ISAAC Blog

As 2009 draws to a close, we at ISAAC feel privileged to have been involved with so many activities to promote and support Asian American Christianity. This is the first of a three part “Year in Review” blog. Here, we share our happiest accomplishments. In the next blog, we will share the activities of the people who have helped ISAAC have such a successful year. In the third blog, which will be posted in early January 2010, we will list the donors and organizations who have done so much to support our work. So, without further ado, here are some accomplishments for 2009! – Tim Tseng

I. Publications [to order, go to http://bit.ly/ISAAC_Cafe]

• Asian American Christianity: A Reader, edited by Timothy Tseng and Viji Nakka-Cammauf. [co-published with PAACCE] Visit aacreader.com.
• SANACS Journal (inaugural issue), edited by Russell Yee. Visit sanacs.org.
• Pilgrims at the Crossroads: Asian Indian Christians at the North American Frontier, edited by Anand Veeraraj and Rachel Fell McDermott [co-published with the Centre for Contemporary Christianity in India] visit asianindianpilgrims.com.
• The 2008 report of the San Francisco Bay Area Chinese churches project, edited by James Chuck and Timothy Tseng.
• The ISAAC 2009 Lenten Devotional, edited by Rev. Dr. Johnson Chiu.
• Forty Days of Prayer, by Johnson Chiu

II. Events for Church Leaders and Pastors

Mar. 28, 2009
“Effective Asian American Young Adults Ministries workshop.” Sponsored by ISAAC’s Bay Area Equipping and Resource Center.

June-August, 2009
“Summer Ministry Internship program” in the New York City Metropolitan Area
In order to help meet the need for leaders for second-generation English language ministries in Chinese churches, ISAAC, under East Region Director, Rev. Dr. Andrew Lee’s leadership, initiated a paid internship program this summer in the New York metropolitan area. This program was funded by a grant from the Fund for Theological Education. Students contemplating the prospect of vocational ministry were offered the opportunity to serve in their respective churches in order to sample a taste of full-time ministry. See full report at: http://wp.me/p7DTu-4k

Sept. 21-22, 2009
“Chinese English Ministry Pastors’ Retreat,” Co-sponsored by ISAAC’s San Francisco Bay Area Equipping and Resource Center and the Leadership Connection.

Nov. 2-3, 2009
“Living Out The Gospel: Asian American Perspectives and Contributions: An Asian American Equipping Symposium” featuring Dr. Jonathan Tran, Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at Baylor University, and local pastors and scholars. Co-sponsored by ISAAC So Cal (under Rev. Dr. Young Lee Hertig’s leadership) and Fuller Theological Seminary at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA.

III. Lectureship series

Through SANACS, the Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity launched a Religion in Asian America Lectureship program with partnering colleges, universities, and seminaries. This program will bring scholars or community leaders with specialization in Asian American Christianity (or Asian and Asian American religions) to North American campuses to give lectures, talks, panels or presentations. The following was our 2009 program:

Jan. 13, 2009 “Transnational Transpositions: Evangelical Religion and Second Wave Chinese American Immigration” Dr. Timothy Tseng at California State University, Los Angeles, CA, Co-sponsored with the Eta Xi Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta lectures,

Feb. 3, 2009 “Transnational Transpositions: Evangelical Religion and Second Wave Chinese American Immigration” Dr. Timothy Tseng at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA, Co-sponsored with the Gaede Institute for the Liberal Arts at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA

Mar. 7, 2009 “China Pulse Lectures” Drs. Ying Fuk Tsang, Carol Lee Hamrin, Raymond Huang at Living Word Center, Milpitas, CA, Co-sponsored with ERRC-China

Apr. 22, 2000 “Christianity and Political Culture in North Korea: Challenges for Reunification” Dr. Jong Sun Noh, Professor of Christian Social Ethics and Peace Studies at Yonsei University, South Korea at U.C. Berkeley. Co-sponsored with the Religion, Politics and Globalization Program (RPGP) and Center for Korean Studies (CKS) at U.C. Berkeley

Apr. 27, 2009 “Christian Faith and Asian American Activism Panel” featuring Rev. Lloyd Wake, Dr. Russell Jeung, Fr. Dennis Recio, S.J., and Nhuanh Ly at University of San Francisco. Co-sponsored with USF Asian American Studies, USF Theology and Religious Studies Department, USF Center for the Pacific Rim at the University of San Francisco.

Sept. 23, 2009 “Religious Policies in the People’s Republic of China” featuring Dr. Fenggang Yang, Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, and Director of the Center on Religion and Chinese Society, Purdue University. Dr. Fenggang Yang is the author of Chinese Christians in America: Conversion, Assimilation, and Adhesive Identities (Penn State University Press 1999), co-editor (with Tony Carnes) of Asian American Religions: The Making and Remaking of Borders and Boundaries (New York University Press 2004), and co-editor (with Joseph B. Tamney) of State, Market, and Religions in Chinese Societies (Brill Academic Publishers 2005). Co-sponsored by U.C. Berkeley’s Religion, Politics, and Globalization Program, Institute of East Asian Studies, Center for Chinese Studies, and Department of Sociology at U.C. Berkeley.

Sept. 24, 2009 “ISAAC Research Seminar” featuring Dr. Fenggang Yang and local researchers at Berkeley Chinese Community Church (Berkeley, CA).

Oct. 21, 2009 “Filipino Faith: The Role of Religion in Diasporic Communities in America and Beyond” featuring Joaquin Jay Gonzalez III, Associate Professor of Politics; Director of the Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program, University of San Francisco and author of Filipino American Faith in Action (New York University Press) and co-author of Religion on the Corner of Bliss and Nirvana (Duke University Press) and Benjamin Pimentel, author of Pareng Barack: Filipinos in Obama’s America; former reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. Co-sponsored by U.C. Berkeley’s Religion, Politics, and Globalization Program at U.C. Berkeley.

Nov. 2-3, 2009 “Living Out The Gospel: Asian American Perspectives and Contributions: An Asian American Equipping Symposium” featuring Dr. Jonathan Tran, Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at Baylor University, and local pastors and scholars. Co-sponsored by ISAAC So Cal (under Rev. Dr. Young Lee Hertig’s leadership) and Fuller Theological Seminary at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA.