Gunnar Myrdal, in his book The Asian Drama, written two decades ago said the future of the world will be decided by the developments in Asia. This is partly because two third of the world's populations live there. We like to think that in America, the Asian immigrants have a role to play and it behooves the American Church to reach out and do ministry with and among Asians. Towards this end, the EAM represents the Episcopal Church to the Asian community and interprets the Asian cultures to the American Church.

Now that the EAM Consultation 2004 is over (with great thanksgiving to God and the EAM Council for a great success), come the harder task of follow-up as reader Harry Basinget from Los Angeles rightly noted. Inside, you will read the visions and goals expressed by the Convocations. From the EAM National Office, we hope to communicate them and help enable their fulfillment.

In the national level, we summarize our priority goals in the acronym of �ACTS�:

(1) Advocacy of Asian-American concerns to the Episcopal Church;
(2) Congregational Planting and Growth;
(3) Training of Clergy and Lay Leaders; and
(4) Support to Asian Clergy, Youth,Women and Seminarians

In the first three months of the new Missioner, we accomplished the following:

1. Redesigned our website to make it more user-friendly. Log on to www. episcopalchurch.org/asian_american.htm for up-to-date information
2. Gathered and improved new database for EAM congregations and clergy. The national parochial reports do not have data for ethnic persons but we are able to construct to workable demographic profile, thanks to the cooperation of our constituency. Very soon, we will be able to know how many we are, how much money we share to the church and what are the cutting edge of our mission.
3. An initial sample, we are as of this date: 73 congregations in 10 dioceses and a total of 114 EAM clergy, both active and retired.
4. We are able to construct an EAM Cycle of Prayer which will be published and distributed to congregations before the 1st Sunday of Advent.
5. As our EAM Council President, The Rev. Dr. Fran Toy said, �prayer under girds all our activities.� I trust that you will use our EAM-CP as companion to the Anglican Cycle of Prayer.

Obviously, there are many things that need to be done but I ask your prayers and support for the immediate realization of two national projects, namely; (a) EAM Clergy Collegiums Groups; and (b) YEAST. I will share my vision about them:

1. Asian Clergy Collegiums (ACC) - is a project designed for a pan-Asian clergy gathering (in addition to the EAM Consultation). It will enable Regional or Provincial Pan Asian Clergy Retreat for (a) fellowship; (b) continuing education; (c) mutual support; (d) mentoring of young clergy and seminarians. The Project, which hopefully will receive funding, will enable our clergy to develop solidarity and theological reflection. Some of the things we lack in the Episcopal Church are ministry and theological resources written by Asians for Asian ministry. The ACCG will enable the publication of �What Asian Americans Are Thinking.�
2. EAM-YEAST Coordinator �One of the crises facing churches, including ours, is the lack of gifted and committed young people who can take over from the aging clergy and lay leadership for the next generation. �Young Episcopal Asians Standing Together� or YEAST originated in the San Francisco Bay Area Youth and Young Adults and the idea suggests being a �catalyst for change.� I dream we will be able to organize YEAST in every diocese and enable our youth to rise up to the challenge.

I write these notes from the plane back to New York. I just came from San Antonio, Texas speaking on your behalf to a gathering of diocesan Congregational Development officers.

In our field trip, we visited a Roman Catholic-owned �Mexican-American Cultural Center� (MAAC) where a variety of training courses for Hispanic Ministry are being offered. I wondered aloud whether we, Episcopal Asians, despite our diversity, be able to unite for a common vision of an �Asian American Center for Ministry,� probably in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle, Chicago, Hawaii or New York? Calling all wealthy, influential and Committed Asians for your prayers and comments.