Others

Leadership Investment

Several years ago, a young Second Generation Asian American decided to search for a pastoral internship because he wanted practical ministry experience and needed money to subsidize his hefty seminary tuition. Finding a pastoral internship in an Asian ethnic church was not difficult for this young unqualified person because Asian ethnic churches were (and still are) desperately lacking leaders that understand the unique culture and needs of second and third generation Asian Americans. He learned that if he could only take one thing away from his interviewing experience was that Asian ethic churches are lacking leaders that understand the unique culture and specific needs of Asian Americans.

He remembers meeting with a pastor for an internship at an Asian ethnic church that still sticks in his mind to this day. The senior pastor said to him; "We already have an English ministry pastor. So we don't need to hire you, but, I told the church leaders that they should consider hiring a pastoral intern not because we have a slot to fill or because we are looking to take advantage of cheap labor. The reason why we need to strongly consider hiring a pastoral intern is because if we do not, there will not be any leaders for tomorrow or their kids when they become adults if we don't develop and provide potential leaders with opportunities to lead."

To say that Second Generation Asian American Christians are only a generation away from extinction is not a bold statement. Many church leaders have seen this firsthand and empathized with stories told by brokenhearted parents, pastors, and friends of people they know that have stopped practicing their Christian faith or had difficulty finding a fellowship or church where their needs can be met. If ministry leaders want their kids, and generations yet to be born to know love, joy, and peace through Jesus, we must work together to raise reproducing leaders that will develop others into leaders for a lifetime of Christian service.