The Abundance of God

Abundance, I have been witnessing time and time again that the ministry that I am doing is not growing because of me but because it is a gift from God.

Energy!!! Like the Energizer Bunny
My energy levels, for those who didn't know, were VERY low ever since I moved to Vancouver.  It was sometimes really tough to do even simpler tasks and there were times where my Tourettes prevented me from being fully present.  However, as soon as this school year started, I had a huge influx of energy.  To put this into comparison, it's more energy than when I was doing 10 hrs/week of Judo.  Now none of this is going to waste, God has abundantly blessed me with 6 students to mentor and charged me with the task of pioneering both the Surrey ministry and the Next Generation ministry.  He has given me an amazing partner in ministry (Barron), an amazing Van East Team to be a part of and an equally amazing Lower Mainland BC Team.

Pray Bigger!  Pray Bolder!!
I mentioned this in my previous post but it's in regards to the SFU Team going to Urbana.  I remember both Barron and I waiting and praying to God that He would give us 4 students to go to Urbana.  Well, we had a small amount of students in our community that could go (10 to be exact), so we held an Urbana Info Night for these students.  We pitched the vision and extended an invitation out to our students to come to Urbana as a team.  To our surprise, 8 of them said "Yes!" to going together as a team.  I found myself witnessing this and repenting of my unbelief to God.  I have to believe that this is what God wants because clearly, things are panning out in ways I never expected they would be.  So next time, I'm not going to doubt God's power and authority.  I'm going to be praying bigger and bolder than ever before of God's desire to see His Kingdom come to the SFU Campus.

Community (Not quite like the show, but it's awesome regardless!)
I have been praying to God to provide me with a community (outside of IVCF) that could keep me accountable and that we could grow together.  He has indeed provided that in... well abundance...  My church has become a significant community that I know I could go to and also this other ministry called Bible Study Fellowship (BSF).  There I have met other Young Adults that have the same heart and passion as I do for University students and also the Asian Church.

New Exciting Opportunities

Opportunities this year seem endless.  Allow me to share with you a few opportunities that have come my way.

Vancouver Urban Partnership (VUP)
If you remember from the summer, I participated in VUP where a group of us lived in the poorest postal code in all of Canada for the month of May, the Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES).  Well, I have been asked to direct this upcoming VUP in 2013.  This is indeed very exciting and terrifying at the same time.  I am certain that this is the next stage of growth of me becoming a "good" leader.  It is still a bit terrifying and daunting but all the more reason to be praying without ceasing.


Intecessory Prayer Team - Urbana
What is Intercession?  “prayer offered on behalf of another”  (Eastman 1980, p.75)
a) A responsibility of every Christian (1 Timothy 2:1-4, Ephesians 6:18)
b) A spiritual gift that you may ask God for (1 Corinthians 14:1, Colossians 4:12-13)
“The gift of intercession is the special ability that God gives certain members of the body of Christ to pray for extended periods of time on a regular basis and see frequent and specific answers to their prayers” – Wagner Houts Questionnaire 1978

I have been able to experience exceptional prayer training over this past year.  It has literally changed the way I see life and has drastically increased my own personal faith and relationship with God.  This upcoming Urbana, my role as an intercessor is that I will be praying for 6-9 hours (2-3 three hour chunks).  It is daunting but I am excited to be a part of this prayer team and be a part praying Kingdom prayer for Urbana.

Next Generation Dialogue
Towards the beginning of the year, I was able to participate in a Next Generation Discussion to talk about some of the issues happening in Asian churches with the Next Generation (Asian born Canadians).  Ted Ng, who is heading this up mentioned that there will be a Dialogue set up by Asian and Multicultural Ministries in Canada (AMMIC).  It's a dialogue between three 1st Generation Chinese Senior Pastors and three 2nd Generation Chinese English Pastors.  I have the honor and privilege of being one of the three 2nd Gen representatives in this discussion.

Upcoming Events & Prayer Requests

Upcoming Events

• IVCF SFU Christmas Party  - December 3
• Next Gen Dialogue - December 14
• Personal Retreat - December 19 - 21
• Urbana!!!! - December 27-31
• Student Leadership Camp - January 4-6
• Urban Dip - Jan 26

Praise Items

• For the abundance of financial resources to send our students to Urbana.
• For an abundance of financial blessings with my own funding.  God allowing me to be 80% funded.
• For our 7 students going to Urbana. 

Prayer Requests

• Pray for the Next Gen Small Group & Surrey Small Group that it will continue to grow and the students in it will be blessed abundantly.
• Pray for our Wednesday Leaders Group that our students going to Urbana will be able to come regularly before Urbana starts.  We will be focusing on preparing for Urbana and giving providing our students with Intercessory Prayer Training.
• For the SFU Team.  That together the SFU students going will begin to work as a team and receive a shared vision for the SFU Campus.
• That their experience will not just end with Urbana, but will be the beginning of something greater.
• Pray for my growth as a leader as I lead and direct this Vancouver Urban Partnership.
• Pray for me as I continue to network and connect with other Chinese Churches in the Lower Mainland.
• Pray for the Next Generation Dialogue between 1st and 2nd Generation Chinese Pastors.  I will be one of the three representing the 2nd Generation Chinese Born Canadian.  
• Pray for mine & April's relationship as we have finished our pre-engagement counseling classes and discerning the next step.
• Pray for my funding as I am sitting at around 80% of monthly's.  Pray that I will be fully funded by the end of this year.

Hi! My name is Christina!

What is your name? What are you studying?
My name is Christina Ma and I am currently studying Economics at SFU.

How long have you been studying at SFU?
This is my first year.

What is your experience with the culture of SFU?
SFU’s motto is “engaging the world”, and so they are a very accepting and open group. On campus, there are groups of every kind – pro-life, pro-choice and pro legalization of marijuana, prostitution, you name it! As with any academic environment, SFU teems with the pride of knowledge. There is always something to debate about. At the same time, my experience with the professors has been very positive. I feel as though the professors are even more avid learners than the students themselves.

What are some of the difficulties and challenges of being a Christian on the SFU Campus?
Evidently, my stand as pro-life for abortions has been challenged multiple times, even though I have only been on campus for 1 month. Christian values and biblical foundations are what I seek to uphold at all times. My integrity relies on careful consideration – whether it be being graceful during debate, or going to a 3 day art camp and not participating in illegal drinking or hateful bashing of other people. Throughout it all, I pray that I am diligent, and that I represent the love of Christ in my actions.

How has God been shaping and changing your identity and views on mission since joining IVCF?
My identity has been challenged in every single way. SFU has been a time of growth (even though it has only been 1 month! But a lot can happen within 4 weeks!). I have been challenged internally in unprecedented ways. Constantly, I am battling with who I am, who I am meant to be and how my past and heritage has affected who I am today. At IVCF, I joined a small group called Next Generation where we have been trying to balance Chinese values (including our relationships with our parents) to that of God’s character (like God the father in the prodigal son). I am trying to form healthy and positive boundaries in all areas of my life. Needless to say, I have felt the need to re-evaluate, re-organize, and re-prioritize my life in a way that reflects God’s glory and his ultimate plan for me.

What do you hope to see change in your friends and the SFU Campus?
I hope to defend Christ in a way that honors and reflects his affectionate nature. I am standing firm on his love which motivates me to be passionate in what I study and in who I meet. I hope for breakthrough in our campus, so that SFU, a UniverCITY literally on a hill, will be a beacon of light to all other universities. I pray that preconceived misconceptions of Christianity will disintegrate and I pray that Jesus will not be associated with the horrors of colonialism or Western imposition. Rather, I hope that God will be perceived as the righteous judge, healer and provider. All in all, I am excited to see tangible justice come into our school.

How can we pray for you and your ministry?
Pray for newfound hunger to be released into our school. Pray also for our discernment- that we may be bold enough to make a case for Christ, yet humble and sensitive enough to invite others to accept Jesus into their hearts without confusing them. Thank you for sacrificing your time and energy to read this letter. I hope that you will keep the cause of SFU in your hearts and appreciate our earnest yearning for breakthrough in our school.

Hi! My name is Anika!

What is your name?  What are you studying?
Anika Barlow, International Development

How long have you been studying at SFU?
2.25 semesters :)

What is your experience with the culture of SFU?
Despite our motto, 'Engaging the World', it seems like SFU students have trouble even engaging their fellow students. In terms of what I was expecting to find at university, there is a lot less openness and desire to learn from each other. I'd love to see that change.

What are some of the difficulties and challenges of being a Christian on the SFU Campus?
Of course professors and classmates are rarely sympathetic to Christianity, but one of the hardest parts for me has been finding opportunities for conversation. When questions about God have come up in conversation it's been great, but I wish it happened more often. I have also found real joy in following Christ on the SFU campus. Being in a challenging place for me has always gone hand in hand with coming to know God much closer so in that sense I am very thankful for the ways I continue to be challenged. 

How has God been shaping and changing your identity and views on mission since joining IVCF?
Before getting involved with IVCF I felt missions was part of my future but now I'm starting to see it more and more in the present. I need to be reminded often that the here and now matters and is just as much a part of my life as the plans I have for the future.

What do you hope to see change in your friends and the SFU Campus?
I find myself most often hoping that people would have hope itself (and Himself!). The kind of hope that I want to see in people would mean not only fearlessly looking at the future, but joyfully living now.

How can we pray for you and your ministry?
Thanks for asking :) Pray for a right perspective, the ability to have a soft heart in a hard place, the self-discipline to make time to rest and be renewed by God.

Hi! My name is Daniel!

What is your name?  What are you studying?
Daniel Ngo. Sociology.

How long have you been studying at SFU?
Entering my third year.

What is your experience with the culture of SFU?
My experience with the culture of SFU is great. I am especially thankful for Inter-Varsity because it has given me an outlet to dive deeper into the word outside of my own church setting. The culture of SFU itself has caused me to adapt to set my focus on what I want to do with the rest of my life.

What are some of the difficulties and challenges of being a Christian on the SFU Campus?
Sometimes, classes have lectures that oppose religious views; they even go as far as to say that it is the old traditional way of thinking and holding everyone back from modernity and reasoning with science. There was also a time when I conducted a research project and had a hard time not imposing my religious views into the reasoning of some of my answers. I thought there were a lot of areas that were "common sense" to the world but apparently, I had to operationally define some of my common sense. For example, I thought it was universally correct to believe that everyone should have sex because sex is for the mature individual who has self-control, and should be kept sacred within marriage. However, the world views sex as a natural part of life. Those were the challenges I faced as being a Christian.

How has God been shaping and changing your identity and views on mission since joining IVCF?
IVCF taught me a valuable lesson on fundraising. I learned that it was important for people to be able to support you on a mission's trip. Giving people the opportunity to support you allows them to be a part of your mission’s trip.

What do you hope to see change in your friends and the SFU Campus?
I enjoy the manuscript studies and being a part of the bible studies that have people who don’t follow Jesus in them. It allows me to see them change slowly as they engage more. I hope to see that they change by finding community and build relationships that are meaningful for them.

Where do you feel God is calling you after University?
I feel called to serve in ministry after university.

How can we pray for you and your ministry?
Ministry is a thankless job. Pray that I can keep persevering and focus on God. Let him be my strength. Pray for Inter-Varsity itself. It is doing good works on the campus and those who open up to it will receive a lot from God.

Hi! My name is Vanessa!

What is your name? What are you studying?
Vanessa Ignacio.  Business Administration

How long have you been studying at SFU?
4 years

What is your experience with the culture of SFU?
It is great. SFU Surrey has a great sense of community. It was very easy to feel that you are a part of big family. 

What are some of the difficulties and challenges of being a Christian on the SFU Campus?
There were many events I would like to be a part of to meet new people and socialize. However, most of them revolve around drinking and partying. As a Christian I try not to associate myself with these kinds of things. It is also difficult to be friends with other people knowing that they do things that I am totally against to because of my faith.

How has God been shaping and changing your identity and views on mission since joining IVCF?
Through IVCF I am being challenged to really reach out to other people who don't know God. 

What do you hope to see change in your friends and the SFU Campus?
I hope that they would really find in their hearts the meaning of the stories I share them. I hope that they would be able to relate to the greatness of God in their own personal way.

How can we pray for you and your ministry?
Pray for strength so I can handle all the stress that comes my way.