US
As President Obama’s recent announcement that he will act unilaterally to carry out immigration reform has brought about a swirl of controversy, most of the attention has been pointed to the Latino population in the U.S. However, Asian immigration activists have been just as passionate about reform. “Though immigration is often thought of as a Latino issue, it’s also very relevant to Koreans and Asians,” Hee-Ju Yoon, the secretary-general of the Korean Resource Center (KRC), said at a press conference on Monday at the KRC office, located in Los Angeles.READ MORE
US
President Obama made an announcement after the midterm elections a draft of new immigration plans that he has in mind, bringing about mixed reactions. His plans would allow millions of currently illegal immigrants a reprieve from being deported. The plan includes two measures of “deferred action”—one for young illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. as children before the age of 16, and one for parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents who have lived in the U.S. for more than five years or ten years—the exact number of years is still to be determined. READ MORE
Church
Relationships between older and younger people in an Asian setting tends to be considered in a negative light, and is thought to be stiff, hierarchical, and not very comfortable. However, church leaders have recognized that there is a need for relational and deep mentorship in order for the younger generation to be raised up as the next leaders of the church and of society as a whole.READ MORE
US
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) With the heart of this verse, around 5,000 people of various ethnic groups and generations gathered together at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA on Tuesday to pray for the nation.READ MORE
World
Kenneth Bae, who had been detained in North Korea’s labor camps for the last two years, was released on Saturday, along with Matthew Todd Miller. With the release of these two Americans, there are now no more Americans in captivity in North Korea. “We have been waiting for and praying for this day for two years,” Terri Chung, Bae’s sister, said in a statement. “This ordeal has been excruciating for the family, but we are filled with joy right now.”READ MORE
World
Reverend Myles Munroe, 60, an internationally known pastor, preacher, and author, and eight others, including his wife Ruth, were killed in a plane crash on Sunday afternoon in the Bahamas. Munroe and several members of Bahamas Faith Ministries (BFM), which was founded by Munroe, were on their way to a Global Leadership Forum in the Bahamas that was to take place November 10 to 13.READ MORE
Mission
Bill Watanabe, the Executive Director of the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), was given the Legacy Award at the Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity (ISAAC)’s sixth annual symposium on November 3. ISAAC gives the Legacy Award to “pioneers and leaders from the Asian American Christian community.” Watanabe was recognized for his exceptional community development work and the social services that he was able to provide to the community through LTSC.READ MORE
World
Though movements for equal rights have been continuously pushing forward for decades, the issue of race is still far from archaic. If anything, surges of racial unrest have caused severe consequences and the issue of race and discrimination is centrally prevalent in society even today. These underlying tensions regarding race are just as relevant to Christians, and how they live out their faith. Some Christians of color may question why the most famous preachers, theologians, or worship leaders tend to be White men. READ MORE
US
President Obama has requested Congress to grant $6.18 billion to “implement a comprehensive strategy” against Ebola domestically as well as at the source in Africa, according to a letter released on Wednesday. “My foremost priority is to protect the health and safety of Americans, and this request supports all necessary steps to fortify our domestic health system and prevent any outbreaks at home. ...READ MORE
US
Results from the votes on Tuesday came in favor of legalizing marijuana in Oregon, DC, and Alaska. Colorado and Washington legalized recreational marijuana in 2012. It is currently legal to use marijuana for medical purposes in 19 states, including California and New York. In Oregon, individuals over age 21 are now allowed to possess up to eight ounces of marijuana and grow up to four plants of cannabis. In Alaska, up to one ounce of possession...READ MORE
World
A Christian couple in Pakistan was beaten and burned to death by an angry mob on Tuesday at Kot Radha Kishan in Punjab Province. Shehzad Masih and his wife, Shama Bibi had three children, and Bibi was also four months pregnant. The couple had been working at a brick-making factory to pay off debts.READ MORE
World
Four children who were among 153 Kurdish boys captured and held hostage by the Islamic State in May shared with the Human Rights Watch their experiences of torture and abuse by the militants. The children were only allowed to wash once every two weeks. They were not allowed to play outside, but instead, were forced to memorize verses from the Quran and watch footage of the Islamic State militants attacking and beheading people.READ MORE
US
Kansas’s state ban on same-sex marriages was declared unconstitutional by a federal judge on Tuesday. U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Crabtree placed an injunction on the state’s ban, blocking the state from continuing to bar same-sex marriages, until November 11. Crabtree gave one week to give the defendants an opportunity to appeal the case.READ MORE
Church
Breaking away from a tendency to think of missions as something only to be done overseas, a group of about 60 to 70 pastors, seminarians, and lay people gathered last Wednesday (October 29) to discuss how the churches of Los Angeles could practically and actively love their city. “Love the City,” which took place at the Jefferson campus of Young Nak Celebration Church, allowed attendees to talk and fellowship freely with one another over complimentary coffee and lunch, and two panel speakers...READ MORE
Society
Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, wrote in a post in Businessweek on Thursday that he is “proud to be gay.” “I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me,” he added. “I don’t consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I’ve benefited from the sacrifice of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy,” he continues.READ MORE
The Sunday Assembly, also known as the “Atheist Church”, based in the United Kingdom is scheduled to have its first global assembly. The “church” is also known to have a branch and ...
World May 06, 2014 02:34 AM EDTThe leaders of the DPRK have been making very strong statements regarding human rights. A representative from the North Korean government has stated in a speech that the U.S. is a ‘living ...
World May 08, 2014 03:08 AM EDT
