A Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang (August 30, 2009)

<Let’s Celebrate the 10^th Anniversary of the Grace Christian Church in Flushing>

Praise the Lord for He is merciful and gracious! Our Grace Christian Church (GCC) in Flushing has past the 10^th year of ministries. Time flies really fast! Day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, it is just like that -- swifts away steadily, unconsciously, and uncontrollably. But our God is always good to us!

As a shepherd, in my sight, now, the GCC in Flushing is no longer a baby, no more drinking baby food or milk, but keeps growing well by the grace of God. Hallelujah!

My two sons, Campbell and Jeffrey once told me that these 2 GCC (one in Staten Island and one in Flushing) are just like my another two spiritual sons. The older one in Staten Island is like Campbell who is smart but easily affected by the environment. Therefore, in the past he bumped back and forth and faced a lot of difficulties; and sometimes even walked through unnecessary paths and got hurt with many bruises. But by God’s grace, he has gone through the age of rebellions and becomes an adult, even he now is married, and his wife is a wonderful Godly woman. Now the GCC in Staten Island also moves into a quite peaceful stage and a lot of transformation is taking place. Praise the Lord.

The GCC in flushing is born because of vision. He is a promised son like Jeffrey, my second son. (It is a kind of coincident that Jeffrey now is serving and leading the English ministry at the GCC in flushing.) It is because of my past experience in Staten Island and after being baptized in the Holy Spirit, GCC in Flushing receives more teaching and training and knows more about the spiritual warfare and how to fight in prayers, that is one of the reasons he grows faster and steadier. Besides, GCC in Flushing has a group of committed prayer warriors, strong cell group leaders, and many anonymous Christians who serve tirelessly in the church for the sake of Jesus Christ. And I believe because of that, this church has great potential in the future.

The GCC in Flushing was formed and officially started his first Sunday worship service at Siloam Reformed Church in Flushing, Queens on the first Sunday of August, 1999. And before that we had a Bible study fellowship at the office of Tan Attorney Associates and leadership training at Joseph Liang’s home. By God’s grace, about 200 people got converted and baptized at this church in the past 10 years. Many of them already moved back to China, Taiwan, or some Southeastern Asian countries, or moved away from here. Of course, some have gone back to heavenly home already. For what we had before and the future we will have, at present point we give thanks to our Lord.

I am a dreamer. I sometimes imagine that someday my wife and I can hold hands together with our two sons, and they also can hold hands of their wives; and behind them are our grand children, generation after generation keep serving the Lord Jesus Christ – and in the Kingdom of God, we are organized to be a mighty serving army of God, keep marching onto this world only for the glory of Christ winning many lives into God’s Kingdom. I hope this vision will come true someday.

Likewise, I also imagine and envision that someday my wife and I can lead these two spiritual sons – the GCC, hold their hands and they also hold many their spiritual sons and daughters’ hands. We keep extending and reaching out even from New York area to the end of the world. Many missionaries are sent out from the GCC to the world for the sake of Christ Jesus to win many lost and broken spirits into the Kingdom of God.

Since the GCC was born in vision, we hope that he will keep the vision up until it is completely fulfilled. As what we always sing every Sunday at the end of the service, here is the vision: Exalting Jesus Christ; following the Holy Spirit; teaching and obeying the Biblical truth; sharing the gospel; helping one another to be more Christ like; expanding the Kingdom of God; and glorifying our God the Father.

Besides these thanksgivings and visions, we need to review our past to see any errors that we need to adjust so that we can reschedule and set up the goals for the coming 10 years. Dear brothers and sisters: Let us join hands in hands and walk together. Let us discern together the guidance of the Holy Spirit and so we can move on smoothly.

I have another dream: I pray that both GCC in Staten Island and Flushing will have more interactions together in the future, especially in training, retreats, and missions, we can go along together. More importantly, let us intercede for one another because we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and we need to sustain for each other.

I deeply appreciate both churches for your understanding and willingness that you share only one shepherd as your spiritual parent. Today let us just like the same family members celebrating the joy together in our banquet. Let us be never divided anymore in Christ. Amen.