by Sam | Feb 20, 2018 | Inspiration, Reflection
One of the greatest joys and highest honors I have is being able to travel and speak. I’ll never forget the first time I got to preach at a Gospel camp for youth. It was the summer of 2007 in Upstate NY. My pastor was invited as the main speaker, and I accompanied him to help in anyway I could. To my surprise (and that youth ministry’s dismay) he said he wanted me to preach at couple of the main sessions. It was truly humbling, and the beginning of what God would do in the years to come. Fast forward to this past summer, and I received an invitation to speak at a youth conference out of the blue. The opportunity came because of what happened almost ten years ago at that very first camp. I hadn’t really stayed in touch with anyone from there, and I don’t remember what I preached either (and probably for the better!). Not long after that, another invitation came because I helped a high school’s Christian club years earlier as well. Within a matter of days, invitations to speak came that could be traced back to those moments I chose to be steadfast and to serve without an agenda. God’s 'suddenlies' are always predicated by perseverance. Click To Tweet Being faithful and available over the LONG HAUL has opened more doors than networking and self-promoting. Faithfulness might seem painful in the moment, but it always comes with greater returns when you don’t quit. If you’re looking for quick breakthroughs and doors opening suddenly, this isn’t for you. But newsflash, there are no such...
by Sam | Jan 22, 2018 | Reflection
One of the common threads you see in the calling of God is that it’s impossible. Not “impossible” as in a figure of speech like “it’s really, really hard, but it can still be done”, but literally impossible. How can an exiled murderer lead a people who have been enslaved for four centuries through a sea into the Promised Land? How can a young shepherd boy turned fugitive on the run become king? How can an unmarried, virgin girl give birth to the Son of God? Impossible! But God called them to it. That should tell us that God isn’t interested in calling people who can do what He asks, but those who are available and will “yes” no matter the cost. The old adage is that God doesn’t call the qualified, but rather He qualifies the called. God will always call you beyond what you’re qualified for and what you can do in the natural. Not so you can strive and perform and qualify yourself, but to make you seek the supernatural God. God doesn't call the qualified, but qualifies those He calls. Click To Tweet God gives you an impossible call because that’s what drives us to our knees. Our natural can never fulfill a supernatural call. Since it’s supernatural, it demands intervention and involvement of a supernatural God. Thankfully His Word says that nothing is impossible for Him! (Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37) He gives us an impossible call so that He can do the impossible on our behalf. God doesn’t call us because He needs a task to be done, but rather because He wants to...
by Sam | Dec 21, 2017 | Reflection
Wow, what a year! 2017 truly was a year of breakthrough for us individually and as a ministry. Definitely one of the most significant times for our young ministry. God really did what only He could do. Glory to God! These past twelve months we saw God open doors, bring increase, and take us deeper in His presence. It’s a joy to recap some of the highlights with you of what God has done… LEADERSHIP TEAM One of the biggest steps forward for us was officially establishing a leadership team. Every person on the team has been a big part of the ministry, but we decided to increase our level of commitment by serving in this capacity. It’s been a joy to see the team move and minister together as one. Who said ministry had to be boring or lonely? We really have a special group right here! Our heart so far has been to develop a Kingdom culture and to build covenant as a family. It definitely has shifted the atmosphere of the ministry and the fruit is evident in every time we get together. (Our team from left to right – Jay, Sam, Kevin, Josh, Danny, and Janet.) PARTNERSHIPS Our heart from the beginning has been to work in tandem with local churches and other ministries in the area. We believe wholeheartedly that revival will only come when ministries shift from competition to collaboration. Too often our focus has been in growing “my” ministry instead of reaching our community. Revival only happens in unity. This year has been no different for us as we have partnered with...
by Sam | Dec 4, 2017 | Inspiration, Reflection
“In winter, are the trees bare? Yes. In winter, are the trees barren? No.” – Alicia Britt Chole This past Saturday I woke up in the middle of Upstate New York to a chilly 24 degrees. I had driven almost three hours to be there to minister at a young adult retreat. It had been a busy season of traveling and events. And it was already the last month of the year. Somehow December had snuck up on us. It didn’t feel like it at all, but it was on full display that day with frost all around. There was a heaviness in the frigid air and a dreariness that only winter brings. I have a love/hate relationship with winter. I love the holidays, but find the cold to be miserable. Snow can be enchanting, but who really enjoys shoveling? But that’s the thing about seasons. It always comes with both the negative and the positive. When it comes to the seasons of life, there is a positive to find even in winter seasons of the soul. Much of my journey the last few years has been learning to embrace the process. But recently God has been teaching me how to take the next step beyond embracing the process to actually enjoying it. Winter shows us that God isn’t in a hurry or ever in a rush to bring forth new life. In mercy He brings a divine slowness that saves us from our hectic busyness. He has a time and purpose in all that He does. So why not enjoy it? He brings a divine slowness that saves...
by Sam | Oct 17, 2017 | Guest Blogger, Reflection
by Andrew Min The essential vice of man through history has been to please himself, to bring himself joy, to accomplish his own will, to receive his own glory. But when a person meets Jesus, everything changes; the Holy Spirit breathes a miracle into their soul, the curious reorientation of their entire life, turning it upside down. In the heart of a Christian, God plants a simple, small desire, a quiet Voice, that says, “I want to serve You, God. I want to do something meaningful for You. I want to do what makes my Father happy.” Your life is no longer about loving the things that that bring yourself pleasure, but to bring pleasure to the One you love. Surrender is no longer a reluctant yielding, but a joyful offering. It’s the upside down, backwards nature of true love, the beautiful foolishness of carrying the cross. It’s extraordinary. It’s silly. It’s divine. And the worldwide Kingdom revolution is going to begin with this holy desire. But I’m frustrated by the idolatry we practice as believers toward the position of pastor. I feel like a subtle lie persistently influences our church world, a thought that most of us would never explicitly agree with yet somehow continue to propagate: a person’s love for God is measured by their involvement in church. When you first start loving God, you become a greeter for Sunday service; and then when your love for God grows, you become a small group leader; and then if you’re really passionate about Jesus, you’ll be a volunteer staff to give announcements and plan events; and one day,...
by Sam | Sep 12, 2017 | Reflection
Like most people in NYC, I have a go to spot for my daily needs. There’s the one coffee shop I go to every morning. There’s the nearby deli where I get all my sandwiches. And last but not least, there’s a small window storefront that I go to for my sodas. I can’t help it, but I am a soda addict. Anyways, I go there so much that the owner and I recognize one another instantly. He knows what I want before I even say a word. We usually have small talk here and there, but nothing beyond that. This is New York City after all. Everything is about quickness and efficiency. So most times we see each other, and without a word, he grabs a Diet Coke, and I put the money out, we say thanks and go on with our days. But this one afternoon, I came to the window and saw the owner moving some things around. He then looked at me and started sharing how he’s getting older and about his bad knees. He went on to share how he needed to get some work done on both knees, but couldn’t because no one would take care of his store. In that moment I wrestled with whether or not I should pray for him right there. But I didn’t. I told him I was sorry, and I walked away thinking maybe God will give me another opportunity at the right time. As I kept thinking about it, I felt discouraged and muttered to myself that I was nothing but a coward. Wait, what? Where...
