THE SIX STEP FRAMEWORK WHERE YOU WILL DISCOVER HOW YOUR ETHNICITY AND FAITH TOGETHER CAN TRANSFORM YOUR CHURCH RELATIONSHIPS AND MINISTRY
- See how the gospel is good news specifically for Asians Between Cultures
- No time to go back to college or read 20 books? Self-paced course you can complete in your own time
- Invest in just six sessions to improve the relationship with the 1st generation
INTRODUCING THE ASIANS BETWEEN CULTURES COURSE
The Asians Between Cultures Course is the only course of its kind that helps pastors of next generation churches like you grow deeper personally, and enrich your ministry by looking at how the gospel is good news to Asians who are in between cultures.
We are not like Western church leaders whom we may have grown up looking to, listening to their preaching, reading their books. We are also not like the 1st generation migrants whose faith practices mirror that of their home country in Asia.
What does the gospel look like for Asians Between Cultures? Find out how it first applies to you as an individual with Asian heritage, and then, how it can transform your ministry and relationships with the 1st generation and the West.
HOW CAN THIS COURSE HELP MY MINISTRY?
Intergenerational Growth
Improve the relationship between 1st and 2nd generation in churches. Avoid unnecessary conflicts with your leadership and grow in your appreciation and celebration of differences in culture.
Cultural Identity
Consider and work through how both East and Western cultures have helped and harmed your ethnic and spiritual formation.
Contextualize Your Ministry
Address concerns common to Asians Between Cultures not seen in Western theological textbooks or training
IMAGINE GOING INTO A MISSION FIELD WITHOUT STUDYING THE FIELD
This is the reality for many of us
Maybe you took a subject, one assignment, one workshop, or a once-off lecture…would that equip you to serve effectively where God has sent you?
Too often, leaders in ethnic churches go into ethnic church ministry unprepared. We are unprepared because we haven’t had the opportunity to study what our migrant and bi-cultural church context is like. This is usually because we are trained in Western bible colleges and schools, with the assumption that we ourselves are White. While this has enriched us immensely, it is not sufficient.
We are also unprepared because we don’t sufficiently know ourselves. Yes, we study another culture, but we ourselves are not culturally neutral!
We are missionaries in our own churches, learning to negotiate the cultures of the earlier generation and the cultures of mainstream society.
The Asians Between Cultures course seeks to address this large gap. Learn about Asians Between Cultures, their backgrounds, their pressures, their needs and how Jesus comes to address those specific needs and redeems them for a unique purpose.
WHAT OTHER LEADERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ASIANS BETWEEN CULTURES COURSE
REV. DR. ANDREW PRINCE
DIRECTOR OF CENTRE FOR ASIAN CHRISTIANITY AT BRISBANE SCHOOL OF THEOLORY
“This course is exactly the sort of contextual training needed by the Asian Church today. Featuring high quality content and graphics, Grace clearly and helpfully helps us navigate some of the significant tensions that exist for both first and next-generation Asians growing up between two cultures. It’s strong emphasis on the Bible is blended with twenty-first century cultural insights that will help Asian children, parents, pastors, church leaders, and church congregation members who want to be godly Christians in the different contexts God has placed them. Thanks Grace for doing some hard-thinking on these particular issues and look forward to future courses you might develop in this area of Asian Christianity.
STEVE CHONG
FOUNDER AND GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF THE RICE MOVEMENT
Grace Lung is a unique and important voice that the Lord has raised up in this crucial time where it is becoming increasingly confusing for Asians between cultures to understand their place, identity and God given purpose. As Director of Asian Contextual Engagement for the RICE movement (a global gospel Asian youth movement across Australia, New Zealand and Brazil) she sets the culture and paradigms for the leaders of our movement to think carefully about how best to lead the thousands of young people under their care to not be ashamed of their dual identities but in fact, champion the Asian voice for the gospel. Grace has an astounding ability to take important academic concepts and make them come to life to the listeners. I’ve seen one of our city directors begin listening to Grace speak (on the same topics as in this course) at our RICE conference, thinking this topic is not so relevant for her yet 5 minutes in was crying as she realised she had paper cut wounds that she had buried that Grace’s talk had unearthed. It’s this kind of powerful ministry, particularly in this ‘Asian Century’ we have entered into, that makes Grace Lung’s ABC course perfect for such a time as this. I wholeheartedly recommend this course as the perfect primer for understanding the issues at stake..
ASIANS BETWEEN CULTURES: GRACE LUNG
Grace Lung is a pastoral worker of a second generation Chinese church. She studied at Sydney Missionary Bible College and Fuller Theological Seminary
Her writing has appeared on the SOLA Network, Gospel Coalition Australia, Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church, Common Grace, and Ethos: EA Centre for Christianity and Society.
She works with group such as the Centre of Asian Christianity at the Brisbane School of Theology, the RICE Movement, Interserve Culture Connect as well as OMF Queensland.
WHY I’D LOVE TO SHARE THIS COURSE WITH YOU
Many years ago, I was a lay leader in a Chinese church, along with many of my peers at uni. A lot of us had conflict brewing in our churches, or had had it in the past. After attending a culture workshop, I realized a lot of the conflict could be reduced or even removed if we all had a basic understanding of the cultures we Asians Between Cultures are between.
Not long after, I realized only understanding culture is necessary but insufficient and I dedicated time to studying at Fuller Seminary. What I found there changed forever how I see myself as a Christian and transformed how I do ministry in a Chinese church.
In our current climate, more Anglo and denominational leaders need people who are culturally and racially aware in their ministry and outreach. Bi-cultural people are needed more than ever to help bridge the gap between East and West and address the difficulties between the generations in migrant churches. With this training, I want to teach you all the fundamentals of what I know so you can make a difference where God has sent you to minister.
BONUS MATERIAL
For a limited time, the Asians Between Cultures course comes with the following:
One Week Devotional
Let us re-read scripture through the eyes of those who felt like foreigners and strangers. They can show us how they were able to trust and be used by God to extend his kingdom from the margins, often without significant power, authority or influence. Through them, we can derive guidance, comfort and how embracing a minority status can deepen our walk spiritual walk.
1-1 Consultation & Prayer
A one hour individual consultation after completion of the course will ensure that questions can be asked in person to the instructor and material is completely applicable to each unique student’s ministry context.
(subject to scheduling)
Weekly Cohort Discussions
Journey with other like-minded students and grow together as you discuss the questions and share experiences. Cohorts will be available if quota is met. Please indicate your interest!
FAQ
> Do I need to be Asian to do this course?
This course was written with for 2nd and 3rd generation Asian ministry leaders in mind. 1st generation leaders will also find it helpful though less directly so.
Those who are not of Asian descent who serve in Asian ministry contexts are welcome to take the course to help understand the needs of 2nd and 3rd generation Asians (Asian Australians, Asian NZ, Asian American, Asian Canadian etc.)
The course will be most relevant to those of East and South East Asian backgrounds. The six step methodology applies to South Asian backgrounds though examples drawn are from East and SE Asian contexts.
> Can I watch the training with other people?
This material would be great to work together as a group! And can be easily be tailored for this setting. However, the purchase is for an individual only. If all interested individuals are unable to purchase the course separately because of financial constraints, please consider a donation to the ministry, see gracelung.com
> Is this self-paced or cohort-based?
There are different modes to work through the material. If you are someone who prefers to go at your own pace and pick up the material when its convenient for you, pick self-paced. However, if you are able to commit to weekly discussion groups over a period of 6 weeks, the cohort based option is available for you!
SPECIAL THANKS TO
For their support and funding of this project
Grace Lung 