by Andy Pearce

Our weekly Zoom English conversation class for Caltech internationals always begins with a presentation of six slang/idioms. During a recent class, one of the six was “pronto,” a Spanish word that English-speakers use for “soon” or “quickly.” Because the class includes an Italian from Palermo, Sicily, I mentioned that Italians say “pronto” when they answer the phone, and that it means “ready” in Italian. As I was talking, she noticed that behind me was a picture of the Palermo Cathedral, the most famous building in her city. She let out an expression of surprise and joy! Then she told the class more about her Sicilian hometown and culture. I had surprised her by putting the Palermo Cathedral as my virtual background on Zoom. I learned that if a photo is projected onto an actual “green screen” it is very sharp and realistic, so I have been collecting backgrounds from around the world.

After the presentation of slang/idioms, the class splits into discussion groups or Zoom breakout rooms, which is easy to do. A recent group I facilitated had two Taiwanese internationals, so I quickly switched my background to a photo of Taipei 101, the world’s tallest building from 2004 to 2009. my favorite virtual background is the Great Wall of China. Doesn’t it look like I’m sitting right on the Wall? I also have the Taj Mahal (India), Marina Bay Sands Hotel (Singapore), Mt. Fuji (Japan), Petronas Towers (Malaysia), Taman Mini (Indonesia), Seoul Tower (South Korea), Hong Kong’s harbor, and other famous landmarks.

I greatly miss traveling and look forward to starting up again. However, I enjoy connecting on Zoom with current and former international students and scholars. I also think that using familiar virtual backgrounds on my green screen encourages and helps them to feel at home. First Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” I am thankful to use Zoom to be an encourager to these friends.

by Dan Christian

When you hear that meeting together in-person as believers in Christ is what Scripture calls us to do, don’t miss the beauty of all that frames that biblical command in Hebrews 10:25. And then think carefully about what virtual gathering can—and cannot—provide. 

The command to not neglect meeting together is actually just one phrase in a very long sentence that stretches from verse 19 through verse 25 of Hebrews 10. It is a densely packed summary statement that bookends the central idea of the whole book of Hebrews. So when verse 19 starts with “Therefore, brothers and sisters,” it is referring back to all that has preceded it about the superiority of Jesus as our great and perfect high priest.

Because of all that Jesus has accomplished for us as our great high priest, the author of Hebrews is saying, we then respond in three distinct but connected ways, delineated by three statements of “Let us”: Let us draw near, let us hold fast, and let us consider. We are to draw near to God in faith, hold fast our confession of hope, and consider how to stir one another up to love. Faith, hope, and love are all wrapped up in this call to respond to Jesus’ priestly ministry. 

Stirring one another up—or spurring one another on—to love, by definition requires connectedness with one another; it is not a solitary action. Therefore, the author says, we must not neglect meeting together, but instead encourage one another continually. The word for “neglect” is much stronger than simply being lax about getting together—it means to “abandon” or “forsake” a covenant. The author says that attitude of giving up on meeting together is something that could become habitual, thus there is need to intentionally fight that tendency. 

The flipside of not abandoning our gathering is instead to encourage one another. So in one sense, the author is making gathering together synonymous with encouraging each other. This is the same word “encouragement” that is used in Hebrews 3:12, where we are commanded to “exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” The kind of encouragement that comes through meeting together is not mere positivity, but is a deep soul care that keeps us walking faithfully with Christ.

In the flow of this long, beautifully crafted sentence, the encouragement of meeting together connects directly with the third exhortation to stir one another up to love. There is a mutual, good provocation that comes with gathering together, which deepens our capacity to love. However, it’s not a stretch to see that meeting together and encouraging one another also boosts our faith as we draw near to God, and strengthens our hearts to hold fast to hope. Thus, just as the priestly work of Christ provides the basis for our response of faith, hope, and love, so the act of gathering together provides the context in which all of that can happen. 

So does a virtual gathering, like a Zoom meeting or a livestream worship service, accomplish this same mutual encouragement toward faith, hope, and love? Yes…and no. I believe significant aspects of this mutual encouragement are only possible in a physical gathering together. Virtual meetings are helpful and can facilitate some aspects of this kind of mutual soul care, but let’s not settle for the virtual and miss the fullness that comes with actual gathering. And as we come back together in-person, let’s not bypass the benefits that we gain with physical proximity.

Think about a few of the differences between virtual and in-person gathering. Virtual gatherings miss out on most of the significant pre- and post-meeting conversations that happen spontaneously while simply hanging out. Often those conversations are where we process and apply what we have just heard in the sermon or meeting, and where relationships are deepened as we listen and share with one another. Those conversations can—and sometimes do—happen virtually, but in a much more limited fashion than when we are present in-person with one another. Thus, as we come back together, let’s make sure we make the most of these times to connect deeply before and after, rather than showing up late and leaving early. 

Virtual meetings miss much of our nonverbal communication and are devoid of physical touch. There is much encouragement that comes through our nonverbal engagement with one another—whether sighs or smiles, tears or a gentle touch—which gets lost (or is downright impossible) in a virtual gathering. Thus, as we come back together, let’s make the most of the opportunity to engage our whole being with one another as we were created to do. 

There are many other distinctions between gathering virtually and in-person, but I’ll mention only one other here: Virtual meetings generally cushion us from spontaneous, sanctifying interactions with people we find uncomfortable to be around. I recognize this may not be a reason that excites you to come back together, and yet this is an important aspect of Christian community. We are called to love the unlovable, to care for the least of these, to extend kindness and grace to those different than us. In the gathered community of the church, we have ample opportunity to grow in these ways, as uncomfortable as they often are. Again, these opportunities could happen in virtual gatherings too, but it is easier to avoid them when they are not physically “in your face.” So, as we come back together, let’s open our hearts to the opportunities God gives us to love difficult people.

In this pandemic time, there is much good that has come from our virtual gatherings, and I am certainly thankful for the opportunity to connect virtually in an otherwise extremely isolating time. However, as the situation continues to improve and there are increased opportunities to gather in-person, I hope that (to the extent that we can) we will not settle for the virtual substitute but will come together in-person to encourage each other to draw near to God, to hold fast to hope, and to spur each other on to love. 

by Andy Pearce

When the stay-at-home order began in March, our weekly Conversational English class for Caltech international postdoctoral scholars and spouses switched to Zoom and has continued on Zoom. We miss face-to-face interaction, but teaching idioms using PowerPoint and videos on a shared screen has been effective and fun, and splitting up into Zoom breakout groups for discussions has also worked very well. Another blessing is that the class has actually grown in number. Our most recent class had 13 internationals, the highest number since 2018. The use of Zoom allows us to include class members who moved. The 13 joined from four continents (including North America). Two joined from China, one from Brazil, and one from Australia (a Japanese). Our 4:30 pm start time works well for China (16 hours ahead) and Australia (19 hours ahead).

Speaking of time zones, Zoom created an opportunity for me to teach a Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class in Singapore virtually. I have visited Singapore six times in order to encourage and disciple former international students and love the city/country. When I heard that Singapore would be in a strict lockdown beginning in March, I did a Google search and found that a Perspectives class was underway. I emailed the coordinator and volunteered to teach a lesson by Zoom if there was a need. I had a reply almost immediately and an offer to teach Lesson 8 (Pioneers of the World Christian Movement) in Singapore on Zoom. Due to the 16-hour time difference, I taught from 10 pm to 1 am Pacific time.

My interaction with the class in Singapore gave rise to another Zoom opportunity. Several class members lamented that they would not be able to take an upcoming trip to India due to COVID-19. So I told them that they should put on masks and visit Little India in Singapore. That gave me the idea of leading masked and safe-distanced trips to our Little India (Artesia). Before traveling to India (or Little India), it is helpful to have extensive preparation, so I created three two-hour Zoom sessions that cover India’s history, cultures, religions, food, and communities. So far more than 30 individuals in SoCal have completed the preparation, and I have led one tour so far. As soon outdoor dining resumes, I will lead another tour.

I am grateful for the new doors God has opened to be involved in His kingdom work in the midst of a global pandemic.

by Kenny Wada

At the end of July, Pastor Ron closed our Monday morning Zoom prayer meeting by having Colossians 4:2-4 read aloud:

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.  At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

After the prayer meeting ended and I exited Zoom, I couldn’t stop thinking about the Apostle Paul’s words.  

Paul was in prison.  He was stuck in one place and he couldn’t leave.  He wasn’t free to go where he wanted to go and see whomever he wanted to see.  He couldn’t walk to the city’s synagogue and teach about the Messiah, nor gather with fellow believers for prayer and mutual encouragement.  

He wasn’t totally isolated, but his freedom to be with people and his “in-person” time with others was either cut off completely or was dramatically reduced.

As I sat there thinking about Paul, I sensed that the Lord was speaking to me.  I felt like he was saying, “Kenny, quit focusing on all that you have lost during this COVID-19 lockdown.  Yes, ministry is not the same but look at Paul.  What do you see?”  

As I slowly read over Paul’s words again, I thought: “Well, this is what I see.”  

I see a believer who is enduring in prayer because he knows God is working and can never be bound or imprisoned by circumstances or the will of man.  

I see a believer waiting and watchful because the issue is not IF God will answer, but WHEN he will see God’s answer.  

I see a believer who is grateful (like the Psalmist in Ps 116:1-2) as he waits because he had NOT FORGOTTEN all the times God has heard him and answered his prayers!  

I see a believer that is anticipating an opportunity when God will open a door for him to do what he was called to do.  

And last of all, I see a Christ-follower who is outward focused - focused on God and others.  Not sulking in what he can’t do anymore, but looking for the new things God will be doing in and through others and himself.  

That’s what I see.  

Then I sensed him telling me: “Okay, do the same.”

Okay Lord, I’ll do the same.

by Darryl Wong

During 2020, I was originally planning two trips to Japan for work as Missions Coordinator with JEMS.  However, just as I was getting ready to fly in March for a missionary retreat, the COVID-19 pandemic started spreading.  Both Japan and the US closed borders to foreigners, and travelers were mandated to quarantine for two weeks.

After the missionary retreat was cancelled, I had also planned a short-term mission project in June.  My wife, Helena, and my son, Leo, were supposed to go with me to serve with a church from Austin, Texas, in ministering to people from the Tohoku region, northeast of Tokyo. However, this trip was also cancelled due to COVID-19.

Needless to say, having two trips cancelled was disappointing.  However, there is a saying, when God closes a door, another one opens.

Because we could not go to Japan, my boss Roy Toma, the JEMS Japan Mission Director, learned about Zoom video conferencing.  Although we were not able to get the missionaries physically together for spiritual encouragement and learning, we found a virtual way to get them together.  About once a month, we have a meeting with the missionaries to pray and see how they are doing.

In addition to not being able to travel outside the US, the JEMS office in downtown Los Angeles was forced to close, because considered a non-essential business.  I was suddenly thrust into working from home.  Although it took some time, I was able to set up my home laptop and gain access to files from the JEMS headquarters to continue to connect with and provide administrative support for the JEMS missionaries.

Lastly, the opportunity to share the Gospel in Japan did not stop due to COVID-19.  All of the long-term missionaries continue to live in Japan.  They are doing live-stream messages or putting their worship services on YouTube.  In fact, some churches are allowed to get together with physical distancing.  Please pray for the missionaries as they continue sharing Christ in Japan!