Episode 99 - Christian Higher Education: In Touch With The Church And The World? How do seminaries and Christian higher education form their students? Are they in touch with the local church and shaping people to engage the world? We reflect on our past and present experiences and consider the role and relevance of these institutions in preparing p…

Episode 98 - A Practice of Remembering: Our Tribute To Rev. Dr. Tim Tang In this episode, we create a space around a table for remembering a friend and a colleague who had been an advocate for Canadian Asian ministries and left an indelible impact on the way we envision leadership, pastoral vocation, and following Jesus. Join us as we reminisce and…

Episode 97 - The Effects Of Individualization On Faith & The Church Culture has been moving in a direction of becoming more and more individualized and this notion has had an indelible effect on how we conceptualize faith and the church. In our conversation today, we share observations, unpack its impact, and consider what practices we might need t…

Episode 96 - Doing Local Contextual Theology How is theology understood and practiced in our culture and context? When we see that the places we inhabit and the people we interact contain rich histories and meanings, we can begin to witness God's work and purposes breaking through, not in a universal or general way, but in the particulars and speci…

Episode 95 - Rest In The Midst Of Busyness When asked how we are doing, how many times have we heard or said that we are busy? But have we ever stopped and re-evaluated about what it means to be busy? Even more importantly, how do we practice rest and Sabbath as we follow the ways of Jesus? Join us for the conversation as we unpack and explore this…

Episode 94 - Women In Leadership (Series Finale) - The Ongoing Journey (feat. Lisa Pak) We wrap up our series with the guest who started us on this trajectory years ago, Lisa Pak! As we reflect on all the stories we heard from our many guests, as well as Lisa's own journey through ministry and her Doctorate of Ministry studies focusing on Korean wo…

Episode 93 - Sharing Lives In The Places We Are Called (feat. Paul Sparks) What will be our presence in every day life in the neighbourhoods we inhabit? We talk to author Paul Sparks about his experiences and what he's learned about being intentional familial community with those around him and the importance of being formed as we witness and join …

Episode 92 - Discernment: Being Right Or Being In Relationship? (feat. Mee Yun Kim) Do we approach discernment as merely decision making out of a drive to discover the right answer? What if this practice is less centered on the outcomes, but rather how we discover the depths of living in loving communion with God and building the relationships with…

Episode 91 - Churches Together For The City (feat. Dave Witt) What would it look like if churches came together for the good of the city and saw each other, not as competition or divided by theological differences, but as essential parts of how God was working among and in various locations and people groups? We are so honoured to have Dave Witt jo…

Episode 90 - The Church After Innovation: Questioning Our Obsession With Work, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (feat. Andrew Root) It is not uncommon to have the pressure to innovate the church to engage the world, but do these feelings help or hurt? Can our relationship with work, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit become obsessive and distra…

Episode 89 - Churches and the Crisis of Decline (feat. Andrew Root) As we observe decline in denominations and local churches, how do we make sense of this trajectory? What are our fears revealing about our understanding of the crisis and shaping our responses? Dr. Andrew Root joins us for the conversation to unpack these questions and provides a h…

Episode 88 - The Megachurch: Metrics, Management, and Mission How do we make sense of the megachurch phenomenon in Canada, especially among Asian churches? In what ways can their organization and structures engage and empower people to live on God's mission? Can their size be a detriment? We tackle these questions and more as we unpack the metrics,…

Episode 87 - Let's Talk About Burnout More frequent than ever, pastors, leaders, students, and those in the workforce are expressing a sense of burning out. In today's conversation, we share about our own experiences, talk about where burnout comes from and what it looks like, and suggest some ways to honestly face and combat its sources and effect…

Episode 86 - Stories of Canadian Christianity (feat. James Robertson) How has the history of Canadian Christianity shaped our faith and churches today? Understanding where we have come from gives us a greater sense of what it means to be faithful today and hopeful for tomorrow. We're joined by Dr. James Robertson who gives us a valuable insights on…

Episode 85 - Deconstruction: What Does It Mean For Us? The age of deconstruction has dawned as it has become a common practice and ideological approach in regards to faith and the church. How has it affected who we have become and where we are going? Should it be embraced or feared? And what should be our posture be as communities of belonging? We …

Episode 84 - New Season, New Questions [Season 5 Opener] Jumping into our new season, we share about the questions on our hearts and topics that we're wrestling with, how they are shaping our perspective on this upcoming year, and some of our hopes about where this conversation will go! Plus, we talk about what we've been reading! Join us as we con…

Episode 83 - Reflections On Season 4 [Year End Wrap-Up] 2021 has definitely been one for the books!! As we head toward the end, we take a moment to reflect back on our 3 major series, conversations, and lessons learned from the fourth season of our podcast journey. Join us as we dive into the stories that have challenged us and continue to form us …

Episode 82 - Women In Leadership (Part 8): Writing To Make Space For Gathering, Evolving, and Opening Doors (feat. Sarah Bessey) The world of writing and blogging has opened up unique opportunities to share journeys with one another. On the topic of women in ministry and leadership, it has been a gift to many to find others who are wrestling throug…

Episode 81 - Women In Leadership (Part 7): How The Past Re-elevates And Unsilences Women (feat. Marion Taylor) The models of women in the Bible and as church leaders & Bible interpreters over the centuries give us reasons to unpack and reconsider the dynamics between men & women and the decisions that have shaped the church. How might history resto…

Episode 80 - Women In Leadership (Part 6): Not Alone - The History of Women and Bible Interpretation (feat. Marion Taylor) The voices of the past call out to us as a reminder of how women throughout history have been part of forming an understanding of the Bible and how reclaiming their often untold or silenced testimony can paint a fuller picture …

Episode 79 - Women In Leadership (Part 5): Pioneers That Shape Our Perspective (New Leaf Network Learning Centre) Listening to the stories of women in ministry and leadership throughout history deeply impact our understanding and imagination. Without them, we lose a part of how God has been working over the past centuries and how to be informed in …

Episode 78 - Women In Leadership (Part 4): Candid Conversations On Gender Equity, Stereotypes, And Imposter Syndrome (feat. Jennifer Lau) Factors that impact women's opportunities for leadership come in various forms, whether it be from external perceptions, the availability of positions, or a sense of belonging and worthiness. Also, what does it m…

Episode 77 - Women In Leadership (Part 3): Speaking Up, Sharing Stories, Standing Together (feat. Grace Ji-Sun Kim) To break the narratives and cycles of sexism and racism, new stories must emerge to give hope, reveal the journey, and show our part in charting a new way. So grateful to be joined by Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim (pastor, author, and pro…

Episode 76 - Women In Leadership (Part 2): The Value Of The Roundabout Journey (feat. Milissa Ewing) Our first guest in this new series is Rev. Milissa Ewing, lead pastor of Redwood Park Church in Thunder Bay, ON! We're honoured to hear the ways in which God had been leading and preparing her through an unexpected path into ministry, how we are sha…

Episode 75 - Women In Leadership (Part 1): Why This Conversation Continues To Matter As we launch into this brand new series, we talk about why the conversation of women in leadership is still needed and pertinent for our churches and society. How do we create spaces for voices and experiences to be heard? What have been some of the challenges for …

Episode 74 - Anti-Asian Violence (Part 4): Different Perspectives & Postures (Listener Reflections) In the conclusion to our discussion on this important topic, we consider the various points of view and responses that our listeners had expressed. What was revealed was the various ways to process and understand the topic of Anti-Asian violence and …

Episode 73 - Anti-Asian Violence (Part 3): Sitting With A Brokenhearted God (Xenia Reacts) Xenia is back and brings her perspective on the anti-Asian violence conversation! We take a dive into the complex history of Canadian Asians and how those stories help us to understand how we've been shaped and how to process through what we face today. Where…

Episode 72 - Anti-Asian Violence (Part 2): Contemplating Our Steps Forward What are some tangible ways in which we can play a part to disrupt and break down the rhetoric of Ant-Asian violence? We consider how acts of hospitality, entering into culture, and the role of systems contribute and can be used as God's recovery and healing. Also, a breakth…

Episode 71 - Anti-Asian Violence (Part 1): Lamenting A Missing Narrative The events over this past year have exposed and amplified the latent narratives and sentiments that have escalated to otherness, scapegoating, and violence. Can critical race theory help us in our understanding? How do we process and lament the pain that has been caused and th…

Episode 70 - Wearing Your Witness: The Story Of Rise & Dew (feat. Hosea Cheung & Jocelyn Li) Combining clothing and being a witness, Rise & Dew is a Christian apparel venture located in BC that seeks to live out their faith boldly in an embodied way throughout every aspect of their organization. We had a blast hearing their story and passion for cr…

Episode 69 - A Sheet Of Scattered Sand: Thoughts On Fragmentation & Belonging (feat. Justin Tse) What binds us together? Are the ideologies and norms held among a people group more fragmented than originally believed? In the second half of our conversation with Dr. Justin Tse, we unpack the complexity of cultural identity and find a new way to see …

Episode 68 - Exploring Generations & Grounded Theologies (feat. Justin Tse) In the first part of our conversation with Dr. Justin Tse, we examine the origins of the term "generations", as well as the questions of how religion is understood and connects as it breaks through into the world. Fascinating, deep, and hilarious, this discussion was a blas…

Episode 67 - Nones & Dones Series Wrap-Up As we reach the end of this current series, we reflect on the stories that have been shared and what that has meant for us to walk alongside those without religious affiliation or who are done with the church. We've been encouraged, challenged, and stretched in our frameworks and engagement as the church. L…

Episode 66 - Nones & Dones Series: "Holding On To Something Bigger" (J&G's Story) What might be the perspective of religion from someone coming from a non-religious background? How might he/she understand and reflect on experiences in churches, spiritual events, and religion classes? If faith is not experienced growing up, what impact might that ha…

Episode 65 - Nones & Dones Series: "Our Sunday Family Activity" (Mike's Story) Growing up with positive church experiences with our families can be formative in our understanding of religion and faith, but does it naturally resonate and correlate with our transition into adulthood? As we listen and reflect on Mike’s story, we explore changing famil…

Episode 64 - Nones & Dones Series: What The Data Tells Us... And What It Doesn't (feat. Joel Thiessen & Arch Wong) From a sociological and ministry perspective, research can provide valuable insights in understanding the phenomenon of a growing population of those identifying as having no religious affiliation. At the same time, it has also reveale…

Episode 63 - Nones & Dones Series: "I Tried Everything" (Dan's Story) What happens when a person has a genuine desire to experience God in his/her life and has tried every way a community of faith has to offer, but still feels empty and unconvinced? In this episode, we listen to Dan's story, his decades long struggle in looking for answers, and his…

Episode 62 - Nones & Dones Series: "What Went Wrong?" (Reflections on Helen's Story) One of the questions that Helen asked the audience to consider was how she ended up in this specific place in her spiritual life. In her own words, she reflected on the many factors and "what went wrong" which led to her decision to leave her church. In our candid …

Episode 61 - Nones & Dones Series: Introduction & Helen's Story It's been a long time coming, but we're so excited to start off the new year with a series focusing on the nones & dones: those who have no religious affiliation, have left the church, or are done with faith. In this introduction, we talk about the importance and the personal reasons f…

Episode 60 - Reflections On Season 3 [Year End Wrap-Up] What a year 2020 has been!! We pause for a moment and reflect back on the conversations and lessons learned from the third season of our podcast journey. Join us as we dive into highlight episodes that have challenged us and continue to form us personally and in ministry. Also, a sneak peek at…

Episode 59 - In The Space Between (Introducing Xenia Chan) A new voice emerges on the Canadian Asian Missional Podcast as we welcome our friend Xenia Chan as a new co-host! We talk about her experiences and what she's observed in ministry, seminary education, Canadian Asian context, and what it looks like to reclaim the "Jesus narrative" in our con…

Episode 58 - #ChurchToo Movement, Part 3: A Survivor's Story (feat. Rebecca K. Tan) TRIGGER WARNING: In these episodes, we discuss the subject matter of relational and sexual abuse and assault. Please exercise discretion and wisdom in listening as the nature of the topic may trigger some individuals. In the third part of our continuing conversation…

Episode 57 - The Secular Age, Part 2: Engagement & Ministry (feat. Andrew Root) In gaining a clearer picture of the various stages of the secular age, how might that inform and impact our level of engagement and ministry practices? What happens if we misidentify which level we are in? What unique challenges do we face in today's age? Here's the sec…

Episode 56 - The Secular Age, Part 1: Understanding The Stages (feat. Andrew Root) As society and culture move away from religious traditions, how can we understand the various shifts and stages of secularism? Do we have a common definition or understanding? Dr. Andrew Root joins our conversation as we dive into this important topic and unpack what…

Episode 55 - Being Asian-Canadian Christian Witnesses (AFC Advanced Leadership Training) Over this past summer, we had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate with Ambassadors For Christ In Canada to lead a training event for their campus leaders online, specifically focusing on being Asian-Canadian witnesses in our culture today. We got to share …

Episode 54 - Listening To Nuance: Observing Faith & Church Experiences Through Ethnography (feat. Scott Wall) Much has been said about the patterns and social customs of Canadian Asian church and faith experiences, but do those descriptions line up with how people are actually living our lives? Are we jumping to conclusions and preemptively ringing…

Episode 53 - Secularism & Tension: Asian Witness In French-Speaking Canada (feat. Rici Be) Almost one quarter of Canada's population resides in the province of Quebec and its distinct culture and history has shaped a unique landscape for ministry. Coming out of a difficult relationship with religion and having embraced secularism which extends all …

Episode 52 - The Next Generation Lead Pastor, Part 2: New Perspectives, Priorities & Postures (feat. Ho-Ming Tsui & George Mah) While the lead pastor of the future brings new vision and values, they also enter into a established rhythms and expectations. What does it look like to work toward change, while engaging in the slow process of investment …

Episode 51 - The Next Generation Lead Pastor, Part 1: Building Trust & The Benefits/Challenges of Legacy (feat. Ho-Ming Tsui & George Mah) As newer generations of Asian Canadian pastors step into the roll of the lead/senior position, what will be the course that they chart for themselves and the church? What can someone expect as they follow the le…

Episode 50 - Tales Of Race, Identity & Faith ...Illustrated (feat. Gene Luen Yang) Topics such as race & diversity, immigration, Eastern vs. Western ideologies, and spirituality have rarely been so prolifically expressed, seamlessly integrated, or so fun to read as in the imaginative and thoughtful works of Gene Luen Yang. The award-winning cartoon…