Asian American Pentecost: One Spirit, Many Voices
Donald Ng
A Typical Sunday Morning
By the time I walked up to Waverly Place just a half a block from the infamous Grant Avenue, USA, made popular by Hollywood’s movie, Flower Drum Song in the 1950s, youth and young adults have already opened up the church and are practicing praise songs for worship. The time is only 8:30 AM on Sunday morning.
In typical fashion, contemporary songs are projected onto a screen and two guitarists are strumming familiar chords, one young woman is singing into a mike while another is using American sign language. Still sheepish from last night’s get togethers, the youth and some young adults are singing and praising God in worship. What is unique about these 50 or so youth is that the service is in English although the youth are from both our English-speaking congregation and our Chinese-speaking congregation.
After I have gathered all my worship materials and sermon together, I head out to Capital, one block away. Capital is one of hundreds of Chinese restaurants in San Francisco Chinatown. By the time I arrived, my wife has already settled in with a waffle and good conversations. There are the Homs, the Pangs, the Lesslers, the Hees, the Jangs, the Poons, the Wongs and others. We speak mainly English with common courtesies like, “Good Morning!” in Cantonese. Some college students from our church come in. They are usually students at Berkeley or State. Some come home from Davis for the weekend.
At around 9:30, I bid my farewells only having had coffee to return to the church for the 10:05 English Adult Service. On this short stretch of Waverly Place, there are a number of stores and offices. There’s a bonsai shop, the Four Seas Restaurant that our church will use for our annual Thanksgiving luncheon and a joint worship service, an electronic gadget store, a Chinese flower shop that puts together these much too familiar Chinese funeral flower arrangements. There are the meeting halls for the Wong and Eng family associations, a Chinese memorial stone store located conveniently across from the church, a music store that imports Asian musical instruments, a beauty parlor, a Buddhist temple, two fung shui shops, and a recreation center run by the city. And directly at the other end of the street from the church is Uncle H’s where you can get Oxtail stew over rice, a cup of soup, a homemade biscuit, coffee, and Chinese apple pie for dessert all for $4.95.
Before10:00, the youth are filing out while the English-speaking adults are coming in. Bulletins are handed out with a red hymnal. After a brief prelude by our organist, I give the Call to Worship, and we experience a traditional worship service blended with a medley of praise songs printed with words and notes as an insert. The choir sings an anthem and I preach for about 20 minutes usually on a topic of living out our discipleship in today’s world. After announcements and standing for the Benediction, these 100 plus people file out and the people who have been patiently waiting outside begin coming in for the 11:15 Chinese Worship Service.
As the result of limited space located in a highly dense neighborhood where every inch of available space is utilized for either seating for the sanctuary or classrooms, the church has naturally claimed the sidewalk for fellowship space. There’s a large awning covering the front stoop where scheduled all-church “sidewalk teas” are held during the year. Intermingling with street neighbors, local merchants, and out of town tourists, our church members chat, catch up with the latest news, and sip tea.
While we were in worship, Sunday school has been in session. The children’s classes are team taught with teachers who have both English and Cantonese proficiency. As a church, we are committed to a “multicultural, multi-lingual, and multigenerational congregation. Children who are Chinese-speaking are in classes with children who are English-speaking. Translations are made when necessary. But a uniqueness of our curriculum is that all children are to learn certain biblical materials in both English and Cantonese. One of these is the Lord’s Prayer. We believe that a bilingual church in order to foster healthy and vibrant unity needs to mutually share their language gifts with each other. We do have some Chinese-speaking classes for young adults and other adults.
The 11:15 Chinese Service is all done in Cantonese. It too tries to develop a blended worship experience by using contemporary music and messages preached from the pulpit with relevancy to everyday life. Trained lay people are actively leading worship in singing, praying, receiving offerings, and making announcements. There are a number of senior citizens who know only Chinese and would only be able to participate in worship in Chinese. However, there is a large group of college and young adults who can speak both English and Cantonese very well, but prefer to attend the Chinese worship service.
While the Chinese Service is taking place, classes for children and youth are in their second hour. Some of the English adults are attending classes while others use this time to visit grandparents and relatives in Chinatown and go shopping for those “must have” ingredients for meals for the upcoming week.
After 12:30, the youth are walking up from their classes in a public elementary school 3 blocks away mostly holding MacDonald’s lunches. The English adults are coming back across the street from the Chinese YMCA where they had classes. Community parents are marching down the stairs after picking up their little children from Sunday school. Now it is time for lunch at the New Great Wall in Chinatown before going back to a church meeting in the afternoon. This is a typical Sunday in the life of the First Chinese Baptist Church of San Francisco.
Christian Faith
What makes this old Chinese American Baptist congregation that was first founded in1880, almost 120 years ago, continues being a thriving and growing church? There appears to be a number of factors notwithstanding, the most important and obvious. What seems to be at the core of this church’s continuing vitality even against great challenges and the recent planting of a new church, is its faithfulness in Christ.
Originally started as a mission to the Chinese in San Francisco’s Chinatown to preach and teach the Chinese the Good News of Jesus Christ, this heritage continues to be told and retold for each successive generation. When the white missionaries came to live in Chinatown, their ultimate purpose in inviting the Chinese over to their houses was not just to introduce them to tuna casseroles, but to tell them about Jesus.
In recent years, our church has been very blessed with both a pastor who served for over 40 years as well as Sunday school teachers who serve faithfully Sunday after Sunday teaching boys and girls Bible stories. The church’s mission is unmistakenly clear: To preach and teach the Good News of Jesus Christ.
It’s clear understanding of its religious purpose is reinforced by the fact that the Chinatown YMCA is directly across Sacramento Street. While the Y taught children and youth sportsmanship and cooperation, it was always the Baptist church across the street that taught them about God and Christ. Recently the philosophy of Chinese fung shui, where maintaining balanced living is generated from the placing of things in their proper yin-yang places has become very popular. These two stores on Waverly Place serve to help our new Christians to tell the difference between Christian faith from other religious groups. In addition, the Buddhist Temple across the street reminds church members from where they have come.
Cultural Roots
Some years ago around the 1950s, one of the solutions proposed by the denomination’s headquarters to eliminate institutional segregation and personal prejudice was to remove the designation of “Chinese” from the name of the church. The rationale was based on the belief that being “color blind” would bring people from all racial/ethnic cultural backgrounds together. This church if renamed “Waverly Baptist Church” would soon become attractive to all kinds of non-Chinese. What the home missions board did not understand was that this church was and still is located in the heart of Chinatown. No superficial action like simply changing the name of the church will integrate this congregation.
Today, the church is explicitly Chinese American. By offering both English and Cantonese worship services as opposed to a “bilingual” service with instantaneous translation, the church recognizes the richness of imagery and thought imbedded in languages. When worshippers come to worship bringing their particular world-view with them, whether it is largely Western or largely Chinese, they are treated with an inspiring worship experience that reaches to the soul of their existence. No one needs to compromise his or her experience to receive God’s word for the day.
In addition to language-specific worship services, all official church materials are in both English and Chinese. This means that our monthly newsletter, church directory, annual reports, meeting agendas, special mailings, brochures are all in both languages. It does translate into higher paper costs from Office Max!
While the church is un-bashfully Chinese American, our church leaders affirm the natural development of becoming more westernized or Americanized the longer the first generation Chinese Americans live and work in the U.S. In fact, our understanding is that for Chinese Americans to survive and successfully make it in America, becoming more oriented with and perhaps acculturated with western values is expected and desired.
For years now, our church has leased out our classrooms during weekdays to the City College of San Francisco for instruction in teaching basic English and citizenship. Parents encourage their children to participate in the Sunday school classes, the 9:00 Youth Service, and youth camp—all in English. They know that by their decision to come to America, they will raise up English-speaking Asian American children. Although these parents may continue practicing “traditional” Chinese habits and values, their children will become truly “bicultural,” integrating both Chinese and American cultures into a creative and dynamic whole.
Accepting the marriage of two cultures into one expression is merely a beginning to shaping church culture. There is a need to both purposely incorporate Chinese culture into the life of the church as well as to create new liturgy and symbols to convey this heritage for the present and the future. During Chinese New Year, the church sponsored a special program to learn about the history of this annual celebration. There were also New Year arts and crafts projects for children. Chinese New Year Spring Couplets in calligraphy were written by members of the congregation and adorned the sanctuary, hallways, and particularly the front doors for passersby to see. Some of the couplets translated read:
*The first Chinese to America experienced untold sufferings; they left their
homeland and, with God’s help, forged a new community.
*Our Baptist church has labored over the years; crossing an ocean and praising
God’s grace on these shores.
*Grace to you from our Heavenly Father.
*Wishing you a healthy, happy New Year.
When the church building was renovated almost twenty years ago, the sanctuary was redesigned by a Chinese American architect. Throughout the sanctuary, the wooden paneling and trim are in redwood designed with traditional Chinese geometric shapes. The most dramatic addition is the commissioning of the front stained glass windows. These windows created by Michael Lien and Joan Paul are reminiscent of a Chinese landscape painting. The rock is a symbol for the steadfast and unfailing protection of God for the people. Water is a symbol of life, cleansing, and repentance. There are waterfalls, fish, swallows, flowers, and trees. The Chinese inscription reads, “Come…accept the water of life.” (Revelations 22:17). When the congregation in 1980
completed their major renovations, they did more than simply beautified their facilities. The church practiced “doing theology.” The decision to replace the western church stained glass windows with one created by the church leaders at that time and then commissioned for a Chinese American artist to complete represents the church coming of age. Not only have they kept their name, they now have woven their existence with the Gospel of Christ. Their Christian maturity has permitted them to break away from seeing themselves defined by others to defining who they are themselves. They have moved from being recipients of missionary work to becoming partners and initiators of missions both in the U.S. and in other countries. Just as a side note, in 1998 this church contributed over $40,000 to American Baptist Mission Support, the eighth in the Region of the West.
Asian American Pentecost
Today, the First Chinese Baptist Church is experiencing Pentecost every Sunday. Just like the early Christians gathered in one place and with “a sound like the rush of a violent wind” that “filled the entire house,” these Baptist people are speaking in different tongues in the faith with the ability to understand. Today we are speaking in our native languages and although we may not be able to completely understand everything literally without first translation, we understand each other spiritually because we are filled with the Holy Spirit. At this church there are three characteristics in experiencing Pentecost.
Inclusion rather than Homogeneity
While there has been a number of current studies on church growth and vitality that suggest the greater homogeneity exist in the membership, the easier or more effective numerical growth occurs, this church is challenging these theories. The membership of this congregation is comprised of people who are diverse socio-economically, geographically, racially and culturally, linguistically, generationally, social integrationally, and even theologically. We differ in so many ways.
It would be much easier for this church and for that matter, for any church to attract people who are mostly like themselves. And there is no question that this is always happening due to the natural need for human beings to gravitate toward those who are like them. However, as the result of that tendency, the church has deliberately reaffirmed its ministry and mission to be in Chinatown even though it has the resources to relocate to another location in the city that would provide more conveniences such as parking and larger facilities. The reality that the church is situated in the heart of Chinatown where hundreds of Chinese immigrants arrive daily means that we invite diversity to continuously integrate our membership. When we stand outside on the sidewalk, we can see the whole world coming to us.
God’s Plan rather than Expediency
As alluded to earlier, ministering effectively and faithfully with a congregation who speaks different languages, functions with the interplay of western and Asian values and ethics, and frequently holds faith beliefs that are representative of a broad theological spectrum is not expedient. Believing that there are shared assumptions about matters are not necessarily obvious. Rather, when the church is discussing issues of major importance, it usually requires a higher level of trust and more time and patience from everyone involved before a decision can be made. It is rather a tiresome effort.
Instead of sometimes acting on obvious and expedient ways, the church intentionally tries to discern the will of God for its life. On a monthly basis, there is a “congregational prayer meeting” when members are encouraged from all three worshipping communities to gather in the sanctuary to pray for the church.
Last fall, the church launched a stewardship/capital fund campaign to retrofit and renovate the building that was constructed in 1908 after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Based on a solid all-church effort to participate in a 40 days of prayer and fasting emphasis and culminating with a 24-hour vigil, the congregation pledged over $1,3220,000 in about three months time. The campaign highlighted the rich legacy of the church’s history and heritage and the call by God to continue this vital ministry into the new millennium. An important part of the campaign was also the planting of a new church in the Sunset District of the city. Sunset Ministry has now become a separate entity from the mother church and is thriving with two services on Sunday morning.
Seeking God’s plan for this church has and continues to be today a challenging commitment. Its commitment to inclusion rather than homogeneity accentuates its need to expend more time and energies to discern God’s plan for its ministry than if more expedient conditions would to be present. Ultimately, the church places its trust in God to reveals his divine plan for its life and mission.
Covenant rather than Majority Rule
Decision-making rarely happens from taking a vote. The church’s affirmation that all persons with diverse backgrounds and characteristics are welcomed to participate and taste the blessings of this Christian fellowship means that all persons hold some truth to the subject in question. We strive to hear and listen and to hear and listen again until as many sides of the question are heard and understood.
In many ways, the church membership is divided into smaller Chinese family associations. There are currently 24 fellowship/family groups organized according to generations and the two language groups. As each college graduating class emerges from the campus back into the real world, the question is asked whether a fellowship group needs to be formed. When a “critical mass” is identified, a new fellowship group is organized. The group chooses a name for itself and recruits usually a couple with some life-long experience to serve as their advisors. Some of the names of the groups reflect their peculiar beginnings:
Youngfolks are comprised of people who are mostly in their mid 60s
OYYAS is not Greek but stand for “Older Youth Young Adults.” They
are mostly people turning 60
Semanons are people who grew up in the turbulent 60s and at least at that
time were seeking for identity because Semanons is “no names”
spelled backward
Sojourners are people who are boomers and are still looking for ways to
stay forever young
Some of the new groups reflect a stronger sense of spirituality that pervaded over the congregation in recent years: ETCs (Eternally Trusting Christ), Grace, Genesis, Koinonia.
In addition to these groups functioning in providing fellowship and invitation to new members to the church, they serve as many centers for decision-making. Important issues are usually introduced at these fellowship groups for discussion and prayer before coming to a membership meeting. In a climate of fellowship and family relationships, even the most difficult of issues are treated with a desire and commitment to find consensus and therefore agreement. Maintaining the harmony in the home is a prime objective. We avoid the possibility of “losing face” in front of each other wherever we can help it.
Unlike some churches that I am familiar with, by the time an issue needs to come before the membership for a vote, the subject at hand has been thoroughly discussed. When the call for the question is heard, there is usually consensus. There are, no doubt, persons who would disagree with where the majority of the congregation may be heading. In those instances, in order to avoid direct confrontation, they defer to the larger group by either not voting or not attending the meeting.
Sharing in the overall vision of the church is the ultimate hope and the primary objective in making decisions. Any need for particular agendas would be recognized as less important. A clear and dynamic vision for ministry rooted in discerning God’s call for such a time as this, would gather committed persons into mission.
One Spirit, Many Voices
It may be that the Pentecost experience at First Chinese Baptist Church of San Francisco is unique. However, I don’t believe it is. As a testimony to my predecessors, this church has simply chosen to stand on the boundaries of many faith models as over against standing inside only one. It has chosen to remain at the crossroads of humanity in San Francisco Chinatown rather than to seek refuge in the suburbs. It has chosen to be bilingual and bicultural because one without the other makes all of us only half present. It has chosen to work harder to accomplishing consensus and covenant than to push for a quick decision believing that the kairos moment only comes from faithfulness.
Being on the boundaries means that the church has been able to see and include the richness of diversity and differences of opinions and subsequently is constantly vulnerable to being transformed. Being on the boundaries means that the church is simply a “way station” pointing sojourners and pilgrims to their way home to God. Being on the boundaries means that we envision our church to be a gigantic umbrella, big and hospitable enough to welcome everyone and anyone to worship and fellowship with us. And where there is not yet “one accord,” we strive to proclaim that an “I don’t know” answer is an acceptable response leaving it up to God in God’s time to make known his will and plan. Having an answer to tough questions is a human need, not necessarily God’s plan for us.
Being on the boundaries also means to be Christ-like. Kosuke Koyama in one of his meditations in Three Mile an Hour God, said Jesus Christ is “Mr. Intersection.” Christ stands in the intersections of life where people are and where it is also dangerous. Christ on the cross was crucified on an intersected cross so that we may have eternal life.
Three weeks ago, I preached at our 11:15 Chinese-speaking service. I started my sermon by telling about how bad I was when I was a kid. I was throwing rocks up at my cousins when one large rock only landed on my forehead. You can see that I still wear this scar right up here. The congregation laughed at my misbehaving. They also smiled and were amused over my story because I told it in my Toishanese Chinese. They understood me because we trust that the many voices that we have are made intelligible for one another by the one Spirit we have in Jesus Christ. We also believe and practice that in God’s house, there is no rock throwing! God’s vision for the Asian American church in the new millennium is a Pentecost experience when everyone who claims Christ as Lord on their lips can sing and dance in fellowship and love.
Rev. Donald Ng is the Senior Pastor of the First Chinese Baptist Church of San Francisco, California.