12 September 2006

To: Prayer Partners

From: Pastor Lucenay

I found the blessing of a verse of Scripture this week. In Hebrews 10:25 I read Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Honestly, I have quoted that verse to encourage people to be regular in their church attendance. Prior to Sunday I had been away from our church family for two weeks to address family matters in the US. We worshiped while there but our worship was not the same as that of gathering with our church family in KIBC. My return Sunday was enriched by the well chosen music and the opportunity to share God’s Word with our wonderful people. The atmosphere of expectancy and encouragement buoyed my spirits and strengthened my heart. Though weary of body from jet lag, I found my soul refreshed as I met God in our faith family. I thank God our people make a “habit” of regularly worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I thank God our people are not afraid to encourage one another in word and deed.

Sunday afternoon the worship choir saw attendance in the rehearsal for the Christmas music overflow the choir area and the area around both the piano and organ. Let’s join together in praying for Angie as she leads our people and assimilates the wonderful response from our people. Angie has asked us to pray for some specific needs she is facing. We have had a variety of people sharing the keyboard responsibilities in our services. They have done a wonderful work. However, there is a desire on the part of many of the people who have filled in and on Angie’s part to find people who are available to help us on a permanent basis as accompanists on the keyboards. Please pray with us for God’s guidance to the right person (s) to help fill this need.

Monday night our deacons met in the regular deacons meeting. One of the major topics of conversation was our space needs in Sunday School and worship. Almost every age group in the church Bible studies is running over capacity. Last week our university class met in the Lion Rock Bistro and one youth group met in a park for Bible study. Each morning service exceeds worship capacity. The deacons are encouraging the church to develop a Long Range Plan so that our church can properly address the blessings God has given us both now and in the future. As we pray for God’s guidance God has not left us without a variety of ways to address the needs we have. Pray with me that we will be sensitive to God’s leadership and open to His direction as He guides us to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).

Monday night as the deacons’ met we heard a sound at the front door. It was a young mainland exchange student looking for Maik, our youth/student minister. He was seeking a time to further explore his questions about Christianity. As the student ministry has begun to take shape in the church Maik is overwhelmed with students exploring faith questions. He has begun a Mosaic ministry on Wednesday night. In this ministry students come, play games, probe their questions about faith, Hong Kong, and life, and build relationships. Pray for Maik and those who have volunteered to work with him in this ministry. Pray for the inquiring students. The physical needs Maik has expressed relate to acquiring a couple of games, helping the students purchase specific books for a reading club, and, as many drink coffee, a Cappuccino machine.

Phil has expressed his joy with working with our people through the readjustments necessary to address the space needs. The positive “can do” attitude of our people when addressing change is heartwarming. Together we are most grateful to the Lord for the way the Lord’s Spirit is seen in His people. He is now working through the information provided by those interested in small groups and seeking to arrange this new ministry opportunity.

Our church staff is preparing to meet all day 10 September in preparation for the 2007 church year. Please pray for us as we pray through opportunities God has for us.

Thank you for your prayers for Nancy and me during the past months. Her mother’s passing occurred as she slept. Her mother was known as a giving person who invested countless hours in volunteer work helping people in hospitals, with cancer, new mothers, and native American Indians. Nancy is planning to be back in Hong Kong late Thursday evening.