About InterVarsity's Asian American Ministries
In response to God's love, grace, and truth:
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In keeping with this purpose, Asian American Ministries (AAM) seeks to follow God into the university context to transform and empower Asian American students (whether skeptics, seekers, believers, or missional leaders) into Kingdom-centered world-changers.
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About the Carolinas & Virginia InterVarsity's Asian American Ministry
InterVarsity in VA, NC, and SC has been welcoming students of all backgrounds for decades, but saw a major shift at Duke University's multiethnic chapter in the early 2000s. Asian Americans in Duke InterVarsity began to take hold of their ethnic identity and pursued other Asian students.
By 2010, Duke IV was one of the top-5 largest Asian American chapters in the country. In 2011, the first Asian-specific chapter at the University of Virginia was planted in order to reach non-Christian Asians there. In addition to Asian-specific ministry, multiethnic chapters and many non-Asian staff have made great strides in reaching and raising up Asian students. In 2015-2016, there were 267 Asian American students (which doesn't even include multiracial and international Asians!) involved in 2 Asian-specific chapters and 27 multiethnic chapters across the three states. We seek to continue building a family of chapters where Asian students of every ethnicity and spiritual background can encounter Christ! |
Meet the Carolinas & Virginia Asian American Ministries staff!
James Ho | Triangle | On staff since 2011 | Taiwanese American
James grew up in the Triangle of North Carolina. He grew up in a Chinese American church and joined the college ministry associated with that Chinese church at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Through his relationship with an InterVarsity staff on campus, James felt a call to campus ministry and Asian students upon graduation. During James's intern year, he worked with numerous Asian Americans in the midst of a campus and chapter that had traditionally few Asian Americans involved. As the former staff at Duke (his alma mater's rival!), his passion to see Asian American students grow in their vision for the Kingdom and desire to reach their peers enabled Duke AIV to become one of the most prominent Asian American organizations on campus. James now serves as the Area Director for the Triangle, as well as the Regional Coordinator for Asian American Ministries in the Carolinas region. |
Jennifer Hagin | Virginia Highlands | On staff since 2003 | White American
Jennifer grew up in a military town but, though diverse, church and school were predominately white. While attending UNC Chapel Hill, she developed relationships with African-American and Asian-Americans who opened her eyes to their cultures, traditions and experiences on campus. She was blessed to have a Taiwanese American roommate who cooked an amazing Chinese New Year feast, whimsically pointed out Jennifer's expressions of white culture, and shared why she chose to attend an Asian specific ministry. Knowing how valuable that ministry was, Jennifer discipled several of their female Asian American leaders when she returned to UNC to staff. She now serves as the Area Director the Virginia Highlands. As the AAM Coordinator for Virginia, she is passionate about seeing more Asian American students experience the gospel, develop as leaders, and encourage those with similar passions to come on staff. |
Angela Cho | Asian InterVarsity at Duke University | On staff since 2016 | Korean American
While many Korean Americans are raised in Christian settings, Angela didn't come to know Jesus until high school and college. During her time at Duke University, she was part of InterVarsity as it began to grapple, accept, and step into its identity as an Asian American chapter. Angela was eventually part of the bold group of Vision Team leaders who said yes to God's call to reach the increasing number of Asian Americans at Duke. She heard a call to ministry and has embraced her gifts in ministry, including to Asian Americans. As an intern at Elon University, Angela saw more of how members of the Asian/Asian-American/Pacific Islander community live in a state of in-betweeness, and how tension like this can be beautiful as Jesus speaks into it. She currently serves as the campus staff of her alma mater, helping the chapter step more into the fullness of their ethnic identity and, in turn, love the fullness of campus. |
Katie Yu | Asian InterVarsity at the University of Virginia | On staff since 2016 | Korean American
Katie grew up in a mix of Korean and White American churches around Northern Virginia and got involved leading in youth group in high school. As a student at the University of Virginia, Katie at first didn't connect with Asian InterVarsity because it wasn't like any of the settings she was used to. But as she joined the community and grew to understand the vision, she became AIV's foremost champion! Katie served on Vision Team for 3 years and helped lead the way as AIV pioneered cutting-edge outreach that InterVarsity now teaches around the country. She interned with Tidewater Community College InterVarsity, and recognized how diverse and beautiful the tapestry of Asian America is across different ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and generations. She is now the campus staff of UVA AIV, helping the chapter she grew in better reach more AAPI students of all different spiritual, ethnic, and familial backgrounds. |