Category: church
background check on a church’s reputation
I think it’s fair to say that good Christian ministries have their critics, and a few even run into legal action in the mix, which I’ll leave nameless. I wouldn’t want to get a “cease and desist” on my blog, even though in one sense it’s a blogger’s badge of honor. Nothing like controversy to…
a list of millennial pastors under 40
in churchWho are the pastors that will speak to the next generation, in the midst of statistics that say so many millennials are leaving the institutional organized church? Here are some of the millennial pastors that speak to their generation (listed in no particular order): Of course, there are many many more millennial pastors under the…
What is the line between recruiting versus poaching pastors and church staff?
in churchWorking in the church context comes with a unique dynamic with employment, job transitions, and staffing. By contrast, in most other professional jobs, someone can submit a 2-week notice to resign from a job and go to another job. Etiquette expert Peggy Post shared these basic steps for quitting: Tell your supervisor. Establish a last…
5 Best Christmas Sermons of 2018
in churchChristmas gets celebrated by millions and billions around the world. In America, millions sing Christmas songs and listen to a pastor preach a message to retell the Christmas story. Communication in the 21st century has become a multimedia experience by creative pastors who work extra hard to handcraft a message that is more than spoken…
Churches near me in Rockville and Bethesda Maryland
in churchFinding a church near Rockville, Maryland, is something I do on the occasions when I’m visiting family and friends in MoCo. There are many churches around Rockville, including many within driving distance in Gaithersburg, Germantown, and even Derwood. Here are ones I’m aware of and many of these I’ve visited: Churches within driving distance of…
Christian Spirituality of Korean and Chinese Americans
While both Chinese Americans and Korean Americans are included under the broad umbrella grouping of Asian Americans, general differences and also similarities can be observed in how they practice their Christian faith. In Chapter 5 of Tapestry of Grace: Untangling the Cultural Complexities in Asian American Life and Ministry (by Benjamin C. Shin and Sheryl Takagi Silzer),…
What does Asian American Christian spirituality look like?
This video by Pastor John Shin on Facebook Live got several engaging comments, and this extended comment from Pastor Joe Suh suggested particular areas in which our Asian American culture can create barriers that we need to be aware of so that the gospel can penetrate
Asian American Sermons on Shame
What a shame that we can’t talk about our pains. It’s hard for anyone from whatever ethnic background to talk about their weaknesses and pains, it’s especially hard for Asians and Asian Americans. And, sadly it’s not talked about in churches, where it is the one place to be safe for pouring out our pain…
Enlighten, a Mental Health Seminar in a Chinese Church
Update: Please see the Enlighten website for the latest information, at enlightenmentalhealth.org/seminar Also watch videos from the 2018 Enlighten mental health seminar (info below kept online for historical reason)
Familiar Foreigners: Asian-Americans and White Majority Culture Churches
Guest Post by Young-Sam Won, August 2018—adapted from Twitter Thread Recent discussions of racial justice and racial reconciliation have led to an increased interest in the relationship between people of color and majority culture churches and institutions. Many Asian-Americans (AsAms) who have been a part of majority culture churches are experiencing a renewed interest in…
What does Asian American worship sound like?
A significant Asian American population worships weekly in over 7,000 churches, mostly in Asian languages, with some in English. One research approximates 42% of Asian Americans identify as Christian, including both Protestants and Catholics. People can easily distinguish the unique sounds of African-American and Latino-American worship music. A majority of Christian worship music has been…
Statements around an elephant in the evangelical room
in churchIt’s a painful tragedy, however you look at it. Pastor Bill Hybels of world-renowned Willow Creek Community Church resigned on April 10, 2018. Mainstream media and social media have mentioned. Statements by key people have been posted. What will other pastors say about this evangelical elephant in the room?
