Innovative Space for Asian American Christianity

Innovative Space for Asian American Christianity
"Soar Beyond Seminary"

Your contributions will help us raise up the next generation of Asian American faith leaders. We are especially committed to the work of advancing gender equality at the pulpit. Your financial support will help ISAAC in sustaining & expanding our programs aimed at engaging, empowering, and equipping Asian American faith leaders. 

OUR MISSION

We create a third space of learning where leaders in the academy, church, and community can collaboratively advance the development of Asian American faith leaders. Based on mutual learning & empowerment, our work includes mentorship, hosting conferences & seminars, and publishing resources on Asian American Christianity that crosses the boundaries of ethnicity, generation, and gender.

Less than 5 percent of Asian American churches are led by women of color.
Even fewer see Asian American women pastors in predominantly Asian congregations.
We aim to change that.

Every dollar you give will be matched by Lilly Endowment.

In 2021, we launched PastoraLab, our flagship program designed to empower Asian American women faith leaders by cultivating a strong sense of belonging and anchoring multivocal identities in adaptive organizational leadership. Through mutual learning, real-world application, and mentorship, PastoraLab has already transformed the journeys of over 150 women nationwide, providing them with the skills, community, and confidence to thrive in pastoral leadership. [Jennifer Chou's journey is documented in the video above.]

After successfully completing its initial three-year grant cycle in 2023, PastoraLab has now entered a critical sustainability phase (2024-2026). While it is partially funded by the Lilly Endowment, we must raise matching funds by the end of 2026.

This is where you come in.

To secure the long-term future of PastoraLab as it enters its fifth year in 2025, we are seeking partners and investors to help sustain and grow this program for years to come.

Your donation directly contributes to sustaining this vital program, expanding our impact, and ensuring that Asian American women in ministry continue to receive the mentorship, resources, and community they need.

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Our podcast provides resources and perspectives for AAPI and Latina women to become more effective preachers. Guests have covered topics including wrestling with Biblical texts, God and gendered language, church planting, and organizational change. The podcast is available on iTunes and Spotify. 

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This new educational program directed at strengthening national cohorts of Asian American church leaders launched in 2025! This one-year program will fill in gaps that are often overlooked in seminary training to address the unique challenges that Asian American churches face in their congregations. With these goals in mind, Thriving Congregation Initiative (TCI) hopes to see AAPI faith leaders navigate change and experience thriving congregational ministry. 

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Quantitative Research on Asian American Congregational Leadership Practice

From 2022 to 2024, ISAAC conducted the pilot phase of its national survey aimed at understanding the practices, challenges, and growth trends of Asian American congregational leadership. We disseminated the survey to 800 Asian American English Language Faith communities. The preliminary results provide important findings for understanding Asian American churches including their leadership culture and participation in stopping anti-Asian hate. 

Click on the images below to explore our published articles and discover our findings:

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How Your Contributions are Used (2024)

PLEASE JOIN US!

Thank you in advance for supporting our vision. The fuller representation and opportunities for women ministers to serve the body of Christ will make churches thrive once again and bear witness to the authentic gospel. Would you consider investing in ISAAC for the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12)?