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Archive of "Chinese" Category
Secret to Lasting Longer in English Ministry
During my recent visit to Austin, I had met Ken Liu at Chesterbrook Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in VA. Here’s an impromptu interview of him sharing the trade secret for lasting longer in English Ministry. [Thanks @DJChuang]
He’s made it past 5 years!
Unheard of?Chinese Immigrants = Big Money
Arizona looks like the new port for Chinese immigrants to the US. Illegal immigrants are being smuggled between Chinese organized crime groups and Mexican smuggling organizations. This is a very lucrative business especially in light of the increasing interception of drugs.
Chinese immigrants commonly pay smugglers upward of $40,000 each to lead them from their homeland to the United States, Mr. Jimarez said. In comparison, he said, illegal immigrants from Mexico commonly pay $1,500 to $3,000.
Read The New York Times Coverage: In Arizona, a Stream of Illegal Immigrants From China
Healing for South Philadelphia High School Asian Students
The moment that Asian students from South Philadelphia High School have been waiting for finally arrived yesterday, 8 days after the violence they experienced. They were able to meet with District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman and other school officials with translators and community leaders on neutral ground at CCCNC. It was a closed door ‘conversation’ between school officials and over 30 students that comprised of Asian students who have not been back at school since the attacks as well as students that belonged to an Ambassador program. In the end the students were strongly urged to return to school today otherwise absences will be counted against them and ultimately hurt their academic careers. What mattered from when this whole ordeal began was whether these students felt heard or not. It was a really powerful moment for me to see and hear the deep appreciation that these students had for the many leaders that rallied around them to get this conversation going and continue to stand by them. This is just a first step in this process of healing for these students, the school community and the surrounding neighborhood. The goal is healing. It’s going to take more conversations and the efforts of both adults and students to bring healing to this school and community. Apologies help. Empathy too. And of course, forgiveness.
I really wonder, throughout this whole process leading up to today, what have they learned?
Students were told that they can make the difference, they have a voice and it’s basically up to them. This is true to a certain extent but we cannot just place the burden for action and change solely upon the shoulders of students. Adults need to come alongside and speak up for them. That goes for teachers, administration, parents and the rest of us as neighbors. Right now it’s a question of whether these students feel safe enough and are able to trust the adults appointed there to protect, teach and care for them. Many of these students did return to school today but the healing will take time.
Links to Recent News
Asian Students Return to South Phila. HS After Talks
Nutter backs Ackerman’s handling of S. Philly High
Asian Students Back to Class at S. Philly High
Opinion:What are we teaching our kids?RadioTimes on Tensions among students at South Philadelphia High School [mp3, 27mb]
The Chinese Worker: TIME Person of the Year 2009?
CHINESE IN THE NEWS: The shortlist for the TIME Person of the Year came out this morning. You’ve got Steve Jobs, Ben Bernake, and “The Chinese Worker”… Blink. Blink. You heard right.
“They are an increasingly influential group in one of the world’s most powerful economies”
The magazine’s selection will be unveiled Wednesday morning on the “Today” show. You can vote on who you think should be Person of the Year. [via Huffington Post]
Undergrads from China growing on US Campuses
Photo by Jacob Hannah for USA TODAY
For years we have seen mostly graduate students pour in from China but we’re witnessing a surge in undergrad enrollment as USAToday confirms. Campus/Student ministries in Chinese churches are fairly new developments. It’s wonderful to see these missional efforts from the Chinese church side and I see that they’re getting a taste of what English speaking ministries experience in a Chinese church context. Leaders of these ministries are much more contextual and intentional in their ministry approach. They have to deal with turnover more frequently than traditional Chinese pastors. How will Chinese churches respond to the surge in undergrads? Generally grad students are older and may be single or married. It’s a different stage of life. Undergrad attitudes and outlook will be different.
Is this a moment of opportunity for English-speaking ministries and not just Chinese congregations? Perhaps this development can provide a bridging ministry between the Chinese and English speaking ministries of Chinese churches.
Deidox features short film on the Underground Church in China
Deidox produces some high quality short films that tell the redemptive and transforming work of God in and through everyday people. I’ve really appreciated their work and the two guys behind it, @DaveMahanes and @BrentGudgel. This Wednesday Deidox will launch the story of Li Yang and the Underground Church in China. Really looking forward to it.
Live webcast on Wednesday, Oct. 21st at 9:00AM PST followed by a Q&A with the Deidox director (Brent) and producer (Dave).
The film is 5 minutes in length and the Q&A will last about 20-25 minutes.
Visit www.deidox.com/webcastAncestor Worship, Taiwanese Christians, & Contextualization
Ed Stetzer is blogging his Taiwan visit and sharing his missional discoveries along the way. There’s some real good stuff on the growth of the church in Taiwan and the mainland but most interesting is a look [with video] into ancestor worship and the challenges of contextualization.
Taiwan Video 1: Meeting and Learning from Pastor Chen
Bluegrass and Contextualization in Taiwan
Taiwan Video 2: Ancestor Worship and Taiwanese ChristiansMOCA.NYC Grand Opening 9.22.09
The Museum of Chinese in America [MOCA] opens its new Maya Lin designed location at 215 Centre Street today with a series of events designed to highlight it mission to preserving and presenting the history and culture of the Chinese in America. Make the pilgrimage people!
Understanding Chinese Women
Should I even go there?
I don’t profess to be an expert. Over the weekend there was some buzz on the topic of Asian women and how they are perceived especially from a Western standpoint. It’s so complex. Most men would say that about women in general. I’d say people are complex. However the way Asian women are perceived by themselves as well as others is worthwhile exploring for ministry leaders. There’s a host of complex issues. Then there’s Yellow Fever. Here’s a question, Is Yellow Fever a form of oppression?
Check out these links:
1) Asian Women: New Trophy Wives? from @marieclaire
2) Understanding Chinese Women from middlekingdomlife.com (A Foreign Teacher’s Guide to Living and Teaching in China)
[Thanks @raykwong]Would you say there’s much working against Asian women and their identity compared to other women? Sometimes I feel like Asian women are some of the most conflicted people I know. What do you think? Is it any different or worse in our churches? Do we add another layer of perception and oppression? For example, “Pastor’s wife” in many Chinese churches is not just a term of relationship but a title (see-mo) and status. There can be so many expectations placed on her to be a certain way. I find many Chinese women trying to live up to some crazy expectations of themselves and of others. How can we bring freedom?
The Challenges and Future of English Ministries in Chinese Churches
Compelling?
PALM(Pastoral & Laity Ministries), CCCOWE-USA (Chinese Coordination Centre on World Evangelization), CCCOWE-Canada are partnering together for a conference on the Challenges & Future of English Ministries in Chinese Churches. Stuff that we’re passionate about here at abcpastor.comThis should be quite interesting and serve to be a viable gathering ground for ABC pastors or pastors/leaders of EMs (English Ministries) in Chinese churches. Let’s meet finally face to face.
Why don’t we begin the dialogue here or on twitter [twitter.com/abcpastor] prior to the conference so we can fast forward our interactions?
• Share what topics you want discussed at this conference
Conference Details
Location: Tuscarora Inn & Conference Center
3300 River Road Mt. Bethel, PA 18343Rev. Jim Cymbala of Brooklyn Tabernacle speaking on Wednesday afternoon and evening, Dec 2.
Registration: $50 (by August 1, 2009) $70 thereafter
Events
"HERO" An EPIC MOVEMENT EAST COAST Conference January 15-18, 2010, Philadelphia
Verge Missional Community Conference,
February 4-6, Austin, Texas
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