PastoraLab
“Divided we are conquered, and united we flourish: Mutual Learning, Mutual Empowerment.”
HOW PASTORALAB WORKS
Who Can Apply?
PastoraLab is currently in its Sustainability Phase. During this phase, PastoraLab welcomes all AAPI women faith leaders serving in congregations, nonprofits, or other sectors. We also extend an invitation to pastoral spouses to join us, as we value and honor their unique experiences and contributions.
Identity • Belonging • Wholeness
PastoraLab addresses the particular challenges & obstacles Asian American women faith leaders face from a historically marginalized social location.
This program provides an ecumenical/intergenerational learning space for AA women faith leaders to reflect on their experiences through a field-based hermeneutic that embraces their personal and social identities.
Empower
by creating an ecumenical / intergenerational Asian American space of belonging
Engage
in mutual learning through communal processes
Equip
with Asian American Christian Multivocal Identities and Adaptive Organizational Leadership
Program Outlines
Year 1
Session 1: Listen to participants’ leadership journeys as women, Asian Americans, and church leaders.
Session 2: Identify the stages of leadership from Level 1 to Level 5 and introduce the principles of distributive Yinist leadership.
Session 3: Share preaching/communication preparation and style.
Session 4: Share cultural and biblical hermeneutical tools for Asian American settings.
Session 5: Share the best examples of hermeneutical preaching/communication.
Session 6: Share feminist, womanist, mujerista, and Yinist hermeneutics and their ministry applications to ministry.
Session 7: Share unexamined theological, biblical, and cultural assumptions and collectively examine habits of pastoral leadership and ecclesial structures.
Session 8: Develop a prophetic voice for the pulpit and public witness.
Year 2
Session 9: Share exemplars of thriving female pastoral leadership.
Session 10: Examine ecclesial culture and leadership structure.
Session 11: Learn how to interpret and navigate power dynamics.
Session 12: Learn and strengthen conflict mediation skills.
Session 13: Practice financial and environmental stewardship.
Session 14: Share obstacles and vehicles of advancing personal and organizational leadership practices.
Session 15: Share testimonials of liberating Christianity from patriarchy and colonization.
Session 16: Share fears and hopes of one’s ministry going forward.
Participant Qualifications
-
A Christ-follower who has a lived-out faith and a maturing growing relationship with God.
-
A humble learner.
-
A leader whom others will follow and has influence, not just having titles or positions of leadership.
-
A leader with experience serving others and leading projects or teams in an Asian American community setting.
-
A leader who values the Imago Dei in each person and respects all people navigates loving others cross-culturally and intergenerationally and works collaboratively with men and women.
-
A leader who is committed to a local Asian American church or organization.
-
A leader who is committed to growing in their character and leadership.
-
A leader who can use technology well.
Program Requirements
-
Mandatory attendance at 8 sessions (for a total of three hours per month) for 2 years.
-
One hour of individual preparation before each session for 2 years.
-
One hour of Professional seminar per year.
-
One annual retreat hosted by ISAAC: A 2-3 day gathering with all cohorts, past and current (The gathering may be either in person or virtual. For more information, see the most recent retreat)
-
Commitment to constructing field-based Asian American hermeneutics.
-
Program fee: $400 for 2 years (non-refundable)
.png)
Equipping Asian American faith leaders to advance equity at the pulpit.
This two-year program, which began in 2021, completed its initial three-year grant cycle in 2023. In 2024, we entered a sustainability phase, slated for the next three years, partially funded by the Lilly Endowment. This phase includes a requirement to raise matching funds over the next three years. With fundraising efforts now in full swing, we aim to sustain this popular program for the long term.
6 cohorts: LA, OC, Bay Area; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; NY/NJ
Check out our When Women Preach Podcast: We feature AAPI and Latina faith leaders on our podcast.
Join our Community
If you are an AAPI woman faith leader interested in joining a community focused on mentorship & empowerment, submit an interest form.
PastoraLab welcomes all AAPI women faith leaders serving in congregations, nonprofits, or other sectors. We also extend an invitation to pastoral spouses to join us, as we value and honor their unique experiences and contributions.
PastoraLab Highlight Video
Our Team
Young Lee Hertig
Project Director / LA Cohort
Diana Shing
Project Manager
Soo Ji Alvarez
OC Cohort
Co-founder / Executive Director of ISAAC. Taught courses on Spirituality, Sustainability, and Diversity at Azusa Pacific University, United Theological Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary since 1992 to present. She holds three MA’s in Counseling Psychology, Theology, Anthropology, and PhD in Intercultural Studies.
Diana supports ISAAC through donor management, event planning, and any other ways to build ISAAC’s mission. She was as a Pastoralab participant in the LA Cohort where she found the space of belonging and empowerment truly meaningful. Diana graduated from Fuller Seminary with a Master of Divinity in 2011, and since then has served in various ministry settings including Pepperdine University, Azusa Pacific University, Lake Avenue Church and recently was the Minister of Family Life at First Evangelical Church of Glendale.
Soo Ji Alvarez is an ordained Pastor and Field Superintendent with the Free Methodist Church in Southern California. With a population of over 23 million over 56 thousand square miles, Southern California is both geographically and culturally diverse. To ensure that Free Methodist Churches have the support and resources they need to thrive, Soo Ji oversees the growth and development of ministries in order to cultivate healthy and diverse leaders, pastors and churches. Soo Ji loves doing life and ministry with her husband Joe. They have been married for 20 years and have 2 kids, Juaquin and Nayara, and 2 dogs, Oso and Chunk.
Mia Chang
NY/NJ Cohort Facilitator
Lead Pastor, founded NextGen Church in 2008. Ordained as a pastor by the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey upon completing her studies at Alliance Theological Seminary in New York. She obtained her doctorate in ministry studies at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University in PA.
Cris Coniconde
NorCal Cohort Facilitator
A family pastor at Highway Church community. She is currently in the Masters of Theology & Ministry program with an Asian American ministry concentration at Fuller Theological seminary.
.png)
Florence Li
Atlanta, GA Cohort Facilitator
Florence Li serves as the National Coordinator of Asian Ministries, and is the Chair of ISAAC’s board. Born in Hong Kong, relocated to the U.S in 1976 and ordained in 1987, Li works to strengthen Asian church ministries by providing resources to pastors of Asian churches and gathering them together through local, regional and denominational events and conferences. She graduated from Hunter College with an MSW in Administration, an M. Div., from American Baptist Seminary of the West, and a BA degree in Social Work from Ottawa University.
.png)
Irene Wong
Atlanta, GA Cohort Facilitator
Beverly Chen
Boston, MA Cohort Facilitator
%20(1).jpeg)
Margaret Yu
OC Cohort Facilitator
Rev. Irene Wong has been the Executive Director of AMIS Atlanta since 2017. Born in Ohio, raised in New York City, Irene has called Atlanta home for over 20 years. As a third-generation Chinese-American, she has always been interested in international cultures. She majored in East Asian Studies at Brown University and has an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary. Rev. Wong is an ordained PC(USA) minister.
Beverly Chen is a licensed clinical social worker and the Director of Wellbeing Education and Training at Boston University, where she designs and leads workshops and courses aimed at promoting student wellbeing. Drawing from a rich background in higher education and mental health, Beverly has worked at several institutions, including Duke University, Harvey Mudd College, Westmont College and Azusa Pacific University. She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Michigan and is trained as a spiritual director through the Center for Spiritual Development and Loyola Marymount University. Over the years, Beverly has led retreats and workshops for a variety of audiences, including staff leaders with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) college students and young adults. Beverly was a co-facilitator for the national online cohort of PastoraLab in 2021-2022. As a previous member of Asian American Women On Leadership (AAWOL), she contributed to the book Mirrored Reflections: Reframing Biblical Characters (2010). Her passions include soul care, mentoring and coaching young adults, teaching, writing, traveling, hiking, and savoring diverse cuisines.
Margaret Yu has been the primary caregiver for her 2 elderly parents since 2023. She is learning to practically ascribe worth and dignity to her aging parents by caring for them with God's love. Caregiving has been the greatest and most challenging role of her life. Prior to this, she served as the National Director of Epic Movement, the Asian American ministry of Cru where she had served for over 35 years. Her campus experiences span the globe from Milwaukee to Berkeley, to East Asia to Uzbekistan or to Orange County where she currently resides. Margaret's passion is to see BIPOC men and women empowered to take their place in God's kingdom as honored servant leaders. She calls herself a leadership geek who loves talking and practicing shared leadership with others. Margaret’s interests include mentorship or leadership development, talking shop about the NBA, and being at the beach. She is also an avid Michigan Wolverines fan as that is her alma mater. Margaret holds a Master's Degree in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is also a certified personal development life coach with Leader Breakthru; she desires to support individuals and leaders in their transitions and in their desires for wholeness.
