Growth: Uncertain belief still counts as knowledge…

Asian American Youth Ministry edited by DJ Chuang 

The book kicks off with a small introduction from DJ about the purposes of the book and who was involved to put it all together.

Chp 1 – Developing Asian American Student Leaders by Angela Lee

This first chapter was very practical and useful from the get go.  The first paragraph literally hit me like a brick wall when she quoted an article by Victor Quon which said:

“…too ofter, we look at teenagers as part of the problem… it’s time to lookat them as part of the solution.  If we don’t do something soon, we’re going to lose all of our kids.”

This statement hit it right on the money, especially since it hit so close to home…  my home church is going through this at the moment.  Angela makes her point pretty clear that 2nd gen Asian American Christians are not just questioning Christianity or the church, but they are really questioning why they should stay in the Asian churches their parents stay in.  She quotes some really great sources when addressing the issue of how chinese churches sometimes mixes or confuses Chinese culture with Christian requirements:

“Oftern the Chinese church in America is preaching culture in the name of God… There are exhortations to behave in a Chinese way, and not necessarily in a biblical way…  Instead of understading they sometimes chastise and call for unquestioned obedience (emphasis mine). So the questions of the Western-influenced Chinese-American youth may go unnoticed (which is the ‘proper’ way to hand the young people), and therefore, unanswered.”

-Ling and Cheuk

I myself have tried many times to wrap my head around those statements.  I’ve felt at times some of the things that are learned in youth group bible study are not re-enforced anywhere else in the church ministry.  Familial ministries in the chinese church seems taboo at times, like parents should already know how to handle their children through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or something (sarcasm intended).  Anyways, another great quote I just HAVE to add is this:

“Addtionally, the top-down approach promoted by Asian culture for parents and other adults in raising teens may communicate to Asian American youth that their thoughts, insights, and gifts are unimportant or unvalued in the Asian church, even though they may be highly praised and sought after in their more westernized school and community leadership opportunities.”

She also emphasizes that the problem is also when Chinese church leaders and religious parents only teach that cultural and institutional authorized behavior is acceptable (the DOING) but fail to show that Scripture demands a personal transformation in attitude (the BEING).

On the practical side, she explains we need to help the youth understand the strengths and weaknesses to both their ethnic identities… Chinese and Western.  To confront cultural biases, she states 4 that need to be considered when approaching student leadership development:

1.  Demands for conformity, pressure to avoid shame or failure.

2.  Emphasis on obedience and filial piety.

3.  Emphasis on duty and pressure to perform.

4.  Emphasis on academic achievement.

After sharing some key biblical principles (sorry to skimp out on this part as there are tons of verses she cites but I didn’t really want to write them all out), she shared how one should establish their framework from the key biblical principles in practical steps.

1.  Determining the Leadership Structure

2.  Choosing and Recruiting Leaders

3.  Providing Training and On-going Support for your leaders

4.  Evaluating the Ministry and Making Adjustments

These are very good clear steps and every good leader should take these planning steps into consideration (I myself remember some of these from Willow Creek Leadership conferences). 

In her conclusion, she admits that there is no single perfect approach or structure, but there needs to be much time to work out what is best to meet the ministry’s needs according to the resources.  We have to get to know the teens, discover their giftings and passions and develop them.  This ultimately takes a lot of patience, prayer and faith in God.  We need to start empowering and developing this next generation of church leaders and start young!

This chapter has made me reminisce of the vision of AFC (Ambassadors For Christ) in Toronto for University Campus Fellowships: to develop student leaders and how the ministry needs to be student-driven and student-run. 

Whew!  maybe I’m not even reviewing but practically summarizing, maybe that’s why just this one chapter is been so long!  I will try to review more in my next entry and get to the point   Peace!