ISAAC Nor Cal to kick off fall events

High Kick
Originally uploaded by Astig!!.

Keep watching this weblog for updates! - Tim Tseng

Coming Soon! Nat'l Asian American Leadership Conference (Mar 24-26, 2008)

Dear brothers and sisters,

I am serving with four other Asian American leaders (Tom Steers, Tommy Dyo, Ron Sugimoto, and Ben Shin) to plan the second ever national Asian American Leadership Conference (AALC) event which will take place in LA (specific host church site TBA soon) on March 24-26, 2008.

Please check out our new website at www.AALC2008.org.

Over 400 pastors, parachurch leaders, seminarians, and spouses attended the first AALC in 2004. We anticipate over 500 to attend this second AALC. The purpose of the AALC is to encourage and equip those who serve the evangelical Asian American community nationwide.

Main speakers include Dr. John Townsend (Cloud-Townsend Ministries), Pastor Ken Fong (Evergreen Baptist Church - LA), Lisa Espineli Chinn (IVCF, Dir, International Student Ministry), and Pastor David Gibbons (New Song Church, Irvine, CA). There will also be 20+ workshops addressing a wide range of ministry topics. Workshop teachers will represent a wide range of ministries from around the nation including Pastor Wayne Ogimachi (Lighthouse Christian Church, Seattle area, WA), Paul Tokunaga (IVCF Asian American Ministries), Pastor Steve Chin (Boston Chinese Evangelical Church), Ben Shin (Talbot Seminary), and many more to be announced soon.

We are trusting the Lord to provide at least 100 churches and parachurch ministries who will join together as "partners" to support the 2008 AALC event. Partners commit to pray, promote, and provide financially (any amount, all partners will be listed the same regardless of amount of financial support which will remain confidential).

Would your ministry consider becoming one of the first 75 partners?

If so, please let me know how you would like your ministry listed, the city and state where your ministry is located (national ministries need not provide this info), and the name and email address of your main contact person for future AALC information/prayer requests.

I hope to hear from you ASAP.

Thanks!

Louis Lee (MESA)
2008 AALC Coordinator

* * * *
2008 AALC - List of partners (52)

AFC (Ambassadors for Christ)
AACF (Asian American Christian Fellowship, campus ministry of JEMS, LA, CA)
AACC (Asian American Church Consulting, Chicago, IL)
AACCS (Asian American Christian Counseling Service, Inc., Alhambra/Torrance, CA)
AAIM (Asian American Intercultural Ministry, Tampa, FL)
AALC (Asian American Leadership Center)
AAGC (Asian Assembly of God Church, Flushing, NY)
BACBC (Bay Area Chinese Bible Church, San Leandro/Alameda, CA)
BPC (Binnerri Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX)
BCEC (Boston Chinese Evangelical Church, Boston, MA)
CMC (Calvary Mission Church, San Luis Obispo, CA)
Catalyst
CFC (Chinese for Christ Church, Berkeley, CA)
CFC (Chinese for Christ Church, Hayward, CA)
CEMC (Chinese Evangel Mission Church, New York City, NY)
CMF (Chinese Ministry Fellowship)
CUMC (Chinese United Methodist Church, SF, CA)
CLC (Christian Layman Church, Oakland, CA)
CPS (Christian Psychotherapy Services, SF, CA)
Coffee Talk (at Chinese Church in Christ, Milpitas, CA)
ERRC (Educational Resources and Referrals - China)
Epic Movement (Campus Crusade for Christ)
Epicentre Church (Pasadena, CA)
ECCU, Evangelical Christian Credit Union
ECC (Evangelical Covenant Church)
EBC-SGV (Evergreen Baptist Church - San Gabriel Valley)
GGCC (Golden Gate Christian Church, SF, CA)
Gracepoint Fellowship (Berkeley, CA)
HIM (Hawaiian Island Ministries)
ISAAC (Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity)
IMB (International Mission Board, Southern Baptist)
IVCF (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Asian American Ministries)
IWA (Glendale, CA)
JEMS, Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society
KAMR.org (Korean-American Ministry Resources)
LCC (Lighthouse Christian Church, Bellevue, WA)
M4.6, (Malachi 4.6 Network, San Jose, CA)
MACC (Marin Asian Community Church, San Rafael, CA)
MGIM (Mary Germain International Ministries, Mission Viejo, CA)
MESA (Ministries for English Speaking Asians)
MVCCC (Mountain View Chinese Christian Church, Mountain View, CA)
Navigators Asian American Ministries
OMF, International (Overseas Missions Fellowship)
PaLM (Pastoral and Laity Ministries, NYC)
PCC (Pathway Community Church, San Ramon, CA)
QCAC (Queens Christian Alliance Church, Flushing, NY)
Redwood Chapel (Castro Valley, CA)
SEAC (Southeast Asian Committee)
TCBC (Tri Valley Chinese Bible Church, Pleasanton, CA)
WCC (Waypoint Community Church, Davis, CA)
Wycliffe Bible Translators
YNEM (Young Nak English Ministry, Los Angeles, CA)

U.S. Foundations Giving to Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities Lag

New Report Shows Key Gaps in Funding for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

San Francisco, Calif., June 21 – The giving trends of the top U.S. foundations to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities has not kept pace with the growth of these communities or of foundation assets, according to a new report released today by Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP). The report, Growing Opportunities, looks at the country’s top 20 national foundations’ grantmaking between 1990 and 2002 and finds significant funding disparities to AAPI communities in several areas. The report concludes with a call to action to the philanthropy field to reduce these gaps.

Today, at a launch event at the Ford Foundation, AAPIP is discussing the report’s findings with leaders in the field of philanthropy, including Ford Foundation Senior Program Officer Christopher Harris, The Annie E. Casey Foundation Senior Associate Irene Lee, Ms. Foundation President and CEO Sara Gould, Foundation Center Senior Director of Research Steven Lawrence, and Consultant Henry Ramos.

“The time for a significant investment strategy in AAPI communities is now. Our communities must be involved in shaping and impacting the policies and conditions that affect their lives and society as a whole,” says Peggy Saika, president/executive director of AAPIP. “Growing Opportunities invites the philanthropy field to consider the investments that will be necessary to support growing AAPI communities in the 21st century.”

The report shows that even though Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders now comprise 4.5 percent of the U.S. population, 2004 foundation funding to AAPIs represented just 0.4 percent of all U.S. foundation dollars. This funding does not appear to correlate with the significant social and economic challenges that continue to hinder AAPI community progress, including high poverty rates, growing health risks, increased hate-related violence, and major educational achievement gaps in many AAPI populations.

Another key disparity highlighted in the report is that foundation investments to AAPI-led organizations do not appear to have kept pace with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders’ need for trusted, culturally-competent service providers who speak their languages and have expertise in their communities, particularly during times of national crisis. The report reveals that AAPI-led organizations received significantly smaller grants from the largest foundations than did other organizations serving AAPI communities.

“Growing Opportunities highlights the continued lack of investment by organized philanthropy in AAPI communities and the field’s lack of progress in supporting all communities of color,” concludes Ms. Saika. “We hope that the findings will challenge foundations to initiate funding strategies that address the specific needs of marginalized communities.”

For more information about Growing Opportunities, to download a copy of the report, or to access related materials, visit www.aapip.org. To receive a copy of the report, contact AAPIP at membership_AT_aapip_DOT_org.

Founded in 1990, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) is a national membership and philanthropic advocacy organization dedicated to advancing philanthropy and Asian American/Pacific Islander communities. AAPIP is structured into eight regional chapters across the United States, and members include foundations, staff and trustees of grantmaking institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

PANA Update - June 19, 2007

Friends and supporters of PANA’s R2W youth leadership program:

you are invited to the

R2W Jam and Closing Celebration

Storytelling, testimony, art, music, spoken word, and dance from
R2W youth and young adult leaders!
Food and reception will follow

Thursday, July 5, 2007
7:30pm
PSR Chapel

at the Pacific School of Religion – 1798 Scenic Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709

Represent to Witness (R2W) is an Asian and Pacific Islander youth leadership program of the PANA Institute at the Pacific School of Religion. For more information, check out our website at www.represent2witness.org or call (510) 849-8202

More news for friends of PANA:

Announcement:
Job Opening: Youth Minister, Berkeley UMC

Calendar:
June 23 - July 7: “Imagine Us” - R2W Summer Youth Leadership Institute
July 5: R2W Summer Youth Leadership Institute - Public Closing Celebration
September 10-15: "Women and Militarism" evening dialogues
October 20-21: API Faith and Justice Gathering
January 7 -18: Community Course: “Theology of Struggle in Diaspora: Constructing an Asia-Pacific Islander Political Theology” with Professor Eleazar Fernandez
April 24-27, 2008
Third Annual PANA Pilgrimage to Manzanar

Scroll down for more information, or visit the PANA website at pana.psr.edu


JOB OPENING: YOUTH MINISTER

Berkeley UMC (Asian American congregation)
(not far from PSR!)
Approximately 10 hours per week

Berkeley Methodist United Church is historically Japanese American (now Pan Asian) church in Berkeley. We have extremely cooperative parents and a volunteer youth advisor (a seminary grad) who took on some of youth leadership responsibility, but he is not able to focus on it as much as is needed (quite understandably given his schedule). So we are looking for someone who can be the central organizing spirit, and get our youth group off the ground, mostly by building relationships with the youth.

In addition, we have an active Youth Choir (with a Director) and a youth Basketball program. It may sound as if we have a lot going on, but it is a relatively small group of about 12-15 that are identified as "Youth Group", a sprinkling of younger children, and we also have a strong potential for gathering children age 5 and younger (including some toddlers). It is most likely that this work could be done in less than 10 hours per week outside of Sunday.

I would be happy to offer this as simply a job; however, if you are interested in a broader range of responsibilities, I am open to discussing this as an internship placement, that could be structured according to your interests.

Please respond to:

Naomi Southard
Pastor, Berkeley Methodist United Church
1710 Carleton
Berkeley, CA 94602
tel: 510-530-7139
email: nosouth_AT_aol_DOT_com

imagine us

Represent 2 Witness Summer Youth Leadership Institute
for Asian Pacific Islanders and other youth of color ages 16-19
lower income and LGBT persons encouraged to apply

June 23 - July 7, 2007
Pacific School of Religion
Berkeley, CA


IMAGINE US

DOING
theology (the study and action of God in the world)
dynamic Bible study martial arts community action

MEETING WITH
poets professors community leaders DJs muralists

DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP
through a soul-stretching process called critical faith

CELEBRATING AND WORSHIPPING WITH
young leaders age 16-19
of Asian, Pacific Islander, African American, Latino, and other ethnic background

IMAGINE US
creating a just and blessed future
being the future
the future is
now

Get your discipleship on

R2W is an institute in which you live, study, and celebrate living the collegiate lifestyle for 14 days with other high school-aged students in the beautiful Pacific School of Religion/UC Berkeley community. R2W uses the Asian Pacific Islander experience as a lense to see and act on problems and solutions as new Christian leaders. Participants receive a full scholarship covering transportation to and from Berkeley, room, board, and activities. Enrollees pay a registration fee of $150. We encourage your church to support you by covering this fee. (A fee waiver is available to all with financial hardship.)

See what's up at: www.represent2witness.org and www.myspace.com/represent2witness
or contact Michael, Lauren, or Crystal or (510) 849-8202

Thursday, July 5, 7:30pm
R2W Summer Youth Leadership Institute - Public Closing Celebration
Chapel, Pacific School of Religion – 1798 Scenic Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709

Storytelling, testimony, art, music, spoken word, and dance
from R2W youth and young adult leaders!

Food and reception will follow.

Represent to Witness (R2W) is an Asian and Pacific Islander youth leadership program of the PANA Institute at the Pacific School of Religion. For more information, check out our website at www.represent2witness.org or call (510) 849-8202

Looking Ahead

September 10-15, 2007
"Women and Militarism" evening dialogues

October 20-21
API Faith and Justice Gathering


January 7 -18, 2008, 2:00-6:00 pm:
Community Course: “Theology of Struggle in Diaspora: Constructing an Asia-Pacific Islander Political Theology”
with Professor Eleazar Fernandez
Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave., Berkeley 94709

Together as a learning community we will engage in a search for an Asian-Pacific Islander transformative political theology. We will enter this search through the lens of Theology of Struggle (Filipino theology), its background, context and main tenets in the larger global context of the imperial project and predatory globalization. We will identify connections between the struggle of Filipinos, Filipino-Americans and other Asian-Pacific Islanders and identify post-colonial strategies and practices for social transformation. Course is open to GTU students for credit, pastors and lay leaders for C.E.U. and for the wider community for personal enrichment and study. This course is being offered as part of the Civil Liberty and Faith project of the PANA Institute.

Eleazar Fernandez is Professor of Constructive Theology at the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. He is the author of “Toward a Theology of Struggle” (1994) and has published extensively on Filipino Faith, post-colonial theology, and cross-cultural mission. He has served as a pastor in the United Church of Christ Philippines and is active in the United Church of Christ U.S.A.

To register for the class please contact: Rev. Deborah Lee, (510) 849-8260.


April 24-27, 2008
Third Annual PANA Pilgrimage to Manzanar

PANA Update - May 24, 2007

Upcoming PANA events:

Events are at various locations. Scroll down for more information.

May 24, 7pm: Theology in Action: Achieving Social Justice through Rural Leaders Training
May 27: Ordination of Elizabeth Leung
June 1: San Francisco Chinatown Premier Screening of In God's House: Asian American Lesbian and Gay Families in the Church
June 1: 「在教會裡的同性戀家庭」“In God’s House” (中文字幕) 三藩市華埠首映
June 1 and 3: (non-PANA) play about Japanese American internment at Oakland Museum
June 7: Rev. Deborah Lee speaks at screening of film trailer "Water Babies: Coming to Terms with Abortion"
June 17: Honolulu Showing of In God's House
June 17: interfaith Nagar Kirtan singing at the El Sobrante Gurdwara

* * *
Theology in Action: Achieving Social Justice through Rural Leaders Training
Thursday, May 24, 2007
7:00pm

Speakers: Fr. Laksiri Peiris (Asian Rural Institute Graduate) and Steven Cutting (ARI Staff Member)

At Sycamore Christian Church, 1111 Navellier St., El Cerrito, CA

Fr. Peiris is an Anglican Priest from Sri Lanka, a graduate of the ARI training program in 1995 and currently serving at ARI as a missionary through the Anglican Church of Japan. He will share the community development activities he initiated in his rural parish in Sri Lanka. He works closely with ARI Buddhist graduates in in Sri Lanka, and this close working relationship was important after the tsunami hit Sri Lanka in 2005.

Asian Rural Institute is a training institute for rural grassroots leaders from Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Each year ARI conducts a nine-month Rural Leaders Training Program through which they teach sustainable agriculture, community building, and leadership. Upon completion of the training, the graduates return to their home communities where they use what they have learned to work for the betterment of their people. ARI is a mission oriented interfaith training institute.

Sponsored by PANA and Sycamore Christian Church.

* * *
May 27: Ordination of Elizabeth Leung

The Bay Association of the Northern California Nevada Conference and New Fellowship United Church of Christ, Berkeley, California, cordially invite your presence and prayers for The Ordination to the Ministry of Word & Sacrament of Elizabeth Leung.

Pentecost Sunday
May 27, 2007 at 3 p.m.
at San Lorenzo Community Church
945 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo, CA

Dress with a touch of red for Pentecost
Clergy: red stoles

RSVP requested by May 20th

Kindly RSVP to eleung-AT-psr-DOT-edu
The ordination service is followed by a light reception.

* * *
San Francisco Chinatown Premier Screening of
In God's House: Asian American Lesbian and Gay Families in the Church

In celebration of API Heritage Month and LGBT Pride Month, the Network on Religion and Justice for API LGBT People (NRJ API LGBT) and its partners present the San Francisco Chinatown premier screening of In God’s House: Asian American Lesbian and Gay Families in the Church.

June 1, 2007 @ 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Chinese for Affirmative Action
17 Walter U. Lum Place
(near Portsmouth Square in San Francisco)
Opening reception begins @ 6:30 p.m.
Light refreshments will be served

Film screening begins @ 7:30 p.m.
English language film with Chinese subtitles

This program is free and open to the public.
Seating is limited to the first 50 people.

Please RSVP Elizabeth Leung if you plan to attend at eleung_AT_clgs_DOT_org or (510) 849-8937.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker, Lina Hoshino, In God’s House is a critically acclaimed film documentary that tells the stories of Asian American lesbian and gay Christians, their pastors, and their parents. The film comes at a critical time in the national debate over lesbian and gay families. Some of the most intense opposition against them has come from the Asian American church. By telling the stories of Asian American gay and lesbian Christians, In God’s House attempts to promote greater tolerance and acceptance in the church. To learn more about In God’s House, check out: www.ingodshouse.com.

The film screening is co-sponsored by: API Equality-SF § API Family Pride § Asian Equality § Chinese for Affirmative Action § Community United Against Violence § Gay Asian Pacific Alliance § GRACE § Marriage Equality USA § NRJ API LGBT § PANA Institute

If you would like a printable PDF flyer for this event, in English or Chinese, contact Elizabeth Leung at eleung_AT_clgs_DOT_org or (510) 849-8937.

___________________________________________________

「在教會裡的同性戀家庭」
“In God’s House” (中文字幕)
三藩市華埠首映

6月1 日 (星期五) 晚上7時30分
華人權益促進會會議廳
地址 : 17 Walter U. Lum Place

免費入座。由於場地所限, 祗設50座位。
首映前6時30分, 簡單茶點招待。
查詢留言 (510) 849-8937。

In God's House
- Asian American Lesbian and Gay Families in the Church
San Francisco Chinatown Premier

June 1, 2007, 6:30-8:30 pm
Chinese for Affirmative Action
17 Walter U. Lum Place (nearby Portmouth Square)

Directed by award-winning filmmaker, Lina Hoshino, In God's House is a critically acclaimed film documentary about Asian American Christian gay and lesbian people, their parents and families. Opening reception starts at 6:30 pm; film screens at 7:30 pm. Free admission. Seating is limited to the first 50 people. Light refreshment. Members of San Francisco Asian American community are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP at (510)849-8937.

This event is co-sponsored by the Network on Religion and Justice for Asian American and Pacific Islander Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender People ( www.NRJ-API-LGBT.org), a coalition of organizations and individuals affirming the dignity and spiritual wholeness of API LGBT people of faith, and Asian Equality, a statewide project of Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) committed to working in our Asian and Pacific Islander American communities for equal marriage rights and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) families through education and advocacy.

* * *
June 1 and 3: Dust Storm

Sharon Hwang Colligan recommends this beautiful intergenerational play about the JA internment, with opening scenes in set in Berkeley including the UCC church. Performed by Zachary Drake, member of the UU congregation in Berkeley.

Friday, June 1
Dust Storm
Theater
Reception at 6 p.m.; performance at 7 p.m.
In Dust Storm, playwright Rick Foster weaves a story of art and paranoia. The play is about an episode involving artist Chiura Obata at Topaz Relocation camp in Utah during the World War II internment of Japanese Americans, and is told through the eyes of a radicalized young Japanese-American student. Dust storms were common in the barren Utah desert and are also a theme of Obata's artwork from the time. Slides of Obata's work enhance the scenes in the play. The program is a presentation of the museum's Art and History Guilds. $8 advance tickets/$10 at the door; $5 seniors and students (with ID).

Sunday, June 3
Dust Storm
Theater
Sunday, June 3, Reception at 1 p.m.; performance at 2 p.m.
In Dust Storm, playwright Rick Foster weaves a story of art and paranoia. The play is about an episode involving artist Chiura Obata at Topaz Relocation camp in Utah during the World War II internment of Japanese Americans, and is told through the eyes of a radicalized young Japanese-American student. Dust storms were common in the barren Utah desert and are also a theme of Obata's artwork from the time. Slides of Obata's work enhance the scenes in the play. The program is a presentation of the museum's Art and History Guilds. $8 advance tickets/$10 at the door; $5 seniors and students (with ID).

Advance tickets available by mail. Please make check payable to OMCA/AG and mail to R. Hussey, 510 Starmount Ct., Danville, CA 94526. Indicate performance date and the number of tickets (adult, student, or senior). All advance tickets will be held at the door. Dust Storm is a presentation of the museum's Art and History Guilds.

For an online PDF flyer visit: www.museumca.org/pdf/Dust Storm.pdf

For more information:
http://duendedrama.org/pCHT_DustStorm.htm
http://www.museumca.org/cal-public/calendar.cgi?month=06
http://zdrake.blogspot.com/2007/04/dust-storm-june-1-3-at-oakland-museum.html
http://www.manythreads.org/events/ksw2.html

* * *
Water Babies: Coming to Terms with Abortion

Thursday, June 7, 2007
7 - 9:00 pm
Screening of film trailer "Water Babies: Coming to Terms with Abortion" by Lina Hoshino
followed by Panel Discussion facilitated by Rev. Deborah Lee featuring

Lina Hoshino, filmmaker of "Water Babies: Coming to Terms with Abortion"
Maria Nakae, Alliance Building Coordinator, Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice
Talia Walsmith, Exhale

Abortion is a critical issue for API women. Thirty-five percent of pregnancies end in abortion for API women, compared to 18% for white women, representing the second highest percentage for all racial and ethnic groups. In addition, from 1994 to 2000, abortion rates fell for all groups except API women. Yet Asian perspectives are rarely heard in the heated public debate on reproductive rights.

Abortion itself is both intensely personal and intensively politicized. It is perhaps unique in the way that it brings political and moral judgment to bear on painfully intimate personal choices -- judgment that can prevent women from making the best decisions for themselves and from coping with their experiences in healthy ways.

Come join us at KSW and learn about Japanese ritual of addressing the experience of abortion, API reproductive justice movement today, and Exhale, a hotline for women who have abortions.

Lina will talk about her new documentary about the Japanese "water baby" ritual of consecrating the spirit of the unformed child to the protection of a Jizo bodhisattva.

Maria will give a brief overview of today’s reproductive justice movement, which places the reproductive health and rights of women and girls within a social justice framework. She will discuss how the politicization and stigma around abortion silence the voices of women who are most impacted, and how the reproductive justice movement works to address the real needs of
women and support their well being by allowing for the complexities of people’s beliefs and lived experiences around issues of abortion. Finally, she will share ACRJ’s experience of working with young Asian women to explore their own values and opinions around abortion, and their efforts to fight for the self-determination of young women in their communities.

Talia will talk about Exhale, who's mission is to create a social climate where each person's unique experience with abortion is supported, respected and free from stigma. Exhale operates the nation's first free, nonjudgmental after-abortion talkline which provides emotional support, resources and information to women and girls who have had abortions and to their partners, friends, allies and family members. The talkline is available in six languages, seven day a week. Talia will discuss Exhale's services and the various healing rituals and self-care options their talkline callers have found useful for post-abortion emotional health and well-being.

Panelists
Lina Hoshino
Many Threads
Lina Hoshino is a filmmaker and new media designer whose films, including the award winning Story of Margo, In God's House: Asian American Lesbian and Gay Families in the Church and Caught in Between: What to Call Home in Times of War screened internationally in many film festivals. As a co-founder of Many Threads and Tactile Pictures, Lina has led creative and design efforts for many community organizations. Her mother is from Taiwan and her father is from Japan. Lina grew up living in the U.S., Japan, and France. She studied painting and sculpture at Carnegie Mellon University.

Rev. Deborah Lee
PANA Institute of Pacific School of Religion
Deborah Lee is program director of the PANA Institute (Institute for Leadership Development and Study of Pacific Asian North American Religion) at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley and coordinator of the Civil Liberty and Faith project. She is a minister in the United Church of Christ and the coordinator of the Network on Religion and Justice for API-LGBT persons (NRJ-API-LGBT).

Maria Nakae
Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice
Maria Nakae is the Alliance Building Coordinator and a New Voices Fellow at Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice (ACRJ). Her work at ACRJ focuses on building alliances, conducting trainings, and developing tools and resources to advance the reproductive justice movement. Prior to joining ACRJ, Maria worked with community- and school-based programs to increase access to reproductive health services for youth in immigrant communities and communities of color. She also has research experience on a wide range of issues including parenting and child development, homelessness and mental health, and domestic violence prevention. Maria is first-generation Japanese and grew up in Portland, OR. She holds a BA in Psychology from New York University and a Masters in Public Health from UC Berkeley.

Talia Walsmith
Exhale
Talia Walsmith started at Exhale in 2002 as a volunteer after-abortion counselor and served on Exhale's Board of Directors from 2004-2006. Currently, Talia coordinates the day-to-day operations of Exhale's programs which include the nation's first nonjudgmental post-abortion talkline, regional trainings for health care providers, and Exhale's bilingual abortion zine. Prior to joining Exhale, Talia served as administrative staff for the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network and as Associate Clinic Manager at the Women's Community Clinic in San Francisco. She is currently getting her Masters in Women's Spirituality at New College of California.

* * *
June 17: Honolulu Showing of In God's House

Date: Sunday, June 17, 2007

Time: 6 - 7:30 pm

Address: 3608 Diamond Head Circle, Honolulu, HI 96815

Contact: jonipherkwong_AT_aol_DOT_com, 808-728-8811

About the film: www.ingodshouse.com

* * *
The Sikh Center of San Francisco Bay Area invites
the Interfaith Community of the Bay Area to participate in a

Nagar Kirtan
(singing of spiritual songs around town)

Please Join Us!

El Sobrante Gurdwara
3550 Hillcrest Rd., El Sobrante, Ca

June 17, 2007
10-A.M. to 3-00 P.M.

Contact:
Dr. J.P. Singh, President of the El Sobrante Gurdwara, 510-543-7543
Dr. Joty Sikand, Vice President, Ik Onkar Peace Foundation: 510-825-1793

The Sikh Center of San Francisco Bay Area Gurdwara Management is organizing a Nagar Kirtan (Singing of spiritual songs) around the Town of El Sobrante to commemorate the 4001 Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji. He compiled the sacred book Sri Guru Granth Sahib that the Sikhs consider as their eternal living Guru. It has 1430 pages of sacred verses written by the six Sikh Gurus and twenty nine saints and Sufi poets representing all different religions of India of that period, different parts of the country and different castes. They wrote in different languages, such as, Punjabi, Brij Bhasha, Sankrit, Farsi, Bangla and Marathi etc. It truly represents the spiritual unity of the universe. Guru Arjan Dev ji wrote:

The sense of enmity and estrangement is lost
Since I have been in the company of saints
Foe and stranger there is none
I am at peace with every one
I accept with pleasure my Beloved’s command
This is the wisdom I received from the saints
The Divine Master resides in every one
Beholding Him in every one, Nanak is ecstatic

Ik Onkar Peace Foundation is an Inter-faith Cooperation Circle of the United Religions Initiative (U.R.I.). It is also one of the sponsors of the Inter-faith Center at Presidio, San Francisco and a member of the Contra Costa County Interfaith Council.

AABA Update from Louis Lee (MESA) - 05.07.07

This AABA (Asian American Bay Area) Fellowship update contains the following notes -

1. Please RSVP for AABA meeting on Wed. June 20 at SLZJCC.
2. Ministry resources -
- ABC pastor available to guest preach on Sunday, June 17.
- Korean American minister seeks new church ministry.
- Pastor Ken Carlson seeks blog dialogue on English ministry in Chinese churches.
- Drs. Cloud/Townsend team teach Boundaries via satellite on Sat Feb 2, 2008.
3. Only $10/pair of tix for SF Giants home games! Contact Louis Lee!

****************************************************************************
1. Please RSVP for AABA meeting on Wed. June 20 at SLZJCC.

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend our next AABA meeting on Wed. June 20 at 10:30am. These quarterly fellowship meetings are a great time of sharing ministry resources, small group sharing and praying, and an informal complimentary lunch at HomeTown Buffet for those who can stay.

****************************************************************************
2. Ministry resources

- ABC pastor available to guest preach on Sunday, June 17.
An ABC pastor friend of mine who grew up in Castro Valley at Neighborhood Church, is available to serve as a guest preacher on Sunday June 17 in the East Bay area. Derek Quan is a graduate of Western Seminary (M.Div.) and Phoenix Seminary (D.Min.). He has been serving the past 14 years as the English Pastor of the Greater Phoenix Chinese Christian Church. Churches in the East Bay can contact Derek at derekquan_AT_gpccc_DOT_org.

- Korean American minister seeks new church ministry.
My name is John Park and I was born and raised in Korea. In college, I studied English Literature. When I got to the age when I had to serve the army, I joined the 8th United States Army as a KATUSA (Korean Augmentation Troops to the United States Army) solder. During the military years, I was active in fellowshipping with other Christians and in reaching out to non-Christian American soldiers. I received my MDiv. degree from Asian Center for Theological Studies and Missions in Seoul, Korea. Upon finishing my Mdiv. studies, I came to the United States back in January 1999. Currently, I am currently working on my dissertation at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The focus of my studies is missions. As for family, I have been married to my wife, Sumi, for ten years and we have one son, Moses, who is seven years old.
As for ministry experience, I am very experienced in working with different ethnic groups. When I was in Korea, I planted an English-speaking church with a Korean-American missionary. I co-pastored the church with him. I also worked for Mission Korea, a missions mobilization organization which holds bi-annual missions conference. When the conference was held, I worked as coordinator for the 100 plus international participants in the conference. Also, when I did my MDiv. studies at Asian Center for Theological Studies and Misisons, I studied with students from African and Asian countries in English. After I came to the States, I worked as youth pastor for five years and for the last three and a half years I have been serving as college/young adults pastor at Korean-American First Baptist Church of Arlington in Arlington, TX. I have gone on several short-term mission trips to countries such as China and the Philippines and different states in the U.S. Back in 2004, I led a break-out session entitled Asian Youth Ministry at Youth Lab, an annual youth conference held at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
I am quite a unique candidate for English-speaking ministry first because I wasn't born nor grew up in the States and second because I am on an F-1 visa. I am currently planning to apply for Pre-OPT (Practical Training which I can sign up for since I finished my Ph.D. coursework) so that I can work legally in the United States. Whichever church hires me will have to help me to get an R-1 Visa (Religious Visa) and a green card so that I can continue to work in the States legally."
You can reach me via email at heyldoer_AT_sbcglobal_DOT_net or by phone at 817-881-2029 (cell).

- Pastor Ken Carlson seeks dialogue on English ministry in Chinese churches.

Dear co-workers for the Gospel,

On my blog I have started a series entitled "30 Days on the Chinese Church." Specifically, I want to focus on how to have a mature, effective English ministry in a Chinese church. But I don't want to merely share my own opinion. Instead, I would like to invite you to join a blog based discussion on this topic.
Every day this month (except Sundays) I plan to write a new post. I welcome your suggestions for topics! I also welcome your contributions in discussion via the comments on each post. If you have a blog and want to write a longer article on a related topic, feel free to post a link to it in a comment on my blog. That way we can stimulate discussion on some key issues that we all face. The first few articles are pretty basic, but I wanted to lay the groundwork before we get into the details. Let me know what suggestions you have for the series.
I know that we all are very busy. But if some of you are able to take a few minutes to read through the articles and give me feedback, as well as add your own contributions, we will all benefit.
The series can be found via this link:
http://reflections.cyberpastor.net/category/series/chinese-church/
To read the posts in order, you will need to start with the bottom article and work upwards. If you use a feed reader, there is a link at the bottom of the page to subscribe to the series.

Blessings!
Pastor Ken Carlson

- Drs. Cloud/Townsend team teach Boundaries via satellite on Sat Feb 2, 2008.

Hello Everyone – Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!

Exciting news from the ministry of Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend! No, not another book – although they are writing again!
First, have you seen our new web site at www.cloudtownsend.com? Forget about getting any work done during in the day; you’ll be spending your days interacting on the web site with John and Henry learning new leadership info, how to serve your church community better, advice on family matters, & marriages, parenting – the site has endless in possibilities!
Next! My most exciting news! A historic one day event…Saturday, February 2, 2008 Drs. Cloud & Townsend together for the first time in 15 yrs. teaching Boundaries all across North America! It is a satellite presentation from our partner -CCN Church Communication Network. CCN is the leader in excellence in Christian satellite programming. Along with John and Henry, many of the great Christian leaders & teachers in the world are producing remarkable programming on CCN www.ccn.tv
Many of you have desired to invite John or Henry to speak at your church or organization. For a myriad of different reasons it hasn’t happened. However! This special event will afford you the opportunity to invite them to appear (via satellite) in your church AND create a great evangelical outreach to the people in your surrounding area – It will be an immense blessing for your own church family & staff as well.
Imagine tens of thousands of people across North America getting healthy on the same day! And God gets the Glory!
For more information on this event, please contact me at kpatton_AT_ccn_DOT_tv or 800-676-4673 x4. For you early birds, I have a special pricing available until June 30, 2007.
I pray that you are healthy and life is good for you and yours!

In Christ ~ Kris Patton
Ministry Consultant ~ Group & Event Specialist Cloud-Townsend Resources & CCN
800-676-4673 x4 Pacific Time
kpatton_AT_ccn_DOT_tv
www.cloudtownsend.com, www.ccn.tv

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3. Only $10/pair of tix for SF Giants home games!

I am once again lowering the price of my pair of SF Giants tix (section #330, row 9), especially for those in full time ministry! For home games Mon-Thurs, the new price is only $10 for both tix (face value is $20 for both tix) and only $15 for both tix for games on Fri-Sunday (face value is $40 for both tix)! (these prices apply to all home games except premium games vs the LA Dodgers, the Oakland A's, the NY Yankees, as well as games when Barry Bonds is getting within 3-4 home runs of setting the all time career home run record)

Please check the Giants website for their schedule, and then check with me for the games you wantl

If you have friends or family that are not in vocational ministry but want to purchase any of these Giants tix, please add $5 to the prices listed above for each pair of tix ($15 a pair for weekday games and $20 for weekend games).

Remember, the Monterey Bay Aquarium two guest passes will only be available through this July, 2007. Please contact me to reserve their use ASAP.

Southeast Asian worship renewal and leadership conference (N. Cal.)

ISAAC Board member, Dr. Russell Yee, invites you to "Deeper Roots, Stronger Shoots" - a fun, inspiring, and educational time exploring SEA worship and ministry leadership. This conference, directed by Dr. Yee, will take place June 1-2, 2007 (Friday evening and all day Saturday) at Yiu-Mienh Bapitst Church in Richmond, Northern California.

Cost: Free ($15 suggested donation at the door)
Meals: Provided
Registration: None, just come (let Dr. Russell Yee know if you're bringing a group of 5 or more)
A free book or CD to every participant!

For more information, go to: www.seacleaders.com/deeproots or contact Dr. Russell Yee ASAP.