letter from graceway elders
A couple months ago, a small group of Chinese-speaking families approached us asking if they could launch a family-based ministry out of our building, GraceWay Church. We have been praying that God would open our eyes to how we can help people to find Jesus and follow Him, and partnering with this group to help them serve the Chinese-speaking families in the area is right on track with our mission to love our community one neighbor at a time.
The group, Family of Grace, wants to build up relationships between parents and children, spouses, and individuals with God. They are eager to partner with like-minded brothers and sisters to reach more people and help them understand what it means to follow Jesus as His disciples. They are also passionate about inter-generational and multi-language ministry to better reflect what it means to be in God’s worldwide family. Pastor Ai Ling Teng, who is leading the vision, knew of Pastor Mary from her former work at CrossPoint Church in Pleasanton. That's why she sought out GraceWay as a place to launch this new mission.
Starting with a trial six-month lease of a few of our rooms, we hope that God will grow our two groups together and that we can reach the English speaking members of the families, while Family of Grace does Chinese-language ministry. This won’t change our worship service or ministries for the time-being, but we will be growing relationships with more families in the area.
GraceWay is blessed to be a church in the Tri-Valley at a time when “the nations” are pouring in from around the world. The Chinese population in Pleasanton alone is nearly equal to the population of our Indian neighbors, and the whole Tri-Valley in general is starting to boom with new Chinese families. We have already heard stories of the Holy Spirit’s movement in this community, and we are growing excited to see what He has next.
Family of Grace’s desire is to begin by partnering with GraceWay in worship, hold a Chinese-language Bible study during our service time, and help to launch a kids' program for midweek ministry. GraceWay elders are hopeful that we as a church can begin with prayer, listen, eat, serve and share, as we continue to BLESS our community. We hope to get curious, kind, and open to what God might have for us in this season together, growing together as we serve the English- and Chinese-speaking communities around us.
We have "nested" churches before, meaning they used our facilities while establishing a church or something similar, and these were good opportunities to be united for God's kingdom in our community. In this case, we want to begin by sharing worship (in English) and growing in relationship as we reach out to those who don't know Jesus together. This wouldn't change any rhythms for us in the immediate future, but it would require us to be open, hospitable, loving and flexible as we step into the future together.
We will be hearing more from Pastor Ai Ling during our February 9 worship service, as they begin their Bible study in February. In the meantime, we invite you to join us in praying for this ministry as we continue to usher in God's kingdom on earth. Our hearts cry out for that magnificent picture we see in the apostle John's revelation from God:
"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10, NIV)
GraceWay Elder Board
Elders@gracewaylife.org
Pastor Mary will be available on Sunday after service in the conference room if you have any further questions.