Posted in reflections, tagged cross-culture, identity on October 31, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Photo by Carmy Mirabeau aka Carmilla Mrabeau
By Ajung Sojwal
I have called you by name, you are mine. –Isaiah 43:1
Nobody can prepare you for that moment when you get to meet your child for the first time. For nine months, I nurtured and carried her in my womb; never could I imagine what she would look like or who she would be. When I finally held her in my arms, I was overcome with a deep sense of recognition of her as mine completely. (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged gender roles, identity, transgender on August 22, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Photo by SAVAGE_02
By Ajung Sojwal
As I write this, I wrestle with the long-held notion of gender binary that is now being challenged by society. In a world where the struggle to conform or break out of long-expected female and male roles is an issue, I find asking myself, What does it really mean to see myself as a female created in the image of God?
Genesis 1:27 says God created humankind in his image; unequivocally, it says, that in the image of God he created them male and female. The chapter ends with God giving both the male and female the same authority over all his creation and we are told he is very pleased with it all. (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged ethnicity, identity, racism, women in ministry, women pastors on June 13, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Photo by Dennis Hill
By Ajung Sojwal
It is sad that in 2017, I find myself still waiting for the realization of what Apostle Paul declared in Galatians 3:28, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” The full force of the issue of ethnicity within a church context took hold of me after I got ordained as a priest. (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged identity, perfectionism, personality types, self-acceptance on January 26, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Photo by Take Back Your Health Conference
By Sharon Lee Song
At the end of 2015 as I started discerning and moving forward with a major transition from urban ministry to another ministry called Alive & Well Women, the burning question at the forefront of my mind was, “Lord, how am I supposed to BE in this season of transition?” I had been struggling with feeling disconnected with God and remaining alive and well through it. (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged formation, gratitude, identity, middle school, youth on April 28, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Photo by Stefano A.
By Liz Chang
Posted in reflections, tagged gender, God concept, identity, internalized racism, marginalization, race on February 24, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Photo by Chris Smith Ronnie Shumate
By Young Lee Hertig
The term “the bamboo ceiling” coined by Jane Hyun describes the virtual absence of Asian Americans in top corporate CEO positions despite significant numbers of Asian American students at Harvard (18%) and Stanford (24%). On October 14, 2014, an article called “Cracking the Bamboo Ceiling” posted in The Atlantic stated that Asian Americans account for just 1.4% of Fortune 500 CEOs and 1.9% of corporate officers overall. (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged center and margin, dominance, ethnicity, identity, power, privilege, racism on November 19, 2013| 2 Comments »
Photo by Jonathan Kos-Read
Introduction to this 3-part blog series–>
By Debbie Gin
A few years ago, one of the student groups at Azusa Pacific University invited me as a faculty guest speaker to talk about research I had done on Asian American ethnic/racial identity development. Pleased that a student group wanted to balance its more socially-fun agenda (i.e., parties) with more substantively-fun sessions, I didn’t hold back. (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged identity, missions, self-worth on October 29, 2013| 4 Comments »
By Ann Chen
Most of my adult life in America has been spent trying to grow to become a woman that others could look up to: somebody that could influence and contribute to the lives of others and who others can grow and learn from. For the most part, it was with good intentions. I wanted to help others grow in their encounters with Christ, and it was for those reasons that I made ministry, career, and life decisions that I did. (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged failure, identity, perfectionism, success-driven on August 6, 2013| 4 Comments »
Photo by faith goble
By Ann Chen
As a Chinese-American, I’ve grown up in a culture that values “saving face” and rewards perfection and success. I’ve seen this play out not only in my academic/professional life, but in my ministry and in my personal relationships.
One thing that I’ve grown to embrace more is a willingness to fail.
Or perhaps it’s not the willingness. It’s the acceptance that I’ve failed. Many times. And I continue to fail. (more…)
Posted in shared stories, tagged childhood, family, identity, marginalization, women's roles on May 28, 2013| 3 Comments »
Photo by Ken Fong
I walk each day as an Asian American Christian woman drifting between four separate worlds (Asian. American. Christian. Woman.). These worlds often have opposing values that affect my mindset and how I respond and make decisions.
I grew up in Boulder, CO one of a handful of Asian Americans in a graduating class of 650. My dad was a producer and director for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. When I was nine years old, he directed Romeo and Juliet and I would accompany him to the rehearsals. He mentioned in passing that I would never play the lead role of Juliet because I was Chinese. (more…)
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