With rare exception does God do anything significant in a hurry. When God “tabernacle’d” with mankind through the incarnation of Jesus He only served for three years. Imagine what we would try to do in three years, and yet look at how much Jesus did in just three years. 

John was one of Jesus’ closest friends and disciples. At the end of the gospel attached to his name he concludes, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written (John 21:25).” And yet He was never in a hurry… there was no technology,  no vehicles, no microwave oven or stove or running water, or computer, or smart phone, or social media to help get the word out.

I’ve struggled for 50 years with the speed and pace of my life. I know how important it is to do less things, be committed to less causes and commitments, and to do what I do more slowly, being more present with the people I am with. This kind of living is more loving, and love requires slow. Rarely is love experienced in a hurry. And isn’t love really what life is all about? Loving God and people.

Because slowing down is to important to loving well, and I want to love well, my goals this year are centered on living in less of a hurry so I can be present and attentive to God and the people I’m blessed to be around. Here’s a list of 10 specific ways or examples of how I plan on slowing down this year:

1. Sabbatical (May-July). I will share more details in a dedicated post about this later this month. This will be my first sabbatical after 21 years of full time ministry. I’m looking forward to this time of rest, reflection & refocusing, renewal & restoration.
2. Margin. Build into my written ideal schedule and put onto my calendar.
3. Strategic days off (Mon). No more than 1 hour (15-30 mins am, 15-30 mins pm, nothing after dinner) on social media. The main focus of these sabbath days off is to “pray and play.” More of my focus will be on time with my wife Laura and our kids.
4. Start each day focused. Dedicate a brief review of my calendar and Todoist. Adjust my day and plans accordingly.
5. End each day focused. Before getting into bed do a brief review of day and preview the next day.
6. Park with purpose. Rather than try to find closest parking spot, park further away and enjoy the extra steps.
7. Pay with purpose. Pick a line rather than stressing to find the shortest line (when shopping)
8. Read with purpose. Schedule 15-30 mins of reading every morning and evening with the goal of simmering on a few great books rather than trying to read through a bunch of books
9. Drive with purpose. Work on driving within 5 miles per hour of the speed limit.
10. Margin. Schedule 5-10 mins before and after every meeting with someone to consider them, think about what’s needed, pray, reflect, & follow up.

What have you found helpful for slowing down?

I RARELY shave with a razor and keep an ongoing five o’clock shadow. After a few days it get itchy and doesn’t look very good (IMO). I HATE shaving! Maybe you can relate? During this time of physical distancing and quarantine most of us don’t have to shave as much… I’ve heard we look much smoother on camera, is that right?

So I had a thought…, “How can I combine growing a beard and helping others?” And, “How can I invite others to join me?”

Answer: The #CoronaBeardChallenge! I will outline the details of

the challenge below. But first I thought it might help to share a little beard history.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE #CoronaBeardChallenge

The Church Fathers had strong words to say about beards (not specifically related to a virus… but stay with me). This writer (me!) doesn’t necessarily hold their views, but it’s at least interesting to note what they said.

The following is taken from the 2016 post on churchpop.com, “4 Church Fathers on the Manly Power of Beards.” 

St. Augustine (5th century)

The beard signifies the courageous; the beard distinguishes the grown men, the earnest, the active, the vigorous. So that when we describe such, we say, he is a bearded man. (Exposition on Psalm 133, 6)

Lactantius (4th century)

[T]he nature of the beard contributes in an incredible degree to distinguish the maturity of bodies, or to the distinction of sex, and to the beauty of manliness and strength. (On the Workmanship of God, Chapter 7)

Clement of Alexandria (3rd century)

This, then, the mark of the man, the beard, by which he is seen to be a man… “It is therefore impious to desecrate the symbol of manhood, hairiness. […] Let the chin have the hair… For an ample beard suffices for men. And if one, too, shave a part of his beard, it must not be made entirely bare, for this is a disgraceful sight. The shaving of the chin to the skin is reprehensible. (The Instructor, Book 3, Chapters 3, 11)

HOW THE #CoronaBeardChallenge WORKS

Here’s how it works… 

STEP ONE: Grow your beard with little to no trimming every week until the coronavirus lock down is over. 

STEP TWO: For every week you go without trimming/shaving you donate to a local cause. I’m counting Sunday-Saturday and making my donations on Sunday. My cause is the Manna Food Center. Give on a weekly basis to make an ongoing difference.

STEP THREE: Document your progress with a picture and post to social media using the #CoronaBeardChallenge. Invite and challenge others to join the movement!

That’s it! Are you in?

WELL KNOWN PASTORS WHO TOOK THE #CoronaBeardChallenge

Dwight Lyman Moody (1837-1899)

Andrew Murray (1828-1917)

AB Simpson (1843-1919)

Ok, it wasn’t the Corona Beard Challenge. But those pastors guys rocked big beards! Not to mention these guys (ZZ Top) ??

WHAT ABOUT WOMEN AND THE #CoronaBeardChallenge

I’m glad you asked! My original idea of challenging women not to shave was met with strong opposition. Instead, simply join another man and give to his cause (spouse, BF, father, son, pastor, friend, etc.). Let’s join forces to do the most good we can!

Grow a Beard ~ Be a Blessing

QUESTION: Are you ready to accept the #CoronaBeardChallenge?

These are books I already have that are on my list for 2019.

Top 10 Books Read In 2018

Books To Read In 2019

Keys To Growth

Having a list of books to read is great, but that alone won’t make growth happen. Three simple keys make growth happen. I HIGHLY recommend that everyone take steps each year to grow in all three:

1. Set goals. What areas of your life do you want/need to grow in? Find a book/resource and set a SMART goal  (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Risky, Time-bound). Be sure to WRITE THEM DOWN.

2. Make a plan. Write out HOW and WHEN you’re going to do it.

3. Prioritize your plan. Don’t just hope it happens, schedule it as a priority. MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Don’t get discouraged and give up WHEN you hit bumps in the road. We all do.

Growth is not so much about avoiding the fall as it is getting up every time we fall down.

Question

What books are you planning to read in 2019? Pick books that hit areas you need to grow in, set a time goal for reading them and times you’re going to read, and then make reading a priority. Readers are leaders!

I love social media! It’s great for staying in touch, connecting with friends and keeping current with family. It’s great for news, networking, and resources. It can also be a huge waste of time. Or worse!

For the last two years I’ve taken a break from social media while on vacation. That’s been the best vacation decision I’ve ever made! This is not just a valuable principle to apply while on vacation… this has changed my life and could change yours too.

My #1 Reason To Take A Break From Social Media

Social media can be such a time waster! What I realized last year after my vacation social media break was that I didn’t really miss anything. I enjoyed time with my family that was uninterrupted by social media updates.

The most significant take away was reflecting on the fact that I wasted a lot of time checking updates that really don’t matter that much to me. As important as pictures of food, other people’s kids I’ve never met, and things that frustrate people are, they really don’t impact my life.

Lots Of Reasons To Take A Break From Social Media

Here are my top 5 reasons…

(1) Wastes Time. As stated above spending time on social media can take us away from the priorities of any day… quickly!

(2) Feel Like A Loser. The more we see the “perfect life” others post the more we can feel like a loser. However, it’s important to remember that people usually just post the good stuff. Don’t make too much of the “perfect life” you see in others. We can’t get the whole story on social media.

(3) Superficial Relationships. How many of those “Friends/Followers” do you really know? Probably only a handful. Social media can foster a facade. It can also be a catalyst for making great connections and friends, just beware of what’s real and what’s not.

(4) Distract From Important Relationships. While we’re busy connecting with all our “Friends/Followers” online it’s easy to neglect the important people around us. Fight the challenge of being gathered in one room with faces in screens rather than connecting with each other.

(5) Unnecessary Drama. It’s easy to write or comment in ways that are unnecessary and get misunderstood. This is especially true when we’re commenting or writing to people we don’t know well and don’t know us. Keep unnecessary drama away. I’ve had to learn this the hard way!

Scientific Reasons To Take A Break From Social Media

There are many reasons to take a break, as stated above. But I found this helpful article put out by Bustle.com in June 2016, “4 Science-Backed Reasons To Take A Break From Social Media,” that puts science to it.

They state in the intro…

… recent research out of the University of Pittsburgh that found a correlation between time spent on social media and risk for depression: As the former increases, so does the latter. Although of course correlation is not causation, the increase is substantial and linear, implying a direct relationship between the two.

Wow, that’s scary and I find it increasingly true.

Here are the “4 Science-Backed Reasons To Take A Break From Social Media” from Bustle.com, with quotes taken right from their article:

(1) Social Media Can Isolate You From The Real World.

Both being alone and feeling lonely (two different things) are on the rise, with an even sharper increase in recent years. We interact face-to-face less; we gather less; we have fewer meaningful connections. Loneliness isn’t just a mental state, either; it has physiological effects, too, such as weakening our immune systems.

(2) It Encourages Your Competitive Side To Come Out, But Not In A Healthy Way

Competition is in almost everyone’s blood, but many of us will fall prey to that drive to get as many likes, followers, etc. as possible — at least more than your friends. The real danger here is that we let it define our worth as human beings, which is obviously a bad thing. No social media post validates who you are as a person; so why do we stress about how many people “like” us?

God and the truth of His word should be our source of true identity, not social media.

(3) It Feels Like It’s Constantly Comparing Your Life To Everyone Else’s

While you might assume this effect of social comparison only occurs when you browse the pages of people you perceive to be more attractive, successful, etc., the same study found that the more time you spend on social media, the more depressed you can feel while browsing anyone’s page, regardless of whether you perceive them to be better or worse than you.

(4) You Can Become Addicted

… yes, you can absolutely become addicted to social media, and it largely stems from something called FOMO: fear of missing out. People are posting some of the tiniest details of their personal lives online, and we have to see it. The inability to quit social media has even been labeled “social media reversion,” and in a study where people were challenged to stop using Facebook for 99 days, many couldn’t make it past just a few.

Helpful Tips

I’m not suggesting we cut social media out completely. I will “fast” completely from it while on vacation. But here are some helpful tips to apply year-round:

1. Don’t check social media first thing in the morning or last thing at night. The things we feed our minds with first thing in the morning stay with us throughout the day. Choose to feed your mind wisely. Similarly, at night our minds need time to wind down in order to power down for healthy rest.
2. Set appropriate times throughout the day to check social media. Get the first and most important work done BEFORE checking Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIN (or whatever social media you use). Take work breaks that reward productivity to check social media.
3. Put your phone down or away when you’re home. Set guidelines for yourself and your family, if you have one. For us, we put phones on the counter before dinner and leave them there with little exception.

QUESTION: what have you done that helps keep a healthy balance?

This was originally posted July 7 2017.

In August 2014 my wife and I left a steady and somewhat comfortable position to launch into the uncertain waters of church planting. Our former church financially supported us for four months, but we otherwise didn’t know how we’d survive.

We joined a missions organization and started raising financial support in February 2015, which has been very hard, to say the least. Many of you know what I’m talking about! We’ve worked hard at it but only managed to raise 41% of our total monthly need.

So, going bi-vocational wasn’t an option for me, it was the only option.

Are you a BiVo pastor or church planter?

Are you a full time vocational pastor or church planter who could use some extra income?

Stay with me. I promise to make it worth your time.

Whatever It Takes

I was willing to do whatever it took to fulfill God’s calling to plant Restoration Church. In fact, my first job after leaving our secure church was at 1-800-GotJunk. Yes, I was the Junk Pastor! The pay was minimal and the work was hard and long.

Once I realized the junk job was, well, junk, I applied for a seasonal driving position at UPS. The pay was better but the hours were long and I was working six days a week. Two weeks before Christmas I was leaving my house at 7am, returning at 8, 9, or even 10pm! Our supplemental needs were met, and I learned a lot about the struggles that many people face working that kind of job. UPS offered me a full-time position at the end of the season, and while it was hard to decline a higher paying, full benefits, union job, I sensed God calling us to step out in greater faith.

Another job I took to help supplement our income while trying to raise support was installing doors and windows. The pay was decent and I learned a lot, but once again it was hard work, leaving little energy to do the things I felt God calling me to.

I thank God for providing for my family through those times. But in the end those jobs were really just work to survive.

Is There A Better Way?

Could there be a way to make the extra money needed to provide for my family AND make a greater impact in the lives of people far from God?

Let me take you back to 2011, when I met Dave Page. Dave was overseeing church planters through the EFCA in California and co-taught a church planting boot camp at Biola University. Dave had previously planted two churches that grew to over 1000 and in both cases started by doing weddings for unchurched couples. When he shared that in the class I was instantly hooked! “How do I get started?” was my only question.

Since I didn’t know where or when we would be planting a new church I had to wait three years to start my own wedding business-ministry. I am so glad I did! In 2014 I started Wedding Pastor Ed (www.WeddingPastorEd.com) as a way to connect with couples that wouldn’t otherwise walk into a church, and as a way to supplement my income.

In the last three years I’ve been doing approximately 30 weddings a year. Of those I end up doing premarital counseling with about 10 couples a year. The majority of those couples are not church-going folks, which I LOVE! I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with couples through the premarital process, planning their weddings, doing rehearsals, mingling during cocktail hours, and even meeting with them after their wedding day. We are now seeing some of those couples visit our church.

My wedding business has generated about $15k per year of extra income. However, this year, with the addition of two associates, and more premium packages, I will make closer to $20k! That’s working just 2-8 hours a week!

Is BiVo For You?

Being a Bivocational pastor or church planter is not for everyone. Whether you’re full time or BiVo, what matters is that you’re free to fulfill God’s calling. Could going BiVo help you do that? If yes, stay with me a few more minutes…

Let me ask two final questions…

1. How would your life be different if you could work 3-10 hours a week and make an extra $500-$2500 or more a month?
2. What would your life and ministry look like if you had couples that have been disconnected from church coming to you AND start visiting your church?!

Doing weddings provides $15-20k per year of extra income for me.

Imagine that being you…

• Imagine what your life and ministry will be like after you know how to create a stream of couples coming to you, wanting to pay you for your experience and expertise as a pastor, specifically to do their wedding, and in many cases pre and post marital counseling.

• Imagine what an extra $10-20k a year would do for you and your family!

If that’s you, then simply CLICK THE LINK BELOW to get my FREE Report For BiVo Pastors And Church Planters, “How To Make An Extra $15k A Year Reaching Unchurched Couples In Your Community Doing Weddings.”

*Note that the webinar registration page is NOT live yet… as soon as it goes live we will let you know.

CLICK HERE To Get The Report

Last August my wife and I were on a Friday lunch date when I shared with her my desire to more with weddings. “I wish there was a way to do more with weddings, to help more pastors and church planters experience this.” We committed it to prayer and had no idea what God was up to.

The answer to that prayer is the Wedding Pastors Network! Dave Page is the one who introduced me to the Wedding Pastor Business. He had a great vision but just didn’t have the time and wherewithal to grow it.

Dave (the wedding guru himself) and I are joining forces along with Travis Sinks (pastor, church planter, and tech guru in S. Florida) to launch the all NEW Wedding Pastors Network!

The Network will launch June 2017 with a FREE LIVE WEBINAR. Here’s a snapshot of the package we’re offering…

Wedding Pastors Network Membership includes:

(1) Tools and Training

1. Six weeks of training modules
   1. Intro (Getting licensed, setting up your business)
   2. Getting Clients (marketing, referrals, and follow up)
   3. The Wedding Inquiry Meeting
   4. Designing The Ceremony
   5. The Rehearsal & Ceremony
   6. Pre and Post Marital Counseling & Coaching
2. Ceremony templates, email and client meeting scripts, & marketing materials.
3. Training from the most experienced and highly reviewed wedding officiants you’ll ever meet. Dave and Ed have combined for more than 300 weddings. Plus access to pastors in the network who have done hundreds of weddings.

(2) Coaching

1. During the first six weeks of training we will coach pastors through the entire process, being available and accessible when they need it.
2. After the six weeks of training they will have access to a monthly mastermind call in which we will go through case studies, Q&A, helping solve challenges and unleash potential.

(3) BONUSES… that will be revealed in our LIVE FREE WEBINAR!

CLICK HERE To Get The Report And Stay Updated For The Webinar

QUESTION: What is the greatest challenge you face in fulfilling your calling as a Pastor or Church Planter, especially if you’re BiVo?

Challenges to living a Jesus-centered way of life include…

1. Happiness is found in having things (luxury lifestyle = happy)
2. Get all you can for yourself, as quickly as you can
3. Security is found in money, power, status, and good health
4. Seek all the pleasure, convenience, and comfort you can
5. God is irrelevant to everyday life
6. There are no moral absolutes
7. You’re not responsible for anyone but yourself
8. Life on earth is all there is, YOLO!

No wonder it’s SO difficult to follow Jesus… isn’t it!

Do you know what commandment out of the ten God said the most about and was most specific? Hint, it’s #4

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Ex 20: 8-11)

God designed us to work hard. But also to RECREATE! Recreating is our application of the Sabbath principle. 

Recreating our spiritual health.

Spiritual health doesn’t come quickly or easily. There’s no magic pill (oh how I wish there was!).

It’s the combination of emotional health and contemplative spirituality that I believe will UNLEASH us to live the ABUNDANT LIFE Jesus promises us (See John 10:10 and my message on Emotional Health HERE for more)! In fact,  when Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment.” His answer tied emotional health and contemplative spirituality together…

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt 22:37-40)

Loving God involves emotional health in that we become self-aware enough to  love well. Being self-aware helps me acknowledge that I am not God, God is God; He is great, I am weak and in need. Therefore I love Him in response.

Contemplative spirituality gives me the tools to slow down enough to cultivate my relationship with Jesus, so that I can love my neighbor as myself. Much of the information on contemplative spirituality comes from Pete Scazzero and his book, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. I HIGHLY recommend this as a key resource for developing and deepening spiritual formation. 

Contemplation is not just about God. Our love for God and others are really two sides to the same coin. Genuinely loving God always results in genuinely loving others. In fact, in Gal 5:14 the Apostle Paul said, “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Three GIFTS we receive via contemplative spirituality

1. The GIFT of SLOWING DOWN

We are often too busy for the kind of reflection needed to sustain a life of love with God and others.

Contemplative spirituality calls us to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n enough to pay attention to God. It’s about being with God above all things. We create continuity and growing familiarity w/God’s presence in our daily lives!

2. The GIFT of ANCHORING in God’s love

“Christianity is not about our disciplined pursuit of God, but about God’s relentless pursuit of us-to the point of dying on a cross for us that we might become His friends.” ~Pete Scazzero

Contemplative spirituality helps us anchor in God’s love through the day — talking to Him, listening to Him, being with Him!

3. The GIFT of BREAKING FREE from illusions

The world is FULL of illusions! We convince ourselves that we can’t live without certain pleasures/things, accomplishments, and relationships. We get addicted! Think PHONES! We end up wanting and needing more and more and more and more!

Contemplative spirituality gives us perspective on the limits of all of these illusions. It grounds us in REALITY, in God!

1. I won’t live forever, but with God…
2. I don’t have to have that…, but I have to have God…
3. I’m ok with my weaknesses and failures, because God accepts and loves me and designed me to need Him…

Contemplative spirituality boils down to this: slowing down to BE WITH GOD! It is about creating space through contemplative practices. 

Four contemplative practices you can implement this week

1. Stop

2-5 times a day, call it QT, devo, office, time w/God, whatever.

The essence of stopping is BEING w/God, and trusting that He is on the throne as God, He rules, I don’t. Stop, pause, give up control and trust God to rule His world w/out me!

2. Center

Be still and know that I am God (Psa 46:10)

Spend a few minutes centering down, let go of tensions and distractions, rest in God and His love.

Pay attention to your posture, be still, breathe deeply, close eyes or settle them to be undistracted.

3. Sit in Silence

This is the most challenging and least practiced rhythms (not to mention awkward feeling! Sit in silence recently?)

Silence allows us to quiet every inner and outer voice so we can be with and hear the voice of God.

4. Read Scripture

Read the Psalms… a lot! Second most quoted book of the bible by Jesus to Isaiah.

Read the Gospels, get intimately familiar with the life, words, and works of Jesus.

If it helps, do it! If it doesn’t help, don’t do it (listening to music, journaling, walking, etc.). Let God and His Spirit guide you!

CONCLUSION

Join me this week and beyond as I deepen my roots in contemplative spirituality.

REMEMBER: this is not about trying to be more spiritual. It’s about spending more time with God, dwelling more deeply in His presence, and being more aware of His greatness and love.

Racial tension and conflict has flooded the news lately. Rather than point fingers and cast blame, I submit THE answer is quite simple. Not easy or quick, but transformational.

Racial (I prefer using the word ethnic) tensions exist in large part because we don’t listen to one another. It’s hard to understand someone who is different without knowing them. How many ethnically and culturally different people do we really know?

My Multiethnic Story

My father is half Chinese, hence my last name is Choy. My step sister is half African-American. My grandfather was an immigrant from China, my grandmother’s parents and grandparents were immigrants from the Czech Republic.

I’ve always had friends who were from diverse backgrounds. I played football in high school and many of my teammates were from diverse ethnic background. In college some of my closest friends were from other countries. The same is true about my wife.

The neighborhood we live in is in one of the most diverse cities in America (read more HERE). Our next door neighbors are from Vietnam, Ethiopia, Russia, Peru, Ecuador, and Washington, DC! That’s just on our block!

THE Problem

Could the problem of racial tension exist because of the ongoing segregation of churches? What about education, economic issues, power, and all manner of injustices?

Superficial change is not the answer. Hearts must change. The golden rule applies now more than ever. We must become a people who truly love our neighbors as ourselves. And if you haven’t looked out the window lately it’s likely that your neighbor doesn’t look, act, think, or live like you!

THE Answer

In April 2015 I attended the Kainos multiethnic leadership conference. Sociologist Dr. Michael Emerson shared five benefits of multiethnic churches. As a church planter of a multiethnic church (Restoration Church in Gaithersburg, MD) I was tuned in. Below is an adaptation from Dr. Emerson’s talk. This, I believe, is THE answer!

Dr. Michael Emerson speaking at Kainos April 2015

Dr. Emerson started with this quote from Dr. Benjamin May’s. Dr. May’s was a pastor, president of Morehouse College, author, and mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I hold, nevertheless, that my overall critique of the local church is accurate, and that it will be a sad commentary on our life and times if a historian writing in the year 2000 can still truthfully say that the most segregated institution in the United States is the Church of the Living God.”

Published shortly before his death in the 1960s. page 264 of his book, Born to Rebel: An Autobiography

The sad commentary that Dr. May’s was concerned with is still being written!

Segregated Churches Are Problematic

At least four problems are perpetuated in segregated churches:

1. They reproduce inequality. The have’s and the have not’s don’t change when we worship in churches with people like us. The cycle of inequality continues spinning.

2. Separation of friendship networks. People with resources tend to have friendship networks with people with resources. And vice-versa.

3. Strengthen racial division. We feel safe with people who look, think, act, and live like us. When we stay around people like us we only strengthen the divisions among us.

4. Heighten political conflict. If we’re surrounded by people in a church that are all red or all blue we limit our perspective. In that setting we tend to demonize the other side, cast stones, and turn deaf ears to those who have different views.

Good News!

The standard sociological definition of a multiethnic church is one in which no more than 80% of the congregation is one ethnicity. According to that definition the US has grown from 7% multiethnic in 1998 to 13% in 2012. My guess it’s grown closer to 15% in 2015. We’re making progress.

Here are the 5 benefits of multiethnic churches

1. Social ties. Multiethnic churches open access to friendships with people we may never otherwise develop.

2. Organizational home for multiracial families and people. The multiracial demographic is growing significantly.

3. Group formation and solidarity. A unified multiethnic church has immense potential to organize groups that impact their community and world.

4. Altered racial attitudes. It’s impossible for racial biases to stay the same when your close friends and coworkers in the church are from diverse background.

5. Reduced inequalities: economic, social, spiritual. Proximity and access to economic, social, and spiritual resources change the landscape of the culture and society like nothing else can. Where else will this happen if it doesn’t happen in multiethnic churches?

Dr. Emerson says, “Religion has immense potential to reduce racial inequity and division.” At the same time, “We’ve never seen an institution more segregated than the church!”

Planting new multiethnic churches and helping existing churches become multiethnic is one of my driving passions. If this movement does not succeed I fear the legitimacy of our Good News message will continue loosing ground and become irrelevant.

Referring to multiethnic churches, Dr. Emerson concludes:

“Such congregations, in addition to whatever else they do, must be part of a movement toward equality for God’s people, or the movement will have failed.”

QUESTION: Does your church reflect the diversity of your community? Why do you think that is or is not happening?

Can you relate? I’m sure you can. For one reason or another you just don’t tell people about Jesus. Or at least regularly. Maybe it’s been a minute since you brought someone new to a church service. Take heart, I want you to be encouraged!

There are a few things I’ve been learning about how to BE a more effective witness. There’s no magic formula, but I think a change in our posture and a charge to our power will go a long way to making a greater impact in our world for Jesus!

Below is the audio to my sermon on this topic at The Village Community Church April 26, 2015.

The Commission

Let’s go back to the earliest message from Jesus on this subject to see what we can learn…

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21-22)

Just as those disciple were sent in the way of Jesus, so we are sent in the way of Jesus!

• I’m not sending you!
• Your pastor is not sending you!
• The church is not sending you! (although in one sense it is)
• It’s not some made up idea that sends you!
• Our Father who is in heaven has sent you and me, just as He sent Jesus!

Note that Jesus connects being sent with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. That’s resurrection power! And just like those disciples needed it, so we need it!

Power from heaven…

The power of the Holy Spirit was not just a breath to a certain few. It was promised to all who Jesus sends…

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

The Holy Spirit promise was POWER for witness! Who wants some of that?

What is a witness? Someone who sees or knows something has taken place, like an accident or a crime. A witness can testify about what happened!

Hmmm, sounds kindof what Jesus was talking about!

Christians are witnesses of JESUS! Not dispensers of Jesus information!

A few things to consider…

• Being a Christian is primarily BE-ing a witness.
• The power to BE a witness is given the Holy Spirit.
• BE-ing a witness is not primarily something we do. Being a witness is just that, BEing!
• If we DO witness-ing without the power, it’s just another religious DO.
• BUT…
• If we seek the power of the Spirit without BE-ing a witness, we miss the purpose of the power.

The Apostle Paul’s Prayer for Power

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16–19)

Power is needed most in our character, the inner being. The place we need to be touched if we’re going to love people who are different than us! Paul is calling for Jews and Gentiles to come together in ONE multiethnic body.

We need power to grasp the magnitude of God’s love, not just for us, but for the people around us who are different!

The purpose of the power is love.

God wants to use us to fulfill His mission on planet earth. He has SENT us into our neighborhoods, workplaces, families, & networks of friends. He has also deposited His Spirit inside us to empower us to live a Jesus centered life.

Not only does God want to use us to fulfill His mission. He will open doors on a regular basis to make sure it happens. He’s doing it all the time!

3 Ways to Witness with Power

1. Pray UP

Before you’re in a situation with non-Christians… get ready… PRAY! Ask God for the power to love, listen to, and serve them according to the need.

2. Pray IN

Pray while you’re with people. Ask God for power. Ask for discernment and wisdom. Especially to be a good listener (maybe it’s just me!).

3. Pray OUT

Pray as you walk away from meeting people. Pray for the person/people. Ask for opportunities to follow-up, to love them, listen to them again, and serve them.

Imagine the impact our witness can make this week as we pray UP, IN, and OUT of every interaction we have!

QUESTION: what helps you to have the power you need to be a more effective witness?

After years of preparation that included doctoral studies, reading stacks of books, attending conferences, church planting boot camp, and formal church planter assessments… we’re stepping forward to be part of Restoration Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland!

God uses people. He uses people like us, and people like you! Imperfect, yet in the Restoration process! Jesus makes all things new. And while we won’t be completely new until we join Him in heaven, we can be Restored into a vibrant relationship with Him. Broken relationships between people can also be Restored.

Next Step

Our goal is to raise 50% of my monthly financial support by May. That enables me to continue raising support full-time so I can be released to my calling to pastor Restoration Church.

SERVING YOU

1. Pulpit supply
2. Speaker for a conference or seminar on…
   1. Leadership issues or, more specifically leading or becoming a multiethnic church
   2. Marriage
   3. Parenting
   4. Youth group
3. Sharing our story and experience with anyone who might be encouraged by it

Click HERE to contact me and let’s talk about how I can best serve you.

Will you join us? Leave a comment or send me a message if you’d like to connect.

Transition From CCCG

On August 31st, after five years and seven months our family left CCCG! Church transitions are hard! CCCG has been like our family. It’s the only church Emet has known. All three boys have close friends, as do Laura and I.

While the transition has been difficult, it was a blessing to receive so much encouragement from the church family. Our last day was HUGE as I preached my farewell sermon (part one HERE; part two HERE). The church held a farewell celebration during lunch. Then I was ordained and commissioned!

Farewell and ordination cakes

Gonna miss these awesome young people!

Ordination counsel laying on hands and praying for me

Dad, grandmother, cousin, wife, and kids. 4 generations of Choy’s!

Transition to Launch Restoration Church

There are MANY steps to take for Restoration Church to become a reality…

Transition to a temporary job

CCCG has been generous and gracious to help us financially through December. But it’s not enough to cover all our expenses.

I’ve been working at 1800GOTJUNK? for the last three weeks! It’s been interesting to say the least. On one hand it’s great to interact with a lot of unchurched guys. It’s also interesting to see what people pay to have removed! However, it doesn’t pay great, it’s physically exhausting, and the hours are LONG! The first day I worked 13.5 hours!

Today I’m interviewing with UPS. Lord willing I’ll be able to work a seasonal position making better money, more reasonable hours, without having to visit the transfer station (i.e. dump) 3-5 times a day!

Transition to full-time fund-raising

In February Laura and I will attend an 8 day training with GCM (Great Commission Ministries). This organization trains employees/missionaries in fund-raising and provides the admin support, payroll, taxes, health insurance, and benefits. Immediately following the training in February we will begin fundraising full-time.

Our goal is to raise my annual salary for three full years. That allows us to focus 100% on establishing a healthy church without worrying about the offering to pay our bills. After three years we hope and pray that the church can sustain my salary, along with the other staff.

Launch Strong Assessment

Laura and I, along with our teammates Rod and Annie Bender (my bro and sis in law) will go through a church planting assessment next weekend. We’re going through the Launch Strong assessment, which has been recommended as the most thorough assessment available. We hope to get the green light before returning home, which enables us to be accepted as church planters with V3 and BGAV, our network/organizational partners.

V3 Intensive

At the end of October my teammate Rod Bender and I will travel to Miami, FL for a three-day intensive with V3. We’re excited about this gathering of 20+ planters and the awesome leaders facilitating it. JR Woodward is the national director of V3. Tim Catchim, Dan White Jr. , and Ron Willoughby (my coach) are a few of the coaches. I’m excited that Alan and Deb Hirsch will be guests with us too!

November interest gathering

We haven’t made a public announcement yet. But we will! In November we will invite anyone interested to join us for a gathering to discuss the vision and plans for Restoration Church. We’d love to have you join us. Stay posted!

More to come!

My goal moving forward is to write a post every Monday. Some will be updates about the progress and plans for Restoration Church. There is so much more I’d like to share but it’ll have to wait!

Pray for us

Without prayer and a close connection to God through Jesus and His Spirit we can do NOTHING! With that in mind we would be so blessed and honored to have you praying with and for us…

• Family: to be centered in God’s love and motivated by His mission to love the people around us.
• Work: interview with UPS today at 2:30pm.
• Assessment: Launch Strong next Sun-Tues.
• Launch team: forming in the next several months.
• KEY: walk closely with Jesus daily!

QUESTION: would you like to be added to our monthly Church Plant email? This is a once a month email sharing stories, updating progress, sharing plans, and opportunities to participate with us. Please leave a comment, send a message/email, a tweet, etc. and let me know.