More Than Serving Tea - by Nikki A Toyama-Szeto & Tracey Gee (Paperback)

About the Book

Nikki A. Toyama-Szeto, Tracey Gee and Jeannette Yep bring together stories of Asian American women and how God has been at work in their lives. Family expectations and cultural stereotypes assume that these women can only act in certain roles. But with the help of Scripture and mentors, these women have experienced God's blessing and transforming power.

Book Synopsis

Nikki A. Toyama-Szeto, Tracey Gee and Jeannette Yep bring together stories of Asian American women and how God has been at work in their lives. Family expectations and cultural stereotypes assume that these women can only act in certain roles. But with the help of Scripture and mentors, these women have experienced God's blessing and transforming power.

Review Quotes

. . . this volume provides significant insights in the fields of Asian-American studies and ethnic identity studies.

"More Than Serving Tea is a collection of rare, intimate, lived stories of Asian American women Christians. These stories are rare because they include struggles against Asian patriarchalism, American racism and interethnic stereotypes. Particularly, the review of mainstream film's portrayal of the Asian American female grabs the reader's attention powerfully. The power of image, language and symbols in motion pictures defines Asian American women's location within the American society. Nevertheless, in this book the silent, submissive, exotic speaks and challenges the superimposed script from the motion pictures, family and the church. By telling our own stories, we shape Asian American Christian women's identity according to God's design."

"More Than Serving Tea is a testimony of how God has made us--including our ethnic and gender identities--fearfully and wonderfully. I especially appreciate how the authors highlight the specific strengths of Asian American Christian women. By weaving together personal narrative with biblical insights, their stories capture how God can redeem and use our emerging Asian American culture to serve his kingdom."

"More Than Serving Tea is a timely contribution and gift to the Asian American community. It affirms the unique contributions that Asian American women bring to our diverse cultural landscape as well as challenges our culture to break the stereotypes that many of us still cling to. This book also serves as a personal reminder of the gifts that our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters bring to us. Through this work, the authors provide worthy spiritual role models and mentors with whom I would entrust my own daughter."

"More Than Serving Tea is an exciting and inspiring collection of becoming of Asian American women as they negotiate their faith at the intersection of race, gender, class, sexuality and spirituality. As faithful practitioners of their faith, each author is a witness to the strength of her character, the depth and width of her desire to better understand how faith is lived out in the complex web of relationships that comprise our everyday living. Their stories are hauntingly familiar while the strength and courage of their hope is impressively palpable. The sheer honesty present throughout this book makes this a must-read for women in search of what it means to be strong, Christian and Asian American in North America!"

"More Than Serving Tea is an insightful and moving collection of essays by Asian American Christian women. This book is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to understand their unique experiences and an inspiration for those who face similar challenges."

"More Than Serving Tea unveils the Western 'mystique' about Asian American women and shows us what an emerging generation of Asian American Christian women leaders are thinking. The richly textured voices of U.S.-born or raised Asian American women--often silenced in their families and churches--are wonderfully woven into a tapestry of honest stories of pain, struggle, joy and Christian hope. One does not need to be a woman or an Asian American to learn something about faith, discipleship and Asian American Christianity from this landmark book!"

"A fascinating book that brings to light the struggles, hardships, joys and blessings that many Asian American women experience as they live in this foreign land. The honesty and openness of these stories intricately connect to biblical images and are simply good for the soul. Toyama and Gee have edited an indispensable and delightful collection of essays for the Asian American community and the wider North American community as we live in a multicultural and globalized world."

"God, in his wisdom and creativity, has created each of us in a unique way. Some he designed to be Asian American Christian women, a specific grouping that is not often addressed in Asian American literature. This book is an honest look at the personal struggles that these women deal with and how God corrects, heals and empowers them so that they can more fully embrace the whole package of who God made them."

"Here is the world of Asian American women, unadorned. Diverse and immediate, these stories unveil a culture marked by shame, self-doubt, silence, invalidation, misogyny and great harm. Yet Jesus' strong call sounds in the midst: 'Name what is unjust, right what is wrong, love deeply in the midst of pain, and become the strong message bearers of the gospel you were created to be.' A book of clarity and courage."

"What a gift this book is to the community of Christian women. Filled with solid biblical wisdom and slumber-party transparency, More Than Serving Tea made me feel like I was surrounded by a team of women who were walking me down a path toward Jesus. As a Caucasian woman, I found this book particularly helpful. Not only am I better able to understand and encourage the Asian American women in my life, but I also found myself challenged personally with my own shortcomings of people-pleasing, perfectionism, suffering, relationships and leadership. More Than Serving Tea is a must-read for all young Christian women who are hungry for a deeper walk with God and some companions to help you journey."

"More Than Serving Tea is a passionate anthology of personal stories that will enlighten Asian women and provide a rich perspective to anyone who works with this rapidly growing ethnic group. It will challenge Asian women to impact their communities by being authentic to their true calling in life. May this critical resource inspire you to 'live out loud' and reach your full potential as well!"

"A distinctive anthology of Asian American voices speaking on issues of race, gender, sexism and racism within the context of an overarching Christian faith."

"Boldly exposes the key struggles Asian American Christian women face in embracing their personal identity in Christ and expressing their kingdom discipleship interacting with critical issues like ethnicity, gender, family, society, traditions, etc. With a brimful of insights and inspiration, this volume is a must-read for both genders of all races and cultures."

"Finally, a work that recognizes the hard work and devotion of a 'sometimes' overlooked part of God's kingdom: Asian American women in his service. May the testimonies represented in the stories of challenge and joy from five women, their spheres of influence, be used one hundred times to bless those who have faithfully served, but even more that they would encourage those just beginning journeys of faithfulness. A must-read for all (especially mothers, sisters, 'aunties' and the brothers) who come alongside women who fully desire to serve God and his people in their giftedness and excellence for his glory."

"I wish this book had been around ten to fifteen years ago! But thankfully, it is here now. I was blessed by the honest stories and thoughtful reflections from this group of accomplished Asian American Christian leaders. More Than Serving Tea is more than just a good read. Asian American readers of all ages will learn from the collective wisdom and experiences within."

About the Author

Christie B. De Leon is on IVCF Staff at UC Davis, Davis, California. She has a degree in sociology and was born in Manila, Philippines.

The authors, all on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, include women of East Asian heritage (Chinese, Japanese and Korean) as well as Southeast Asian (Filipina) and South Asian (Pakistani). Nikki A. Toyama formerly served as team leader at UC-Berkeley and is an advancement officer based in San Francisco.

Asifa A. Dean is on InterVarsity Staff in Redlands, California.

Tracey Gee is an InterVarsity Christian fellowship area director in Los Angeles.

Consulting editor Jeanette Yep coordinated the writing team of Following Jesus Without Dishonoring Your Parents (InterVarsity Press).

Kathy Khang is director of campus access initiatives with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. She previously served the fellowship as regional multiethnic director and area director for Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She is the coauthor of More Than Serving Tea.