Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! What originated in the 1970s and 80s as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated in the month of May as we "commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843".

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month invites us to honor and celebrate all Asian Continents, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. These celebrative months are meant to provide us with space to take a moment to pause and engage with words, art, music and other work as we appreciate the diversity of the world intentionally. As we work to center the voices of our AAPI Siblings in Christ and celebrate their heritage this month, we lift up a few resources to help others learn more.

Behold the Stream: A History of Asian Lutheran Witness Book

In a Living Lutheran publication from 2021, authors Lily R. Wu and Edmond Yee share information about their co-edited "large-format pictorial book to tell our Asian Lutheran story", titled Behold the Stream: A History of Asian Lutheran Witness.

"Through historical essays, congregational profiles and brief biographies, Behold the Stream tells the story of how Asian congregations uniquely serve, and introduces many Asian leaders and their lifework. It charts the growth of our association, conferences and publications. And it offers a glimpse into the future. Two theological essays are included: on Bible-reading in Asian contexts and cultures, and on migration as a metaphor for Christian faith."

You can order Behold the Stream: A History of Asian Lutheran Witness by clicking here.