Purpose (Introduction/ Background)
"Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near (Heb. 10:24-25, NASB)."
Like many small ethnic Chinese churches, Glory Christian Church of San Diego has a small, but dedicated contingent of English speaking adults. From the beginning, these met as two cell groups that met in private homes – one near the I-5 corridor and the other along the I-15 corridor. For about 6 months in 2003, Pastor Gee Lowe led a weekly Friday night Bible study at church that was attended by about 4-5 people. From the Spring of 2005 until the Summer of 2007, this group met sporadically.
In view of the Biblical admonition shown above, Andrew & Vivian Szeto felt led by God to re-organize and hopefully re-energize Glory’s English Adult Fellowship. They invited all possible members of this group to their home for a dinner and an organizational discussion. Praise the Lord that some 55-60 adults and children came to their home on Saturday, June 30, 2007.
After dinner and some warm fellowship, the group discussed on the following issues:
- How often should we meet, where and when? Day or evening? In homes or at church? Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?
- What about coordinating with the Ladies-in-Touch women’s fellowship group?
- Should we begin a Men's Fellowship? If yes, where, when, and how often should they meet?
- What sort of program should we have at our group meetings? Guest speakers? Bible studies? Have time for prayer, sharing and testimonies? Engage in service activities?
- Should we bring young children to our general meetings or leave them at home? Childcare arrangements?
- What about electing coordinators for our group? Their length of office and duties?
After an extended discussion during which everyone was encouraged to voice their viewpoints, the group decided on the following:
- Hold unified monthly meetings in private homes on Saturday evenings, except when the planned activities dictated otherwise.
- The existing and successful Ladies-in-Touch group should continue to meet every other Saturday morning except on days of the regular main group meeting.
- A Men's fellowship group was desirable and could meet on Saturdays not in conflict with the Ladies-in-Touch or the regular monthly group meetings.
- Children and childcare would be the responsibility of the parents.
- Vicky Moy, Paulus Lee, and Andrew Szeto were nominated to serve as fellowship coordinators for 12 months.
- The goals of the fellowship group would be mutual encouragement, spiritual nourishment, outreach, and service.
Since that June meeting, the English Adult Fellowship has put the above plans into action. The Ladies-in-Touch, coordinated initially by Vivian Szeto (and now by Love Hsu Tran), met bi-weekly in various private homes. About 8-15 women met every other Saturday morning for sharing, serious Bible study, and prayer. This group also has organized a birthday celebration for Vivian Szeto and a baby shower for Linda Lee.
The Men's fellowship held an organizational breakfast meeting at Hometown Buffet on July 14, 2007. Since then about 5-7 brothers have fellowshipped over golfing, bowling, and go-cart racing. These male bonding activities were sometimes preceded by a short devotion and some prayer time. The Men's fellowship (somewhat typical of many churches) has not been as successful as the women’s fellowship group in terms attendance, regularity, and studying God’s word. It has not met since Fall 2007.
As for the English Adults as a whole, this fellowship group has met almost monthly for various activities as listed in the table below. When the group meets in private homes on Saturday evenings, the meetings usually include a potluck dinner, some singspiration, announcements, discussion about future activities, a formal program, and dessert.
For its community service, the English Adults has supported the Ladle Ministry of the First Presbyterian Church in downtown San Diego. This ministry ministers to the homeless people on Sunday afternoons by serving them a hot meal and providing them with personal necessities. Five to eight volunteers from Glory have gone to the First Presbyterian Church on the 2nd or 3rd Sundays of October, November, and December in 2007 and on the 1st Sundays on the odd-numbered months in 2008. Our support of the Ladle Ministry continued on a bimonthly basis until April 2009 when such participation conflicted with our Sunday afternoon worship services, necessitated by our church's relocation to Grace Chapel on Mira Mesa Blvd.
All glory belongs to God for reviving the English Adults Fellowship. Since that organizational meeting in June 2007, this group has met about 10 times per year and, through such meetings, developed a stronger sense of community and mutual support. The English Adult Fellowship also has sought to be a blessing to others by organizing a church-wide Christian Financial Planning workshop, serving the homeless people of our city on a regular basis, caroling at nursing homes, presenting an evangelistic Christmas musical, and reaching out to our friends and neighbors. In addition to continuing the activities described above, this group hopes to revive the men’s fellowship and build bridges to the youth groups and the Mandarin fellowships at Glory.
Figure 1. March 2008 general meeting of the English Adults fellowship
Figure 2. Preparing gifts for the nursing home residents as part of the Christmas
caroling outreach, Dec. 2007 & 2008.
Figure 3. Practicing Christmas carols, Dec. 2007 & 2008.
Figure 4. Caroling at the Brighton Gardens Nursing Home, December 8, 2007.
Figure 5. Caroling at a Poway nursing home, December 2008.
Figure 6. Glory Christmas choir rehearsing, Dec. 6, 2009
Figure 7. Christmas drama team rehearsing, Dec. 12, 2009
Fellowship Meetings
Ladies-In-Touch Group:
http://www.gccsd.org/Page.aspx?page=LadiesInTouch
ENGLISH GROUP MEETING (6.00 PM, SATURDAY)
| Date |
Location |
Purpose, program, or main activity |
| Jun 30, 2007 |
Andrew & Vivian Szeto’s home |
Organizational meeting |
| Aug 4, 2007 |
Andrew & Vivian Szeto’s home |
Seminarian Jonathan Szeto shared about finding God's will |
| Sep 15, 2007 |
Ming & Yeasing Yang's home |
Rev. Richard Philips shared about fellowship |
| Oct 27, 2007 |
Dennis & Vicky Moy's home |
Personal testimonies and planning the Christmas project |
| Nov 24, 2007 |
Ming & Yeasing Yang's home |
Christmas caroling practice |
| Dec 2, 2007 |
Andrew & Vivian Szeto’s home |
Preparation and practice for the Christmas caroling outreach |
| Dec 8, 2007 |
Nursing homes: Villa Monte Vista and Brighton Gardens |
Caroling at two nursing homes with lunch at Golden State Seafood in between and dessert Jack & Anne Shauh's home afterwards |
| Jan 19 & 26, 2008 |
Glory Christian Church |
Sponsored two Christian financial planning workshops led by Mr. Fred Vaught. |
| Feb 16, 2008 |
Black Angus Restaurant |
Valentine’s dinner |
| Mar 22, 2008 |
Andrew & Vivian Szeto’s home |
Videotape sermon by Dr. John MacArthur on “Praying for America” |
| Apr 19, 2008 |
Dennis & Vicky Moy's home |
Rev. Richard Philips shared about finding a pastor |
| May 16-18, 2008 |
Palomar Christian Conference Center |
Glory's Family Retreat |
| Jun 28, 2008 |
Kuang & Michelle Fan's home |
Estate planning from a Christian Perspective |
| Jul 26, 2008 |
Ming & Yeasing Yang's home |
Elections, apologetics DVD, & prayer time |
| Sep 27, 2008 |
Winston & Diana Tan’s home |
Getting acquainted, sharing, and planning our service project |
|
Oct 28, 2008 |
Mrs. Cecilia Lock's home |
Fellowship and Christmas service project planning |
| Nov 8, 2008 |
Andrew & Vivian Szeto's home |
Sunday School Teachers' Appreciation Dinner and message by Rev. Richard Philips |
| Dec 6, 2008 |
Dennis & Vicky Moy's home |
Christmas fellowship, caroling practice, and "white elephant" gift exchange |
| Dec 20, 2008 |
Nursing homes: Villa Monte Vista and Brighton Gardens |
Caroling at two nursing homes followed by dinner at Sunrise Buffet |
| Jan 24, 2009 |
Kuang & Michelle Fan's home |
Chinese New Year celebration and planning for 2009 |
| Feb 21, 2009 |
Butcher's Shop |
Valentine's dinner |
| Mar 2009 |
No meeting |
Moving to Grace Chapel |
| Apr 17-19, 2009 |
Palomar Christian Conference Center |
Glory's Family Retreat |
| May 30, 2009 |
Andrew & Vivian Szeto's home |
Fellowship & message by Pastor Marc Chiu |
| June - Aug 2009 |
No meetings |
|
| Sep 19, 2009 |
Mrs. Cecilia Lock's home |
A model worship led by Dr. Samuel Ling and planning the Christmas service project |
| Oct 24, 2009 |
Andrew & Vivian Szeto's home |
Fellowship & message by Rev. Dr. Jerry Hwang on "Legalism vs. Libertanism" |
| Dec 5, 2009 |
Dennis & Vicky Moy's home |
Christmas fellowship, brief sharing by Emilian Mihet, and gift exchange |
| Dec 12, 2009 |
Grace Chapel |
A Christmas evangelistic drama & musical for whole church |
| Jan 23, 2010 |
Kuang & Michelle Fan's home |
Chinese New Year celebration, electing new leaders, and planning for 2010 |
| Feb 6, 2010 |
Red Lobster Seafood Restaurant |
Valentine's dinner followed by seeing the "Book fo Eli" movie |
|
| Mar 20, 2010 |
Andrew & Vivian Szeto’s home |
Holy Land Tour narrated by Dr. Ronald Youngblood |
| Apr 10, 2010 |
Andrew & Vivian Szeto’s home |
Ms. Carol Hartman on the Jehovah Witnesses (Part I) |
| May 29, 2010 |
Mrs. Cecilia Lock's home |
Ms. Carol Hartman on the Jehovah Witnesses (Part II) |
| June 2010 |
No meeting |
|
| July 16-18, 2010 |
Pine Valley Christian Conference Center |
Glory's Family & Youth Retreat |
Contact Information
Paulus Lee: 858/566-3755
Vicky Moy: 858/484-2162
Andrew Szeto: 858/566-0796