Impact Movement/SOS (Strengthening Our Salvation) Leadership meeting on Thurs 10.18.12
I am a part of a group called Impact/SOS at the University of Washington in Seattle. Impact is about taking the truth of Jesus Christ to the campus, community, and the world by producing leaders of African descent who are spiritually focused, financially responsible, and morally fit. SOS is a bible study that an alumni, Taji Ellis, started during her time at the UW that was later merged with Impact. It's a mainly black campus ministry. Why I am in it you may ask? A Japanese American? Because God has called me into this cross cultural exchange like He did with the apostles in early church planting history.
Anyways, we had been struggling as a ministry. Hard. And for about two years.
Coming into this year, it's definitely been clear that we've been trying so hard to make plans and events when really it's the relationships that have been missing. It was like drawing somebody to a tree that's cool with maybe some nice shade but with no fruit to eat to take on the road (to plant more seeds to become more trees and bear mo fruit and so on).
Frustrations. Heartache. Pain and suffering. All last year. We definitely had triumphs and joyful moments but there were definitely valleys.
Had so much heartbreak from last year that the three of us didn't even want to talk over the summer! We seemed to all have the same question on our hearts, "What ever happened to the ministry?" It turned into a business with business meetings and planning more than a place of God space.
It was already four weeks into school and we hadn't had a bible study yet. Minimal outreach by Impact/sos to freshman. But we needed to get right as leaders before putting on meetings. We needed divine help.
I am learning that revival must start from within first. We cannot expect a revival to happen in others when it hasn't started from within.
We took to prayer. We took to love. We took to realizing our brokenness. We took to forgiving one another.
We took to getting back to the first ministry with God. Cause He got left out of our plans, when He's the author of our lives! Crazy right? Happens. And easily.
Last night we talked about the vision of impact/sos and the meaning of ministry. Bottom line: it's all about Relationships! Love God, Love others.
Luke 10: 27-28 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
We were still confused on what to call ourselves as a ministry as Impact and SOS seemed to be two different ministries. We didn't come up with a vision for the year or a plan. It was frustrating. I was thinking how can we get started without a more solid plan and vision for the year?
This might sound contrary to wisdom, but we are moving forward without a plan. I believe in the importance of having a vision for the year and plan but I believe that at this time the spirit was just saying Go. Just Go. Go and make disciples. The plan will come later.
We're Bringing it back to relationships. I relate this to a kid just strapping on running shoes with no mileage plan or route, but just running. The kid knows how to run. So he does. In due time, he will become more strategic. But for now, just hit the pavement.
...Less planning, less events, Mo Love.
So I thank God. We ended with a crazy stupid, Holy Spirit filled prayer. There was so much Joy and uplifting. There was brokenness and realizing God's Holiness. For me there was Love knowing that He came to bridge the gap between us and Him. Between Impact/SOS and the Lord God. Revival.
Then we just started fellowshipping. I told them more about the story of how I came to be with the amazing woman of God I am courting, Monique, who has changed so many areas of my life for the better in Christ. Someone who I can't Not smile when I tell others about her. I showed them pictures of me and Monique too. Then we just talked some more about different things. Good time!
And by the end of the night and four hours of meeting, I realized we were doing life together. For the first time in a while, I felt and knew we were doing Ministry.
Looking forward to the first meeting of the year: dinner and fellowship at my apt next week.
This is the inspiration for our vision! "This is Discipleship" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk8ERxqCZqQ
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Class Assignment: Write on a Mentor who has made a Positive Impact in your Life
Mike Fujimoto
10.30.2011
Jason
Green, aka “Pops”, my pastor, spiritual dad, and close friend, has come to be
one of the greatest teachers in my life as well as in the lives of many other
people he has reached. These include gangbangers, homosexuals, prostitutes, the
homeless, widows, people on the verge of suicide, broken people, and
“would-be’s” of the aforementioned. It’s not his cool look and powerful,
cut-to-the-chase preaching style that truly makes him a leader, nor is it the
fact that he is one of the originators of Krump dancing, but how he shows to
others the loving God that dwells within him through lifestyle that makes him a
good teacher. After becoming one of his disciples in the Faith about two years
ago, I have seen firsthand through Jason how a true relationship with God is
most important for a Christian. His living example has helped me out in growing
in my own faith and impacting the lives of others in the process.
I respect Jason for his obedience
in both hearing and applying the Word of God to his life. His daily lifestyle
is rooted in the scripture, Titus 3:14, “And let our people learn to devote
themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent
need, and not be unfruitful.” Two examples in particular attest to the life
application of this verse. It was mid-way during one Friday night service in
Compton, CA, that a man in about his mid-50s walked right in from the streets
to the altar, crazed and wasted off alcohol and drugs. Instead of what some
people might think to do which is to kick him out of the service for intruding
while drunk, Pops tended to this man along with the other leaders of the
congregation. Regular service was paused to give way for this man to vent,
explaining his situation and the death of his two sons, one of which was shot
up 17 times in an alley-way. Pops listened intently and told him to hold his
peace before the other pastors took him outside to pray for him. This incident helped
teach me that the church is a place of healing that all people can go to get help.
Another time I have seen the verse, Titus 3:14, lived out in Jason’s faith walk
is when he scrapped up what he could to help a homeless man outside a grocery
store in Renton, WA have something to eat and a place to stay for the night. It
was not actually the act itself but more so the sympathy shown through both the
giving and hearing of the man’s needs that is important in my memory. After we
prayed for him, the man showed a smile of gratitude; I was able to witness the
goodness in impacting the life of a stranger by living out one’s faith through
his works.
 |
| Me & Pops (summer 2010 @ Nehemiah church) |
I am
grateful for having Jason in my life as a spiritual father, for I have a good
example to model myself after. As I apply my heart to Hebrews 13:7, “Remember
your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of
their way of life, and imitate their faith,” I have found great success
following Pops’ example. I have grown more confident and sincere in sharing my
life and what I believe wholeheartedly as the truth of Jesus Christ with
others. Formerly afraid and closed-off, I have found freedom in boldly sharing
details about how God changed my life with others as I saw in Jason’s model. In
trusting the God within me, I have been able to do things I never dreamed of
doing, such as tutoring younger children, doing spoken word, being a camp
counselor, teaching dance, and going on Mission Trips to share my faith and
build the community. I have been able to step out on faith on many things,
trusting God that everything works for the better when my heart is set on Him.
One of my favorite verses is 1 Samuel 16:7 “…Do not look on his appearance or
on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees
not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the
heart." I thank God for using Jason Green to show me that it’s not about
what it looks on the outside, but the inner purpose in one’s heart that makes
all the difference. My love for God that Jason has helped me to find has driven
me to be hungry, even desperate to learn more about Him. This is the best
learning period of my life as love is opening every door that I come to knock.
My knowledge of the faith has proven fruitful as I understand that the purpose
of life is not about oneself but in serving others and impacting lives.
Here is a poem that I wrote on 12.2.2009 after
my first night in church (11.27.09) in about 10 years and meeting my pastor. This describes my
experience during the altar call (when one steps up to the front to receive
prayer and/or words of knowledge/prophesy from a spiritual leader).
It was my turn
The preacher directed
his vision into my eyes
Into his own I could
see a million stories unfold
Stories of pain,
hurt, confusion, sorrow, loss
Stories that were
both originally his own and
Stories that became
his own from those lives he had touched
He paused for a
moment’s time
Peering into my own
soul
And an outpour of
truth flooded out
He spoke
Spoke in a calm,
collected way
Spoke of the
conflicts, troubles in my life
Spoke of the two
forces ripping me apart from both ends
The forces of what I
want to do and what I should do
Spoke of family-
disconnect, sorrow, loneliness
Spoke of reality and
what I was given to dealt with
He placed both hands
on my forehead
Pushing, pushing
Sharing with me his
strength and confidence
His will
Immense feelings of
relief and gratitude overwhelmed me
This was somebody I
could trust
Somebody that
understood the true nature of sorrow,
The trials and
tribulations
Somebody that would
help guide me spiritually
And enable me to
reach a higher state of being
Somebody I have never
met before
Yet could say a
thousand words about me in an instant’s time
Someone that had left
me vulnerable,
Yet consolable
Weak,
Yet mighty
Nothing kept shut in
the darkness of Night
Strength depicted
through the truth of eternal Light
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