1 Timothy 6 DT 9.3.08 by Kelly Kang (Gracepoint Fellowship Church – Berkeley):

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. [1 Timothy 6:17-19 NIV]

This past week, we had an amazing turnout at the NSWN 1 & 2 on the Berkeley campus as well as NSWN on the UT Austin campus, our newest ministry. We had more than 1400 show up to the NSWN and 100 at Austin. For me, what’s amazing is not so much the number of new students that showed up to these events but the church coming together to make these events possible. This is an all-hands-on-deck event for the entire Gracepoint Fellowship Church family. We have everyone helping out from children to adults.

Earlier that week, our church building in Alameda was full of activities in preparation for the NSWNs. Some of our children were helping out with folding napkins and stuffing it with forks for the BBQ dinner. There were college students practicing skits. Our copiers were going nonstop printing out posters, flyers, programs, etc.

Charcoal fire is always good for church fellowship!

On the night before NSWN 1, we had many of our Praxis members crowded at Dana House marinating 1200 lbs of Korean ribs. On the day of, we had our youth kids and teachers as well as many of our Praxis members who took ½ day off from work barbequing on an unusually hot day in Berkeley for 6 hours straight. Some of our brothers were loading, unloading, setting up mounds and mounds of equipments throughout the day.

Fun fellowshipping with garlic peeling (with eye protection)!

In Austin, little 5 year old Naomi was helping out with peeling garlic to be used for the marination. 10 year Corrie was helping out with the younger ones as the parents were busy getting the food ready for the NSWN. As one of our sisters, Jeannie, said “It was a picture of the church in action, the church that I grew up in and have grown to love. It’s times like these that show the values we cherish so much and work so hard to preserve.”

God has truly matured our congregation so that we are “rich” in many ways in terms of manpower, expertise in many areas (sound/stage/lighting, video production, drama, publication, etc.) and experience in ministering to people. I’m thankful that we get to be generous and share our riches and be “rich in good deeds.” I was reminded through all that we did for NSWN that each time we give ourselves fully to the work of the LORD like this, we are “lay[ing] up treasure for [ourselves] as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that [we] may take hold of the life that is truly life.”