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diversity

Being Asian…

by Lon on February 4, 2009

Some thoughts that have been percolating on being Asian…

I’m Chinese. I don’t think I realized it till about grade three.

I have faint memories of myself squeezing my nose in the mirror in hopes that it wasn’t so flat.

Race itself can be a type of poverty

Is the asian model minority myth, a myth?

In Dreams of my Father, Barack Obama talks about not wanting to associate with the one other black classmate because it would only remind them further of their isolation. I feel that way sometimes when I’m surrounded by Asians.

Asians are rarely included in the black-white race discussions

I’ve heard people say where black and white are on the extremes, yellow and brown are ‘just right’.

Along with the color remarks, I’ve heard people use the term ‘banana’ for Asians that act white. I’ve always wondered if there was something similar for Asians acting ‘black’. Beef patty is the closest thing I can think of, yellow pastry on the outside, dark on the inside?

Labels are rarely helpful, but where else would we start?

When Asians are mentioned in conversations on reconciliation it seems to be merely for the sake of inclusion, not that there might be some form of weight behind it.

Being Asian typically carries more stereotypes behind it than an actual narrative

Many of the circles I travel in, from old-school pastoral gatherings to emergent networks, I’m the only Asian dude.

I wonder if I help validate the movement of Christ to all people when I show up.

Truth is, I long for a truly multi-cultural church as well

At my wife’s school, there’s typically only one token white kid in her classroom.

Statistics say that within a decade the majority of Christians in America will be non-white. What does that mean about our future leadership?

With the Chinese ethnic church booming over the past decade, black and white pastors have asked me, when will the Chinese church begin reaching back out to them?

We as a church need to have a better theology of the human person and of diversity.

God’s not colorblind, and when we avoid the discussions as we do in Canada, we’re negating a part of who God created us to be.

Is there affirmative action happening in our churches? Is that a good thing?

John Piper thinks that Asians might be the next great movement of missionaries

I wonder how China being an emerging superpower relates to the church of the future?

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Facebook Exegesis…

by Lon on December 31, 2007

I committed an hour or two yesterday to international facebook day.

It’s amazing the level of connectivity we have today, like no other point in history.

Facebook offers some interesting ’stats’ on the networks that you’re a part of.

Missiologists often speak of how we must not only exegete the Scriptures but our culture as well. I thought I’d do some comparisons between the seminary I’m a part of (Tyndale), and the metropolis of Toronto in which I live.

[click to continue…]

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Multiethnicing a church…

by Lon on November 5, 2007

I think I’ll start highlighting some slightly ‘out-there’ ideas I’ve been pondering over the next couple weeks. Here’s one.

I’ve spent the bulk of my church-life in ethnic churches. I’m a firm believer in the ethnic church and it’s role critical role in developing community, evangelism, identity, perspectives, etc. However, like many others in my generation, we struggle with also being a multi-ethnic church in a multi-ethnic culture.

While there is undoubtedly incredible diversity even within an ethnic community, there’s something indescribably beautiful about entering a community where the diversity is almost blatant.

Many of us have been there before, where we’ve invited, or wanted to invite a friend from a different, only to find that the whole ‘race-thing’ can become just one more barrier to Christ.

So the big question is how on earth do you transition a church that’s mono-ethnic into a multi-ethnic church?

Here’s one simple idea I’ve been bouncing around…

We declare a month where everyone commits to bringing someone who’s not like themselves.

This way no one feels awkward, no one knows it’s an ethnic church

In a month’s time you’re a completely different church!

What do you think?  Too radical?  Too naive?  I know there are other factors and issues such as multiethnic staffing/leadership, integration, etc.  I’d love to know what people think.

(I know multiculturalism is the even bigger issue, but one thing at a time folks…)

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