Don't you have moments in your life when you just break out in laughter as a result of an enlightenment or a revelation from God? I had one this week as I wrote this column. As soon as I wrote down the title, God struck me with a thought that made me chuckle with a big smile on my face. He impressed this thought in my heart: "You thought you didn't have to commit to the 40 days of prayer and fasting since we didn't have an early morning prayer campaign for the lent season this year...well I had a different plan in mind."
Though we are going through a difficult time as a church, I am seeing a lot of positive results springing up from everywhere. People are coming out to morning prayer and other prayer meetings more than before.
God told Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land".
In response to God's call, we declared 40 days of Prayer and Fasting chain for the whole church and asked people to sign up to fast and pray at least one meal a day. The prayer and fasting chain already kicked off on 4/22 (Mon) and many are already participating in it together. However, I know many of you needed more time to think and plan before signing up so we will give you another opportunity to sign up today. Please fill in your name on the calendar posted in the hallway right outside the worship center.
On top of individual fasting and prayer, the church leadership wanted to provide opportunities for the people to come together and pray corporately because we believe there's a special unity and power that arise from corporate prayer meetings. Since we already have many weekday/weekend services and prayer meetings for different campuses and ministries, each congregation (MD, VA) will have a different schedule. Our intention is to have a corporate prayer time EVERYDAY for ONE HOUR for the whole month of May at both campuses. A new prayer meeting will be added for days that we don’t have church services and prayer meetings. Some meeting will be KC & EC joint with English translation. It would be nice to have all prayer meetings be KC & EC joint, but it requires too much coordination for such short meetings and the prayer time wouldn’t be as smooth. So most of the meetings will be held in one language. See below for a detail schedule of the prayer meetings. However, you are welcome to come and join any of the prayer meetings because God can understand all languages!

Schedule of the Additional prayer meetings (Monday, April 29th – Thursday, May 30)
MD Campus KC & EC (7:30 - 8:30 pm)
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays  (Worship Center)
*will be in Korean – short message in Korean, and corporate prayer for most of the time

VA Campus KC & EC (7:30 pm -8:30 pm)
KC: Mondays, Tuesday    EC:: Wednesday   (Worship Center)   Joint: Friday (Connection Cafe)

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
April 28, 2013

I love this time of the year, the cool crisp air, the leaves changing colors.  It encourages me to stop and contemplate God’s beauty reflected in nature, enjoy the transition as it happens while realizing that it is part of God’s plan and design.  As I do so, I can’t help but think as our church navigates through our own season of change, that this too is part of God’s greater plan and design.  I am most hopeful in our Lord and am grateful for how HE has and continues to fulfill his promises to us corporately and individually. 
One of those promises is the promise God gives in Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”  Isn’t this so true?  I am so encouraged when I see our pastors passionately seeking after God’s heart and sacrificially serving us through the good times and tough times.  They are truly heroes and prove it to us each and every day!  
As October is Pastor’s Appreciation month, I encourage you to take time today and say thanks in your own way.  Exercise the power you have to bless…
- Elder Michael J. Park

Like every year, the EC Elders, Deacons and Oikos Leaders have prepared gift cards and flowers to demonstrate our appreciation toward our EC pastors.  As I was going through the same routine of “collecting resources” from our EC Elders, Deacons and Oikos Leaders to purchase gift cards and flowers, I could not help but wonder if we truly understand the meaning of the word “Appreciation.” So I looked it up via an online dictionary.  Appreciation means “an ability to understand the worth, quality, or importance of something”.
Although gift cards and flowers are nice, I believe our pastors feel the most appreciated when we take time to get to know them, to thank them, to pray with and pray for them…you get the picture. 
Please bless our pastors today and any other day by delivering your “thank you” personally.
To our pastors:  Thank you from our hearts!
- Elder Alex Guo

From the Hearts of our EC Elders
October 20, 2013