Dear Theophilus:: May 2003

Thank You, Emmanuel!

Hi! I have been attending Emmanuel for almost four years now, and it has been filled with great experiences, fun, and blessings. As my program comes to an end, I just want to take this time to express my thankfulness of how God, through Emmanuel, has helped me to grow. By sharing, I also hope that it will encourage you and the next generation, to be more excited and involved with church. In retrospect, I can see how God led me the past few years, from Seattle to Philadelphia, and eventually to a home at Emmanuel Church. Not only was I able to be a part of the Emmanuel family, but I also got a chance to witness many Spirit-led transitions at Emmanuel these past years.

Leaving my home church was probably one of the hardest things that I had to do to come and study in Philadelphia. The English ministry that I had been involved with was still relatively young at that time, but being one of the core members, we had many visions and desired to see the ministry grow. It was an exciting time! In looking for a home church in Philadelphia, my earliest impression of Emmanuel was that of a cold, uninviting, and intimidating place. Having the service at an old building didn't help either, nor did the spastic eruptions that the preacher seemed to have on occasion (forgive me!). Despite this, I had never encountered a pastor before who had such passion for speaking the Word from the heart. That's what kept me coming back to Emmanuel. I did try to attend retreats, special outings, and small group, but I still couldn't call Emmanuel my home. It wasn't until the summer of my second year, when I started to come to small group consistently, that I started to feel like a part of the family. To this day, I believe the key is small group ministry. Furthermore, if you are new or a first or second year student, I would challenge you to just come out! I have been there and I know school is a lot of work, but God will bless you. Even now, I still regret not coming out to small group earlier. Don't make the same mistake as I did!

Little did I know that this was just the beginning of what God would show me, in the grand scheme of things at Emmanuel and Philadelphia. Whenever friends or people ask me about Emmanuel, I always tell them that it is a unique church filled with many exciting ministries and outreaches. One of the special things about Emmanuel is its abundance of college students, graduates, and young adult. Because of this, Emmanuel has great responsibilities as well as opportunities. This period of our lives, for many of us, will most likely have the greatest influence on our characters and perspectives. Not to mention the impact that our generation have in our homes, schools, and work places. God is faithful. He has provided an amazing pastoral staff, that can relate to the struggles and issues our generation face. And instead of solely preaching on Christian living, the pastors at Emmanuel teach us about the living God. Without getting too theological, Jesus' teaching in one form or another always pointed to God. His message was not just about living a Christian lifestyle, but rather it was about a relationship of lordship and obedience. Many churches have watered down the gospel, and I so appreciate that our pastors at Emmanuel have not.

In addition, ministries like Quo Vadis, Lighthouse, and Missions have always been a steadfast vision at Emmanuel. Not only does Emmanuel support missionaries in foreign countries, but it also reaches out to the next generation of the local community. What great practical ways to show God's love toward our neighbors! I've had the privilege in the past few months to help out with QV. I truly believe God has blessed this ministry - it's evident in the staff that is so eager to help out, and the number of kids that really want to learn and be part of QV. God shows so much blessing at Emmanuel in so many tangible ways. Even the new second service that just started late last year. With a new sanctuary, the second service has flourished and surpassed all expectations. In fact, there are more people coming to the second service than the morning service, and they are actually running out of space. Praise God! These are just a few of the things God has allowed me to experience at Emmanuel. God is definitely working here. As I leave in a few short months, I will surely miss everyone and the friendships I have built here. I wish I had gotten to know more of you better, but in Christ, we are united in one Spirit - we are all brothers and sisters, and that is an encouraging thought! So don't be a stranger. If you are ever in San Diego, look me up! I pray that God will continue to bless each and every one of you, and that Emmanuel will keep on pressing on toward the goal!