Timothy is leaving for the retreat today. We have not had our own youth group retreat since last winter retreat. So many kids and counselors are looking forward to spending the next three days at the Skycroft Retreat Center. We have a total of 116 kids, 29 counselors, 3 parent volunteers and 3 pastors signed up. These numbers are so special because we have been praying for God to move the hearts of many students to attend the retreat.  Thank God for answering our prayers! Praise the Lord!
One of the first questions I like to ask students and counselors at the first small group is about their expectation of the retreat. Many come with an expectation to be challenged and renewed but we always have a few who reluctantly gave in their parents’ request. To me, I really don’t mind whether the students came willingly or reluctantly because I know that God has a special plan for each student and He will do amazing work that I can’t even imagine of with my limited human mind. There is just something about the retreat atmosphere that makes it very hard for people to resist God. So I trust in God that He will accomplish His good plan that He has in stored for this retreat.   
Our theme this year is “Giants are birthed out of Intimate Places”. There is no short-cut or an easy  way when it comes to becoming a Giant for the Kingdom of God. It’s not the talent or the “gift” that a person has that make him/her a giant. Giants are made through a process of life through personal and intimate places, and many times through difficult trials. Joseph went through so many trials as a young man however, he remained faithful to God and God used him to save many people’s lives. David was trained at a young age to tend his sheep not knowing that he was gonna be a king one day. When he was faithful to carry out his daily duties of life as a young shepherd boy, God anointed and used him to shepherd His people.
I believe God is going to raise up many young men and women of NCFC to become heroes of faith who will impact the world with the power and the love of Jesus Christ. Someone once said it takes a village to raise up a leader. I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. As parents, friends, mentors, brothers and sisters we need to respond to God’s calling to intercede and jump in this together!  So I ask you, the church, to join me in praying for the Timothy and the counselors. Please pray that both youth and the young adults will encounter God in a very personal and special way. Pray also that their hearts will be stirred up to rediscover their love for Jesus!
Lastly, I want to give an important tip to the visitors. We always welcome visitors to come and pray for us, but we LOVE visitors who bring things to make our tummies feel good. Just saying…=)

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
December 27, 2015

I believe that retreats, regardless of who the speaker is, what the theme is, who serves as counselors and how many kids sign up, always turn out be a blessing to everyone. I can attest to that because there has not been a “bad” retreat for the last 8 years I’ve served as youth pastor at NCFC, not counting many years when I went as a student. God never fails to show up beyond our expectations. This past winter retreat was no different than other retreats in ways that God touched our hearts and how He stirred up new passion and vision for His kingdom. However, apart from all the usual retreat experience, this past winter retreat was definitely a memorable one because we celebrated New Year’s Eve together. It was a special night that everyone will talk about for many years! The level of excitement and craziness (in a good way) that I witnessed that night was something very special. You just had to be there to experience it!
When we started planning and promoting the retreat, many parents were concerned that the retreat was ending on New Year’s Day because families getting together has been a long tradition for many Korean families. As a result, a good number of families decided not to sign up and there were kids who just didn’t want to come to the retreat on top of that. Even though I understand the culture and the family traditions and all, I was so frustrated that people take these retreats so lightly when we have more than 20 counselors who take these retreats so seriously by taking their personal vacations (some without pay) to serve and to love upon the students. I had one teacher couple who even brought their kids and stayed overnight in the motel room because they wanted to be there for the kids they teach. I even told some people to come visit for a day or two before going out to the family gatherings for the New Year’s Day but no one took my advice seriously. You can probably feel my frustration as you read this column. I believe it’s a matter of setting “proper” priorities in life. Many of us say that God is our number one priority in life but a lot of times other things in life come first and God becomes secondary.
During a Sunday school class when I asked the kids what helps them to grow in their relationship with God, 7 out of 8 people answered “retreats”. Of course, a mature Christian can grow by reading the bible and praying consistently but we know how hard that is for young people who are so busy and are surrounded by worldly pleasures all around them. So I urge everyone to make it a priority to attend future retreats. I pray and hope we will have more hunger and thirst for God this year. I pray that we, as a church, will hold on to God’s promise from Joel 2:28-30 and act upon His promise for the year of 2014.

28   I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth

Happy New year everyone!

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
January 5, 2014