Final thoughts/highlights from Midwinter 2013

Midwinter 2013 ended today.  It was a great time.  You can see my reflections from earlier in the week here.

As I share these final thoughts, I need to make it clear that I’ve probably had a different experience than many others because I was in a class all week learning about the Evangelical Covenant Church.

From what I’ve heard, the conference itself was quite encouraging.

Anyhow, here are some final thoughts/highlights from my time:

1) Meeting some “Living Legends” of the ECC was a Real Highlight - On Wednesday night, our class had a chance to visit a retirement community from the Evangelical Covenant Church, and we had the opportunity to hear from men and women in their 70s-90s who had served in vocational ministry in various places around the world ranging from San Diego to Ecuador.  Collectively, there was over 500 years of vocational ministry experience amongst this distinguished yet anonymous group (btw, they didn’t call themselves Living Legends – we did).

Some were church planters, some missionaries, a professor, and also the wife of an ECC missionary who was martyred in the Congo.

It was an EXTRAORDINARY time.

Some notable quotes:

“Anybody can count the seeds in an apple, but nobody can count the apples in a seed”

“You know you have worked on a sermon when the sermon has worked on you.”

“God is no respecter of denominations when we stand before him.”

I could have sat at their feet all day long to hear their stories and glean their wisdom.

2)  The Culture of the Evangelical Covenant Church is One that Really Attracts Me - The culture of the denomination is hard to describe, but after a week of hanging with Covenant folks, I think I have a clearer sense of why people say that “Covenant is caught, not taught.”

One can read all about the Covenant and learn of its immigrant history and humble beginnings, its emphasis on being mission friends rather than parsing theological minutiae, and its heart for the whole gospel for the whole world.

But here are some things in the culture of the denomination that I “caught” at Midwinter.

- Humility – It’s always hard to say something self-complimentary about humility, but yeah, the Covenant, especially its leaders, are really humble people.

In our class, we had some big-wigs come to our class, people I have no business hanging with, and they each came and presented with such humility, grace, and hospitality.

These people were kind, gentle, self-deprecating – it was awesome.  Each session we as a class had a chance to come around these folks and pray for them.

And here’s when I “caught” it.

In our classroom of about 40-ish students, It seemed like we had the most AV problems I’ve encountered since 1995 (this is a joke but you get my drift).

But all the presenters, including the president, just flowed with it and didn’t get frustrated or perturbed in the slightest bit.  He even laughed it off!

At one point, one of our regional superintendents went up to the powerpoint and started manually hitting the space bar to help out one of the other instructors as he was teaching.

No complaining, no “I’m better than this”, no “what’s the problem”.

It was awesome.

I couldn’t have “caught” this culture of mutual service and humility without being there.

- Ministry to the Under-resourced - At the beginning of our class, we all had a chance to go around the room and share about our ministry contexts around the country.

What really stood out to me was how many churches talked about their ministries to the under-resourced, despite the varying size of their city or church.

I was really struck by this, and I could see how mission really is a common thread in ECC churches/ministries.

- Race, Compassion, & Justice – I must admit, I was a bit shocked at how many white people there were at Midwinter.  But then I remembered it was founded by Swedish immigrants!

But, I could see how intentional the ECC is in empowering people of color and women on stage and in positions of influence.

In one of the main evening sessions of the conference (I was able to attend evening sessions), the topic – from sermon to songs to prayer – was on compassion and understanding toward immigrants.

Uh, how many denominations are devoting an entire plenary on that subject?

Very cool.

- Generous Orthodoxy - Throughout the week I heard people quote Desert Fathers, Greg Boyd, Soong-Chan Rah, Rob Bell, & John Piper.

I don’t think all these people will be dining together soon, but at the Covenant table, we’re all welcome as we discuss “Where’s it written?”

3)  I Really Love our East Coast Conference – I absolutely LOVE hanging with these cats.  I especially appreciate the leadership of Howard Burgoyne, Jason Condon, and Kreig Gammelgard, because they embody so much of the above.

Plus, they know how to throw a great dinner party.  Those tacos… wow!

4)  I Love What We’re Doing at Hope Church NYC, and I Love Working Alongside Craig Okpala - I’m so energized by what’s happening at Hope, and I’m so excited for its future.  It felt really meaningful to be so new to the denomination and yet to hold to much of what the Covenant is about.

And yeah, I’m just so, so excited about all that’s to come for us as we seek to extend hope in Astoria and beyond.

I also got to spend the week with Craig Okpala, and that’s been so much fun.  We shared, laughed, ate lots of Mexican Food, and even had all-you-can eat Korean BBQ in Los Angeles.  So much fun.

I’m so honored to be planting this church with Craig, and I’m thankful to be working with someone I greatly respect but also someone I’m privileged to call my friend.

I think what’s been most fulfilling about church planting in general has been being able to do life and mission with my friends, and that seems wholly appropriate for us as we’re part of a movement that started out with the title “Mission Friends”.

Mission Friends.

I like that.

I like that very much.

Hope Church NYC Launches This Sunday, September 23rd

It’s hard to believe that September 23rd is finally here.  After months of wrestling with God about what our next steps were, Tina and I came to the conclusion that God was calling us to stay in NYC and plant a church in Astoria, NY.

Less than one year later, Hope Church NYC officially launches.  I am so humbled and grateful as this church planting project is born.

Solideogloria.

As we head into this Sunday, I wanted to recognize some folks whom God has graciously allowed to have a hand in planting Hope.

1)  Tina and Our Son David – This has been an unbelievable season for our family, and one that has taken precedence over what’s happened at Hope.  David has been such a gift, and Tina has been the best mom and wife I could have ever asked for.

My wife and son have been a gift from God.

With all the stresses of a newborn and a new church, Tina has been a steady and faithful rock throughout the process, even putting up with my shenanigans with good-spirited aplomb.

And David has been a true champ.  I love these two!

2) Launch Team -  What makes a church is the people, and Hope is full of some incredible people.  I can’t thank these folks enough for their commitment, their volunteering, and most of all, their presence!

There have been some funny, “that’s church planting” moments for sure, but I’m so grateful for the willingness to go with the flow as we’ve had so many stops/starts & twists/turns.

This community has also shown me so much grace through my own mistakes – many of which have been painful but necessary to see.

Launch team and new regular attenders – thanks so much for being part of what’s happening at Hope!

PS Special shout-out to our other pastoral staffers – Craig Okpala and Joe Longarino.  Studs.

3) The Evangelical Covenant Church - It’s been such a joy to be part of a larger movement, and the Evangelical Covenant Church has been super supportive and encouraging throughout.  Jason Condon, the Director of Church Planting for the East Coast Conference of the ECC, has been so helpful and insightful in this process, and learning alongside other church planters in NYC, NJ, and New England has challenged and encouraged me in so many ways.

We’re so lucky to be part of this family of churches!

4) Family and Friends who have Supported Hope - So many friends and family have supported this church plant with their prayers and their financial support, and it’s been so humbling to hear stories of people fasting and praying on our behalf, while others have given sacrificially so that we could launch.

Seriously humbled by all these folks who are literally all around the world. Thank you so much for your friendship, mentorship, and generosity.

And a very special thanks to the Hyun and Park families.  Tina and I are so, so grateful for you and your support.

5) New Life Fellowship - I’m so grateful for all the friendships I’ve made at New Life over the years, and the incredible people I’ve learned so much from. Obviously Pete and Geri Scazzero have had a significant part in that journey, and I’m so, so grateful for all they have deposited in me over the years.

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without New Life, and Hope wouldn’t be the kind of church that it is without New Life.

6) Other churches in NYC - There have been so many pastors who have voiced their support of what we’re doing, and to know we stand side-by-side with so many churches is an amazing feeling.

There’s something stirring in NYC…

The Tensions of Church Planting

Edit: We just had our first preview service this past Sunday!  I love our team!  Alas, I’ll save that for another post while I finish this one…

This post comes after reading this excellent piece, which I highly recommend.

This Sunday, Hope Church NYC hosts our first public worship gathering.

A lot of effort is going into this Sunday, and after a moment of pause this morning, I realize there are some tensions I’m carrying as we move into this stage of the planting process.  Here are some of them.

1)  Numbers don’t matter… right?  One of the biggest reasons I wanted to plant a church was so that we could be a people where relationships mattered more than the Sundays, and that these relationships would be where God met us most powerfully.

In many ways, this value of relationships goes against the grain of growing large numerically too quickly.

And yet, there’s this nagging thing in me that thinks God is MOST likely to show up if the room is packed.

But if the room is packed, many visitors will likely be overlooked and our volunteers might be over-extended.

Tension.

I think as Evangelicals, the phrase “God showed up!” can often be synonymous with “We had our largest attendance ever!”.

I think I’ve been around church world long enough to know that numbers don’t tell the whole story.  They tell a story, and quite honestly a very helpful one when the numbers increase at a healthy pace.  However, numbers aren’t the entire story.

But can God show up if the room is not packed?

Well, if the focus is on relationships, then the answer is yes.

Hence, the question that we’ve been wrestling with as a leadership team – how can our Sundays facilitate more authentic relationships?

2)  Six Days Versus Sunday – There’s a lot of planning going into Sunday.  There are many logistical concerns… and I’m also preaching a sermon!

It’s easy for most of my time to go into the few hours on Sunday.

But some questions I’m asking myself Monday-Saturday are:

- Are you investing in transforming relationships?

- Are you loving your family well?

- Are you being a witness of Christ’s death and resurrection to those you see and meet Monday-Saturday?

3) Staying True to Values Versus Following the Trends – I have a great advisory team at Hope that’s challenged me on this frequently.  There’s so much literature on church planting, and I’m even attending the Exponential Conference next week.

All this means I’m full of great ideas, usually taken from the latest thing I’m reading or the most recent speaker or coach I’ve listened to.

At some point, I have to remember that being a pastor is context-specific, and a great idea doesn’t mean it’s a great idea for Hope.

4) A Journey for God Versus a Journey To God – It’s so easy to get caught up in tasks in church planting.  There are people to call, things to organize, events to plan – all of which, in my mind, I’m doing for God.

I’ve found in vocational ministry that I fall into a bad place when my journey for God doesn’t necessarily lead me to God.

A common prayer that I’ve said lately, influenced by the words of my mentor Ken Shigematsu, is “Lord, may my journey for you be a journey to you.”

May that be the prayer of us all -

“Lord, may my journey for you be a journey to you.” 

I believe this is an apt prayer for us all.

Amen and amen.

Advice I Tell Myself as a Church Planter

Today I was asked by some seminary students what advice I’d give to church planters.

After thinking about that question some more, I’ve listed five adages below that help keep me centered through the task of planting Hope Church NYC.

I imagine some people can relate to these, whether you’re a church planter or not.

*Each adage has a Bible verse italicized which I think captures the essence of each saying, I think. 

1.  Pray.  Now. (Psalm 27)

The two words go together for me.  I have to remember that above all else, God is the author and perfecter of my faith.  Prayer is the most obvious byproduct of remembering this truth.

As a church planter, it’s convenient for me to forget about God because there’s so much to do and there’s an insufferable feeling that it’s all on my shoulders.

Well, it’s not.  God’s ultimately in control.

The word “Now” is added because prayer is often the easiest thing to push to the back of my to-do list.

Perhaps there are some more urgent things to do as a church planter – but nothing more important.

Hence I need to pray.  Now.  Not Later.

2.  One Day at a Time (Matthew 6:34)

I alluded to this in a previous post, but this saying is extremely helpful for me.

I so want Hope to instantaneously be what I envision.

Too bad life doesn’t work that way.

Tina laughs at me when I ask her when she thinks we should add another service.

We’ve barely started laying the groundwork for the first, she reminds me.

How was the Great Wall Built?  One brick at a time.

3.  “Go, Sit in Your Cell, and Your Cell will Teach You Everything” - A Saying by A Desert Father (Phil 4:11-13)

I’ve read/heard this phrase a few times over the years, and it comes from the Desert Fathers.

The saying could mean a lot of things, including the need for silence, solitude, and “think” space.

The way I take the phrase is to focus on what God’s given me to do, instead of peering out over the horizon at what everyone else is doing.

I’ve noticed that when I fall into the comparison trap, I lose sight of what God’s called me and our church to do.

I can get so concerned with other church plants or the latest trends in church world that I lose sight of our church and our community.

There are so many God moments that I might miss out on because I’m so enamored with what’s happening over there.

Meanwhile, all that’s happening right in front of me is quite sacred and beautiful.

4.  “What is This Life if, Full of Care, We Have No Time to Stand and Stare” – WH Davies (Exodus 20:8)

With all the stresses and tasks of church planting, it’s easy to feel miserable.  That is, if I don’t take the time to “stand and stare”.

For me, this means Sabbath-keeping and other disciplines that give me space to experience joy and pleasure.

This saying has been especially helpful since we have a newborn.  Although we look forward to getting out of these first twelve weeks with David (our son), Tina and I have been consciously enjoying this stage of our son’s life.

He’s such an adorable little guy, and it’d be so easy for me to miss out on precious moments with our son because I’m so caught up in the tasks I need to complete.

Sometimes as church planters we can sacrifice the wrong things for the sake of mission, as if it’s an honor to be a miserable church planter.

I’d much rather be a joyful church planter (who gets miserable sometimes).

5. Love God, Love People (Matthew 22:36-40) – ‘Nuff said.

Is there any advice you’ve found helpful as a church planter or entrepreneur?

Having a Newborn & Planting a Church

These past few months have been such exhilarating times for Tina and me.  We’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

Two of the biggest things happening to us are 1) We had our first child, David Jinhwan Hyun, and 2) We’re planting Hope Church NYC in Astoria, NY.

I thought I’d share some reflections on how both having a baby and planting a church are similar.

Our little boy is a joy. It's been helpful for us to approach things one day at a time.

1)  My constant mantra is, “one day at a time” - On the surface, having a baby is an overwhelming task.  So is planting a church.

I find that some of my worst moments come when I worry too far down the line, like trying to figure out where David’s going to go to high school, or what Hope‘s going to look like 25 years from now.

But both having a baby and planting a church are much more manageable when I remember that I can only be faithful to today, while still planning for the future.

As a result of reminding myself to take things “one day at a time”, life has become considerably more joyful.

I tend to err toward impatience too, and that’s not a good thing with newborns or church plants.  There are so many times that I want our newborn to stop crying right now, or to have volunteer systems in place within our church plant by 3 pm today (and that’s for ministries that don’t even exist yet).

But the reality is, quieting a newborn and starting a church takes time.

Life takes time.

It’s much more manageable one day at a time.

Sidenote: This is not to say that vision casting and planning for the future is not helpful.  Scripture talks about both – having an eye toward the future and still focusing on today.  I tend to not focus on today, which is why “one day at a time” is helpful for me.

2) Life is not about me – This is something that I come back to regularly, but this has been a good season to remember that life is not about me.

Right now, the baby takes up a lot of our energies, and deservedly so.  David’s a perpetual reminder that life is not about me.

With the church, I’m consciously aware that so much of what happens at Hope is God’s work.  God forbid I take too much credit.

I need to reassure myself constantly that this is about primarily doing a work for God and others, not a work for myself.

3) It’s so good to have support – It’s hard for me to ask for help.  Tina knows this.  People close to me know this.

But I’ve been overwhelmed by the unsolicited support of family and friends while we’ve had a baby.  People who have cooked meals, offered to babysit, written notes, given gifts, etc.  Wow.  We feel so loved and supported.

Many of these folks are part of Hope’s launch team.

Speaking of which, I LOVE our launch team at Hope.  I’m so grateful for this group that God has brought together, and I’m well aware that planting a church is well beyond a one-person show.

We’re moving into a season when we’ll be asking for people to volunteer more heavily in different areas, and I’ve been blown away by the willingness of our folks.

A church is a group of people gathered and scattered, supporting one another and supporting a cause.  It’s been really fun to experience this.

If you’re someone who needs help, please ask for it!  For many people (like me), I realize we don’t feel supported because we don’t ask for it.

We're planting a church. Grace is a great approach.

4) The real work happens behind the scenes – Um, this might be news to some of you, but Tina’s carrying the heaviest burden with our son right now.

As much as I change diapers and cook (or heat up – hehe) food and pray lengthy prayers, Tina is feeding our son around the clock.  And she also gave birth to him.  Wow.

People congratulate me, but I’m quick to recognize that Tina is the real hero in all of this (shout-out to all you moms out there).

In terms of church planting too, I think what’s cool is that the growth of our community really depends on our community.  Sure, I may be a point person or a face, but our church really depends on our people.

I’m lucky enough to be one of the leaders in this community.

5) Grace, Grace, Grace – I need more of it, and I need to give more of it.

Any significant event or task – including having a newborn and planting a church – induces stress.

The best thing I can do is pray, reflect on Scripture, share life with a community, and hear words of grace for myself and then in turn give grace to others.

Grace is a great antidote to anxiety/stress, I’ve found.

Final Reflection from Q Practices with Eugene Peterson

If you’d like to read my thoughts after Day One of Q Practices with Eugene Peterson, you can read here.

Day Two was today, and we covered Peterson’s views on Embodiment, Scripture, Community, and the Church.

Here are some reflections:

Jan Peterson was keepin' it real.

1) Hearing from Jan Peterson, Eugene’s wife, was a highlight
– I’m a firm believer that spouses keep it real, and I was excited when Jan was invited on stage to answer questions.  I was most moved when she talked about whether or not Eugene’s life with God was real…

Her response?

Absolutely.  She strongly reiterated how the person we hear on the pages of Eugene’s writings are really him.  She then talked about how she really respected how firm he was in not getting enticed by the trappings of fame and notoriety.

So cool.

And then Eugene shared some heartwarming stories about Jan and her hospitality, and it was all really quite wonderful.

I’m convinced that a long obedience in the same direction is not limited to one’s life with God, but also to one’s love and commitment to one’s spouse and family (and if single, one’s close family and friends).

The Peterson’s marriage was one of the best sermons of the day.

2) Pastors are to be local and relational - Peterson stressed this greatly, and even challenged the notion that Pastors are chiefly communicators.  Pastors are conversationalists, he said, people whose vocation is intricately tied to people.

This is such a great reminder for me as a church planter.

One of the reasons Tina and I chose Astoria for Hope is because we could be “local”.

It was so great to learn from Eugene Peterson for two days.

3) One of the things I most admire about Eugene Peterson is his clear sense of what he’s called to do… and not to do.  

Here are a couple of things he said which stood out to me.

First, he said, “I really haven’t done much.”

Second, he said, “I’m really not that busy.  Jan and I actually have quite a bit of leisure in our lives.”

I think there was a collective gasp (or maybe it was just me) when he said both these statements.

When I read Peterson’s bio and the list of books he’s written, I’m really stunned at his capacity.

But realistically, although it’s true that Peterson has some unique gifts, he’s human too.

And because he’s human, Eugene knows what he’s called to do, and therefore he also knows what NOT to do.

Throughout the day, I was struck by what he’s chosen not to do, including:

1) Jan spoke of speaking engagements Eugene has said no to (as well as celebrities).

2) Eugene spoke of giving up TV 30 or so years ago.

3) Eugene does not use social media.

4) When it came down to whether or not the church should expand after reaching capacity, Eugene knew he wasn’t the leader to take the church to the next level.  Sure enough, the next leader expanded the church missionally.

Part of Peterson’s “long obedience in the same direction” is a willingness to say “no” to many “good” opportunities.

In this way, Peterson has been able to have a laser-like focus in what he commits himself to.

He also mentioned that he simply does things that he loves, and so immersing himself in Scripture, writing, and pastoring, are all “loves” of his.  These loves have helped define what he has committed his life (and time) to.

4) I’m so excited about Hope.  I love our launch team, I love what we’re building, and I’m so excited about what God’s going to do!

5) There were a couple of “well-known” Christian leaders in the audience as learners. 

I didn’t get a chance to talk extensively to these folks (hence I won’t blog who they were), but I was greatly encouraged that there were a few nationally known American Christian leaders in the audience there to learn.

It was so cool and encouraging to see these folks learning, too.  It’s nice to know that we’re all on the journey and there’s always something new to learn.

6) I was so fortunate to be there, especially in Peterson’s advanced age. Being able to learn from Peterson in a small setting is a gift I do not take for granted.

Thank you so much, Q.  Thank you for caring about how to better serve and resource pastors and church planters like me – it’s much appreciated!

Jeremy Lin, Friendship, & Needing Someone to Believe in You When No One Else Does

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jeremy's family seems really close knit.

Linsanity continues.  Jeremy Lin just hit a game winning 3-ball against the Toronto Raptors.  I dunno what to say.

Actually, I do, which is why I’m blogging yet again about Jeremy Lin.

In my last post, I wrote about how there were so many circumstances where it would have been reasonable for Jeremy to quit on his dream of playing professional basketball.

Jeremy is certainly in the spotlight for having persevered through it all, and it’s well chronicled how his faith has been so meaningful for him.

Part of faith though, and any spiritual journey really, is the influence and support of others, usually found in the safety of family and friends.

I’m always warmed by the stories of Jeremy’s family, and he seems to talk often about how supportive and close-knit his family is.  Awesome.

There’s no doubt that Jeremy could not have done this without the steady, consistent support of his family, and I’m always tickled to witness bonded families like his, because I’m reminded of how much my family has meant to me too.

Support systems are necessary for anyone trying to persevere through trial, and if you’ve ever been in a particularly deep valley you know what I mean, either because the acute loneliness led you deeper into an abyss or because the outstretched arms of a loved one pulled you up from the mire.

For as long as I’ve followed Jeremy, there’s one person apart from his family that stands out as a “believer” in Jeremy when no one else thought he had the chops to make it to the NBA. I’m sure there are others who advocated for Jeremy through his doubts, including a litany of friends and church folk, but I wanted to bring up the one person I know was clearly publicly rooting for Jeremy even when he had many reasons to doubt or quit his prospects at pro ball (I don’t know if this person is a personal friend – I’m just saying he’s specifically a strong supporter basketball-wise).

Again, this post is just based on some public information, not any personal information.  Jeremy’s take might be quite different, but I’m pretty sure this one person had some kind of impact on Jeremy’s belief that he could be where he is today.

—-

I started following Jeremy Lin back in January ’09 after he had a remarkable game against Boston College, a Division 1 program that had just beaten the number 1 team in the country, the UNC Tarheels.

Jeremy’s story mixes some of my greatest passions (as you can see by these string of blog posts), including faith, sports, and race, and so I googled everything about the kid shortly after the BC game.

I read of his high school exploits, his involvement at AACF at Harvard, and how his dad was a basketball junkie.  Yes, these are all the things that everyone has discovered in the past week and a half – I knew a couple of years early because I was intrigued by the upset win against BC.

In my research of Lin, I actually came across the blog of one person who was more obsessed than I was.  The guy seemed to love hoops, and he would rave about Jeremy and the kind of player he was.  He seemed to go to a ton of Harvard games to specifically scout Lin.

And crazy enough, back in 2009, this guy called it by saying that Jeremy Lin should be playing in the NBA one day.  No one else was saying this.  NO ONE (well, there was also this one other stat geek).

The guy’s twitter handle is @poormanscommish, and Poor Man’s Commish was Lin’s biggest advocate (Poor Man’s Commish admits that Brian Yang, a personal friend of Lin’s was the first to bring Lin to his attention, though).  Poor Man’s Commish put up extensive scouting reports and analyses of different players that Lin was competing against, and he even put himself out there by saying that Lin was a bona fide 1st round NBA pick.  Please click on that last link to see just how thorough Poor Man’s Commish’s analysis was.

With Lin’s success today, it’s amazing at just how prophetic Poor Man’s Commish was.

Which brings me to a recent discovery.

Poor Man’s Commish hadn’t talked to the Lins in awhile, but after Jeremy’s breakout game against the Nets (his first game with extensive minutes where he had 25 points and 7 assists), he “got an email from [Jeremy's] mom saying, “I know we haven’t talked in awhile, but thank you for your support.”

One of the first few to get a message from Jeremy’s mom after his breakout game last week was Poor Man’s Commish.  The belief that Poor Man’s Commish had in Jeremy during his college years was special enough for Jeremy’s mom to remember him and reach out to him when all this Linsanity started.

Why?

I suspect it’s because Poor Man’s Commish believed in Jeremy when no one else would. 

We tend to remember those people that believe in us when no one else does.

We tend to thank them, too.

—–

There’s this story in the Bible of a man who was paralyzed.  We’re not told how he was paralyzed or how long he’s been paralyzed – we just know he’s paralyzed.

And rumor has spread that there’s  a man named Jesus who is in town, an extraordinary person who has demonstrated remarkable power through his healing and teachings.

Naturally, people crowd around to witness the phenomenon of this miracle worker, and they cram into the house where he’s teaching.

We’re told that there are friends who have carried the paralyzed man to meet Jesus.  It’s too crowded to get the paralyzed man through the door, though.

So what do these friends do?  They dig a hole through the roof of the house and lower the man inside.

The writer tells us, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”

A theological debate ensues regarding physical healing and spiritual healing, but one of the startling revelations of this passage is what I emboldened and italicized above – this paralyzed man is somehow healed as a result of Jesus seeing the faith of his friends, not necessarily the faith of this man, the text tells us.

I don’t know all the ins and outs of this passage or the theological implications therein.  But I do know this about this passage and about faith:

Sometimes, we need people to believe for us, especially when no one else does.  In fact, miracles can happen when we ride the faith of a genuine community of supporters.

In God’s economy, he gives us the shelter of a one another as a “body of Christ”, a group of fellow believers who hurt with us, cry with us, rejoice with us, and believe in us and for us – even when we don’t.

Having the support and belief of others is as spiritual as life can get, because that’s how God created us to function in this world.

Like Jeremy, we tend to remember those people that believe in us when no one else does.

We tend to thank them, too.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 

- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Some Photos and Highlights from the Last Few Weeks

I haven’t blogged in a few weeks, mostly because my days have been quite full with various activities.  I thought I’d give a snapshot of some of what we’ve been up to the past few weeks.

1.  We started Launch Team Gatherings for Hope Church NYC!  It’s been glorious fun.  Some hiccups here and there, but we’re so excited for what’s to come!

from l to r: Me, Tina, Jen, Eli, and Peter

2.  Went to the Train Show at the Bronx Botanical Garden with Pete, Jen, and Eli back in December.  If you haven’t been, it’s really an amazing exhibit.

3.  Went to a Knicks game, compliments of dear friends Tom and Edna – the best seats we’ve ever had!  I’ve come to realize that the Knicks have the best fans in the world.  This clicked for me as I watched MSG rockin while the Knicks played the Bobcats.  Oh, and Tom has a ridiculous knack for running into celebrities.  Ridiculous.

4.  Went to Houston for New Year’s and Tina’s birthday.  It was my first New Year’s outside of NYC in I-don’t-remember-how-long-it’s-been.  I love my in-laws and I love Houston, Texas.  I also love all the friends my wife has introduced me to.  I’ll probably write about this one day – how I feel so lucky to have met the people I have through my wife.  Yes.

5.  Had a perspective-shifting class at Fuller in Los Angeles with Leith Anderson.  My next blog post will allude briefly to the class, but in short, meeting and learning from Leith and his wife Charleen (along with other leaders from around the world) was a great privilege.

From l to r: Stephen, Carrol, and Phil

From l to r: Mom, Dylan, Viv, and Me. Missing in Pictures: Steph and Carrol's boys Isaiah and Evan.

6.  In LA, got to hang with my mom, my brothers Stephen and Phillip and their families, and good friends Mike, Ivan, Stacey, Deb, Loc, and Christina.  So blessed to have amazing family and friends on the West Coast.

7.  Went to a Memorial Gathering in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. put on by some senior friends at Roosevelt Island, many of whom lived through the Civil Rights Movement.   Thanks Uncle Jim!  It was such a gift to be there.

8.  We’re having a baby very soon…

It’s been a great few weeks… 2012 is going to be quite a ride.

Why Plant a Church in Astoria?

We just finished our last vision gathering in which we shared about our dreams for Hope.  One of the questions I addressed was “Why plant a church in Astoria?”

We were actually approached by a few people to plant a church in Manhattan (including a couple of denominations) before we settled on Astoria.  If you ask Tina, I was thisclose to choosing Manhattan, but Astoria kept tugging at our hearts.  Here are some reasons why:

1.  Astoria is One of the Least Churched Areas of Queens, NY – I posted this on twitter (courtesy of David Ellis, pastor of Astoria Community Church), but if you were to increase the attendance of every Christian church in Queens by 1,000 people, you’d still be left with 1.5 million unchurched people in the borough of Queens.  That’s more than the entire population of the city of Philadelphia.

Queens is three times (3 x’s) as unchurched as Manhattan, and yet, 40% of the Christian churches in Manhattan have been planted in the last 10 years, showing just how big a draw Manhattan has been for new churches.  Meanwhile, church planting in Brooklyn and Queens have lagged behind (although these boroughs are much more populous).

As unchurched as Queens is, consider all the Korean churches in Flushing, the Spanish churches in Corona, and all the other areas of churched populations throughout this Borough.  Astoria does not have many churches, unfortunately.

I’ve listed around 15 English speaking in the area (there might be more), and the average size is roughly ~65 people.

David Ellis, who planted Astoria Community Church ten years ago, told me, “this area desperately needs more churches!”

2.  We Live Close By – Tina and I hang out in Astoria and LIC all the time.  As we walk/drive through neighborhoods, it’s been common for us to pray for the different areas and people we meet.

3.  Astoria is Remarkably Diverse – For an area that used to be almost entirely Italian and Greek, the region is very diverse.  Moreover it’s very diverse socio-economically too.

Consider:

- In the Zip Code 11106, where our Sunday Gatherings will likely be housed, there is a population of 43,000 and a poverty rate of 18.7% (poverty being defined as a household income below ~$26,000).

- In nearby Long Island City directly south of Astoria (sometimes the two are confused), there is a population of 26,000 while having a poverty rate of 27%.  These are some of the

At the same time, Astoria is home to many immigrants, professionals, and artists, especially with its proximity to Manhattan.

4.  There is Some Good Food in Astoria – My favorite bagel place in the entire city is Brooklyn Bagel in Astoria.  My favorite Red Velvet Cupcake is from Martha’s Bakery.  My favorite diners in NYC are Bel Aire and Sanfords, both 24 hour spots that Tina and I have gone to at odd hours. One of my favorite burgers is Petey’s Burger.  Two of our favorite Greek places are BZ Grill and Kyclades.  I would add that our favorite taco and tamale place was in Astoria (Talcingo), but it closed down, unfortunately.

Anyone who lives in or close to Astoria knows what I’m talking about when it comes to food.

And we all know food is one of the most spiritual things in this life.

Church People

“All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him…” – 1 Samuel 22:2

A friend of mine joked the other day that this will be the theme verse of Hope, the church we’re planting.

In this verse, David has the odds stacked against him, running from the powerful king and his army.

David’s trying to lead a movement, and these are the folks who show up.  Those in distress, in debt, and discontent.

Sure sounds like a church to me.

———

Lately I’ve been walking around Astoria, specifically around the area that we’ll be having our Sunday gatherings for Hope.  I’ve been praying that God leads me to the right people to talk to, guiding my steps and my conversations at every turn.

Yesterday, I happened to walk outside of a dry cleaner, and there were three people gathered, two gentlemen and a woman with a young child.  I knew immediately that I was supposed to talk to them.

So I introduced myself.

“Hi, my name is Drew, I’m a pastor and I live on Roosevelt Island with my wife.  We’re starting a church in this neighborhood.  Would you be interested in being part of it one day?”

The three of them looked at each other, bemused perhaps by my gumption, searching for a way to respond without laughing out loud.

“We’re not church people,” the woman said, with the others nodding in agreement.  Then they laughed.

I laughed too, because it was funny that they thought the question was funny.

Then I asked, “Why not?  Do you think this neighborhood could use another church?”

“Oh for sure this neighborhood needs churches!” The woman responded.  “But we’re not church people.”

One man (I’ll call him Brian) chimed in, “I’m not gonna lie, I like the bottle, and I’ve been drinking since I was a teenager.  I really don’t want to change.”

The other man (I’ll call him Tom) said, “I haven’t been to church.  I was locked up for 20 years and there really hasn’t been a reason for me to go to church.”

The woman (I’ll call her Cynthia) laughed and said once more, “We’re not church people.”

———

One of the reasons I’ve fallen in love with church planting is because it’s an opportunity to reach and serve more people, a way of revitalizing the Church’s mission to speak and demonstrate the good news of Jesus in tangible ways.

If you check out this article by Tim Keller, you can see why church planting is an important dynamic for continual growth and advancement of the gospel, particularly for very people who are “not church people.”

Lyle Shaller puts it this way: “The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches.”

For those of you put off by the word “evangelist”, it’s a word that literally comes from the greek words “good”, and “news” or “messenger of”.

I think we could all use a little more good news in this city.  I think we could all use more good messengers, too.

———

“What if I told you that you are church people, but you just didn’t know it,” I said.

They looked at me skeptically, but interested.

“Because here’s what I believe about you.  I believe that deep down you’re willing to give God a chance if he showed you he was real and powerful.  I believe that if he revealed himself to you in such a supernatural, life-giving way, you’d follow Him anywhere.”

“What if I told you that despite what you’ve done in the past, God has something new for you?  What if I told you that ‘church people’ are just messed up people with broken pasts and presents who believe that somehow, God is in our midst and inviting us into a new reality, a new life?”

“What if I told you that we’d also have free donuts and coffee at our church gatherings in homes and on Sundays?”

We all laughed.

———

We talked for over 30 minutes.  People passed by and said hello, almost every person asking Brian if he had some beer, to which he would reply, “No, but let me introduce you to this Father.”

“Just call me Drew,” I would say.

We spoke of the suffocating grind of the city, the broken families that we see and experience ourselves, the need for hope where this is none.

We spoke of Jesus and how He gives life.  We spoke of how our neighborhoods need something, anything to revitalize us.

As our time came to a close due to errands that needed to be run, I asked, “Can I pray for you?”

“Sure,” they responded.  “Why not?”

One by one, I prayed for them.  Brian who was a self-described drunk.  Tom who was the self-described ex-con.  Cynthia who was the self-described “just trying to survive” person. I even prayed for the young 2 year-old grandson of the woman.

I don’t remember exactly what I prayed, but I knew I was asking God to guide my lips and my words, to speak truth and love over these kind people, and communicate whatever God wanted me to say.

I know one word that I continued to pray was “Hope.”

As we finished praying the Cynthia was in tears and the men were smiling.

As we were saying our goodbyes, Brian said with the others nodding in agreement, “We’d love to come to the church.  When does it start?”