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Who are the Asian-American CRCs?
Asian-American CRCs (specific to our website) refer to Southeast Asian ethnic groups, like the Cambodians, Chinese, Filipinos, Hmong, Indonesians, Karen, Laotians, and Vietnamese. Current AAPM members consist of non-Korean pastors, with the exception of one who pastors the English ministry of a Korean church in San Jose. (Korean CRCs have their own network, Classis Hanmi, and are served by another ministry program.) There are 25 other Asian churches listed in the CRC Yearbook who are not associated with AAPM. Our hope and desire is to share with them the fruit and potentials of belonging to a peer learning group focused at pastoral excellence.
As of May 2006, these are the twelve members (with their wives) and two advisors/consultants of AAPM. Click their names to view photos, websites (highlighted church names), and email. You can also view and download our group's brochure.
| Albert Sideco (Tina) |
Jersey City Filipino CRC, NJ |
Email Albert |
| Fernando del Rosario (Vickie) |
Living Faith Fellowship, Hayward CA |
Email Fernando, Vickie |
| Gil Suh (Joyce) |
New Hope Korean CRC (English Ministry), Santa Clara, CA |
Email Gil, Joyce |
| James Lee-shan Leu (Lichin) |
Chinese CRC of Iowa City, Liberty, IA |
Email James |
| John Kim (Channary) |
Khmer CRC & Third CRC, Aurora CO |
Email John |
| Kou Vang (Myshoua) |
Hmong CRC, Sheboygan, WI |
Email Kou |
| Matthew Le (Nikie) |
Little Saigon CRC, Westminster, CA |
Email Matthew |
| Nam Kieu (Lien) |
Vietnamese CRC, San Jose, CA |
Email Nam |
| Nathan Neng Hua Vang (Chia Xiong) |
Hmong CRC, Grand Ledge, MI |
Email Nathan |
| Phohn Sinbondit (Sommai) |
Lao/Karen New Life CRC c/o Faith CRC website, New Brighton, MN |
Email Phohn |
| San Sok (Song) |
Cambodian Church c/o First CRC, St Thomas, Ontario, Canada |
Email San |
| Socheth Na (Lynn) |
Visit Cambodian Fellowship c/o Central Avenue CRC |
Email Socheth |
| Gary Teja (Jackie) |
Advisor, Home Missions |
Email Gary |
| Mike Vander Pol (Lois) |
Advisors, World Missions |
Email Mike, Lois |
Quick Facts about AAPM members:
- all of us are 1st generation Asians, a fact that is important as we think of the future of our churches
- except for four members who are in their 30s, the rest of us are in the 40s and mid-50s
- all of us are married and with the exception of one member, have at least three children each
- our current membership represent eight ethnic groups: Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Karen, Korean, Laotian, and Vietnamese
- seven members crossed rivers, jungles, and oceans in search of life and freedom; as they fled their homelands, they knew they would not make it; in the face of death, they learned to pray to a God they did not know yet; by God's amazing grace, they survived! (the reality-TV show "Survivor" is no match to what these Asians endured!)
- all seven still had to endure hard times in refugee camps before being 'processed' and sponsored by very kind and loving CRC families and churches in the U.S. and Canada
- today, twelve of us live in six U.S. states and one in Canada
- this is where we obtained our theological/pastoral education: Calvin Theological Seminary, 3; Reformed Bible College, 3; Asian Theological Seminary-Philippines, 2; Alliance Theological Seminary-NY, 1; other pastor training programs, 3.
- five of us were ordained as Ministers of the Word, seven as Ministry Associates (church planters), and one is an ordained elder and currently acting pastor
- four are founding pastors of the congregations they are presently serving while the others continued from church planters before them
- our length of service as ordained minister or ministry associate in the CRC range from 6 to more than 15 years
AAPM members belong to these eleven Classes: Central CA, Chatham, Greater Los Angeles, Hanmi, Holland, Hudson, Lake Erie, Lake Superior, Pella, Rocky Mountain, and Wisconsin
We thank God and honor the seven brothers and sisters for their extraordinary experiences of His grace. After their harrowing experiences and only as a result of God's life-changing grace and power, they are serving as CRC pastors among their people today! Some of us, including myself who are spoiled by the comforts of Western life, need to be humbled, inspired, and definitely challenged by the precious life and extraordinary calling they received from God. To Him be the praise and glory!
Want to correspond with any of us? Go to Directory of AAPM Members & Advisors/Consultants (3-13-07).
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