This past June, Boon Church's English Congregation had the opportunity to do community outreach and evangelism. For the four Sundays every month, we went out in pairs after worship service to share the gospel in local parks around the area. Frequently visited were Kissena Park, the parks by P.S. 20 and I.S. 237 as well as Queens Botanical Garden. We were armed to the teeth with gospel tracts, gospel-sharing bracelets, copies of a book by John Piper, and "Religious Surveys" that were designed to gauge the religious experience of people we met on the street. Those religious surveys were key; they allowed us to segway into a gospel conversation by providing us with information about the people's perceptions of Jesus, God, Christianity, and the Bible.
After every trip, we rallied back at church to share our experiences, provide tips, relay any funny or interesting stories, encourage one another, and pray for the people that we met. For many people this was a first-time experience doing face to face evangelism with complete strangers. Some people found it incredibly scary at first, but found to their amazement that it really wasn't as bad as they've built it up in their heads. Read up as three people share their stories:
Brian Shu
My evanJunelism experience was an event I really appreciated and took to heart. It was an experience in which I learned a lot about not only the people I met, but the people I went with as well as myself. The idea of evangelizing and opening yourself up to new people is challenging. Putting oneself in a position of vulnerability and not knowing what to expect can be a fearful task. However, when actually going out and meeting all types of unique people out there that are willing to share and listen, you learn this step you take is well worth any rejections. God has already laid the path, but are we willing to take this leap of faith?
Andrew Shih
I’ve never done street evangelizing or any type of evangelism before. I had a preconceived notion that it was going to be really hard. I thought that people would be really hostile. I was scared to do it. The first week I went with Stanley but all I did was watch him. While watching him it didn’t seem that bad but my preconceived notion didn’t change. The next two weeks I stayed in to pray because I made an excuse that I was injured. It wasn’t until the last week when I went out with Kat that I actually got to talk to people. It was like ripping of a band-aid but once I actually talk to people it wasn’t so bad. I actually enjoyed it because the worst that happen was people shaking their heads no. Also the rest were willing to talk to you. I was able to share the Word and see where people are coming from. So I encourage the people that have the same preconceived notion that I used to have to just try it. Like Mushroom once said you really don’t know anything until you’ve done it.
Jenn Chu
I still remember the panic that set in the first week after Sunday service. There had been so much excitement leading up to evanJUNElism, but now that it was finally here, I was scared out of my mind. What if I didn’t convey the gospel effectively? What if someone asked me a question I couldn’t answer? All these thoughts were running through my mind as we split off into our groups. When the time came for me to survey a person, I was so terrified that I was actually half-hoping the person wouldn’t ask me any questions. I knew what I was supposed to believe – that it was a win-win situation, that God was doing all the work – but I still found myself terrified at the thought of doing street evangelism. As evanJUNElism went on and I came into contact with more and more people, I realized that there really was nothing to be afraid of. I wasn’t there to convert anyone; I was there merely to strike up conversations with people and get them thinking. Besides, the person answering the questions was the one that had to use their brain power. All I had to do was ask the questions, and God would do the rest! As I talked with these people, I could see God working in them by the way they seriously pondered the questions we asked. It was then that I saw that we really were His hands and feet. It's not our actions or words that bring people to Him, it is ultimately all in His hands. His power truly is beyond everything.
All in all, we found that despite our limited perceptions, God was really at work within the people of Flushing. We praise God that he has allowed us to be a part of his kingdom work and that we are witnessing the changing of hearts and the saving of the lives of many people.
Boon, continue to to work for the kingdom of God and the glory of his Son Jesus Christ!
Sola Deo Gloria
-Dan
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Boon Church Retreat 2009: Reflections
Three members of the English congregation share their experiences from the Boon Retreat:
Alex Chang
It was a very enriching experience, and I learned and bonded with fellow Boon Church members. I think it is a great experience that allowed me a weekend away from the busy and routine life, for a weekend of fun, fellowship and focus on God's word.
I learned much from the speakers at the retreat and learned how to improve myself to become more devoted in my walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Team oriented events such as the scavenger hunt, Jeopardy, solving puzzles, playing sports such as a basketball tournament, gave me challenges that allowed me to learn to trust God as well as bond with my fellow Church peers. It was a great experience, and I came away learning to improve myself in my walk in Christ, becoming closer to my friends and having a weekend full of activities and fun fellowship.
Chui Wong: God's Sovereignty
For the past month, I’ve been struggling because I felt God hasn’t been answering my prayers. Where is my God of comfort? If my God is so real, why doesn’t He hear me when I call? I already knew God doesn’t always answer us the way we hope He would, but I still needed to know He was there watching me and supporting me, despite all the troubles I’ve been facing. So, I asked God to reveal Himself to me daily, that despite whatever I’m going through, he would meet me somewhere that day and show me He is bigger than all my problems and fears. And, He has. Just not in a way I expected.
At Boon retreat, God revealed to me his sovereignty; He is bigger than all our problems, all our fears. During one of the nights, I felt God nudging me to talk to a sister and to make myself vulnerable. I listened her struggles and pains, and I was shocked. As I listened to her story, my heart felt heavy. It felt as if I was sharing in her burden, just as Galatians 6:2 says: Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. I never felt more grieved, perhaps in part because the Holy Spirit was grieving as well, as he was revealing her heart. Though her circumstances were beyond my understanding and her control, God allowed everything to take place for a reason. Her struggles disconnected herself from others emotionally, but love bridges this gap that she created. As Christians, we are called to carry each others burdens because we love one another. Through this love for one another, we see Christ living in us.
On the last day, Pastor (Reverend?) Eugene shared with us Jesus’ promise: as the bridegroom, he is preparing rooms in his kingdom for his beloved, as was custom in the ancient Greek world for a bridegroom to prepare a home suitable for his wife. The message was powerful, but all I can ask myself is: How is his church preparing herself? IS she preparing herself? Is Boon preparing herself? Jesus claims he will come suddenly like a thief, with no warning. I again felt grieved because I feel the church has not been preparing herself as a bride would when her husband calls to claim her- what would happen? What can we do as a church to prepare each other? What else can we do to reach out to others who do not believe in Christ? I felt so overwhelmed with all these questions, but at the end of the retreat, the ultimate question is: how can we show Christ’s love for us in a radical way? God is already in full control. It’s not up to us to change our circumstances, but allow God to transform us, despite our circumstances.
Dave Lee: An Age Of Interconnectivity
While headed to my first Boon retreat, I really had no idea what to expect. So many retreats in the past, I can remember really chilly nights, dense forestation, large bodies of water and just real seclusion from the world. If I wanted alone time or one-on-one time, it’d always be easy to find a spot.
Driving up to the retreat site was quite a different experience for me. Only a few miles from the highway, a McDonald’s, a CVS, and as I look down...cell phone service! Not only that, throughout the whole weekend at Miracle Mountain, wherever I walked around and turned, there was always someone within earshot.
I remember waiting in line for food and Reverend Eugene suddenly starts talking to me. I was actually immediately taken aback. I've always thought of retreat speakers getting rest in their special room on the side during all the downtime or speaking primarily to more senior church members. But for both speakers to actively engage so many of us in the dining room was quite the testimony for me, speaking of a new style of leadership.
Finally when the last workshop rolled around and Rev Eugene talked about the hot topic: Facebook, Twitter, Talkbox and 5 billion other new media outlets, I realized we were in a true new era of Christian community. When he talked about looking us up on facebook prior to coming here, seeing what we've been up to, there's this realization that we're in a world of hyperconnectivity where really you can't escape from one or another. I immediately remembered my friends blogpost http://www.theotherjournal.com/blog.php?id=229&articleID=620 . I really wonder what Jesus and early church leaders would've been like what they had today. I can imagine instead of a Sermon on the Mount turning into a podcast. I look to the future and I can imagine we'll be so connected with each other that we'll practically be in each others faces at all times.
Sure, all this new media is great as a launching platform for deeper relationships in person, but I also think of it as a mode of inspiration. In a way, it can be used like having 500 support letters all the time, at the tip of your fingers. So many quick ways of instilling inspiration, vision and empathy (much like this blog).
And yes, after the retreat, I remember specifically why I enjoyed the Word so much and how much I can delight in each and every word. Granted following the Bible in a year pace, was not for me. But I'll share with you that I'm reading Joshua right now...for the purposes of rediscovering my youth...With all of these new avenues, we can encourage and inspire even if it's not so great for true accountability and transparency... The world that we live in...and as well as the cyber world that we take a part of...is truly a place of confusion.
And finally, one to one conversation is still quite efficient. With one simple story from Rev Eugene about a radiologist he knew who worked half of the year in missions, I was reminded of my own original passion and why I chose to be a radiologist. And even if I lose sight of that vision within the next 4 more years of my training, one quick look at a blogpost or just remembering him, will remind me once again.
-Sola Deo Gloria
Alex Chang
It was a very enriching experience, and I learned and bonded with fellow Boon Church members. I think it is a great experience that allowed me a weekend away from the busy and routine life, for a weekend of fun, fellowship and focus on God's word.
I learned much from the speakers at the retreat and learned how to improve myself to become more devoted in my walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Team oriented events such as the scavenger hunt, Jeopardy, solving puzzles, playing sports such as a basketball tournament, gave me challenges that allowed me to learn to trust God as well as bond with my fellow Church peers. It was a great experience, and I came away learning to improve myself in my walk in Christ, becoming closer to my friends and having a weekend full of activities and fun fellowship.
Chui Wong: God's Sovereignty
For the past month, I’ve been struggling because I felt God hasn’t been answering my prayers. Where is my God of comfort? If my God is so real, why doesn’t He hear me when I call? I already knew God doesn’t always answer us the way we hope He would, but I still needed to know He was there watching me and supporting me, despite all the troubles I’ve been facing. So, I asked God to reveal Himself to me daily, that despite whatever I’m going through, he would meet me somewhere that day and show me He is bigger than all my problems and fears. And, He has. Just not in a way I expected.
At Boon retreat, God revealed to me his sovereignty; He is bigger than all our problems, all our fears. During one of the nights, I felt God nudging me to talk to a sister and to make myself vulnerable. I listened her struggles and pains, and I was shocked. As I listened to her story, my heart felt heavy. It felt as if I was sharing in her burden, just as Galatians 6:2 says: Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. I never felt more grieved, perhaps in part because the Holy Spirit was grieving as well, as he was revealing her heart. Though her circumstances were beyond my understanding and her control, God allowed everything to take place for a reason. Her struggles disconnected herself from others emotionally, but love bridges this gap that she created. As Christians, we are called to carry each others burdens because we love one another. Through this love for one another, we see Christ living in us.
On the last day, Pastor (Reverend?) Eugene shared with us Jesus’ promise: as the bridegroom, he is preparing rooms in his kingdom for his beloved, as was custom in the ancient Greek world for a bridegroom to prepare a home suitable for his wife. The message was powerful, but all I can ask myself is: How is his church preparing herself? IS she preparing herself? Is Boon preparing herself? Jesus claims he will come suddenly like a thief, with no warning. I again felt grieved because I feel the church has not been preparing herself as a bride would when her husband calls to claim her- what would happen? What can we do as a church to prepare each other? What else can we do to reach out to others who do not believe in Christ? I felt so overwhelmed with all these questions, but at the end of the retreat, the ultimate question is: how can we show Christ’s love for us in a radical way? God is already in full control. It’s not up to us to change our circumstances, but allow God to transform us, despite our circumstances.
Dave Lee: An Age Of Interconnectivity
While headed to my first Boon retreat, I really had no idea what to expect. So many retreats in the past, I can remember really chilly nights, dense forestation, large bodies of water and just real seclusion from the world. If I wanted alone time or one-on-one time, it’d always be easy to find a spot.
Driving up to the retreat site was quite a different experience for me. Only a few miles from the highway, a McDonald’s, a CVS, and as I look down...cell phone service! Not only that, throughout the whole weekend at Miracle Mountain, wherever I walked around and turned, there was always someone within earshot.
I remember waiting in line for food and Reverend Eugene suddenly starts talking to me. I was actually immediately taken aback. I've always thought of retreat speakers getting rest in their special room on the side during all the downtime or speaking primarily to more senior church members. But for both speakers to actively engage so many of us in the dining room was quite the testimony for me, speaking of a new style of leadership.
Finally when the last workshop rolled around and Rev Eugene talked about the hot topic: Facebook, Twitter, Talkbox and 5 billion other new media outlets, I realized we were in a true new era of Christian community. When he talked about looking us up on facebook prior to coming here, seeing what we've been up to, there's this realization that we're in a world of hyperconnectivity where really you can't escape from one or another. I immediately remembered my friends blogpost http://www.theotherjournal.com/blog.php?id=229&articleID=620 . I really wonder what Jesus and early church leaders would've been like what they had today. I can imagine instead of a Sermon on the Mount turning into a podcast. I look to the future and I can imagine we'll be so connected with each other that we'll practically be in each others faces at all times.
Sure, all this new media is great as a launching platform for deeper relationships in person, but I also think of it as a mode of inspiration. In a way, it can be used like having 500 support letters all the time, at the tip of your fingers. So many quick ways of instilling inspiration, vision and empathy (much like this blog).
And yes, after the retreat, I remember specifically why I enjoyed the Word so much and how much I can delight in each and every word. Granted following the Bible in a year pace, was not for me. But I'll share with you that I'm reading Joshua right now...for the purposes of rediscovering my youth...With all of these new avenues, we can encourage and inspire even if it's not so great for true accountability and transparency... The world that we live in...and as well as the cyber world that we take a part of...is truly a place of confusion.
And finally, one to one conversation is still quite efficient. With one simple story from Rev Eugene about a radiologist he knew who worked half of the year in missions, I was reminded of my own original passion and why I chose to be a radiologist. And even if I lose sight of that vision within the next 4 more years of my training, one quick look at a blogpost or just remembering him, will remind me once again.
-Sola Deo Gloria
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Boon Church Coffeehouse 2009!
Invite all your non- christian friends to come as this would be a great opportunity and way for you to introduce the gospel to them. Pray for this event that God may be glorified through it and that hearts may be open and receptive to God's word. If you guys would like to help or want more information please contact Mat, Dan, Ben, or Kat
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