S2 E26: Kathy Khang: Finding a Home: Hospitality, Immigration, and Power in the Church

Liminal Living

Who gets to decide the modern dogmas of who is in and who is out? Probably not the people Jesus would hang around with, marginalized communities. I have an honest and beautiful conversation with author Kathy Khang today about her experience as a Christian in America who immigrated from Korea. And she highlights things from that perspective that I had a hard time seeing from my perspective.

Our guest today is Kathy Khang, a mother of three, wife of one, and a passionate advocate for embracing the complexities of identity, spirituality, and social justice. Kathy's story is one of transformation and empowerment, rooted in her love for Jesus and a deep appreciation for the simple joys of life, like yoga, nail polish, lipstick, and the bond she shares with her girlfriends.

Kathy's journey as a writer, speaker, coffee enthusiast, and even a yoga teacher has taken her from the pages of childhood diaries to newsrooms and co-authored books. Her next book co-authored with Matt Mikalatos is called Loving Disagreement which is about how to sustain community in a polarized society. It landed on Englewood Book Review’s list of most anticipated books of 2023. She is also a co-host of The Fascinating Podcast which is on season 11 now.

With over two decades of experience in parachurch ministry, working with college students and training leaders, Kathy has been a force for change, encouraging others to find and use their voices to bring about positive transformation. Her recent book, "Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up," inspires everyone to embrace their influence and work toward creating a more just and compassionate world. So, join us today as we dive deep into Kathy Khang's inspiring journey of using one's voice to shape a better future.

Time Stamps for the episode:
00:40 Introductions
03:52 Good Coffee
09:09 Spiritual Roots in the Korean Church in Chicago
13:44 Renting church space and false hospitality
18:31 Rethinking Hospitality as the Church
21:58 Loving Disagreement what it is and is NOT
27:04 Love is not nice
32:01 Toxic Positivity
36:45 The Moving Goalposts of expectation
41:47 False apostolic authority used to create exclusive dogma
44:12 What loving your enemy can look like
48:31 Conclusions

All Music for this episode is provided by Axeltree

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All Music for this episode composed by Axeltree