you ever heard someone in your family say, “Company’s coming! Let’s get ready!” One of the great blessings each local church has is showing hospitality to everyone who joins them. As the New Testament church welcomed all who came (Acts 28:30, Romans 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9), it is a church’s privilege to do the…

Daniel K. Eng

People like to say that first impressions last a lifetime. It’s true for the first time you meet someone, but it’s also true for the first time you meet a group of people. Each Sunday, you could have newcomers at your church. They’re having their first impression of your church community, perhaps their first impression of Christians…

Daniel K. Eng

Have you ever considered inviting someone to church? Maybe it’s a family member, a good friend, or a co-worker. One of your biggest concerns has probably been how your friend or family member would feel about your church. You worry about whether they’ll feel lost, lonely, or out of place. Will anyone talk to them? Will…

Eddie Byun

In this fight against the great evil of human trafficking in our day, it is my firm conviction that the Church must not just be involved, but must lead the way in the pursuit of freedom and justice. Why do I say this? Because true freedom and justice can only come through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Freedom and justice is why…

Hannah Chao

Two thousand miles away from the polar vortex swirling around the Midwest where he lives, Dr. D.A. Carson had this to say about the 70-degree weather of Orange County: “Somebody’s gotta serve as a missionary to California.” Dr. Carson is a professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, the author of many publications…

Heidi Tai

I know you’re feeling both excited and apprehensive as you count down the days to your big move to Brisbane. Your optimism has propelled you into the deep end in ways that people deem “courageous,” but deep down I know that you’re nervous of the unknown and concerned for the future. After all, you’re only a 26-year-old…

P.J. Tibayan

Before I consider myself the pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Southeast Los Angeles, I consider myself a church member. Why? Because I believe that my identity as a church member is important than my title as a pastor. I also believe that I’m a particular kind of church member: I’m a church mover. A church mover…

P.J. Tibayan

Christians and leaders seek to be “driven by and for the local church.” The problem is that we don't always clearly and enthusiastically see how this passion for God's glory connects to the local church. So the question is raised: Why are we driven by the local church? Aren't we driven by Christ, his word, and his Spirit? Why are…

Mark Lee

After you read the title of this article, you would think that I set out to accomplish this all long. But I just wanted to make a non-believing immigrant father proud. I was saved in a Korean church. But I had never had much church experience up until that point. In fact, when I went to college, I was only interested in 2 things…

Tim Park

In 2000, my wife, JoAnn, and I left an immigrant church, a church where I had served as a youth pastor and an English Ministry pastor for nine years, in order to plant Living Faith Community Church with the hopes of reaching a multi-ethnic community. But after the first couple of years, it became apparent that we were…

Peter Park

“Are you open to Texas?” This was the question that changed my world. Growing up for most of my life in Southern California, I had never considered moving, and out of all places, I never thought of moving to...TEXAS?!? I was not looking to leave my predominantly Asian American church nor move away from…

Thomas Hwang

If you're searching for new church, what should you look for? Read any book or blog and you'll often find similar responses: "Is it Gospel-centered?" "Is the teaching biblical?" "Is the doctrine orthodox?" "Is the community Christ-centered?" These are all true & even primary. However I feel there are more practical factors that…

Jonathan Hayashi

“I don’t need a small group. I’ve got my family and Jesus.” I mean, I guess that makes sense? If we have Jesus, then why do we want or need to have another commitment? But looking at the life of Christ himself, we see he spends a majority of his life in a community. In fact, Pastor Eugene Peterson wrote, “1/10th of Jesus’s…

Brett McCracken

I used to think people who raised their hands in worship were weird. I grew up in Baptist churches in the Midwest, where the two or three people who occasionally raised their hands while singing a hymn or worship song were looked upon with some suspicion. For most of my life I was all about belting out the hymns…

Jason Chao

My experience with Asian culture is that when it comes to people you love, you don’t tell them important news about your health or other troubles. My family lied to my grandfather when he was dying of cancer. They told him, “The doctors say you’ll be fine.” He died never knowing how sick he was. The grace and love that we have built as…

Hannah Chao

In a recent post, Tim Keller asked the question, “How Do We Reach a Global Generation?” He suggests that because of the Internet, the reach of Western ideas (like individualism) has spread throughout the world. This brought about the creation of a hybrid-like cultures all over the world, mixing Western and non-Western culture in a way that…

Dan Hyun

Pastors are often counseled to avoid preaching on certain subject matter—politics, for example—lest their sermons be the cause of unnecessary division and offense in the church. Some will argue that anything other than a message describing the path to salvation distracts from the real purpose of preaching. Some would believe that address…

Joshua Lim

The theme for SOLA Conference 2019 is “The Prevailing Church”. After reading that, you may be thinking, “A conference about the church? Thanks, but no thanks.” And I get it. Our typical church experiences can feel so mundane and repetitive. We say hi to the same people, sit, sing, and listen in the same seats, maybe…

Ka Leung Lee

Below is a lightly edited interview with the Lee family. They went on a family mission trip together through their church in Austin, TX. We hope you will be encouraged to see how the whole family was able to serve together. SOLA: Can you tell me us bit about the mission trip you went on…

Kim Kira

You are a counselor. How does that statement sit with you? Maybe you think counseling is only for professionals or for pastors in the church. Even though you may not be a formal counselor, you are a counselor nonetheless. Although our culture has formalized the term, we must remember…

Kevin Yi

Whether you’re a parent of teenagers, a youth worker, or just someone concerned about the younger generation, we hope that SOLA Network’s series on Generation Z was helpful for you. Here are some further resources for you to read and digest. If you’re the parent of a Gen Z gamer…

James H. Lee

Gen Z students have taken over the local church’s youth group, so it stands that the church should learn about their distinctive characteristics and minister to them accordingly. Unfortunately in the immigrant church, this task is often more daunting thanks to cultural, theological and…