Get Ready For The 20th Anniversary Celebration

As most of you know, the second Sunday of September this year is our 20th anniversary. It’s a special day and it deserves a special celebration. When 17 of us began our church in the small family room of our house in Silver Spring no one could foresee that we would make it this far.
Oh sure, we knew that starting a church was bigger than any of us and we also knew that the church would prevail because it was the church of Jesus Christ who promised that “no gates of Hades will prevail against us.” But there was, nevertheless, lingering fear and doubt about what we were doing and whether or not we would make it. The question was, “Can we really make it?”
Well, that question has been answered with a resounding “Yes!” After 20 years we not only made it, we have thrived beyond our imagination. All thanks and praise and honor go to God.
A lot has changed during this time. Society has changed. There has been a sort of “revolution” in the technological area of society. We now have “stuff” like the internet which we couldn’t even imagine 20 years ago. Young people nowadays face a world that is so different than the one we faced 20 years ago. So it is not only important that we look back, but imperative that we would do so. Going forward requires that we pause and reflect.
This act of “looking back” actually began a year ago when we formed a committee to write a 20 year history. Since then we have been collecting data and analyzing and assessing it, and reflecting on what God has done in the last 20 years. I called it, “Looking back with Gratitude.” We were reminded as we met weekly how incredibly blessed we have been as a church; how the mighty hand of God has helped us to come this far. It was written and etched on the minds and hearts of the people who have gone through our ministry. We were reminded that we are much bigger than the 2,700 people we have. We have more than a thousand people who have gone through our church.  They may not be present at our worship these days, but they are surely with us.
There are over 100 people who are serving God in the ministry and overseas missions as a result of our ministry. Some have already passed away, so we will never see them again in this world. But they are still with us. There are people who have moved away to other parts of the world or the country who still remember us with fond memories and tell us that they can never forget the time that they spent with us. Many people still visit our church’s web site and listen to my sermons weekly. Then there are those who are still living in the Washington area and yet go to another church, but while they were with us they had contributed to our ministry, and I believe that somehow we would not be where we are today had they not been with us.
The only thing that I regret is this book is written in Korean. I had tried to get some input from and for the English congregation but unfortunately it didn’t materialize. Maybe one day we will either translate it or write our own version.
As meaningful as it might be to look back, we cannot dwell in the past, we must move on to the future. And that is precisely what I have been doing this summer:  “Remembering the Past with Gratitude,” but also “Moving Ahead into the Future with Great Expectation.”  I have been wrestling with God on your behalf over the past two months to get a glimpse of what God has in store for us for the next 10-15 years. I am excited about what I am finding out. I will spend many weeks to tell you about it, starting in September.
The 20th anniversary will begin by declaring a fast for the entire congregation including children on Saturday, September 4th. On Sunday, the next day, we will have Sunday service with communion and then break the fast with lunch afterwards. Then on the same week from Friday to Sunday we have a “20th Anniversary Special Revival Meeting.” Then the following week again from Friday through Sunday we have a Missions Conference. More details will follow in the coming weeks. Just remember and set these days aside. Celebrations like this only come every ten years.
I have appointed Grace, Pastor Jin Kwang Kim’s wife to be the children’s pastor. I love and enjoy the excitement and joy that she carries. It is so contagious. I’m certain our children will benefit from her. Please remember to pray for her and our precious children.

August 1, 2010
Dr. W. Jamie Kim