South Asian Leadership Institute

InterVarsity’s first South Asian Leadership Institute (SALI) was a dream come true and was a huge success! The vision of SALI is to train and inspire a “Catalytic Community to be Called, Equipped and Mobilized to Build the Kingdom and Change the World.” Twenty-three South Asian American (SA) student leaders and staff from all over the country gathered at the Rancho Capistrano Retreat Center in Southern California from July 30-August 3.

The Institute consisted of the following major sessions and elements:

• Manuscript study of Exodus 1-3, addressing Moses’ preparation and call to leadership as a bi-cultural person
• Large group teaching on spiritual authority, evangelism, displacement, the character of a leader, and the costs and joys of leadership
• Workshops on gender power and partnership and on SA ethnic identity development
• Four seminars on calling, discipleship, starting SA campus ministries, and evangelism to second generation Hindus
• Mentoring groups and one-on-one sessions with InterVarsity staff

Big Impact
Thankfully, the fruit and impact of SALI went beyond expectations. For example, many participants are now stepping up as chapter leaders; several received a stronger call to full-time ministry, especially with InterVarsity, and a few were healed and restored in deep and life-transforming ways. And it was very satisfying to see everyone gain a greater perspective and appreciation for leading out of their SA ethnic identity. In particular, we were simply ambushed by God during three days of the Exodus manuscript study, and participants expressed strong appreciation for the SALI staff team.

One of my favorite comments from our feedback forms told us: “My view of South Asians in ministry was transformed. I have been out of the South Asian community for a year, and it was refreshing to see young people my age following Jesus and being open to His call on their lives.”

I would add that it was a catalytic moment for the SA InterVarsity staff team to work together on this mission. We are so proud to work for a movement that has the courage and vision to reach every corner of a college campus for Jesus. And, I believe, a tremendous amount of goodwill was created for InterVarsity around the nation because of SALI’s success.

Background
The Institute was initially conceived by me during the first Asian American (AA) Daniel Project, and then further developed by Jerome Mammen, UCLA Team Leader, during the second AA Daniel Project. Final refinements were made by SA staff during national conferences and task force gatherings. We knew that countless, large-scale church conferences existed for Indian Christians of Kerala descent. And we knew that SA’s were scattered throughout InterVarsity but often alone in their chapters. However, rarely, if ever, were missional SA student leaders trained to be leaders and evangelists by other SAs. Also, churches and organizations have exerted so little effort to widen the developmental net outside of the Kerala-Indian subculture. Therefore, we believed that SALI provided a strategic training opportunity for students and a strategic growth edge for InterVarsity.

Believers
Belief can be powerful. The South Asian Staff team grew in excitement for SALI as the concept kept materializing. However, as can be expected with new ventures, there were several times when circumstances would prevent SALI from becoming a reality. I would like to highlight and thank two people among many who significantly helped us overcome these circumstances because they believed.

First, Paul Tokunaga’s encouragement and advocacy were vital. For years as the National Asian American Ministry Coordinator, he funded annual task force meetings and motivated South Asian InterVarsity staff to expand Asian-American Ministry beyond the East Asian ethnicities. He believed in SALI at times when it appeared “dead in the water.”

For example, when I learned that my wife Andrea was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, SALI was among several InterVarsity responsibilities that I could not possibly fulfill as a regional director. Paul jumped to the rescue and empowered Jerome and Asifa Dean to convene a task force last summer, which essentially kept the program alive and which motivated Asifa to sacrificially serve as the volunteer SALI administrator for a year.

The second major believer was Paula Fuller, vice president of Multi-Ethnic Ministries. Undoubtedly, the major grant we received from the Multi-Ethnic Department significantly underwrote SALI, both with financial resources and with a vote of confidence. We simply would not have been able to move forward this spring without this gift. The gift in turn led to more donors contributing to the Institute.

I recently learned that Jehovah Sali means “God is my rock.” What a great reminder! We give God praise for being the solid foundation and ultimate “believer” of the South Asian Leadership Institute.

One common question surfaced as the Institute ended: “When is the next one?” As the South Asian American population multiplies on our campuses, we believe SALI could be a great vehicle for InterVarsity to call, equip, and mobilize SA student leaders to build the Kingdom and change their worlds.