Praise and thank God for His guidance and blessings during NYR 2010. This year we were blessed with a capacity crowd of 65 attendees. During the three-day event hosted by San Jose Church and held at a campsite in the Santa Cruz mountains, we immersed ourselves in the theme of this NYR: Unity of the Spirit.
In focusing on the Unity of the Spirit, Pr. Vuthy Nol-Mantia shared many wonderful messages about the heart of humility needed for unity in the church. From the examples of Abraham and Issac, we learned how to have unity across different generations by having one faith. From the example of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, we learned how to have unity during conflicts by understanding we are one body. From the example of Naomi and her family, we learned how to have unity in the midst of trials by seeing one hope. Unity of the Spirit, as we learned, is different from simply having unity in language, culture, race, or even age and experience. Unlike unity in those things, it is by unity of the Spirit that we are able to walk together and complete the task God has entrusted us, keep peace and love in the house of God, and be filled with hope as God rules as our king.
Through these Bible stories and many real life examples, Pr. Vuthy shared with us practical ways we can help resolve conflicts in our local churches. Amongst these, the most basic and important thing for us to do is to pray. For in prayer, we are connected to God--the source of love--and will be able to treat our brethren with all lowliness, gentleness, and a heart to bear suffering in love.
By God's protection we enjoyed a fun, yet edifying, weekend. We bonded with each other in games and sport. We cheered and encouraged one another during the exhilarating ropes courses. We sang songs of praise and prayed for one another. We shared our experiences in tackling with the issues of unity in our local campus fellowships, youth groups, and church. No matter what our cultural background, age group, or experiences may be, we melded together as one and enjoyed the sweetness of fellowship.
We thank God that this event allowed us to take a brief respite from the many issues we face in daily life. By His grace, we have rediscovered the importance of having unity of the Church. May we return to our local churches renewed, refreshed, and ready to serve with the unity of the Spirit.
Photos are posted here. Enjoy!
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
(Eph 4:1-4)
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NYR 2010, Unity of the Spirit, San Jose Church / Mission Springs Conference Center, Santa Cruz Mountains, CA
NYR 2008, Serving Together as a Family in Christ, Garden Grove Church / Big Bear Conference Center, Big Bear Lake, CA
NYR 2006, Growing Relationships in Your Life, Elizabeth Church / Camp Louemma, Sussex, NJ
NYR 2004, Building Spiritual Friendship, Dallas Church / Camp El-Har, Dallas, TX