Asian American Christianity: A Brief Introduction

The State of the Asian American Christianity:A Brief IntroductionSam George, PhDExecutive DirectorParivar InternationalPersonal JourneyBritish Asian vs Asian AmericanThe need to be more inclusive and representative15/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC1. Fastest Growing Group in US

19 Million in 2012 and projected to become over 40 Million by 2050That is about 5% of the US population25/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCAsians overtake HispanicsPew: 2013

In the past, Asian Americans were low-skilled, low-wage laborers crowded into ethnic enclaves and targets of official discrimination. Today they are the most likely of any major racial or ethnic group in America to live in mixed neighborhoods and to marry across racial lines.35/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC

American Community Survey 201345/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCAsian American Dispersion

Where do AAs live55/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC2. More Diverse than you thinkContinental grouping is problematicDifferent in languages, cultures, nationalities, immigration, religion, economic, values etc.Over 40 ethnicities/100 languagesBroad 4 sub groups (E/SE/S/PI)US Census only mentions 1183% belong to 6 major ethnicitiesE.g. Bhutanese-Nepali refugees

Asia comprise of some nations with over 34 ethnicities. It can be broadly divided into 3 sub groups. East Asians, Southeast Asians & South Asians.

There are 11 Asian groups are mentioned in the U.S. Census: Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Hmong, Laotian, Thai, Pakistani, and Cambodian.

Others include Taiwanese, Bangladeshi, Burmese, Indonesian, Nepalese, Sri Lankan, Malaysian, Bhutanese, Mongolian, Okinawan, Tibetan, Mien, Singaporean, Tamil.

6 major ethnic groups, making 83% of Asian Americans are: Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese.

65/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCAsian American Identity

How do AA see themselves?75/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC3. Most educated & highest incomeHighest college graduates and PhDsMedian Household income ($66K in 2012)Goes for high paying professional jobsElite from Asia migrateDual income householdsValues successful marriageFocus on next generationPerpetuates model minority myth

median annual household income of $66,000 when Americans as whole make $49,000.

Tiger parentingAmy Chuas book on Asian parenting

Tiger Mom and Panda Dads85/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCAAs lead in Education & Income

95/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC

105/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCParental Pressures

Pew Global: 2006 Asian countries are known for rigorous educational systems that place heavy pressure on students to perform well on high-stakes university entrance exams and in international academic competitions115/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC

Life Goals: AA vs. General PublicPew: 2012125/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCOutmarriage among AAs

Pew: 2012Japanese marry out most and Indians the least.135/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCVisas for highly skilled workers

Pew: 2012Tech boom and Indian dilemma145/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC4. Generations Matter1st /1.5 /0.5 /2nd /3rd Generations

Pew: 2013155/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC5. Issues facing AA CommunityGrowing MarginalizationCaught in race violenceAA kids are targeted in collegesFamily violence & breakdownRising poverty levelsAlarming rate of suicidesShame hides mental illnessEducation levels declineUninsured, unemployed, homeless

High school dropoutssinglehood165/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCJuvenile DelinquencyImmigration ReformAsian American stands for Immigration Reform6% of US population, but 40% of current backlog (4.2 Million)84% of employer based visa backlogFamily category important to AsiansOverstay is commonUndocumented Asians in the US

6. Asian Faith AffiliationAsia land of religionsImmigrants more religious in the USAsian religions are flourishing, but only a generation deepde-Europeanizing of American Christianity

Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Confucius, Jainism and others In fact, Christianity is an Asian faith and so is Judaism and Islam.

Temples, Mosques and Gurudwaras are dotting the landscape of America.

The new immigrants are not dechristianizing American society, but are de-Europeanizing of Ameican Christianity.Stephen Warner 2004. (Professor of Sociology of Religion in UIC)195/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC

Pew: 2013The majority of new Americans are either Christians or become Christians when they arrive.

205/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC

Pew: 2013215/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC

Pew: 2013225/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC

Pew: 2013235/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCConversion among AAs

Pew: 2012245/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC7. Asian American Christians42% AAs self-identify as Christian (22% Protestant & 19% Catholic)Growth of Christianity in Asia1/3 AAs do not belong to religion they were raised inAA Christianity is growing even as Christianity is declining in the US

Christianity is a diasporic faith since its inception. Immigrants continues to reshape American Christianity. Diasporic faith expressions are frontiers of Christianity and stems from Christian growth in those parts of the world.

Last weeks Pew Forum came out with a report citing Christianity is declining in the US (from 2007 to 2014) a 10% drop).

But if you look at number closely, we see that white Christianity is declining, black Christianity remains the same, but Christianity is growing among Asian and Latinos.

255/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCAsian American Christians

Nov 2013265/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCAsian American Churches (Est.)#Ethnic Asian ChurchesChurches1Korean American46532Chinese American12503Indian American11004Filipino American8705Vietnamese American5506Total Asian American Churches10,000+Lausanne/EAN/L2FChinese 1200 as on 2012. There would be more.

Japanese 300Hmong 100Cambodian 100Nepali 100Thai - 50Laoian 50Burmese 50Nepali 100

275/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DC# of KA churches in the USLausanne/BGC: 2015285/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCNext Generation Pan Asian ChurchesDJ/L2F295/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCStrength of AA ChurchesDeep spirituality Family orientedHospitalityHigh church attendanceEvangelisticLinks to Church in AsiaEntrepreneurialMulti-religious societies

78% of AA evangelicals attend churches as compared to 64% white American evangelicals 305/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCTrends of AA ChristianityAsian immigration will continuePopulation growth & diversityExodus of next generation to continueMore pan Asian Churches emergeMultiethnic/multi racial congregationsMainstream Churches to recruit AA leadersAddress real social problemsIncreased global engagement

315/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCChallenges before AA ChristianityPerpetual foreignnessHigh ethnocentrism High cultural orientationIslandization of AA ChurchesFlight of the next generationPastoral leadership gapPan-Asian Christian platformsSocio-economic-political engagement

Ghetto mentality

325/29/2015Sam George, PhDAAPI Summit - Washington DCConclusionFuture of AA Christianity is brightBring our strengths to the tableFace other challenges head onNeed to integrate moreGenerational transitionDraw from centers of Christian growth in AsiaDo not hide your light Shine your light before othersglorify your Father in heaven (Matt 5:15, 16)