Jubilee Chapel
– our LPD Church of the Week
Jubilee Chapel is pastored by Dr. Rev. Paul (Seung-Hun) and Jin Yang. Paul is Professor of Worldview & Creation Studies at ACTS Seminaries, and also has planted and pastors Jubilee Chapel.
This church was birthed on the ACTS Campus, and has now moved to Fort Langley EFC, where it meets each Sunday afternoon. Fort Langley EFC also gave birth to our first Korean Church, The Church of the Sent For Life Proclamation, planted and pastored by Dr. Rev. Namgyu and Heejoung Lee in 2002.
Jubilee Chapel inclcudes many Korean students and their families. They have come to Canada to study at ACTS, and serve and grow in the church while studying. Others are residents of Canada.
We are thankful for Jubilee Chapel as a part of the LPD/EFCC Family, and invite you to join us in praying for them and their ministry. Paul Yang translated the EFCC Booklet, “A Closer Look” into Korean, and this has been a great blessing to our Korean family members.
Paul and Jin are transitioning from their ministry at Jubilee Chapel, and invite our prayers for wisdom and guidance for the church leadership as they look to the Lord for their next lead pastor. Please pray for Paul and Jin, as the Lord leads them and open doors to future ministry – we know that He will continue to use them to His glory. Thank you Paul and Jin!
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Who Am I?
In a powerful scene from the musical, “Les Miserables,” Hugh Jackman, playing the character, Jean Valjean sings, “Who Am I?”It is a powerful song.
Valjean, a convict, has torn up his parole papers and assumed a new identity as Monsieur Madeleine. He has become a wealthy factory owner and also the mayor of the town of Montreuil-sur-Mer. He discovers that the persistent policeman, Javert, has arrested someone thinking that he is Valjean, and Jean Valjean is confronted with a difficult choice. Does he speak up and save an innocent man, knowing that if he does so, he will in turn be arrested and sent back to prison? Does he remain silent to save himself and continue to provide for those in his employ, yet live with the fact that he has condemned another main unjustly? He shares his dilemma with some haunting words; “If I speak, I am condemned. If I stay silent, I am damned.” Confronted with this choice, Jean Valjean questions his true identity in the song, Who Am I?
The song concludes,
Who am I?
Can I conceal myself forever more
Pretend I’m not the man I was before?
And must my name until I die,
Be no more than an alibi,
Must i lie?…
We all answer the same question in our daily lives – and in our faith. Who am I? What have I become? What are my values? How do I define myself?
Many people define themselves by their vocation. As one meets another person, the first question is, “What’s your name?” The second question often is, “What do you do?” Already, one begins sizing the other up…
If you have ever been unemployed, you know of what I write – you likely wanted to avoid social gatherings, just to avoid the question, “what do you do?”
Pastors have their own culture on this. We ask, “What’s your name?” Second we ask, “What is your ministry?” (Senior pastor, associate pastor, assistant pastor, youth pastor…). The third question is likely, “How big is your church?” You know how this goes…
COVID has caused many to rethink this paradigm – and that is a good thing! Somehow, “views” on YouTube cannot be equated with the number of people who have physically attended, and either way, do such measures really mean anything? Are people growing as disciples? Am I walking with Christ and reflecting Him in my life? Pastoral character, faithfulness and effectiveness are not measured by the size of our “crowd.”
Christ provides the example of servant-leadership in John 13. The scene is the Last Supper, where the disciples argued over who is the “greatest,” among them. In this, they no doubt “jockeyed” for the best positions around the table with Jesus (people were seated from the most honoured to the least around the table – see Edersheim). They reclined at the table with unwashed and unclean feet. It was the common courtesy to wash the feet of guests as they entered, but this was the task of a servant, and as none was present, the basin and towel sat idle. Any of the disciples could have volunteered to wash the feet of others, but because they defined themselves by what they did, or where they “reclined” at the table, doing so would have been to acknowledge that they were “beneath” the others.
Christ, however, “knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God…” got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist…” We know how the story goes…
Jesus then says to his disciples,
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13: 13-15.
Jesus remained their “teacher and Lord,” whether he taught them or washed their feet. His identity was in his relationship to his Father, and was not “defined” by the task He performed.
None of us, as servants of Christ is “above anything.” No task is too insignificant or beneath us. We are not defined by our task or by our “calling,” but by our identity in Christ. As adopted sons and daughters of God, we are citizens of Heaven, with all the rights and privileges. As such, we live as exiles, and are never really at home on earth (1 Peter 1:1-8).
I was reminded of Christ’s service in a recent reading in Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost For His Highest (Feb 23), which reads:
Jesus also said, “Yet I am among you as the One who serves” (Luke 22:27). Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s— “…ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). We somehow have the idea that a person called to the ministry is called to be different and above other people. But according to Jesus Christ, he is called to be a “doormat” for others— called to be their spiritual leader, but never their superior. Paul said, “I know how to be abased…” (Philippians 4:12). Paul’s idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference. As long as there was one human being who did not know Jesus, Paul felt a debt of service to that person until he did come to know Him. But the chief motivation behind Paul’s service was not love for others but love for his Lord…
Here is the link to the full reading: https://utmost.org/the-determination-to-serve/
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While we remain in the midst of COVID, there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel…
While we cannot gather as congregations today, it is anticipated that this will begin to change in the months ahead. While we will never go back to “what was,” there is a keen desire to meet together again! We will continue to utilize our online presence, but will also look forward to worshiping and assembling together.
Here are the results from a recent study from Lifeway Research. Though this speaks to the USA, there is application to Canada. So, how will we purpose meeting together when we are able in the months ahead? People are looking forward to gathering – what are we called to do when they come?
Here is the link:
u-s-churchgoers-say-theyll-return-post-covid/
BC COVID-19 Policy Updates:
This week, it was announced that some restrictions are being lifted, and limited outdoor gatherings are now permitted – up to 10 people at a residence. COVID_9_NOTIFICATION_BCGOV_BCGOV_EN_BC__NOTIFICATIONOTIFICATION
While there remains some faint hope that churches may be able to gather in limited numbers by Easter, there is no promise whatsoever of this. More likely, this will come after Easter. As best we know, we might be permitted to return to pre-December numbers of 50 for indoor gatherings. Churches will be wise to plan for online services, and to hope to possibly supplement this with a small outdoor gathering.
There is an update scheduled for next week, and we will keep you up to date as soon as more information is available, and as always, will be glad to assist you with policies and protocols.
Children’s and Youth Ministry – can happen!
Here is a memo I sent to some youth pastors last week, with guidance and reference to Government regulations for “extra curricular” activities for children and youth. With adequate COVID Policy, children and youth ministries are encouraged.
It is also needed! Children are lonely and isolated. While Churches are “prohibited’ from gathering, ministry to children and youth is encouraged!
Memo_to_churches_re_Children_and_Youth_Ministry_March_3_2021.pdf
