#FTW Interview with Julietha Pangemanan Poem by Saskia Soedarjo Summer Mission: Tiffany Hendric
IFGF Pinole Monthly Newsletter April 2015
The story did not end when our hero go to the grave. Death did not have the last word. We all know that Jesus, the Hero, has risen from the death and is the reigning victor over the power of darkness. He win! From Pastor’s Desk
How about us? Are we victors too? The reality is often harsh. We fail, fall and feel defeated when we look at the frequency of poor-moral choices we made. We are disappointed, disgusted and disillusioned when we see injustice, wars and sufferings around us. It seems like Christ and His army is not winning the battle.
But despite all weaknesses, apostle Paul calls us victors. He said: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57). In other words if you believe that Jesus had defeated life’s most gruesome enemy, death, it is a given that we also enjoy the same victory despite temporary setbacks. The full picture of this victory has not been seen and will not be seen until the day of judgement. But the faith is sure: Christ, and His children will be vindicated at the end. We will be victorious. The big question is how do we walk, as the crowned kings and queens, until then. How do we keep being strong until the end? This month, let’s learn together For The Win! #FTW #ResurrectionPower #LivinginVictory
Shown on Front Cover: Audrey Pangemanan
This Is Our Church
Julietha Pangemanan Wife and Mother of Three / Amazing Cook / Care Group: Family
Hi, Julietha. How are you doing?
be able to get through them. It is not just once in a while, but all the time. We need to communicate all the time and
Very busy life since I have three kids, who are living in
follow up with them daily.
three different worlds. One is in college, one is in middle school, and the other one is still a toddler. Three different
Particularly for us, coming from an Asian background, that
worlds together that I have to deal with. They all face
is very different from the culture here. Regardless how
different challenges and I as the mother also connect
they were born here, the children will still need guidance
with them differently. While they go along well, it is hard
to value their Asian background, and more importantly,
for them to understand each other’s world. For example,
their Christian faith. This background has a big role in
the toddler can live with his sisters, but it is hard for him
communication and in our approach towards a conflict or
to understand their lives. At the same time, Andrea and
a problem.
Audrey have to deal with Bibo while they also have to deal with their own challenges.
I see. So how do you deal with each of them and cater to their different needs?
Do you think it is difficult for your children to cope with their lives as Christian Indonesian here in the US, considering that they are born and raised here? Yes. Very hard actually. For instance, Andrea went
Well, at some point, I just have to try to understand them
through it during high school. What she believes and
according to their own ways. How I speak to each one of
what is presented at school and upheld by her friends are
them will be different. The content of our talks will also be
very contradictory. Even until now. I believe that family
different. So I have to know, update myself and be more
relationship and the church that she is in play a big role
involved with their worlds. Communication is essential to
in shaping her values. Sometimes it can be frustrating for her to see her friends with different perspectives, APRIL 2015 • 03
SUPERMOM: Julietha surrounded by her three children, Audrey, Adriel and Andrea.
regarding life conflicts, sex, relationships, etcetera, even
enjoy the worship too. So definitely, alot easier with him.
inclusive family values. Many times she found herself in an
Hopefully he can grow and learn as he grows up. Hope he
argument with her friends. Thank God, faith grows in her
can understand faith even more as he will grow up.
heart that she is able to stand strong in her own opinion as a Christian growing up as a teenager. Praise the Lord,
It is definitely alot easier for me to raise my kids
she now can reach out to her friends and bring them to
understanding that they are growing in the church. It
Care Group. Manny, for example, is a living testimony. Even
reduces some of my burdens. I think it’s God’s grace
Audrey also starts to reach out.
working and involving in our family. Sometimes parents can get worried of how to take care of their kids. We
For Audrey, she is starting to be more involved with usher
do have family values; but when the kids are out in the
ministry. At first she only attempted to help out with
world, parents have little role over them. They will grow
ushering, just to try out the ministry. It turned out she
up and sometimes, without me being there. So the basic
likes it and stays with the ministry. It really has opened
foundation of faith value, along with family value, also
her heart and mind. Slowly, she starts to reach out even
helps set boundaries of what they should accept from the
though she tends to be shy and quiet. With ministry, she is
outside world.
able to grow and open up not only to her own family but to
What about your youngest son?
For sure. What about Family Care Group? Do you see your involvement in Care Group play an important role in your daily life?
For Bibo, it is nice to see the sisters bring faith values at
Yes, of course. Especially knowing that most of the Family
home. Although he is only five years old, he can pick it
CG members are leaders, such as David, Martin, Jeffri,
up from his sisters. For instance, he can call himself as
even Pastor Sugi too. So when we share, we build each
a Christian and Jesus is God. He knows that his papa is
other. We open up and everybody shares his own struggles.
Enrico, at the same time, Jesus is his Father. He picks it
We also pray for each other.
everyone else at church.
up from our daily conversations. I don’t need to explain so much, not as much as I needed to with Andrea. His sisters
Also, most of them are younger, so they adopt a younger
can also influence each other. Bibo also enjoys worship
point of view that is more related with my children. Not
seeing her sisters worship. And the whole family starts to
to forget, those leaders are also involved in Warriors. So
04 • GENESIS NEWSLETTER
whatever Andrea and Audrey are going through, they
I realize that this is what God wants me to do. During
kind of understand because that is what they have been
that time, my husband lost his job. (Praise God, he has a
sharing in the caregroup. They can feel me with what is
job now.) Soon enough, the church asked me to cook for
going on with my life. This is really helpful for me in raising
a Leader’s meeting. So I started to cater for events, such
my kids. I grew up in Indonesia. Sometimes, I can feel
as birthday party to help friends as well as to help my
disconnected too with the younger generation. But for
husband. After I catered to the Leader’s event, I remember
Martin or Jeffri’s family, especially since they have been
Karen and Glorio approached me and asked for a catering
here for a long time, they can relate more with the children.
as she said she missed Indonesian food. Basically, they
So it’s really helping.
were the ones who taught me how to take orders and deliver. This is God’s grace for me. Within a week after my
How different is your faith today now that you have a family compared to when you were still single?
husband lost his job, God offered me the idea to start the catering. I never had the experience before and no interest it all. I believe this is God’s blessing in my life.
When you are single, I feel that you can know the values according to what people tell us but you don’t really understand it until you get through it. Although I grew up
Wow! God is really good and His plan is never late, right?
in a Christian family, I felt that I had less burden since I was living under the shadow of my parents. We felt secure
Yes. God is in control in our life. No matter what happens
under their care. After marriage, you are more independent
to us, good or bad, He is under control. Once we claim His
and you need to handle things yourself. So what you learn
as our Lord and Savior, what we will do or face are under
as a Christian, not only because you know it like when you
His guidance. Even when we fail and weak, God knows and
were small, but you know deeply because you are living it.
allows things to happen to strengthen us more in our faith
You are living it and applying it. It is a part of learning. No
and maturity in Him. I believe that it is only by His grace
longer just going to school. When you are actually working,
we have been saved and survived through our problems.
whatever you learn from textbook, how you apply what you
He will never stop loving us and will never abandon us.
learn becomes relevant in real life.
Ah, I see. Just curious, what made you stay in the US? And how have you liked the Bay Area so far?
Amen! Do you have any advice for the younger generation families in our church? One thing that you guys need to know: the church has
I came in 1994 in the Bay Area. I’ve been 21 years in this
young leaders, younger than me. The younger families are
country. I love it actually. It actually has become my
also leaders in the church. Even the kids are also leaders,
hometown more than Indonesia. I no longer live under
which is really amazing. What I can say is that as long as
someone (parents), so my life here has more ups and
they can stay true in their faith, grow and stay faithful,
downs.
everything will be fine. How can I say more. Just keep growing in faith since you are already in the right track.
It’s really nice how you cook Indo food for the church often. Do you want to share with us as to how it all got started?
•
It’s a blessing to me. I never thought about it in the beginning that I would do catering.
Wow. So what made you decide to cook then? Actually cooking is not my hobby but my family loves to eat, which makes them love to cook. I can say that they love cooking. Alot of my mom’s siblings in Indonesia actually do alot of catering. But none of us learn by the recipe. We adjust it to our taste as we cook. But yes, I never thought of doing catering. It started by helping kids who miss the Indonesian food.
APRIL 2015 • 05
LET’S PRAY FOR APRIL with Joan Wirolinggo
Poem
Our pastor and leaders tha t they abide in Him .
Triumphant
Our care group gathering . Let ’s pray tha t Jesus will be the center of each care
by Saskia Soedarjo
group and rela tionship as
Care Group: Faith
brother and sis ter in Chris t will be built . Our new friend who are new to the s ta tes or jus t transferred tha t they may found a new family in Chris t through this ch urch . Our friend who are s till looking for job.
In awe On bended knees of the blind The call of the victory emerges And to The Divine, We owe nothing more than the luxurious tip of life No reply needed
God ’s conviction for our
even for a miligram of water
brother and sis ter in Chris t
Thy sacrifices reacted,
for wa ter baptism and
thousands crumb of truth
prayer
in flesh—that decomposes through the blood—that is shed Where O death is your sting? death is swallowed up chewedand glory penetrates
In Christ Not winner’s trophy I hold Nor gold medal I wear Victorious over the enemy of addiction A pedestal that never collapse Beneath the dazzling light Beyond the depth of lust You shall find You shall seek More than conquerors We are We are, through Thy might And victorious life: a manifestation manifestation of Thee Manifestation of grace Will be never dimmed Never doubted Permeates in ours In our abundant life
06 • GENESIS NEWSLETTER
•
Summer Mission Testimony by Tiffany Hendric
Could you share with us one memorable thing about your summer mission experiences. Imagine the gorgeous Himalayan Mountains behind you. Looking around, it looks like you’re in an old Hollywood set from the Wild West, and you’re about to get into a jeep to go to explore a part of the world that we often don’t think about—Nepal. One of the crazy memories while I was in Nepal was driving around in these jeeps
urgency they felt to share it. 2 Tim 2:10 says “Therefore
on the mountain roads. The roads were unpaved and
I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they
very rocky. There were parts of the road where it was
too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
basically on a cliff side next to roaring river down below.
with eternal glory.” The Nepalese locals were really
And for American standards (and maybe for Indonesian
living this out. It challenged my faith and made me
standards too!), the road was definitely for only one
wonder, how much are we really living to endure for the
car. But nope, think again. For the Nepalese, no cliffs
sake of His gospel and the lost people?
or small roads would stop them from getting to where they needed to. It was a bumpy, swervy, exhilarating,
Why should anyone be interested to join?
and quite a scary ride. But, it was a memorable
Do you want to visit a part of the world that you’ve
adventure!
never been to before? Have you ever wondered what how people around the world worship God? Is God challenging you in your faith to be able to endure
How different it is to share gospel here vs there / in Nepal?
things for the sake of the Gospel and reach people
There was one time when we flew to a rural village
you said yes to any of those questions, then I strongly
called Jomsom. We were only supposed to stay for only
encourage you to consider going to summer mission
about 2 days, but because of bad weather conditions,
or any missions trip! Sometimes we’re so caught up
we weren’t able to fly back to the main city, Kathmandu
with our life bubble that we don’t really think or realize
and was stuck there for 10 days. However, the local
about what’s going on in the world. Going on a missions
team didn’t want to stay any longer because they
trip really helped to open up my eyes to a lot of things
didn’t want to spend any more money there lodging and
that sometimes we don’t really see in our comfortable
decided to travel back by bus. When we were finally out
“Western” lives. Even though going overseas is not the
of the village, we heard about the crazy travels that the
only way to do a missions trip (because our lives should
team had to do to get back to Kathmandu. They walked
always be missional!), going overseas gives a different
for hours through knee deep mud carrying our sound
perspective and it’s always amazing to see God alive
system equipment and luggage when the bus that was
and working in different parts of the world. On top of
taking them couldn’t go any further. Then when they
that, even though you kind of go in with the mindset
reached a village to stay the night, instead of resting
that you’re going there to be a blessing to the people in
from all the tiring travels they did, they instead chose
the place that you go, I ended up being so much more
to have an impromptu service and chose to share the
encouraged and blessed by the people there.
gospel with the villagers instead, and people accepted Christ! I was amazed at how much they were willing to go through for the sake of sharing the Gospel and the
who may have never heard the good news before? If
Interested? Come join our mission trip to Nepal this summer to serve God and his people. Dates: June 28 – July 8, 2015 APRIL 2015 • 07
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