Mark Hearn to coordinate SIP and teach course on Asian American Christian Education

ISAAC has appointed Mark Chung Hearn, a 2nd generation Korean American to be the local coordinator of ISAAC’s Summer Immersion Project (SIP) to be held in Los Angeles on July 25-28, 2007.

SIP is a pilot project that provides a deeper understanding of Asian Pacific North American Christianity and its contexts by “immersing” leaders in the church, the academy, and the public into APNA Christian communities. This year’s participants will either help ISAAC design a broader SIP program in 2008 or develop their own APNA immersion program. SIP is an “invitation only” event - for more information, contact Tim Tseng.

Pastor Mark Hearn is a Ph.D. student in Practical Theology (Religious Education emphasis) at Claremont School of Theology. His wife, Jeney, is also a Ph.D. student in Pastoral Care and Counseling at CST. They attend a Korean American United Methodist Church in southern California after having served as co-pastors of a 2nd generation English ministry in south suburban Chicago. In addition to the church and academic settings, Mark has coached women's collegiate volleyball for over 7 years. His current interests include 2nd generation Korean Americans, Korean American male identity, Transformative and critical pedagogies, and Sports and religious education. Mark and Jeney are expecting their first child in September

Mark is also teaching a course on Asian American Christian Education at the Haggard School of Theology (Graduate School at Azusa Pacific University). Here is a description:

GMIN 628 Seminar in Ministry: Asian American Christian Education
Summer II: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am-1pm: Azusa West Campus (June 19-July 26).
Mark Chung Hearn

Course Description

This seminar addresses Christian education in an Asian American context through several disciplines including history and theology. The class will explore how these disciplines can inform Christian education in current Asian American ministries. Emphasis will be placed upon contextualizing one's learning for the purpose of creating a paradigm of Christian education for his or her context.

IMPORTANT! For non-APU students, you must submit the following:

1. Application for admission as a non-degree seeking student (one page, front and back)

2. Application fee of $45

3. Official or unofficial transcript with proof of cumulative gpa above 2.5, and regionally accredited bachelor's or master's degree, or ABHE accredited bachelor's degree.

4. Class Registration form

For registration information, contact Enrollment Counselor, Andrew Gilbert at (626) 815-4565 (Ph.), (626) 815-4571 (FAX), or agilbert_AT_apu_DOT_edu

Guest blogger: Anne Lau Choy on prison ministry

May 2, 2007

I volunteered as a chaplain at the Santa Clara County Elmwood jail’s Correctional Center for Women in Milpitas for a year and a half. I led a weekly Bible study and prayer group and then would go door to door, praying with whoever wanted. I was in a medium security section with individual cells housing 1 or 2 women.

Initially it scared me to interact with them and broke my heart to see people being treated like animals. About 98% of women in jail come from abusive childhoods and are on drugs. There is no pretense about needing God when you are in jail. The most basic message of the gospel, that Jesus loves you and offers forgivingness, is life and life changing. Somehow the gospel doesn’t always seem as powerful in our local churches. At the jail, I got to witness the power of God. I was deeply blessed!

We need to do hands on ministry, not just out of obedience, but to see Jesus and the power of the gospel. Jesus says when we feed the hungry, we do it to him.

I have new questions and concerns about our society and the church. How do we care for those in need? Do followers of Jesus Christ make a difference in our communities for the better or is there little change? What happens to the mentally ill? Many inmates are but prisons are not equipped to offer them help. How can we care for the mentally ill in appropriate and loving ways? What happens to the mentally ill in Asian communities and how does the church play a part in that or not? In this season of Eastertide, how is the body of Christ offering the hope of the resurrection to those in need?

I met a few Asian American women in jail and some of their family. Several were Christians who did not want their church or communities to know. I am saddened and yet know the reality that in the midst of this great need, the Asian American Christian community is the last place people would turn to for help. Reaching out to the church would lead to shame and greater isolation.

May our churches truly become the body of Christ led by our Lord.

Rev. Anne Lau Choy
Asbury United Methodist Church, Livermore CA

ISAAC to implement ATS Asian & Asian N. American faculty consultation

ISAAC has been invited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada to implement the next Asian and Asian North American seminary faculty consultation. This event will take place in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 7-9, 2007. "The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) is a membership organization of more than 250 graduate schools that conduct post-baccalaureate professional and academic degree programs to educate persons for the practice of ministry and for teaching and research in the theological disciplines. The Commission on Accrediting of ATS accredits the schools and approves the degree programs they offer."

ISAAC response to Virginia Tech tragedy

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
- Psalm 31:9-10 (NRSV)

April 19, 2007

Dear friends,

Like many of you, those of us at the Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity have been overwhelmed by the shocking and horrific tragedy at Virginia Tech University. The pain and loss has touched the entire international community. We can barely express our grief. Our utmost desire is to embrace those who have suffered such unimaginable loss. We pray that God will be an abiding source of comfort for all.

As we learn more about Seung Hui Cho’s mental history and his social alienation, we realize that more attention must be given to the mental health needs of all Americans. Likewise, more thoughtful discussion about gun control and the socio-cultural impact of violence in the media may help prevent a repeat of this tragedy.

But we are particularly concerned about the growing fear of backlash in Asian American communities. We therefore urge our nation’s leaders to speak out against and seek to prevent racial profiling and acts of bigotry that target Korean and other Asian Americans. It is our hope that the Cho family and other Asian Americans will be treated fairly and allowed to live without fear.

Finally, we encourage the Christian community to be a healing presence during these difficult times. May our proclamation, in word and deed, of Christ’s gospel of love, peace, and righteousness contribute to the restoration of hope.

Timothy Tseng

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
- Psalm 31:14 (NRSV)

Horrific Tragedy at Virginia Tech - NKPC response

No words are adequate to respond to the tragedy at Virginia Tech last Monday (April 16). I'll try to share some thoughts in a day or two. At the moment, I want to simply grieve with the victims' families and pray that there will be no backlash against Korean and Asian Americans.

Here is a letter to President Steger of Virginia Tech from Rev. Myong Bae Choi, the Moderator of the National Korean Presbyterian Council of the Presbyterian Church, USA. It was given to me by ISAAC Board member, Dr. Young Lee Hertig. - Tim Tseng

April 17, 2007

Dr. Charles W. Steger
President
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA

Dear Dr. Steger,

We, the believing Korean American community lost words how to express our deep sorrow for the tragic shootings and sufferings that had occurred in your university community. As we are moaning with heavy hearts, we wish to extend our sincere condolence to grieving families that have lost their loving sons and daughters and the grieving VT student body that has lost dear friends and clasmates.

In the midst of wailing in broken heart we cry out to our merciful God to stretch out God’s caring hand to comfort and heal all those who are afflicted by the unfathomable tragedy. We are calling all of our Korean American congregations to have a vigil service to remember the victims and their families and to pray for the deliverance of the VT community and the nation from anguish of heart and brokenness of spirit. We also pray with all our heart and soul that God may strengthen your loving VT community with faith and hope so that it can soar out of the tragedy to become a great learning institution that helps people live with caring and loving hearts more than ever.

We hope to join in your effort to recover from the tragedy through memorial fund or other means as much as we can.

Sincerely,
Myong Bae Choi, pastor
Moderator
National Korean Presbyterian Council
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Dr. Andrew Lee appointed ISAAC Eastern Regional Director

ISAAC is delighted to announce that the Reverend Dr. Andrew Y. Lee, Ph.D., has been appointed to be ISAAC’s Eastern Regional Director. A resident of New York City, Dr. Lee will form an Eastern Region resource team and develop regional programs for ISAAC. Furthermore, he will develop an ISAAC D.Min curriculum with an Asian American Ministry emphasis.

Dr. Lee received his B.A. in history at Nyack College, his M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Baylor University with emphasis in Old Testament studies. Andrew has served as the Director of Theological Education at Northeastern Baptist School of Ministry and was Associate Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently an Adjunct Professor in Bible at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey. Rev. Lee also served as English Pastor of Trust in God Baptist Church (NYC) and lead pastor of English Ministries at Oversea Chinese Mission (the largest Chinese church in New York City), combining for more than 21 years of pastoral ministry. He recently contributed a chapter, “Reading the Bible as an Asian American: Issues in Asian American Biblical Interpretation” to Ways of Being, Ways of Reading, edited by Mary Foskett and Jeffrey Kah-Jin Kuan (Chalice Press, 2006). His articles will also appear in forthcoming volumes of The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (Abingdon Press, 2006). He is married to Penny and has 3 children, ages 26, 23 and 19.

Dr. Young Lee Hertig appointed ISAAC So Cal Regional Director

ISAAC is delighted to announce that the Reverend Young Lee Hertig, Ph.D., Vice President of ISAAC’s Board of Directors, has been appointed Southern California Regional Director. Dr. Hertig will form a Southern California Region resource team, develop regional programs, and oversee the growth of Asian American Women on Leadership for ISAAC.

Dr. Hertig teaches in the Global Studies and Sociology Department at Azusa Pacific University. She was formerly a Vera B. Blinn Associate Professor of World Christianity at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio (1998-2002), and has mentored United Theological Seminary's Doctor of Ministry Group, “Spirituality, Sustainability, and Interfaith Dialogue” (2004-2006). She was an Assistant Professor of Cross Cultural Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary (1992-1995) where she also earned a Ph.D. in intercultural studies. She is an ordained Presbyterian clergy and author of Cultural Tug of War: Korean Immigrant Family and Church in Transition (Abingdon Press, 2002). She has contributed chapters to Realizing the America of our Hearts: Theological Voices of Asian Americans, Resistance and Theological Ethics, Mission In Acts: Ancient Narratives for a Postmodern Context, Gospel Bearers, Gender Barriers: Missionary Women in the Twentieth Century, and People On The Way: Asian North Americans Discovering Christ, Culture, and Community. She also served on the study team that published "Asian American Religious Leadership Today: A Preliminary Inquiry" on behalf of the Pulpit and Pew Project at Duke Divinity School. Dr. Hertig is Presbyterian Commission Member to the Faith and Order, National Council of Churches USA. She is married to Dr. Paul Hertig and has one daughter.