Family Matters Interview with Martin Chandrawinata Devotional by Melanie Thio Leaders Speak Up
IFGF Pinole Monthly Newsletter September 2015
SEPTEMBER 2015 • 1
“Pa, he did ‘something something’ to me” one of my son would report in a distressed voice to me. “But he did ‘something else something else’ to me first”, the other one would contend. And the sibling rivalry would continue its course until the all-wise-father-judge would impose a certain punishment to make sure a lesson is learned and no more nonsense of the type would ever happened again. Wishful thinking. Another day, and yet another skirmish. Such is a life in a family. Or, at least in mine. In a family, each individual is uniquely, fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator. This uniqueness is an indication of the grand creativity of our Maker. From
At the same time, it presents a challenge for us. Mix this
Pastor’s
uniqueness and the sinfully degraded human characters and
Desk
what you get are disagreements, misunderstandings, gossips, and miscommunications. Bring this challenge into a family of God, i.e. the church, and what you have is one mighty giant challenge! Is there hope for a peaceful existence for those who choose to be members of this family?
More important than peaceful existence, how do we even carry out God’s plan to save humanity in the midst of this potential breakdown of relationship because of our own uniqueness, and more often, selfishness. Nothing is impossible to God. The Bible even points out that this seemingly ‘craziness’ might even have a Godly purpose in it. Let’s dig the Word of God to learn how Jesus wants His church, and the members in it conduct their daily life to eventually accomplish His purpose on earth. Growing together with you in the family, Pastor
Shown on Front Cover: GENESIS Design Team Karen Liong, Jessica Sanjaya, Catherine Santoso, Catherine Gunarso 02 • GENESIS NEWSLETTER
This is Our Church
Martin Chandrawinata Construction Inspector / Care Group Coach / Care Group: Family
Hi, Martin! How are you doing? I heard you got a new job. How is it different from the last one?
run around helping them. I have to do daily reporting
Doing great! Yes, I got a new job. For my last job, I
to spend time with my kids so I have to continue to
worked for a high profile project for 8 years building
work after they go to bed. My supervisors are very
Bay Bridge (Eastern Span Replacement). I really
good about it though. If I don’t get the report on the
liked it. My supervisor was very nice, I got an office
day it is due, I can get it to them the next day.
at the end of the day but when I get home I want
and I could go to the field if I wanted to, basically very minimal supervision so I was responsible for my
I totally enjoy it. It made me understand about God’s
tasks, I delivered and my supervisor trusted me.
blessings. When I worked for the Bay Bridge, the commute was very close, now it is pretty long. But I
The new job is kind of the same thing, except this
work with all kind of laborers, and their commute are
one is a water project, installing recycled water pipe
all pretty far away, places where nobody knows where
project for the city of Dublin and service district so
they are. And they are thankful. They said working here
we dig up holes on the street, residential, commercial,
is better than Mexico. The weather here is not as hot as
put in the pipes and put the road back in.
in Mexico and at least they pay them much better. So when they say that, I am amazed and thankful that I
So do you work remotely? Is it more flexible?
don’t need to work under the sun. I can work under the
I don’t have an office and I work remotely in the field
shade and see how they are doing and go whenever
so it is more flexible. Since I am the only the only
I want to. The laborers said “how can I get a job like
inspector, I’ve got to monitor 3 crews under me every
you?” When a person said that to you, I am reminded
day. If they have any questions or problems, I have to
again how God has been blessing me so much. SEPTEMBER 2015 • 03
Martin and his bundle of joy.
I have seen a lot of changes in your life since we were together in a prayer group many years ago. Now you have a wife and two kids, how do these blessings and the dynamics of the season of life affect your work and ministry?
prayer meeting at 10PM at night but then my work the
This has been a very exciting life, I have seen my
That’s the only thing I can do, I tried to go there every
daughter, Chelsea grown up to almost 4 years old
Care Group (usually with Chelsea), but even then, I
and starts talking now. My one-year-old son, Peter
cannot stay until late, usually I need to leave around
just started walking two months ago. They are very
9.30 - 10 PM even though the Care Group is still going.
next day would be unproductive because I got tired. So I came on Friday for Care Groups and just usually communicate through WhatsApp to see how they are doing and how the preparations for Care Groups are.
cute and I enjoy spending time with them. When I am working, and the laborers left, I immediately go home,
I want to show these young people that they need
I don’t want to spend another hour working in the
to serve God even though their life is busy. I want
cafe because I want to spend my time with them.
to serve and to show an example to them and at
So yeah, I spend time with them and put them to
the same time I don’t want myself to quit. When
bed at 10 pm, before we go to bed we always play
you are involved in ministry, you feel like you are
together, sometimes we read books and also pray. It
needed and you feel the need to serve the Lord. If
is funny how Peter now can fold his hands together
not, life would be very easy and easily enough you
when we pray. I have been busy now not because
will skip Care Group, Sunday Service, and suddenly
of work but because of the kids. But this is good
after months you don’t go to church anymore.
enough life and I enjoy my time with them. Before we have kids, Wenny (my wife) and I used to
What kind of ministry are you most active on these days?
read the Bible together every night. But now with
I am only active in one ministry now. I feel like I am
and even for myself, I find it hard to read the Bible
spreading thin of my time. I am coaching the leaders
everyday. The point is, life will get increasingly
in Pleasant Hill with Wilhan. I used to come to their
busy and we need to decide to serve God first.
04 • GENESIS NEWSLETTER
the kids, sometimes we sleep at different times,
What compelled you to serve specifically in Pleasant Hill Care Group?
So, in addition to mentor the Pleasant Hill, do you also go to Family Care Group?
A lot of people in our church came from DVC (Diablo
Yes, I go to Family Care Group, but I just come as a visitor.
Valley College, Pleasant Hill), but actually the least of age gap makes it hard, they are 18-19 years old and I am
What would be your message to everyone reading Genesis?
twice their age. So, I think the best way for me to make
Genesis has pretty fun articles, by reading the interviews,
the connection is to come and join their Care Group.
we get to know people in the church. My message would
people that I talk to at church come from there. The huge
be, when you serve the Lord, serve until you finish, finish At that time, there was also a need for people who
strong, and by serving, you can keep your faith going.
can mentor them, so Pastor asked me if I wanted to do that, and I said yes. If I had to choose, Berkeley
I was serving in Transportation ministry before, there
would be an easier option for me but the need at
were times when I didn’t feel like going to church at
the moment was Pleasant Hill and I am fine with
all but because of the people that I had to pick up,
that. It will be nice if somebody could also help now
I needed to go to church. And you learn a lot too,
that Wilhan went back to Indonesia for good.
you build your skills, the church is just like a training ground. You can apply these skills in your real life,
Is there something specific you would like to see happening in the church in the Fall semester, coming from you as an active worker in the church?
when you work, or when you have a family later on.
When I first came here back in ‘98, we used to have camping or activity we do together as a church, but recently we haven’t done it except for Retreats and Welcoming Party. Maybe we need some activities to gather new students together, something like camping or day activity, perhaps barbeque, so we can get more bonding and relationship building among church members.
When you serve the Lord, serve until you finish, finish strong, and by serving, you can keep your faith going.
I want to show this young people that they need to serve God even though their life is busy.
Martin is a Construction Inspector by day, Care Group Coach by night, and a full-time husband and daddy of two. He may have built the Bay Bridge, but it does not stop him from traveling to Pleasant Hill to build relationships with college students in Pleasant Hill. SEPTEMBER 2015 • 05
Devotional
Deep Dark Secret: Are You Free? by Melanie Thio
LET’S PRAY FOR SEPTEMBER
Care Group: Faith
with Joan Wirolinggo
Our pastor and leaders that they abide in Him. Our church that it will be filled with a passion for His name and an evangelistic heart. Our Care Group gatherings.
Did I catch your attention? But really,
was covering up my eyes with denial.
Let’s pray that Jesus will be the
are you free? Not physically in terms
I was seeking for an answer that
center of each Care Group and
of war or bondage. But check your
matched my heart, not God’s heart.
relationship where our brothers and
heart. Do you feel free or is there a
sisters in Christ will be built up.
‘deep dark secret’ you’re hiding?
Our new friends who are new to
More than a decade ago I committed
tears and laughed joyfully to God. A
the States or just transferred. Pray
two terrible sins towards family
whisper tells me, “Who do you think
that they may find a new family in
members. So dark, degrading, and
you are? You call yourself a child of
Christ through this church.
humiliating that it became my
God. Melanie, do you not remember
personal dark secret. The only being
that deep dark sin? You’re a joke..
Our friends who are looking for a
I could confess to is God. Therefore, I
you’re a pathetic joke.”
job.
had a huge problem with James 5:16
And every time I was ‘on-fire’ or pumped up. Or whenever I cried
who pretty much tells us to confess
But this was a year of breakthrough.
Healing and comfort for nation of
our sins to one another, so we can
So I prepared myself for battle and
Nepal, especially for the victims of
pray for each other and be healed.
risked a broken relationship full of
earthquakes.
It was almost like a checklist, one I
embarrassment and hatred.
could never check. And on one anointed day, I sat down Think logically now, James. I can’t
and confessed to my family what I
even tell this to my closest friends,
did to them many years ago.
now you want me to tell who!? And the devil shut up. And victory I would research the Bible for an
was mine. And there was no hatred
exception or for a verse saying “It’s
but there was healing. There wasn’t
cool, no need to do it”. I would ask
tears of sadness but tears of
different churches, mentors, and
reconciliation.
pastors. Desperate because this is a secret I want to die with. I don’t want
06 • GENESIS NEWSLETTER
anyone to know! And I want that
And after 12 years,
to be acceptable! But the truth is, I
I am finally free.
Leaders Speak Up: What Do You Want To See This Coming Semester? More unity, built through praying together (i.e. everyone comes to the combined prayer meeting). BOB SUTEDJA, LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
I dream that our church will finally have its own building to worship in! Waiting for God’s timing. ADI JULIANLOO, SOUTH BAY MINISTRY LEAD
I want to have more time bonding with the toddlers! JESSICA SANJAYA, CG KING LEAD
I hope that as our IFGF Pinole family expands in quantity, we will also increase in the quality of our relationship with God and with each other. That this will attract others to be curious about who our God is and many people will come to know Jesus! NITA LIE, IFGF PINOLE SECRETARY
I hope that IFGF Pinole can continue and expand their ministry to the local community as well as other areas to help others grow spiritually stronger as well as know God more. KAREN GUINADI, CG HOPER LEAD
I hope IFGF Pinole can have bigger prayer ministry and more community service activities. NATHALIA JO, CARE GROUP COACH
SEPTEMBER 2015 • 07
IFGF Pinole
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CARE GROUPS CG FAITH
CG FAVOR
CG LEGENDS
SAN FRANCISCO
PLEASANT HILL
BERKELEY (SISTERS)
Melanie 925.586.7770
Dana 925.690.7561
Irene 510.612.3394 (Freshmen)
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Kevin Go 925.639.5865
Clarissa 510.541.2076 (Transfers)
CG KING
CG HOPER
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SAN FRANCISCO
PLEASANT HILL
BERKELEY (BROTHERS)
Jessica 415.758.8645
Nathaniel 925.888.9420
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Benny 510.367.0664
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PINOLE
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PINOLE
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Julietha 510.323.5747
PRAYER GROUPS
MINISTRIES
UPCOMING EVENTS
FAITH (Every Thursday)
Documentation - Eric Timotius
Sep 4 & 18
Care Group Gathering
Melanie 925.586.7770
Genesis Newsletter - Irene Chandra
Sep 11
Prepare & Share-a-Meal
Chris 510.837.7867
Men’s Ministry - Christian Liong
KING (Every Monday)
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Vincent 925.356.1375
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with Ps. Sugi
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HEROES (Every Thursday)
Refreshments - Nathalia Prasetyo Jo
Alus 408.904.8001
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Sep 12
Corporate Prayer
Sunday School - Jen Hendric
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Transpor tation - Leonardo Saerang
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Evelin 925.289.6785
Website - Yosia Urip Women’s Ministry -
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Karen Liong & Elissa Irma
Jeffri 510.499.5966 FAVOR - HOPER (Every Thursday) Melvin 510.708.0540
PASTORAL TEAM
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
SUGI HENDRIC Senior Pastor
01 William Jatmatama
09 Nita Lie
26
Benny Girsang
01 Andrew Hansel
09 Marshall Pudjiadi
27
Evan Har tono
JEFFRI HALIM Associate Pastor,
05 Fabiola Deria Pradona
14 Jesslyn Lukman
28
Fioren Lay
Biblical Teaching
06 Elissa Irma
24 Steven Walentino
08 • GENESIS NEWSLETTER