Comments on: When all roads seem to lead to the same place, but… http://www.daveingland.com/2008/11/13/when-all-roads-seem-to-lead-to-the-same-place-but/ Commentary and discussion on the missional church, faith, culture, media and more... Sat, 29 Oct 2011 02:53:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Can Acts 2 be lived out in a second-gen Asian-American church? | daveingland.com http://www.daveingland.com/2008/11/13/when-all-roads-seem-to-lead-to-the-same-place-but/comment-page-1/#comment-303 Can Acts 2 be lived out in a second-gen Asian-American church? | daveingland.com Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:13:24 +0000 http://www.daveingland.com/?p=298#comment-303 [...] posted previously about some thoughts on Asian-American churches here, here and here. However, after reading this post from Francis Chan, pastor of the multi-cultural [...] [...] posted previously about some thoughts on Asian-American churches here, here and here. However, after reading this post from Francis Chan, pastor of the multi-cultural [...]

]]> By: daveingland http://www.daveingland.com/2008/11/13/when-all-roads-seem-to-lead-to-the-same-place-but/comment-page-1/#comment-163 daveingland Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:13:24 +0000 http://www.daveingland.com/?p=298#comment-163 Pastor Tom, thanks for your insight! I am definitely the opposite of you in that I try to see things from a future perspective, but I agree that I feel as if I got ahead of myself. Therefore, I'm looking forward to working on a day-by-day basis and it gives me much more peace and takes away so much pressure. Your comment about Asian-American ministry being anything but monolithic is something I am trying to grab a hold of and see if I have a role in that. I've always considered Asian-American churches to be ethnocentric, yet I am getting a lot of advice to the contrary. I saw your tweets with Greg Atkinson so anything I can lend to that conversation hit me up. As for connecting on church planting, man I'd definitely appreciate that opportunity. Let me know a good time and I'll send you my number or however is easier for you. Thanks again! Pastor Tom, thanks for your insight! I am definitely the opposite of you in that I try to see things from a future perspective, but I agree that I feel as if I got ahead of myself. Therefore, I’m looking forward to working on a day-by-day basis and it gives me much more peace and takes away so much pressure.

Your comment about Asian-American ministry being anything but monolithic is something I am trying to grab a hold of and see if I have a role in that. I’ve always considered Asian-American churches to be ethnocentric, yet I am getting a lot of advice to the contrary.

I saw your tweets with Greg Atkinson so anything I can lend to that conversation hit me up. As for connecting on church planting, man I’d definitely appreciate that opportunity. Let me know a good time and I’ll send you my number or however is easier for you. Thanks again!

]]> By: LT http://www.daveingland.com/2008/11/13/when-all-roads-seem-to-lead-to-the-same-place-but/comment-page-1/#comment-162 LT Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:14:23 +0000 http://www.daveingland.com/?p=298#comment-162 Hey Brother, there must be some bug going around. Church planting is certainly not for the weak of heart. As pastors what we do if we really do what we should be doing is absolutely crazy. I have my struggles too being a pastor in a Chinese church. Your first two sentences that describe how you feel are words that would describe me as well. I'm out of my element. I admit I believe I have it better in the setup I have compared to others places I could be. I'm in that crucial third year. I want to be in this for the long haul but I do wonder the what ifs. The planter plants then moves to repeat the process over again whether it is deemed successful or not. On another note, I do think Asian American ministry is multi-cultural ministry. We know that Asian American is anything but monolithic. My church has three congregations with different dialects and generations under one roof. We're situated in Chinatown with rapidly changing demographics. My congregation continues to grow diverse generationally and in ethnicity. It's quite the challenge. I think sometimes our dreams and visions get ahead of us. We have to keep at it day by day. I'm having some discussion with Greg Atkinson about this, thinking about what it means to be the church. We should connect and talk. So much gets lost in a comment but I'm thankful for the invitation to dialogue. Hey Brother, there must be some bug going around.
Church planting is certainly not for the weak of heart. As pastors what we do if we really do what we should be doing is absolutely crazy.
I have my struggles too being a pastor in a Chinese church. Your first two sentences that describe how you feel are words that would describe me as well. I’m out of my element. I admit I believe I have it better in the setup I have compared to others places I could be. I’m in that crucial third year. I want to be in this for the long haul but I do wonder the what ifs. The planter plants then moves to repeat the process over again whether it is deemed successful or not.
On another note, I do think Asian American ministry is multi-cultural ministry. We know that Asian American is anything but monolithic. My church has three congregations with different dialects and generations under one roof. We’re situated in Chinatown with rapidly changing demographics. My congregation continues to grow diverse generationally and in ethnicity. It’s quite the challenge. I think sometimes our dreams and visions get ahead of us. We have to keep at it day by day.
I’m having some discussion with Greg Atkinson about this, thinking about what it means to be the church. We should connect and talk. So much gets lost in a comment but I’m thankful for the invitation to dialogue.

]]> By: daveingland http://www.daveingland.com/2008/11/13/when-all-roads-seem-to-lead-to-the-same-place-but/comment-page-1/#comment-161 daveingland Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:57:11 +0000 http://www.daveingland.com/?p=298#comment-161 DJ, thanks for your heartfelt comments and openness! I'm definitely finding out that having someone more involved in where I'm at to help me stay on track is probably a good thing. One of the disadvantages of not being a part of a church planting network. As you are so interconnected with Asian-American ministries and ministers I am hopeful that there are some people you know that I may be able to bounce some things off and see if they can help shed any light on some of my thoughts and my situation. I'll definitely try to connect by phone, and thank you again so much! DJ, thanks for your heartfelt comments and openness! I’m definitely finding out that having someone more involved in where I’m at to help me stay on track is probably a good thing. One of the disadvantages of not being a part of a church planting network. As you are so interconnected with Asian-American ministries and ministers I am hopeful that there are some people you know that I may be able to bounce some things off and see if they can help shed any light on some of my thoughts and my situation. I’ll definitely try to connect by phone, and thank you again so much!

]]> By: djchuang http://www.daveingland.com/2008/11/13/when-all-roads-seem-to-lead-to-the-same-place-but/comment-page-1/#comment-160 djchuang Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:25:33 +0000 http://www.daveingland.com/?p=298#comment-160 Dave, I'm very sympathetic to your situation. It has never been easy for me to discern the direction God is leading me towards. During a critical decision making time, I find mixed messages in the circumstances. I find advice from different people that span the spectrum. I get some sense that God only shows me one step at a time, and I'm not able to discern a 5-year or life-long plan for me. So it's a life of walking by faith, so to speak. While I don't know exactly what it is to be at the helm of a church plant, I've heard enough stories about the big challenges of being a church planter. What's been helpful in my life is to have someone journey along side of me, preferably someone older, and knows my heart as well as my potential. Feel free to give me a call during the day at 949-870-5726 and we can talk live. Dave, I’m very sympathetic to your situation. It has never been easy for me to discern the direction God is leading me towards. During a critical decision making time, I find mixed messages in the circumstances. I find advice from different people that span the spectrum. I get some sense that God only shows me one step at a time, and I’m not able to discern a 5-year or life-long plan for me. So it’s a life of walking by faith, so to speak.

While I don’t know exactly what it is to be at the helm of a church plant, I’ve heard enough stories about the big challenges of being a church planter.

What’s been helpful in my life is to have someone journey along side of me, preferably someone older, and knows my heart as well as my potential.

Feel free to give me a call during the day at 949-870-5726 and we can talk live.

]]> By: daveingland http://www.daveingland.com/2008/11/13/when-all-roads-seem-to-lead-to-the-same-place-but/comment-page-1/#comment-158 daveingland Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:22:32 +0000 http://www.daveingland.com/?p=298#comment-158 Wayne, sorry things are changing on you, but glad that you are at peace! I'm not at the refreshing stage yet, but I am at peace with what happens for the first time ever. I used to think church planting was my path of faith and anything less was falling short. Now, if it never happens I'm totally okay with it. However, I'm still sensing the call, just trying to figure out timing and how to do this as a married couple and not a single visionary. That's the struggle. Definitely, we'll connect personally when you can. Keep in touch! Wayne, sorry things are changing on you, but glad that you are at peace! I’m not at the refreshing stage yet, but I am at peace with what happens for the first time ever. I used to think church planting was my path of faith and anything less was falling short. Now, if it never happens I’m totally okay with it. However, I’m still sensing the call, just trying to figure out timing and how to do this as a married couple and not a single visionary. That’s the struggle.

Definitely, we’ll connect personally when you can. Keep in touch!

]]> By: Wayne Park http://www.daveingland.com/2008/11/13/when-all-roads-seem-to-lead-to-the-same-place-but/comment-page-1/#comment-157 Wayne Park Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:48:38 +0000 http://www.daveingland.com/?p=298#comment-157 dave dave dave I know this journey first hand and we're going thru the same thing. maybe people i know don't visit this blog so i can make the unofficial announcement that we are closing the c.p. chapter ourselves to finish up our mdiv and move back home. funny thing is, it's not so painful, but refreshing. we oughtta hook up. dave dave dave
I know this journey first hand and we’re going thru the same thing. maybe people i know don’t visit this blog so i can make the unofficial announcement that we are closing the c.p. chapter ourselves to finish up our mdiv and move back home. funny thing is, it’s not so painful, but refreshing. we oughtta hook up.

]]> By: daveingland http://www.daveingland.com/2008/11/13/when-all-roads-seem-to-lead-to-the-same-place-but/comment-page-1/#comment-156 daveingland Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:04:30 +0000 http://www.daveingland.com/?p=298#comment-156 Steve, thank you so much friend! Everytime we connect I see Jesus' love for me through your actions. Your prayers are strong and always appreciated! Steve, thank you so much friend! Everytime we connect I see Jesus’ love for me through your actions. Your prayers are strong and always appreciated!

]]> By: steveharrison http://www.daveingland.com/2008/11/13/when-all-roads-seem-to-lead-to-the-same-place-but/comment-page-1/#comment-155 steveharrison Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:02:50 +0000 http://www.daveingland.com/?p=298#comment-155 Hi Dave...saw your tweet...jumped over here and saw your heart...praying for you and your family as you seek His direction... Hi Dave…saw your tweet…jumped over here and saw your heart…praying for you and your family as you seek His direction…

]]> By: daveingland http://www.daveingland.com/2008/11/13/when-all-roads-seem-to-lead-to-the-same-place-but/comment-page-1/#comment-151 daveingland Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:32:58 +0000 http://www.daveingland.com/?p=298#comment-151 Richie, I remember we dialogued about this a bit via email. Any insight you can offer that would help add clarity or direction to my journey would be most-appreciated! Thanks for being my friend...I appreciate you very much! Richie, I remember we dialogued about this a bit via email. Any insight you can offer that would help add clarity or direction to my journey would be most-appreciated! Thanks for being my friend…I appreciate you very much!

]]>