Learnings from organizing Let's Talk! Dallas 2018.
Lord, may I never forget your faithfulness from this past adventure.
These are my stones of remembrance--let me capture them here.
- Power of team. We were meant to be a community of Christ. It takes a village, and we cannot do God's work alone. When one person had to step back, another would step up. This was so organic in the MSG team, and I'm so grateful for the many times that the team covered for one another in every season. What a breath of relief it was when everyone safely arrived in Dallas!
- Passion > Money. In fact, it's almost scary to see what people are willing to do and sacrifice when their passions come alive. It is what drew so many speakers from MA, PA, NY, VA, and TX to do this work for free. In fact, it actually costed many--time with family, time from work, sleep, finances. How beautiful! What a privilege it is to work with such passionate souls--so inspired by them. I can only pray God please bless your people to the tenfold.
- There is freedom when you're not in control. Every week leading up to the conference brought so much anxiety, and yet when it was the week of the conference, I found myself in utter peace knowing that there really wasn't anything that I could do that would dramatically alter the conference--that last week felt just right. God, knowing "there is nothing I could do" is such a good place to be--please keep me there always, in that sacred place.
- Follow your leaders. My mother's love was so tangible these last few weeks. She said, "끝가지가야지 마음이 편하지" as she drove me around the city, waiting patiently in the parking lot as I knocked on the doors of nearly every Korean church pastor circled in the local newspaper. Behind every child doing God's work is a praying figure--mine is mom. When ticket numbers were low, she believed that God can even move through my young age and broken Korean. Thankful for her courageous love and unwavering faith, for the laughter she brought me (our David dance), and her sneaky snacks appearing during my endless video calls. You can never doubt the results are from God if you've given it your all--go to the end and let God do the rest.
- 1 Timothy 4:12. "Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." Remember Pastor Choi at Semihan who spent the time listening to you fumble over your words that afternoon, who took the time to listen, who encouraged you, and who reminded you that even your broken Korean can be very powerful. You needed to hear that that afternoon. Knock and knock hard.
- Humility of servant leaders. I was so blessed to visit pastors from all around the DFW area during the week--I would often pull into a church only to spot a pastor sweating as he lugged retreat food from one van to another or doing other handiwork around the building. When asked where the senior pastor was, I would often get, "제가 단임 목사님인되요..." How humble are your servants, oh Lord! Bless them, increase their territory. Remember them!
- Faith is hard. The story of David approaching Goliath became so real. It was hard when adults seemed discouraged, and I'm sure David felt that way too. Faith is tested even with small things like ordering lunches for a conference when budget is tight--will they show up? There were so many moments when I blurted 240 and wondered, "Am I crazy?" It made me wonder if David, too, had those moments...moments when he questioned his sanity as he took off the armor and started approaching Goliath with a pocket full of stones. Faith doesn't come naturally for sinful people like me--I realized that faith is a choice you make every day. It was not my faith. Indeed it was the object of my mustard-seed-like faith, our great Father, who hears and answers.
- Faith may mean stepping in and getting wet. Thank the Lord for community. When it was hard, I remember sweet Anna who reminded me via text: "literally as the priests step foot INTO the river God moves...there's a touching and initiating until the very last moment...as patience and trust is stretched beyond understanding"--I will never forget the strength of this truth as we got to the very last minute with numbers. Yes, it was blind faith, carried by the dearest of friends--even blind faith is bold because we are never alone on this journey. Lord, thank you for everyone who willingly stepped into the waters with me. We get wet together.
"The priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, will stand in the water of the Jordan. Then the water flowing from upstream will stop and stand up like a dam. So they broke camp to cross the Jordan River. The priests who carried the ark of the promise went ahead of the people. (The Jordan overflows all its banks during the harvest season.) When the priests who were carrying the ark came to the edge of the Jordan River and set foot in the water, the water stopped flowing from upstream. The water rose up like a dam as far away as the city of Adam near Zarethan. The water flowing down toward the Sea of the Plains (the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. Then the people crossed from the east side of the Jordan River directly opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the Lord’s promise stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan River on dry ground." -Joshua 3:13-17
- Mustard Seed. At the last church I visited, the pastor told me that mustard seeds are found all over Israel--they're actually meant to be scattered and not planted. So the fact that Jesus would mention planting a mustard seed displays the extra tender loving care He shows it. In the same way, the pastor reminded me that this work is very precious in God's eyes. Lord, this work was thought up by You--may we be faithful as You give the growth. Thank you for loving us.
- Healing starts from me. I did not realize that this conference would end up reconciling wounds within my own family. Though at first hesitant, mom finally warmed up to sharing her story on stage with oppa. God was doing a work within this relationship, and I will never forget watching my family find healing during this first conference. Even dad said the panel was his favorite part--I know that that time was sacred for the Kang family. God, you never let go.
