Archive for Events
February 26, 2008 at 4:12 pm
· Filed under Events, Family, India, Leadership, News, Youth, church ·Tagged faith affliation, religion, USA
A new study is out on changing religious affliation in USA. It’s from Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. It says that - U.S. Roman Catholics and Protestants are leaving the churches of their childhood and either choosing other faiths or no religion at all. Read the report in Chicago Tribune, TIME, and New York Times. See also the article in Christianity Today.
According to the findings, 28 percent, of American adults said they have left the faith in which they were raised. About 16 percent of Americans say they are not members of any religious group, making the “unaffiliated” group the fourth largest religious tradition in the United States. The Catholic Church has lost more members than any other religious group.
Hinduism exhibits the highest overall retention rate with 84 percent of adults who were raised as Hindus saying they were still Hindu. Ninety percent of Hindus marry within their own faith, and eight-in-ten Hindus who were raised Hindu remain so as adults. Eight in 10 Hindus are foreign-born may help explain the high retention rates. Buddhists struggle hardest to pass the faith from one generation to the next.
Other interesting findings - Mormons and Muslims are the groups with the largest families; more than one in five Mormon adults and 15 percent of Muslim adults in the U.S. have three or more children living at home. Black Americans are the most likely to report a formal religious affiliation.
There has been lots of talk of church drop outs lately. This study continues to proves some rumbling in the ground. Mega chruch and many immigrant church leaders are taking note. Denominational head are reevaluating their church planting strategy and approaches toward the new generations. It is so scary and exciting to live in such changing times!
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September 18, 2007 at 2:46 pm
· Filed under Events, Leadership, Ministries, Youth, church
Just got back home yesterday after the historic Connext conference - a leadership gathering of emering South Asian Christians. It was an amazing conference indeed - so many leaders, their vision and passion, diversity of ministries, stories etc. I am deeply humbled to see what God is doing with the next generation of Asian Indians all across the US & Canada.
Over two and half day we had some 150 leaders, 25 seminars, 21 exhibits, 5 worship sessions, 5 meals, 4 testimonies, 3 plenary talks, 3 musical concerts and 2 bible studies. There were lots of fellowship time, meal time discussions, networking and simply hanging out together. So many new friendship have been forged between musicians, seminary students, youth workers, counselors, church planters, pastors and leaders across denominational affliations and languages groups.
Everyone sensed God is doing a new thing in our time. There were much openness to collaborate and learn from each other. There is lots of excitement among next generation leaders. They show exceptional commitment to reach and disciple their generation. The NY organizing team showed remarkable commitment to voluneerism, teamwork, servanthood, excellance and stewardship.
If you were not able to make it, you have really missed something. But the conference proceedings will be uploaded soon on connext website. Pls visit - www.ConnextOnline.com Most of the talks and seminars will also be published as a book later next year. And watch out for future connext conferences.
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August 24, 2007 at 2:52 pm
· Filed under Events, Family, Youth
Virginia Tech opened for another year of school, but school will never be the same after shootings four months ago. I know students who had applied to VT and came under pressure from parents to go elsewhere. Asian American families do not feel comfortable to send their children to VT, not because of the fear of another shooting (it could happen in any campus, for that matter) but the backlash and stereotyping their children have to endure.
I was shocked to hear the events at Virginia Tech few months ago. It was the worst school shooting in the history of US that killed 33 people at the college by a Korean American student. I have known many students who graduated from there and others who are involved with student ministry in the campus. See these reports - Shame on the family, trying to figure out what went on inside killer’s mind etc
Korean society puts a lot of insistence on doing well academically and economically. That contributes to a lot of pressure on younger Korean-Americans. The same can be said of other Asian Americans and Indian Americans in particularly. A study found suicide was the second leading cause of death among young Asian-Americans between 15 and 24, more than the national average. Asian-American girls between 15 and 24 have the highest rates of depressive symptoms and suicide rates among all racial groups in the US.
Living upto model minority myth creates tremendous inner pressure to perform. And those who do not make it or live upto those expectations, resort other avenues to take the pressures off. But those who cannot take the pressure off thro relief valve, pressure keeps building and eventually results in blowing up!
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April 23, 2007 at 2:18 pm
· Filed under Events, India, Leadership, Youth
The prestigious magazine Fortune has named Sunil Mittal as Asia’s Businessman of the Year. He heads Bharti Airtel - India’s leader in mobile phone services and the fastest growing wireless market in the world.
In the lead article in its latest issue, Fortune said after succeeding in the cell phone market, Mittal is now forging his “most audacious” foreign partnership yet. A partnership with global giant Wal Mart to develop retail market all over India.
India has the unique distinction for the highest pay hike in the world. No wonder people are heading to India by planeloads. Money seems to be trickling down to the middle class finally and enterpreuner middle class is turning inot millionaires. But will it change the poor masses of India? In spite of unprecendented business boom, millions of Indians are yet to see a computer or own a cell phone or send an email.
Are the business focused on the lowest rung of the pyramid or preoccupied with the middle class? Who will stand in the gap, speak for the voiceless millions in India? Will business be just or exploit growing aspirations or drive further wedge between classes?
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December 27, 2006 at 3:44 pm
· Filed under Events, Ministries
I am just about to leave for Urbana Missions conference. Driving from Chicago to St. Louis. I have fond memories of past urbana - about the worship, message, standing at a India Mission booth, sharing about mission with students and everything else that goes on at such large conferences.
This is my third urbana and the Coconut book is being released there. I will be at the South Asian Lounge during the breaks. Dr. T.V. Thomas, past urbana main speaker and who wrote the foreword for the Coconut Book will also be there. If any of you are going to be there, pls come and see us.
Wish you all a blessed new year!
More blogging next year!!!
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December 13, 2006 at 3:10 pm
· Filed under Events, India, News, Youth
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December 11, 2006 at 4:07 pm
· Filed under Culture, Events, Leadership, Ministries, Resources, Youth, church
Here is a must read book for all who labor with the next generation. Ron Luce’s Battle Cry for a Generation. I was moved by his urgency on the crisis of the next generaion. He warns that if do not take this issue on war footing (I liked the battle field lingo even in the title), we risk loosing a generation. Next 5-7 years are absoultely crucial. I hope churches leaders will realize the extend of the crisis.
Every day our culture bombards teens with a wide array of messages that target their hearts and ultimately their souls. It may seem hopeless in the face of the tricks the enemy uses to attain destruction, but this is a winnable war. The key is to act now. There is no time for hesitation. The enemy has been gaining ground, and large numbers of warriors are needed to join the battle for this next generation.
Purpose of the book is to:
* Present the need that exists for youth to be rescued
* Expose key weapons used by the enemy
* Offer a plan of action for battling the culture
* Identify ways individuals can play a role in the lives of teens
Check out their web resurce or conference. - www.battlecry.com
Do you have a Battle Plan for the next generation?
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December 2, 2006 at 11:02 pm
· Filed under Events, India, Leadership, News
Continuing on the reversal trend, the latest is an Indian auto maker Mahindra & Mahindra, one of the leading SUV & pick up maker in India, plan to expand its business to the US market. A time when US automakers are struggling and Japanese guys are steadily growing its market share and automakers from around the world eyeing for the fast growing car market in India, this is an interesting development.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/17/business/worldbusiness/17auto.html?_r=2&ref=business&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
After knowledge based industries (software development, call center and financial services), now the Indian manufacturing sector is going after the American dollars. Will the Indians in US show its solidarity for Indian brands as they have done with everything Indians? Is the Indian diaspora a bridge to global dominance of Indians? Has India Inc. come of age in the world market?
What would all these means to children of the immigrant Indians? Can we learn something about being young and reaching them from new generation youth workers in India? Who will bridge the learning between the next generation in India and those around the world?
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November 21, 2006 at 3:28 pm
· Filed under Events, Leadership, Youth, church
Last weekend, I visited Detroit. On sunday, I spoke at couple of churches and shared at couple of home fellowships. Also got to catch up with some friends in that city.
Over summer, I was invited to come there and share about the Coconut Book. But somehow due to a hectic book tour, I could not include Detroit into my travel plans. But I was glad I finally made it there last week. Some had already read the book and many are in the process. I am very encouraged by their feedbacks on their reading.
I am looking forward to being at Urbana Student Missions conference in December. I am excited about sharing about Ministry to the Americanized Asian Indians there with Dr. T.V. Thomas (who was the main speaker few years ago and leads the Asian Indian track at this event). I am always awed at how God shows up at this event and how it has helped so many young people I know to get involved with missions. Praying for it and getting ready for it.
Happy thanksgiving! Count your blessings, weigh them ton by ton!
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