Little Bereanites by Peter Chung

Our children’s ministry doubled in size over the summer with the additions of the Yi (4 kids) and Li (2 kids) families. Their arrivals quickly changed the face of our growing church. Sign-ups had to be taken for babysitting. Rotational volunteers were needed for the children’s Sunday services. A separate room for the kids had to be reserved during the retreat. More nurturers were needed to step up and tend to crying babies. The last names of the kids were no longer all “Kim.”
We grew in number some more when Richard and Tanya headed overseas in September. The beloved couple left four high school students in our care and BAM! Now we’ve got ourselves a youth group. So, as you all know, quite a bit has changed over the past six months.
Let me give you guys a little taste of what takes place on Sundays for all those under the age of eighteen. Nathan, Ryan, the two Matthews, Jeremy, and Daniel sit with me during the worship service. We praise God with the adults and we listen to the sermon with the adults. For the most part, they’re pretty attentive. Our little Bereanites even try and take notes during the sermon. When Pastor Peter says “Let’s pray”, we get up from our seats and head out to have our Bible Study in one of the classrooms.
The boys are required to memorize one Bible verse a week and the quizzes are cumulative, so they have to retain all of the verses they had previously memorized. We also go over worksheets from the book of Exodus and have some lively discussions. The boys are also assigned daily readings from the Word and have to interview their parents with questions related to the passages they are studying. Every week, they are rewarded points for behavior, participation, homework, and bringing their Bibles, writing utensils, and folders. The competition sometimes gets pretty fierce. We finish up the Bible study in about a half-hour and grab lunch with the rest of the church family.
The high school students come into the classroom during lunch. At 12:30, the eight of us (4 students + 4 teachers) go through the basics of the gospel. That takes place for about twenty to thirty minutes and we then have one-on-one time with our assigned partner. We share, read, and pray together. And after everything is done, we take turns driving the students home to Garden Grove.
So far, it’s been very much a blessing. The younger boys seem genuinely interested in the Bible studies. The high schoolers are teachable and willing. My hope and prayer, though, is that they won’t grow to just like the church and get excited about the Bible studies. It is that they might fall deeply in love with the Lord Jesus Christ. So, please don’t forget to pray for and invest in the lives of the littlest members of our church!

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Asaph Li, Our Newest Berean

Name: Asaph Hung Kai Li
Birth date and time: Tuesday, 11/21, at 1:03 a.m.
Weight: 7 pounds, 4 ounces
Length: 21 inches, or 1 foot, 9 inches

Jennifer’s water broke at 5:30 p.m. Monday, and we arrived to the
hospital two hours later and stayed in the same room we had delivered
Hope and Charity, our first two. She only needed to push for five minutes
before the baby came out. However, she had to undergo more painful
contractions this time around because she didn’t take the epideral early
enough. Jennifer’s recovering well, just 2nd-degree tear like last time. But
she’s having more cramps because the nurse says that’s what happens after
one has two or more children.

Background of name: Asaph is named after a biblical person who was a
worship leader from the Old Testament (King David appointed Asaph among
others over “the service of song in the house of the Lord” 1 Chronicles
6:31-39; however, it seems Asaph is the “chief” 1 Chronicles 16:4-5, 7).
He is also the author of some of the Psalms, i.e. Psalms 73-83.
Jennifer & I believe that God has blessed us with a child whom we would
like to dedicate to the Lord’s service and who will hopefully live up to
his name in being a minister of God either through worship or through the
pulpit.

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

-Tommy Li

CLICK HERE for pictures!

November M Report (PART 2)

I started my language exchange with Mrs. P, my tutor kid’s mom. She is such a sweet, generous lady and I really cherish our times together. I am learning so many useful phrases from her — I feel like it’s such a blessing to be able to talk/read/write in another language about the most important thing in the world. By Dad’s grace, I was able to memorize the Lord’s prayer in Matt. 6:9-13. Also, little by little, I’m on my way to learning how to evangelize. Mrs. P is a strict teacher, and is making memorize how to read and write everything I’m learning, so I will really need God’s help with my memory. Since Mrs. P teaches for a living, she is really experienced at it, so I am also learning how to teach better. I am really excited for the time when I will be able to use all this info, and am asking the Lord for some opportunities. I also decided to work at the Business English school, mainly because of the age group I will be able to work with (college/post-grad/working professionals). They’re offering a free trial class to students this upcoming Wed., so I will teach my first class at that time. I’m a little concerned because I found out this is the first time they’re using this Business English course, and they seem to expect a lot from me — also they don’t seem like the most organized group. I’m grateful it’s a five-week commitment to start with, but I’m also optimistic about what I can learn here and the potential relationships that can be made. Time flies, and I can’t believe that Pastor Peter and Val will be here soon, and that Val and I will be heading off to Urumqi so soon. We still need to find hotel arrangements, but more importantly, we need to prepare our schedule and material. We’d like to spend time with the people whose hearts are most ready to hear/take the next step. Please cover us with your prayers.

As we are entering the 2nd quarter of our tenure here, we are beginning to initiate and looking for opportunities in the areas that the Lord has placed us in. It took us a couple of months to adjust to the culture and the way things go here, but please think that the Lord will show us and guide us in finding opportunities and more information for you guys back at home, that all that we are doing will have a bearing on the future of something more permanent here.
As for Jonathan, he has gone to visit his mother and stay with her at Tianjin, which is about an hour train ride. However, things have changed. My initial plan was to visit him once a month, but that is proving to be difficult because he has now moved to another province, Liaoning, which is farther from Beijing. He has moved there because his father arrived (his parents are divorced) and asked him to visit. I am still praying and hoping for an opportunity to visit him and to catch up with him and to see where he is standing. Please continue to think that the Lord will show himself to Jonathan and that he will respond in the way that anyone who is interested in the product should.
Recently, Jeni and I were given the opportunity to go to a nearby college (the same college Henry and I have been playing basketball at every weekend) and visit their International Department. Jeni will have more information about what went on in our visit, but during our time there I was able to talk to and meet the assistant director of the dept. The reason why I am mentioning this is because he e-mailed me the day we met and asked if we could meet to practice his English. I feel that this is another opportunity that the boss has given and I want to be able to be a good and faithful steward of it. His name is Dustin and he is about the same age as me. Please pray that an opportunity to share the product will arise in our conversations and that his heart will be softened to hear it.

Since the last update, physically, things haven’t changed much. Last week, I just got over food poisoning, but overall I am doing well physically. As for my meetings with Dominic, I will be meeting him for the second time tomorrow. I hope our meeting will go well according to His plan. I really hope that Dominic will understand and come with a heart of repentance. I am excited for the upcoming times, a lot of things will change and things will finally get rolling. Please pray for me that I will be mindful of the work here and that I would not waste my free time but that I would use those times to properly to prepare myself for the work. Also, pray for me that I would continually learn and mature in this mission field. That I would grow in all aspect, especially, love for Him, his instructions, his workers, and the lost. Think that I would completely lay my all to do as he wills. Also, think for more opportunities to meet with hungry people. For a while, I’ve been really desiring to meet and help them.
As for the kindergarten, Lynna and I have decided to move on after the end of this school term, which is at the end of January. For the most part, we have learned much about the Chinese schools and have made good contacts. The reasons for leaving is that we may explore and see what other opportunities are available in this city. The kindergarten definitely has much potential for the long-termers. Regardless, we have made some good contacts with the teachers, which we believe we can continue to keep in touch with. On the topic of kindergarten, we met a new staff member who happens to be a missionary as well. She is going to be the head of the International department (I’m not sure if it’s just for the kindergarten or the whole school). She’s from SD and she recently came out with her family. Last Saturday, we got to meet up with their family. Lynna and I were able to learn a lot from her and her husband. She has the same view of the Gospel and we are looking forward to meeting up with them much more. She is willing to help us out in setting us up for some meetings with few her friends. One of her friends is well experienced in setting up businesses with college students so we are looking forward to that meeting. Pray that we will be encouraging to one another and that He will provide us with much more opportunities to learn and to work with one another.
I just met with Dominic today. It was a good time. We had lunch together and ended with a talk about the Bible. One thing I notice about him is that he recognizes that he is lost. Though I still believe he has much to sort out, I believe that he is close. I asked him if he wanted to meet to go over the Bible, and he said he is willing. I’m really excited for my meetings with him. He seems to have a desire to learn but think for him that he would not simply learn for learning sake but to be a Christian as well. He knows that is the final result. Today we went over the first 2 chapters of Genesis, and it was good. It’s amazing how even from the first two chapters, you can know about the whole Gospel. It’s truly amazing. But he’s now reading John. Pray that it will truly cause him think about the Gospel and it will burden him, that he would turn to Him for help and salvation. Also, pray for my future meetings with him. I really want him to be a believer. I really need support so pray for me on that. It’s really up to the Lord. Thank you.

As the days and weeks continue to pass here in China, the Lord has continued to challenge me on what it means to be a witness. I come in contact with a few people every day, that even though my language may be limited, I feel the Lord could still use those few minutes or encounters in a great way. The only problem is me identifying those moments, and taking advantage of them. The term “work” came be defined many different ways here….some are clear examples of projects that are directly for the Lord, and others not so direct. The “not so” category is where the real challenge lies, in becoming sensitive enough to realize that “work” doesn’t have to be confined to leading a tutoring session, or running camps every other week. So, I ask that you think about me and my ability to understand and accept that his plans are not just for college students, camp attendees but for everyone….
Some quick updates: still tutoring 1 on 1 every day and may be taking on one additional regular class within the next 2-4 weeks. I have taken on a liking to my wife’s idea of running classes through hotels, and will hopefully begin some form of implementation within a week or two. Other than that, life is good and simple in this country, which strangely can be beneficial and a distraction at the same time. Thanks for the prayers!

In my last update, I shared with you the exciting news about our new sister, Rita. Well, now I must be a bearer of bad news. A week ago, Rita came over and told me that she was no longer interested in studying the Bible. She had stopped reading for a couple weeks and during that time she seemed to have lost complete motivation. I tried to find out what caused her mind to change so drastically, but all she shared was that her priority was to find a new job. She had been very busy with job interviews and it seemed to have consumed her. I could already sense that something was on her mind that day because, first of all, she had texted me in advance telling me that she had some bad news. Secondly, she did not seem like her usual self, eager and ready to begin studying. She basically told me that she was just confused. She didn’t feel like reading anymore and nor was she willing to. I tried to reassure her that trials and temptations are expected for a new believer and encouraged her to press on. I told her that the desire to read is not always there and sometimes we just need to discipline ourselves to do so, hoping that the Bible would change our hearts. But she wouldn’t really budge. She told me nicely that nothing I was saying really affected her. She seemed to have made up her mind for now that she didn’t want this, and she didn’t want to keep studying with me because she felt that she was wasting my time. I told her that it was certainly not a waste of time. If anything, it was a sheer joy and privilege to help her in any way possible. I told her to consider at least reading and studying with me once a week as usual without having to read on her own if it was too hard. I really wanted her to at least be exposed to the Bible because I believed it would change her heart slowly again. Well unfortunately, her mind did not change. She came back yesterday just to hang out but not to talk at all about God.
This has all taught me a lot about what it means to really know Gad. I’ve been pondering a lot of questions about the marks of someone who has really met God. Can one believe in the Bible yet be still confused about the purpose of the cross? Can one accept his sinfulness yet not be utterly ashamed by it? Can one believe in our God yet not tremble in fear of him? How much of the gospel message does one need to understand? Can one accept the gospel message yet not be emotionally moved by it? These are some of the thoughts that have been running through my mind. I think I can confidently say that there is at least one quality that is certainly necessary and pretty clear: Repentance. I’m not sure if I see that yet in Rita. She has told me that she accepts herself to be a sinner but I don’t yet see a deep sorrow over her seen. Please ask God that he would open her eyes to see the wretchedness of her sins and that she would recognize the dire need for repentance. I’ve talked to a couple of you about Rita’s state and I agree that she resembles the 2nd or 3rd soul in the parable of the soils. It seems her excitement has quickly faded, perhaps because she had no firm root. It also seems that the worries of the world has choked her. Let’s hope she becomes the good soil that hears the Word and truly understands it.

Hello home family back in sunny ca (or, maybe not). Our team is inching towards eight months to our departure from our new home and it already seems as though the time has flown by so quickly (were nearing our five month mark since leaving home)! I have this funny feeling in the pit of my stomach that our time to return home is near and I can’t help but feel as though I’m not ready to leave. Beijing has definitely grown a little seed in my little heart and my love for the city and its people is steadily sprouting. Fall is beginning to take its leave from Beijing and the winter is setting in quickly. The forecast this week expects a drop of about ten degrees fahrenheit in both the highs and lows (from fifty to forty & thirty-five to twenty-five, respectively), get ready Peter & Val! Please think that our friends Tanya, Lynna, Henry. (the three are suffering from the infamous “Beijing cough”) would recover soon and that Big poppa would really watch over their health during this upcoming week.
Also, this past Friday, Alex and I were able to check out a local university approximately ten to fifteen minutes away from our home in Beijing. The boys go to jogging every weekend w/ fellow missionaries to play ball and to make friends, so we thought we might go out and see what kind of English programs and activities were set up at the school. We meandered into the international college w/in the school and were able to talk with two office employees, Nancy and Dustin, who work w/ foreign affairs – ten minutes later and we made two new friends over lunch and Alex and I are now voluntarily going every Friday afternoon to teach English for an hour to a small group (five to seven people) of their faculty (an awesome chance for us to build more solid relationships with the college directors). there is also an opportunity for us to check out their English corner (coined “talk on Tuesday”) during the evening. please pray for this small stepping stone to a possible summer project next year and future chances to get more involved w/ this new campus.

Group Prayer Requests:

1. Summer English Camp Planning (several potential options)
2. Replacement teachers at Harvard — we’d like to phase out by May,
and will be looking for quality teachers, ideally Christians.
3. Henry & Lynna’s kindergarten — whether to teach there next semester
4. Our health as winter approaches
5. Overall joy and contentment in being here, and remembering it’s a
privilege.
6. Peter and Val’s safe trip here.
7. Tanya & Val’s safe and fruitful trip to Urumqi.
8. For the other missionary families here
9. Holiday outreach beginning w/ Thanksgiving party in a week
10. Berean

Click here for the group Xanga!!!

Click here for the Lee couple Xanga!!!

A Collegian’s Point of View by Kevin Ko

Before coming to college, my understanding of God was somewhat based on past emotional experiences rather than the eternal truths of Scripture. Not until this past year did I begin to realize the desperate need for the Word of God in my life and that without it I have no life. I have been learning that my life is no longer my own and that I only live because of God’s grace, which is my life. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:26-27 that Christ “sanctifies and cleanses the church with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” As a third year at UCI, I have come to see the importance of a church that is firmly rooted in the Word and resolved to glorify our Lord above all. Over the past year, God has truly blessed me with that kind of church.
At Berean, I have been greatly encouraged by everyone’s desire to love, know, and obey God’s Word. Just being amongst you guys pushes me on to strive and pursue that holiness God desires in my own walk. Hearing how God has been working in your lives continues to increase my faith in God and the power of His Word. The leadership of the church truly leads by example by actively surrendering their lives and pursuing Christ with their entire hearts, which allows me to see in person how it looks like in this life and how I myself need to live. Another thing that I really take to heart is that Berean is committed to preaching and teaching God’s Word accurately and faithfully no matter how offensive it is to man. Their commitment to honor God before all else is an area that I myself need to grow.
Bible study has really opened my eyes to see the need to study the Bible in order to know and obey God’s commands, while allowing it to examine the genuineness of my heart. As we are studying Matthew, I am learning that God desires an obedient and undivided heart that genuinely loves Him and how to live my life surrendered to Christ. The more I read the Bible the more I need God to change my heart. Now that Friday Bible study is for college students, I feel that there are more chances to meet fellow students and really grow together with them. I also have learned the importance of prayer especially attending prayer nights. My prayer life was almost nonexistent before. I am now learning that prayer is coming in dependency on our God with a broken heart, humbling oneself before Almighty God and crying out to Him from the depths of my heart. Witnessing God answer my prayers increases my faith, fervor, and passion for God.
I have grown to really love this church and continue to thank God for bringing me here. I can say with confidence that God has blessed me with such an awesome church that is committed to glorifying our Lord. How great is our God!

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November M Report

ALEX: Hello everyone back at Berean! As much as this might be out of character for me, I would just like to say that I miss all of you guys back at home. It has only been a quarter of our tenure here in China, but this time spent away has made me really grown in appreciation and love for everyone back at home, even to those whom I have not yet met. I am looking forward to hearing more news about all of you and seeing how God is molding our gathering as a unit, as a whole.
As for myself, my schedule is pretty relaxed when compared to Henry and Lynna. Pretty much, I have the entire day to myself until 2PM when Chinese class begins. From 2-4PM, I have that class, laboring to learn this language. Then varying from day to day, I have work from 4-7 on MWF and 4-5 on TTh. So as you can see, I have a lot of time in my schedule.
Aside from the various errands that need to be run in the mornings and at night, it has been quite refreshing and a learning experience here. It seems like every couple of weeks or so, God is teaching a different aspect of him that I needed to be sorely reminded of. One of these lessons is the need for his children to walk by faith and not by sight. Initially, it was easy for me to only look at the tangible things and be satisfied with that. However, as days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months, I was beginning to realize that I am missing out on the most important thing of all, the work that is being done outside of my own physical sight. I think being in a new environment and having a survival outlook on things, I shied away from the non-physical. I do hope and think that God will be gracious and merciful to me and allow me to see what is the work that he is doing, not only through me but all around me. It excites me again to wonder and see how God is wonderfully at work, accomplishing what he wills and knowing that that in itself is good.
As for my friend who I am meeting up with, David’s best friend, he unfortunately needed to go back to his hometown in order to prepare for his big law examination that he is planning on taking in January. By God’s grace, his hometown is only a train ride away, so I am plan on visiting him at least twice (once a month) until he comes back here. Continue to pray that God will soften his heart to see what is true in this world, that he would develop a proper perspective on who God is and he would simply kneel before the mercy seat and accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
Thank you again for your continual support and thoughts. It motivates me to continue to persevere no matter how bad the physical may look because it is what I don’t see that empowers me.

TANYA: One thing I am very thankful for is God giving me a greater desire and need to pray to him. I am seeing him answer so specifically these days that it is pretty humbling. “oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to Dad in prayer.” Keep praying, dear family — it really works! I’m excited to update you with all “Praise The Lord” (PTL) reports:
1. Pastor Yoo and his wife found a tutoring position for me here at the apartment complex we live in (only a two-minute walk away!). Their spiritual language teacher is a Korean woman who is getting her PhD in Chinese, and wants an English tutor for her son and his friend (both 8 years old). I started this past Friday, and after the tutoring session, the mom asked me if I had spare time during the mornings — she would like someone to practice English with, and I told her that I would want to learn spiritual language from her. PTL for the language partner I asked for, and also a flexible source of income! Although I am not great with kids, I hope to be a good example for the 2 kids (King D and his best friend … how appropriate).
2. PTL for an opportunity at Harvard, where the others teach. There is a Chinese business woman, age 26, who wants to learn English but needed someone who could also speak Chinese to facilitate her learning. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for Since we are pretty much the same age, I really want to build a good relationship with her. I should start in the next week or so.
3. PTL for new friends and their kind hearts and devotion to God. On Monday, I received a call from “Pattycakes” who wanted to give me a job lead as a Business English teacher. I met with the recruiter and had my first interview in Chinese. This is a great opportunity to work with college-aged/working professionals. This company has facilities all over Beijing and I think other areas of China, and they try to affiliate themselves with college business departments. They offer internet classes with face-to-face sessions (that’s where I come in) in the afternoon/evening. Although it’s a 40-minute bus ride away and the pay is low, the networking potential is good. Also, the classes only last 5 weeks, so I can adjust my schedule as needed. Also, I want to potentially pitch a Business English class at Harvard, so this will be a good learning experience.
On Tuesday, I received an email from Pattycake’s coworker, Lois, with another lead to teach at a Chrisitan organization that helps Chinese people who want to learn English before the Olympics through an English corner, with opp. to tell them good news. I will find out more about this during the upcoming week.
4. PTL for helping me and Valerie to find some cheap plane tickets to U. One of my main concerns in being able to go was the flight expense, but now that has been taken care of. We will need to shift our focus to preparing for the 3-day trip, which will be challenging through email.

HENRY: Over the past couple months in here, He has reveal to me that my character needs much work. Some of the areas in my character that I need to work on are selflessness, love, and humility towards Him and others. As I interact with fellow teammates and others, I realized that I still have long way to go. Though at first, I was disappointed on how poorly I behaved/reacted with others while being on this trip, but after reminders from His manual and encouragements from my teammates, my attitude towards my lack of character changed. Previous times, my ‘thoughts’ were that He would reveal to me the areas which I needed to mature in. And little did I know, even through the ‘not-so-necessary’ conflictions, He has answered my request. I am excited to work on these areas. Pray for me that I will mature in these areas. Also, as I learn more about the culture itself here, the more I get worried about the future of this place. There were moments when observing just their outer appearance, they seemed to be doing fine. But when I reflect upon their true state, my heart is burdened and heavily grieved. Pray for me that I will keep such attitude and He will use me to do His construction work here. Lastly, I would continue to reflect back to the Bible. That day by day, my dependence on Him will grow. Think for me that I do not run on my own will and strength, but I would stick to the Bible and rely on His ability to refine and renew my desire and strength. Thank you so much and I appreciate your help.
PTL that I was able to meet up with Dominic. if you don’t know, he is a friend of a Catherine’s. I had a chance to talk with him and follow up on him. He has heard the product from Tina, when she was here. When he shared how he was doing, I was able to see how God has been working in him since. I feel that Dominic is definitely being challenged by God. Every two to three weeks, he said that he feels like there is a something more to life than what he is currently doing. Though he has resorted to listening to music and other not-so-good stuff to drown such feelings, he says it comes right back. Got to explain the gospel up to his sinfulness and how he himself cannot make it up by trying to be good. I know he knows that he sins, and he feels bad about it, but pray for him that he will realize the weight of it so that he will be completely broken before God. This is not up to me nor Dominic, but God. so please be diligent in your thoughts and partner with me, so that Dominic will desire and seek after God knowing there is nothing in his power to do anything. PTL for such an opportunity.

JENI: Because my current update pretty much covered everything i have been involved in here, I suppose i will take this time to talk about my overall well-being here in China. Personally, I’m doing really well here in Beijing. It seems as though from the moment I arrived here, God has really been pulling at me like a wedge of taffy that needs daily, weekly, monthly stretching. It seems as though God strips more and more from my little branch each and every day; even at times when it hurts to feel so broken and barren of any goodness before him. More than anything though, I feel as though these times of frequent pruning has truly taught and is continuing to teach me the meaning of dependence on my Creator alone and love brought forth from a genuine overflow from him. I find that my favorite moments of the day are when I am at home alone with him in the solace and silence of my room. His constant and often quiet companionship has been my dearest friend and I find it the most pleasing and satisfying to spend my time in meditation and prayer over the books of the Bible. Sincerely, praise him all the more for such love given by God! I truly hope that the vapor of my life would really aim to shine his light and his glory until the end. In other news, I am currently learning Chinese with Henry, Alex, Richard, and Lynna, and working approximately 20 hours at the student academy until mid-December. It hasn’t been too bad, but it will definitely be nice to work about half that amount in the following term. Please pray for opportunities we all have to befriend and cultivate deeper friendships with our co-workers there. The weather is also getting colder now so i am a little bit worried because of my unpredictable health. China has strangely upped the ante on my frequency of migraines so i find myself debilitated by them from time to time. Please pray for me, dear friends. (if you do not receive my individual updates and would like more information on personal opportunities I have been involved with here, please email me and I will send them to you.)

LYNNA: If you have not heard the good news yet, I’m happy to say that we have a new sister, Rita, who joined the family two weeks ago. PTL PTL!! Thank you so much for all the thoughts you have lifted up for her. There is no doubt that Dog has heard every one of your prayers and has answered so graciously. A couple weeks before she decided that she wanted to make a commitment, she was wrestling a lot about whether she was ready. She was really scared because she didn’t want to make a flippant decision and then find that her life did not change at all. She was scared that she had too many doubts and questions in her mind, and she wanted answers. Ironically, the more she continued to read the Bible, the more she found her values, her mindset, and her lifestyle conform to it. She could not deny the truth and precision of the Bible. She was always very amazed by how accurate and relevant it was to every part of life. Then on a particular night, she realized that she had to take a leap of faith. She could not help but be convicted to believe that God is the only God and that his son has given his life for the sake of sinners. She understands her ugliness and her inability to save herself. She agrees there is no hope, no purpose if the Bible is not true. Personally, I wrestled a little bit with trying to discern whether she understood enough to begin a whole new life. I could see that she was strongly convinced that the gospel was true and she was definitely willing to obey and follow. On the other hand, I can’t confidently say that she’s brought to tears by a realization of her utter wretchedness. However, I think people make their commitments in different ways. Of course, an understanding of the gospel message is essential, but I don’t think visible tears signify a genuine heart. I confess, it would be easier for me to gauge her if I saw visible signs of her conviction, but what a humble rebuke for me to have faith as well. I believe Rita is definitely eager to live her life by faith. She is scared, but she knows that God will always be with her to help her. My hope for her is that the gospel message would convict her more and more as she continues to grow. This is a reminder for all of us in the family, no matter how far along we are in our walk, that the gospel should only impact us more as we learn more about God’s great love for us.
By the way, a few weeks ago we heard really great news that Rita’s company was no longer going to send her to Indonesia because the project over there fell through. Then the week after, the company told her that they didn’t need her anymore because there wasn’t enough work or money for her to stay. The company gave her until Nov. 5 to move out of the company apt and find a new house and job. She is hastily trying to find a new job now. It’s amazing how circumstances can change so quickly. I can see Rita is anxious about this situation, but she acknowledges that everything is in God’s hands.

RICHARD: I have begun teaching – 1 on 1 turtoring to be exact. There will hopefully be more working opportunities within the next 1-2 weeks through our contact here. I will most likely begin teaching a larger class within the next 3-4 weeks.

Berean Women’s Conference by Valerie Peng

The first ever Berean Women’s conference was last Saturday, October 29. About thirty five women from our church attended. The speaker was Marlean Felix, wife of Professor Paul Felix from the Master’s Seminary who talked about “Women Making a Claim to Godliness”. This basically meant that although we can say the words, and show externally that we are women of God, we cannot fake a genuine heart and good deeds that stem from a pure heart before God. “Will the REAL godly woman please stand up?”

I think that there was so much that I learned that day, that I’m going to have to pick out just a few of my own observations and personal challenges that I was really encouraged by through her sessions. The first observation was Marlean Felix. I love God and I love the many ways that He shows me over and over again how He has created different people, with different strengths, different weaknesses, all created for the purpose to worship Him through one body. Instead of being encouraged by one another’s differences, we often compare ourselves to other women, coveting their looks, jealous of their godly strengths, and bitter when we feel like God gave us the short end of the stick. So many times I see that my voice is too loud and piercing, my actions more awkward than gentle, and my words too blunt and honest than meek and quiet. I think to myself, I wish I was the gentle and quiet woman that characterizes all the godly women that I see and admire. BUT, it’s the inner self and unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that is of great worth in God’s sight. And that’s what Marlean Felix reminded me of on Saturday– That whether you have a booming voice and an outgoing personality, or speak in a quiet voice and have a calm demeanor, the heart always will radiate forth one that reflects a genuine love for Christ—if in fact you do love Christ.

The first point she made is that as a woman making a claim to godliness, the claim first start in the heart. Godliness fits all of us, and it first and foremost begins with the knowledge of Christ, which cannot come without pursuing him first. Godliness is being completely, single-mindedly, wholeheartedly sold out and devoted to God. And whoever is devoted to God will seek the welfare of God and in turn, the welfare of others. A woman making a claim to godliness, must first be pursuing after God.
My thoughts: Why is it that we want to be godly without pursuing God first? From the outside we can do the right things and say the right things, but on the inside, we have no desire for the things of God, rather the fame of being known as a “godly woman”. I know that I’m taking this verse out of context, in that Paul is defending the gospel he preached to the Galatians, but I mean I feel like our call is the same, we aren’t here to win the approval of men, only of God. As Paul says in Galatians 1:10, “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Do I have a clear conscious before God that I am not trying to pursue a claim to godliness but rather God himself? Is HE my sufficiency? Is godliness simply a title that I want? Or is it only a passion for my God, and my God alone? That’s all I want—to be a servant of Christ and a pursuer of GOD.

The second point was that the testimony to a claim of godliness is through your works and your character rather than anything of external value. We looked in 1Timothy 5:9-10, where we the portrait of a widow who had a reputation of being committed to good works. She was devoted to the Lord and to her husband, nourished her children in a godly home, she sacrificially devoted herself to the needs of people she knew and didn’t know at all, she was willing to do the most menial of tasks, she devoted herself to every good work. She energetically gave herself to the work of good deeds out of a heart that loved the Lord and desired to honor God in every good work she did.
My thoughts: If we are to have any reputation in this world, I would hope to build the reputation of a woman who does everything for the glory of God through being devoted to God and a life of good works. Marlean Felix said that our devotion and seeking the welfare of God will naturally lead us to seeking the welfare of others—to do good works. God created us for this very purpose—

Eph 2:10—“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Titus 2:14-“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works”

Titus 3:8–This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds.

I should be zealous for good works, I need to be engaged in good deeds—because he redeemed me and created me for this purpose, so that through them, I might ultimately give HIM the glory. I wonder a lot about how I can please God, how I won’t make him ashamed that he has chosen, called, and redeemed me from being dead in trespass and sin, to being alive in Christ. And he’s made it so clear, hasn’t he? One way that I can definitely bring Him glory is by doing good words.

So in adding to what I said before–I want to be a servant of Christ, a pursuer of God and HIS glory.

Hopefully my thoughts made sense, and super sorry if they didn’t. But check out the recording of the women’s conference. It was very challenging, caused a lot of self-examination of heart, and was just a great time of fellowship with my fellow sisters in Christ. Thanks for planning it BCC, and all the brothers who came out and served us lunch. Your love and thoughtfulness is definitely not unnoticed.

CLICK HERE for pictures!