ABOUT Santosh & Shiny
Santosh and Shiny have experienced the joy and ache of the exile-return home cycle of two becoming one over the course of 20 years. It's everything that makes for a great story, actually. With storytelling in their DNA, they have joyously proclaimed that stories matter, that damaged does not mean done, and epics tales, songs, poems, and art are still to be created. Santosh has been telling stories to audiences for decades, and Shiny is gifted in uncovering the stories of each human heart within the safety of counseling one-on-one and using art and writing to help in the healing process. They are convinced that reading aloud is a gift and skill to nurture, and so if you happen to stay over for feasting or to share a cup of chai (or both), you are welcome to gather and listen, belong and believe. As advocates, they have been in the red light district of Mumbai and villages of Karnataka in 1998 (before they even knew each other), walked alongside immigrant families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks, served in the foster care system of inner city Philadelphia, and have sought racial justice, equity and systemic change, as well as true multicultural experiences in churches. Currently, Santosh is a house church planter with the 320 Network, and is working to complete his MDiv as well as other certifications in Ancient Near East and Hindu/Vedic scriptural studies. Shiny is homeschooling their three children Sarala, Asher and Suhana, and also recently completed Advanced Equipping for Trauma Healing (Trauma Healing Institute), leading healing groups for women as well as families. Together, the five of them are learning their own stories, trying to live them well, so they can speak, write, and sing beautiful stories into the world, empowering others to do the same.
“However, I also believe that the minority experience is not a death sentence or a punishment, but an incredible gift that can benefit those from both the majority and minority cultures...Leaders who are in touch with pain...can see and serve people with compassion. Leaders who are in touch with power...can become incredible advocates for the most vulnerable in society. Leaders who are in touch with the past...can teach and guide others with great humility and wisdom. In another way of putting it: Pain builds compassion. Power builds advocacy. The past builds wisdom.”
— Adrian Pei
about 3CG
3CG - Third Culture to the Third Generation - is a ministry whose mission is to develop and curate SAAC (South Asian American Christian) stories through communities built upon four dimensions of the Love of God (Ephesians 3:14-21) - width, length, height, and depth. These stories result in tangible acts of compassion among the last, the least and the lost of American cities and neighborhoods, empowering and establishing their voices. As the unique gifts and expressions of multicultural believing communities are more fully realized, they will manifest themselves through beautiful music, story, art and poetry to be received and expressed by successive generations.