Thanksgiving Note from Juwon

It's been about three and a half months since I've moved to Berkeley. This was the second major 'move' in my life, the first one being when I moved from Korea to Ann Arbor. Having spent most of my adult life in Ann Arbor (almost a decade), I had to make many adjustments, like getting used to the boring weather - it seems much too warm and monotonous for someone who's used to the cruelty of Michigan weather. 

I'm still trying to adjust and still feel '정신없어', but I already sense the good intentions of God in guiding me to this place. Among other things, God has given me a deeper sense of gratitude for all that he has done for me in the past through Hope church and has shown me how precious and unique is the community of faithful believers that is called Hope church. And since this is a thanksgiving weekend, I thought I would try to write down some of the things that I am thankful for.

First I am so grateful that there was a community like the Hope Church that God could use to bring me to know Christ when I was searching for answers as a teenager. I am so thankful for the youth leaders like Samonim, Younghwan hyung and Nayoung nuna who made it possible for the youths at the time to be involved with church. I'm deeply grateful to Samonim for her many letters of encouragement and all the prayer, love, and care that she has given me during these years and continue to give me. She showed me how to serve humbly with a sincere heart and genuine love. I'm thankful to Younghwan hyung for playing basketball with us and always being there for us as the older brother. I'm also thankful to Nayoung nuna for her passion and consistent service for the youth as a delightful fellow servant.

I am so grateful that I was able also to serve in the youth group. As Jesus said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. And they have given me much joy.

I'm thankful to have had Pastor Bae and Pastor Tom because without their constant labor and care Hope church would not exist as is.

I am so deeply, deeply grateful that God enabled me to serve in the worship band. I always remember Hebrews 9:14, that I could only serve confidently because Jesus' blood cleanses me from my sins. I'm grateful to God for the many worship band members who served with me. 

I'm thankful for older laborers who exemplified for me faithful service. I'm grateful for 창권이형 because he demonstrated for me patience and faithfulness as he served self-sacrificailly from week to week on Friday night and Sunday services. And it was also a great pleasure to have a devoted leader like 성준이형 with whom I had many conversations and shared our heart and passion for worship.

I am specially thankful for the campus worship band members who served with me in the last semester. It was such a privilege and pleasure to have them in the band: 충우형 as the pianist, 대호형 as the drummer, the guitarists 치영, 지용, the vocals 명기형, Hannah, 지영누나, 유진누나, and the powerpoint-er 형민이형. Though we served together for a short period of time, I could never forget the precious times of worship that we had together. Thank you guys for worshipping God with me.

I will always remember and treasure those many times that we worshipped together as a church. I am so thankful for the many retreats, Friday and Sunday services, all-night prayer, outdoor services, end of the month prayer nights, end of the year services, mission trips, various volunteer services, Christmas celebrations, and all the times of worship and fellowship that we had together as a church. Worshipping God together with the family of God gives me the greatest sense of joy and fulfillment.

I'm so grateful and amazed that our church has embraced God's heart for the nations and has sent many missionaries all over the world. I will never be the same after those mission trips. It is a great blessing to have faithful servants like 관덕이형 who allowed our church to be connected with Intercp, Pastor Bae who is so supportive and encouraging to such ministries, and many of our church members who serve in Vision School and are willing to make much sacrifice to bring the gospel to the nations. I am more appreciative of this unique and glorious calling for our church when I see other churches that lack this type of vision and ministry.

I'm thankful for the many dedicated servants in the young adult ministry. I'm encouraged to know that many of the young adults in Campus for All Nations continue to kneel before God every morning to lift up the campus of Michigan and the nations in prayer. I'm hopeful that God will use us to bring such revival to Michigan, and I'm grateful that I was and am still part of such a group.

I'm thankful for all these precious blessings that God has gracefully poured out on me through Hope church. There are many more people and things for which I am grateful, this is only a partial list. And God has surely done far more than what I could write down here and probably more than what I can remember or imagine.

Lastly I'm grateful that I could share these thanksgivings from far away and still be grateful to God together with my beloved church members.

Giving all the thanks to God with you,

Juwon