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Title: Losing Face & Finding Grace: Twelve Bible Studies for Asian-American By: Tom Lin Format: Paperback Vendor: InterVarsity Press Publication Date: 1997 | Dimensions: 8.25 X 5.50 (inches) Weight: 4 ounces ISBN: 0830816844 ISBN-13: 9780830816842 Stock No: WW0816844 |
Raised as one of only a handful of Asians in my Chicago suburb, I did not want to be part of the Asian culture. It did not seem relevant. Besides, I thought, "Other than skin color, we're all the same, right?"
I remember hearing comments from friends such as "I don't think of you as Asian, but just like the rest of us [white]." These were meant as compliments (and I often took them as such), but they were confusing, since I, no matter how much I might have tried to deny it, was Asian and different. Though self-confident and socially adept on the outside, in my heart I felt ashamed of my parents' culture at times and ashamed of myself for being a part of that culture.
At home my Western ideals of expressing love were not being met by the less physically and verbally expressive ideals of my parents' culture. Feeding me and checking up on my grades seemed to be all that they cared about. I felt as though I didn't belong in my parents' world or in my white friends' world. Where did I belong as an Asian-American?
Face and grace. These are the themes that weave through Tom Lin's journey (recounted above) and the lives of many Asian-American Christians. How do we escape the trap of trying to earn our salvation? How do we handle the expectations of our parents in light of God's calling in our lives? What do we do with the shame that threatens to overtake our self-image?
The inductive Bible studies in this guide explore these questions and much more. You'll find help and hope in Scripture--and you may even find yourself.
Tom Lin is the president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He previously served as vice president and director of missions and the director of the Urbana Student Mission Conference. He also spent several years in Mongolia pioneering campus student ministry with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. He is the author of Pursuing God's Call and Losing Face Finding Grace. Lin has pioneered new Asian American Christian Fellowships at Harvard and Boston University, and served as an IVCF staff trainer, fund development specialist, and missions department consultant. He has leadership experience with a number of Christian ministries, serving the Lausanne Movement as the international deputy director for North America, and serving as a board member for Missio Nexus and The Crowell Trust. He has also served as vice chairperson for the board of Wycliffe Bible Translators. A second-generation Taiwanese American, Lin has developed networks in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Brunei. He has also served as a human resources director of a Fortune 500 company and was leadership pastor at Wellspring Covenant Community Church. He and his wife Nancy live in Madison, Wisconsin, with their two daughters.
Author: Tom Lin
Located in: Mountain View, CA
Submitted: February 13, 2001
What was your motivation behind this project? I was motivated to address the similar needs and issues that Asian Americans across the country struggle with. Topics like family, success, perfectionism, etc. all strike a cord in our hearts, and God addresses all of these in the Scriptures!
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? I hope that Asian Americans will gain a deeper understanding of God's love for them, the tough discipleship issues of an Asian American, and a better grasp of what it means to follow Jesus as an Asian American.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: The guide is perfect for small group Bible studies as well as individual study, whether you're a high school student, college student, or young adult professional. Enjoy!
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