Crisis and Opportunity

We’re in very challenging times and it looks like it’s not getting better time soon. The number of people that are infected by the virus in U.S is getting larger each day and more states have ordered curfew and lockdown in their states.

Even if we were to contain the virus within few month, it will take some time to restore things in order and I believe there will be a lot of people who needs support both financially and emotionally.

The Federal government is working on relief packages to help people due to the current situation but people need more than financial support.

We need emotional support due to high anxiety, lost job, lost love ones, feeling depressed, and etc. Let’s make sure that our family members and friends are doing well and not feeling hopeless in times like this.

Also times like this brings us opportunities to spend more time with family, to learn new skills, catch up with readings, and reevaluate our priorities.

Whenever there’s a crisis, there’s an opportunity.

And I believe it’s our God, the creator and sustainer of all, who brings that perspective to us.

So out of all the things that you planned to do, plan out to have prayer time, meditation, reading the Bible and use this opportunity to spend time with God and continue to build relationship. This is a great opportunity to build relationship and trust our God each day.

Remember, whenever there’s a crisis, there’s an opportunity. And we Christians always looks for an opportunity in God.

Pastor Rein

Sunday Worship

What a turn of events. Less than a week, our nation has turned away from ‘Let’s wait and see’ approach to ‘Full lockdown’ mode.

Now all sports games has been canceled and pretty much all big events has been postponed. In GA, our Gwinnett county schools are close for a week (might extend to 2 weeks or more), and asking people to stay home and not to go out unless it’s necessary.

These cautionary measures have affected churches as well and many Sunday worship service has been switch to online/house worship. Even though our church is small, we’ve also decided to do house worship for next few weeks until things have settled down (SFUMC will be closed for next 3 weeks).

I would like to reminded everyone on what I’ve shared on last letter and since we’re doing house worship for next few weeks, here’s what we’re going to do for Sunday worship.

- Sunday House Worship Order.

• Starts 1pm.
• Have 2-3 praise songs to play and sing along.

• Prayer

  • Sunday worship
  • Healing
  • Your own prayer request

• Read Sunday Passage (read 2-3 times)
• Write down any questions you have on the passage (You can ask me any questions you have)
• Write down a verse or two that impresses on you
• Finish with a commitment prayer based on the verse

I pray that these unique times we are in, God will help us to grow in faith and to rely on Him each day for strength we need.

Pastor Rein Auh

In Times of Uncertainty

the Corona virus is spreading nothing like we ever seen in our time and as of yesterday, more than 70 countries worldwide and in U.S, more than 20 states has been confirmed with the virus (6 people in GA).

Many conferences and events of public gathering has been canceled and people are even talking about playing sports games without any audiences.

In times like this, I think it’s best to be cautious and do not take any chances that could put people in harms way.

I’m sure you already heard many ways to prevent spreading the virus like, wash your hand often, do not touch your face, no hand-shake, wear mask (if you can buy one…), etc.

But a situation like, it not only affect our physical health but our mind as well. Especially with over flowing confirmed and unconfirmed news that are around us.

I would like to ask everyone to stay up-to-date with current situation but I encourage everyone to stay calm and focus on what we can do and not to worry about what we cannot do.

Here are few things we can do in times of uncertainty.

Pray - I don’t want to sound cliché but this is what we are call to do. We believe in righteous and loving God who are in charge of all. Let’s pray for people that are affected by, to find solutions, and trust our God instead of spending too much time on news outlets.

Listen but carefully - It’s inevitable that people are talking and sharing many rumors but we shouldn’t pass on to others if it’s unconfirmed. These rumors only add fears and anxiety to the situation and we should be responsible with our words.

Be cautious and prepare - It seems like U.S is just starting to caught on the virus and looking at other countries, it’s just the beginning stage. Be cautious when you are outside and be prepare to work and stay home for long period of time.

Let’s all stay alert and trust our God to work towards good.

Pastor Rein

Spring Ministry

Spring is here. Well, don’t feel like it, but getting close. ^^;

As we’re entering Spring season, we as a church are also preparing for new season of ministry.

For next couple of month, there will be two ministries we are going to participate.

First Ministry with Dreams is, VIP Outreach - Tennis for Kids I’m planning to take registration this week and start first lesson on March 22nd (Sunday).

I’ve set two goals for this ministry. First goal is to serve our community. Few month back, I went out to inquire about tennis lesson when I wanted my kids to go out and exercise but find out it cost a lot more than I expected. My only goal for them was to go out and play, not becoming a pro tennis players.

I figure there could be other families who might be in similar situation as I and I decided to open up to our community since I’ve decided I will give a lesson to my kids myself.

Second goal is to reach out to non-believers. As a church, we should always think of ways reach out to non-believers whenever we are planning a ministry.

This one is no different. I would like not only to serve our community but also ways to reach out and build relationship. I want them to know that we are here when they need us and hopefully they can experience God’s presence and love through our ministry.

Second Ministry with Dreams is, Missions trip to Haiti in May. I’ve already shared about this in my last letter so I won’t go into details.

So, Members with Dreams, let’s all pray for these two ministries to plan well and able to share God’s love with others and let God bear fruits as we plant and water seeds.

• Pastor Rein

Benefits of Memorizing the Bible

I’ve been going to Wed Bible study for Pastors for last few weeks and it’s been nothing but great for my spiritual discipline and practical help I receive about ministry.

One thing that we do during the Bible study is to memorize verses each week.

Last week was Psalm 119:11

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you"

When we have the word of God in our heart, it helps us to remember His presence in my life (the Word became flesh; John 1:14) and it guides and encourages us to stand firm in faith when we go through difficult and challenging times in life.

My wife hangs different verses each week on the dining table for our kids to recite and memorize everyday. Even during rides to school. ^^;

And I see it helps them be close to the Word, not only on Sunday but whenever they have a chance. That’s actually what God has commanded us to do.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

"7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

So to share these benefits with everyone, I would like us to practice memorizing verses each week and we’re going to use Sunday sermon passage to memorize.

I’m going to send you a verse(s) to memorize by Tuesday and it will give us enough time to practice and memorize before Sunday worship.

I’m certain this practice will help us to build close relationship with God and experience His ways. (John 15:4) Hope you would all enjoy it~ ^^

• Pastor Rein

Do You Like Movies?

I like watching movies. Actually I love watching movies… ^^; I try to watch at least top box office movies so I can keep up with current trends. Last movie I enjoyed watching was, ‘Avengers: End Game’. Some people don’t like too much CGs (Computer Graphics), blowing things up, everywhere and anywhere… but I liked it.

Especially knowing that they’ve planned this Marvels series with 10 year plan and this movie, ‘Avengers: End Game’ was the final chapter to wrap every thing up from past 10 years made me to appreciate more about the whole Marvel series.

Speaking of movies, something amazing happened in movie industry last Sunday. For the first time in history of Academy award, foreign movie won the Best Movie for Oscar. That movie was ‘Parasite’ by Bong Joon-Ho from Korea. Korea? not K-pop but a movie? Who would’ve thought…

Director Bong also won 3 more awards! Original Script, Best Foreign Movie, and Best Director. Truly amazing…

Also Director Bong’s acceptance speech after he received Best Director award was memorable. He said when he was learning about film in school, there was a quote that he carved in his heart.

"The most personal is the most creative." – Martin Scorsese

This quote is true to everyone. God made each and every one of us in such an unique way that there’s no other person like ‘me’! and that’s what makes ‘me’ great!

Everyone tells each other that ‘You’ and ‘I’ are not good enough so we need to be ‘someone’ else. Not realizing ‘We’ are already unique and different from everyone else that we don’t need to pretend to be ‘someone’ else.

I’m not sure if Director Bong is a Christian but I hope he is and all of us should be reminded that I can be most creative when I am just ‘me’ in God…

• Pastor Rein

Let’s Start the Engine 02

(continue from last week) Third, I would like for us to pray for missions trip in June.

I’ve been part of missions in Haiti since 2017 and each time has been great experience for myself and others. The missionaries that we work with are, Young Kim & Sun Kim (couple) and Joo-Yeon, Lee.

Young and Sun are retired couple, serving in missions for past 10 years and same as for Joo-Yeon as well. They are all part of Youth With A Mission (YWAM).

They’ve invited me to give a lecture during their Discipleship Training School for a week this year and I’ve been thinking and praying about taking our church members to witness what and how God has been working in Haiti all these years.

I believe the main purpose of missions trips are not about doing a great work, changing a community or a nation but witnessing what and how God has been working and certainly continue to work even after we return home.

Mission trips bring great opportunity to rely on God for each day and God invites us to witness His heart and love towards His people. It is truly a blessing experience.

So, please pray for Young Kim, Sun Kim and Joo-Yeon, Lee in Haiti, Haitians and our planned trip in June.

Last but not least is to pray for SFUMC. Senior Pastor (Pastor Diego Orsini) is planned to retire next year so please pray for congregation, smooth transition and continue to build good relationship with our church.

They’ve been very generous and kind to us in terms of using facilities, not only on Sunday but other days as well. Please keep them in in your prayers.

Well, I think that’s about it for my first letter to you. ^^ Let’s continue to pray for our church and share God’s love and the truth with others!

• Pastor Rein

Let's Start the Engine 01

So what is this Letter with Dreams you are reading right now?

Well, this is my way of communicating to all of you on each and every Sunday. You might ask, ‘How about a sermon?’ well, sermons are God’s communication channel to us and I’m just a messenger. So weekly Letter with Dreams will be my main communication channel to all our church members from now on.

I’ll be sharing about my life, church plans, prayer requests, family matters, upcoming events, and even a joke! I’ll be sharing pretty much everything and anything I can think of. You will hear(read) it from here.

First thing I would like to share with you today is upcoming church plans and prayer request.

Doug and I were in House Church Seminar for Lay Leaders in Houston, TX few weeks back and had a great time of learning and witnessing how God has used NLF to help other churches to restore the spirit of New Testament church. And I would like our church to be a part of the movement by hosting a seminar.

I know, I know, we are few and small... That is why I’m asking you to pray for our church and that is my first prayer request. For our church to host a House Church Seminar for Lay Leaders in three years. That’s right! By year 2023!

Second, My wife and I are planning VIP outreach in March by providing beginners’ tennis lesson from elementary to middle school kids.

We believe this can fill the needs in our community and at the same time, gives us an opportunity to reach out to non-believers.

Third, I would like for us to pray for missions trip in June.

(to be continue...)