Category: Missional Living
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The Death Of John Allen Chau: Rough Rider Or Reject?
I’ve been involved in cross-cultural mission work for almost 20 years and have lived overseas for the last 11. When I first heard about an American missionary dying on a remote island at the hands of the tribe he was trying to reach, I was immediately confused and critical. I thought this was another classic…
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The Millenial Minority Missionary
These two words, “Millennial” and “Missionary”, mostly contradict one another. When contradictory words are put together, it forms a figure of speech called an oxymoron, kinda like “jumbo shrimp” and “disgustingly delicious” ….it don’t make a whole lotta sense. Sorry to disappoint you, the millennial missionary doesn’t exist, at least, not in the way we…
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14 Crucial Characteristics of Church Movement Leaders: Working Among Unreached Peoples
With the work I do, I often ask (and get asked) about Unreached People Groups (UPG’s) and how to see indigenous church movements started among them. This conversation always goes back to leadership and why movements (an act of God by the way) can’t happen without them. I have the privilege to labor among UPG’s…
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The Soulful Leader
A lot has been said about leading well, much less has been said about finishing well. Leaders are usually recognized when they’re on top of the world; when there’s over a million in the bank or over a million followers on social media. Leaders are known when thousands are flowing into their churches or when…
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Things I Wish I’d Known: Reflections on 10 Years of Overseas Cross-Cultural Ministry
It’s a new year and naturally, it’s time for me to reflect and look back on all the good things God has done. Since the moment I came to faith as a teenager, I’ve been involved in cross-cultural ministry, leadership, and church planting – that was over 20 years ago! It’s only the last 10…
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How to Love White Evangelicals
Racial and cultural tension in the western church is at an all-time high. With all sides speaking into the issue without, it seems, a way forward. Minority voices in the church are beginning to rise above the supremacy of white evangelicalism, which historically has been in a place of power, prestige, and privilege. Love, respect,…
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Cultural Hijacking: Why You Can Longer Be Yourself
I love being Asian-American. I love devoting my life to cross-cultural work cause I believe God is passionate about all ethnic groups and cultures. I love hip-hop with heart, soul, and purpose. I love being from the streets. I love being poor. I love being a family on mission. I love America and I love…
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Hunger (Spoken Word)
Spoken Word is meant to be SPOKEN. Reading it silently doesn’t do it justice. You can’t feel the words, hear the rhymes, listen to the inflections and see the emotions. I’ve revised and now reposting this piece from a while back. I didn’t write this according to any type of poetic rules (cause I don’t…
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10 Reasons Why Mission Matters in a Post Missional World
Last week I was with persecuted Christians. A young mother was taken away in handcuffs and placed in leg shackles and put in a dingy wooden village jail, treated like a common criminal. Her only crime…refusing to sign a paper that would effectively deny her faith in Jesus. This week I’m with privileged Christians. After…
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Who You Date, What They Believe, And Why It Matters
I’m an urban jungle ghetto Asian dude and not an expert in relationships, marriage or dating. I grew up watching my Dad watch porn on those old-school VHS tapes. I’ve seen grown Asian men have affairs with minor wives like it was nothing. I’ve been around young girls who cake their faces with makeup and…
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The Tower of Babel Syndrome: Our Fame Vs. God’s Fame
Some of us will do whatever it takes to get famous. Let’s be real, we all want to be known for something, even I do. 50 Cent’s “Get Rich Or Die Tryin” is not just a thug rapper mantra, it’s an attractive philosophy in a sexy bright red dress pulling on the deepest recesses of…
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6 Movement Principles from Original Gangstas
On the streets of many inner cities in America, Original Gangsta’s (OG’s) are people of respect. OG’s are often founders and pioneers of street or prison gangs. They are natural leaders filled with vision and are willing to take risks. They have put in the hard work of paving the way for others to follow. They…
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Christmas and Religion is for Suckas
If you grew up in the USA as a refugee or immigrant from another country then you probably, like me, got duped into thinking Santa was going to bring you presents. Being born on Christmas Day I thought I had it made. But when the gifts never came I realized the truth, that Santa couldn’t…
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3 Reasons Why God Doesn’t Need Pioneers in the U.S.A.
I love my America. But not in the xenophobic, nationalistic, make America great kinda way. I love it because Asian refugees like my parents are free to pursue hope. Mom and Dad risked their lives to escape a Southeast Asian country bombed to hell by war so that I could have opportunities. Through that journey…
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Denying Jesus With Pen & Phone
DENYING JESUS WITH A PEN Last week my friends were sitting inside a village office in a third world communist country. Local leaders and police with stoic faces sat around the room, one held an AK-47. On a table in front of my friends was a piece of paper and a pen. All they had…
The Asian Rough Rider 