Intro
David Park
John and I met through Joyce Chun, whom I went to school with in
Nashville. I live in Atlanta now and am fairly active with the 2nd
generation pastors and crossing cultural borders here in the city.
To keep this short, I'm 31, have been a part-time youth pastor for
almost 3 years while working full-time in marketing both inside and
outside the Korean community. I am married to a 2nd-gen Indian-American
who was once Hindu, but now is Christian. My father is a pastor and has
specialized in small immigrant churches for the past 25 years; and I'm
looking to go to seminary in the next year. I have also been active in
conversation about Asian American Christian issues in person and on my
blog (http://dpark.wordpress.com) for the past 3 years or so, and have
participated in the productions of a couple of Asian American books,
Asian American Youth Ministry and Asian American Evangelical
Theologies.
I have a sanctified discontentment when I see that ethnic churches are
limited not by the gospel, but by our own cultural fears, sins, and
inadequacies. These problems are only exacerbated with our inabilities
to work with other cultures or understand that the 2nd generation is
facing a very nuanced and complicated landscape from the immigrant one.
While I agree with John that the 2nd gen church is similar to the 1st
gen, it's because the majority of 2nd gen who do not get their needs
met in the traditional ethnic church simply leave. I believe that we
have to call this 2nd generation to more than just a connection to
their ethnic roots, but that we must engage and equip them with the
blessing and the healing for them to be leaders in the ethnic church
and beyond.
This is where John and I got together and continue to feed off this
idea that there is an increasing sense of restlessness and awakening in
the 2nd gen and perhaps it would be a good season to raise up leaders.
We are still very formative in the brainstorming process, but we
believe that a conference of some sort would be a good launching ground
for this. We understand however, that this could be a long and tedious
process as the landscape from our initial observations is very
fragmented and in many cases very divergent, so I think that there will
be a great deal of networking and panhandling to see what people and
skills and passions that God is awakening throughout this country.
That wasn't very short, but I guess that's something of an intro.Glad
to meet you and looking forward to what God will do in us and through
us.
David
John Lee
something?
Samuel Kim
an American church, building community through small groups. I had the
privilege of teaching a course in seminary called "Pastoring in the
Korean Immigrant Church" which afforded me the opportunity to converse
and dialogue with a number of pastors and interns. I'm very interested
in building a relevant church environment to connect people to Jesus
Christ in all generations, particularly those who are assimilated or
being assimilated to the host culture.
I'm a patient and active listener with a gift set that includes
teaching, leadership, pastor, hospitality and service. I look forward
to some fruitful discussions and to discovering others who have a heart
for God serving in various areas of His kingdom.
Joyce Chun
I love reading your writing! It's wonderful to see our paths cross
again and perhaps a chance to work together once more! :D
Your writing, along with what John posted up, is helping me to see that
this really is aligning with what I have been praying for...things that
Janna and I have even been talking about. I love what what you wrote
here:
While I agree with John that the 2nd gen church is similar to the 1st
gen, it's because the majority of 2nd gen who do not get their needs
met in the traditional ethnic church simply leave. I believe that we
have to call this 2nd generation to more than just a connection to
their ethnic roots, but that we must engage and equip them with the
blessing and the healing for them to be leaders in the ethnic church
and beyond.
I think the need for healing and blessing is great and hope that I'll
be able to partake in as much as I can to help empower the ethnic
minority church. God has given me a huge burden for it, and feel
blessed to have been equipped and empowered during my years with IVF
and Vanderbilt, as well as organizations like Worship Together, so that
I can pour into my Korean church now.
Blessings upon blessings..
joyce
On Nov 9, 9:47 am, "David Park" <dpar...@gmail.com> wrote:
Joyce Chun
On Nov 9, 9:47 am, "David Park" <dpar...@gmail.com> wrote:
John Lee
>From what I've seen, messages tend to take several minutes before they
are posted. Just check back later. Also, one of the settings is such
that the managers of this group can moderate messages, so they have to
be approved before they are posted.
Thanks to everyone for their contribution!
john;)
Samuel Kim
me.
While I think that the 1st gen church has messed up things for the next
generation and are still in denial, I think that the 2nd gen needs to
take the initiative and responsibility to move ahead and not repeat the
mistakes of the previous generation. The question for me is whether
this undertaking needs to be fostered within the present environment of
ethnic church or to start new in independant church setting. Both
present some enormous challenges. While the situation in almost every
Korean-American church is similar, the situation in independant church
plants is diverse. I agree that the 2nd gen is fragmented but there is
a common cry for something better. How can we leverage this to become
a church that is relevant and vibrant to pursue and contribute to His
global church?
I look forward to your responses, ideas and efforts to revive this part
of God's kingdom.
...Sam
On Nov 10, 11:45 am, "John Lee" <johneh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey Joyce and all,
>
> >From what I've seen, messages tend to take several minutes before theyare posted. Just check back later. Also, one of the settings is such
> > > David- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -