Dear church,
Happy New Year! I’m excited to step into this new year with you all and am excited to share about how we ended the year with NCYC and where we are looking to go moving forward.
NCYC
This year was the first time in three years that we held the North Carolina Youth Conference from December 26th-29th and it was also the best attended year we have on record. Roughly 260 youth students and another 60 adult staff members attended the retreat this year. God was gracious to us. Many students had a real opportunity to encounter God during the worship services and in their small group discussions. We received very positive feedback regarding seminars including topics discussing the reliability of scripture, family relationships, and biblical manhood. Personally, I was especially grateful for the time we had to be able to pray together as a youth group on the last evening. We want to recognize 박연선 권사님 and 나윤정 전도사님 for their special help and guidance during the retreat, as well as the PTA group for providing snacks and 김치찌개 on our return. Thank you all for your prayers. I believe that God was working good things in the minds and hearts of all the youth students during the retreat.
How we are Growing
Although the Christmas Baptism was cancelled due to weather and water issues, I do want to announce that we are blessed to have one youth student who has completed the Baptism class and is ready to join the church through Baptism. Baptism itself does not pass saving grace to the new believer, but it is their public declaration of their informed, lifetime commitment to join with God’s community of believers – the church. We believe that Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize believers signifying their union to Him in his death and resurrection. It is a really big deal when anyone decides to declare their life for Jesus through baptism, but it is especially joyful and sweet when a youth student does so. We are very grateful and look forward to Baptizing them this coming Easter Sunday.
This past Sunday, I asked the youth students how many students have never finished reading the bible in their lives. About 75% of our kids have never read all of the Bible before, including a surprising number of seniors and juniors. This year, we are using a Bible-reading plan that will take the students through the entire bible in one year. This is a big challenge, but by God’s grace I know our students can accomplish it. Please help us teach our children to love God’s word by asking your kids, “Have read your Bible today?” every day at home. Our Sunday School teachers and I will be trying to keep us all accountable as well. Prizes will be prepared for students who complete each month of the reading plan. If they complete the Bible in its entirety, a special prize will be awarded to them.
Upcoming Plans
Over the next three weeks, our teachers will undergo a mandatory Child Safety Training during their normal Sunday School Teacher’s meeting. Following that, on Sunday, January 29, at the end of youth service, we will give the students a brief primer on Child Safety Training as well. History suggests that even in healthy thriving churches, failure to proactively guard our students in this way leaves the door open to sinful tragedy. Topics covered in the presentation will include recognizing signs of inappropriate relationships between students and adult church staff, how to report incidents and issues, and what response students should expect when they do report. Please expect a follow up email summarizing what the students learned during the training, so that you can also be aware and informed of safety procedures in place at Hanmaum to protect our kids.
Prayer Requests
- We need new youth teachers! Our 6th and 7th/8th grade classes are very large and need to be split into separate groups but we do not currently have the teachers to do so. Please pray that God would provide new teachers who will learn and grow with the youth students.
- The servant leadership team (SALT) is presently on hiatus. We need direction and vision to know how to best raise leaders for our church. This will likely require more time and dedication from everyone involved, but I am convinced it will be worth it for our church.
Thank you again for your prayers and support,
Danny Cho 전도사님