168 results for author: Pastor Eric Shin
“Please come and help us!”
Many thoughts are going through my mind as I reflect on the House Church Pastors’ Conference that I just attended in Carson, CA. There were about 140 pastors, missionaries and their spouses present this time, and 20 of them were English speaking. This was the biggest number for English speaking side. I think the number will continue to grow as New Life faithfully serves as a resource church for those pastors and churches that want to learn and are committed to build a New Testament church.
I get various kinds of questions and requests from pastors and churches in regards to house church. Some ask about mechanics of house church meeting. Some ask ...
More information regarding a possible relocation
I had a very encouraging and informative meeting on Friday with two members of New Life who have been in legal and real estate profession for many years. They approached me to share and discuss about our possible plan to relocate the church to a more strategic and central location.
They started out by saying that they trust me as their pastor. They don’t want to trust me just in small matters because trusting me in small matters that they feel comfortable about doing is not trusting at all. Rather, they felt they are truly trusting in me when they are presented with something big that they feel uneasy about doing but still follow my leadership. ...
Dealing with COVID-19 and George Floyd
From the Pastor’s Desk (251) June 14, 2020
It’s been three months since we went into lockdown due to COVID-19. Through many citizens’ participation, we have been able to flatten the curve. Even though we are hearing stories of coronavirus flaring up in certain parts of our nation and around the world, it appears that the situation is not as dire as it was a few months ago when the virus that was new and unfamiliar seemed to spread rapidly.
As we have been going through the lockdown, we have been made aware that social distancing, though it was necessary for all of us, hurt us in many ways as well. It also has been evident that certain ...
Gradually reopening the church building
It has been six weeks already since we have resorted to YouTube livestream for our Sunday worship service. This has been a new experience for all of us especially for me who is not technologically inclined at all. However, we have managed to worship God virtually together as one body of Christ.
At first, it was awkward for me to be in the sanctuary with a small group of Magnification Team members praising God and preaching to them. I felt like I was in a recording studio. But as weeks went on, all of us who came out to church to provide worship service for New Life family got used to this new way of doing things. Several members commented how the ...
Sunday Corporate Worship Service in Response to COVID-19
The entire world seems to be consumed with COVID-19 the past several weeks. Houston, where we live, is not any exception. Just a few days ago, one major university announced that they are shutting down the school for the remainder of the semester and all the students except few whose homelands are more susceptible to COVID-19 are asked to go home. The students will receive their instruction from their professors through online teaching.
New Life has been committed to “Give, suffer and die” for Christ and his kingdom. And I think I can honestly say that we have done our best to live that life before God. Even in the midst of tropical storms and ...
My Sabbatical Plan
In about a month from now, I will
be taking my first sabbatical ever. Since I have never done this before, I
don’t know what to expect or what will come out of it. But because it is in our
pastoral staff policy and the Holy Spirit seems to be leading me to this, I am
obeying His guidance.
At first, I thought about
completely staying away and resting from church ministry. So, I planned not to
come to church for any reason even when I am in town. Instead, I thought about
attending different churches to experience different styles of worship and
learn from them. After giving some thought, however, I realized that I shouldn’t
restrict myself ...
My Sabbatical and Vote of Confidence
On November 30, 1994, my family (Lynette, Enoch, Caleb in Lynette’s womb and I) left Watertown, MA to come to Houston and serve as a youth pastor at Seoul Baptist Church. We loaded our belongings into a Budget rental truck while it was snowing, towed a white Honda Accord LX, and drove 1,850 miles in four days and three nights. We made stops to sleep in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Alabama. We arrived in Houston on Saturday, December 3. The church helped us to find an apartment on Jones and West Rd. Several deacons and their wives from the church helped us unload our belongings so we could move in quickly. One deacon took us out for dinner at ...