Christmas Party! Great Banquet Style!!

Over this past year, Barron and I have both been studying The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24).  As we continued reflecting on this passage, we asked, what does it mean to "go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in".  The word compel really spoke out to us and we decided, "Lets through a Christmas Party... Great Banquet Style!" and "compel" people to come and fill our house.  So we hosted a potluck Christmas Party at our place.

When the time came for our Christmas Party, students started piling into our place one by one.  Before we knew it, we had 20 people crammed around the table in our place!  Students (Christian & Non-Christian) from all of our communities:  Kung Fu, Orchestra, Out on Campus, Grappling, Small Groups, Point Church, etc was all represented at this Christmas Party and it was such a beautiful sight to see our communities enjoying each others company.

Christmas Party!  Great Banquet Style!!!

The food!!  Oh the food that we had was practically gourmet style and it was in ABUNDANCE!!  Things like:  Turkey, stuffing, gourmet pastas, vegetables, cheese & crackers, sushi, cheesecake.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Mmmm.... Deliciousness....

So in summary with this Christmas Party, we had great music, a full house, an abundance of gourmet food and beverages, and most of all, a wonderful time of laughing, chatting, and sharing.  God blessed us with The Great Banquet.

God provided and stirred the hearts of our students to say "Yes" to something that is unique and different than any other community they have been involved with.  This is the beginning of what God has in store for IVCF at SFU.  

Christmas Party! Great Banquet Style 2.0

So it does not just end with one Great Banquet!  There was yet another one that surfaced on residence.  Two of our students on residence, Lida and Denee, prepared and cooked a whole Christmas Dinner Feast for the students on residence in the middle of final exams.

Lida & Denee preparing Chocolate Crepes for Dessert

For some of us, it has been a long time since we have last been in school and have forgotten the student life, myself included.  After spending more time with Lida and Denee, I was reminded how stressful it is for students during the final exam period.  The amount of time and commitment they need to put into studying for their final exams is to the point where they don't have enough time to sleep and/or eat.

As I think about sacrificial giving, it requires both time and commitment.  Both of these which are key for students to give to do well on final exams.  However, when I saw Lida and Denee choosing to give up a full day of studying to bless their peers and friends on residence with a full Christmas Dinner, I can only watch in awe and thank God for their hearts to serve and love their friends.

As we were faithful in serving God and serving His children, God blessed us with another 20 students that came and enjoyed a Christmas Dinner with us.  It was again, another Great Banquet, however, this time I got the privilege of seeing the heart and sacrifice behind it from Lida and Denee.

God has indeed blessed Barron and I with amazing students and I pray that we would be good stewards of what He has given us.

Denee enjoying the great Christmas Dinner

Chocolate Crepes!!

Full and Satisfied 

Remain in Me...

I am a driven person.  When I truly believe in something, I will do everything in my power to get it done.

I would call this both a blessing and a curse.  It is a blessing that I can get things done and that I can be reliable.  I put to action what has been talked about and ask the question, "How do we do this?"  It is a curse though because I am so driven, I will do things on my own and try to make things happen with own strength.  As a result, I measure my success based on the success of the event or task that I was determined to do, often resulting in disappointment.

I have been reflecting on this for a number of years now asking the questions, "How do I find the balance?  How can I be driven and while also being faithful to God?"  These are tough questions and I feel that some who are reading this can relate to me as well.

Even though I am still asking these questions, I can't help but think back to my China and clotheslining experience.  The theme of slowing down still rings loud and true.  Waiting for God and be a faithful steward of what He has given me.  The passage of the True Vine has been coming up for me again (John 15:1-17).  Especially this part of the passage:

Remain in me, as I also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15:4

Here it is, the answer to my questions.  "Remain in me" is the answer.  My drivenness is no longer to be propelled by my own strength but by "remaining in the love of Jesus".  By remaining in Him, that is where I can bear the true fruit and my definition of success will be based on being faithful to what God has called me to do.  This is how I can be both a driven and faithful child of God.  

Upcoming Events (Prayer Requests)

Canadian Chinese Christian Winter Conference (CCCWC)

A Chinese Christian conference focusing on Chinese Christians in Western Canada from Dec. 27-31.  Leslie and I (the two Chinese staff) will be going to this conference as representatives of IVCF.  Leslie will be leading worship with first years for one of the plenary sessions and I will be setting up an IVCF Booth to give more exposure to IVCF in the Chinese communities here in Western Canada.  

• Pray for save travels to and from the convention center in Kelowna 
• Pray for opportunities to network with other Chinese Churches in Vancouver
• Pray for Leslie and the worship team as they practice and prepare
• Pray for rest and restoration leading up to the conference

Student Leadership Training

On Jan 13-15, Emily Carr and SFU will be having a student leadership training time redefining what it means to be a leader.  Through the journey of Peter and creative movies studies, we hope to empower our students (who are already leaders) to go and make leaders themselves.

• Pray for our student leaders as we invite them into this training weekend.
• Pray for Barron, Kim, and I as we prepare movie studies, scripture studies, etc.
• Pray for rest and restoration leading up to the new semester.

Fundraising Trip

I am planning on a fundraising trip back to Regina sometime in February.

• Pray for my funding and finances.
• Pray that this trip will be fruitful and encouraging.
• Pray that this trip will be a blessing to my friends and family back at home.

Mark West Pacific

A week of intense scripture study on half of the gospel of Mark (Apr. 26 - May 2)

• Pray for invitations extended to students.
• Pray for our students as they invite their friends out.

Residence

Lida and I realized early on that we haven't been praying so we needed to be more faithful in our times of prayer, specifically for our small groups and residence dinners. Neither of us never expected the impact what being faithful could potentially translate to.

In Residence, Lida and I were praying for guidance in where and what to do for residence. In previous years, we had dinner and played board/card games. This year seemed different. We were in a new residence (Shell) and with a whole new group of students. As we prayed throughout these past couple of months, God seemed to be leading us to move out of Shell and move the Residence Dinners to our old residence McCow. We realized that all of the students we know in residence live in McCow! Some of them were even neighbours and wanted more community in the McCow res! The night we moved to McCow was the night that we had 10 students come out as opposed to our 5 (which were all from McCow). It is clear that God has been preparing the hearts of the students in the McCow residence and has opened up a door to study scripture as a part of our residence dinners now.

Residence Community Dinners

It has been so encouraging and exciting to see how Lida has been developing as a leader. With residence being the place where God has placed her these past 3 years, her passion for her peers on residence is so enlightening and contagious. When studying scripture finally became an option to be a part of our resident dinners, she jumped at the opportunity and brought a whole new level of creativity and excitement that neither Barron or I have yet to see. She has invited first year student, Tyler, in sharing her excitement and vision where together they have taken what was done normally (manuscript study) and has shaped and formed it into something that is specifically catered to the students in residence. This "Plot-twist Bible Study" idea allows people to read a certain part of the text with the "response" or "answer" hidden. It gives us an opportunity to then discuss what we think the answer is or what we think Jesus would actually say. After discussing it, we reveal what Jesus actually says and there you have it... Plot-twist!!

Plot-twist Bible Study

"Slow Down Justin!"

Have you ever wondered where the term "clotheslined" came from? Well, I think I know where it actually came from after this unlikely and quite comical encounter. During Thanksgiving Camp, I got clotheslined by a clothesline. Yes, I know it sounds funny and you are probably wondering, "How do you get clotheslined by a clothesline?" Well, here is the story. We were playing a game that was a Thanksgiving version of Capture The Flag which involved a lot of chasing. I was running from someone and next thing I knew it, everything went black. When I came to my senses, I was on the ground and soon realized I just got clotheslined. By the end of the day, the injuries I had were: A minor concussion, almost lost part of my ear (Thank God for the ER Doctor on site!), abrasions all along my neck, injured my shoulder, and I destroyed my glasses. The following picture is a result of the clotheslining (looks worse than it actually is).

Clothesline - 1, Justin - 0

You are probably asking, "What does this have to do with faithfulness?" From my China experience, I was beginning to understand what it means to be faithful to spending time with God and also to what He has given me to work with. I wanted to share this story because I feel that it is a continuation of that lesson and teaching from China.

I think back on being clotheslined and wondered what God was trying to say to me. Two words came up, "Slow Down!!" I hit that clothesline so hard because I was running so fast that I couldn't see it. The results... a lot of damage. When I started this semester, I started off running. It got to the point where I was running so fast that I didn't have time to spend my quiet times with God. It was China all over again except on a much larger scale. In the same way I "hit the wall" in China after 1 week, I "hit the clothesline" which forced me to stop (literally). I needed this short period of time to remember my China experience and how to actually apply it to my life and ministry at SFU. Who would have thought that something as simple and comical as being clotheslined by a clothesline would teach me this lesson. God is indeed a good (and funny) God.

Looking Forward to the Future

SFU Surrey

Surrey is one of 3 SFU campuses. It covers a few thousand students where the majority of them are 1st and 2nd year. Even a few of our students (Don, Dan, & Lida) started off at Surrey before coming to the Burnaby Campus. Over this past year, we have been praying that God would open up a door into the Surrey Campus. We thought it would be this semester but as Don and I prayed about it more, we felt we needed to focus in Burnaby. Now though, there are a group of students who are passionate in starting a bible study in the Surrey campus. They have been holding weekly prayer meetings to discern who to reach and what to do and have invited me to be a part of those prayer meetings. I am REALLY excited about this opportunity and Lord willing, we can start it up as early as the Winter Semester.

The Typical Manuscript at Mark West

Mark West is 40 hours of manuscript study on half of the book of Mark in a period of 5 days. It is one of the most life giving experiences our students have encountered. Quite often, students experiences in studying the Gospel of Mark this intensely gives them a much deeper understanding of who Jesus really is. In short, they often say, "Jesus is now alive and real to me."

Last year, we had 450 students and staff engage in intensive Mark studies across Canada. 150 of those were at Mark West. Mark West has now split into 3 because we just have too many students wanting to study scripture (Praise The Lord!!). One of these three is Mark West Pacific specifically for BC Students. Last year, we had 40 go from BC. This year, after much prayer and contemplation, we feel that 85 is the new number for BC students to go to Mark West Pacific. Barron and I have already begun inviting students and we already have 5 students who have said "Yes" to going!

I am extremely excited and also terrified in how fast the ministry at SFU is growing. I hope you can all share in my excitement. If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact me =).

Wednesday's Small Group

Family Group @ Thanksgiving Camp

Hiroko & Brian - SFU Exchange Students

Faithfulness

It is hard to believe that the Fall Semester is almost done and complete. Only a few short days before the end of classes and then finals. Much has happened at SFU since September so here are some stories of faithfulness happening on campus and in my life.

Residence

Lida and I realized early on that we haven't been praying so we needed to be more faithful in our times of prayer, specifically for our small groups and residence dinners. Neither of us never expected the impact what being faithful could potentially translate to.

In Residence, Lida and I were praying for guidance in where and what to do for residence. In previous years, we had dinner and played board/card games. This year seemed different. We were in a new residence (Shell) and with a whole new group of students. As we prayed throughout these past couple of months, God seemed to be leading us to move out of Shell and move the Residence Dinners to our old residence McCow. We realized that all of the students we know in residence live in McCow! Some of them were even neighbours and wanted more community in the McCow res! The night we moved to McCow was the night that we had 10 students come out as opposed to our 5 (which were all from McCow). It is clear that God has been preparing the hearts of the students in the McCow residence and has opened up a door to study scripture as a part of our residence dinners now.

Residence Community Dinners

It has been so encouraging and exciting to see how Lida has been developing as a leader. With residence being the place where God has placed her these past 3 years, her passion for her peers on residence is so enlightening and contagious. When studying scripture finally became an option to be a part of our resident dinners, she jumped at the opportunity and brought a whole new level of creativity and excitement that neither Barron or I have yet to see. She has invited first year student, Tyler, in sharing her excitement and vision where together they have taken what was done normally (manuscript study) and has shaped and formed it into something that is specifically catered to the students in residence. This "Plot-twist Bible Study" idea allows people to read a certain part of the text with the "response" or "answer" hidden. It gives us an opportunity to then discuss what we think the answer is or what we think Jesus would actually say. After discussing it, we reveal what Jesus actually says and there you have it... Plot-twist!!

Plot-twist Bible Study

"Slow Down Justin!"

Have you ever wondered where the term "clotheslined" came from? Well, I think I know where it actually came from after this unlikely and quite comical encounter. During Thanksgiving Camp, I got clotheslined by a clothesline. Yes, I know it sounds funny and you are probably wondering, "How do you get clotheslined by a clothesline?" Well, here is the story. We were playing a game that was a Thanksgiving version of Capture The Flag which involved a lot of chasing. I was running from someone and next thing I knew it, everything went black. When I came to my senses, I was on the ground and soon realized I just got clotheslined. By the end of the day, the injuries I had were: A minor concussion, almost lost part of my ear (Thank God for the ER Doctor on site!), abrasions all along my neck, injured my shoulder, and I destroyed my glasses. The following picture is a result of the clotheslining (looks worse than it actually is).

Clothesline - 1, Justin - 0

You are probably asking, "What does this have to do with faithfulness?" From my China experience, I was beginning to understand what it means to be faithful to spending time with God and also to what He has given me to work with. I wanted to share this story because I feel that it is a continuation of that lesson and teaching from China.

I think back on being clotheslined and wondered what God was trying to say to me. Two words came up, "Slow Down!!" I hit that clothesline so hard because I was running so fast that I couldn't see it. The results... a lot of damage. When I started this semester, I started off running. It got to the point where I was running so fast that I didn't have time to spend my quiet times with God. It was China all over again except on a much larger scale. In the same way I "hit the wall" in China after 1 week, I "hit the clothesline" which forced me to stop (literally). I needed this short period of time to remember my China experience and how to actually apply it to my life and ministry at SFU. Who would have thought that something as simple and comical as being clotheslined by a clothesline would teach me this lesson. God is indeed a good (and funny) God.

Looking Forward to the Future

SFU Surrey

Surrey is one of 3 SFU campuses. It covers a few thousand students where the majority of them are 1st and 2nd year. Even a few of our students (Don, Dan, & Lida) started off at Surrey before coming to the Burnaby Campus. Over this past year, we have been praying that God would open up a door into the Surrey Campus. We thought it would be this semester but as Don and I prayed about it more, we felt we needed to focus in Burnaby. Now though, there are a group of students who are passionate in starting a bible study in the Surrey campus. They have been holding weekly prayer meetings to discern who to reach and what to do and have invited me to be a part of those prayer meetings. I am REALLY excited about this opportunity and Lord willing, we can start it up as early as the Winter Semester.

The Typical Manuscript at Mark West

Mark West is 40 hours of manuscript study on half of the book of Mark in a period of 5 days. It is one of the most life giving experiences our students have encountered. Quite often, students experiences in studying the Gospel of Mark this intensely gives them a much deeper understanding of who Jesus really is. In short, they often say, "Jesus is now alive and real to me."

Last year, we had 450 students and staff engage in intensive Mark studies across Canada. 150 of those were at Mark West. Mark West has now split into 3 because we just have too many students wanting to study scripture (Praise The Lord!!). One of these three is Mark West Pacific specifically for BC Students. Last year, we had 40 go from BC. This year, after much prayer and contemplation, we feel that 85 is the new number for BC students to go to Mark West Pacific. Barron and I have already begun inviting students and we already have 5 students who have said "Yes" to going!

I am extremely excited and also terrified in how fast the ministry at SFU is growing. I hope you can all share in my excitement. If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact me =).

Wednesday's Small Group

Family Group @ Thanksgiving Camp

Hiroko & Brian - SFU Exchange Students

Justin Yuen