While I wish I could have heard the messages from David Gibbons, Peter Cha and Ken Fong from this past weekend’s San Diego Asian American Leadership Conference (by all accounts, they delivered fantastic messages), my responsibilities there precluded my ability to sit in on the main sessions there. While I didn’t have an official title, I think Childcare Second Assistant Volunteer would pretty much summarize my role.
Much love to James, Dora and Steve for putting in so much hard work & prayerful effort into this amazing conference. When my wife and I came on board to help out in whatever ways we could, we realized that one of the most important things we could offer would be childcare — thus freeing the post-college family set to attend. It was really great to hear during a dinner chat with Joon Han that, for some people there, SDAALC was the first conference they had attended in years — specifically because childcare was available. My wife did a wonderful job preparing a great kids’ program with limited resources, and we had some really wonderful volunteers help out. I was there to provide box-moving and audio/visual tech support (and to hold multiple crying infants simultaneously).
I recorded my seminar, Asian American Identity + Postmodern Culture, on my little MP3 player. If I figure out how to upload it (and if it seems worthwhile), then maybe I will get around to posting it here. I was humbled that anyone showed up at all, and I sincerely hope that it was beneficial in some way for those who were there.
Another SDAALC note: it was great to see that True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In, by James Choung, was not only available but was sold out by the end of the conference. Check out The Big Story and The Big Story, Part 2 videos James made based on ideas from this book — they are great resources for postmoderns who struggle with sharing their faith in Jesus in a concise, compelling way with others. These short clips (each one is only about three minutes) are also powerful for those of us who were raised in the church believing in the Western, individualistic, consumer-mindset, fire-insurance Jesus who died just for me (and that’s about it) instead of the Christ whose life, death and resurrection make the story of redemption, restoration, healing and rescue possible — in our individual lives, our relationships, families, communities and for the nations and the world.
headsparks* 
Daniel, appreciate your servant’s heart here by providing childcare. I hope they at the very least gave you comp copies of the main session CDs. :) I still wish I coulda found the conservative Reformed person who was at the conference, and connected him to your workshop – he so very much wanted to learn more about postmodern culture, the very topic of your seminar! :)
On a tech note, I use podshow.com to post my MP3s now – they allow you to link directly to the MP3, and the hosting is free.
DJ — It was great to spend some time with you this weekend, especially before your super-busy travel season begins! I know the pastors and others at your workshop benefited greatly from your wisdom and experience.
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Thanks for the podshow info — if it’s good enough for you and the Podfather himself, then I’ll definitely check it out :)
Hey Daniel — I didn’t know that you missed the talks! We’ll definitely get you CD’s (if we don’t end up posting the talks online — we sold out on those too!) Thank you for your service to the conference, man!
James — That would be fantastic!
sooner or later I’m gonna get myself out of the sticks and down to your neck of the woods for one of these conferences. I think Eugene Cho was there… I’m still small-fries, from small town but.. hope to make it sooner or later.
Wayne — No way, man! You’re the one who’s out there living it. I think you should be one of the people out here teaching and leading at these conferences.
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By the way, I *love* your church’s name — as my wife and I are thinking about our community here, the Missio Dei has been foundational for us as well. I’m sure I’ll end up sharing much more about this in the future, but just wanted to lend my support to your church community.