Thriving Together is a newsletter for women serving in or preparing for ministerial leadership in The Wesleyan Church. Each month, we want to embody 1 Thessalonians 5:11:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Encouraging One Another
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
The Lord has always put me in an “All Nation” environment – the cities I’ve lived, the schools I attended, the marketplace I served (as an “under-covered minister”), and the churches He calls me to (then as lay, now clergy). Since He moved me from Asia and stationed me here, once in a while I wonder how the “All Nation” call can be fulfilled without physically going anywhere. Thank you Lord, that when I was a new convert, I was immediately discipled under a scripturally-based pathway to put the Great Commission into immediate practice, though not without big paradigm shifts! Those shifts included: Submitting all cultures under Kingdom culture; viewing difference as difference only, not good or bad (unless it violates the Lord); and not picking and choosing but evangelizing and discipling whoever the Lord calls you to. Then, the more I live out Christ as His disciple, the more disciples of different nations He gives me! And through the disciples’ connections/multiplications, one leads to another (no clue how far it will go), the “all nations” call is fulfilled bit by bit – starting a bit locally, then a bit nationally, and now a bit globally. The process is so heart-warming and encouraging – You made it grow Lord!
I am in awe and blessed and so are the disciples! Therefore, in this newsletter, I am happy to present three disciples that the Lord blessed me with, for them to pour their hearts to you too . . . thank you, thank you Lord!
Rev. Suk May Yei is a Bi-Cultural Assistant Pastor at Eastern Hills Church with a ministry focus on prayer, one-on-one discipleship, and connection. She is so amazed by the Lord’s bringing her from Asia to America, transforming her from banker to pastor!
Building Each Other Up
We are valuable in The Lord’s eyes. The vast experience I accumulated over forty years of raising a family and having a challenging career could be of such value to the next generation. Sometimes I feel sad that people in my age group are not more valued. But instead of wallowing in my indignation, I remember my identity in Christ. God not only values us “Senior Saints,” He gives us some very specific marching orders. Titus 2:4-5 states,
“These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good and be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.”
We have a vital, God-ordained role in the body of Christ. God expects us to do all we can for as long as we can to edify the body and bring Him glory. This can be done in so many different ways; the opportunities are as varied as we are!
As I look around my congregation, I see younger women facing many different challenges. Some have no wise counselor in their lives. The world is telling Christians that truth is relative and our faith is a lie. We mature women of faith can be a bastion of truth and stability in this cultural whirlwind that is the 21st century.
Patricia Pasieka is a prayer warrior, disciple maker, and lay leader. Retired from the medical profession, she has two adult children who both in ministry.
Doing Ministry
“Family and ministry are compatible.”* The prospect of cross-cultural and cross-generational ministering may seem intimidating or even impossible, but this is not my experience at all. I believe that we are not only very capable but are already doing it! In today’s society, we find ourselves in the unique position where most of our families find themselves–cross-cultural. In my attempts to be intentional in these ministries, the differences are not as giant as we may make them seem.
In 1 Peter 4:10, God calls us to “Use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” God blesses each one of us with unique spiritual gifts, in order for us to minister to others. I find that as a parent, it makes these two ministries much more relatable and have the most in common. When breaking down barriers with other generations in your family, do you not make natural adjustments? Have you learned about them as a person in order to relate to them easily? Do you learn the language they use and reform your thoughts to reflect them? When you do, you can become comfortable with them and form unbreakable bonds of love, communication, and trust. That is exactly what cross-generational and cross-cultural ministries are! You use all the same tools to share the Gospel, introduce God’s word, and MAKE DISCIPLES!!!
I have really been attempting to fine-tune my skills in both areas, and have made the following checklist of details to always consider:
- Before you begin a conversation, take the time to immerse yourself in the culture of the individual you are attempting to disciple.
- Show a genuine interest in their lives and remember to ask questions.
- Focus on building relationships.
- Don’t rush your time or the process.
Whether you find yourself in a cultural or generational situation, you need to show an interest in the people you are speaking to. Put your focus on building not only a relationship with each other, but a relationship with Christ, and understand that this takes time. We all have a sense of urgency, and God is aware. I firmly believe that He gives us opportunities and unwavering support when we have the heart for discipleship. He wants us to bring as many of our brothers and sisters home as we can.
* Quote from Rev. Katie Lance
LeighMarie Stegman is a prayer warrior and disciple maker on staff at Eastern Hills Church in the Next Generation Ministry. She is the loving mother of three young children, who were featured in the TWC Pentecost Reading/Praying Experience video and the General Conference Discipleship video in 2022.
Rejoicing, Praying, Giving Thanks
Started from The Lord with me, then my family . . .
以弗所书 2:14-15 「因他使我们和睦，将两下合而为一，拆毁了中间隔断的墙。… 借着自己造成一个新人，如此便成就了和睦。」
人类原本只使用一种语言，但在巴别塔之后，开始产生多种语言，进而发展出不同的文化。每一种文化都有优点，但也有不足之处。亚裔的文化是勤奋努力，尊老爱幼，注重家族承传，看重子女教育。在一些观念及做法上，与在美国出生长大的下一代有所不同。当子女进入青春期，容易造成两代人的紧张关系，及矛盾冲突。
是坚持亚洲方式？还是实行美国方式？两个方式走下来，常是死胡同。感谢神！借着耶稣在十字架上，成就了和平，不但在人与神之间，也在人与人之间。不论彼此的差异有多大，当我们愿意顺服神，成为天国子民，进入神的文化中，来自上帝的爱，会使人结出包容，和平，喜乐的果实。 感谢神！奉靠主基督得胜名而求，阿门！
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, … His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace . . . (Ephesians 2:14-15 )
Humans originally used only one language, but after the Tower of Babel, they began to produce multiple languages, and then developed different cultures. Every culture has its strong points, but also weak points. The culture of Asians is to work hard, respect the old and love the young, pay attention to family heritage, and value children’s education. In some concepts and practices, they are different from the next generation born and raised in America. When children enter adolescence, it is easy to cause tension and conflict between the two generations.
To stick to the Asian way? Or the American way? Either way often leads to a dead end. Thank you Lord! Through Jesus on the cross, peace was made, not only between man and God, but also between man and man. No matter how different we are from each other, when we are willing to obey God, become citizens of the kingdom of heaven, and enter into The Lord’s culture, the love from Him will make people bear the fruits of tolerance, peace, and joy. Thank you so much Lord. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!
Thank you Lord for making us part of Your KINGDOM FORCE!
Thank you Lord for ordaining us to PREACH – not just on pulpits, but also through daily lives!
All for Your Glory Lord !
Praise You for all Lord !
Sharon Huang is a bi-cultural prayer warrior, disciple maker, ministerial translator (English/Chinese), and noble homemaker with one college-age child. One of her translation pieces is on The Wesleyan Church Website: https://resources.wesleyan.org/advent-devotional-2018-2
We are encouraging every Wesleyan church to invite a woman to preach at least one Sunday during the month of September. Churches are invited to reach out to their district office for names and contact information of women able to serve in this role if their church does not have a female on staff. ECD will be supplying district leadership with this information, as well as compensation recommendations.
You can click this logo to purchase PreacHer Sunday / PredicaElla Domingo swag here and support women in ministry!
We recognize that not every church has a female on staff, so we need your help! Please fill out this simple form to indicate your availability and willingness to preach at a Wesleyan church in your geographical area during the month of September.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrkZcJqYZp7s9TYlLXNbg0yTn3pooC2EBA3C6GiyGlt0-mAg/viewform
