Factors Affecting Asian Americans in Missions: The AAIM Survey

EMQ » October–December 2018 » Volume 54 Issue 4

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David Narita

Asian Americans are excited about world missions. Well over forty percent of Urbana 2015 attendees were Asian American (AA).[1] However only seven percent of the 3,500 missionaries serving within the International Missions Board as of January 2017 were AA, a proportion that is felt to be representative of the larger missionary community.[2] Current literature points to a number of factors faced by AAs that may explain this discrepancy.

Parental Expectations of Success and Responsibility to Parents (financial or as caregiver)

Asian American children are often expected to provide for their parents in old age through well-paying, professional careers.[3] Many immigrant parents sacrificed their own social status and success in their home countries to provide the opportunities America had to offer to their children. Therefore, attending elite schools and securing high paying jobs validate those sacrifices. In many Asian American churches, prosperity and success are signs of God’s affirmation. So, though many immigrant parents are Christians, [4] the relative low pay and low prestige associated with cross-cultural missions is not valued.

Children’s Education

The 2015 US Census confirmed that the Asian American community puts a higher value on education than any other group. This emphasis on education is believed to be in part due to the highly professional individuals who were allowed to immigrate to the US and the belief that education could help overcome the social barriers that AAs face. [5]

A Desire to Be Successful and Have Financial Security

While the career trajectory of an engineer, doctor, lawyer, teacher, or even a pastor is known, what a cross-cultural missionary’s life will look like ten or twenty years down the road is not. The motivation to be successful and the security it brings is not unique to AAs, but may be more acutely felt given closer roots in an immigrant culture which strives for financial security.[6]

Loss of Close Family and Community Connections

With a strong collectivist mindset, Asian Americans are twice as likely as whites to live in households with at least two adult generations.^[7] Closer ties to other Asian Americans not only provide community and ethnic identity but can also protect against self-esteem issues and feelings of discrimination.[8]

The Need to Raise Financial Support

There is a shame factor for Asian Americans who were two and a half times more likely to report that their support raising embarrassed their families. Directly asking for money runs counter to the more indirect and relationship-oriented Asian norm.[9]

The Need for Self-Promotion and the Lack of Encouragement/Role Models in Cross-cultural Missions

When we think of Asian Americans as a group, the image that comes to mind is that of honoring family, humility to the point of self-deprecation, self-restraint, and harmony-seeking.[10] AAs are the model minority that keeps their heads down, minds their own business and does not rock the boat. But think about what our society looks for in new missionary candidates. Leadership, self-confidence, self-promotion, problem solving, thinking outside the box. We want quarterbacks, not linemen. This is no different in business where AAs frequently hit the “bamboo ceiling.”[11] They are underrepresented in leadership not just in secular settings, but in our churches and missions organizations as well. Without those role models, many interested in missions wonder how they can contribute positively to cross-cultural missions. They also lack people in their churches and communities who can encourage them in their exploration of missions and affirm the gifts that God has given them.

There is a degree of salesmanship in partnership development. A missionary needs to sell a ministry within which he or she is intimately intertwined. The desire for an individual or group to get behind a mission is tied to their faith in the missionary. Given the cultural values of conformity and interdependence, attitudes of self-confidence, initiative, and individual assertion may not be an AA’s strongest points.

The Asian Americans in Missions (AAIM) survey asked if these issues are keeping the number of AAs in long-term cross-cultural missions so much less than the apparent interest. What do mission agencies need to address when mobilizing AAs for long-term cross-cultural missionary service? Is there a different approach for AAs than for the general population?

Methods

Twelve specific issues were chosen for inclusion in AAIM survey based on the studies above. An internet-based survey (Appendix A) was conducted of past, present, and potential future Asian American missionaries, advertised through an AA missions newsletter, on an AA missions Facebook page, through email links, at a missions conference session addressing AA issues in missions, and by word of mouth.

The first question asked the respondent if they could identify with one of the Asian American ethnicities drawn from the 2010 US Census of groups with communities over fourteen thousand individuals. There was also a choice of mixed or other AA. Those who did not have an AA self-identity were thanked without their further input.

Respondents were asked to rank the twelve issues on a 0–3 Likert scale as “not a barrier” to an “extreme barrier.” If respondents answered that a lack of call was a barrier, they were asked what they felt would constitute a clear call into overseas missions. A write-in box was also left for significant barriers that were not included in the list.

Demographics including gender, which generation of their family immigrated from Asia, and whether they are presently serving, have served for more than three years in cross-cultural missions, or have not yet served.

Results

Survey participation was low: a total of 68 responses were received over a four-month period. However, the respondents represented a range of ethnicities and experience. While conclusions are not definitive, several key observations were noted.

The majority of respondents were of Chinese-Taiwanese or Korean origin. Most were born in the US to immigrant parents (n=42/63, 67 percent).  Sixty-nine percent (n=45/65) are interested in missions but have not had the experience of serving greater than three years in an overseas context.

Table 1: Demographics of respondents
Ethnicity	n	Generation	n
Chinese-Taiwanese	36	First (respondent born in Asia)	10
Japanese	3	Second (Parents born in Asia)	42
Korean	20	Third (Grandparents born in Asia)	5
Filipino	2	Fourth or greater	6
Vietnamese	2	Service status
Mixed/other	3	Currently serving	11
Gender		Served greater than 3 years	9
Male	30	Have not served long-term	45
Female	35

Overall, the greatest barriers respondents identified were in raising financial support, loss of community, and both financial and caregiving responsibilities to their parents. These were ranked as a minor (1.0) to moderate barrier (2.0) to long-term overseas service.

Table 2: Issues by Overall Rank
Raise support	1.77	Children’s education	1.33
Loss of community	1.64	Lack of call	1.00
Responsibilities to parents	1.63	Not a leader	0.83
Self-promotion	1.53	Fit with organization	0.81
Desire for success	1.42	Lack of role models	0.81
Parental expectations	1.36	Lack of encouragement	0.68
0 – no barrier; 1 – minor barrier; 2 – moderate barrier; 3 – extreme barrier

Korean men (n=6) faced the greatest expectations to their parents, from their parents, and for their children’s education (2.50, 1.83, 1.67 respectively). They were all born in Korea or to immigrant parents. The Vietnamese respondents (n=2) reported the highest barriers as an ethnic group. A lack of encouragement to pursue missions (2.00 to 0.68) and the need to raise support (2.50 to 1.77) were the greatest hurdles to missions service. Felt responsibilities to parents (2.00) and the loss of community (2.00) were also higher than the mean (1.63 and 1.64 respectively). Both respondents were noted to be either the first generation born in America or immigrants themselves. In fact the sixteen percent (n=10) who had immigrated to the US perceived they faced the greatest barriers to missionary service. Responsibilities to parents (1st–2nd generation: 1.73 vs. >2nd generation: 1.0) and their children’s education (1st generation: 1.89 vs. >1st generation: 1.21) were ranked significantly higher.

Among those who were presently serving or have served in cross-cultural missions, their children’s education was the greatest concern. Responsibilities to parents ranked highest among those who had returned from long-term service (1.89).

Table 3: Differences by experience in missions
Issue	Serving/served	Have not served
Children’s education	1.74	1.16
Lack of call	0.42	1.24
Not a leader	0.56	0.93
Fit with organization	0.58	0.91

What constituted a clear call to the twelve respondents who elaborated on their thoughts primarily related to God’s direction towards suitable overseas opportunities. God’s direction was seen through parental blessing and the provision of necessary resources.

Discussion

Participation in the study was lower than expected. Perhaps this in itself shows that the predominately younger generation canvassed by the survey (college/young professionals) did not see their Asian American background as a factor in their missionary endeavors. Generational status—being the first or second generation in America—appeared to be the strongest indicator that their cultural background would impact their ability to serve in cross-cultural missions.

Some agencies provide parental support and more frequent visits home within budgets and missionary schedules in an acknowledgement of the responsibilities many may have to their parents. This helps alleviate some family stressors and demonstrates the value God places on honoring parents. Unfortunately, this does not meet the direct caregiving roles children often need to provide for their parents—the highest ranked issue for those who have returned from service.

The greatest challenge to those who have experienced missionary service was children’s education. Options for education continues to stretch missionaries with families and one would expect this to be true regardless of ethnic background. Given the realities of where unreached people groups remain in our world today, this challenge is indeed great.

A lack of call was ranked as the greatest barrier to starting service. What does God’s calling and direction look like for those considering service? Several participants wrote it is when an organization or community asks them to fill a specific need that matches their own personal desires with the support of their parents. There is a role for a deeper theology around and clearer examples of what God’s direction and call into missions looks like today.

Those who have not yet served also saw aspects of the missionary culture as barriers—the need for self-promotion, raising support, thoughts of themselves as leaders, and being unsure of where they fit. One missions mobilizer wrote, “The type of person the ‘field’ is looking for is very specific and for the most part they are asking for more people like themselves … what it ends up doing is narrowing the type of person who is ‘qualified’ to serve overseas. And I get it, you do want to build teams with good chemistry.” But the result is that, “there doesn’t seem to be any organization that AA’s connect really well with.” [12] That sense of fit works in both directions.

Asian Americans originate from the largest, most populous continent representing dozens of different people groups and cultural backgrounds. They are not all the same by ethnicity or experience in America. For example, if interracial marriage is used as an indicator of the strength of ethnic identity, 41 percent of Japanese, 19 percent Filipinos, 16.5 and16.6 percent of Chinese and Korean respectively and 10.7 percent of Indians self-identified as mixed race in the 2010 US Census.

From the results, we can say that it is no longer accurate to group Asian Americans together when identifying issues preventing them from cross-cultural missions. While there may be differences between AAs and the general population, we need to be careful not to project assumptions onto AA candidates. The widely studied phenomena of stereotype threat—when a group feels pressure to conform to stereotypes about their group—can deter individuals from pursuing what God may have for them. Rather than place people in categories, a better approach is to be aware of where differences may lie and ask them specifically for their personal response. Such discussions are essential for all candidates from any background when they present themselves for missionary service.

Conclusion

The purpose of the AAIM survey is to add to the conversation around the Asian American Christian experience. As mission agencies mobilize and develop candidates for long-term missionaries, attention is rightfully given to the circumstances and personal traits that might delay or prevent long-term service. There are some of these issues that are more keenly felt within the AA community. However, we cannot group everyone into a neat AA category. Rather, by understanding the values and concerns of potential long-term missionaries better while appreciating where an individual might stand in relation to those issues, sending agencies can address, equip, and develop AA missionaries more intentionally.[13] It is an issue of being good stewards of the people the Lord brings as workers for the cross-cultural field. Our prayers and labor should be towards enabling as many to go as we are able.

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David Narita recently returned from Cambodia with his family after serving with OMF International through church planting and health care education. He is an adjunct professor of intercultural studies at William Jessup University, sees patients in a medically underserved community and encourages those seeking to serve Christ through mission. He thanks Mark Strand who provided assistance with the study.

 

Appendix A: Asian Americans in Missions (AAIM) Survey

Asian American Christians are excited about world missions. The question is how we can turn this interest into feet-on-the-ground overseas missionaries. That is where you can really help. The goal of this survey is to identify some of the issues Asian Americans face as they consider becoming a long-term missionary in another country. So whether you have bought your plane ticket or are still unsure of where you fit in, let me know what has been on your mind. Your honest input will help us identify the challenges Asian Americans face that hinder us from going. As we identify these obstacles, we can better prepare Asian Americans for the cross-cultural mission field.

This survey will take less than 5 minutes. All data is collected anonymously. For His kingdom and glory!

1. You identify yourself primarily as (This list represents the main Asian ethnic groups in the US)

• Bangladeshi American
• Bhutanese American
• Chinese American
• Filipino American
• Hmong American
• Indian American
• Indonesian American
• Japanese American
• Korean American
• Laotian American
• Malaysian American
• Mongolian American
• Nepalese American
• Pakistani American
• Sri Lankan American
• Taiwanese American
• Thai American
• Vietnamese American
• Mixed/other Asian American
• Non-Asian American

2. Please rate the following factors when you think about serving in overseas missions.

0 – Not a barrier     1 – Minor barrier     2 – Moderate barrier     3 – Extreme barrier

• Parental expectations for your future
• Responsibilities to your parents (financial or caregiving)
• Your children’s education
• Your desire to be successful/have financial security
• Loss of close family and community connections
• The need to raise financial support
• The need to talk about and promote yourself
• Not a good cultural fit with the missions/sending organizations you know
• Lack of Asian American role-models
• You are not a leader
• Lack of encouragement from your church, missions agencies, Bible school/seminary
• Unsure of your “call” into overseas missions (If checked, text box “What would constitute a clear call for you into cross-cultural missions?“)
• Other significant barriers not listed (text box)

4. You identify as

• Male
• Female

5. In your family, which generation was the first to be born in the US?

• Great-grandparents
• Grandparents
• Parents
• Yours
• Your children

6. Are you currently serving or have you served in long-term (>3 years) missions outside of the US?

• Yes, serving
• Yes, have served
• No

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey—we appreciate your input and look forward to some great information! If you have additional questions about this survey, please email dnarita@jessup.edu.

 

Endnotes

[1] At Urbana 2009, 24.4% of participants were Asian-American (https://djchuang.wordpress.com/2012/12/19/number-of-asian-americans-at-urbana-2009-missions-conference/) and 39% in 2012 (http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/november/9-things-about-asian-american-christianity.html).

[2] Twenty percent of all Southern Baptist churches are ethnic majority congregations. Perkins, Cortlandt. “The Missing Piece in American International Missions.” Reformed African American Network. April 17, 2017. https://www.raanetwork.org/missing-piece-american-international-missions/.

[3] Qin, Xuhua. “Family impact on Asian American’s career choice.” US Dissertation Abstracts International 72(6-A), 2011. pp. 1867.

[4] Notably 42% of Asian-Americans self-identify as Christian. Stetzer, Ed, and Larry B. Jones. “9 Things About Asian American Christianity.” The Exchange | A Blog by Ed Stetzer. November 7, 2013. http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/november/9-things-about-asian-american-christianity.html.

[5] Mekouar, Dora. “Why Asian Americans Are the Most Educated Group in America.” Voice of America. April 11, 2016. https://blogs.voanews.com/all-about-america/2016/04/11/why-asian-americans-are-the-most-educated-group-in-america/.

[6] Tom Lin “Following Jesus as an Asian American” as cited in Yep, Jeanette, Peter Cha, Susan Cho Van Reisen, Greg Jao, and Paul Tokunaga. Following Jesus without dishonoring your parents: Asian American discipleship. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998.

[7] Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project. “The Rise of Asian Americans.” April 04, 2013. http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/06/19/the-rise-of-asian-americans

[8] Tawa, John, Karen L. Suyemoto, and Lizabeth Roemer. “Implications of Perceived Interpersonal and Structural Racism for Asian Americans Self-Esteem.” Basic and Applied Social Psychology34, no. 4, 2012. pp. 349-58.

[9] Perry, Samuel L. “Diversity, Donations, and Disadvantage: The Implications of Personal Fundraising for Racial Diversity in Evangelical Outreach Ministries.” Review of Religious Research, 53 no 4 Jan 2012, p 397-418.

[10] Committee of 100. “American Attitudes Toward
Chinese Americans and Asian Americans.” March 2001. http://www.committee100.org/publications/survey/C100survey.pdf.

[11] “Subjects in a recently published psychological experiment consistently rated hypothetical employees with Caucasian-sounding names higher in leadership potential than identical ones with Asian names.” Yang, Wesley. “Paper Tigers.” NYMag.com. May 8, 2011. http://nymag.com/news/features/asian-americans-2011-5/.

[12] Personal correspondence.

[13] The Daniel Project within InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) has successfully encouraged AA leadership. Interview Paul Tokunaga, June 1, 2018.