Register Now | Our Stories, Our Faith – June 6–7 Conference in Philadelphia on South Asian American Christians
Imagine Otherwise by CAAC | Weekly Summary
Our Story, Our Faith: South Asian Christian Histories and Futures
On June 6 and 7, 2025, join us in Philadelphia for a conference exploring the rich, multifaceted histories of Indian and South Asian American Christians, centering on Philadelphia’s unique place as a microcosm of broader South Asian American experiences in the U.S. and North America. With the theme “South Asian American Christian Histories and Futures,” this gathering will dive into stories of faith, heritage, and resilience, examining lives that defy narrow narratives of success and assimilation. Through these stories, we aim to illuminate the deeper communal bonds, challenges, and triumphs that have shaped South Asian American Christian life.
Our Story, Our Faith is a collaboration between the CAAC, Fuller Seminary’s Asian American Christian History Institute, Cru’s Epic Movement, and the Asian Ministries of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies.
Anchored in the place of Philadelphia, this conference will feature plenary sessions with notable voices like Sam George, Jaisy Joseph, and Sherry Thomas, who will offer insights specific to the local area while drawing connections to broader national migration trends. The program includes three interactive panels: the first featuring South Asian storytellers and creatives, the second focusing on South Asian ministry leaders, and the third broadening to a pan-Asian dialogue. These discussions will foster a shared understanding of challenges while celebrating distinct journeys within Asian American Christian communities. Additionally, there will be a time for personal reflection and story work with Sandhya Oaks, a trained story work coach.
One of our panelists, Shainu Thomas, is the creator of the upcoming documentary Kadha, a film telling the poignant tale of Malayalee immigrants who boldly journeyed from Kerala, India to America in the 60s and 70s. Watch the trailer to learn more!
Honoring Our Narratives, Part 1
By Evangeline Hsieh, a Doctoral Candidate at Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology.
What many fail to realize is that predominantly white and multiethnic churches are not necessarily culture-free, nor are they multicultural; many of these churches’ dominant cultural expression is that of white evangelicalism. Unfortunately, this makes the church another institution that reinforces the Model Minority, maintains white privilege, preserves an ethnic hierarchy, and complies with the racialized identity of Asian Americans.6 Although some second- and third-generation Asian Americans left the Asian immigrant church to escape the dissonance of their identities and unfortunately perpetuate the Model Minority Myth, many have reported feeling like something is still missing from their faith walk.