Welcome Visal and Lindsey Sok!
FCBC welcomes Visal Sok as our new Associate Pastor for English-speaking Ministries on July 15, 2012! Visal was the Intern College Pastor at the First Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon where he began the college ministry, preached and oversaw the teaching ministry of the church. He resurrected the praise band and was responsible in identifying and recruiting volunteers for programs. He was also youth pastor at a church in Hillsboro, OR where he co-planned mission trips and met his wife, Lindsey. His other employment included serving as a child adolescent treatment specialist at a family services center where he managed crisis situations and maintained a safe environment for the clients.
Pastor Visal is a 2012 Master of Divinity degree graduate from Western Seminary in Portland and a 2007 graduate of George Fox University in Newberg, OR with a Bachelor of Social Work. His interests include hiking, snowboarding, reading and break dancing. He has a passion to do ministry in the city.
After a 2 ½ years search, the Search Committee co-chaired by Shannon Kong and Anna Ng recommended Visal Sok as our pastoral candidate at a specially called Membership Meeting on June 24th. The vote was unanimous!
Pastor Visal leads the 9:00 English Worship that meets at the YMCA in planning, coordinating, and preaching the Good News. He will work with the 9:00 Worship Deacons to provide pastoral and care ministries. As the primary pastoral staff to support the church’s annual Day Camp and Youth Camp, he along with all pastoral staff will also assist in the work of the Board of Christian Education.
On July 22nd, we welcomed Visal and Lindsey to our church with a sandwich reception and also sang “Happy Birthday” to Visal since it was his birthday! On Sunday, September 16th, the 9:00 Worship will host a special “Welcome Home!” time to meet Pastor Visal and Lindsey as well as for you to come and visit with old friends and make new friends! We hope that you will join us for this homecoming event!
In his application materials for the pastoral position, Visal said, “My goals are to seek and save the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as equip healthy Jesus followers for gospel ministry. I have a passion to serve the young adult age group in whatever context God has for me.
When I received my first opportunity to preach, it was the most exhilarating thing I have ever done. I enjoy teaching the Bible and building relationships, and now found a love for preaching. I knew right then I wanted to preach, and taking this to its logical conclusion I knew I would only be able to preach consistently as a pastor.”
All praise and honor we give to God who led Pastor Visal and Lindsey Sok to San Francisco and we pray that great things will happen because of our faithfulness and commitment in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!
Pastor Don
Overview of the Christian Faith
This Fall the CE Board will offer a special adult educational event under the leadership of our Pastor Emeritus Dr. James Chuck. Over 13 Sundays, 11:30-12:30, YMCA classroom, Dr. Chuck will offer an overview of the Christian faith by covering topics on Church History, World Religions, and the Life and Mission of the Local Church. The presentations will be easy to understand illustrated with slides. At the end of each session, an outline summary is available to integrate learning. If you are looking for an opportunity to gain an overall understanding of the Christian faith, this is the event for you! The first session begins on Sept. 16th and the last session ends on Dec. 16th. While all sessions are opened to the public, please register in advance with Dr. Chuck at: jameschuck1@gmail.com.
Seminarians Scholarship Fund Offering
The cost of seminary is one reason some worthy and qualified people decide on another profession. FCBC is committed to encouraging men and women who are called by God to ministry to be able to pursue their plans by providing scholarship assistance. On Sundays, September 16 and 23, our worship services will receive contributions for our Seminarians Scholarship Fund. The Deacons make grants in the summer for the upcoming Fall semester. For more information, contact Deacon Jackie Ma.
Church Membership Meeting
Come on Sunday, Oct. 7, 1:30 for the Membership Meeting to review the first draft of the 2013 Church Budget. After your approval, canvass materials will be sent out to receive pledges for 2013 on Pledge Sunday on Oct. 28th.
Senior Adult Retreat
The annual Senior Retreat will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 2 with lunch and conclude on Thursday, Oct. 4 with lunch at Redwood Glen. On the theme, Celebrate Life, here’s a great way to fellowship with friends by participating in stimulating conversations, fun with games, sharing your talents, and delicious and healthy meals. To register, contact Joel Jang.
Nursery Dedication
On Sunday, September 16th, we invite you to the Dedication of our Church Nursery! After suffering significant damages due to a water heater leak in May, the Trustees approved the renovation of the Nursery to include rectifying the problem of noise traveling from the Nursery to the Sanctuary. After thorough research, the Trustees decided to install a product called, “Quiet Wood” that has the properties to mitigate the problem. To welcome young families to our church, the entire space has been redesigned and new furniture dividers installed.
The project was funded by the reimbursement from the insurance company for the water damages as well as from the generous gift from the Edmund & Helen Chan Estate. Come and see all the wonderful blessings that God has for FCBC!
Family News
Congratulations to Stephanie Wong and Bruce Wong on their marriage on June 17 and Christine Louie and Josh Arnaldo on their marriage on June 23rd! May God bless them with joy and happiness!
Joy to Joe and Letitia Au for the birth of Kaitlyn Au born on July 21st! May God bless all the children of the world!
Our sympathy to Lucia Ren when her husband Wiliam Zhou returned to the Lord on
September
1-3 Family Camp, Happy Valley
2 10:20-James Chuck
11—P
7-9 Chinese Summer Retreat, Salvation Army Redwood Glen
9 9—V, Sanctuary
10—D
11—
Music, 1:00
11-12 Staff Retreat, San Damiano
15 Men’s Fellowship
16 9—V and Homecoming Sunday
10—D/Dedication of the Nursery
11—P
Overview Course begins, 11:30-12:30
Deacons, 1:30
EFG 50th Anniversary Banquet
22 Sojourners
23 9—V
10—James Chuck
11—P
CE, 1:30
30 Finance, 8:30
9—V
10—V
11—P
Trustees, 1:30
October
2-4 Senior Adult Retreat, Redwood Glen