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Featured -
Featured Events
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 10 July 2008 |
On an ordinary Saturday evening in Fullerton, CA, there was a buzz of energy coming from the Grace Ministries International front hallway. As you walked in you were immediately greeted with info takers and smiles as your lucky raffle ticket was handed to you. At the end of the hallway, there was an animated emcee yelling “Drop it like it’s hot!” and giving away concession prizes. Groups of junior and high school students cheered deafeningly as he threw free event tee shirts into the air.
At the end of the evening, there would be the ultimate prize of a Wii system, a prize that catches the eye of every student there.
The event doors finally open at around 7pm as the students rush into the auditorium and find their seats. A third of them decide to sit on the floor to get the best views. A live band begins to rock as a dance off between different student groups from Ktown and Irvine begins. A Korean traditional drum routine and various hip hop groups keep the audience engaged, wide-eyed, and anticipating the next act.
The theme verse for ALIVE, Ephesians 2:5, is introduced by one of the pastors which reads, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!
Attendees sing out, “Lord, I’m amazed by you!...How you love me” and there is a sweet chorus of voices in the place. “I called and you answered…And you came to my rescue. And I wanna be where you are.” The guest speakers for the night were Pastor Ryan Lee and Pastor Daniel Park and the crowd responded as the speakers addressed issues such as the power of God for real change. One speaker asked two questions to the crowd: What do you want Jesus to do for you? Do you want to be made whole? The realities of being a Korean growing up in the American culture were also addressed. Many students laughed hysterically as they identified with one of the speaker’s stories of going to McDonalds after memorizing his order during the pre-combo era; as if this was not hard enough, he was soon thrown off by the question, “Is this for here or to go?”
There was a skit that was performed to the Lighthouse song “My Everything” which is commonly performed by Christian groups across the nation. (see photo gallery for more) The night ended with a “Salvation Call” for those deciding to profess to Christianity and a “Breakthrough Call” for those who wanted to address a sin they wanted to win over. When speaking with the students directly, many of them positively affirmed the role of church and their leaders while saying that church was a “comfortable” and “good” place to belong, learn, and grow. The students spoke highly of their leaders who remembered them by name, noticed if they showed up on Sundays and had their numbers plugged into their phones - making sure everyone knew they were well connected and cared for.
Before the event began, Pastor Joon, the Junior High Pastor at GMI and a coordinator of the event, was walking around talking with the students and wearing the event tee shirt himself. When asked how he felt and how the event was going, he responded that he was not stressed at all but was enjoying the event thoroughly. It seemed everyone else there was as well.
For more information about Grace Ministries International, go to http://www.gmimission.org/home.php
Grace Ministries International 1645 W. Valencia Drive., Fullerton, California 92833 Tel 714.446.6208, 714.446.6200 (ext.238) / Fax 714.446.6217
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