What an Epic Year!

Ahhh!!! I wish I could just sit down and write down every amazing thing that God is doing here at ASU and in my life right now. But there is just too much to talk about. It's been a crazy semester, but it definitely has been a lot of fun. This past Friday was our last official Epic meeting of the semester. It marks the end of one full year of doing Epic! It's been so crazy to see how God has taken us from a group so focused on structure and progromming to a community focused on trying to figure out what it means to be the church, or the body of Christ. Fiday was such a fitting end to one year of doing Epic. Friday was the one year birthday of Josh De la Rosa. One of our original Epic members who received Christ while being a part of our movement last year when we first started. So crazy to see his amazing growth!

This past Friday, we wanted to celebrate what God has been doing in our lives in the past year, and also to recognize the different directions God will be taking us over the summer. We wanted to recognize that while some people were going off to mission trips overseas this summer, many people were staying home, working, or going to school. Our group really had a heart to validate that staying home this summer is just as important as going to do missions over seas. We really stressed the importance of staying in community over the summer. We got together played some games, introduced our selves (there were over 30 people who came tonight: one of the other Asian Christian groups on campus joined us tonight!), worshipped, went through the word, and then did some interactive activities to send one another off. I talked about how the church in Antioch sent off Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13. But before this, they were there for a full year teaching and equipping the church. When they were finally sent off, it was in full confidence that the church was ready to thrive on their own.

What is really exciting about our group is that many of us are going to East Asia this summer. That in itself is amazing. But there will also be a group of students who will be continuing to meet together to pray for us and to pray for one another. The students who will continue to meet are not those involved in our core group, but they will have the chance to grow and be in community with one another during the summer.

So, as the night progressed Kelly and Lydia led the group in writing down their plans for the summer, their fears, and what they were excited about on balloons. We all wrote down our summer plans and fears on the balloons and talked about what we were planning on doing. Then we prayed for one another and we went outside and sent the balloons off representing how we were all being sent off form the campus. Kelly and Lydia also made awesome bracelets made of three strings and three beads representing how a three cord strand cannot be easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Everyone was given bracelets to wear in order to remember to pray for one another.

We then challenged the group to keep meeting together over the summer and pray for one another. Afterwords, we had a pizza party. It was so amazing because two of our members Brittani and Kathy used the money on their meal card to buy pizza for the entire group. They bought like 12 pizzas! It was such a beautiful picture of the idea in Acts 2:42 where they had all things in common and they shared all their possessions with one another. Different people brought cookies and drinks and other desserts! Then people hung out and played games until a little past midnight. It's so amazing to see a group that is committed to one another. We have taken the structures and time limits off our meetings and have allowed God to move. We still have a lot of work to do in being on time and getting better at some of the things we do. But for one year, there has been some defnite growth. It's been really really really fun!

In the next few weeks, we plan to do a Daniel fast for those going to East Asia. We will be starting on Thursday April 30 which is the National Day of Prayer insituted by Abraham Lincoln. Also, we will be doing a day of 24 hour prayer on Friday May 1 to intercede for those going off and for the people and places we will be going to.

One more thing that I just thought of that is really exciting is the growth and development of the East Asian students. They are committed to learning and growing from the community. They have a desire to share the gospel when they go back home, and they want to help us while we are there doing ministry. Every time they speak, they are so honest and so thoughtful. It was powerful praying together with them as we prayed for one another's summers. God is soo good!!!!

Thoughts just keep coming to mind, but I just reminded one of the profound statements that one of the guys in our group said last Wed. He said he didn't use to think highly of himself, and he didn't really love himself. But since coming to Epic and being around our community, he has really learned to love himself because of all the love that people have been showing him. So sweet!!!!


Anyhoo, here is some of the stuff for the visions and ideas for the next few weeks that I typed up and talked about at the meeting tonight:


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Passage explanation:

Acts 11: 19-30 talks about the Church in Antioch. The church in Antioch was unique because it consisted of a group of people who began to step out of their comfort zones and begin to serve the Gentiles and not only the Jews. Much like our movement within Epic, the people were embarking in uncharted territories. They were pioneers who were doing amazing works for God. When the church of Jerusalem heard about the great works that were going on there, they sent their experienced church leaders to go check out what was going on. In verse 22, we see how the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to go see the crazy pioneering work that the people of Antioch were doing. This must have been pretty inspiring to the church of Jerusalem because in just the previous chapter Peter told them about the vision he received from God telling them they should reach the Gentiles. And then right after this, the church in Jerusalem hear about a group of people in Antioch who were actually going about and doing obeying God’s command to preach to the Gentiles. When Barnabas comes, he doesn’t tell them what to do. He comes and is glad to see what they are doing. He “exhort[s] them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose” (v23). I love what verse 24 says. It says, “For he was a good man.” This is so awesome. Barnabas didn’t come to tell them what to do or give them the church planting strategy. He came to learn from them and encourage them to keep pressing into the vision that God had placed on their hearts to reach the Gentiles.

Barnabas is so inspired by what God is doing in Antioch that he goes and gets his buddy Paul. At this point Paul is probably pretty young in his ministry. But it is like Barnabas comes and brings him to Antioch so that he can disciple him in an environment where the people really get the vision of church planting and loving one another. Also, Barnabas wants the people of Antioch to learn from a young and emerging visionary leader in Paul. So they stay there for a year and teach the people the things that God had been teaching them. They encourage and build up the church, and it comes to a point that some prophets from Jerusalem and inform them about an upcoming famine that would severely affect the people. At this point, the group at Antioch had been taught and trained by Paul Barnabas for a year. Together, they worked together to help send relief to their brothers. People did things “according to [their] ability” (v29). People took responsibility and began to respond to people needs in tangible ways.

The next passage that builds off Acts 11 is Acts 13:1-4. Here the passage picks up with Paul and Barnabas still being in Antioch and helping build up the church. One day as they were fasting and praying and seeking the face of God, the Holy Spirit prompts them to “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work which I have called them” (v.2). Basically, I think that God saw that Antioch was a thriving community, and they didn’t need Paul and Barnabas to train them anymore. They were ready to be sent off and train others the things they had trained the people in Antioch. So in verse 3, the church lays hands on the Paul and Barnabas and sends them off.

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Vision:

That’s a pretty long explanation. I just got really excited as I was typing. It’s so cool because I think the church in Antioch is a picture of what God is doing within Epic Movement and ASU as a whole. Antioch was known as a sending place, and likewise, I believe God is going to use Epic and ASU as a whole as a sending place to the nations. The vision is that God called Paul and Barnabas to go. The church had grown and developed, and they were ready to grow apart from the leadership and Barnabas. The church was able to send off Paul and Barnabas, and at the same time they were able to thrive and survive without them. Acts 14:24-28 shows Paul and Barnabas returning to Antioch and reporting the amazing things God has been doing in their lives. Likewise, the church laid hands on the Paul and Barnabas as they sent them out.

We want to do something like this over the next few weeks starting with this Friday. We want to acknowledge that some people are going to be going to places like East Asia and Santa Monica, but others will be staying. Paul and Barnabas were sent off, but there was an even larger group of people staying at home who would pray for them and support them. The church in Antioch who remained was just as important as Paul and Barnabas. Antioch was like the home base where Paul and Barnabas were prayed for, supported, and refueled. They needed each other. The church still continued without them.

Here is a modern day example of what this looks like. In the 19th century called the Student Volunteer Movement. God placed a vision on the heart of people to call college students to commit to spending time doing mission’s work overseas. They had a vision of sending 100,000 young people to unreached nations. Out of the 100,000 students, 20,000 actually went overseas while the other 80,000 remained at home to support them both financially and through prayer. One of the leaders was named Robert Mott. “Mott led the Student Volunteer Movement, launched in 1886, which helped spur the ‘second wave’ of modern missions: the spread inland from coastal cities by missionaries searching out the lost. Of the 100,000 students who participated in the Student Volunteer Movement, 20,000 reportedly went overseas to spread the gospel.”

It is amazing to think that we are now part of another Student Volunteer Movement that is happening right in front of us. Some of us are going to be called to go overseas, but many more of us will be called to stay at home and do missions within the marketplace. The individuals who stay at home will play a large role in transforming the marketplace. They will also play a significant role in reaching the nations by sending the overseas workers through their finances and steadfast prayers.

And that is who we are. That is a SMALL part of the greater destiny that God has given to us through Epic Movement. I emphasize the SMALL part because there is so much more! But God has definitely called us like Esther for “such a time as this.” We were chosen to be part of this generation to be part of God’s bigger plan. We need both those going overseas and those who stay at home.

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Challenge:

So here’s the challenge. This Friday and the next two times we meet together as Epic we want to take part of the legacy that began in Antioch, spread through the Student Volunteer Movement in the 19th century, and is currently unfolding itself amongst us once again! We want to empower individuals to hold the Epic community together as we go, and we want those staying to lay hands on us and pray for us as we go.

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What’s next:

Then we want to invite everyone into a fast with us that we will be beginning the fast as an East Asia team starting after our dinner with the East Asia team on Wednesday, April 29. We want to invite the Epic Community, the Cru community, and the ASU community as whole to join us just as the church in Antioch prayed and fasted together as they sent off Paul and Barnabas.

We then want to solidify this idea of prayer and fasting by coming together in a day of 24 hour prayer on Friday May 1. Everything stems out of the place of prayer. Many people don’t realize that Campus Crusade for Christ was birthed out of 24 hour prayer. Before Bill Bright ventured off into UCLA to start a movement that now represents the largest mission sending organization in the world, he started in a day of 24 hour prayer. I believe that God is calling us to see the restoration of prayer in Campus Crusade and in our campus as whole. Bill Bright prayed and a movement was birthed. Imagine what would happened if we joined in prayer and fasting together to release a mighty move of God in the harvest field of the nations. What would happen if we became so dependent and desperate for God to show up as we embarked on a journey where we have been sent off? Together, let’s find out!

Washing each other's feet

It has been a pretty crazy year doing Epic so far. God has been doing really cool things. I just wanted to share a little bit about some of our meetings in the past few weeks. The past few weeks we have spent a lot of time getting to know one another and really learning what it looks like to be the body of Christ - the church. Here's a little blurb I wrote about for our Epic meeting last week. We spent a Friday evening at Stephen Crawford's house and had a great time.

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also outh to wash one another's feet." John 13:14

We spent a long time at Stephen Crawford's house last Friday night. He lives about 15 to 20 minutes form campus. We got there at about 8. Then, Lydia and I had to go back to campus pick up Yohei. We had to stop by the grocery store, but we went and picked up Yohei too because he really wanted to hang out with us. On the way back to Stephen's house, we got pulled over by a cop because Lydia cut him off on accident. It wasn't that big of a deal, but it was kind of funny that it happened. Lydia just got a warning.

So we got back to Stephen's house, and we ate around 9:30. We took communion together. We broke bread and had some grape juice together. It was a really cool experience. There were 20 or more people there. Jiannan and Yanquing were there too, and later that night, Yanquing said that he really enjoyed the night and that it he would have regretted if he wasn't able to make it. Stephen Crawford made us some hamburgers and Mexican rice. Dorry made some Curry, and Tanya made some delicious lumpia! After we ate, everyone kinda started doing their own thing again.

Around 11, we started getting together again and Donavon came by with his sister Crystal. He has been really busy with a Native American Event that happened this weekend so he was really tired. He had a big 4.2 mile run with his groups this morning too, so we prayed for him and his sister. By the time we all got together again, it was about 11:45. It was late, but we really wanted to do what we felt like God was calling us to do that night.

So we got back in a circle in the kitchen and everyone introduced themselves. We talked about what were some of the cultural things that we each did. It was really cool because we had some new people, and it was really cool to hear some of the international students cultural activities. After that, we all studied John 13 together. We talked about how Jesus washed his disciples feet and how this represents him showing his love to us, but it also shows how we must receive the love. In John 13:14, it talks about how just as Jesus washes our feet, we must wash one another's feet. So we got out two buckets and we all took turns washing each others feet.

I washed Kelvin's feet, and he washed mine. Everyone went in a circle. One of the coolest things as seeing Yohei, a Japanese student, washing Jiannan's feet, who was Chinese. It was so cool to see that even though they are new Christians and Yohei isn't a Christian they still served and loved one another. It's crazy given the history of animosity between the Japanese and Chinese. But it was just a really amazing and powerful moment. By the time we were done washing feet, it was around 1:00am. It was really late, but everyone was saying how they really enjoyed the night, and it didn't feel that late.

Japanese International Student washing Chinese International student's feet



Epic community

God has been doing some amazing things in our movement, and it is really exciting to just be a part of God's plan and seeing it unfold! I can't to see what is in store next!

Updates on another crazy month

So I have decided, right now, that I need to take this moment and pause and say, "This past few weeks have been absolutely crazy!!!!" So I'm gonna take a deep breath right now and try to recollect and remember some of the craziness that have comprised the last few weeks.




On April 9, 2009 we hosted an event called "Faceless Generation." The vision behind "Faceless Generation" is something that has been on the hearts of many people. Recently, God placed a unique idea for an event on my heart that I hoped would help bless the campus. I talked about the event in my February blog post entitled "Redeeming a Faceless Generation" The whole concept of the event was to be provide individuals on our campus who were often unheard and unrecognized a chance to be known and heard. We wanted to begin to redeem a Faceless Generation by allowing their stories to be heard. It was so crazy to be a part of an event like this. God gave us a crazy vision to hear people's stories, and as the weeks went by the vision became a reality. Organizations such as the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Ambassadors, the Asian Pacific American Studies department, and the Asian/Asian Pacific American Student Coalition partnered together to support and fund this event. Campus Crusade for Christ also played a huge role in this event by providing their usual weekly meeting time and location.

It was an amazing display of unity of the body of Christ as well the amazing grace of God. Every day leading up to "Faceless Generation" different small groups a part of Campus Crusade for Christ were out on campus loving people by hearing their stories and giving them encouraging notes. On the actual day of the event, we had around 250-300 people show up to hear people's stories during the night. We had a Sudanese refugee tell his story of overcoming all odds and surviving. We watched compelling videos of a Japanese International student telling his story about his experience in Japan and another video about an individual who had overcome drug addiction. We had amazing spoken word pieces by members of the Native American community and others from the Asian American community. We saw amazing displays of artwork as well as a touching sign language piece.

Also throughout the night, we had interactive stations around the room. We had a station name "Words of the Faceless" where individuals could write out their stories and their experiences of being faceless. We had an interactive painting station where we had two 8 foot canvases and some paint set up where people could creatively express themselves. We had a tree of dreams and aspirations. Where people could post their dreams and aspirations as leaves on a tree. And finally, we had a station called the "Wailing Wall." This station was inspired by the actual Western Wall in Jerusalem. At the beginning of the school year last semester, my friend and I were praying and God gave us the idea of having a "Wailing Wall" where people could place their private prayers in crack in the wall like they did in Jerusalem. The walls in the classroom we were in allowed us to do this creative idea. It was amazing to see at the end of the night the many pieces of paper that filled the entire wall. All the stations were a testimony of the many stories people have that often are unheard or disregarded. It was a powerful testimony to see people engaging with the interactive stations throughout the duration of the night.

God moved so powerfully that night. I have heard so many testimonies of how people were affected by that night. Some told how amazing it was to be a part of an event where they could share themselves and not feel like they were have to perform or entertain anyone. The audience was captivated and "mesmerized" by the stories they heard as one individual told me. I was told by one individual that she was surprised by how quiet the audience was in attentively listening to the acts. God did amazing things that night, and I pray that it is a catalyst for even greater and more creative ideas. My prayer is that people would see people share their stories through art, spoken work, media, poetry, etc. and be encouraged to creatively share their own stories and affect a generation. I hope that what happened that week would not be an isolated event, but that it would be a catalyst for a movement in which people can love and share themselves with others without the expectations of having to entertain or perform.

We have the whole night of "Faceless Generation" on video. Watch it and be blessed. It's kind of a big file, so allow it to load and enjoy!Here is the link if you are interested:
"Faceless Generation Video".




"Faceless Generation" was such a success that our organization Epic Movement got invited to perform their pieces at the Filipino organizations event entitled "Sino Tayo." Sino Tayo is a Tagolog phrase meaning "Who we are." The night was about celebrating Filipino culture and identity. Being invited to help out and perform was so amazing because the Filipino club has been on our heart from the very beginning, and the very reason we started Epic was to serve the Filipino and Asian American community at ASU. Our group had been practicing the "Everything" skit by Lifehouse. We had originally intended it to be performed only at Asian Culture night, but it was such a success that we ended up performing it not only at Asian Culture night, but at "Faceless Generation" and "Sino Tayo" as well. The "Everything" skit is powerful. I can't even describe it. You will have to watch it for yourself. Here is the video of Epic performing it at "Faceless Generation":
"Everything skit" by Lifehouse.


Epic did such an amazing job performing the skit. The skit was set up beautifully by Kelly who poured out her heart through two spoken words she had written herself. Here is one of them she performed:
Kelly's Spoken Word

Kelly poured her heart out on the stage, and then she performed the main part in the skit. People were so moved by the skit that atmosphere literally shifted as they were performing. As Epic was performing, people realized that this was no joke. I literally saw people on the edge of the seats waiting in anticipation as to what happened next. Many peopel were in tears by the end of the skit. Even the emcees were tearing up.

All I can say is that GOD IS POWERFUL. We had so much opposition and attack in preparing the skit. And rightfully so, the enemy knew the power that would be realeased when we performed. At the end of this crazy few weeks, we have now performed the skit 3 times to large venues of 200 people or more. We estimate that about 700 people or more watched and were exposed to the gospel through this one skit. In three weeks, 700 people were exposed to the gospel by 7 people. I don't know if I can ask for more. That is incredible! Who would have known that would have happened when we first begun. Our group almost split in half in putting together that skit, but in the end, God prevailed in mighty ways. I am so proud of my group. I had nothing to do with the actual performance. Again, I threw out the idea, and people made it happen. God is good!!!! God is doing things in Epic proportions here at ASU!!!!




And that is just the beginning, I wish I could sit and write more about the craziness of what God is doing. Before all that craziness happened, I was able to lead the three Chinese students I was doing a Group Investigating God with to Christ on Sunday, March 29, 2009. It was so powerful and crazy. I wasn't planning on meeting with the students that night because I was really busy. But I got a text from one of them asking when we "were going to meet for church tonight." I could not turn them down especially after their eager desire to learn. We met and talked about the Prodigal son. I was really able to connect with them in talking about Asian parents. And as we ended, I asked them if they would like to have a father like the prodigal son's father. They said yes, and they responded by saying they would want to receive Jesus in their lives!!! It was so excited! They all three received Christ!!! It was difficult at first trying to explain to them what it mean to follow Christ, but they prayed the prayer with me and invited Jesus to be their Savior.

They asked amazing questions. It is so beautiful because they are not tainted by the Western expectations of church. They asked me how to pray, and if God understands Chinese. The next week we went through some follow-up material, and they seemed to understand the concepts pretty well. After that night one of the students told me that now he knew why he loved Jesus so much. The week after that we went through the Easter story. We read about the crucifixion and resurrection. At the end of that night, one of the students told me how he didn't know what to feel or say. He had heard about Jesus and Christianity before. But no one could explain to him why he should receive Christ. He told me that it wasn't until I told him about Jesus that he finally understood how much Jesus really loved him. He told me that I should go back to his home land and tell others about Jesus too so that they could know his love! I was so moved by this, and I told them I wanted to help equip them and teach them so that they could tell their friends and family about Jesus themselves. They were excited about this and want to start their own churches.

This past week we met up and talked again about baptism. I explained to them what it is and why we do it. This Thursday, they will be baptized! Ahhh, God is sooo amazing!!!!

In the midst of all that, I am struggling with lots of things right now. I am realizing more and more how powerful our God really is. During the week of "Faceless Generation" I got sick and since the event a lot of things have been uprooted in my life. I am beginning to see how depraved and inadequate I really am. It's so crazy to see this right after operating in the fullness of who God has made me to be only a few days earlier. I am realizing how much my identity is really set in Christ, but I am also realizing that sometimes the successes we experience cover up the issues we still need to deal with. I realize that I still am not where God fuly wants me to be. I have a lot to learn and a lot to heal from. But at the same time, it is amazing to see just a brief glimpse of what God might want to do in my life based on just the past few weeks.

With all that said, I am in need of a lot healing. I am realizing my weakness and my struggles in relationships. I am only human, and I am so week on my own. I need Jesus, and without him, I am just a lump of clay. God is molding me and making me into what I am today. Sometimes that process is difficult and painful, but every day we are being made into his image. Pray for me as God heals me and refines me int his time. It is my prayer that each of us could be healed healers - meanign that out of the healing we receive we can begin to bring healing to others. I truly believe God wants to bring healing to our generation and that starts in our relationship and intimacy wiht Jesus.

Jesus loves us so much! Let's not deny him relationship. Let us not deny one another relationship. Let us love one another. Let us dive deep into his heart. Let us together allow God to heal our hearts so that we can REDEEM A FACELESS GENERATION.

Thank you God for you amazing love! You are good, and your love endures forever! We thank you that you love us with an everlasting love. We thank you that want to heal our hearts. We are broken and desperate people. Heal us so we can bring healing to our generation. Restore us so we can see restoration. Bless us so that we can be a blessing. We love you Lord. In Jesus name, Amen!