Asian Americans Are Changing the Face of Evangelicalism

Nikki Toyama-Szeto highlights the journey of Russell Jeung, who was raised in a Chinese American Christian fundamentalist church in San Francisco during the 1970s. Jeung’s evangelical faith has deeply influenced his life, leading him to co-found Stop AAPI Hate, a national nonprofit aimed at combating anti-Asian racism. Jeung, who views his activism as a reflection of his Christian beliefs, emphasizes that followers of Jesus are called to seek peace and justice, opposing racism as a sin that strips people of dignity and belonging. His efforts are part of a broader movement within the Asian American evangelical community, a group that makes up about 2% of evangelical Protestants in the United States.

As Asian Americans increasingly assume leadership roles within evangelical circles, they are challenging the long-standing association of evangelicalism with White American political conservatism. Figures like Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, and Tom Lin, president of InterVarsity, are pushing for greater diversity and inclusion while maintaining theological conservatism. Despite these efforts, the broader evangelical community remains divided, particularly along racial lines. Scholars like Helen Jin Kim express skepticism about the ability of Asian American leaders to transform the White-centric elements of American evangelicalism, though the younger generation, through campus organizations like Cornell’s Asian American InterVarsity, is beginning to address issues of race and inclusion that were previously avoided.

You can find her full piece in the Washington Post.