Pastoral Page

Starting this month, the Church Board will be meeting in two distinctive ways. First, the Board members together with some lay-leaders, have organized themselves into three Ohana Groups. Each group will meet regularly once a month to study Biblical-based, Christian-growth related curriculum. We will also spend quality time in prayer and fellowship. The purposes of the Ohana Groups are fourfold:

C – Mutual CARE
I – INSTRUCTION in the Word of God
A – Holding each other ACCOUNTABLE in Christian growth
O – OUTREACH to unchurch relatives and friends

Although many of us in this Church are related through family or marital ties, the Ohana Group is still essential for our Christian walk. When did you last share your needs and pray for each other in a family gathering? The Ohana Group enables us to support each other as brothers and sisters in Christ at the First Chinese Church of Christ.

For the first six meetings, we will be studying a lay-leadership training curriculum called. “Deacons: Partners in Ministry and Growth.” Our Board members are God’s appointed servants of the church. Their Biblical mandates are to serve at the table of the Lord (The Lord’s Supper), the table of the needy (care-giving), and the table of the Pastor (sharing administrative and ministry loads).

Second, based upon this Biblical understanding, the Board will devote a significant part of the regular monthly meetings to hands-on planning of ministry, spending less time in dealing with administrative matters. In the past year, we benefited greatly from a monthly joint W.I.F.E. meeting to coordinate the ministry of the church. Now W.I.F.E functions will be merged into our Board meetings for greater efficiency and effective use of time.

The reason that I am sharing these developments in the Pastor’s Page with you is because I am excited that we are making progress towards a Biblically sound model of ministry. We need your prayers and support. I was deeply moved several weeks ago when a long-time member of the Church told me: “Although my husband and I may not be able to come to church every Sunday because of our health, we pray for you and our church everyday morning and night.”

The Lord has made the First Chinese Church of Christ our spiritual home. Let us cherish it and keep the Light of the Gospel shinning bright. With Love in Christ Jesus,

Pastor Ling