This past August, ISAAC brought together ministry leaders at St. Paul's Retreat Center in Los Angeles for an intensive three-day retreat focused on creation care. The Creation Care Leaders series created space for ministry leaders to explore what it means to faithfully steward God's creation in their communities and ministries.

Invitation to a Celebration of New Ministry We are so excited to invite you to join us in celebrating one of our own! The Rev. Ajung Sojwal, a graduate of our PastoraLab program will be instituted as the new rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Palo Alto. Rev. Sojwal was called to serve this community in December 2024, and her formal institution will take place on Sunday, October 5th, 2025 . The Rt. Rev. Lucinda Ashby, Bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real, will presid

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a major pollutant in the 21 st  Century due to their ubiquity, recalcitrance, and impact on environmental and human health.  MPs range from 1 to 5 micrometers, while smaller nanoplastics (MNPs) are less than 1 micrometer, which enable increased proliferation in and harm to living organisms.  MPs and MNPs have been found everywhere on planet earth, from the tops of mountains to the depths of bodies of water, on glaciers, in the air that we b

NE/SE Cohort Meeting We all sighed and smiled. It was the feeling of being understood, of not having to explain every detail, of not having to justify your thoughts and your response. Looking at the squares on the screen, we all just paused and had a moment of connection. This was what I felt in many of our PastoraLab meetings for the years I participated in the NE/SE Cohort. It was not the content of the questions that made me come back, but the people with similar backgroun

I participated in the PastoraLab Northeast/Southeast virtual cohort in 2022-2024. Every Asian American group or event I have participated in or created has been unique, and this one is also very special in its own way.  I particularly appreciated our group’s c omfort with silence . American people, especially those of the dominant culture, seem to talk incessantly, almost like a competition. It is well known that they often skip over us minorities. In my Japanese culture, a b

Why is PastoraLab growing and thus worthy of your investment for its sustainability? PastoraLab for Asian American Women Ministers Program   was born out of valley experiences in the Fall of 2020. It was a moment of crossroads after giving all that I had—intellectual property, time, and talents—as the second Executive Director of ISAAC since December 1, 2011. I inherited $2,400 from the board in NorCal upon becoming ED, which felt like flying an airplane while building it. A

Leona reflects on her journey of finding community and support through the PastoraLab, navigating her identity, and embracing empowerment...

Vicky reflects on their journey of self-discovery and the importance of community and presence in fostering a sense of belovedness. She...

PastoraLab is ISAAC’s two-year cohort based program that creates communal learning spaces called Hermeneutical Cohorts to empower, engage, and equip Asian American women faith leaders. ' Hermeneutical' refers to interpreting learning through the lens of AAPI women faith leaders . The curriculum is based on a general systems perspective, incorporating a feedback loop and open communication for ongoing improvement. To learn more : https://www.isaacweb.org/pastoralab For additio

Michelle reflects on her transformative journey over the past two years as an Asian American woman in ministry leadership through our...

Are you an Asian American woman with a passion for preaching or teaching? Ready to connect with an incredible network of like-minded...

Participants from PastoraLab have been highlighted in a recent piece by Liuan Huska, released by InterVarsity. In a Q&A format, the...

In 2010, I was introduced to ISAAC and Dr. Young Lee Hertig through a symposium they hosted at Fuller Seminary when I was a Master’s of...

PastoraLab addresses the particular challenges & obstacles Asian American women ministers face from a historically marginalized social...

Temjennaro (Naro) Pongen is from Nagaland, India. She came to the United States in the fall of 2015 to pursue a master’s in Feminist...

We love it when our Pastoras preach! Diana Shing, LA cohort participant, preached a powerful word from Jonah. We invite you to listen,...

Joana Choi is a recent graduate from the OC PastoraLab cohort. She holds an MA in Justice & Advocacy from Fuller Seminary. She is a...

Leona Suegay is an OC PastoraLab cohort member. She was born in California to a Filipino father and half-Filipino & Native American...

Jean Shim is a PastoraLab Online cohort member. She is the Pastor of Young Adults and Ministries at Central Square Church in Cambridge,...

Angel Wu Chau is a PastoraLab Los Angeles cohort member. She is the English and Youth minister at Evangelical Formosan Church of...