by Sam | Dec 26, 2018 | Reflection
Our ministry began with an invitation to dream with God and dare greatly for Him. There was a green light from the Lord to go after the things He’s placed in our hearts. He didn’t give us a map, but rather a compass to keep following Him as He leads. As such it’s been an incredible journey with both ups and downs. There have been times of being stretched beyond what we’re used to and even being tempted to throw in the towel. Yet with each step and in every season, we’ve seen God come through time and time again. If I’m honest, the greatest temptation I’ve faced since beginning Pursuit NYC was to quit. I’m so thankful that the Lord prevented us from doing such a thing! Because on the other side of pressing through and persevering, we’ve seen God do the incredible and the impossible. I believe with all my heart that we are now just scratching the surface of all that God has for us. We are starting to get a glimpse of His promises coming to pass. Although we are now getting ready to enter into our fifth year, 2018 felt like the first. It was the first time we did a full year of monthly gatherings. It was the first full year of our leadership team. Pursuit NYC is now an officially registered organization! (Another first!) It was the first full year of consistently delivering podcasts and blogs. (The hardest first, haha!) We launched many new projects and endeavors such as a training and gathering for leaders, a team for volunteers, consistently providing a...
by Sam | Dec 18, 2018 | Reflection
The story of Joseph in Genesis has always been one that has spoken to me in different seasons of my life. Recently, I’ve been going through some challenges and tough circumstances, and these trials have brought me back to this familiar story. Yet this time, the story yielded something new. Isn’t that always like God? His Word is alive and active, which means it’s not caged to our past understandings or even interpretations. It teaches us of what God has said, but also, it always reveals to us what God is saying now. It dawned on me that when Joseph entered Egypt, it was the beginning of the end. He would never again leave this foreign land. He would never get to go back to his hometown. His former life was gone forever. When I realized this, honestly, it made me sad. Joseph had no idea that the day he would be sold into slavery by his brothers was going to be his last day home. It would be his last day of “normal”. He never got a chance to prepare himself for what would change his life forever. He never got a chance to say goodbye. And he never would. Isn’t that like life? Things come at us that can change our lives forever in just a moment. Difficulties can be around the corner at every turn. I can’t imagine what it was like for Joseph. I wonder how I would feel or respond in his place. What would my heart be like when things seem like they are finally getting better, but instead they actually take a...
by Sam | Nov 27, 2018 | Reflection
by Janet Yang Kim Isaiah 40:27-31 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. — It is often our temptation to take the surrounding circumstances at face value. In this text the Israelites were held in captivity by the Babylonians for over an entire generation! Are we not often like the Israelites—having short-sighted faith, complaining, feeling forgotten—when in our judgement it seems the Lord has overlooked us? Prophet Isaiah challenges them, however, and reminds them of God’s promise of Israel’s restoration and the rebuilding of the temple. Even in the midst of our grumbling, God’s desire is to comfort us. How then can we be comforted? Remember who God is. What is God’s character? ‘The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.’ Like Jesus taught us in the Lord’s prayer, ‘Our Father who art in heaven,’ the first thing we must do is acknowledge that our God sits in the heavenly realms. He is beyond us and our understanding. He is the Creator...
by Sam | Nov 20, 2018 | Testimony
by Josh Kim This past summer there was a conviction in my heart to seek more of God and change my prayer life. I don’t know how to explain it, but I felt that God wanted to do something new. I didn’t specifically know what that was, but all I knew was to abide in Him so I would be prepared and aware of what He was up to. (Looking back, I realize that God wanted to release new power in my life, and the only way for Him to release it was if I abided in Him. Bill Johnson, in his book, When Heaven Invades Earth, says it perfectly, “The life of power is a life of abiding.”) So almost every evening this past summer, I took 20 minute walks with God around my neighborhood to simply pray, commune, and have conversations with God. I especially prayed for my two upcoming summer missions trip to Ivory Coast in August and Colombia in September – just general things like finances, protection, unity within our teams, etc. But I remember one evening God telling me, “Ask for more! I’m going to release new power. So ask for more!” In faith, I responded back to Him, “God, I want to see miracles, like the ones I read in the Bible, on these mission trips this summer. It’s not enough to hear from others about your miracles, but I want to experience you healing your people, where it could only be done by you, for myself!” God responded back, “You will receive what your faith expects (Matthew 9:29).” I want to share...
by Sam | Nov 6, 2018 | Inspiration, Reflection
It’s been said numerous times that teamwork makes the dream work. God will never give you a dream that doesn’t involve people. A dream that you can accomplish on your own is too small and not worth attempting. But it’s a big dream that requires all hands on deck. I love what Pastor Brian Houston says about the global movement that is taking place through his church. He says that Hillsong Church isn’t built on the gifts of the few, but on the sacrifice of the many. Wow! That’s exactly what a team is about. Ever since we officially established our Core Leadership Team, we’ve seen a giant leap take place in our growth. That’s the amazing thing about working as a team. The fruit and effectiveness doesn’t grow by addition, but by multiplication. So does the effort. It’s been a joy and journey learning how to function and operate as a team. If I’m honest though, working as a team isn’t my natural preference. Whenever there were school assignments, I was that one student who always preferred working alone because group projects required extra work. Now working as a team does demand more, but I’m learning that it’s worth it. Even God Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work as a team. When He first created Adam, He chose to partner with Him to name the animals. If anyone could work alone, it’s God, but He Himself values teamwork and partnership. Apostle Paul writes that you and I are co-laborers with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9). As the director of our ministry, I’m learning how to create a...
