Register to start your own discussion threads, upload videos, blog – and be an integral part of the community that we are trying to build. We need all of you – and your prayers most of all!

Thank you,
Jean

jean@kacmedia.org

i spent 6 years in broken arrow, OK! wow, i wonder if we know some of the same people. in any case, thanks for your work at KAC Media, please don't mistake my reservations as critique of KAC, i'm very happy to see how God is stoking the imagination and creativity of Koreans in So. Cal. let me know if there's anything i can do to help from my corner in atlanta, GA. peace!

david

For those who are interested in knowing more about KAC Media, please feel free to email me at jean@kacmedia.org to visit the studio and find out how you can get more involved. If you are also interested in attending our banquet, or being a table captain (making a commitment to filling a table of 5-10) – please let me know! You can also check out our site at http://www.kacmedia.org

Just to clarify for anyone, KAC Media is not taking any credit or making any claims to 'reverse' the silent exodus. Our hope is to engage the silent exodus to look at their personal relationships with the Lord. We are using the new media (integrated with the arts, film, television, news, relationships with churches, non-profit partners, community partners, etc) to just 'start this particular conversation' with those who don't find relevancy in their parent's church anymore. While Koreans can come off as being exclusive – I don't think it's necessarily purposeful. Like with all immigrants in America, it was out of necessity. Culturally – we tend to be somewhat ethnocentric, but I don't think that's a bad thing. This is coming from a Korean-American who was born and raised for half my life in Oklahoma, and the other half in Seattle, WA – and now living in Los Angeles. Even though I grew up half of my life disliking the outer exterior of being Korean – inside, I was still very much Korean. I am very proud of my heritage and that is something unexplainably innate in me (and what I gather from others I know – even adopted Koreans). However, while being very proud of my heritage – I can still be very non-exclusive. I embrace and lean towards diversity. I have a wide circle outside of my Asian circle and they overlap often. I purposely sought out a diverse 'non korean exclusive' church about 10 years ago and my 1st generation parents also sought out the same around 7 years ago. Maybe it's because we are only in the second – going on 3rd – generations of Koreans in America that we can't see the dilution of our heritage as much as we can see through the 5th/6th generations of Chinese and Japanese in America. So while we cannot stop what may be the inevitable from happening – we can address it. DJ is addressing it as an Asian American/Chinese-American. We are addressing it as Korean-Americans, who see the strong need and the gap between the 1st and 2nd generations. Believe me – I didn't necessarily think I'd be at a 'Korean' institution for media as I have a heart for all of Hollywood and the industry not specific to Koreans. Going back to the topic of exclusivity, KAC Media is specifically leaning towards Korean Americans because it is a spin-off of from a 1st generation Korean Minisitry Broadcast organization called JSTV. The pastor/founder has a heart for the 2nd generation and had a vision to essentially sow into the 2nd generation by having 50% english content. His dream is being realized 20 years later. We are carrying the baton – but are also the only ones who can carry out such a specific task to bridge the gap between 1st and 2nd generation Koreans. No one else has a cultural reference point to do that except for Korean Americans who have 1st generation parents. Does that make sense? So we aren't exclusive -as we do have a diverse staff of volunteer interns and our content is actually interesting to non-koreans as well. We do book reviews, music/film reviews, cover news topics, etc).

Sorry for the long response. I totally respect everyone's opinion – but also know that an opinion can be more rounded with more background. If you have any other thoughts or questions you'd like to address to me – please feel free to email! Thanks!

For those who are interested in knowing more about KAC Media, please feel free to email me at jean@kacmedia.org to visit the studio and find out how you can get more involved. If you are also interested in attending our banquet, or being a table captain (making a commitment to filling a table of 5-10) – please let me know! You can also check out our site at http://www.kacmedia.org

Just to clarify for anyone, KAC Media is not taking any credit or making any claims to 'reverse' the silent exodus. Our hope is to engage the silent exodus to look at their personal relationships with the Lord. We are using the new media (integrated with the arts, film, television, news, relationships with churches, non-profit partners, community partners, etc) to just 'start this particular conversation' with those who don't find relevancy in their parent's church anymore. While Koreans can come off as being exclusive – I don't think it's necessarily purposeful. Like with all immigrants in America, it was out of necessity. Culturally – we tend to be somewhat ethnocentric, but I don't think that's a bad thing. This is coming from a Korean-American who was born and raised for half my life in Oklahoma, and the other half in Seattle, WA – and now living in Los Angeles. Even though I grew up half of my life disliking the outer exterior of being Korean – inside, I was still very much Korean. I am very proud of my heritage and that is something unexplainably innate in me (and what I gather from others I know – even adopted Koreans). However, while being very proud of my heritage – I can still be very non-exclusive. I embrace and lean towards diversity. I have a wide circle outside of my Asian circle and they overlap often. I purposely sought out a diverse 'non korean exclusive' church about 10 years ago and my 1st generation parents also sought out the same around 7 years ago. Maybe it's because we are only in the second – going on 3rd – generations of Koreans in America that we can't see the dilution of our heritage as much as we can see through the 5th/6th generations of Chinese and Japanese in America. So while we cannot stop what may be the inevitable from happening – we can address it. DJ is addressing it as an Asian American/Chinese-American. We are addressing it as Korean-Americans, who see the strong need and the gap between the 1st and 2nd generations. Believe me – I didn't necessarily think I'd be at a 'Korean' institution for media as I have a heart for all of Hollywood and the industry not specific to Koreans. Going back to the topic of exclusivity, KAC Media is specifically leaning towards Korean Americans because it is a spin-off of from a 1st generation Korean Minisitry Broadcast organization called JSTV. The pastor/founder has a heart for the 2nd generation and had a vision to essentially sow into the 2nd generation by having 50% english content. His dream is being realized 20 years later. We are carrying the baton – but are also the only ones who can carry out such a specific task to bridge the gap between 1st and 2nd generation Koreans. No one else has a cultural reference point to do that except for Korean Americans who have 1st generation parents. Does that make sense? So we aren't exclusive -as we do have a diverse staff of volunteer interns and our content is actually interesting to non-koreans as well. We do book reviews, music/film reviews, cover news topics, etc).

Sorry for the long response. I totally respect everyone's opinion – but also know that an opinion can be more rounded with more background. If you have any other thoughts or questions you'd like to address to me – please feel free to email! Thanks!

@David, while I am outside of an Asian church pastoral role, I do have a vital role in the Asian American Christian community, so many of my personal opinions are not voiced online, actually.

@Glennis, thanks for the comment, and being honest enough to say that there's fear in what people might think of you. That was also very much in the the commentary of the English pastor I was talking with, that some people are concerned about how they're perceived – and this isn't necessarily an Asian thing.

i think the pastor you spoke to has a point. you and i are a bit outside of a particular congregation or ministry which gives us, me moreso to say what i want or observe, without any professional ramifications. however, even when ranting, i try to do so diplomatically although i know that by putting my thoughts out in the blogosphere, some people will already make up their mind about me negatively or positively without ever getting to know me. while we can get some “real” commentary a la cuttingtruth with anonymity, it does to a large degree remain disembodied.

as for ng.ac, i've tried many times to make it a more collaborative blog in the hopes that a shared journey would encourage other voices to come out, but not with much luck outside of you or daniel so, both of whom are already prolific and busy bloggers.

but we'll see and keep working. maybe something like kac media is part of the solution, but maybe not. it feels a little strange to have a media group contend to play a role in reversing the silent exodus, and it seems to perpetuate a korean exclusivism that koreans tend to have, even in church. but again, whatever works for the kingdom, i am friendly toward. but i think asian americans need to have a larger framework in which to work out their faith than the channels that are currently available now. in other words, the technology won't help their disenchantment with church. what we need are some new vehicles which will help give voice and creative space, which may show up on the web, but churches don't seem to be it right now.

All the best, brother!