ReconciliAsian Yard Sale

SAVE THE DATE!! ReconciliAsian is coming at ya again with a yard sale this fall! As we are gearing up for ReconciliAsian’s 10th year anniversary (ya can you believe it?!), money raised from this event will be used to implement the Artist in Residency Program planned for 2023. Please find out more about our upcoming programming on our website (link in bio) If you'd like to donate your things for the yard sale, come by to find treasures, or just swing by to say hello, we'd love to see you on:

Saturday, November 19th @ 8am-2pm
992 E Topeka, Pasadena

9/11 attack was a tremendous shock to the United States and the world. In response to this event, the U.S. started a military intervention in the Middle East resulting in 20 years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, The Syrian civil war, the rise and fall of the Islamic State ISIS, and the refugee crisis in the Middle East. Before the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the Biden administration is experiencing Taliban taking over Kabul, similarly repeating 1975 escape from Saigon.In this lecture, we will briefly summarize the history of the past 20 years and talk about what we should remember and learn.

Friday, September 3rd, 6:00 p.m. PDT

All events are free with advance registration. REGISTER
The webinar will be in KOREAN

South Korea's foreign policy under the new Cold War between the U.S. and China

Is East Asia entering into the era of the new Cold War between the U.S. and China, and if so, what could be the challenges and opportunities for South Korea? After the recent U.S.-China trade war under the Trump Administration and the rise of China many scholars ask whether we are already under the cold War between the U.S. and China. In the middle of such developments, South Korea has been seeking the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the end of the Korean War and diplomatic normalization between the U.S. and North Korea, resumption of inter-Korea cooperation and eventually peaceful reunification. South Korea also prefers peace, cooperation and prosperity in North East Asia rather than the new Cold War. Then, what should be South Korea foreign policy under the era of intensified U.S.-China tensions? In this talk, we will discuss the recent changes in domestic politics and foreign policy of East Asian states such as the U.S. China and Japan and analyze what would be the challenges and opportunities for South Korea's foreign policy.

Called to Hate, Called to Justice: Christian Faith and Anti-Asian Violence

During the Covid-19 pandemic that began in the US in 2020, there was a surge of violence against Asian Americans and people of Asian ethnicity living in the United States, in the form of verbal, physical, and economic attacks, and civil rights violations. Political and social rhetoric and polarization played roles in these increased incidents, but what role did theological or spiritual beliefs play in shaping or supporting anti-Asian violence? This workshop examines the ways in which theology has been a part of the systemic marginalization that Asian Americans experience, including supporting campaigns of US imperialism and militarism that take place in Asia and in communities in the United States, but also help give power to intersectional movements for justice that fight anti-Asian violence.

Register HERE.

About the speaker: 

Rev. Dr. B. Yuki Schwartz (she/they) is an associate professor of constructive and political theologies and a Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Scholar, 2020-22, at Claremont School of Theology at Willamette University, and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Her research explores the connections between Christian theologies, systemic oppressions, and justice movements related to Asian and Asian American histories, politics, and culture. 

Imagining Jubilee: living the reign of God through songs, prayers and images

Jesus began his ministry by proclaiming the “Year of the Lord’s favor” (Jubilee). But what does this mean? What senses are evoked through Jubilee and how can we bring it more fully into our worship? Using new resources from Voices Together, artist Saejin Lee will help us explore how holistic worship experience can reflect the peace theology of Jubilee.

Date: March 19th (in Korean) and 26th (in English) at 8pm ET/7pm CT/ 5pm PT/ +1 day @10am Korea

Register here: https://forms.gle/Dee4SpRPvhEHYNvn7

About the speaker:

Immigrating to the United States in her teens, SaeJin Lee studied art, religion, and music at Goshen College. Saejin has served as a visual and worship artist in many Anabaptist settings including Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Mennonite World Conference, Believers’ Church Conference, and Women Doing Theology Conference for Mennonite Church USA. She has also led worship regularly at her home congregation, Hively Avenue Mennonite Church. Since 2016, she worked as a member of the Mennonite Worship and Song Committee that produced Voices Together, a new worship book for the North American Mennonite Church. Currently living in Chicago, Saejin is a children’s advocate at a non-profit organization serving survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

Lane Miller graduated from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in 2013 with a MDiv in theology. He has taught workshops across the Midwest on worship and music, led worship for Pastors Week at AMBS, and served as Pastor of Worship and Formation at Kern Road Mennonite Church. His current research is on the intersection between theology and economics while he works as an investment manager and macroeconomic researcher in Chicago, Illinois.

*This event is co-sponsored by MennoMedia and ReconciliAsian

Medical System in DPRK: Conversation with Dr. Stephen Yoon

Are you interested in the medical system in North Korea? You have a special opportunity to have an intimate conversation with Dr. Stephen Yoon. Dr. Yoonlived inside DPRK for ten years as a physician in Pyongyang Medical School and Hospital. Through his efforts, PYSRC (Pyongyang Spiral Research Center) was established. Learning about his journey will change your life. The conversation will be in English.

Webinar Series: Jubilee and the Kingdom of God with Dr.Gi Up Nam

ReconciliAsian의 2021년 주제는 희년입니다. 희년은 하나의 “제도화된 은혜”로서 죄와 탐욕에 대해 구조적으로 저항하는 것이라 할 수 있습니다. 희년을 통해 하나님께서는 힘의 불균형과 부정의(injustice)의 문제를 언약공동체 안에서 바로잡는 역학을 만들어 가길 원하십니다.

<희년 함께>, <토지+자유 연구소>에서 섬기고 있는 남기업 소장님과 함께하는 2021년 첫 번째 웨비나에 여러분을 초대합니다. 1월 22일과 29일 오후 5시(미국 서부시간), 한국은 23일과 29일 오전 10시에 두 번에 걸쳐 강의와 질의응답 시간을 갖습니다.

*2021 Webinar series I <희년(Year of Jubilee), 제도화된 은혜>
1) 희년과 하나님 나라의 복음. 1/22(금) 5pm (미서부), 1/23(토) 10am(한국)
2) 희년과 천연물 기본소득, 새로운 사회. 1/29(금) 5pm (미서부), 1/30(토) 10am(한국)

강사소개: 남기업 소장은 성균관대에서 헨리 조지 사상을 주제로 학위를 마쳤고, 지금은 <희년함께> 공동대표로, <토지+자유연구소> 소장으로 활동하고 있다. 현재 한국사회에 중요한 대안으로 제출된 “기본소득형 국토보유세” 설계에 참여했고, 지금은 그 대안의 완성도를 높이는 데 심혈을 기울이고 있다. 토지공개념, 부동산개혁, 기본소득, 새로운 국가모델 등이 연구주제이다.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War on June 25, 1950. This horrific war took over four million lives, caused unspeakable devastation and trauma, divided the Korean nation and separated millions of family members. The continuing divide between South Korea and North Korea on the 38th parallel is now the longest unresolved separation of a people in modern history. As Korean American Christians, we urge churches and communities of faith in the United States and throughout the world to both lament this pain and separation, and commit to the search for reconciliation in the name of Christ. Read the full text of the letter here. You can sign the letter HERE.

This over 70 year division is not normal nor natural and the deep trauma continues to impact the Korean Peninsula and the Korean Diaspora. We as people who proclaim that Christ “is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility (Eph 2:14),” we'd like to ask you to help amplify the need for peace and reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula.

If you are interested, please use  this link HERE to the form and letter. Everyone is welcome to sign the letter and share this email with others who may be interested. Although the letter is initiated by Korean American faith leaders, you do not have to be of Korean descent to sign the letter. Our hope is to release the signed letter publicly on July 27th , a day when the armistice was signed 67 years ago. 
 
Letter drafters:
Peter Cha, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Eugene Cho, Bread for the World
Grace Choi, Re’Generation Movement
Hyun Hur, ReconciliAsian
Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Earlham School of Religion
Jongdae Kim, Re’Generation Movement
Sue Park-Hur, Mennonite Church USA
Soong-Chan Rah, North Park Theological Seminary
Stephen Yoon, Ignis Community

We are excited to have Dr. Inyeop Lee as a main presenter for the Reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula Conference. Dr. Lee is an assistant professor of politics and history at Spring Arbor University in Michigan. He recently co-wrote a book entitled, Politics in North and South Korea: Political Development, Economy, and Foreign Relations (2018).

Dr. Lee is originally from South Korea and earned his two master’s degrees from Seoul National University and George Washington University. He finished his doctoral dissertation on the U.S. foreign policy toward North Korea at the University of Georgia. His research interest is East Asian Security and Politics and U.S. foreign policy, and he teaches various courses in International Relations, Comparative Politics and American government.

Location: California International University 3130 Wilshire Blvd. #313 Los Angeles, CA 90010
Time: 10am-3pm (light lunch provided)

-Dr. Inyeop Lee will address "Past, Present, and Future of Peacemaking process in US-NK relationship"
-Dr. Barnabas Park will address "Religions in North Korea"
-Dr. Taehyung Ahn will facilitate discussions and close the conference 

We hope you can join us! The events are FREE but donations are welcomed.

Our office has moved to Koreatown! Drop by the new office located at 3130 Wilshire Blvd. #410 Los Angeles, CA 90010 on January 28th (Sun) anytime from 2:00-5:30pm. We hope some of you who are local can stop by so we can personally thank you for your encouragement and support contributing to the birth and expansion of this ministry.

This month also marks the 5th anniversary of ReconciliAsian- a signficant milestone for us. There will be cake, fruit, and coffee to celebrate this special occasion. We hope to see you on the 28th!

Friends, it's time to pray. As the tension increases between North Korea and the US, we need to come together and call out to God and seek the way of peace. We are holding a special prayer gathering for the next 4 Tuesdays. If you are around the Pasadena area, we would love to have you join us at the Hur residence. Please call 213-255-8883 or email reconciliasian@gmail.com for the address.

Friends, no matter where you stand regarding North Korea, we must not respond with "fire and fury like the world has never seen.” Even without nuclear weapons, over 11 million people will die in North and South Korea within hours if there are missile strikes. Please take a moment to pray for the Korean Peninsula. Pray also for the leaders of NK and the US that they would take the path of peace, not annihilation. 

But we must also pray on our feet. We need to educate and organize as well. 

If you are near Pasadena this FRIDAY (8/11), please consider joining us for an evening to "Watch and Pray." We will WATCH a 30 minute documentary to give us a historical context of the country that has been officially divided since 1953. Then we will PRAY together- lamenting and hoping together- in Korean and English. PM us at reconciliasian@gmail.com if you would like to RSVP and get the location of the meeting. If you already know where the Hurs live, come on over.