Episode 4 marks the centennial of Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles (EBCLA), a community whose story has been shaped by Japanese American mass incarceration and whose witness continues through their sponsorship and active participation in the annual Manzanar pilgrimage.
Just a couple of weeks ago the church celebrated….
In this episode, host Elise Kaneshiro speaks with Reverend Jason Ashimoto, Senior Pastor of EBCLA and member of the 2025 Manzanar pilgrimage planning team. Together, they reflect on Evergreen’s 100 years of ministry, the congregation’s multi-generational roots, and the church’s partnership with Fuller’s Asian American Center for a landmark pilgrimage that brought more than 160 participants together across generations.
The conversation highlights intergenerational remembrance, cultural hospitality in worship, and the spiritual formation that occurs when a church returns to sites of memory. From family stories and survivor presence to closing communion, Evergreen’s centennial pilgrimage embodied a living legacy of resilience, faith, and communal care.
Coming soon! Rev. Jason’s 8-part sermon series, “Roots,” to be posted as part of the Pearl Dive’s “Sermons to Remember” series.
Watch the companion video:
This episode was recorded remotely from Pasadena, California, and is supported by the Asian American Christian History Institute at Fuller Theological Seminary and the K/T Foundation. This episode was sponsored by Lonely Bird Studios and edited by Paul Michael Corpus Abesamis.
Intro and outro music by Daniel King and Benji Tseng.
