Speaking at InterVarsity National Asian American Staff Conference
Thanks for visiting my about page. I hope you can get to know me a little bit better by reading the contents found here. I think the best way to learn about me is to answer these 3 frequently asked questions:
Do you have a family?
I am happily married to the love of my life, Betina. We are very different people, but kindred spirits. She is my best friend, sharpest critic, and the love of my life. I would not be able to accomplish what I do if it were not for her love and encouragement! We have a fun-loving, talkative, and curious little daughter named Sophia! She is the apple of my eye and I love being her father. The three of us make up quite a team, and you will learn much more about them as the weeks progress — I mention them all the time in my writing. We are very connected to our parents and siblings! Our parents are super-opinionated and we love them for that. Also I will let you know all about my misadventures with my brother and brother-in-law… all in due time. Haha!
P.S. My wife loves photography! Many of the pictures on this blog are her photos — this blog is a team effort!
Photo Courtesy of Sibi Thomas (c)
What’s your story?
I have learned that I love being around people, I love learning/teaching, and I love creating new things. These passions have shown up in my life over and over again in various contexts. While in elementary school and junior high, I found great joy in making presentations in class — especially when I made people laugh and learn.
While in high school, I wanted to be cool. Therefore, I started a rock band with my friends. It was a great experience spending time with my closest friends, creating new music, and sharing it with others. Later on, I felt inspired to write songs for the church worship experience. I reflected on life, faith, and culture, and wrote about 8-10 songs with a newly formed group called Linson Daniel Band (yeah, I know creative band name… more on that another time). This was a great time in life for me. I loved writing music.
However, while at The University of Texas at Austin, I found my engineering classes to be enjoyable as we designed new things. My classes were hard, but I enjoyed the challenge… well, most of the time. It was also during that time that I had the distinct opportunity to plant the first-ever South Asian (i.e. Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, etc.) Christian Fellowship in the nation for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Again, this was another exhilarating moment to create something new, teach/learn often, and connect with people!
After I graduated, I went on to work in the corporate world for 6 years as an engineer in various positions. I loved being an engineer! It was fun to design solutions, work on a team, and learn/teach new ideas! However, there was something missing — I wanted to make a difference in the world around me. Hey, don’t get me wrong, circuits, gizmos, and gadgets are awesome, but I just wanted something different.
Photo Courtesy of Betina Daniel (c)
Then practically right on cue, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship invites me to consider becoming the Area Director for the North Texas and Oklahoma area. I would get the opportunity to oversee the campus ministry on all of the campuses in that geographic area. It sounded strategic, noble, and challenging. I decided to take the job and put my engineering firm (and great salary) in the rear-view. It was a scary experience, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I had ever made… more on that some other time.
Now, I get to lead an amazing staff team of bold, Godly, and self-sacrificing individuals that live their life on mission for God. We plant new chapters at new campuses, we teach and mold the hearts and minds of future leaders, and we get to care for students from all places and backgrounds. I have been given the opportunity to do what I love – create new things, teach/learn constantly, and be with amazing people… and it is all for a noble cause. I get to see the Kingdom grow… everywhere, everyday!
Why did you start this blog?
Photo Courtesy of InterVarsity 2100 Productions (c)
I want the world to have more noble world changers in it! Essentially, I started this blog to connect with more like-minded people, share new thoughts with this online community, and to create something new for our future! It is truly my desire to provide the insight, inspiration, and influence for everyone to be world changers. Please read more on what I hope to accomplish with this blog in my first post entitled “Welcome”.
I believe that our everyday lives can be the platform for the extraordinary. I believe that all people have been created uniquely for noble purposes — to be and do great things for the world around us.
Therefore, I will do the little that I can to mobilize us to TAKE ACTION together. I will commit to bring my mixed bag of gifts to the table every week in hopes that we will become friends and make a difference in our world.
You can find me at the following social media outlets: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+
