E.K. Strawser on the Heart of Centering Discipleship

E.K. Strawser is a dynamic leader whose journey spans continents and disciplines. Originally from South Korea, she immigrated to Philadelphia before eventually moving to Hawaii, crossing two oceans along the way. As a physician and pastor in Honolulu, Strawser is passionate about reshaping the church’s role in spiritual formation and believes discipleship is a key bridge in fostering deeper connections within communities. 

Her leadership extends beyond her local community, as she serves on the board of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA). She is the first Asian American woman to hold a position. She is currently the Chair of the Advancement Committee.

She is also the author of Centering Discipleship, a work that reflects her deep commitment to engaging Christians in their local communities. Building Hope in the City is excited to present the following interview with E.K. Strawser, ahead of her visit to Cleveland at the Centering Discipleship MissionSmith!

How can church leaders lean into discipleship, especially in neighborhoods with complicated histories?

It feels like there is disparateness between being a church leader and being a community leader. In Cleveland, I see there's a real effort to bridge this gap, to integrate these two roles.

If you’re a leader in the church specifically, it’s really thinking that discipleship is not just about head knowledge of Jesus. It’s about living it out in the spaces we occupy—our neighborhoods, our communities. In many churches, the focus has been on getting people to know as much about Jesus as possible, but discipleship isn’t truly discipleship until you’re also living out those teachings.

The church must cultivate a community that doesn’t just love Jesus in theory but actively loves others in its city. It's about going out and serving, not just learning. The church can look to organizations like CCDA and learn from those who have been involved in long-term community work. That can make discipleship more practical and impactful.

If churches don't connect their own church history to an exegesis of their entire community or neighborhood or city, then their church would continue to still be very distant from from their community. If a big hole like sink hole came and swallowed up your church, will your neighbors even care? Would the neighborhood even notice that that your church is gone? That's a sobering question to ask of a church leaders.

What can you say to believers who feel disappointed about what they feel is a lack of relevance or engagement by the church in tough places and conversations in society?

I’d encourage believers to examine how private their disappointment or discouragement is. If if it is remains to be private and not communal, I think that's the first thing to correct. Because whatever is left private, we think then that our faith needs to remain privatized, which is what U.S. churches in general are really great at doing.

When an individual who happens to be a Jesus follower, experiences that discouragement or disappointment together as a community as followers of Jesus, then you can do something with that discouragement. It becomes a lament and the church has historically done really well at being a voice of lament for the sake of the community. Then a whole group lamenting will start asking the Holy Spirit, “What are you already inviting us to do? Because I bet you're already at work in this place. I bet you're already at work!” Historically and scripturally, God has always been at work at any of the places that are in need.

What are some things you are looking forward to in coming to Cleveland?

I'm really looking forward to getting to know Cleveland through the eyes of the people who live there. The best way to understand a place is through the stories and experiences of its residents. Since I know Dr. Vatreisha, I'm especially excited to experience Cleveland through her perspective! Having a personal connection to someone who is familiar with the area will make it easier to connect with it in a more meaningful way.

If you’d like to hear more from Strawser, catch her at the Centering Discipleship MissionSmith on April 28th!