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Celebrating 40 Years of the Center for Asian/Asian American Ministry

HOMECOMING 2024

 

November 13, 2024 | Evanston, Illinois

 

Homecoming 2024 will feature the seminary’s Center for Asian/Asian American Ministry as it celebrates its 40th Anniversary. We are excited to welcome you to campus for what promises to be a truly memorable day.

 

Our programming will include presentations, faculty sample classes, worship, and Community Meal. Our time together will center on the theme, “Founded by Grace, Transforming with Hope: A Celebration of CAAM’s 40th Founding Anniversary.”

 

Alumni, friends, colleagues, and family are welcome to this time of celebration!

 

Registration

In-person:

  • $40 per registration
  • $65 per registration with guest

 

Online Participants and Students: No Cost

 

In-Person Registration

Includes presentations, faculty sample classes, networking lunch, worship service, community meal, social gathering. . . and an alum swag bag!

 

Online Registration

Includes two presentations (see below) and worship service.

 

If you need assistance in covering the in-person registration fee or if you have additional questions or needs, please contact Nancy Ramos, Director of Annual Giving and Alum Relations, by email or 847.866.3889.

 


Homecoming Preachers, Presenters, Teachers

Homecoming Preacher

 

Rev. Dr. Hwa-Young Chong is the District Superintendent for the North Prairie District of the Northern Illinois Conference. In this role, she supervises 67 churches and ministries throughout the district. She also served as an elder in cross-racial and cross-cultural ministries and appointments since 1995. She received her B.A. in Christian Studies from Ewha Women’s University in Seoul, Korea, and M.Div. & Ph.D. in Theology from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.

Director of the Center for the Asian/Asian American Ministry

 

Dr. Dong Hyeon Jeong is assistant professor of New Testament and director of the Center for Asian/Asian American Ministry. The son of Korean missionaries in the Philippines, Jeong is an ordained elder in the Philippine Central Conference, Manila Episcopal Area, Southwest Philippines Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Jeong’s area of expertise includes biblical studies and languages, social justice, race and ethnicity, and posthumanism.

Homecoming Presenter

 

The Rev. Dr. Amy Valdez Barker (G-ETS Alumna and Trustee) is currently serving as Interim Associate Pastor at Mountain Park UMC in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and brings over two decades of experience in religious education and church mission. As the former Executive Director of Global Mission Connections at The General Board of Global Ministries she was responsible for leading five regional offices and two global offices in leadership development and scholarships, as well as overseeing the placements and supervision of 200+ missionaries.

Homecoming Presenter

 

Rev. Ayla Samson is a Pakistani American. She has been serving as a United Methodist Clergy since 2012, and has served churches in Yonkers New York, at G2G Church at Eastside Chicago, Faith Lombard and now at First UMC Morris IL. Rev. Samson has been serving in various positions in both conference level and national level of the United Methodist Church. Rev. Samson has a heart for ministry among diverse intergenerational groups – where gifts of ethnic diversity are enhanced in calls of discipleship in the daily walk of Faith.

 

Homecoming Teacher

 

Rev. Dr. Mai-Anh Le Tran (G-ETS 2004) is an internationally recognized leader in theological education, an accomplished scholar, and much sought-after expert in pedagogy. She joined the faculty of Garrett-Evangelical in 2017 as associate professor of religious education and practical theology and served as Academic Dean from 2019 through 2023.

Homecoming Teacher

 

Rev. Dr. AHyun Lee (G-ETS 2015) is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care, and Psychotherapy. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. Lee’s research interests include psychotherapy and religion, intercultural pastoral care and counseling, self-psychology, narrative therapy theory, trauma and crisis counseling, trauma-informed pedagogy, Asian and Asian American theology, practical/pastoral theology, feminist/womanist theology, and postcolonial theory and theology.

Homecoming Presenter

 

The Rev. Dr. Javier A. Viera was named president of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary on January 1, 2021. President Viera brings extensive experience in church leadership, rigorous academic study, and community building to his work as president. A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Viera also serves on faculty as Professor of Education and Leadership. His varied scholarly interests center on inter-religious dialogue, adult learning and development, and the history of Latin America, particularly revolutionary and anti-colonial movements in the Hispanic Caribbean.


Homecoming Schedule

Wednesday, November 13th

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Morning Refreshment

Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and a morning pastry

9:30 a.m. – 10 : 30 a.m.

Welcome, The Center for Asian/Asian-American Ministries, and Garrett Now
(Available for online participants)

 

President Javier A. Viera

Dr. Dong Hyeon Jeong

Vice President Joseph R. Emmick

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Weaving Our Stories: Trauma, Healing, Pastoral Care and Counseling

Dr. AHyun Lee, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care, and Psychotherapy

 

Theology on the Edge of Heaven and Earth

Dr. Mai-Anh Le Tran, Associate Professor of Religious Education and Practical Theology

12:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Luncheon and Community Connect

Share a Meal and Connect with Fellow Alums and Students

1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Weaving Our Stories: Trauma, Healing, Pastoral Care and Counseling

Dr. AHyun Lee, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care, and Psychotherapy

 

Theology on the Edge of Heaven and Earth

Dr. Mai-Anh Le Tran, Associate Professor of Religious Education and Practical Theology

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Envisioning the Future

(Available for online participants)

Rev. Dr. Amy Valdez Barker and Rev. Ayla Samson

4:00 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Worship and Distinguished Alum Presentation

(Available for online participants)

 

Rev. Dr. Hwa-Young Chong, Preacher

 

Join the community for our weekly chapel service in the Chapel of the Unnamed Faithful, where we will also honor our Distinguished Alums, the Reverend Im Hyon Jung (G-ETS 1993) and the Reverend Dr. Heather Heinzman Lear (G-ETS 2015).

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Community Meal

Hotel Information

 

Campus housing is currently at capacity with students, so we encourage you to take advantage of the group rate at the Hilton Garden Inn in Evanston, Illinois.

Hilton Garden Inn

1818 Maple Ave
Evanston, IL 60201

$169/night + tax

Breakfast and valet parking available for additional fees

Make your reservation early to ensure availability.

Parking Information

 

 

You are welcome to park in our Visitor Lot, located immediately west of our Main Building and accessible via Garrett Place.

 

If our Visitor Lot is full when you arrive, please park temporarily in the Garrett Place circle drive, come inside to the welcome table, and obtain a parking pass and map for nearby Northwestern University lots. Parking is included in your registration. Please leave extra time for parking.