Category: Pastor’s Blog

A Word from Pastor Anne
Staying Focused on Jesus

Four years ago during a slow economy, we began our Capital Campaign of Building a Future Through Faith. God led us to build as it became obvious our existing facility was limiting ministry for God’s Kingdom. Limited space for our Kingdom Kidz, lack of space for adult Sunday School classes or expanding our summer Vacation Bible School, and an increasingly tight church calendar at 33350 Peace Terrace for ministry, small groups, planning and service. We met our goal of $500,000 in pledges towards a new Ministry Center.

So much has happened in these years. We signed contracts with Proforma Construction and PWC Architects in October 2012. City permits were issued in February 2014. Costs increased during that time and we approved changes in March 2014. Construction began in May 2014.  Some things have taken longer than expected with increased overall construction, delay in material orders, rain at unfortunate times and waiting on inspections and approval. Construction has moved steadily with the involvement of the Building Committee.

Many of you know that any construction often includes unexpected changes in price and design. We try to allow for some of this. In November, some hidden conditions became apparent as they began work above the existing bathrooms and kitchen. The architectural design in that area would not be possible and alternate designs were offered.

The Building Committee met with the Contractor, walked through the Ministry Center and reviewed options. The change in design will maintain a large storage room over the kitchen and 2^nd floor bathrooms with an additional janitor closet above the existing bathrooms. This will require a balcony extending into the existing hallway for entrances. The costs for these changes will be about $200,000.

When we first explored options and costs for additional space, we received estimates of $1 million just to put a second floor over our existing bathrooms and offices. We rejected that option since we could get more space with a new building at that cost. The current change will provide additional space over half of our existing first floor and the kitchen for 1/5 of that estimated price four years ago. It will provide valuable space for God’s ministries. Our church currently lacks storage space. Many ministry teams keep their supplies in their own homes and bring them to church. Without this change the bathrooms would be in the new Ministry Center, eliminating the conference room and storage room.

This additional work required that Pastor Sun Hee move out of her office and the sanctuary closets storing worship items, chairs and tables be cleared out. (The Youth group has the only remaining closet in the church!) Refreshment supplies are temporarily in the sound room. Thank you to Manny Bautista and the UMM for moving furniture and things into the hall and storage shed. Some worship banners and things are at my house.

Our Building Committee has prayerfully worked to consider our needs, watch costs and be good stewards on behalf of God and our congregation. We are assured that our Contractors are working hard to keep costs down and complete the job in a timely and quality manner. This change will be a valuable addition.

How will we pay for this additional amount? $162,000 will come from:

• $27,000 – Building fund balance Jan 2015 (construction loan will cover the remaining original contract costs)
• $40,000 – SPUMC surplus (15K remaining for emergencies)
• $50,000 – Preschool surplus (20K remaining for emergencies)
• $18,000 – 2015 Preschool contribution
• $27,000 – 2015 cell tower leases

It would be easy to be distracted by the change or the amount or the delay. This is not something that any one of us can do alone. It is something we can do together for God and with God’s leading. Let’s keep our focus on our Lord Jesus.

We are close to the needed amount. Would you please pray and consider additional gifts to our Building fund this year? God has so clearly led us to this step. He will surely lead the way to complete it.  How will we each be part of what God is already blessing? God is leading us to be part of His work together. We are Building a Future Through Faith in the One who is able.

A Word from Pastor Sun Hee
Faith Sharing and the Story of the 72

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two* others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field…” Luke10:1-2 (New International Version)

One of the most memorable worships for me this past month was the Sunday when some of our youth and young adults gave their testimonies about their experience at the Christmas Institute. I am sure you all agree that that their sharing was such heart-felt and authentic. On that Sunday, pastor Anne also introduced our theme for 2015 that we will be putting our effort and focus on—Faith Sharing. What these amazing young people demonstrated on that day was indeed a remarkable way to share our faith in Christ.

I hope you also remember our 2014 theme of Evangelism and the first sermon series that we preached based on the 72 unnamed people who were sent by Jesus. In this series, I shared how I was struck by Jesus’ proclamation that “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Often times, we fall into the trapping of thinking that the hearts of the people that we are trying to reach are not ready. But in Jesus’ words, the implication is that we just need to send people out. You will remember that I introduced this prayer quadrant as a way of helping us be intentional about naming the people in our lives that God is wanting us to reach.

THE PRAYER QUADRANT

[see newsletter]

I wrote down one name in particular in the “Neighbors” box and then started praying for her and her family. As I continued to build a friendship with her, I prayed and asked the Lord of harvest to send out laborers into her life including myself, so that she would come to know Jesus through faith sharing of these laborers.

Last week, I had a lunch with her and we celebrated an amazing milestone in her life. Last fall, she and her family finally got the courage to visit some churches on Sundays. There were some disappointing visits and experiences, but in the end they found a home church. Last Sunday, she and her husband were baptized. She showed me the Korean Bible that was given to her at Baptism, her very first Bible. I could sense her wonder and excitement as she talked about reading the Bible and how she was learning new terms that were not part of her vocabulary before. I was so blessed to witness her journey. She looked like and talked like someone who just fell in love….yes, fell in love with Jesus.

In our conversation, I realized that the Lord of the harvest answered my prayers. There were many people who helped her, supported her, listened to her, guided her, prayed for her and shared their faith story with her besides me. There were many intersections that led to this day for her.

I wanted to share this with you in order to encourage you to continue to pray for God to send the laborers into the lives of those that you named last year. I want to encourage you to build those friendships and relationships, and whenever the opportunity arises to engage in some intentional faith sharing. The harvest that you have been praying for might actually be very near. May God bless you with and incredible and abundant harvest this year!

And just in case you need this prayer as reminder, here it is the prayer that we shared during the 72: Evangelism Series.

MY PRAYER

Lord Jesus, you are the Lord of the harvest. I thank you for each person listed here. I thank you that you have given me each relationship. Please help me be faithful to demonstrate the kingdom and to tell the story. I pray for courage, love, and opportunities to share the gospel message with them in word and deed.

I pray, Holy Spirit, that you would soften their hearts and help them experience your personal love. I ask that you would go before me. Please create in them the need and desire for you to come into their life. And I ask that you will help me become aware of how you are working, that I might play a part in your work of conversion. In your powerful name I pray, amen.

A Word from Pastor Anne
Warm Hearts

2015 is moving right along! Maybe you had some new year spiritual resolutions and hopes for this year that have already gone to the wayside. It is not too late to get on track!

Really, life is a series of going astray and opportunities to get back on track with God. So don’t be ashamed or afraid! We all need God’s help and the help of others. Just get started again and don’t let what happened keep you away from God.

Lent is a time of preparation before Easter to get our lives ready to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! Some of us give up things as a sacrifice to God or proactively do things that are pleasing to Him. How can we clean out some things that get in the way and make more space for Jesus in our lives?

This Lent we will start off the first weekend with a Revival: A Christ Centered Heart. As followers of Jesus, we welcome Jesus into our heart to be our Lord. That step is important but what about all the steps following? Our lives matter to God.

John Wesley was devout and smart. He still needed the Holy Spirit to change and touch his heart. He could not make it happen himself but in worship on Aldersgate Street he knew his heart was strangely warmed. He knew that for all his imperfections at following God, God did love him. He knew the assurance of God in his life and he was never the same.

We all need that Spirit warming of our hearts. We are excited to have Rev. Siosifa Hingano from Genesis UMC in Milpitas as our Revival preacher.

We will also look at how to be in places to keep our hearts warmed and basic tools to get on track. It doesn’t happen by magic. It includes our effort to go where God is and practice hearing from the Spirit.

May God’s Spirit move in and among us to share God’s good news beyond our walls!