PASTOR’S CORNER: "Impact Our World"
This past Wednesday at ESPM (English-spkg Prayer Mtg), Pastor John Ng shared a thought with us. He said "It’s great that our church has a missions conference so that we can focus on missions, but, at the same time, it’s not so great that we have to have a missions conference in order for our church to focus on missions." It is a simple observation, but an insightful one.

I realize that the young adult years are full of things that demand attention. You have to chart some sort of career path, figure out a financial plan, determine your housing situation, establish a circle of friends, look for (and hopefully find) a life partner, and also find some way to continue to grow spiritually. These are all important and it can be overwhelming. In the midst of all these concerns, it is easy to lose sight of priorities. In the movie "City Slickers", three overwhelmed, overworked, and dispirited businessmen vacation at a "dude ranch" hoping to rediscover meaning and purpose for their lives. One of them asks a grizzled, old cowboy what the secret of life is. The cowboy says nothing but lifts his index finger upward to signify the number one. That’s all. The businessman spends most of the rest of the movie trying to figure out what the cowboy meant. As the movie reaches its climax, the businessman realizes that the cowboy was telling him that the secret of life was for everyone to identify what was the one important thing in life and to pursue it passionately. Everything else would then fall into place.

Many Christians today feel like those businessmen. It seems like so many things are pulling at us, demanding our time and attention. Life is filled with both chaos and boredom, often simultaneously! We are tired, overworked, overwhelmed, and seeking some sense of purpose and direction. We need to step back and reflect on what is the one thing that is going to take priority in our lives. As Jesus was ready to depart from this world, He clarified for His followers what that one thing was to be. They were to be disciples and make disciples. Everything else is secondary. If we take that to heart, we should be more concerned about the fact that we haven’t shared the gospel with anyone in the last 5 years (or ever!) than being worried that we don’t own a house or have a significant other. We should be spending as much time (if not more) thinking and praying over how we can touch our neighbors for Christ than we do analyzing the stock market or praying for a promotion. We limit our vision and effort to the very small box of our personal needs and individual desires. Jesus points us to a much larger vision. We are to impact our world for Christ. As we refocus our priorities and pursue it with intentionality and passion, everything else will fall into place. Matt 6:33.

April
FCBC MISSIONS EMPHASIS MONTH
During the entire month of April there will be a variety of workshops, speakers, and service opportunities offered as our church focuses on missions. Take advantage of this great opportunity to expand your borders and build God’s kingdom

May
YAM YARDSALE Come help support the Chinatown Service Center! You can bring things to sell and/or help out in sales, set-up, and clean-up. Lunch provided for helpers on Sat.
Where: 8477 Leroy St, San Gabriel (Spencer’s house)
When: Goods Drop off- Fri nite, May 9 – Yard Sale-Sat morn., May 10
Contact: Garvin-gcheung@sbcglobal.net or Kelly-kcheung84@sbcglobal.net

MEN-4-MISSION Young adult men can join with other men traveling to the Navajo Res. in Arizona to help a local Navajo church with construction and maintenance.
Where: Navajo Reservation, Hardrock, Arizona
When: Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-26, Fri-Mon
Info. Mtg: Sun, Apr 13, 1-2pm, location TBD


WOMEN’S TEA 2008 Sisters! Come together, be refreshed and encouraged at the Women’s Tea. You’ll hear from Sue Tatsui, share table talk with friends (old and new), oh and by the way, enjoy good food too! Cost is $8.00 and ticket sales begin April 27th in the courtyard. (See Sunday bulletin each week for more details.
Where: FCBC MPB
When: Sat morn., May 31, 10:30am

June
LUNCH AT THE UNION RESCUE MISSION: We have an opportunity to go downtown to the Union Rescue Mission and help in preparing/serving lunch to the homeless.
Where: Union Rescue Mission
When: Sat, Jun 14, 11am-3pm
Contact: Pastor Chris cbmsn1@earthlink.net

Sunday School
Where: Hall of Truth, Upstairs
When: 9am Sunday Mornings
Contact: Donald: donyuan@netzero.net
What: Bible studies and training courses

ESPM (English Prayer & Praise Mtg)
Where: Hall of Praise (Old Sanc)
When: 7:45-9:00pm, Wed Nights
Contact: Thelma
What: Prayer and worship mtg