Demographics

Asians and Pacific Islanders are a diverse people in an increasingly diverse and multicultural United States. For a decade, the Asian population has the fastest percentage of growth in the U.S. Between 1980 and 1990, their number nearly doubled. It is likely to double again by 2010.

Immigration has fueled the dramatic growth of the Asian population. Almost 70 percent of Asian people counted in the 1990 U.S. Census were immigrants or their children who came to the United States after 1970. About 20 percent of the 1990 population arrived after 1990. Immigrants from Asia represent more than one-third of all legal immigrants admitted to the United States in recent years, which places Asians in the center of the debate over immigration reform.

The rapid expansion of the Asian American population in recent decades has been accompanied by a remarkable ethnic diversification. In 1970, 96 percent of Asian Americans were Japanese, Chinese, or Filipino. Now in the early 21st century, these three groups make up just 50 percent of Asians. Indians, Koreans, and Vietnamese now outnumber Japanese Americans.

The population is diverse economically as well. Some have above average income and education levels while others live in low income situations and do not have the education for work that pays higher wages.

The Asian and Pacific Islander population of the ELCA includes speakers of English and Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Toisan, Swatonese, Hakka, Taiwanese); Indian languages (Tamil, Telegu, Hindi, Kanada, Malayalam); Japanese; Southeast Asian languages (Vietnamese, Lao, Khmer, Hmong, Thai); Tagalog (from the Philippines); Singala (from Sri Lanka); and Pacific Islander languages. Some members of the ELCA Asian population also speak Spanish, French, German, Norwegian, and Swedish.

The 12 million Asians estimated in 1998 is fewer than 4 percent of the total U.S. population, but their influence on U.S. society is accentuated by their geographic concentration in a handful of states and cities and an in-creasing degree of visibility in some areas of public life, such as health care.

Challenges and Opportunities

Outreach to non-Christian Asians. Whether in Asia or the United States, being Christian and Asian places one in a minority status. This is an individual and collective reality within the Asian and Pacific Islander community. Friends, family, and neighbors are likely to be non-Christian, viewing the Christian faith as a foreign, western European belief system. Presenting Christianity relevantly and effectively is challenging and takes time. It will also involve ecumenical, personal, and community work with others who are not likely to become Lutheran but will still be affected and aware of our witness as Lutheran Christians.

Diverse membership. Geographically, the ELCA Asian and Pacific Islander community is widely scattered. This makes it especially important to develop regional and national centers and networks to strengthen ministry and coordinate efforts. The new Center for Chinese Ministry established in 1999 in California is an example of facing the challenge with innovative solutions. Language barriers within these communities also are a challenge.

Leadership. Trained leaders are needed, both clergy and lay. Calls are needed when leaders have been ordained. Asian pastors and lay workers also need support, as Christians do not develop overnight! The abilities of leaders may make them unique in their communities, but also lead to heavy demands on their services and aid. Their ministry would be encouraged greatly with resources in Asian languages, partnerships with caring non-Asian congregations, staffing, and other support.

Youth ministry. Young people will make up an increasingly large percentage of the growing Asian and Pacific Islander population in the United States. Developing specific strategies for second generation ministry is a must. Nurturing youth workers is essential. Developing materials and supporting programs for youth are related needs, because specialized tools and approaches are the most applicable and effective.

Social ministry. Asian and Pacific Islander communities are sometimes mistakenly viewed as having no problems. However, a national consultation in 1999 revealed an array of pressing needs related to elder care, youth at risk, immigration status, life skills development, family intergenerational gaps, marriage and divorce issues, single parenting, employment issues, poverty, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol prevention, Internet addiction, conflict management, Christian persecution, discrimination, and hate crimes.

A story of joy: Singing for the next generation

The Asian youth ministry trainer was energetic, enthusiastic, and captivating. “Remember Eutychus, who fell asleep—and to his death—while Paul was preaching?” he asked the Asian leaders who had convened from throughout the ELCA for a leadership conference. “And remember that Paul brought him back to life? Let’s consider what this Bible story tells us about being ministers today. Let’s take a closer look at what makes a youth ministry program strong….”

The conference concluded with a worship service at the host church, conducted mostly in the Chinese language. And this same young servant-leader saw a need and filled it. Across the church he saw a Scandinavian visitor, sitting beside a second-generation Asian friend who did not speak Chinese. Swiftly and quietly he walked over to join them in the pew, and began to translate for them as the service continued. His voice was clear and sure, not too loud, just audible enough. How touched the visitors were by his kindness!

“Did you know Ian is from Simon Lee’s church?” a church friend later said, about the youth leader. “He’s one of 17 people from that one congregation—the Chinese Lutheran Church of Honolulu—who decided to become pastors, and went to seminary!”