Josh Gaudreau ;Hi, I'm Josh, the English #pastor of a Chinese #church in Winnipeg, Canada. Just checking out this #mastodon site and liking it so far. #introductions #welcome
djchuang@joshgaudreau greetings from Southern California. I like researching about Asian North American churches. Would love to learn more of your experiences at a #Chinese #church in #canada
@djchuang Hi DJ, thanks for reaching out! I'd love to tell you about them - perhaps some specific Q's would help me to know where to start, if there's a specific focus you're interested in?
(fun fact: I've followed you on Twitter for quite a while now!)
(fun fact: I've followed you on Twitter for quite a while now!)
@joshgaudreau Hi Josh, thanks for the quick reply; let's start w/ some basic Q's: how long have you ministered in Chinese church? does your church have monthly deacon board meetings you sit in on? what kind of cultural and contextualizing adjustments did you have to make? how is the health of the church? what is weekend attendance on average?
@djchuang I was away for 3 yrs with practicum and working at another church between attending and pastor, but cultural adjustment is really coming w/ working w/ the sr. pastor and other congregational leaders (Cant. pastor and Elder board). So for e.g., learning to communicate in less direct ways w/ certain people (and interpreting what they mean when they're not direct about it). At same time trying to stretch them to look past issues of safety/fear and Chinese only/first for English ministry.