by Bong Magno
A mood of eager anticipation pervades the GSCC gathering hall as members sit in rapt silence awaiting the congregational meeting to begin. Momentarily, a power point presentation on Healthy Tension graphically explains to the assembly the state of flux the GSCC is in spurred by a flurry of activities taking place among members whose enormous talents badly need room to fully realize their potentials. God has been stretching everyone in faith and has manifested His plan for His Church. This STRETCH, an oxymoron the pastor terms “Healthy Tension” signals it was time for GSCC to EXPAND. Using the metaphor of a plant whose growth has been stunted in a small pot, he juxtaposes it to a huge pot where, if transplanted he said, the plant would free its constricted roots and get the chance to reach its full potential for growth. Yet to realize this, the plant in this more costly and bigger pot would need more soil, more water, more fertilizer and more effort to nurture. The allusion lays bare the challenge before the assembly: GSCC needs its own building that will accommodate its growth.
Confidently, he reveals to GSCC members the plan to lease a building. He confirms that the Board of Elders has formed a Building Search Committee who is currently looking into a short list of buildings in Milpitas and has been negotiating with the Office of the Mayor for the necessary permits. He points out that securing a building of our own will ensure that our current ministries will be taken to a higher level under God’s direction; moreover the GSCC will be able to implement a Christian Education program whose curriculum is already being prepared, integrate some of the J-YA in our regular Sunday worship, focus on the youth ministry and cross train the J-YA pillars in core responsibilities to prepare them to take over the leadership of the church in the near future.
Referring to the ministries as CHARACTER BUILDERS, the Board of Elders hopes these ministries such as, the Adult Sunday School, Children’s Sunday School, Thursday Night J-YA Bible Study, Friday Night Prayer Meeting, FNL, Children’s Choir, J-Youth Band, Adult Praise and Worship, Adult Choir and Happy Hearts will encourage people to stay engaged in church. Added to the list of the growing number of ministries which the board believes will continuously draw people to the church are: the Handiwork Ministry, Multi-Media Ministry, Sound Tech Ministry, J-YA/J-Youth Ministry, Deacons’ Ministry, Prayer Ministry, and Building Clean-up/Decoration Ministry.
Our church’s vision “to become a church that loves God and others,” the pastor says is completely entwined with our church mission based on Matthew 28:19-20 “to multiply disciples through evangelism, fellowship and discipleship”. Towards realizing this vision, the Bridge Events, namely: J-YA/J-Youth Snow Trip, Fusion, Easter Presentation, Family Summer Camp, Community Festival, Thanksgiving Special Services, Christmas Presentation, New Year’s Eve and Bring a Friend Day will bring the community to our church. Indeed, in 2010 GSCC has begun to look out into our immediate neighborhood to minister through music. Events such as J-Ya- sponsored Fusion concert, musical presentations at Seafood City
and Eastridge Mall by the GCSS Choir, J-Youth Band and 18 Thoughts, have showcased our members’ talents and have provided a way to share God’s Word. These events are just the beginning of what the Lord has inspired us to do to reach out and minister for Him. As he shares great optimism about GSCC plans for 2011, Pastor Oyette states in no certain terms: “Where God leads, He provides.”
Carrying out the plans for 2011, which pastor Oyette calls STRENGTH BUILDERS, necessitates all the members to step up their commitment for the Lord. GSCC will need everyone to help out in and support the ministries to be successful. The plans outlined during the meeting will test our stewardship of the blessings God has provided for each family in this church for the challenge also bears down heavily on the financial aspect. Leasing a building will require us to increase our current offerings and tithes each Sunday. The given figure may push many of us back, yet as Pastor Fernando explains, “Our God works in a different economy”. Prayers, faith and trust in as well obedience to our God will be the key to realizing the Lord’s plan for GSCC. Habakkuk 2:2-3, “Then the Lord answered me and said, “Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.”
The ensuing question and answer portion clearly indicates that the plans for 2011 are well received by the congregation. Still, the nagging question that many raise, aside from measures to enable GSCC to sustain itself, is not about the feasibility of the plans, but about how we can inculcate among us and our kids the discipline and value of our offerings and tithing to enable our church to efficiently carry out its vision. Five years ago when the church was using Brother Hermie’s house for our gathering, Pastor Oyette reminds us that the same questions were asked when the Board of Elders announced we would be renting a building. Indeed, God’s economy for His church is not the economy of the world. In the last 5 years He has faithfully provided for GSCC and will continue to provide for his plans for His church. He concludes the Dec. 12 congregational meeting with an appeal for us to pray for the plan and vigorously support it in terms of our time, talent and treasure: “ LET US ARISE, PUT our HANDS to GOOD WORK for the GLORY of GOD.
