Centering: The Asian American Christian Podcast

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Centering is the Asian American Christian Podcast: weekly conversations on Christ, the Christian life, and Asian American perspectives. Every Thursday, join our host Irene Cho and weekly guests as we dive into the messy beauty of living out Asian American Christian faith. Centering is a production…

Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church


    • Aug 2, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 34m AVG DURATION
    • 92 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Centering: The Asian American Christian Podcast

    9x08 - Representation: Empowerment, Healing, and Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 43:38


    9x08 - Representation: Empowerment, Healing, and Hope by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

    9x07 - Coherence: Narratives & Reconciled Identities

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 33:23


    9x07 - Coherence: Narratives & Reconciled Identities by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

    9x06 - Nuances: Pathologies & Ideals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 32:15


    9x06 - Nuances: Pathologies & Ideals by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

    9x05 - Lenses: ...Because Not Everything's Cultural

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 35:46


    9x05 - Lenses: ...Because Not Everything's Cultural by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

    9x04 - Knowledge: When Personal Experience Isn't Enough

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 28:04


    9x04 - Knowledge: When Personal Experience Isn't Enough by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

    9x03 - History: Do Asian Americans Have a History?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024 26:01


    9x03 - History: Do Asian Americans Have a History? by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

    9x02 - Panethnicity: What is Asian American?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 33:55


    9x02 - Panethnicity: What is Asian American? by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

    9x01 - Language: Asian American Identity and Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 31:17


    9x01 - Language: Asian American Identity and Experience by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

    8x09 - The Joy of Biblical Scholarship(Dr. Nijay Gupta)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 46:52


    In the final episode of Season 8, Dr. Nijay Gupta joins Janette for a passionate conversation about his work making Biblical scholarship accessible and available to those in the Church - the joy of melding spiritual life, academic research, and teaching others - and embracing the messiness of negotiating Asian cultural heritage and Biblical conviction.

    8x08 - The "Absence" of God? (Dr. Chloe Sun)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2023 42:04


    This week, Dr. Chloe Sun joins Janette to speak about Song of Songs: why is such an abstract lyrical work included in the Bible? And what can this text, without a single explicit mention of God, reveal about God's seeming "absences"? Dr. Sun is Professor of Old Testament Studies at Logos Evangelical Seminary in Los Angeles.

    8x07 - The Theology of Pleasure (Dr. Max Lee)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2023 53:25


    This week, Dr. Max Lee of North Park Theological Seminary joins Janette, sharing his research into the theology of pleasure; the connections between sexual intimacy and spiritual life; and the ways that Asian American theological convictions should be brought to the Bible

    8x06 - Race and Justice in the Bible (Dr. Lisa Cleath)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2023 42:31


    This week, Professor Lisa Cleath of Princeton Theological Seminary joins Janette to discuss her work on social justice and the Bible. How can our imaginations of race and justice inform our readings of the Bible? How should our experiences influence our faith? What does the Bible have to say about multiracial and other Asian American identities?

    8x05 - The Language of Christianity? (Dr. Ekaputra Tupamahu)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2023 47:48


    This week, Dr. Ekaputra Tupamahu, Asst. Prof of New Testament (George Fox University) joins Janette to share about speaking in tongues, inviting discomfort into our churches, and centering theology on the real experiences of new immigrants.

    8x04 - Shaking Hands With the Pope... (Dr. Jung Choi)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2023 41:45


    For our first episode of 2023, Centering welcomes Dr. Jung Choi of Duke Divinity School. A scholar-teacher trained in the New Testament and early Christianity, Dr. Choi shares about the Biblical importance of ecumenism, healthy tension within Christianity, and the power dynamics of voice and visibility. *Since recording, Dr. Choi's role at Duke is now Associate Dean for Global and Intercultural Formation and Director of the Asian House of Studies

    8x03 - The Histories We Aren't Taught (Dr. Gale Yee)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 46:25


    This week, Dr. Gale Yee, Professor of Biblical Studies emerita (Episcopal Divinity School) and the first Asian American woman president of the Society of Biblical Literature, joins us to share her experiences as a prominent Asian American biblical scholar and the difficult work of rescuing the Hebrew Bible from a narrow-minded normativity. RESOURCES MENTIONED: -https://theology.sewanee.edu/education-for-ministry/ -Course texts: https://theology.sewanee.edu/files/resources/efm-books-handout-2021-2025-2.pdf

    8x02 - What Does Blessing Look Like? (Dr. Roger Nam)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 45:08


    This week on Centering, Dr. Roger Nam joins Janette to talk about his journey into biblical scholarship. Dr. Nam is Professor of Hebrew Bible at Emory University, a minister, and explores in-depth the ways that the economic context of ancient Israel can help illuminate and explore the Bible, focusing on Ezra-Nehemiah.

    8x01 - Race and the Margins of the Bible (Dr. Jordan Ryan)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 51:47


    Welcome back to Centering! Dr. Janette Ok hosts this season about biblical scholarship for the Asian American church. In this first episode, Dr. Jordan Ryan talks about his work literally unearthing the context of 1st century Israel/Palestine, its parallels with his experiences of race and marginalization in North America, and global Filipino diaspora.

    Support Centering this #GivingTuesday!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 1:07


    This #GivingTuesday, please consider supporting Centering with a donation at fuller.edu/giveAAC And stay tuned for Season 8 of Centering launching THIS week - with Professor Janette Ok interviewing other biblical scholars on biblical scholarship for the Asian American church.

    7x08 - Healing the Filipino American Soul (Dr. Jeannie Celestial)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2022 48:02


    Dr. Jeannie Celestial is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PhD) and Psychotherapist. This week, she joins Jay and Eleanor to speak about how therapy can speak specifically to FilAm communities. Dr. Celestial's new book Clinical Interventions for Internalized Oppression is out now! You can find her at sweetmangotherapy.com and @jeanniecelestial Dr. Celestial is offering consultation groups for Filipinx/a/o therapists. Please fill out this form, with a free values assessment, if you are interested: tinyurl.com/celestialcentering

    7x07 - Leading in Ministry as a Filipina American (Mrs. Lisa Espineli Chinn)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 53:40


    This week, Mrs. Lisa Espineli Chinn joins Jay and Eleanor to speak about her wealth of experiences as a Filipina woman leading in ministry. The former National Director of International Student Ministry with InterVarsity USA (2000-2014), she's also been an international student, a campus minister, and co-founder of several ministries in the Philippines and US.

    7x06 - How to Love the Filipino American Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2022 46:34


    This week, Jay and Eleanor are joined by Dr. Alan Dionson. Pastor Alan not only serves as Senior Pastor at Charisma Life Church, but has conducted extensive research into the cultural specifics of pastoring in Filipino American communities. Tune in for his insights on how to love the FilAm church!

    7x05 - Loving & Learning from the Filipino Poor (Fr. Danny Pilario)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2022 46:11


    Joining us this week is Father Danny Pilario, a powerful voice of justice throughout the Philippines. A Vincentian priest, scholar, and minister, he has dedicated a lifetime of work to poor and marginalized communities throughout the Philippines, finding and sharing the radical love of Christ in the midst of colonial and institutional struggles. (Content warning: violence, sexual violence)

    7x04 - Dr. Willie Jennings on Black & FilAm Theologies

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2022 47:17


    This week on Centering, scholar and minister Dr. Willie Jennings joins Jay for a conversation about his contributions to liberation and contextual theology. They touch on the spaces where Black and Filipino American Theologies overlap, and the ways we find God's hand at work in our communities.

    7x03 - Filipinos Navigating Academia & Activism (Dr. Robyn Rodriguez)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2022 54:24


    Centering welcomes Dr. Robyn Magalit Rodriguez, founding director of the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at UC Davis, and the first Pinay to serve as chair of UC Davis Asian American Studies. She recounts her journey as a Pinay scholar-activist and shares advice for Filipino Americans navigating academia and activism.

    7x02 - How Religion Shapes Filipino Identity

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 47:50


    In this episode of Centering, Dr. Alicia del Prado and Dr. Sthefany Alviar join Eleanor and Jay to discuss their research on the ways religious identity shapes mental health and help-seeking in Filipino American Catholics. Tune in for their insights - and discourse on their favorite Filipino dishes!

    7x01 - This Filipino American Christian Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022 45:14


    We're back! This season of Centering features Eleanor Baylon and Gabriel Jay Catanus talking all things Filipino American Christian. In this first episode, our co-hosts cover topics from food and karaoke, to internalized colonial mentality and paying for seminary.

    6x08 - Critical Race Theory and Our Nation's Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 47:37


    In this season's final episode, Daniel and Alexander talk about the future of America: where will conversations around race go? What will be the issues that continue to arise around race, power, and inequity? And how can the Christian church bear faithful witness amidst it all?

    6x07 - Does Critical Theory Have A Place in Our Churches?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 46:56


    This episode, Dr. Daniel D. Lee and Dr. Alexander Jun speak on critical race theory - and the church. Does Critical Theory have a place in ethnic, Asian American, and multicultural churches? What are the dangers - and uses - of introducing these ideas into our spaces of worship and community?

    6x06 - Critical Race Theory and Schools

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2021 42:35


    This week, Dr. Daniel D. Lee and Dr. Alexander Jun speak about Critical Race Theory and the academy: how is history told, whose voices are included, and what does a "Christian" history mean?

    6x05 - Christians and Cancel Culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2021 41:16


    What IS cancel culture, and how does - and doesn't - it fit into a Christian imagination of justice? On today's episode of Centering, Daniel and Alex speak about the roles of accountability, forgiveness, and power in the current conversation around "cancel culture".

    6x04 - God Is Not Colorblind!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2021 37:17


    In this episode, Dr. Daniel D. Lee and Dr. Alexander Jun speak on intersectionality, identity, and the Image of God: What is intersectionality? Why are social identities important to God - and us? And how do we avoid idolizing social identity?

    god colorblind daniel d lee
    6x03 - Social Justice and the Gospel

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 42:04


    Is social justice a different gospel, a distraction from the gospel, or the Gospel itself? This week on Centering, Dr. Daniel D. Lee and Dr. Alex Jun talk about the various manifestations of justice and their relationship to the Christian Gospel.

    6x02 - White Supremacy and the Doctrine of Sin

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 44:36


    This week, Dr. Daniel D. Lee and Dr. Alex Jun talk about sin, supremacy, and salvation. In the face of systems that harm and hurt God's creation, how can Asian American Christians receive and share in a holistic salvation?

    6x01 - What IS Critical Race Theory?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 43:08


    Welcome back to Centering! This season is a series of conversations on "Race and Grace" between Dr. Daniel D. Lee and Dr. Alex Jun. We start off with a conversation about Critical Race Theory: what is it, why does it make so many people so angry, and what do Asian American Christians need to know about it?

    5x10 - Is There Room in Evangelicalism for Asian Americans?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 39:42


    As American society undergoes historic shifts of public identity and conversation, Evangelicalism is changing along with it. Is there space in contemporary Evangelicalism for Asian Americans? Professor Daniel D. Lee joins Tim and Jane for this season's final episode to discuss the varied and complicated future of Asian American Christianity and its relationship with evangelicalism

    american asian americans evangelicalism asian american christianity daniel d lee
    5x09 - A Silent Exodus: The Death of Asian American Churches?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2021 47:06


    In 1996, Helen Lee called the trend of 2nd-generation Korean Americans leaving their ethnic churches a "silent exodus". This week, she joins us to discuss how many Asian Americans and their ethnic churches continue to wrestle with cultural, theological, and social tensions. (Ed. note: This podcast was prerecorded on 1/8/21)

    5x08 - Native Hawaiians: Independence and Christianity

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2021 40:41


    In 1893, a group of White Americans forcibly overthrew the Kingdom of Hawaii. Today, the Hawaii Independence movement continues to resist US colonial occupation. Leon Siu, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Ke Aupuni O Hawaii (the Hawaiian Kingdom) and Director of Christian Voice of Hawaii joins Centering to speak on faith and freedom in Hawaii.

    5x07 - The History and Future of South Asian American Christianity

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2021 41:20


    South Asian Americans have a storied history of Christian faith: Apostle Thomas brought the gospel to the southwestern coast of India in AD 52, and the Mar Thoma church continues as a source of faith and tradition for many diasporic Indian communities. This week, Sam George, Catalyst of the Lausanne Movement and Director of Global Diaspora Institute at Wheaton College BGC, joins Jane and Tim to talk about the ongoing experiences of South Asian American Christians.

    5x06 - The History of Filipino American Christianity

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 47:48


    Since the 90s, Filipino Americans have been the 2nd largest Asian American population - but are often overlooked in the "Asian American" conversation. This week, Asian American scholar Dr. Melissa Borja joins Jane and Tim to speak on the distinctive history and religious life of Filipino Americans.

    5x05 - Becoming Refugee American: The Vietnamese Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2021 41:56


    Many Vietnamese Americans did not make a choice to come to the US - they were forced to leave their country by US imperialism and its widescale displacement, destruction, and death. Dr. Phuong Nguyen joins Tim and Jane this week to speak about the experiences, identity, and faith of the Vietnamese community.

    5x04 - The Asian American Feminist Trailblazer (Mabel Ping-Hua Lee)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2021 38:44


    100 years ago, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee rode a horse through the streets of New York, fighting for women's right to vote. She was also a Christian leader who bought a Chinatown church and fought against racism and sexism in her denomination. Professor Grace May joins Tim and Jane to share about the life of this incredible Asian American Christian leader.

    5x03 - From Concentration Camps to Civil Rights (Roy Sano)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2021 43:57


    Bishop Roy Sano was incarcerated during World War II, led the fight for a distinct Asian American voice in the United Methodist Church, and directed the groundbreaking work of PACTS, the Pacific and Asian American Center for Theologies and Strategies. This week, he joins Tim and Jane to share his lived insights on Asian American Christian history.

    5x02 - Is There Room for Us in Racial Justice?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2021 36:08


    Activist Yuri Kochiyama held Malcolm X as he died. She was a Sunday School teacher, American concentration camp survivor, and activist leader. Ethicist Dr. Grace Kao joins Jane and Tim this week to share how Yuri's Christian upbringing grounded her organizing, and can be a model for Asian American Christians engaging in racial justice.

    5x01 - Why Care About Asian American Christian History?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2021 40:04


    We're back! This season, historians Dr. Tim Tseng and Professor Jane Hong guide us through our Asian American Christian history. This first episode, they start by answering the question: why should anyone - Asian Americans and/or Christians - care about such a specific field?

    Minari: Filmmaking, Identity, and Faith.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2021 80:40


    Minari, from director Lee Isaac Chung and A24 Films, is a haunting and rich sketch of a Korean American family in 1980s Arkansas. It won the US Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at 2020 Sundance. After a screening of the film co-hosted by Fuller Seminary's Reel Spirituality and Asian American Center, Eugene Suen interviewed Lee Isaac Chung and Harry Yoon, the film's editor, on questions of identity, culture, faith, and filmmaking.

    4x08 - The Language of Asian American Christianity

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2020 34:00


    In the final episode of their season, Der and Melba are joined by Hmong American pastor Second Yang to discuss the surprising and overlooked ways that language can have an impact on our faith, fellowship, and worshipping communities

    4x07 - Christian Community for Asian American Men

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2020 29:17


    Der and Melba listen and respond to diverse Asian American men's voices, describing their experiences of community. What do they look for, find, and lack in their communities, and how can churches and Christian communities do a better job of caring for them?

    4x06 - Ancestral Religion & Christian Faith

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2020 29:58


    Dr. Daniel D. Lee of Fuller Seminary joins us this week to speak about ancestral religion, Christian faith, and syncretism: how can Asian American Christian communities relate to ancestral spirituality in a healthy and Gospel-centered way?

    4x05 - Dealing with Internalized Racism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2020 29:36


    On this episode of Centering, Caroline Lancaster (Associate Director for Multiethnic Initiatives, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) joins Der and Melba to examine acculturation and internalized racism as it relates to belonging to a Christian community.

    4x04 - Community for Asian American Women

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2020 28:13


    Today on Centering, Der and Melba speak with multiethnic ministry expert Kathy Moua (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) about the ways that Christian communities can specifically care for Asian American women.

    4x03 - Immigrant Churches & Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2020 29:08


    In this episode, minister Larry Varghese joins Der and Melba to talk about the joys and challenges of building community in his Indian American Mar Thoma congregation. Centering is produced by Jason Chu, engineered by Alexander Catedral, with music by Mark Redito.

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