RE: Partnering with other churches

Geoff, I think you’re right. I think it’s rare for Asian American churches to go outside of their own walls.

We sometimes see Asian American pastors or church leaders fellowshipping with or partnering with other Asian American pastors. (My dad who is a pastor of a Chinese American church regularly gets together with other pastors of Chinese American churches.)

We might see Asian American churches having joint retreats or events with other Asian American churches. (When I was serving at my dad’s church volunteering in youth ministry, we had a joint youth retreat for Chinese churches in CA every other year called RYCE…Retreat for Young Chinese Evangelicals).

But it’s somewhat rare to see Asian American pastors fellowshipping with non-Asian pastors. (We just hosted a Weekender** here at CHBC last week. 93 pastors, seminarian and church leaders attended.  And out of the 93 men, there were about a half dozen of Asian descent. And I think all of them were in either Asian American churches or international churches.)

And I think it’s even rarer for Asian American churches to have joint events or partner with non-Asian churches. I mean, unless you’re going to count being part of something like the SBC (Southern Baptist Convention), where churches give money to the Cooperative Program for mission work.

But these examples are not the norm. I think there a few reasons why:

1) Asian American churches are often made up of people who gather with other Asian American because it’s comfortable and of kids of that first group. “Fellowship with others who you aren’t comfortable with…why do that? That’s not comfortable.” So they stay where it’s comfortable…within their own church.

2) The kids in those churches in #1 grow up, and they go to college. Unfortunately, many of them carry the same “do what’s comfortable, stay with the same” mentality when choosing a church or choosing a fellowship group. So many end up going to an Asian American fellowship group and/or to an Asian American church. Though they are venturing out a little since they’re not with their home church nor with the friends they grew up with, they’re still staying “safe” and “comfortable” fellowshipping with other Asian Americans.

3) I’m sure there’s some baggage leftover from Asian Americans feeling like outsiders in America. And maybe there’s this strange sense that since “all” of non-Asian America treats us differently, they’re going to protect themselves and not venture outside of the Asian American community unless they absolutely have to (i.e.-work and school). Unfortunately, this carries over into how people view churches as well. “Have joint events with that non-Asian church? That’s not safe. That’s not comfortable. Must protect self.”

4) Asian Americans being vulnerable? Eh. Not a usual trait. This fear of being vulnerable, of being open with your thoughts and emotions, of being transparent with your spiritual state…unfortunately, this seems to be more of the norm for Asian Americans, even if they’re true believers. And that’s just with people who you’re already close with and already in community with as members of the same church. It’s hard enough to be in significant relationships inside your own church, let alone trying to minister to those in another church.

And to get past any of these hang-ups, it takes effort. So just getting the ball rolling takes motivation. But our common faith and belief in the Gospel, and our desire to see our churches reflecting God’s glory should be enough motivation to partner with other churches, and other pastors, and other Christians that aren’t like us. I’m encouraged by those who are already crossing the lines that seem to divide churches from one another. And I would encourage all of us to consider if we’re not partnering with other churches (non-Asian or not), why not?

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