Looking Ahead
“Today the scripture has been fulfilled…”
People of faith believe that God fulfills his promises. God reveals a rainbow after the flood indicating that life will once again inhabit the earth. Abraham and Sarah eventually believed that they would have descendants. Moses was at least able to peer over and see the promised land. The Old Testaments prophets envisioned a time when the people will return to God and forecasted a Messiah who would come to lead them to righteousness. In Luke 4:21, Jesus having read Isaiah (61:1-2) in the synagogue said, “Today the scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Following the understanding that God is unfolding his realm in the world, we believe that given faithful discernment of God’s will and perceptive understanding of surrounding factors, people of faith could envision a probable future that is coming. Church leaders and communities have utilized the practice of “long-range planning” or “strategic planning” as an instrument to forecast a probable future for the purpose of preparing to address such a possible reality.
Brief History
In the 1950-60s, planners believed that by extrapolating existing trends, businesses could forecast medium to long-term futures. Based mainly on numerical analysis of historical trends, one was able to seemingly predict with some accuracy of what is coming soon. But by the 1970s, the world began to see an heightened sense of uncertainty beginning with the oil shock of 1973 when we lined up to fill our gas tanks according to whether our license plates ended with an even or add number! Today, we live in a “post-modern” era with even greater levels of uncertainties that have caused planners more disorientation. Some examples are: climate change was first anticipated to be gradual but now feels eminent or already here; connecting technology constant changes leads us to upgrade our mobile phones every 2 years; global economics have linked the world together for better or for worst; and the list goes on and on.
When we consider Christianity and specifically, our church, the “post-modern” era means that traditional church life (Mainline and Evangelical) has been supplanted by religious pluralism and secularism. Asian immigration to US shores depends on world events on the other side of the globe such as the present large influx of Burmese refugees who are the “children of ABC Missionaries Adoniram and Ann Hasseltine Judson” 200 years ago. Chinese-Americans’ acquisition of educational achievement has led to greater mobility in housing and professional jobs often away from San Francisco and definitely away from Chinatown. And it’s without saying; the City of San Francisco’s need to increase revenue has activated parking meters on Sundays discouraging people to come to church. In the past, what planners thought forecasting 10 or 5 years was possible has now been reduced to operating on an annual basis usually on the adoption of next year’s budget.
FCBC Planning
In retrospect, our church has been engaging in long-range planning all along. In 1997, when FCBC decided to seismically retrofit the building, the church made long-term plans to remain in Chinatown. When we entered into a 30-year lease with the Chinatown YMCA to use the gymnasium on Sunday mornings, we strategically planned to not only remain in Chinatown but to have the potential to expand ministries such as an additional Cantonese service. Even the installation of 81 solar panels on our roof means that after 12-15 years, we would have recovered our financial investment from energy savings. Two years ago, when we decided to call a full-time pastor for the “contemporary” English worship (10:00), we envisioned that this congregation will grow and this style of worship is an integral part of our church’s life. These are just some of the more significant examples of long-range planning occurring all along. You most likely can identify others.
As expected, today we are facing more uncertainties due to our changing external environment, aging members, and pastoral leadership transitions to name the most obvious. In the past, the church has completed a number of long-range planning reports that are still available for review. However, these reports were at best a ‘snap shot” of that time while the world has since dramatically changed. While we want to believe that once a report is adopted and that implementation of the recommendations is now to occur, these so-called forecasts become actually moveable targets. The most sophisticated planners engage in rolling forecasts constantly changing projections based on the changing environment. Imagine the meteorologist predicting a coming storm!
Long-range planning at its best is implemented with minimal cost of time and financial resources which most of us don’t have. Therefore, setting a short but manageable timetable is ideal. Long-range planning is not a science but rather a human process that trusts in God’s plan for our church that only God truly knows.
The Deacons have appointed a Long-Range Planning Committee composing of the following: Nelson Wong, Moderator and Chair; Shannon Kong, 10:00 English Worship; Anita Yong, 10:00 Cantonese Worship; Anna Quan Wong, 11:20 English Worship; Charles Young, Deacons; Andrew Yue, CE; Bill Leong, Trustees; Jackie Chou, Finance; Kenneth Kwan, Missions; Jon Ng, At-Large; Nancy Guan, At-Large; and Pastors Peter Lee, Visal Sok, and Don Ng, ex-officio and pastoral staff.
The committee has begun meeting and hope to complete its work in the near future. There will be opportunities for you to share your ideas and to offer feedback on what may be proposed. Please be in prayer for this important work in the history of FCBC at this time of its historic mission in Chinatown, San Francisco and to the ends of the world!
Pastor Don
Sunday Morning Schedule Affirmed
The Deacons and the CE Board designed a survey for the congregation to tell them how they felt the new Sunday morning schedule has affected their spiritual walk with God, worship attendance, transportation to church and Sunday school attendance. Based on the results that were summarized and reported out on July 7th, the new schedule has neither positively or negatively affected people’s involvement at FCBC. In fact, the results suggest that the new schedule actually slightly improved people’s participation at church. All the reasons for the schedule change were reaffirmed as important to maintain ensuring that we maximize the use of our facilities, realistic Sunday school teaching times, and the best assignment of pastoral staff on Sundays. Given these findings and further discussions by the boards, they wholeheartedly affirmed the new Sunday morning schedule as official.
Redwood Glen—Rooted for Renewal
Redwood Glen Camp and Conference Center invites you to participate in its capital fund campaign to raise $2 Million to pay back the loan that was used to purchase the camp from the region and to make physical upgrades to the building and grounds. Since our church was instrumental in purchasing the property in Loma Mar 55 years ago when the Chung Mei Home in El Cerrito completed its ministry, we are recognized as a leading church to launch this campaign. While the church most likely will pledge an amount, we also invite individuals and fellowship groups to prayerfully consider making additional gifts. To launch the campaign, you are invited to attend a banquet on Saturday, Oct. 5th, 5:00-7:30 PM at the FBC, Santa Clara. Please see Joel Jang, Eva Ung or Pastor Don Ng for more information.
Fall Adult English SS Classes
Make a Fall commitment to attend a Sunday school class before 11:20 Worship. The CE Board will offer 5 classes beginning on Sept. 8th.
A. Bible Study with George Lai
B. Bible Study on God’s Character on Our Lives with Robert Mah & Don Lam
C. Biblical Themes from “Peanuts” with Butch Chan
D. “Got Style? Personality-based Evangelism (Jeffrey Johnson) with Pastor Don Ng
E. Today’s Headlines from a Christian Perspective with Wes Chan and Steve Lessler
Plan to attend a class at 10:00-11:10 at the YMCA or in the church!
Senior Center Fall Season
The Senior Center begins its Fall program under the able leadership of Jimmy Yee. On Sept. 11, 12:00, Pastor Visal Sok who participated in the church’s Thailand Mission Trip along with 17 others in June will share his experiences and learnings. They worked at a Karen village where they built a clean water system by trenching, laying down PVC pipes, constructing a concrete water tank, and taught Vacation Bible School to village children. Hear stories about how their lives have changed forever! We begin with a delicious hot lunch and end with birthday cake! The Fellowship Hall on the 4th floor is accessible by our elevator. To register, contact Jimmy Yee.
Senior Retreat—Words to Live By
As a senior person, you have the opportunity to be a blessing to your family and friends! This year’s theme, Words to Live By will feature Rev. Jerry Mann, Senior Pastor at Sunset Ministry in San Francisco. Jerry will lead us through a series of Bible passages that encourage and sustain us through the many life stages: going on a trip, blessing a grandchild, preparing for surgery, feeling lonely, celebrating a birthday or an anniversary, preparing to move to assisted living, enduring an illness, blessing a grandchild going to college, etc. You will have practical and useable resources to take home with you. The retreat will be at the Redwood Glen Siden Center, Oct. 1 (Lunch) to Oct. 3 (Lunch). The cost is $250 per person, two to a room includes all lodging and 7 meals. If you are attending the retreat for the first time, you would receive a $25 discount! Plan to join your friends for two days of wonderful fellowship and conversations. Brochures are available for you to register with Joel Jang by Sept. 15th.
Gifts Planning Blessings
One of Miss Astrid Petersen’s Night School English teachers was Mary Ann Bartz who lived in the Nob Hill area. She was born on May 16 1916 in Nebraska where she received her education including college. She worked as an office manager in Lincoln, NE and then moved out to San Francisco where she worked at the Connecticut General Insurance Company and taught for the American Institute of Banking. While in San Francisco, she taught at our English Night School to foreign students for thirteen years. She was a member of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Guild and taught for AARP’s “55Alive” drivers’ courses. She traveled to Europe, China and all over the US and collected art prints during her travels.
Early this year, we received notice that FCBC was one of the beneficiary listed in her estate. Mary Ann Bartz returned to the Lord on May 19, 2013 having lived for 97 years. Because of how much Miss Bartz believed in the life-changing ministries of FCBC, she has left over $75,000 to our church!
FCBC’s Estate Planning is one way to sustain the ministries of our church for years to come. Like Mary Ann Bartz, you can consider listing FCBC as one of the beneficiaries. On Nov. 3rd, we’ll celebrate “Gifts Planning Sunday” when you will have an opportunity to learn more about how your estate can be a blessing as Mary Ann Bartz is today.
Family News
The front of the church is now brightly lighted with two new larger sconces and two refurbished small sconces over the doors that were probably originals from 1908 after the 1906 earthquake. Special thanks to Eleanor Huang who designed the new sconces to perfectly match the existing ones and from the donor who made this beautiful project possible!
Our deepest sympathy to Evelyn Wong on the passing of her husband and former member of FCBC, Ben Wong on June 28th.
September
8/30-9/2 College & YA Retreat
8/31-9/2 Family Camp
1 10:00 Cantonese—P
11:20 Joint English—P
4 Church Staff, 10:00
4 LRPC, 6:30
6-8 Chinese Retreat
7 Men’s Fellowship, Rockville
8 10:00 English—V
10:00 Cantonese—P
11:20 English—D
New Fall SS Classes begin
11 Senior Center, 12:00
12-14 ABC BGM Executive Committee, FCBC
14 CBC Choir Retreat, Berkeley
15 10:00 English—V
10:00 Cantonese—P
11:20 English—D
EFG’s 51st Anniversary
CE, 1:30
Deacons, 1:30
18 LRPC, 6:30
20 Adult Fellowship
21 Tennis Tourney, San Bruno, 12:00
Xplorers
22 10:00 English—V
10:00 Cantonese—P
11:20 English—D
28 Sojourners
29 10:00 English—V
10:00 Cantonese—P
11:20 English—D
Trustees, 1:30
Reception Ministry Training, 1:30
30-10/1 Staff Retreat, Redwood Glen