The AACC Podcast

In today's rapidly changing world, many churches are grappling with a significant shift: the rise of a post-Christian culture. This has led to a profound change in how younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Gen Alpha, relate to faith and community. In this episode of the AACC Podcast, our host, Ray Chang, chats with Clark Fobes, Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church of San Francisco, about...

In this episode of the AACC Podcast, our host, Izzy Koo, chats with Pastor Michael Lee of Encounter Church in Seattle, Washington. During the conversation, Pastor Michael highlights the stereotypes that often limit the perception of Asian leaders. While Asians are seen as responsible and capable, they are rarely viewed as primary leaders. This observation has fueled Michael's passion for creating...

In this episode of the AACC podcast, our host, Izzy Koo, engages with three members of the AACC Next Gen Leadership Cohort—Aimee Ebeling, Daniel Fang, and Jehuda Kusuma—to explore the complexities of Asian American identity and faith. The conversation delves into personal experiences that shaped their understanding of their cultural identities, the role of faith in their lives, and the values that...

In this episode of the AACC podcast, our very own NextGen Coordinator and co-host, Izzy Koo, and psychotherapist, Ayna Kaur Virk, talk about Ayna's journey as a second-generation Punjabi woman navigating her faith, mental health, and cultural identity. Ayna discusses her encounter with Christ during a challenging time in her life, the role of therapy in her own personal growth, and the unique chal...

In this episode of the AACC podcast, our host Ray Chang has a conversation with Pastors Terrence Shay and Hanley Liu from First Chinese Baptist Church, Walnut. Terrence and Hanley explore the essential partnership between the home and the church, highlighting the importance of nurturing young people and understanding and appreciating the cultural context of the congregation. Both pastors acknowled...

In this episode of the AACC podcast, our host Ray Chang speaks with Pastor Justin Wong about the challenges and opportunities facing Gen Z within the Asian American church. While touching on the importance of understanding generational differences, the highlight of the conversation is on the impact of COVID-19 on youth ministry, and the need for churches to adapt to the unique needs of younger gen...

Welcome to Season 6 of the AACC Podcast! In this episode of the AACC podcast, host Ray Chang and animator/editor Kevin Yi discuss the intersection of Asian American identity, youth ministry, and media. Kevin shares his journey from ministry to animation, highlighting his work on the Disney+ series, Armorsaurs, and the book  The Jesus I Wish I Knew in High School. They explore themes of cultural tr...

In this episode of the AACC podcast, Ray Chang interviews Steven Kim, the Founder and Executive Director of Project Kinship, a community-rooted organization dedicated to serving marginalized communities impacted by incarceration. Steven shares his personal journey as a Korean American and the challenges he faced growing up, including racism and trauma. The conversation explores the role of the chu...

In this episode of the AACC podcast, Ray Chang speaks with Professor Jennifer Koh about the complexities of immigration law and its intersection with human rights, social justice, and faith. They discuss the current state of immigration in the U.S., the myths surrounding immigrants, and the role of faith communities in advocating for vulnerable populations. The conversation also touches on the his...

In this episode of the AACC Podcast, our host, Ray Chang, continues his conversation with Pastor Dave Gibbons of Newsong Church in Southern California. Pastor Gibbons explores the profound impact of storytelling on healing and self-discovery. He shares insights on how personal narratives can resonate with readers, providing them with the words to express unspoken emotions. Pastor Gibbons presses o...

In this episode of the AACC Podcast, our host, Ray Chang engages with Pastor Dave Gibbons and they explore the unique position of Asian-Americans in society today, highlighting the cultural adaptability of AAPI and the opportunities available for them to leverage their experiences and voices in addressing societal challenges. Pastor Gibbons emphasizes the favor that Asian-Americans have in the cur...

In this episode of the AACC podcast, host Ray Chang engages in a rich conversation with Helen Lee and Shin Maeng about their collaborative children's book 'Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World.' They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the evolution of its themes, particularly around prayer, and the importance of cultural identity in storytelling. The conversation also touches on the ch...

Today's episode explores the intersection of Asian American Christianity and justice, discussing the historical context of justice within Christianity, the separation of evangelism and justice, and the impact of Western individualism on Asian American faith. Our host, Raymond Chang, together with Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, emphasize the need to recover a theological understanding of justice and prov...

In this episode, AACC President, Ray Chang, and Professor Daniel D. Lee explore the complexities of Asian American Christianity, discussing the integration of theology and identity, the challenges faced by the community, and the importance of contextualized ministry. They emphasize the need for nuanced understanding and language to articulate the Asian American experience, while also highlighting...

On this episode of the AACC Podcast, Ray Chang and Reverend Dr. Abraham Cho explore the complexities of Asian American Christian leadership, the journey into ministry, and the cultural identity that shapes their experiences. They discuss the challenges of navigating predominantly white evangelical spaces, the diverging paths of career choices among Asian Americans, and the cultural costs associate...

On this episode of the AACC Podcast, Ray Chang interviews Alice Matagora and discusses the journey of finding belonging and embracing her identity as an Asian American woman within white evangelical spaces. Alice emphasizes the need for communities that embrace and value the full expression of God's kingdom, where individuals can be their authentic selves. When faced with challenges as Asian Ameri...

In this episode of the AACC podcast, Ray Chang interviews Prasanta Verma about her book on ethnic loneliness and her personal journey of growing up as an Indian immigrant in predominantly white spaces. She dives deeper into the loneliness and identity conflicts she experienced while also navigating different forms of racism and marginalization that she and other Asian Americans face, both overt an...

On this episode of the AACC Podcast, Raymond Chang sits down with the dynamic author and speaker, Simi John, for a powerful conversation about identity, faith, and culture. Simi shares her journey of navigating life as both an Indian and a Christian woman—two identities that often felt at odds. Through raw insights and personal stories, she reveals how she found clarity and confidence in scripture...

On this episode of the AACC Podcast, Raymond Chang speaks with Walter Kim on the relationship between Asian Americans and Evangelicalism. Should Asian Americans Christians use the term "evangelical"? Where do AAPI fit in the changing demographics of evangelicalism? And how can Asian Americans lead faithfully in evangelical contexts?    Linked Resources: https://www.nae.org/ Hosts: Raymond Chang  ...

On this episode of the AACC Podcast, Raymond Chang speaks with Vivian Mabuni about her journey in leadership as an Asian American woman and her work with Someday is Here. How does our journey and experience as Asian Americans inform our leadership? How can seasoned Asian American leaders support and encourage emerging Asian American leaders to lead out of who they are?   Linked Resources:  https:/...

On this episode of the AACC Podcast, we begin a series of discussions on the topic of Asian Americans in White Evangelical Spaces. We will be hearing from a variety of Asian American leaders from a range of contexts (church, academy, non-profit, etc) on their experiences working in predominantly White spaces. In this conversation, Raymond Chang speaks with Dr. Gregory Lee on the challenges of Asia...

The AACC Podcast, hosted by Raymond Chang, invites listeners to this special episode where we explore civic engagement as Asian American Christians. Featuring special guest Sam Cho, the elected commissioner of the Port of Seattle, the episode highlights his personal journey into politics, shares his insights on generational political differences, and dives into his perspectives on how we should en...

In the season finale of the AACC Reclaim Podcast, Raymond Chang and co-host Josh Huver close the 'Speaking to the Culture' series. They explore how Asian American Christians can address challenging topics and advocate for social justice, bringing their unique perspectives to these vital issues.   This episode discusses the importance of engaging with culture from a Christian standpoint, promoting...

The AACC Reclaim Podcast, hosted by Raymond Chang and Katie Nguyen Palomares, invites listeners to explore engaging culture with sensitivity. Featuring guest Dorcas Cheng-Tozun, a writer and communications consultant, the episode highlights her impactful contributions to organizations like D.Light and her insights from living across various cultures. Dorcas, author of "Start, Love, Repeat" and "So...

Join host Raymond Chang and special guest Dr. Matthew Kim from Baylor University on the AACC Reclaim Podcast for a compelling exploration of faith and community dynamics within the Asian American Christian sphere. This episode delves into the impact of societal and economic pressures on church life, particularly focusing on the growing sense of isolation among congregants. The discussion highlight...