I would like to use this time and space to introduce myself and my family. I am Eugene Cha, and I am the new Timothy/EC pastor at NCFC VA campus. It really seems like life has come full circle. For those who may not know, I grew up at NCFC. I was a part of Timothy starting from the sixth grade, and then joined Impact as I studied at UMCP (Go Terps!). After that, I ended up moving to Charlotte, NC to help my father who had become a senior pastor at a Korean church. What started out as just volunteering to help the youth group became my calling into youth ministry. I still remember praying and sensing God calling me into youth ministry. My first response was “Heck to the no.” However, as I kept praying, God placed in me a passion for youth that has been growing ever since.
It was then that I started attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary while serving at a church in Raleigh, NC.  Upon graduation, I had the opportunity to serve the youth in Sacramento, CA. Sacramento will always have a special place in my heart because that is where I “met” my wife. Let me explain why I have met in quotations. After I had moved to Sacramento, I got a call from my aunt who wanted to introduce me to a girl (my wife Sophia) who lived in Korea. So I sent her a message via Kakaotalk (thank goodness for Kakaotalk!). We got to talking and things were looking good. We both sensed that God has brought us together at the right time. She told me that she had a long list of things that she had been praying for while searching/waiting for her husband. She told me that I was the first one that met every single item on that list. To this day, she hasn’t told me what that list was in order to keep me humble (she’s a smart lady).
I flew out to Korea for a week, and we finally got to meet in person. I still remember seeing her walking towards me for the first time at Incheon Airport, and I was just frozen by her beauty. We had exchanged pictures, but she just looked so beautiful in person. On our second date in Korea, I proposed to her at Hae Woon Dae Beach in Busan. We got married in Korea almost one year after we first “met.” The first Kakaotalk message I sent her was on 11-11-12 and we got married on 11-02-13.
After I got my calling into youth ministry, I had always wanted to go back to serve at NCFC at some point because it was my home church. Not only that, but I was impacted by the youth pastors that I had there, and I wanted the opportunity to do the same for the next generation of Timothy students. Little did I know that it would happen so soon and so suddenly. My wife was 37 weeks pregnant with our son Andrew, and so we had no intentions of moving anywhere. In fact, we were busy setting everything up for the baby in Sacramento, but God had different plans for us. My wife ended up flying to VA ahead of me and waited while I finished closing up everything in Sacramento. It was truly the work of God that allowed us to move to VA. He took care of our apartment lease in Sacramento, insurance for the baby, and so many other things. One by one, He took care of them as we lifted them up in prayer.
Our son was born on Friday 11-07-14 at 6 lbs. 6 oz. at Fairfax Hospital. I think it’s so cool that he and I were born in the same hospital. We’re thankful that he is healthy and that he eats and sleeps like champ (gets that from his dad). We’re looking forward to getting to know everyone at NCFC and serving God faithfully here back at home. Home sweet home.

From Pastor Eugene’s Heart
November 16, 2014

There’s been a lot of recent news about elections all over Facebook, which is my primary source of information.  This may explain why I’m pathetically unaware of what’s going on in the world but am an expert on what Instagram filter is best for pictures of fancy dinners.  (Always go with Nashville.  You can’t go wrong.)
Politics is a touchy subject for many of us.  It arouses our passions and emotions, and draws sharp dividing lines between people with differing opinions.  I remember one argument I got into with one of my best friends because he was a single-issue voter which I found to be silly.  (Note that this argument happened many years ago and do not reflect my current views.  If you’re curious, my views now largely revolve around indifference.)
I don’t believe in using the pulpit to encourage one’s political leanings.  Trying to persuade a certain voting outcome under the subtext of faith seems irresponsible to me.  That doesn’t mean that the church should avoid issues that involve politics – we should be a standard bearer and truth proclaimer when it comes to issues of morality, compassion, charity, social goodwill, etc.  Granted, not everyone may agree with what the Bible says, which is our rights as free Americans and free-thinking human beings designed in the image of God.  However, this does not mean that God does not have a specific desire and agenda for the way our lives should be, and to ignore His word and truth is a very dangerous game.
That said, while I am encouraged by the desire, especially in our younger generation, of our society to vote and try to shape the landscape of our country with the power of voting, as Christians, ultimately, our power does not lie in our ability to mobilize a strong voting turnout or politic for certain government representatives.  Rather, the power to change our country, our society, and our world comes from getting on our knees in prayer.
In 1 Timothy 2, Paul says, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  Paul’s desire is first and foremost for all of us to pray.  And the purpose of these prayers – of praying for our leaders to make godly decisions, of praying for policy changes that are in favor of God’s commands, of praying for God-fearing men and women to be placed in positions of leadership – is ultimately to save people.  It’s not to live in a land where I can pay less taxes so I can have a more comfortable life for my family.  It’s not to live in a land where I have the freedom to do whatever I want because TEAM AMERICA!  It’s to save people to Christ.
The truth is, there is a lot that I would like changed in America (and the world).  There is a great need to vote and try to protect our society from… really ourselves.  But rather than proudly wearing, “I voted!” stickers once every couple of years, I would rather our church simply pray every day for the leaders of our municipalities, counties, states, and country.  I’d like to see what a bloc of praying Christians can do to change a nation rather than a huge voting turnout.  This is the way our God works.  And frankly, at the end of the day, I’m pretty sure God’s party, which isn’t Blue or Red, is going to win. 

From Pastor David’s Heart
November 9, 2014