Growing Healthy Asian American Churches

Commendation Quotes: "Growing Healthy Asian American Churches is an outstanding work--a critically needed voice in the urban American mosaic. The authors have 'gifted' us with a text that provides insightful pastoral teachings and a prophetic challenge not only to the Asian American church but to the whole church of our Lord Jesus Christ. This solid, biblical, theological and ministerial book will contribute greatly to the life and mission of the Asian American church and thus play a significant role in the shalom of the city (Jer 29:7)."Commendation Quotes: "This book is truly prophetic for our times--a call for Asian American congregations to embody grace and truth in new ways, as Jesus did. It's essential reading for anyone wanting to learn how God is moving in the Asian American church or serving in this context."Commendation Quotes: "One can only dream of being a part of a group like the Catalyst Leadership Forum! It was a dream come true to share fellowship and envision what Asian American churches could be with such a remarkable group. Their wisdom, their commitment to the church, their humility--and now to have it wrapped up in a single book--are a rare and precious gift. Like good Asian food, savor it!"Commendation Quotes: "This is the first comprehensive book about Asian American churches written by the leaders of those churches themselves. The essays in this volume are theologically sound and well informed, thoroughly based on the Scripture, and refreshingly honest. The writers tell the stories of their successes and mistakes and propose an insightful, well-thought-out and hopeful vision for the future Asian American churches."Commendation Quotes: "In a world in which many people are on the move around the world, the nature and ministry of immigrant churches are of critical importance. This important book examines the problems and potentials these churches have, and gives deep, biblically based recommendations for building healthy churches as households of worship, fellowship and mission. While the focus is on Asian American churches, this book is a must-read not only for all those working with other immigrant churches but also for North American churches and Christians who have much to learn from the vibrant life and outreach of these Asian American churches, and their response to modernity and globalization."Commendation Quotes: "Growing Healthy Asian American Churches is an eminently practical book, filled with stories, examples and many wise suggestions for life and ministry in local congregations. Having ministered among Asian Americans for many years, I know that the concerns addressed in these pages are very real and persistent in such contexts. But there is much here to encourage and challenge those serving churches across the broad spectrum of cultural settings."Review Quotes: "Growing Healthy Asian American Churches is an eminently practical book, filled with stories, examples and many wise suggestions for life and ministry in local congregations. Having ministered among Asian Americans for many years, I know that the concerns addressed in these pages are very real and persistent in such contexts. But there is much here to encourage and challenge those serving churches across the broad spectrum of cultural settings."--Gary Parrett, Associate Professor of Educational Ministries & Worship, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and coauthor of A Many Colored KingdomReview Quotes: "Growing Healthy Asian American Churches is an outstanding work--a critically needed voice in the urban American mosaic. The authors have 'gifted' us with a text that provides insightful pastoral teachings and a prophetic challenge not only to the Asian American church but to the whole church of our Lord Jesus Christ. This solid, biblical, theological and ministerial book will contribute greatly to the life and mission of the Asian American church and thus play a significant role in the shalom of the city (Jer 29:7)."--Eldin Villafane, Ricardo Tanon Distinguished Professor of Hispanic Christianity, Ethics and Urban Ministry, Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryReview Quotes: "In a world in which many people are on the move around the world, the nature and ministry of immigrant churches are of critical importance. This important book examines the problems and potentials these churches have, and gives deep, biblically based recommendations for building healthy churches as households of worship, fellowship and mission. While the focus is on Asian American churches, this book is a must-read not only for all those working with other immigrant churches but also for North American churches and Christians who have much to learn from the vibrant life and outreach of these Asian American churches, and their response to modernity and globalization."--Paul Hiebert, Distinguished Professor of Mission and Anthropology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and author of Incarnational MinistryReview Quotes: "This is the first comprehensive book about Asian American churches written by the leaders of those churches themselves. The essays in this volume are theologically sound and well informed, thoroughly based on the Scripture, and refreshingly honest. The writers tell the stories of their successes and mistakes and propose an insightful, well-thought-out and hopeful vision for the future Asian American churches."--Sang Hyun Lee, Kyung-Chik Han Professor of Systematic Theology and Director of the Program for Asian American Theology and Ministry, Princeton Theological SeminaryReview Quotes: "One can only dream of being a part of a group like the Catalyst Leadership Forum! It was a dream come true to share fellowship and envision what Asian American churches could be with such a remarkable group. Their wisdom, their commitment to the church, their humility--and now to have it wrapped up in a single book--are a rare and precious gift. Like good Asian food, savor it!"--Paul Tokunaga, Asian American Ministry Coordinator, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and author of Invitation to Lead: Guidance for Emerging Asian American LeadersReview Quotes: "This book is truly prophetic for our times--a call for Asian American congregations to embody grace and truth in new ways, as Jesus did. It's essential reading for anyone wanting to learn how God is moving in the Asian American church or serving in this context."--Russell Jeung, assistant professor, Asian American Studies, San Francisco State University, and author of Faithful Generations: Race and New Asian American Churches, Table of Contents: Acknowledgments Introduction: Growing Healthy Households of God 1. Grace-Filled Households 2. Truth-Embodying Households 3. Healthy Leaders, Healthy Households 1: Challenges and Models 4. Healthy Leaders, Healthy Households 2: Practices and Values 5. Trusting Households: Openness to Change 6. Hospitable Households: Evangelism 7. Multigenerational Households 8. Gender Relations in Healthy Households 9. Households of Mercy and Justice Conclusion: Measuring the Health of Our Households Contributors and Catalyst Forum Participants NotesMarc Notes: Includes bibliographical references; Grace-filled households / Nancy Sugikawa and Steve Wong -- Truth-embodying households / S. Steve Kang -- Healthy leaders, healthy households, part 1: challenges and models / Helen Lee -- Healthy leaders, healthy households, part 2: practices and values / Helen Lee -- Trusting households: openness to change / Jonathan Wu -- Hospitable households: evangelism / Helen Lee -- Multigenerational households / Peter Cha, Paul Kim and Dihan Lee -- Gender relations in healthy households / Peter Cha and Grace May -- Households of mercy and justice / Soong-Chan Rah -- Conclusion: measuring the health of our households / S. Steve Kang. Publisher Marketing: The Asian American church is in transition. Congregations face the challenges of preserving ethnic culture and heritage while contextualizing their ministry to younger generations and the unchurched. Many Asian American church leaders struggle with issues like leadership development, community dynamics and intergenerational conflict. But often Asian American churches lack the resources and support they need to fulfill their callings. Peter Cha, Steve Kang and Helen Lee and a team of veteran Asian American pastors and church leaders offer eight key values for healthy Asian American churches. Drawing on years of expertise and filled with practical examples from landmark churches like Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles, NewSong Church and Lighthouse Christian Church, the book provides soundly biblical perspectives for effective ministry that honors the Asian American cultural context. Insights from such pioneering leaders as Ken Fong, David Gibbons, Grace May, Wayne Ogimachi, Steve Wong, Nancy Sugikawa and Soong-Chan Rah make this an essential guide for Asian American church leaders wanting to help their congregations achieve health and growth. Produced in partnership with the Catalyst Leadership Center, a resource organization for Asian American church ministry. Review Citations: Christianity Today 06/01/2006 pg. 62 (EAN 9780830833252, Paperback) Multicultural Review 06/01/2006 pg. 83 (EAN 9780830833252, Paperback) Contributor Bio:  Cha, Peter Peter Cha is associate professor of pastoral theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He received his graduate training in theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (M. Div. And Th. M.) and received his doctorate in religion in society and personality from Northwestern University. He previously served as a campus staff member with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and as a youth pastor, church planter and senior pastor. His publications include chapters inFollowing Jesus without Dishonoring Your Parents (InterVarsity Press), articles in Korean Americans and Their Religions (Pennsylvania State University Press) in Telling the Truth: Evangelizing Postmoderns (Zondervan) and in This Side of Heaven: Race, Ethnicity and Christian Faith (Oxford University Press), as well as articles in several scholarly and denominational journals. Contributor Bio:  Kang, S Steve Elizabeth Conde-Frazier (Ph. D., Boston College), a Puerto Rican married to an African-American, is assistant professor of religious education at Claremont School of Theology. S. Steve Kang (Ph. D., Northwestern University), a 1.5 generation Korean-American, is coordinator for interdisciplinary studies and assistant professor of Christian formation and ministry at Wheaton College. Gary A. Parrett (Ed. D., Columbia University), a Caucasian married to a Korean-American, has pastored several Korean-American churches and is currently on staff at a multiethnic church. He is associate professor of Christian education at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.