Pearl Dive Podcast

03. Faith in the Golden Land

Welcome to episode 3 of our series discussing the history of Burmese Christianity (Pearl Dive episode 222)! This series is part of Fuller AACHI’s Burma Diaspora Christianity Project led by Dr. Joseph Cheah and Dr. David Moe. This episode explores the transformative history of Catholic missions in Burma (Myanmar), tracing a timeline that begins with 16th-century Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries. Dr. Joseph Cheah, details how the mission evolved from early outposts under Portuguese patronage to a papal-controlled entity in the 18th century. Despite facing significant challenges from a strong Buddhist monarchy and early political suspicion, the Catholic Church eventually found its footing among ethnic minorities and through the resilience of local leaders. The discussion highlights pivotal figures and milestones that shaped the modern Burmese church, including the martyrdom of catechist Isidore Nicola during World War II and the landmark 2015 appointment of Cardinal Charles Maung Bo. Listeners will gain insight into how a foreign missionary presence successfully transitioned into a locally-rooted church. Today, while Catholics comprise approximately 1–2% of the population, the faith remains a vibrant and integral part of the nation’s diverse religious landscape. Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: Celebrating Our Stories, Embracing Our Challenges You are warmly invited to attend the 2026 Our Story, Our Faith (OSOF) Conference: Burma Christian Diaspora in Indianapolis: Celebrating Our Stories, Embracing Our Challenges [https://ourstoriesourfaith.org/], taking place August 7–8, 2026 in Indianapolis, IN, and online. 📍Dates: August 7–8, 2026📍In-Person Location: Falam Baptist Church of Indiana in Indianapolis, IN📍Virtual Attendance: Airmeet Glossary * Theravada Buddhism: The dominant branch of Buddhism in Myanmar, firmly established by King Anawrahta, which presented an early cultural challenge for Christian missionaries. * Portuguese Patronage (Padroado): A system where the Portuguese Crown managed ecclesiastical affairs in its colonies and trade routes before control shifted to the papacy. * Catechist: A person, such as Isidore Nicola, who teaches the principles of Christian dogma, often serving as a vital link between the clergy and local communities. Discussion Questions * How did the shift from Portuguese patronage to papal control in the 18th century change the trajectory and local perception of Catholic missions? * In what ways did the “locally-rooted” nature of the church help it survive periods of political unrest and the challenges of World War II? * Given that Catholics make up a small minority (1–2%) of the population, what role does Cardinal Charles Maung Bo’s appointment play in the identity of modern Burmese Catholics? Fr. Joe Cheah, OSM, is Professor and Chair in Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. As a part of the first wave of immigrants from Burma, he came to the United States with his parents in 1966. He co-sponsors the St. Mary’s Home in Kyauktan, Myanmar. All donations and inquiries go through our 501(c)(3) organization in the US: The Children Charitable Foundation of Myanmar, Inc. (childrenofmyanmar.org [https://childrenofmyanmar.org/]) Joe has published extensively, including Race and Religion in American Buddhism: White Supremacy and Immigrant Adaptation (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), Theological Reflections on “Gangnam Style”: A Racial, Sexual, and Cultural Critique (New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2014) with Grace Ji-Sun Kim, and Anti-Asian Racism: Myths, Stereotypes, and Catholic Social Teaching (New York: Orbis Books, 2023). Joe can be reached at jcheah@usj.edu. This podcast series is funded by the APARRI [https://aparri.org/] Working Grant and the American Baptist Home Mission Societies [https://abhms.org/]. Thanks for reading Pearl Dive, AACHI’s digital platform! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fulleraachi.substack.com [https://fulleraachi.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

02. Where Spirits Meet the Cross

Welcome to episode two of our series discussing the history of Burmese Christianity (Pearl Dive episode 221)! This series is part of Fuller’s Burma Diaspora Christianity Project led by Dr. Joseph Cheah and Dr. David Moe. Before the cross or the pagoda ever touched the soil of Burma, the land was alive with the whispers of the Nat. In this episode of Pearl Dive, we travel into the heart of the Burma Diaspora Christianity project. Hosts Tim Tseng, Dr. Joseph Cheah, and Dr. David Moe peel back the layers of history to reveal how ancient folk traditions — centered on powerful spirits and sacred landscapes — continue to pulse beneath the surface of modern Burmese American faith. It’s a journey that challenges everything you thought you knew about where “tradition” ends and “religion” begins. We aren’t just talking history; we’re talking identity. By integrating the lived narratives of the Burmese diaspora, this episode uncovers how pre-Buddhist folk religions were never truly erased but were instead woven into the very fabric of Christian life. Whether you’re interested in Asian American theology or the mysterious intersection of unseen forces and organized faith, this conversation offers a priceless pearl of wisdom for a global audience. Get ready to explore the spiritual geography of a people whose faith is as deep and complex as the land they call home. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fulleraachi.substack.com [https://fulleraachi.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

01. Christianity in the Land of Pagodas

Welcome to episode one of our series discussing the history of Burmese Christianity!This Pearl Dive episode, part of Fuller’s Burma Diaspora Christianity Project led by Dr. Joseph Cheah and Dr. David Moe, explores the intertwined histories of Catholic and Protestant missions in Burma/Myanmar within a predominantly Buddhist context. It traces early 16th-century Portuguese Catholic missions (Franciscans, Jesuits, Augustinians) centered around Syriam/Thanlyin and reliant on mercenaries and traders, then contrasts them with 19th-century Protestant efforts such as Baptist missionary Adoniram Judson, whose work benefited from British colonial protections but also linked Christianity to colonial rule. The conversation explains the Padroado system and the later shift toward Propaganda Fide, discusses inculturation/indigenization, why missions grew more among ethnic minorities (Karen, Kachin, Chin) than the Bamar Buddhist majority, and how independence (1948) and Ne Win’s 1962 regime reshaped churches through nationalism, expulsions, and increased indigenous leadership amid ongoing conflict, with hopes tied to unity, contextual theology, interfaith dialogue, and leaders like Cardinal Charles Bo. — Tim Tseng 00:00 Welcome to Pearl Dive 00:19 Episode Focus and Guests 01:35 Early Portuguese Catholic Missions 02:33 British Rule and Protestant Arrival 03:20 Padroado and Propaganda Fide 06:47 Inculturation and Indigenization 07:22 Judson and Ethnic Minority Growth 10:01 Catholic Indigenous Clergy Efforts 10:49 Burma Before Independence 12:27 Independence and Military Rule Impacts 15:50 Colonial Legacies and Nationalism 19:15 Challenges and Hopes Today 23:44 Unity and Closing Reflections 24:48 Project Sponsors and Credits Fr. Joe Cheah, OSM, is Professor and Chair in Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. As a part of the first wave of immigrants from Burma, he came to the United States with his parents in 1966. He co-sponsors the St. Mary’s Home in Kyauktan, Myanmar. All donations and inquiries go through our 501(c)(3) organization in the US: The Children Charitable Foundation of Myanmar, Inc. (childrenofmyanmar.org [https://childrenofmyanmar.org/]) Joe has published extensively, including Race and Religion in American Buddhism: White Supremacy and Immigrant Adaptation (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), Theological Reflections on “Gangnam Style”: A Racial, Sexual, and Cultural Critique (New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2014) with Grace Ji-Sun Kim, and Anti-Asian Racism: Myths, Stereotypes, and Catholic Social Teaching (New York: Orbis Books, 2023). Joe can be reached at jpcheah@aol.com. Dr. David Thang Moe [https://macmillan.yale.edu/southeast-asia/person/david-thang-moe] is at Yale University in New Haven, CT. where he is a Postdoctoral Associate and Lecturer in Religion and Conflict at the Council on Southeast Asia Studies at MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies and Department of Religious Studies. He can be reached on Facebook at facebook.com/davidmoe83 [https://www.facebook.com/davidmoe83]. For more about Burmese American Christians, see David Thang Moe, “The Hidden Stories of Burmese American Christians: Understanding their Imagination of Identity,” International Bulletin of Mission Research 2024, Vol. 48(3), 383­ –398. This podcast series is funded by the APARRI [https://aparri.org/] Working Grant and the American Baptist Home Mission Societies [https://abhms.org/]. Thanks for reading Pearl Dive, AACHI's digital platform! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fulleraachi.substack.com [https://fulleraachi.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Pearl Dive Live - First Jam

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Part 2: Softball, Theology, and the “Johns” ⚾

In this high-energy conclusion to our interview with Dr. Scott Wall, we trade the library for the diamond! Did you know the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is home to the largest private softball league in the region, born entirely out of Chinese Christian congregations? Scott breaks down how a league that started with just six teams in 1980 evolved into a massive social ecosystem of over 1,500 players. We explore how these “layers of experience”—from church pews to Teens Conferences to university fellowships—create a unique “locality” of faith that defines what it means to be a Chinese Canadian young adult today. The conversation takes a provocative turn as we tackle the “Evangelical” label. Scott reveals a surprising trend: why were thousands of Chinese Canadian 20-somethings bypassing local mentors to listen to “old white guys from Minnesota” like John Piper? We dive into the sociology of “identity negotiation,” exploring how Neo-Reformed theology helped a generation differentiate themselves from both a secular society and their parents’ first-generation traditions. It’s a deep look at why we need a “multivocal” faith and how the “Divine Migrant” continues to move through our suburbs, our stadiums, and our hearts. Check out Dr. Scott Wall’s PhD thesis on Chinese Canadian Evangelical experiences in the GTA entitled, “Multi-sited Faith: Chinese Canadian, Young Adult Evangelicals and the Negotiation of Ethno-Religious Identity in the Greater Toronto Area” [https://dspacemainprd01.lib.uwaterloo.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/aea92b96-585c-452b-ad67-5c62094d3caa/content]. Glossary of Terms * CCSA (Christian Community Softball Association): Originally the Chinese Christian Softball Association, this massive GTA league serves as a primary social hub for thousands of players across dozens of churches. * Neo-Reformed Theology: A modern resurgence of Calvinist thought (emphasizing the sovereignty of God and the authority of Scripture) popularized by figures like John Piper and Tim Keller. * Identity Negotiation: The social process where individuals or groups balance different aspects of their identity (e.g., being “Canadian,” “Chinese,” and “Christian”) to find where they fit in society. * Oppositionalism: A sociological term for defining one’s identity by what they are not (e.g., an evangelical defining themselves as being “at odds” with secular culture). * Locality: In this context, Scott defines it not just as a physical map, but as a “string of experiences” (school, church, sports) that shape a person’s worldview. * Anemic Discipleship: A term Scott uses to describe a faith that is weakened by only listening to a single cultural or theological voice rather than a diverse “multivocal” cloud of witnesses. Small Group Discussion Questions * The Softball Ecosystem: Scott argues that community isn’t just about geography, but shared experiences like the CCSA. What are the “social anchors” in your life (sports, clubs, hobbies) that have shaped your faith more than a Sunday sermon might? * The “Theological Elders”: The transcript mentions that many young adults looked to “The Johns” (Piper, MacArthur, Calvin) to form their identity. Why do you think we often look to distant voices rather than local ones to define our faith? Who are the local “theological elders” in your community you might be overlooking? * Differentiation: Scott notes that young adults often use theology to differentiate themselves from their parents’ “cultural” church. How do we honor the heritage of the first generation while still finding a theological language that feels authentic to our own time and place? Connect with Pearl Dive & AACHI Pearl Dive shares stories from the history of Asian American Christianity. New episodes explore the faith, courage, and contributions of Asian American Christians throughout history. “Someday everyone will know our stories.” Please like, comment, and share this episode — and keep searching and sharing pearls from our Asian American Christian history! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fulleraachi.substack.com [https://fulleraachi.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]