
Hosted by The SOLA Creative · EN

In this episode, Walter Kim shares his inspiring journey from immigrant roots to leading the National Association of Evangelicals. He discusses the importance of cultural understanding, the history of evangelicalism, and the unique role of Asian American leaders in the church.Our guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.00:00 - Introducing Walter Kim and the mission of the podcast00:28 - Walter’s background and invitation to share his story00:44 - Immigrant roots, New York, and becoming a Christian02:37 - Ministry path through Cru, Vancouver, Boston, and Charlottesville03:06 - Bridge-building as a life calling03:54 - Church contexts in Canada, Boston, and Charlottesville05:26 - How Walter ended up being considered for NAE leadership05:48 - The tension with family expectations and ministry calling06:42 - His father’s conversion through that journey07:42 - Reflection on vocation, faith, and leadership08:13 - Discovering the NAE through Park Street Church history08:39 - Becoming a board member and later a candidate for president09:28 - Family reconciliation, leadership, and faithfulness10:21 - The question of why Walter said yes to the nomination11:12 - A personal answer: family, special needs, and discernment12:39 - Hitting his 50s and wondering if opportunities had passed13:07 - “Maybe your ship has sailed” and the turning point14:03 - Recognizing he wasn’t pursuing fame or influence14:56 - Feeling released into the work after years of character formation16:05 - The temptation of influence and the importance of character17:09 - What the NAE is and who it represents18:04 - The NAE’s witness to the gospel across every area of life19:01 - The challenge of defining evangelicalism in culture21:17 - The origins of the NAE and the third way between extremes22:56 - Position and posture in evangelical witness24:24 - Why the term evangelical still matters25:22 - Evangelicalism in the Reformation and Great Awakenings26:49 - Revival, missions, and the term’s modern use27:47 - Why the word should be recaptured, not abandoned28:27 - Evangelical identity, politics, and public misunderstanding29:55 - Diversity in evangelicalism and immigrant church growth31:23 - Problems with polling and self-identification32:20 - The broader story of evangelical diversity in America33:42 - Mainline, evangelical, and global South complexity35:02 - Why survey data misses many believers36:38 - Recapturing the meaning of evangelical language37:46 - Three unique contributions of Asian American leaders38:15 - Bridge-building in pluralistic society39:40 - The shift from guilt-based to shame-based culture40:49 - Why the gospel should be more multilingual41:48 - Presenting the gospel through honor and shame43:47 - A richer, multilingual expression of the good news45:12 - Walter’s encouragement to Asian American pastors and leaders

Examining the study: "Unpredictable Childhoods May Hinder a Young Adult's Ability to Take Positive Risks."Our guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.

In this episode, Drew Hyun and Jay Song discuss the importance of emotional health and contemplative spirituality in Christian discipleship, especially within Asian American churches. They explore how cultural and generational factors influence spiritual maturity and leadership, offering practical insights for pastors and believers.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests03:09 Understanding Emotionally Healthy Discipleship06:01 The Need for Deep Discipleship06:39 Integration of Emotional Health and Spirituality09:09 Personal Journeys into EHD09:34 Cultural Relevance of EHD for Asian Americans13:34 Navigating Emotional Maturity in Immigrant Households15:35 The Unique Challenges of Asian American Churches17:56 The Impact of Capitalism on Spiritual Success20:34 The Pressure of Performance in Ministry25:04 Finding Balance Between Doing and Being37:37 Living Within Limits: A New Perspective43:12 Transforming Identity: From Performance to Presence48:37 OutroOur guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.

In this new series, Danny and Monica look at recent research and studies about teenagers and families, and assess them through the lens of Scripture. They then apply their conclusions for their implications for Asian American Parenting. In part 2 of this series, they examine unstructured and structured use of time.Our guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.

Our new Author Interview features a conversation between Aaron Lee and Paul Uyen about Uyen’s life and his book on divine illumination, In Your Light We See Light. Uyen shares his journey from a difficult childhood as an immigrant—struggling in school, getting involved in gangs, and facing serious trouble—to a gradual but powerful transformation through reading the Bible and encountering Christ.Uyen explains how his personal story connects to the ideas in his book. He describes how coming to know God is not just about learning information, but about having one’s “eyes opened” through God’s work. This theme of moving from darkness to light shapes both his testimony and his theology.When discussing union with Christ and illumination, Uyen argues that knowing God is both a gift and an active, participatory process.This conversation combines a story of redemption with simple, thoughtful reflections on how people come to truly know God and grow in their faith.DISCLAIMEROur guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.RELATEDOpen the Eyes of Our Hearts: A Book Review of “In Your Light We See Light”https://sola.network/article/in-your-light-we-see-light-book-review/BIOSPaul’s journey to Jesus Christ began at the county jail in 1997, and Christ found him in 2001 at a church in Santa Ana. After a year, the church asked him to serve their Junior High Ministry. Paul had so much fun that he desired nothing else but to serve the Lord and His church. That desire led him to the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago for his BA in Pastoral Study. He went on to prepare himself more with a MA in Biblical Exegesis and a MA in Historical Theology from Wheaton College. Then he came to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School to get his PhD in Systematic Theology under the tutelage of Kevin Vanhoozer. He is now an assistant professor at the College of the Ozarks. His journey with Christ has blessed him with his wife Christine and their five children, Eden, Saige, Violet, Callum, and Elliot. In his leisure time, he enjoys his wife, children, movies, coffee, and tea, contemplating the goodness and beauty of God everywhere he turns.Aaron Lee is our Editorial Curator. Aaron also serves as the Social Media Officer of First Chinese Baptist Church of Walnut in California’s San Gabriel Valley, home to the largest concentration of Asian American communities in the United States. Visit him online: https://www.diveindigdeep.com/

In this new series, Danny and Monica look at recent research and studies about teenagers and families, and assess them through the lens of Scripture. They then apply their conclusions for their implications for Asian American Parenting. In part 1 of this series, they examine a study about childhood religious experiences and adult outcomes, and how it relates to communication in the adult-teenager relationship for faith.Our guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.

SummaryIn this insightful interview, Abe Cho shares his journey from Korean American roots to becoming a key thought leader in urban ministry and church planting. He discusses the importance of contextualization, the impact of social media on church communication, and the future of gospel-centered ministry in diverse urban settings.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Abe Cho and His Journey01:05 Abe's Early Spiritual Formation and Call to Ministry04:01 Transition to City to City and Thought Leadership07:54 The Role of Church Planting in Urban Contexts12:00 Post-Keller Landscape in New York City15:26 The Impact of Social Media on Church Unity19:47 Reflections on Tim Keller's Legacy and Influence25:42 Engaging Online: A New Approach to Social Media29:22 Navigating the Digital Landscape: Questions and Reflections34:37 Defiant Joy: A Vision for Christian Witness43:48 The Future of Urban Church Planting and Leadership49:37 OutroOur guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.

We're concluding our four part series on what scripture teaches us about Asian American parenting. And we're concluding with a look at Psalm 127:3, which says, "Behold, children are inherited from the Lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward."Our guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.

Join us as we explore the transformative journey of Ted Chen from a 35-year journalism career to a passionate ministry, discussing the evolving landscape of media, faith, and unity in a divided world. Gain insights on how faith influences journalism, the importance of diverse media consumption, and fostering community amidst polarization.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ted Chen and His Journey03:21 The Evolution of Journalism06:12 The Shift to Opinion News09:14 The Impact of Cable News on Journalism11:46 The Role of Trust in Media14:26 Navigating Political Polarization17:29 The Intersection of Faith and Journalism19:45 Advice for Consuming News21:51 Personal Experiences in Journalism24:51 The Importance of Compassion in Reporting27:40 Reflections on Media Ethics30:31 The Future of Journalism and Faith39:18 The Rise of Faith-Based Content40:29 Navigating Church Divisions Post-202043:27 The Importance of In-Person Connections46:07 Encouraging Unity in a Divided Age49:16 The Role of Personal Relationships in Faith52:52 Finding Common Ground in Faith and Politics55:45 Transitioning from Journalism to Ministry57:33 Introducing Good News Ted59:11 The Future Vision for Ministry01:00:12 OutroOur guests share from their own experience and conviction, and the perspectives expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of SOLA Network or every leader associated with SOLA.

We're in our mini series about what can we learn about Asian and American parents from Scripture. And today we're talking about Ephesians 6:1-4.