Comments on: Reflections on Asian American (Youth) Ministry: Part Two http://headsparks.com/2007/03/30/reflections-on-asian-american-youth-ministry-part-two/ //in the glow, then it fades Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:38:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Howie Snyder http://headsparks.com/2007/03/30/reflections-on-asian-american-youth-ministry-part-two/#comment-58 Thu, 10 May 2007 09:53:19 +0000 http://headsparks.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/reflections-on-asian-american-youth-ministry-part-two/#comment-58 We live in Milan, which is like 8 miles south of Ann Arbor. Not too far from Troy! Yeah, we enjoyed going to Seoul to pick up our son and learn more about the culture a little. We had good training through our adoption agency to include a connection with their ethnicity in raising the child. It helps that we have the family connection. My dad’s books are big in Korea as well – bigger than they are here in the states. He ends up traveling there a lot. My father is author, Howard A. Snyder, if you’ve heard of him.
Blessings in Christ! ~Howie Snyder

]]> By: daniel so http://headsparks.com/2007/03/30/reflections-on-asian-american-youth-ministry-part-two/#comment-23 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:58:50 +0000 http://headsparks.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/reflections-on-asian-american-youth-ministry-part-two/#comment-23 Howie – Thanks for your thoughts. The struggle for children to find their identity is difficult, in and of itself. Factor in adoption, and then cross-cultural adoption… I have known a couple of Korean people who were adopted into non-Korean families, and they struggled mightily to find their identity. In their desire to make them feel completely a part of the family, their parents inadvertently pushed aside their ethnicity (which, though certainly not the entire sum of their identity, is still an important part).

I am greatly encouraged to hear you looking into these issues for your son.

I saw from your site that you’re a Michigander :) Where on the mitten is your town located? (I’m a Troy native, myself)

]]> By: Howie Snyder http://headsparks.com/2007/03/30/reflections-on-asian-american-youth-ministry-part-two/#comment-21 Sat, 07 Apr 2007 19:04:42 +0000 http://headsparks.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/reflections-on-asian-american-youth-ministry-part-two/#comment-21 Thanks so much for sharing here. It all makes sense and has been fascinating to read. We have an adopted Korean boy, so it’s good to get some insights into issues related to Asian Americans. I have a sister-in-law who is AA as well. Plus growing up Korea-town in Chicago, I had a lot of exposure to the culture, but have never understood a lot of this. Our church used to share the building with a Korean congregation as well.
Blessings, ~Howie Snyder

]]> By: daniel so http://headsparks.com/2007/03/30/reflections-on-asian-american-youth-ministry-part-two/#comment-19 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 23:21:38 +0000 http://headsparks.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/reflections-on-asian-american-youth-ministry-part-two/#comment-19 lt – i’m glad to hear of your desire to help change structures and systems in our churches. though we certainly need youth pastors in direct ministry to students, it is just as important to send out people who can, as you said, “move up” in order to bring about transformation of the system itself.

i am always saddened by 2nd gen english ministries that repeat the same mistakes as 1st gen churches when it comes to youth & children’s ministries. despite the fact that there are far fewer language and cultural barriers, many 2nd gen folks still brush off youth ministry, shipping their kids to another department and passing off the responsibility of their kids’ spiritual formation to the “professionals.”

God bless your ministry and vision!

]]> By: LT http://headsparks.com/2007/03/30/reflections-on-asian-american-youth-ministry-part-two/#comment-18 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 04:50:55 +0000 http://headsparks.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/reflections-on-asian-american-youth-ministry-part-two/#comment-18 thank you for your insight. i very much appreciate your reflection on the issues at hand in the aa church and youth ministry in particular. i applaud you for staying in youth ministry for as long as you have which is a very rare thing. i too have stayed in it for just as long. I’ve also experienced the tensions between staying and going but alas have decided to “move up” in the world in order to change the structure. it was time. i miss working with students directly but now i can pave the way for creating that culture you speak of and surely by God’s grace move beyond that.

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