Incomparable. Unprecedented. Overwhelming. And defining.
What has taken place these last six months have shaped this year and beyond. As we are writing this midyear report, the world is in transition. It is both returning to and redefining “normal” at the same time — our region is getting ready to reopen whereas other places are closing once more. Streets and businesses are being filled again, but not without masks. And the fight for justice continues on. So much has changed. So much still needs to change.
We want to be part of that change. Change that ultimately brings forth the greatest revival the world has ever seen. We have never been down this road before, and frankly, no one has. 2020 has been unlike anything I have personally seen in my life. But one thing remains the same, and it’s that we are still in pursuit after God and His purpose. In moments like this, we are trading doing things “perfectly” for doing them faithfully. And with that, it’s been challenging, but we have been wanting to serve others the best we can with what’s in our hands.
In the first quarter of 2020, we were able to continue with our monthly gatherings as planned, but that quickly went out the window. We had grand ideas and goals for what was to come. But obviously, plans and events were canceled, but that didn’t mean dreams and promises had to be. It was then as the world shifted, we made a pivot to go online.
For the second quarter of this year, we made that pivot. We hosted plenty of IG Lives with friends from all over the world! Such a blessing to serve the Body at large through that platform. We continued to leverage the power of social media by inviting people into prayer and the Word. During that stretch, we partnered with friends to host a regional prayer meeting to serve people struggling through the pandemic and quarantine. Also through different experiments and formats, we have read through a good portion of the New Testament in community as well. It’s been fun and refreshing to take advantage of what technology affords us today!
Thanks to technology, we closed out the first half of 2020 with a “Night of Hope” in partnership with our friends, Awakening, in Austin, TX! Without being forced to think outside the box, we would have never been able to collaborate in this way — to impact lives from literally all over the world with only a computer and Internet connection. This kicked off our summer schedule where we believe God will to continue to do amazing things.
Next on our summer roadmap is an online healing and prophetic room followed by a drive-through BBQ we are hosting to bless people in the region. Then it all culminates with our one-day, online conference in late August! Originally we postponed Pursuit Conference 2020 due to all that has happened, but we are now following God’s leadership in continuing to pivot in order to best serve others in this time. We sadly say farewell then to Pursuit Conference 2020, but joyfully say hello and welcome Pursuit Conference Redux!
The truth is, who knows what else awaits us in 2020. Everything feels familiar, but different at the same time. Yet no matter what comes our way, the blueprint of hearing His voice and obeying remains the same throughout. We are planning, praying, remaining flexible, but above all trusting God. We are leaning on and giving thanks for Jesus’s perfect leadership. I want to close with this charge and encouragement to fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Only He is the pioneer who’s been to where we are going. He alone knows what’s ahead and how to navigate what’s to come. Our eyes are on Him. The best is still yet to come… The best that will be incomparable. Miracles that will be unprecedented. His goodness that will overwhelm. And the testimonies that will be defining.
As we wrap up our 2020 midyear report, here are reflections of this past year to this midway point and encouragement for what’s to come from our team. Be blessed! We love you!
KEVIN KIM:
2020… definitely the weirdest, most eventful year I could remember in my short 27 years of living. I believe this year will change what “normal” used to be. As for myself personally, I’ve had quite an eventful year as well. I got engaged. I experienced my first quarantine birthday. I’ve had more online meetings than even when ooVoo was popular… And more than the outwardly events, I‘ve experienced a lot of things on the inside as well. My relationship with my fiancée, though we have only seen each other a single digit number of times since the quarantine, has honestly gotten deeper and better than it has ever been before. My relationship with my family has gotten stronger and I’ve had the chance to hear so many stories about my parents that I haven’t heard before. The Pursuit team has been to a degree more connected than ever before… With all of that said, what I realize is that even in the midst of huge world events, God can be so personal in my life as well. As God brings hope and healing to global pandemics and injustice, He also brings hope and healing to my life and my relationships. I believe that’s exactly what God will do in the next 6 months. The world and people of the world personally have probably faced some of the lowest points ever in their lives in the first half of 2020 and I believe that God has a redemption plan for it all. I don’t know how or what it’ll look like… I don’t know through whom or when it’ll happen. But I know why… because He is good.
DANNY KANG:
I remember heading into 2020 with so much excitement and anticipation. It felt as if 2020 was going to be the year I saw the fruit of what we’ve been toiling and believing for! And then… the rest is history. Personally, there were a lot of events that took place for me and my family. Family members got sick, our business shut down, current and future plans and dreams were halted, etc. The events themselves weren’t very hopeful haha. But then there are the moments beyond the events that I was only able to notice in hindsight. And those moments, although hard to see upfront, goes to show how God is the author of redemption. He’s really awesome! Everyone in our family recovered AND we were all able to get much needed rest. Our family has spent more time together during the month of April than we had in years. Halted plans and dreams meant that I was able to go back to the drawing board with God and even recalibrate areas of my soul/heart. We, Pursuit NYC, were able to not only connect on a deeper level within the ministry, but we were able to engage with the greater community through online initiatives and made some incredible relationships through that. And last, but not least, I made some incredible friends/relationships and built on existing ones during this quarantine! Love y’all! These friendships make it even more exciting to head into the second half of 2020!
I believe the rest of 2020 will be one for the history books! I believe we will see followers of Jesus united, activated, and launched like never before, with a greater zeal to love the world the way Jesus loved the world! Boldness and Friendships are two words that are highlighted. Get ready! It’s time for the Church to advance the Kingdom and plunder hell!
JOSH KIM:
I think along with everyone else, I was so excited at the start of 2020. It’s a new year and a new decade. Personally I planned on finishing Jesus Culture School of Leadership in Sacramento, CA until the end of May, come back to NJ, and then do ministry back when I come home. But with COVID-19, my plans and timelines got disrupted. I had to come back to NJ early and finish my leadership program at home rather than in person. I thought I would be jumping right into ministry but with churches not hiring, I’m babysitting my niece as my job. It wasn’t what I was expecting halfway through 2020, along with all the tragic deaths due to COVID and the racial issues we are facing as a nation. But at the same time, there have been redemptive things I could have never imagined like being able to spend more time with family, greater financial provision, being able to learn more about our socio-cultural moment, and greater connection with our Pursuit NYC team through our online engagement. I’m thankful in the midst of it all, God still redeems.
I’m believing that the rest of 2020 will be one of hope and redemption. As we see in sports, I’m believing that God is the best coach who will make the best half-time adjustments so that as we’re heading into the second of the year, we’ll be ready. Our job is to keep our head up and be prepared because the game isn’t over yet.