Dear YALA members

I send you greetings in Christ’s name

Last Saturday, YALA moved to our new office location. As I watched YALA’s board members and our young adult volunteers help with the move, my mind began to meditate upon Genesis 12:1, “"Leave your country, your people and your father's household”.

Abraham obeys God’s command and leaves his home and his comfort zone in Ur Kasdim and Haran, his birthplace, with his household. (v5)

Abraham is able to do this because of his knowledge of God’s covenant (v2-3) and his complete trust in that covenant.

I am curious what God has planned for us to do and experience at our new site and our new tent. As we begin to serve at our new site, I stand in conviction that surely God is with us always, until the end of age. In Matthew 28:20 God makes a covenant with us and through His presence with us, God will allow for us to fulfill our commission.

My fellow Christians,

Mission work was Jesus’ last commandment that He gave during His time here.

Our commission is a commandment that does not allow for this work to be done only when we think we have the spare time.

Throughout time, there have been many Christians who have avoided doing God’s work. For many of these Christians, they struggle to accomplish things on their own, continuously sow failures, and engross themselves by busily living the life of the servant who was given only one talent from his Master.

When judging by secular world standards, they might have achieved success by accumulating material wealth and gaining fame. However, these Christians would have accomplished nothing that would have helped build up their rewards in heaven, and thus have led pointless lives by spiritual standards. Instead of treasure, they will only have God’s stern reproach waiting for them in heaven.

What kind of lives are we currently leading?

Are we sincerely hearing and obeying God’s voice?

We are bound by the same covenant as the one kept between God and Abraham. When we obey God’s command, we also will be blessed with a great nation bound together by the gospel, and have the faith that Satan will not be able to touch us. (1John 5:18)

Those who wish us blessings will also receive blessings, and those who curse us will also get cursed. (Gen. 12:3)

Likewise, we are like the finest vines planted by God. (Isaiah 5:2)

However, what would happen if we were to bear only bad fruit? God states in Isaiah 5:4-6, that he will take down the hedge and destroy the vine. God will also not cultivate there, will not prune and not let the clouds rain on that piece of land, making the land a wasteland and unfit for any growth.

We live in a time where people have fallen into a deep spiritual sleep and believe that the world is filled with peace and safety. (1 Thes. 5:3)

People living in this age do not understand the meaning of “working together” and “community harmony” as lives become more and more individualistic and self-centered. During these dark times, people are no longer educated on upright morality, but have turned away from truth to follow their selfish interests and desires. (2 Tim. 4:3-4)

We need to start denying some of our personal desires and start to search for God’s voice.   

We have yet to start unpacking at the new office. Before we unpack, I would like to invite everyone to come and pray first. We are small in number, have limited abilities in expressing ourselves and have hearts that are found wanting in God’s eyes. However, if we were to all pray together for God’s guidance and search for God with our whole heart, He will allow for our faith to grow stronger and bless us with bigger dreams of accomplishing His work.

We should not depend on gaining strength from anything we can see physically. We can only see God’s glory and His works through spiritual sight.

Who is a leader? We must believe that every one of us is a leader and if we do not take on God’s work, he will not work through us.

In my prayers, I have asked what things need to be done to advance one’s faith. Without prayers, what use would our knowledge and plans be?

Just as one’s hard efforts and sweat are needed to produce beautiful and ripe fruit, without tears and sweat, the crown of glory will not be ours.

Let us think about the missionaries, church workers and the 25,000 congregation members who look upon YALA with hope. If we ignore our precious commission from God, we will miss out on opportunities for God’s grace, for God’s blessings, and the opportunities will be given to others.

January 25, 2010, Monday, 7pm

Though the place will be a bit chaotic because nothing has been unpacked at the new office, please join us for our prayer meeting.

I pray that as you start the new year, that God’s blessings be with you always.

For those who are too far away to come to the office, I hope you will be able to join us in prayer at the same time.

The new office’s address is:

3700 Wilshire Blvd. #956

Los Angeles, CA. 90010

For those who need a ride, please contact Pastor Choi at  714-900-0430  714-900-0430 or Joon Jo at  323-309-5823  323-309-5823 .

In HIM,

Pastor Charles  Hong.