Senior Pastor
Don Ng
Lighting the Way Forward
Christ, the Light of world lights up our path and we are able to see our way in the darkness of life to go forward. 2014 can be described as a banner year of following Christ and we become the “light of life” (John 8:12). The ministry of FCBC helped to light up the lives of all who received its grace and services.
Sunday Worship
Every Sunday, our church designed inspiring worship in three styles to invite English-speaking and Cantonese-speaking people to inspiring and meaningful worship. Gifted and talented musical leaders and choir members contribute with voices like angels. Sermon messages interpret the meaning of Scripture bringing light to the hearers’ lives. After 15 years, the church launched a new website with the primary purpose to help visitors and seekers who want to come to church. The new website is shedding light on the path for people who want to know Christ. Thanks to Adam Kung, Josh Chou, Keegan Doung, Pastor Visal Sok and Shannon Kong in helping to make this website become a reality! We hope that many new people would come to our church and have the “light of life” in their lives.
Reception Ministry
Catching the vision that Pastor Peter Lee received after visiting churches in China, we launched a new community outreach ministry called Reception Ministry coordinated by Yu Minling. On the first Sunday of every month, our church members pass out flyers on Grant and Sacramento streets inviting people to visit our church. We give balloons to the children. Once they come in, people are invited to come into the sanctuary for prayer and a time of meditation. They are offered Lanna coffee and information about the church. This is an effective strategy to introduce our church to our neighbors and the community. Reception Ministry brings light to people’s lives.
Thailand Missions
For the third time, FCBC sent a team of young adults to Northern Thailand to build a clean water system for one of the hill tribe villages. In cooperation with Mike Mann and the Integrated Tribal Development Project associated with ABC International Ministries, the team that went in June performed in faithful excellence. Going on missions not only cast the light of Christ on the villagers the team met but also instilled in the lives of every team member who went the truth that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world even on the darkest nights in Thailand. The Lanna Coffee Project gained new members and began to expand in the products they offer. New coffee blends went for sale including for the first time, decaffeinated coffee. The new Welcome Table was launched in the New Year serving gourmet coffee at the YMCA before worship. We continue accepting donations through the coffee project to support the House of Love and the New Life Center in Chiang Mai.
Long Range Planning Report
After almost a full year of meetings, the Long Range Planning Committee completed its report and submitted it to the Deacons who eventually distributed to the congregation for review and feedback. The committee cast light on issues facing the life and future of the church. The report identified 7 areas that need to be addressed: Challenges Faced Due to Church Diversity, Lay Leadership Development, Fellowship Groups, Community Outreach, Youth Ministries, Pastoral and Staff Leadership Transition, and Space Needs. The plan is to use this report to provide the church with a plan to move forward into the future. On March 22, the church membership participated in an All-Church Event in San Anselmo to discuss and respond to the report.
Memorial Funds
Blessed with increasing funds giving in loving memory of loved ones, the Finance Committee initiated an opportunity for people who are associated with these memorial funds to suggest how they may be moved to the 9 designated ministry funds so that these valuable resources can be utilized to support current ministries. Once again, these resources will bring more light to a variety of programs that would reach children, youth and adults with the love of God in Christ.
Milestones
When we are in God’s time, we see every life event as a milestone worth remembering and celebrating. In August, Zita Cheng completed her one-year commitment serving as our Community Outreach Minister making a real impact on Reception Ministry and last summer’s Day Camp. She will be returning to Hong Kong and China to pursue mission work by bringing the Light of Christ to unreached people.
In the spring, a church group visited the Highlights of Italy with visits to Rome and the Vatican. One of the most inspiring visits was to Milan where we saw with our own eyes Michelangelo’s The Last Supper, a large fresco painted on the wall of a former convent refectory. We saw many shining lights of our faith that reminded us of how Christianity has and continues to change lives in the world.
FCBC will celebrate its 135th anniversary this year on October 24-25 with a luncheon, preaching series, all-church worship, open house, and other activities to praise God for guiding us through these many years. We hope to continue to be a beacon of light both physically on the corner of Waverly and Sacramento but also spiritually as our church members and friends share their lives with others.
The Deacons appointed a Staff Transitional Sub-Committee to begin working on the pastoral changes that will happen as the result of my retirement announcement.
The effective work of FCBC is the result of the countless hours and gifts that church members like you have given in making the Good News of Jesus Christ known. You have shared generously and sacrificially. While it’s obvious that we know the names of those who officially serve on boards, committees, officers and fellowship chairs, there are a host of people who give of themselves in making FCBC the Body of Christ. I think about those who cook at Friday Night School, take the SS children to the playground, wash dishes after Sunday breakfast, change light bulbs and wash the solar panels, take out the 10:00 English Worship sign, trim our three trees, count Sunday’s offerings, pray with sisters and brothers at times of need. Everyone is doing the will of God and sharing the Light of Christ in the world!
We also take a special time to thank the church staff for the work that they do: Wendi Lin as our Church Administrator who always make sure things get done on time; Marian Hom, our Bookkeeper who is never late on paying an invoice; and Easy, our custodian from Japan Janitorial Service who keeps our church home clean. And we thank Pastors Peter Lee and Visal Sok for their dedication in serving as the hands and feet of Christ at FCBC.
Light at the End of the Tunnel
When I have been driving to church for almost 17 years, I drive through the Waldo Tunnel in Marin and then the Broadway Tunnel to be on Powell to weave through traffic and the cable cars to eventually arriving on Waverly Place. In these tunnels, we see the light at the end when we have driven through them.
On November 30, 2014, I announced my retirement from FCBC effective on June 30, of this year. After 17 years of serving as your senior pastor, I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel leading me to the next chapter of my life and career. What a blessing that it has been for me to serve with you at FCBC! There will never be enough words for me to share my appreciation and gratitude to you for giving me this opportunity to be your pastor. I have grown in wisdom because of you. I have learned how to be a servant leader because of you. I have developed a preaching style because of you. I have improved on my Toisanese because of you. I have learned that God’s is powerful in the world because I have seen how you trust in him. And I hope and pray that I will know how to retire with grace because I have seen many of you who have done this and continue to be faithful people.
I am not too sure what that light means at the end of the tunnel but I am positive that the light is the Light of Christ who is the light of life!