A Faith Of Our Own: Second-Generation Spirituality in Korean American Churches

Secondgeneration Korean Americans, demonstrating an unparalleled entrepreneurial fervor, are establishing new churches with a goal of shaping the future of American Christianity.
A Faith of Our Own investigates the development and growth of these houses of worship, a recent and rapidly increasing phenomenon in major cities throughout the United States.

Immigration historians have depicted the secondgeneration as a transitional generationon the steady march toward the inevitable decline of ethnic identity and allegiance. Sharon Kim suggests an alternative path. By harnessing religion and innovatively creating hybrid religious institutions, secondgeneration Korean Americans are assertively defining and shaping their own ethnic and religious futures. Rather than assimilating into mainstream American evangelical churches or inheriting the churches of their immigrant parents, secondgeneration pastors are creating their own hybrid third spacenew autonomous churches that are shaped by multiple frames of reference.

Including data gathered over ten years at twentytwo churches, A Faith of Our Own is the most comprehensive study of this topic that addresses generational, identity, political, racial, and empowerment issues.