LEARN: Discipleship Starts With The Word Interview with Melvin Wongso Devotion by Hendry Yang Sukir Testimony by Andika Untoro
IFGF Pinole Monthly Newsletter March 2016 MARCH 2016 • 1
The advantage of buying a ready-to-assemble furniture is that it is inexpensive. I, just like many other people, like to save money. This is what makes furniture stores like Ikea very popular to young families that seek to save money.
From Pastor’s Desk
The problem with this kind of assemble-it-yourself furniture though, is just that you need to build it yourself. You can hire someone to put it together for you but what is the point? It comes with instruction
but who reads instruction? – not me. And that is where the saving of money is now being offset with the wasting of time. We could get the benefit of saving money, and not wasting time, by checking and following the instruction manual first. That is how it should always be done. But some of us who are overly confident think we can ‘wing’ it. Somehow, we feel like we have a natural talent of a master carpenter – not. That same attitude carries over to life in general. We know that God gives us our life and also gives us a life manual book called the Bible. Yet, we go through life without much consultation with the Creator of life or his ‘instruction manual’. We feel like we have an honorary master degree in conducting life that can somehow bypass the learning process God has designed. We are doing so at our own demise! I am asking all Pinolian members to come and study God’s Word, the Bible, which some calls the ‘Basic Instruction Before Leaving the Earth’. Let’s humble ourselves and put our lives under the authority of God’s word. You will be greatly blessed and have more of Jesus as you know more about His will in your life.
Show on Front Cover: Riri Goei 02 • GENESIS NEWSLETTER
This is Our Church
Melvin Wongso Student at UC Davis / Faithful Pinolean / Care Group Leader
So you’re currently at UC Davis, right? When did you transfer? How are you doing so far and how do you like Davis?
big fan of Econ but I really enjoy Polisci. It’s been a good choice. I’m glad that I picked Davis too as my university so now I can still come to Pinole.
I transferred to Davis last Fall. Life is pretty good. I still missed Pleasant Hill a lot over my first quarter,
How far is Davis from Pinole?
which explains why I still hung out in PH a lot for
Around 52 miles.
the weekends last quarter but now I am starting to phase in. It’s been pretty amazing, I’ve got a whole
And you take Uber? Every weekend?
group of new friends and I have always enjoyed
Yes, I uber every other weekend. It’s been pretty
that hipster and chill feel in Davis. Of course, you
awesome. You get to talk to the uber drivers. I’ve had
can always smell the cows but I’m enjoying life!
interesting chats with different drivers. Infact, I’ve actually talked with three of them about Christianity
As you are starting to adjust to university life, how different it is from college life?
right after church. They would ask, “What are you
For one, it’s a lot more hectic since
conversations and shared about faith. It’s pretty cool.
here for?” “Church.” And then we’ve actually had deep
I am doing double major.
Wow. What’s your major?
Wow. That’s amazing! Also, I heard that you guys have a caregroup in Davis now, is that true?
I’m doing Political Science and Economics. Actually for
Yes, we just started one. We started on January 22. It
this quarter, I don’t have many exams but I do have a lot
was a joint vision. Last year before my summer holiday,
of essays. So what happens is that I may stay up the
when Pastor Sugi heard that I was going to Davis in the
entire night and end up sleeping at 7am. I would finish
Fall, he approached me and we discussed about how it
at 7am for the paper that is probably due at 8am. So I
was actually time to start a community in Davis. I told
would finish it at 7am, submit it to the teacher and sleep
Pastor that I would be interested to start a community
and skip the class. It’s been pretty hectic. This past
there after I get adjusted and phased in to my new life.
week I have done that twice for 7am and 8am classes.
So last quarter, I was just chilling around and getting to know the area and the people. I still came to PH a lot.
Oh my gosh, that’s crazy. How do you choose double major Polisci and Econ?
Now that I am more rooted and settled in Davis, I told
So I’ve liked Business all along. While it was unfortunate
the community. I have also actually talked to a couple
that I didn’t get into Haas, I am glad that I have
of people in Davis who were interested in starting a
the opportunity to do Polisci and Econ. I’m not a
caregroup. This gave me the encouragement and the
Pastor during my Winter break that it was time to start
MARCH 2016 • 03
Definitely! And praise God for the new group! You were also the care group leader when you were in PH, right? Do you feel it’s different leading caregroup in Davis versus in PH? For one, you don’t have many people jumping around that much in Davis. But in all seriousness, it’s different in that sense that people are a lot more chill, maybe because they are older or because of Davis’ hipster vibe. There is definitely a different vibe but there’s still a common passion to love people and to serve together. This is what really differs us as a Christian community from other clubs on campus.
True. So, I also heard that you cook a lot as a side hobby. How did you learn to pick up cooking? Sure, once in awhile. I’ve got lots of different interests and cooking is one of them. I picked up cooking when I was in Singapore. I turned on the TV and MasterChef was on and I somehow got interested. So I tried to cook my first steak. I failed and my nanny screamed at me. Even until now, she would still tell me not to mess up the kitchen and just let her cook for me. But I still cook anyways. That is how I got started and since then, I also started watching YouTube videos, reading more about it and experimenting on my own. push. Also another interesting thing is that, this dream
Wait, so you weren’t from Indonesia?
did not really start here. It started way back. Before,
I am Indonesian. I moved to Singapore when I was four
we had Dio (Dio Gunawan is an IFGF Pinole Alumni
and grew up there. Thank God I can still speak Bahasa
who also went to UC Davis) who wanted to start a
fluently, thanks to my mom and my nanny, who has been
caregroup there. I also heard that just one batch before
with me since I was one month old until today. I also
me there was a guy named Richard who wanted to start.
attended GBI and Oikos (another Indonesian church) in
Perhaps the timing was not right then but I believe it
Singapore and grew up there so I was still immersed in an
is now, and this is God’s timing. So it is definitely an
Indonesian community even though I was in Singapore.
exciting period that we are experiencing right now.
Yes, praise the Lord. How many people attend the care group?
Melvin, do you have a favorite verse that you want to share? I’m going to go with something that I just shared during
It’s up and down. You might have heard Pastor share
caregroup this week. It’s Galatians 5;13, which says, “For
last week that our first care group meeting, we had 20
you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and
people. Funny story, I was supposed to lead worship
sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful
that day and Pastor was going to share. After practising
nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another
for awhile, I went back home to get the food. CG was
in love.” Earlier this week I was just sharing about the
supposed to start at 7pm and I left the conference
concept of love in light of Valentine’s Day. It’s really
room at 6:45pm to get the food and there was no one
about how God loves us that we love one another. God
there. I came back at 7:08pm and there were around 20
serves us - Christ serves us and we serve one another.
people in the room. I was at a loss for words. However, just last Friday though, we were down to 4 people. A
Also, I really think that it’s truly inspiring how God
bunch of them were out of town for the Valentine’s Day
works in your life in UC Davis. You still come to Pinole
weekend and what not. So it’s definitely a progression.
and even started the caregroup there. Sometimes
04 • GENESIS NEWSLETTER
for many of us students, we can become scared of uncertainty. In fact, many students are currently waiting for admission letters from universities. Do you have any advice or things to share for students who may go through this period of waiting? I guess for me personally, I want this year to highlight a Christ-centered living. What I mean by Christ-centered living is for us to be chill - let God take us where He wants us to go. This also means that if this door is not meant for me, then God, please close it and just open the right one for me. I’m not trying sound pessimistic
LET’S PRAY FOR MARCH with Joan Wirolinggo
and there is definitely so much potential in DVC, De Anza and whatever community colleges we have here. Of course, if God has a plan for you in UC Berkeley,
For this month let us pray for:
that’s amazing and please go there and be the light and salt, a hero and legend per se, there. I’m mentioning
Our pastors and leaders that they
specifically UC Berkeley because that’s where most of
abide in His word.
the students here are going to. But if God is planning to put you somewhere else, be it LA, San Diego or even the
Our two new services in downtown
East Coast, then at the same time, God has an amazing
Pinole and San Ramon. Pray for
plan for you. He is going to make you flourish and shine
the church to have a zealous heart
there. There really isn’t that much that you can do now
in serving their community and
except pray and if need be, fast. But above all that,
fruitfulness.
also have a heart that really surrenders. God, here I am. Here’s my life. Send me wherever you want to send me.
Our congregation to yearn and obey God’s word. Holy Spirit to touch and refresh those who are heavy laden and tired. Our care group gathering. Let’s pray that there will be unity and evangelism heart. Our new friends that they may find a new family in Christ through this church. Our friends who are still looking for job.
Melvin first came to Pinole three years ago and joined the caregroup at Diablo Valley College (DVC). He eventually became a care group leader for CG Hoper. Melvin transferred to UC Davis in August 2015. Despite the distance, he still attends Pinole every weekend. He is passionate about Jesus and sharing God’s Word. He has been a blessing for the newly started Davis community. In his spare time, he enjoys food and design.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MARCH 2016 • 05
Devotion
How to Love the God of the Old Testament by Hendry Yang Sukir
Early on in my faith, the one question that I always
so angry with your own people whom you brought from
had was “Why does the Old Testament exist?” There
the land of Egypt with such great power and such a
seems to be so many weird passages lingering, like
strong hand? So the Lord changed his mind about the
how God regretted creating mankind in Noah’s time
terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.
and then cursed his own creation. It’s as if the God of the Old Testament is cruel and impossible to love.
The first time I read this, I viewed God as wrathful, someone who wanted to destroy his people but changed
What Changed?
his mind because Moses successfully charmed him. I
After months of unbelief and debating with friends
concluded from the passage that this God is indecisive.
at church, the infamous God of Wrath that created 613 commandments finally softened my heart.
Change in Perception
It’s not that our God is weird, it is that somehow,
After reading it again months later, I came to realize
we are weird. I completely neglected the fact that
how flawed my previous interpretation was. Look
the Bible was written 3,500 years ago and had
at it this way, God was angry and emphasized that
subconsciously read it with a contemporary mindset
everyone who worshipped idols deserved death,
- like a judge who only accepts some stories, but
then Moses pacified him, and He changed his mind.
cannot tolerate the gory and violent ones.
What does this mean? It means that our prayers matter to him. So often, we forgot that God is just
Moving Forward
and we deserve death due to sin. Yet, as we can see
Let me give you one example of how I read the
in this passage, God still provides a way to forgive
Bible differently now. To summarize Exodus 32,
our sins that is through Moses praying to God.
we see that the Israelites worshipping a golden calf that they created, and the LORD said,
Thus, it is not impossible to love the God of the Old Testament. Sometimes, you just have
Exodus 32: 10-11, 14
to read it in the author’s context. It will require
“Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze
some work, but I am convinced, knowing the full
against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make
context of the Bible will shed a new light in your
you, Moses, into a great nation.” But Moses tried to
devotion. Have a blessed day, IFGF Pinole.
pacify the Lord his God. “O Lord!” he said. “Why are you
06 • GENESIS NEWSLETTER
Testimony
For His Glory by Andika Untoro
Job hunting was very challenging for me. After graduating
I started working as an intern on February, 2014 at Bio-
from my master’s degree, I applied for hundreds of
Rad Laboratories and was officially a Supplier Quality
positions every week. Believe it or not, among the many
Engineer at Bio-Rad Laboratories on July 2014. I am
applications that I sent out, only about 3% called back. In
really happy with this position since it is a very niche field
addition to that, most companies were not willing to pay
that specifically requires the skills from the degrees that
for the working visa sponsorship and backed out right
I have obtained.
after knowing that I am an international student. Life is a moving target. After getting the job, I still need One day, I received an invitation from my professor to
a sponsorship for H1-B visa after working for a year.
a networking event for people who work in the Supply
The following year in 2015, the company applied H1-B
Chain field in the Bay Area. I came as a volunteer for
premium visa application for me. My boss was very
this event. Through the event, I actually met my current
supportive during the visa application process. Three
boss at Bio-Rad. I was introduced to him as one of the
days after I received my H1-B visa acceptance letter in
volunteers for the event and we talked briefly about an
October 2015, he asked me if I was interested to apply for
internship program at his company.
US residency. Apparently, he has been preparing a green card application for me! I was so surprised because green
After meeting with him, I expressed my interest for the
card application is very expensive. Praise God! Now, I am
internship program through email and finally received
processing my green card application that my boss has
an invitation for an interview. I still remember the sushi
promised me with.
restaurant where I had an interview-lunch with the interviewers after a series of different meetings with
James 1:2-4 says, “ Consider it pure joy, my brothers
some managers at the company. It was right across IFGF
and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
Pinole church building.
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you
Normally during interviews, religion is considered as
may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
a taboo topic of conversation so I initially did not say anything about Pinole church that is located just across
I feel that my experiences at Bio-Rad speak for itself
the restaurant where we were at. However, during the
about God’s grace. Sometimes we may not understand
lunch-interview, I was asked about my activity during the
what God is working on in our lives, but we need to
weekend. I then explained that I go to church on Sundays
remember that God plans to prosper us and not to harm
and that my church is just across the restaurant. I figured
us. Whatever He is doing, it will be good! In the end,
out that my interviewers were also Christians. We even
whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to
prayed before lunch.
men, for the glory of God! MARCH 2016 • 07
IFGF Pinole AFTERNOON SERVICE (2:15 PM)
MORNING SERVICE (10 AM)
SOUTH BAY SERVICE (10:30 AM)
2885 PINOLE VALLEY ROAD
2850 ESTATES AVENUE
2300 TALAVERA DR
PINOLE, CA
PINOLE, CA 94564
SAN RAMON, CA 94583 Multi Purpose Room Bollinger Canyon Elementary School
CARE GROUPS
PRAYER MEETINGS
MARCH EVENTS
SF ARISE - SAN FRANCISCO
FAITH (Tuesdays, 8PM)
4-5
Bass Workshops
Joan 415.690.9808
Joan 415.690.9808 5 & 19
Caregroup Gathering
CG WARRIORS - PINOLE
KING (Thursdays, 7PM)
Maxwell 510.374.2686
Jessica 415.758.8645
12
Corporate Prayer Meeting
HEROES (Wed or Thurs, 7PM)
Fridays
Warriors & South Bay
Chris 510.837.7867 CG FAMILY - PINOLE
Kevin 510.316.8758
Caregroup Gathering
Julietha 510.323.5747 LEGENDS (Thursdays, 8PM) CG FAVOR - PLEASANT HILL
Michelle 408.874.5098
Dana 925.690.7561 Stephanie 925.331.7818
WARRIORS (Tuesday nights) Maxwell 510.374.2686
CG HOPER - PLEASANT HILL Nathaniel 925.888.9420
FAVOR & HOPER (Thursdays, 8PM)
Andrew 925.888.9421
Nathan 925.888.9420
CG LEGENDS - BERKELEY SISTERS
FRONTIER (Thursdays, 9PM)
Irene 510.612.3394
Tinus 510.673.7334
Clarissa 510.541.2076
MINISTRIES
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
Documentation - Eric Timotius
2
Gerry Bong
Genesis Newsletter - Irene Chandra
7
Karina Soenjoyo
CG FRONTIER - SOUTH BAY
Multimedia - Catherine Santoso
9
Jessica Tjahjady
Adi 415.463.9010
Praise & Worship - Karen Liong
19
Angeline Susanto
Antony 408.685.1540
Prayer & Intercession - Joan Wirolinggo
22
Nathaniel Wilson
Refreshments - Nathalia Prasetyo Jo
23
Irene Chandra
CG FRONTIER - EAST BAY
Sound System - Glorio Yulianto
24
Joshua Surjono
Renaldi 510.710.6316
Sunday School - Jen Hendric
26
Jeannie Natasha
Nita 408.718.0834
Transportation - Leonardo Saerang
30
Raechel Subandi
CG HEROES - BERKELEY BROTHERS Glorio 925.222.8675
Ushers - Renaldi Website - Yosia Urip
PASTORAL TEAM
CONTACT
CONNECT
SUGI HENDRIC Senior Pastor
IFGFGISIEASTBAY@GMAIL.COM
FACEBOOK: IFGF Pinole
JEFFRI HALIM Associate Pastor,
IFGFPINOLE.ORG
INSTAGRAM: ifgfpinole
Biblical Teaching
(925) 609 4343
E- NEWSLETTER: issuu.com/ifgfpinole
08 • GENESIS NEWSLETTER