Pacific Region MEMO May 2017
Collin T Tomikawa
Dear Pacific Region
This has been some year, thanks for your clinging to God and your diligent work on the mission. The (almost) end of the school year holds its own natural evolution in the life of a staff team. I have a few regional announcements to share as we transition into a summer season.
I am pleased to announce that our very own Sabrina Chan is taking on a new role as the National Director of Asian American Ministries. She will be joining the Strategic Focus team. She has added her own note
I am equally pleased to announce Christie Heller de Leon will be appointed to the Associate Regional Director role June 1. Christie has been Senior Area Director for the Capitol Valley. Christie is a seasoned leader who is a terrific collaborator. I am grateful for Christie’s growing leadership across the region.
In January we welcomed Michael Kim-Eubanks into a new role as the Black Campus Ministries Regional Coordinator. This past March, Eric Chen was appointed to the Area Director role for the Tri-County Area Team. This coming June 30, BrendaWong will be moving to the Resource Team
We want to welcome Heather
Fosth, to the region. She is an experienced spiritual director who will be joining Auntie B on the resource team. If you are interested in working with either one of these gifted leaders, feel free to contact your AD.Our very dear NancyBrowne will be leaving staff this summer. She is an amazing minister to us all and is asking God for what is next in her life calling. She is a faithful leader who has been serving students for 20 years. She will be dearly missed.
Rebecca Luoh has done a terrific job in the role of our Greek Regional Coordinator. Our Greek work has been a highlight in the region under her tenure. She will be leaving the Greek Regional Coordinator role and we are both waiting on God for what might be next.
Lastly, Bruce Hansen will be transferring back from LINK staff to the Pacific Region June 1. He is committed to working on developing our theological frameworks for staff and for the mission. Training like Formatio is an example of what
What a wonderful privilege to work with such quality people!
Praying for God’s Truth to be known on our campuses today,
Collin
FROM SABRINA CHAN
Dear
Pacific Region staff team -
I'm writing from sabbatical with some news that
I shared last week with the RLT. Last week I accepted an appointment as
the next National Director for
Asian American Ministries. I said yes because I want to see the next
generation of Asian American leaders be transformed by Christ as they grow in
their ethnic identity, in evangelism, in racial justice, and in stewarding
their lives for God's kingdom. There are so many Asian Americans of many
ethnicities to reach! I'll complete my sabbatical and begin the role October 1st - continuing to live in Berkeley.
I was NOT planning to apply for this job opening
as I headed out on sabbatical in March. But as I started to let my soul settle
from the past ministry season and continued in Lent, I heard the Lord inviting me
to go deeper with Him in being open to apply. So, I took that first inquiry
step. At each step I had questions for the Lord, and told Him so. And at each
place I felt the Lord speak to me about these questions - sometimes with clear
answers, sometimes with His presence, and each time with greater invitation to
the role and with greater vision. God gave me what I needed at each step
of the process (sometimes super concretely – like seeing a squirrel in a most
unlikely place when I was praying!). I also talked with Collin, Christie,
Larry, mentors, and community for wisdom and discernment, too.
I am excited about leading Asian American
Ministries and the vision God's given me for that, and excited to bring my
voice and perspective to national leadership. And
of course the big loss for me is not getting to work as closely with all y'all.
(I just looked over the staff directory so I could see all your names and
faces!) I love our region so much and love the mission that God has called us
to in northern California, northern Nevada, southern Oregon and Hawai'i.
I love the passion and vision y’all have as ministers, and the creative ways we
share God’s love on campus (and new campuses!) amidst the reality of the
challenges like racial injustice and campus access etc. It has been so
worth giving my heart and energy to in this last season.
I want to keep partnering with you in engaging
every campus community and developing cross cultural world changers! My
partnership will look a little different in this next season. Still, please do
feel free to invite me to come speak or train on your campus sometimes even
though I’m changing roles.
I’m glad to share more if that’s helpful to
you. Or if you’re in/passing through Berkeley and want to just hangout,
please do reach out. In this Easterside season I pray much joy for each
of you.
With much love and respect,