The month of May is designated as Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate the many contributions individuals in the AAPI community have made to society and history. We want to honor and recognize Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by sharing some reflections from some of our own AAPI staff members. As you read these stories, we also encourage you to take some time to reflect on your own story of how your heritage influenced your faith journey and relationship with Christ.
I love how deeply communal and relational the Korean culture is. When animated by the Spirit in the context of the church, there is a sense of belonging and mutuality that holds people together. The intergenerational aspect of younger folks respecting and honoring older folks creates a sense that everyone is important to the community, everyone has a role to play. I think it has allowed me to be a pastor who can relate to both old and young out honor and respect.
Therefore, I view the church as an intergenerational family of belonging where everyone has a contribution to make. Their lives were deeply embedded into the community in ways that caused the church to flourish. I had so many “aunts and uncles” from the church that even when my kids visited the church I grew up in a few weeks ago, they were treated like everyone’s grandkids. It’s a special blend of nostalgia and hospitality.
Growing up in an immigrant Korean church, I regularly witnessed the spirit of sacrifice and endurance through suffering. People gave so much for the good of the church. This has shaped me to see suffering as a necessary part of the Christian life. Perseverance, endurance, and steadfastness were all modeled and celebrated as a defining characteristic of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.