by Lito Roldan
GSCC’s 6th founding anniversary was a rare occasion for the congregation to look back to those fragile nascent years as it struggled to plumb the depths of God’s wisdom to ascertain His purpose for this young church. It was as well a joyous occasion to look forward to year 7 empowered by the discernment that God has ordained GSCC to set out to sea and cast the net in Milpitas.
In search of God’s reassuring presence in their lives, a small, motley group of believers met for worship in the living rooms of members . The group subsequently chose a pastor, elected a board of elders and decided to find a permanent place of worship. Thus was born 6 years ago Good Shepherd Community Church in a facility leased from a church now known as Lifegate Christian Church. Nurtured by God’s faithfulness through those challenging years, GSCC continuously experienced growth both in numbers and spiritual maturity. With a single-mindedness, the young church set its energies on pursuing its vision to become a church that loves God and others and on carrying out its mission to transform lives. Soon the leased facility proved too limited for the growing worship needs of GSCC that the BOE began a search for its own church building.
Enormous were the hurdles GSCC faced to achieve this goal: a small congregation, it had scarce resources; a young church, banks rated it a high credit risk; finally, the economy racked by recession, approval of its credit application was farfetched. Yet as it has been repeatedly echoed, God’s economy is different from this world’s economy. God’s timing never errs. Harvest Seminary, a Chinese seminary then on the market, was exactly what GSCC needed. The good news that the bank had approved GSCC’s loan application and that the use permit (being amended to increase the occupancy rate in the worship hall) had just been released by the mayor’s office will certainly find GSCC celebrating its first Sunday worship in its own building by the last week of November. A Lifegate pastor remarked that GSCC had realized in just 6 years what 95% of Filipino churches in America have been trying to achieve. Nothing, indeed, as Pastor Virgil Fernando affirmed, is impossible with God.
At the anniversary program God sent Milpitas Mayor Joe Estevez as His ambassador to proclaim His approval of GSCC’s acquisition and renovation of its own temple of worship. It was a Nehemiah moment for GSCC. As Nehemiah mourned, fasted and prayed to God, King Artazerxes was pleased to give him a letter that provided safe-conduct as he travelled through the King’s forest and approached the governors for assistance. (Nehemiah 1:4/2:7-9) The certificate of commendation conferred by the affable mayor on GSCC was Nehemiah’s letter from the king. “I look forward to be invited to your anniversary to be blessed that people of Milpitas will be blessed as well… We can be one as brothers and sisters in Christ. I invite you to be partners of the City of Milpitas in the service of the community.” With these words of inspiration from the mayor, now is the time for GSCC to “ arise and build and put our hands in good works.” (Nehemiah 2:18)
The anniversary celebration, more than a showcase of talents God has abundantly blessed GSCC with from the children, young adults, adults and the elder members, was an occasion to pay homage to God for His compassion as GSCC carries out its mission to transform lives. Eight of the 11 new members who recently professed their faith in public by undergoing water baptism gave powerful testimonies reflecting the truth that Christ is working in their lives. They were testimonies of lives that were in the verge of self destruction, of loss of material possessions and even loss of family that brought despair and attempts at suicide, of restless lives devoid of purpose in which anger and confusion reigned, of lives wallowing in self-pity and bullied to worthlessness. They were lives lived in darkness, lives in which the presence of Christ was hardly felt. Yet God, in His unfathomable ways, brought them to GSCC where their past lives began to unravel. In GSCC, they have found a home and family, experienced true Christian fellowship, discovered their leadership skills and unlocked gifts now being used to serve God, learned to trust the Lord under all circumstances and realized the reason why Jesus had to die on the cross. In sum they were testimonies of men and women of diverse backgrounds and ages depicting how knowing and accepting Jesus has transformed their lives and how the Lord has been using GSCC as a channel of blessings and spiritual maturity.
GSCC commences year 7 in a high note. In search for a new home it has partnered with God who has given His blessing. As our pastors and elders take GSCC to the next level, John 10:14-16 reminds us of the Good Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me. . . and I lay down my life for my sheep. I have other sheep that are not of the sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” Keeping the sheep in the pen and bringing other sheep that are not of the pen shall be as arduous as Moses leading the Israelites to the promise land. In the face of all the challenges, GSCC has to collectively and diligently search for God and live a Sprit-filled life that Jesus will abide with us in the temple. Storms shall be daunting as GSCC carries out its mission for God’s kingdom but an unflinching faith will give us the confidence to “Be still and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10)
