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Reflections on Asia Trip 05.2010

sethskim — Sun, 23 May 2010 17:37:09 +0000

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Last week was an eventful week as I made a trip out to Hong Kong and Singapore. In Hong Kong, I reconnected with some of our alumni and met up with some pastors and ministry leaders. It was an eye-opening trip as I heard about some of the great things that God is doing in Hong Kong. Even though I visited Hong Kong a few times before, for some reason this trip was different. I really felt like God opened my eyes to the harvest and gave me a greater burden for this great global city.

God also used my trip out to Singapore to remind me of the great need for believers to be a visual display and a viable demonstration of God’s love. When the Church, which is made up of people begin to live out its calling to be the salt and light of the world, we will see transformation start to happen.

I am thankful for the privilege of witnessing firsthand all that God is doing out in this region of the world. I am also humbled to know that God is trying to raise up people in our churches to take up the Macedonian call (Ac 16:9-10).

During my flight back to Jakarta, I was able to jot down some of my thoughts from my trip. I wrote down five major lessons and reminders from this trip:

1) God is moving powerful through unexpected means. One of our HMCC alumnus is teaching at University of Hong Kong (HKU), which is supposedly one of the best universities in all of Asia. I was able to get a personal tour of the university and my heart was beating fast. When I heard that close to 25-30% of the students were from mainland China, I realized the potential of reaching all of China. If these students were reached with the Gospel and discipled, they can be the missionaries who will bring the Gospel to their own people. I also found out that about 50% of all the graduate students were from outside of China/Hong Kong. Many different nations were represented in this 50% international student population. What a great opportunity to reach the world just through this one university. We also visited another top university in Hong Kong called The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). I was able to meet a student from the UK who was in CUHK to do a one year exchange program that was sponsored through his university in UK. It is a joint venture where 3 years are done in the UK, while the last year is done in CUHK. If we reach the international students at these top universities, we will be reaching the world. It is very similar to reaching international university students in the States.

2) God is giving favor to the Church to penetrate the various spheres of society. It was astounding to hear that Alpha Courses were being taught in the schools. At first I was a bit skeptical because in the States this will never be possible. But incredibly, it is happening in Hong Kong. Due to various open doors, God is allowing His truth to be taught as a mandatory curriculum in the public schools. Young students are hearing the Gospel and it is making a difference in their lives.

3) God is raising up a new generation of movers and shakers and history makers. The Church in Hong Kong is also penetrating into the entertainment industry and in the sphere of the arts and media. It was awesome to hear that recently some of the top pop artist and musicians have come to know Jesus Christ as a personal Lord and Savior. They are now reaching out to their friends and colleagues with the Gospel. In fact, a group started up a ministry to specifically reach out to the people in the music and movie industry and they are making a huge difference. I was also able to hear about what God was doing in the business sphere of society. There are more entrepreneurs and business people who are committed to the vision of God’s Kingdom. They are leveraging their wealth for Kingdom purposes and missions. It was so refreshing to see, especially in our generation where greed and self-centeredness have taken a stronghold. I am just curious what will happen when they turn 50 or 60 years old. There will be a major shift in Hong Kong.

4) God is bringing different streams together. The Bride of Christ has always been divided by denominations and associations. Difference in theology and jealous has always put a wedge between the various pastors and church leaders. But in this kairos moment we are seeing great unity. It was inspiring to see how God was bringing people from different backgrounds together to work for His Kingdom. I was personally able to network and make some solid connections. It was just a reminder that God is doing something bigger and greater than just one ministry. In particular, I was able to talk with a leader in Hong Kong, who is leading a ministry where they are bringing people from different parts of China and the surrounding nations together for a 5 day camp. After their time together, they would be sent out as teams to various locations to be a witness for Jesus. Even in Singapore, I was able to meet up with a pastor who just recently started a church but he is already connected with the various pastors and spiritual leaders in the city. They are fellowshipping together and even trying to work together for the building of God’s Kingdom.

5) God is preparing Asia to propel them into the next big missions movement. By being out here in Indonesia and in the region of Asia, I am coming to the conclusion that God might be possibly preparing Asia to lead a powerful mission movement to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. There is just a different feel out here in Asia than what I experienced in the States. As China and India are now becoming nations that could possibly surpass the States as a great superpower, we are seeing more people being raised to do missions from this region of the world. For some reason, they are willing to lay down their lives to share the Gospel. They are definitely living out the 4-evers (whatever, whichever, wherever, and however) as they have surrendered themselves to God’s purposes.

As I am seeing some of these things firsthand, it is making it hard for me to go back to the States; but I know that God is calling me and my family to go back and raise up more Kingdom workers who will eventually go to some of these nations and build God’s Kingdom. I am just privileged to have witnessed it. The best is yet to come!

Reflections from Singapore 3.22.10

sethskim — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:18:15 +0000

I think adjusting from my time in the States and trying to engage with what was happening in S.E. Asia was not as easy as I thought. The change in time zone and the long trans-Pacific flight made the adjustment hard, but there was no time for rest as I had back to back meetings. I had less than 30 hours in Singapore, but it was a fruitful trip.

It is always encouraging to see the HMCC alumni. When I see them, I am reminded of the importance of the investment that we need to continue to make when they are studying in the States.

I also met up with some of the people who are interested in the church plant. I am realizing that there is a greater hunger for biblical community. There are many churches in Singapore that do an awesome job with their Sunday Celebrations. But one comment I keep on hearing over and over is the great need for the churches in Singapore to strengthen the small group ministries and even put a greater emphasis on what happens outside of Sunday.

It is my hope and prayer that we will be able to fill that void and display what biblical community can be like in the future.

The meeting with the core group for the HMCC of Singapore church plant went well. I am just laying down the foundation and trying to put the emphasis on what it is that God wants to do in this great city. We have been covering some basic themes in the Book of Acts. So far, I have talked about the paradigm of house churches as we look into the New Testament and also about the work of the Holy Spirit in the early church. Recently, I talked about the Acts 2:42-27 and the importance of biblical community. This passage has been the foundational passage for HMCC.

Some of the key members and I have talked about the spiritual warfare that they have been experiencing. I told them that this is normal because Satan knows that having a church that is focused on building God’s Kingdom and a passion for transformation will not help his cause, therefore Satan will do anything and everything to hinder God’s work. What we need more than anything else is prayer and God’s Word to strengthen us (Eph 6:10-20).

Here are some lessons that I was reminded with in my time at Singapore:

1) Doing things in an unconventional way will require a lot of explanation and patience.
2) We should never grow tired of building up the Church of Jesus Christ because it really is the only organization that will transform the world.
3) A lot of what we want to see happen on the international level will be determined by what our international students experience in the HMCC churches back in the States.
4) Without ownership and sacrifice, we will never be able to see great things happen.
5) Whenever we try to do God’s will, there will always be opposition from the evil one, therefore we should expect it and be more proactive in prayer.
6) God always humbles us and reminds us that it is not our planning and strategizing that will bring transformation, but it is His Spirit.
7) We need to have more people linked up together in prayer for what God wants to do in Singapore.

Reflections from Chicago 3.18.10

sethskim — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:13:50 +0000

Chicago is definitely a home away from home. I have lived in Chicago for close to 22 years before I moved out to Ann Arbor. It always brings back good memories of my younger years. This is why having a HMCC church in Chicago is encouraging to me.

I was blessed to see the growth in HMCC of Chicago. As soon as I walked in and we started to worship, I could sense that the spirituality that we have been so resolutely building was evident in the room. It is uplifting to know that no matter what HMCC church you attend that the key emphasis of worship is consistently evident.

As both sites came together for Sunday Celebration, I felt the unity within the group. Even though the NU and the UIC are different campuses, the mission of reaching college students who will transform the world brought us together. It was good to also see a growing single adult presence. With more people working in downtown Chicago, the necessity of reaching out to this population is growing.

This is part of the greater vision of reaching campuses, cities, countries and continents for Christ.

Last November, I only had a total of 14 hours in Chicago therefore my time with people was short. This time I decided to extend my trip to Chicago by a few days so that I can meet up with various people. It was encouraging to meet up with some of my pastor friends that I have known for close to 27 years. I also met up with various people at HMCC of Chicago. It is always good to just reconnect. I did a lot of listening.

But most of all, I was able to spend some quality time with my parents. Every time I see them, I am reminded of the cost there is in following Jesus. As they are getting older, I have to believe with greater faith that God will take care of them better than I will ever be able to on this earth. I was inspired to see my mom still going strong with her line dancing (did I tell you that she is 71 years old) and my dad, who is 73 learning how to do e-mail and keeping up with the latest tech stuff.

Here are some lessons that I was reminded with in my time at Chicago:

1) Getting passed the “church plant” stage and entering into the “building stage” always requires making hard choices.
2) The vision and mission should always be the main reason why a person commits to a church because so many things change over the years – that includes people, structure, methods, etc.
3) The harvest is great in the city, therefore we have to equip and train up people to reach out to their mission field.
4) Always be growing and learning because it is easy to grow stagnant.
5) Friendships that pass the test of time are the friendships that you really want to hold on to because they are good anchors.
6) Since you don’t know how long your loved ones will be with you, make every single day or opportunity count.
7) Chicago is still one of the best places for good food.

Reflections from Ann Arbor 3.15.10

sethskim — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:21:41 +0000

When I arrived in Ann Arbor, I shared with some people that I experienced something that I never felt before. Back in November, when I first landed in Ann Arbor, I felt as if I came back “home.” It was a great feeling. But for some reason, this time around, when we were driving to Ann Arbor from the airport, it felt so surreal. I didn’t know where I was. It felt a bit different.

By being away from Ann Arbor for close to 8.5 month, I realized that I was in between cultures – America and Indonesia. Now, I am getting a little glimpse of what it feels like for those people who are 3rd culture.

Even though my time in Ann Arbor was packed with meetings, it was very refreshing and reinvigorating for me. I met up with various groups of people that are integral to the transition when I return back to the States in July.

I met up with the international students in our church. It was awesome to see all that God was doing with the international students. I shared about the important role that the international students will play in the overall global vision as many of them will return to their country.

It was also good meeting up with the new Executive Team. I am looking forward to partnering with this team to labor for God’s Kingdom.

Overall, my trip to Ann Arbor was a reminder of why we do what we do. It really is the place where we have to keep on making the investment in lives. It is our Antioch (Ac 13:1; 14:26-28) and we need to continue to raise up more people in order to send them out to the nations.

Here are some lessons that I was reminded with in my time at Ann Arbor:

1) God never “needs” us and you realize this when things happen without you.
2) Past successes are no guarantee for future fruitfulness.
3) We must never get comfort.
4) Since God loves His Church, He will always raise up the right people for the right reasons.
5) Never take people for granted, especially those people who have been with you for a long time.
6) You know right away the people you have influenced and the people who still want your influence.
7) Do everything as if it is your first time and your last time.

After this trip to Ann Arbor, I am more focused and resolved for the things that need to happen on my return in July. This might be HMCC 2.0 – growing, evolving, expanding, and transforming.

Reflections from Austin 3.14.10

sethskim — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:13:42 +0000

In my last two trips to the States, Austin has always been my first stop for ministry. I really enjoyed my time down there, not only because the weather is warmer and the food is incredible, but more importantly because I am able to reconnect with Pastor Ben and his family.

Pastor Ben was in Ann Arbor back in 1996, as a graduate student when HMCC of Ann Arbor first got started. It is hard to believe that we have a long 13+ year history together. It is a joy just to see how God has developed him as a husband, father, and pastor.

I have been privileged to see HMCC of Austin first get planted back in 2008. Then with various visits along the way, I have seen the development of the church. After this trip, I can confidently say that God is doing some great things down in Austin. I was able to meet some people who recently came to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Also, I had lunch with a couple of people who were asked to be part of their leadership team for next year. Whenever you are able to raise up your own leaders, it is a sign of health.

Even though, things have not gone according to our timetable, I definitely see God at work and bringing forth His plan to fruition.

Here are some lessons that I was reminded with in my time at Austin:

1) God loves His church more than we could ever love it in our lifetime.
2) God teaches us how to depend on Him by not working according to our timetable.
3) God reminds us that it is not about us, but more about His glory and honor.
4) We cannot try to force things, but rather we have to trust in God for the results.
5) The signs of health in a church are: people coming to Christ, leaders are being raised up, and people are passionate about sharing the Gospel.
6) Humility and teachability are important traits of a disciple.
7) Texas has the best beef briskets in the world!

I am excited to see all that God is going to do in the weeks, months and years to come. Already there are clear signs that God is doing some great things. The best is yet to come in Austin.

Trip Back to the States Part 2

sethskim — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:39:33 +0000

Time has flown by so quickly. It just seems like yesterday that I was heading back to the States to make my first visit to all the HMCC churches. But for some reason, this time around it definitely feels different.

The first time back to the States in November 2009, I went with a different mentality. I think I went with some trepidation wondering how the church was transitioning without me being there. But to my delight, the church was strong and growing; and the other churches were also experiencing God’s blessings.

I am so proud of our guys. They did not just try to “survive” but instead they determined to thrive in the midst of all the transitions. We have seen many new people give their lives to Christ; and we have seen the spiritual foundations of the members strengthened.

On this trip there are 4 clear goals for me:

1) Recast the vision of the house
2) Reconnect with people
3) Ready the people for the transition back
4) Reveal the 2020 vision

I have vowed not to make this second trip as crazy as the first one, where I was going back to back with non-stop meetings, but as I am looking at my schedule, it is not going to happen. It is just too hard with the limited time that I have in each of the churches. Therefore, I am asking for extra prayer and a lot of espressos!

God is doing some great things all over the world. God is moving and we want to be in step with Him. I am excited to come and visit for 2 weeks. I can’t wait to share all that God is doing in Indonesia and even Singapore!

Times of Refreshment in Yogyakarta

sethskim — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:52:05 +0000

We just got back from spending some time in Yogyakarta (a.k.a. Jogja). The team and our family went on an 8.5 hour train ride to get away and build some team unity. It was not only cheaper to take the train, but we were able to enjoy the Indonesian scenery along the way.

We were also humbled to see God provide in so many different ways throughout this trip. We had one of our members connect us with a well-know business person who had a “palace” near the center of Yogyakarta. It was a special treat for us to be able to see the elaborateness of the palace. He was an avid art collector. Therefore, there was art throughout the whole place ranging from statues to keepsakes from different parts of the world. Since I love art, I think I enjoyed it the most.

God also provided us with a church member who lived in Yogyakarta. She took us around to various places and helped translate for us. Even though it was vacation time for her, she took a few days to host us. I am constantly amazed to see the generosity of God’s people.

Even though it was a bit tiring going from place to place, it was enjoyable to hang out together and just have fun. We were able to strengthen our relationships together as we went to various famous sites and even stopped by a beach to see the sunset.

As we close out the 2009 year, we are just thankful that God called us here to Indonesia and how He has sustained us for the last 5.5 months. Now, as we look ahead to 2010, we know that God has greater things in store for us. It is amazing to how God keeps on showing us incredible things along this journey.

Now with some of the gatherings that we have for Christmas and New Year, we are ready to go with renewed hearts and renewed strength. God is good!

This is just one of the rooms in the place where we stayed for free

Sticking our heads out on the Prambanan Hindu Temple, which was built in the 9th century. Can you find the HMCC frisbee that we took with every picture?

A reminder for us as to why we do what we do – sending ripples to the nations

Reconnecting, Refreshing, and Recasting

sethskim — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:07:06 +0000

It’s been a while since I have posted something on my blog; therefore I wanted to post a quick entry.

I am in Singapore’s Changi Airport waiting for my flight back to Jakarta. It has been good to just catch my breath in light of the six-day whirlwind trip back to the States. Even though I wished my trip was longer, God allowed me to accomplish everything I needed to in such a short amount of time.

It was encouraging to see people in all the HMCC churches. It is always a joy to see familiar faces and to just reconnect with people. Also, I was thrilled to meet some new people who have been coming out to our churches. Some of them have just recently accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. This reassured me that our members have been reaching out to people and sharing the Gospel. It was a blessing to see.

I also had many opportunities to share what was happening in Indonesia. After awhile, I felt like a broken record repeating things over and over again, but I was blessed to see that so many people were interested in what God was doing in Jakarta. It just reminded me that this church plant is really a partnership. I am thankful for all the people that have been praying for us and financially supporting us.

The best part was spending some time with the site pastors. Whether it was over a meal or sharing some coffee, it was great just hearing all that God is doing in their lives and in all our churches.

I am praying that all the churches will reach the next level.

Even though it has only been four months since I left for Indonesia, as I went to all the locations, it felt as if I never left. Thanks to all the sites for their hospitality and prayers.

Transitioning in Singapore

sethskim — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:15:24 +0000

We got in to Singapore safely. It was a long flight but my family and the team made it by God’s grace. We were picked up at the airport by several of our alumni around 1AM! We went directly to a retreat center and then spent all of Thursday just resting. One of our main objectives was to make sure that we adjusted to the time zone and get over the jet lag. Also, we wanted to adjust to the new culture and we felt that coming to Singapore first was a good middle ground before heading directly to Jakarta.

It was good spending time together as a team to reflect, study the Bible and to pray. These times are precious; therefore we made the most of these opportunities.

Today, we headed out to see the city. Traveling with just a few people compared to a whole team is always a challenge, but we were able to get to one place to another by taking buses and trains to get to our various locations. We also logged in many miles of walking today. It was a lot of fun checking out Little India, Malaysian town, Chinatown and the Escapade. Singapore is such an awesome city!

But the best part of the day was spending time with the HMCC alumni. Many people came out and even though some of them could only come out for a short time, it was encouraging to see all of them.

It warmed my heart to hear that some of them are still getting together two times a month to share, pray and fellowship together. This is definitely a good foundation for a future church plant if the Lord leads us in this direction.

After dinner, we all went out for dessert. Our team gave gifts that we prepared for them – some Michigan apparel and HMCC things. But the blessing for us was when we received a love offering from the alumni. I am always humbled to see the generosity of our alumni. Not only are they constantly treating us when we go out to eat, but they decided to partner with us in this church plant by giving financially.

We will be heading out to Jakarta tomorrow. The adventure is beginning!

We are all packed into a bus

The oldest mosque in Malay town. It reminded us of the mission in Indonesia.

Walking around Little India

Checking out Chinatown

The ever increasing skyline of Singapore

Kite flying reminded us a little bit of home

We decided to take a family picture

Getting ready to eat with the alumni

Some of our alumni wearing their Michigan apparel

Our alumni sent us off with their financial and prayer support

Conference in Chicago 5.20.09

sethskim — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:07:34 +0000

I am currently in Chicago for a Leadership Network conference for Asian-American pastors. It is a small cohort that started back in May 2008 and it will finish out in November 2009. There are some incredible mentors in this cohort. They have all been tested and put through the fire and now their ministry shows that good leadership always allows God to do great things.

It is going to be an awesome conference as well as a challenging one. We will be addressing various issues in our churches and our own personal lives.

I am looking forward to sharing some of the insights as I come back to Ann Arbor. Please pray for us.