Where is home? That was the question that Caleb, our oldest son, asked when we were packing up and preparing to return to the U.S. He was five-years-old and his younger brother, Caden, was three-years-old at the time we had left the U.S. for Thailand, our mission field and home for the last four years.
But before I answer the question of where is home, let me take a moment to introduce ourselves for the benefit of those who don’t know us. Though I was born in Taiwan, I grew up in Saudi Arabia from age one to seven. It was not until my family immigrated to the U.S. that we came to know the Lord through a Chinese church in the southern Bible belt state of Alabama. Lila on the other hand was born in the Midwest state of Illinois, and grew up in a Christian home with Korean parents. It was not until her parents divorced and her dad remarried that she relocated to Maryland. She started attending NCFC in 1992, and gave her life to the Lord in 8th grade at a church retreat.
Fast forward a few years, and the Lord brought us together as husband and wife in 2005 with a passion to glorify Him through our mutual call to cross-cultural missions work. Both of us received a clear calling from the Lord. And so after I worked seven years as a civil engineer and Lila worked eight years as an elementary school teacher, we decided to quit our jobs to attend seminary in preparation for vocational ministry. Eventually, I graduated from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 2009 with a Master of Divinity and joined the pastoral staff of NCFC briefly on a part-time basis. Lila returned to teaching in the public elementary school sector, while we continued to prepare for the mission field. At some point, we had two little boys, Caleb and Caden, along the way!
Currently, we are serving as full-time missionaries in Thailand with OMF International. We have just completed our first term of four years church-planting in South Thailand. We were involved with language and culture studies, relational evangelism, English teaching outreach, and partnership with an existing OMF church plant. Our youngest, Corban, was born in South Thailand, and we joke that he is half Thai!
And so that brings us back to the question of where is home? I must admit that at first I did not quite know how to answer that question. I have had my own personal struggles with answering that question myself because of my own cross-cultural childhood experience. Everywhere seems to be home, and nowhere seems to be home as well. But the best answer I could give Caleb was that home is where our family is together at the time. And so if we are in Thailand together, that is our home. And if we are in the U.S. together, that is our home. We also thank God for you, our church family, because you have warmly welcomed us and made the transition back to the States so much easier. And for that, we are grateful.
Ultimately, I am learning to teach my boys that home is where heaven is as well because, as believers, we are all on a journey towards that direction, and Scripture reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). Even with the reverse culture shock that comes with adjusting back to the U.S., we are learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable and reminded to always be gazing heavenward.

From Pastor Dave’s Heart
September 20, 2015

In September, we have three people getting baptized from the EC side in VA campus. I am truly so excited and happy about their baptisms. I don’t think there is a greater joy than seeing someone come to Christ and being baptized. There is no greater joy in heaven as well. We are told in the Bible that many angels rejoice when one person comes to Christ. How awesome it is that we can be a child of God!
We had our baptism class last Sunday, and their conversion stories reminded me of mine. They had all grown up in the church like me. They had come to God while going to church and they had been waiting for the right time to be baptized. I came to know Christ because of Pastor Roger. I don’t know if many of you remember him, and if you do, I know I just took you way back into NCFC history. I remember he shared the gospel during his message on Sunday and that’s when I came to know Christ. That was when I was in seventh grade. Hearing their testimonies during the class just brought back all those memories.
It reminded me of all that NCFC had done for me in my spiritual walk. I came to know Christ because of NCFC. I grew in my faith through all the different discipleship classes I took while in Timothy (does anyone still remember XD?). I believe that NCFC played a big part in me becoming a pastor. God used this church to groom me in preparation for the day I went to seminary and started doing youth ministry. I had the privilege of having great pastors like Roger Kim, Tom Youn, Young Kim, and Alvin Chun, who are still doing great things for God’s kingdom today. My hope is that I can have a similar impact on our current Timothy students like these pastors had on me back in my days as a Timothy student.
It’s great to see that NCFC is still being used to bring people to Christ. It lets me know that our church is alive and well. There have been a lot of hard times in the recent past, but we are still bringing people to Christ and baptizing them. In the end, isn’t that what really matters? The ultimate purpose of the church is to be salt and light for its community, and that’s what NCFC has become for MD and VA. God is using our church to accomplish His purpose and His plan. What a privilege it is that we get to participate in that. I know that God has even greater things in store for this church. Things that we cannot even imagine. May we continue to spread the good news of the gospel and bring people to Christ. May we continue to raise up men and women who are so in love with God.
So, as we baptize these three believers this month, may you be as joyful as I am! Every time we have baptism, it is a time for celebration. There truly is no greater joy! With the NFL season starting next week, I can honestly say that when the Cowboys win the Super Bowl this year, it won’t bring me greater joy than the baptism we have this month. The day that my wife has her paintings exhibited in the National Art Gallery in D.C., it won’t bring me greater joy. The day that Andrew gets a full ride to Harvard, it won’t bring me greater joy. The day that I finally bowl a perfect 300, it won’t bring me greater joy. When we look at things in the eternal perspective, the good things in this physical world pales in comparison. What is greater than a lost soul coming to know the love of the Father? Truly nothing.

From Pastor Eugene’s Heart
September 6, 2015