Covenant News

Article Features Asian-American Covenant Churches

SAN JOSE, CA (April 5, 2005) - Three California Evangelical Covenant Church congregations were featured recently in the San Jose Mercury Newsas it focused on the rapid growth of Asian-American churches in the United States.

The churches mentioned are New Hope Covenant Church of Oakland and NewSong Covenant Church of Irvine and Los Angeles. The Great Exchange Covenant Church of San Jose, which was planted with the help of New Song, was mentioned most prominently in the main story and featured in a related article. Three pictures of church members were included with the articles.

The articles noted that Asian-American churches focus on issues of social justice and community development in addition to traditional evangelism. It notes the work of New Hope in organizing area low-income renters in their neighborhood to win a $1 million judgment in a dispute with a landlord.

The article quotes Dave Gibbons, pastor of NewSong as saying, "At the very heart of Christianity is compassion and justice and seeing the most marginalized in the community and meeting their needs." He adds, "JAC: Justice, advocacy and compassion. These are the core values of the historic church. I tell people we're just going back to our roots."

"I'm really excited about the articles," says Greg Yee, director of leadership and congregational development in the Pacific Southwest Conference. "They really confirmed something that was coming together around the Midwinter, realizing a common thread that was being weaved through our Asian-American pastors and churches around social justice issues."

David Jeung, a member of New Hope and an associate professor of sociology at San Francisco State University, is quoted as saying, "It doesn't seem like political issues will galvanize Asian-American evangelicals as much as social concerns, such as urban poverty or racism."

The article mentions how the churches have been able to transcend historically held animosities among Asian groups. People sometimes have a mistaken tendency to view Asian Americans as a monolithic group, says Yee. Many of the older Asian Americans struggle with animosity towards those of different countries because of long histories of conflict among nations. Second-generation Asian Americans – those that are born of immigrant parents – are changing the pattern, Yee says.

"I'm hearing quotes like people saying that you guys are leading the way, you're the best thing happening for Asian American pastors because you focus on the whole of the Gospel, Yee says. "I'm personally excited that this article confirms all this for me."  

To read the Mercury News article, visit Asian American Ministry. Visitors to the Mercury Newswebsite are asked to register (free) before viewing online articles.  

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