Dialogues in Asian American Theology and Ministry Podcast

By CAAC at PTS

The Center for Asian American Christianity is a thought leader in the areas of Asian American theology and ministry. We curate a forward-thinking conversation about the issues confronting Asian American Christians and churches. Learn more about the Center for Asian American Christianity at https://caac.ptsem.edu. caacptsem.substack.com

  1. 13h ago

    Opening Devotions and Greetings | Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis 2026

    This session was recorded on August 7, 2026, as the opening session of the Our Stories, Our Faith conference "Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: Celebrating Our Stories, Embracing Our Challenges." More information about the conference can be found at https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/. 00:00 Welcome and Prayer: Rev. Michele Turek (ABHMS)01:29 Conference Welcome: Naw Eh Phaw15:19 Sponsor Greetings: David Chao (CAAC), Tommy Dyo (Epic Movement), Michele Turek (ABHMS), and Tim Tseng (AACHI)22:24 Burma Diaspora Leaders Welcome: Ci Lian Kap (CBANA), Hrang Hlei (CBCUSA), Lian Hang Do (First Zo Baptist Church in GA), Joseph Liana (Mizo Christian Church)33:21 Psalm 77 Devotion: Rev. Michele Turek42:08 Conference Vision and Themes: David Chao56:55 Closing Prayer The Our Stories, Our Faith conference series is produced by the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary, the Asian American Christian History Institute at Fuller Theological Seminary, the Asian Ministries of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and Epic Movement, a ministry of Cru. 🔗 Links * Falam Baptist Church of Indiana: https://fbciusa.org/ * Chin Baptist Association of North America (CBANA): https://www.cbana.us/ * Chin Baptist Churches USA (CBCUSA): https://cbcusa.org/ * Center for Asian American Christianity (CAAC): https://ptsem.edu/academics/centers/center-for-asian-american-christianity/ * Imagine Otherwise by CAAC: * Epic Movement, a ministry of Cru: https://epicmovement.com/ * American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS): https://abhms.org/ * ABHMS Scholarships & Grants: https://abhms.org/empowering-leaders/scholarships-grants * Asian American Christian History Institute (AACHI): https://aac.fuller.edu/initiatives/asian-american-christian-history-institute/ * Pearl Dive by AACHI: https://pearldive.net/ * Burma Diaspora Christianity Project: https://fulleraachi.substack.com/t/burmese-american Photo credit (thumbnail): Jacob Him, Svolta Film This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit caacptsem.substack.com

  2. Jul 29

    Spiritual Formation Panel | Dave Wang, Thomas Okamoto, Ciin Kham

    This expert panel and closing remarks were recorded on April 11, 2026, as part of the 2026 conference “Our Flourishing, Our Faith: Navigating Rupture and Repair in Asian American Christian Communities,” presented by the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary and the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. The panel, titled “Panel: Spiritual Formation,” featured reflections from Dave Wang, Thomas Okamoto, and Ciin Kham.This video also includes the conference closing remarks from David Chao and Carissa Dwiwardani. You can learn more about this conference here: https://ourflourishing.org/.Building on the conference’s plenary sessions and workshops, this closing panel asks how practices of repair can become more than isolated moments or helpful tools. Together, the panelists reflect on how repair can become a long-term pattern of spiritual formation—taking root in families, churches, ministries, and communities over time. The conversation explores self-awareness, intergenerational trauma, emotional regulation, psychiatric care, small-group practices, church leadership, gender roles, the role of fathers and mothers in congregational life, and the need for Asian American Christian communities to create spaces where pain can be named with honesty and held with care. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit caacptsem.substack.com

  3. Jul 20

    Unresolved Ruptures: Find Healing When Repair is Not Possible | Eunhyey Lok

    This workshop by Eunhyey Lok, LMFT, titled “Unresolved Ruptures: Find Healing When Repair is Not Possible,” was recorded on April 11, 2026. The presentation was part of the 2026 conference “Our Flourishing, Our Faith: Navigating Rupture and Repair in Asian American Christian Communities,” presented by the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary and the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. You can learn more about this conference here: https://ourflourishing.org/. What do we do when the ruptures we face have no easy resolution? At both the individual and collective levels, many Asian Americans suffer from deep relational wounds that cannot be repaired because the other party is gone or because interactions with them harm us. When that happens, we are left with emotional hurricanes that disrupt our sense of normalcy and safety, as well as our ability to connect to God, ourselves and those with whom we desire to continue relationship. In our time together, we will seek healing by applying frameworks that help us make meaning of what we are experiencing, learning to be present to our emotions in God’s presence, and exploring practices that facilitate healing in the absence of the other party. This workshop will involve optional opportunities for group participation with guidelines for creating safety as we share and listen to one another. Bringing a journal or writing surface is recommended. Eunhyey Lok is a licensed marriage and family therapist, ordained pastor and spiritual director. She has been privileged to work in both therapy and spiritual direction with couples and individuals, particularly leaders in Christian ministry as well as cross-cultural and international NGO workers for 15 years. She provides a space to heal, recover and breathe for those experiencing burnout as they care for others. Eunhyey received her MS MFT from Fuller Seminary. Formerly, she served as Director of Outreach and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at the now closed Asian American Christian Counseling Service. Before that, she worked as the Mobilization Director for Reah International and worked closely with field workers based in North Korea and NE China. You can learn more about her work in therapy at eunhyeylok.com and about giving spiritual direction at direction.eunhyeylok.com. 00:00 Workshop Introduction01:28 Framing Unresolved Ruptures02:55 Word Cloud Check In03:47 Trauma Context and Care Gaps07:23 Body First Healing08:18 Nervous System Basics12:26 Personal Rupture Stories15:57 Three Movement Practice19:12 Guided SIIFT Exercise27:11 Sharing and Holding Space28:54 Wrestling With the Why34:44 When Repair Is Not Wise37:31 Holy Week Addendum39:08 Closing Blessing Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit caacptsem.substack.com

  4. Jul 6

    Healing the Asian American Family: Practices to Repair Generational Rupture with HONOR | Tansy Kadoe

    This workshop by Tansy Kadoe, LMFT, titled “Healing the Asian American Family: Practices for Repairing Generational Rupture with Honor,” was recorded on April 11, 2026. The presentation was part of the 2026 conference “Our Flourishing, Our Faith: Navigating Rupture and Repair in Asian American Christian Communities,” presented by the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary and the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. You can learn more about this conference here: https://ourflourishing.org/. "Generational rupture often begins with disconnection from self, others, and the stories shaped by survival, sacrifice, and systemic forces. This workshop invites participants to practice honor by reconnecting to their God-given worth (Self), relating with courage and grace (Other), and sharing vulnerable family stories (Context). Together, we explore how honoring self, others, and context opens pathways for repair so families may stand seen, known, and honored in God’s presence and in one another."Tansy Kadoe, LAMFT was born and raised in Burma and immigrated to the United States in 1993, following the pro-democracy uprisings of 1988 that disrupted education and intensified civil conflict. She belongs to the Karen ethnic group, one of the largest minority communities in Burma, and remains deeply connected to her people through church, counseling, and storytelling ministries. She and her husband were part of the group that started the Arizona Karen Baptist Church, which now has more than 400 members. Beyond her local community, she has worked closely with the network of 133 Karen Baptist churches across the United States.Professionally, Tansy initially trained in business, earning an undergraduate degree in finance and economics and an MBA in business leadership. At age forty, motivated by the suffering and needs of resettled Burmese refugees, she pursued a second career in counseling. She earned her Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2016 and has practiced as a licensed therapist in Phoenix since then. She is now pursuing a Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Fuller, focusing on developing models of lay counseling and peer counseling within ethnic churches. Time Stamps00:00 Introduction01:55 Welcome and Purpose02:59 Tansy's Story and Example of Rupture06:31 Definition of Family Rupture07:14 Congruence and Honoring Self, Others, and Context10:31 Systemic Forces on Self13:54 Family Messages Collide19:01 Repair Framework H.O.N.O.R.19:54 Heart Awareness Scenario23:47 Observe Patterns and Stances25:09 Name Cultural Forces28:19 Open Bridge to Self33:40 Bridge to Others35:36 Bridge to Context39:04 Rest and Closing Meditation Photo by Erika Giraud on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit caacptsem.substack.com

  5. Jun 30

    Ministry Leaders’ Panel | Stan Sonu, Sandhya Oaks, Ben Shin

    This expert panel was recorded on April 10, 2026, as part of the 2026 conference "Our Flourishing, Our Faith: Navigating Rupture and Repair in Asian American Christian Communities," presented by the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary and the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. The panel featured reflections from Stan Sonu, Sandhya Oaks, and Ben Shin, with a conversation centered on grief, lament, hidden ruptures in the church, family rupture and repair, and the possibility of healing within Asian American Christian communities. You can learn more about this conference here: https://ourflourishing.org/.Building on the conference’s plenary sessions, this panel brings together voices from medicine, ministry, spiritual direction, theology, and pastoral practice to reflect on how rupture and repair are experienced across families, churches, and communities. The conversation explores the challenges of witnessing grief, engaging lament, naming hidden wounds, resisting silence, and making space for honest repair. Through personal stories and practical wisdom, the panelists consider how Asian American Christians can move toward healing through patience, curiosity, hospitality, embodied faith, and the hope of Christ. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit caacptsem.substack.com

  6. Jun 22

    Enduring and Grieving Unresolved Ruptures | Sangeetha Thomas

    This presentation by Sangeetha Thomas, LPC, titled “Enduring and Grieving Unresolved Ruptures,” was recorded on April 10, 2026. The lecture was part of the 2026 conference “Our Flourishing, Our Faith: Navigating Rupture and Repair in Asian American Christian Communities,” presented by the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary and the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. You can learn more about this conference here: https://ourflourishing.org/. "This plenary will explore how we can grieve ruptures that are left unresolved between persons and endure our experience of separation through faith. Whether by estrangement, emotional cutoff, immigration trauma, abuse, or death, some ruptures may not be repaired in our lifetimes, leaving our hearts with an ever-aching longing for connection. Participants will learn how to navigate this separation through the lens of neuroscience, psychology, and faith and discover rest in the peace and love of Christ."Sangeetha S. Thomas is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the Owner of Nepsis Counseling in Dallas, Texas. She is also the Director of Mental Health Ministries for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA. As Director, she collaborates with an interdisciplinary team of experts in mental health, ministry, and theology to create resources that support the mental health needs of Orthodox Christians across the United States. As a psychotherapist, Sangeetha works with adults of diverse backgrounds who are healing from trauma, exploring multicultural identity and intergenerational trauma as children of immigrants, and learning to integrate their life experiences with their spiritual identity.Time Stamps:00:00 Speaker Introduction01:07 Opening Thanks and Context01:58 West Coast Asian American History05:39 Why History Matters in Trauma06:30 Three Types of Unresolved Rupture08:45 Two Theological Truths11:09 Dual Process Model Explained14:04 Migration Loss and Family Impact18:23 Building a Healthy Grief Narrative20:29 Practical Tools for Healing22:17 Community Responsibility to Grieve23:42 Neuroplasticity and Hope Story26:24 Christ Transforms Our Grief27:56 Lamentation in Psalms and Gethsemane30:01 Saint Mary and Holy Friday Laments33:36 Perfect Love and Reconciliation36:31 Kiss of Peace and Holy Week Silence39:43 Paschal Peace as God’s Gift43:38 Remembering God Through the Waters45:51 Remembrance as Resistance and Love Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit caacptsem.substack.com

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Center for Asian American Christianity is a thought leader in the areas of Asian American theology and ministry. We curate a forward-thinking conversation about the issues confronting Asian American Christians and churches. Learn more about the Center for Asian American Christianity at https://caac.ptsem.edu. caacptsem.substack.com

You Might Also Like