More Than Serving Tea: Asian American Women on Expectations, Relationships, Leadership and Faith

More Than Serving Tea: Asian American Women on Expectations, Relationships, Leadership and Faith

Asian American women are caught between different worlds. Many grew up sensing that daughters were not as valuable as sons. Family expectations and cultural stereotypes assume that Asian American women can only have certain prescribed roles, as if our worth comes only through what we do for others.But God has good news for Asian American women. In his eyes, they are his beloved daughters, created for greater purposes than the roles imposed upon us. In this one-of-a-kind book, editors Nikki Toyama and Tracey Gee and a team of Asian American women share how God has redeemed their stories and helped them move beyond cultural and gender constraints. With the help of biblical role models and modern-day mentors, these women have discovered how God works through their ethnic identity, freeing them to use their gifts and empowering them to serve and lead.The contributors include writers of East Asian heritage (Chinese, Japanese and Korean) as well as Southeast Asian (Filipina) and South Asian (Pakistani). Their diverse perspectives shed light on common threads in the Asian American experience, providing encouragement and guidance to others on the journey.God has so much more in store for Asian American women than cultural norms, gender roles and old stereotypes of geisha girls or dutiful daughters. Experience the joy and freedom of becoming the Asian American Christian woman God intended you to be. . . . this volume provides significant insights in the fields of Asian-American studies and ethnic identity studies. -- Chloe Sun for Religious Studies Review, April 2007 "God, in his wisdom and creativity, has created each of us in a unique way. Some he designed to be Asian American Christian women, a specific grouping that is not often addressed in Asian American literature. This book is an honest look at the personal struggles that these women deal with and how God corrects, heals and empowers them so that they can more fully embrace the whole package of who God made them." -- Jimmy Lee, Executive Director, The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship alumnus " More Than Serving Tea is a collection of rare, intimate, lived stories of Asian American women Christians. These stories are rare because they include struggles against Asian patriarchalism, American racism and interethnic stereotypes. Particularly, the review of mainstream film's portrayal of the Asian American female grabs the reader's attention powerfully. The power of image, language and symbols in motion pictures defines Asian American women's location within the American society. Nevertheless, in this book the silent, submissive, exotic speaks and challenges the superimposed script from the motion pictures, family and the church. By telling our own stories, we shape Asian American Christian women's identity according to God's design." -- Rev. Young Lee Hertig, Ph.D., Global Studies and Sociology Department, Azusa Pacific University "A fascinating book that brings to light the struggles, hardships, joys and blessings that many Asian American women experience as they live in this foreign land. The honesty and openness of these stories intricately connect to biblical images and are simply good for the soul. Toyama and Gee have edited an indispensable and delightful collection of essays for the Asian American community and the wider North American community as we live in a multicultural and globalized world." -- Grace Ji-Sun Kim, author of The Grace of Sophia, and Assistant Professor of Doctrinal Theology, Moravian Theological Seminary "What a gift this book is to the community of Christian women. Filled with solid biblical wisdom and slumber-party transparency, More Than Serving Tea made me feel like I was surrounded by a team of women who were walking me down a path toward Jesus. As a Caucasian woman, I found this book particularly helpful. Not only am I better able to understand and encourage the Asian American women in my life, but I also found myself challenged personally with my own shortcomings of people-pleasing, perfectionism, suffering, relationships and leadership. More Than Serving Tea is a must-read for all young Christian women who are hungry for a deeper walk with God and some companions to help you journey." -- Michelle Graham, author of Wanting to Be Her: Body Image Secrets Victoria Won't Tell You "Here is the world of Asian American women, unadorned. Diverse and immediate, these stories unveil a culture marked by shame, self-doubt, silence, invalidation, misogyny and great harm. Yet Jesus' strong call sounds in the midst: 'Name what is unjust, right what is wrong, love deeply in the midst of pain, and become the strong message bearers of the gospel you were created to be.' A book of clarity and courage." -- Sally Morgenthaler, author of Worship Evangelism, and founder, Conversations: Gatherings for Women of Substance, www.trueconversations.com " More Than Se