FBC Powell

The Fireworks of Everyday Celebrations

admin — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 01:15:00 +0000

Day at the Beach!

The past few weeks have been one celebration after another. For our country we celebrated our day of freedom and I was able to be a part of New York’s traditional firework celebration after a beautiful day at the beach.
In ministry in came in many ways. First, one of my students who had moved and not only didn’t tell me but also left me no contact information, dropped by the center. She was in the city with her friend and said she has missed me so much she had to come see me. We now have a volunteer at the South Asia Center that has a heart for Tibetans and she lives quite close to this student. I was so excited not only to see her again but to be able to connect her with my friend. It was such an answer to prayer. Another answer to prayer is that even though I have not been able to met with Kelsi on Tuesday, when we have our class wide Bible story lessons she has been sharing the stories with our new Tibetan lady in their own dialect. It is so cool to be able to see her not only understand the stories but also share them with others. I was also able to tell my friends at the restaurant that I would be praying for her sister who had been in the hospital. I praise God for all the opportunities that God is giving me and my interns to serve and minister the Tibetans of New York City.

the daughter of my restaurant couple

our new Tibetan student

My own personal victory, I know most of you know about my struggle to loss weight. This past week I was able to achieve the needed amount of weight loss in order to finish my application to go overseas! Since August, I have lost 80 pounds and it is such a God thing. I cannot tell you all how thankful I am for your prayers.

As this month this progress, please pray for continued opportunities with Tibetans for me and my interns. Also, please pray for my continued weight loss. I have to maintain it for 3 months. I know this is possible but I am so close and I don’t want to slip now.

Crossing Bridges

admin — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 21:51:00 +0000

From crossing the Brooklyn to crossing the bridge from spring to summer, these past few weeks have been a period of transition. The South Asia Center had a two week break in order to revamp the center and get ready for the summer interns. The summer kicked off with our ministry getting 15 new summer interns. As the only member of the ministry working strictly with Tibetans, I was assigned to be the leader of the Tibetan cluster. This means I have 3 summer interns assigned to me and with their help, we are going to be able to expand the number of Tibetans in New York who have heard about Christ. I am so excited about the possibilities and opportunities that having these interns will do to impact the Tibetan community here in the city.
Please be praying for these interns that God would use them and work through them to impact all the different internationals we are working with.
Pray for team unity, that it will go smoothly and that how we respond to each other will glorify God.
Please pray for all the teams coming up to serve this summer, that they will be open to how God wants to use and grow them.
Pray for my continued relationship with Kelsi my Tibetan student. Since we haven’t classes in a few weeks, I was worried that either she wouldn’t come back or she would come back but not want to keep studying the Bible. However, at English class on Thursday she asked if we could start meeting on Tuesdays again. I am so excited that she brought it up and is still wanting to learn.

the city from the Brooklyn Bridge

me and the roomie!

The city is beautiful and the summer is only just getting started! Praise God for what He is going to do!

Fun times with friends and family

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:43:00 +0000

So I try to write every two weeks and at the latest 2 week mark, I was so busy preparing to fly home that I completely forgot to do a ministry update before I left.
I continue to have opportunities to share with Kelsi, my student. She is asking a lot of questions and is fun to see here when she finally understands something from the Bible. I also have a new friend. She is not Tibetan but rather from Nepal. Our friends in Nepal called me a few weeks ago and told me their house helper was going to be moving to New York. My friend was excited because she has shared a lot with this Nepali girl and knew that I was going to be close so I could connect with her. I have met the Nepali and am excited to develop a friendship with her.
My restaurant friends are good but they are very busy. My relationship with them continues to grow and I was able to give them a Jesus film a few days before I went home. Please pray that they will have watched and have questions by the next time I talk to them.
During those two weeks, my roommate’s mother was here so we had a great time with her. She kept us busy with sightseeing during the day and then making upgrades on our apartment at night. The weekend she was here I was able to go to the Statue of Liberty with her and my roommate. Despite my earlier hesitations, I am glad God chose to bless me with a roommate.

These past two weeks, I have spent time at home. Being able to fly home and spend time with my family was wonderful and a break that I definitely needed. The time was bittersweet considering my brother and I were there to say goodbye to everything.
My prayer requests for this month are for me to get over jet lag as quickly as possible and get back in the swing of things. Our summer here is starting off with a bang and this next week we have three teams in. I am only helping on of the days since I just got back but this is a pretty good indication of what the rest of the summer looks like for me. Also pray that as busy as the summer gets with teams coming in, I will also continue to invest in the relationships with my Tibetans. My last prayer request is for my continued weight loss. As many of you know, I have a applied for a 2-term overseas and while my application has been accepted, I am still not at the weight they need me to be. Once I reach my goal weight, I then will have to undergo a 3 month maintenance period where they will make sure my weight does not go back up. This puts me back another three months but despite the delay, I am excited about what the Father is going to do. Thank you for all your prayers and sorry for the long update.

Easter Sunday!

admin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 04:07:00 +0000

First off I would like to start by saying sorry for my negligent writing habits of the past few weeks. I could say that I have been super busy (which I have) but honestly there is no excuse.
About three weeks ago I had the pleasure of leading a high school team. For those of you who know me well know that youth aged are not really my thing but God is constantly giving us examples of how faithful He is. The team was great and I had a fabulous time with them. I was able to take them to visit my restaurant friends and they were able not only to bless my friends but the kids got great exposure to Tibetans for the first time and they loved it.
The past two weeks I have been focusing on getting my application for my two year overseas term finished. I was finally able to get access to the rest of the application by getting down to an acceptable weight. For those who have been praying for that, Thank you!!!! So much! Still keep praying since I have to lose a little more before I finally turn everything but I have already come so far and thank all of you who knew and were praying.
My teaching schedule seems to get busier all the time and I have had some wonderful opportunities. I have one student I teach on Tuesday mornings and the only thing we talk about is different Bible stories. She has heard the story of Jesus in a different class but on top of that she is learning about people such as Moses and Daniel. To see her understand Biblical truths and also say how great God is has brought my heart such joy and I long for the day when I can write that she has become a dear sister. Please continue to pray for her.
My newest student is a younger girl who has just gotten here recently. She and I have already established a good relationship and in true Tibetan fashion she is loving and very affectionate. I am praying for an opportunity to share with her.
Yeshi and I still see each often especially since we started teaching night classes together. As Easter drew near, I was hoping for an open door and a today after spending the day just hanging out with her, God gave me the courage to ask her church with me tomorrow. She didn’t say for sure she would go but I am praying that I will get a call tomorrow telling me she wants to accompany me. Please pray for continued opportunities with her.

Me and my newest student! Isn’t she precious?

me and Yeshi

I am so excited to celebrate Easter tomorrow!!!! I hope you all have a Blessed Easter! For He is Risen and to Him be the Glory forever!

Sunny with a High of 75

admin — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:45:00 +0000

Okay so it hasn’t been 75 degrees here in New York but this past week has had some beautiful sunny days. One day my roommate, one of our flatmates, and I went for a picnic in a park right across from the Manhattan skyline.

My schedule has been so busy and God has been so good. Dinner with Yeshi was good and I got to meet some of her Tibetan friends for the first time. Her friends have invited me to hang with them and even though I haven’t had time to go yet, I am excited about getting together with them in the future.

I also have new students. The older lady comes for private tutoring for conversational English and through this I have been able to share quite a bit with her. She has been reading Bible stories in English and Tibetan so please pray that she would continue to ask questions. My other student is extremely young but surprisingly well educated. She can read in Tibetan (which is rare with people her age) and she has passed some kind of nursing exam. She is reading the stories as well and I am looking forward to getting to share with her more.

I still continue my relationship with my restaurant friends and the waitress’ four year old daughter and I are becoming very good friends. They are telling their friends about the center and through them we are having more Tibetan students. Please pray that I would have opportunities to share with my restaurant friends.

Even though it isn’t 75 degrees in the city just yet, there are plenty of people and places that God puts in our path that make the chilly days better.

admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:05:00 +0000

So I have been in New York roughly one month and it stills feels like I am trying to figure out what all is going on.

My family came for a late Birthday celebration. Our festivities included the Empire State Building, Mary Poppins on Broadway, Times Square, Carriage ride in Central Park, and the Plaza area. Here are some pictures.

My parents are now back home and my brother back as school. My schedule is constantly changing but it seems like this next week I will finally be on a regular schedule. I teach at the South Asia Center Monday-Thursday morning from 10-11:30. On Monday evenings I take Tibetan from my dear friend Yeshi.On Tuesday afternoons we have T4T training and then there is Kids Club from 3-4:30. On Wednesday and Thursday nights from 9:30-10:30 I help teach a class of all Tibetan students (this class just started this past week). I am excited about all the opportunities I am getting to meet Tibetans.

My prayers for this month is that I will be more intentional with my restaurant friends across the street. I have established a good relationship with them but my strange schedule hiccups have made it difficult to find time to go there. I am planning on going everyday this next week to have tea and maybe help them with their English. I also ask for prayer for my friend Yeshi. She now has 4 jobs so it is hard to find time to meet up with her. She finally invited me over to her house so I am going for dinner tonight. Please pray that God would continue to give my opportunities to share with her. Thanks for all you prayers!!!!!

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:54:00 +0000

“Are you ready to go have tea?”

After 3 months, I am back in New York and that is the first question my Tibetan friend Yeshi asked when she saw me. Things are different than before and it will take some time to readjust. I have a roommate now and so far it has been a great situation. I will also be teaching mainly at nights. In spite of all the changes, I am excited for what God is going to do over the next few months.

My main prayer requests for this next month is that I continue to adjust well. Time management is going to be extremely important as I balance late night teaching and still spending quality time with people that God has place in my path. I also need clarity about the church I will be attending for the next few months. I was able to go to one on Sunday that I believe is where God wants me and I am excited about the possibility of getting involved there.

My parents will be coming within the next week or so and I can’t wait to post pictures of their time here (none of them have ever been to New York)! For now here is a few pictures I took when I went on a walk in Manhattan, got lost, and somehow ended up in Chinatown.

One of the parks in Chinatown still have decorations up from Chinese New Year

Tea Culture

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:50:33 +0000

Growing up in China and working with a multitude of different Asian cultures, I noticed one similarity across the board. Tea. Now I know that isn’t all the insightful or deep but bear with me. For Asians, getting together for tea is not just about the tea itself. Getting together for tea is their way of spending time with people, for building relationships, listening to know what is going on in each others lives, and taking the time out of your day to value the people God has placed in your life.
America can learn a lot from this. So often we get caught up in our lives, our schedules, and everything we have to get done that we so easily overlook taking the time out to spend with friends and family.I know I for one too often take for granted the precious time I have with my family. Everyday I struggle with slowing down and really focusing on those around me.
For this reason I was very nervous about moving to New York. New York is easily one of the busiest cities in the world and I was once again apprehensive that I would let the hustle and bustle of the city get in the way of making friends. I was told that people were too busy and it was difficult to make relationships with anybody. I realized God had let me grow up in a tea culture for a reason and never before had I realized the importance and the blessing of this. I was able to drink tea everyday and because I took the time out of my schedule and displayed genuine interest in people, I was able to make connections and invest in the relationships that God had placed in front of me.

Pray for Katie

Pray for Tirzah

Never again will I underestimate what God can do through using something as simple as tea.

Final Two Weeks

admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:00:03 +0000

I am a week removed from my summer in Baltimore. I spent this past week at the beach with my family getting reacquainted and caught up with everything going on. The week at the beach with my family is always one of my favorites of the year and this time around was no different. It was the perfect way to wrap up this summer. However, before I wrapped up for good I wanted to write two more blogs. This blog will review my last two weeks in Baltimore as I did not have a chance to write in my last two weeks. My final blog will come in the next couple of days and will serve as a final review of everything I learned and how I grew this summer.

If you have been following my blogs this summer then you might be aware that on my final Sunday at Infinity Church in Baltimore I was given the opportunity to preach to the congregation in the main services at both campuses. I considered it a real blessing and did not take the responsibility lightly. Pastor Aaron was out of town with his family that week and was gracious and trusting enough to allow me to preach to the congregation in his absence. My ninth week in Baltimore was spent studying and preparing for preaching on Sunday. It was great that the sermon was the only thing I had to work on that week. I was really able to spend a lot of time in prayer, studying and reading. I was really able to focus on exactly what the Holy Spirit had for me to preach to the congregation and I was again able to feel Him directing me in what He wanted to be said. I preached on Romans 10:4-17 and spoke about the failure of Israel to understand and accept the Gospel. What we concluded was that saving righteousness comes through faith, which is contrasted with the Jew’s righteousness that came through works. We also concluded that the Gospel is for everyone; however, the Jews believed that salvation was something just for them as God’s chosen people. They missed the part when God told Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his descendants. The last point we noticed was that in order for anyone to accept the Gospel, they must hear the Gospel. Although Israel had heard the Gospel, they had rejected it. However, if the Gospel had not been heard they would not have had the opportunity to accept. The apostles had been sent out to preach the Gospel; it was God’s responsibility to send them out. It was the Apostles’ responsibility to preach the word, to make sure that Jews and Gentiles alike heard the Gospel. Now it is on the audience to believe and respond to the Gospel (of course there is the discussion on God’s call and His responsibility in salvation, but this passage does not address this discussion). Paul stresses the importance of hearing the Gospel in order to make a decision. When we understand that it is our responsibility to preach the Gospel it should become a priority, because if people don’t hear the Gospel how can they believe and call on the name of the Lord for salvation? Our first two points direct us on what should be preached and to whom the Gospel should be preached. We are called to preach a Gospel of faith in Christ, not work based salvation. The problem is that many people, even in the church, believe that what they are doing will save them and send them to heaven. They believe that because they’re not a killer or bank robber that God couldn’t possibly send them to hell. We recognized that their problem was the standard they are using to measure their righteousness. The standard we are called to live up to is not Sodom or Gomorrah; it is not the worst of the worst. Our standard is Christ Himself, something we can never live up to. This is why saving righteousness comes through faith, not by works. That is our message to a world trying to be good enough to get into heaven. Also, our message is for all people. It becomes absolutely necessary to cross cultural, social, gender, and racial boundaries. If Paul were not willing to cross those borders then the Gentiles would have never heard the Gospel. If we are not willing to cross those borders then there are millions of people made up of hundreds of people groups who will never hear the Gospel. These groups currently have less than 2 % Christian influence among them, and unless Christians are willing to cross those lines then millions of people will live and die without ever hearing the Gospel. Our conclusion that hearing the Gospel is necessary for salvation leads us to the conclusion that these people live and die without ever even having the opportunity to accept salvation. This sermon served as a wrap up to Infinity’s missions emphasis month, and I do believe the Holy Spirit used this message to encourage the preaching of the Gospel.

After preaching on Sunday I still had a week of work and ministry in Baltimore before it was time for me to come home. We had a group of missionaries from Texas join us on Sunday who were there to put on a vacation Bible school in the apartments next to the church. The VBS started on Sunday night and due to heat and falling through on good advertising we only had 5 kids Sunday night. But God’s grace brought out around 25 or 30 the next couple nights if my memory serves me correctly. We had new kids each night. The last two nights, Tuesday and Wednesday, I was able to do teach the Bible lesson. It was great to get to sit down and talk to the kids one more time before I left Baltimore. Most of the groups were responsive and did very well remembering the lessons and the memory verses. My final week in Baltimore I spent most of my time with the missionaries. Tuesday through Friday I was with them pretty much all day. The whole group was incredibly encouraging and really taught me a great deal about ministry. They took me in and made me a part of their group, not just allowing me to participate in their ministry in Baltimore, but even on their visiting Fort McHenry on Tuesday morning and spending Thursday and Friday in Washington D. C. It was the perfect final week ministering with them in and around Baltimore.

That’s the low down for my last two weeks spent in Baltimore. I want to thank you so much for your prayers and support in those last two weeks and over the entire summer. There is no doubt that your prayers is what got me through this summer. It is clear to me that it was the work of the Holy Spirit and the strength of the Father that guided me and helped me through this summer. I will have one more follow up blog posted in the next couple of days. In this blog I will discuss everything I learned this summer and how God stretched me and grew me. I can’t wait to share all of this with you. So keep your eyes open, it’s coming!

To God be the Glory!

Missionaries: It’s who we are!

admin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:00:03 +0000

This weekend was the first annual missions conference held at Infinity Church. To say it was successful would be an understatement. What I’m getting at is this weekend was far beyond what I had imagined. The week leading up to the missions conference was by no means a walk in the park, but the conference itself was worth all the time, money, and work that was poured into it. Of course, none of the credit goes to me or any of the other members of the mission team; nor does the credit go to our missionaries that came to speak and do workshops. All the praise honor and glory goes to God the Father who guided us and lead us through the planning process and who gave us the strength the execute the conference this weekend. So let me tell you a bit of what He has done.

Saturday was the first day of the conference. We got started around 9 and went until about 4, but man that time flew by. After welcoming everyone in, getting everyone registered and munching on some pastries and fruit we got things started with some worship and giving of praise to the Father; the perfect way to kick off anything we’re doing. We had a message of encouragement from brother Rick Clapp who also preaching on Sunday. He told us how he had become involved in missions, talked about the passing of his father and how that effected his life. He told us about the doors that God opened so wide in his life that he couldn’t help but stumble through them. He could not know where these doors would have lead him, but he has been taking annual mission trips to Swaziland, Africa for many years now and has even adopted a brother and sister to live and serve with him and his family. I got to share with Rick about the death of my father and my grandma within about a year of each other and how that effected me in my ministry. We never know how God will use us, or what he will use to move us.

Pastor Mike Crawford brought us our next message from the Word. What Pastor Mike had to say is something all Christians need to hear. The title of his message: Every Christian is a Missionary. His point was that asking a Christian to do missions is like asking a child to eat candy or play video games. Or asking a Christian if he has ever considered missions is like asking Kobe Bryant if he has ever considered playing basketball. What Pastor Mike was getting at is that missions is something that should obviously be a part of who every Christian is. Spreading the Kingdom and making disciples is not something that only some Christians are called to, but it is something that we are all commanded to do. Not only that, but like a child and candy or Kobe and basketball, it is something that should come natural to us. Not necessarily “good” at it at first, but where ever we go, missions should be part of who we are. Not just when we go on mission trips, or just when we’re at church, but it should be part of everything we do: going to the mall, running at the track, at work, at school, at our favorite restaurant, or at the doctor’s office. Missionaries: It’s who we are!

The conference attendees attended two workshops before we served lunch. We offered several different workshops with missionaries and IMB and NAMB representatives. I was able to attend two in the morning. I went to a church planting workshop and learned about the importance of church planting and how it is one of the most effective forms of spreading the Kingdom. I then attended the workshop teaching how to lead a mission trip and learned the importance of keeping your team spiritually prepared for the warfare they will face on the mission field. After lunch there were three more breakout sessions. The first was attended by everyone and was a panel discussion in which the audience got to ask the missionaries questions about missions in general or the field they work in specifically. I did not get to go to the two other workshops in the evening because of getting prepared for Sunday, but we got a lot of positive feedback from everyone who attended. Everyone seemed to have learned a lot and hopefully have caught a fire for missions and evangelism. It at least raised their awareness and revealed how missions is not just something we do, but it is something that we are.

Sunday’s service seemed to go over really well. Sunday was more of a cultural celebration. All the different ministries at the church were grouped together and given a continent to create a display with information, pictures, and prayer needs for the countries of that continent. Everyone did a fantastic job decorating and setting up their displays. This also raised cultural awareness as well as revealed the importance of reaching people around the world for the Kingdom cause. After the service we served a cultural meal from a local East African restaurant. Everyone really seemed to enjoy the food and atmosphere. After lunch several of the kids asked me to take them on a walk. I cherished the moment to get away from the adults for a little while and get to hang out with them. We took a walk down to the pond and sat under the gazebo for a few minutes. One of the girls said, “I’ve never been on a mission trip before.” Several of the others agreed; then they all decided they were eager and ready to go on one. They all wanted to go on a mission trip. So I’m not sure what kind of concrete effect the missions conference had on the adults, but I know the kids are ready to go. And that alone is incredibly exciting!

This whole summer has been leading up to the sports camp last week and the missions conference this weekend. Now that it’s all behind me it’s hard to know what to do next. I can’t believe how well both went and wish we could do them again, after a little rest of course. But I’ve got just two weeks left here in Baltimore and can’t wait to see what God is going to do in these last weeks. Last night I was informed that I will be given the privilege of preaching to the Infinity congregation at both campuses next Sunday. It will be my last Sunday worshiping with them, and now I get to share with them as well. After seeing what the Holy Spirit did last week during the sports camp and at the men’s shelter I’m so excited to see what He does through me on Sunday. Please be in prayer for me regarding that sermon. I know that it is always Him who speaks through me, and I don’t doubt that He will again, but only through prayer. Thank you so much for your prayers this far; I have certainly felt them and been blessed by them.

You can also pray that the information and knowledge that has been distributed this weekend at Infinity’s first annual missions conference will only serve to further a heart for missions among the congregation and that the Kingdom of God will continue to come closer and expand in and around Laurel and Baltimore.

To God be the Glory