Is This the Right Time?
“Is this the right time?”
Chul posed this question during a staff meeting in late 2007 as we were mulling over the idea of the first ever ISM retreat.
The idea of an ISM retreat came about as we took stock of our ministry and realized that there were many students who were earnestly listening to and struggling with the Word of God. But it wasn’t a simple “let’s go” kind of decision. We knew what was at stake. While a retreat could be an immense benefit to our students, it could also turn them away. We wondered if this was God’s timing and if it wasn’t what were the consequences? That night we ended with the conclusion that we should pray and fast to seek clarity from the Lord.
In the weeks that ensued, Chul would begin our staff meetings with something along the lines of “Have you heard anything from God yet?” This question would always be followed by laughter, but it was a reminder that we really needed God's guidance. And the decision to move forward with the retreat and the planning of the retreat happened week by week, step by step as God clarified his perfect timing.
The date of the retreat was set for MLK Jr. weekend and it was with bated breath that we launched the retreat sign up page. We watched as students started to sign up; one at first, then five, ten, then twenty nine! We were in awe as we watched these numbers grew. Some of us wondered if the students understood that this was not like their school retreats, which were focused times of teambuilding, but rather a focused time of intense bible study. As we checked and confirmed, we found that many knew and were still willing to come! Praise God!
Ok so we had people coming but who would address them? Pastor Ed? The more we prayed, the more we knew this retreat was a special one, not only because it was our first ever but because we knew that this could be the turning point for many of our students.
It was only by God’s provision that we were able to get Pastor Timothy Rhee from Waypoint Community Church in Davis to be our retreat speaker. Pastor Timothy, head of Koinonia up at UC Davis, was scheduled to attend the Waypoint CC College Retreat that same weekend but somehow he was able to lead our entire retreat.
From the moment the announcement for the retreat went out to the minute we left for Sierra Lodge on Friday night, January 18th, it was a spiritual battle. A portion of every staff meeting was devoted to prayer. In the end about fifty people spent MLK Jr. weekend up at Sierra Lodge listening to Pastor Timothy’s clear presentation of the gospel. With each message, we witnessed hearts changing. The serious, and sometimes pained, expression on peoples’ faces was evidence that they were struggling with what they were hearing. Indeed, many of our students made great spiritual progress at this retreat.
We are so thankful to God for the five salvation decisions that were made at this retreat. But there is much more to be thankful for. As it is in ministry, we are not always able to see the fruit of our labors. During this retreat we had the awesome experience of being able to join in Heaven’s celebration over these precious brothers and sisters. We were also reminded again that God is faithful and that it is the work of the Holy Spirit that convicts us of our need for the Cross.