Comments on: Thankful for Peers

By: Joyce Yen

Joyce Yen — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:39:24 +0000

I am so thankful for my peers who have loved me and persevered with me through the past 9 years! I would definitely not be here today if not for them. That’s for sure. As it was God’s concrete love through them that broke through a hardened heart like mine. I thank them for always putting up with me through tough times, my princess brat attitude, porcupine ways of relating, anger, my crazy thoughts – they have loved me through all of that. That was such a miracle and opened my eyes clearly to the love of God and his grace. I am thankful that they have shown me God’s concrete love and the most important truth – that I am loved for who I am, such freeing love that strengthens me and motivates me to try to love others. It’s hard to forget the outstanding debt I have to love.

They have provided more than just encouraging words, but even helped me financially and sacrificially at various junctures. I know these relationships are only possible because of Christ so I thank Him who brought such an unlikely bunch of people together.

I am encouraged daily by their presence – as they fight the good fight and serve faithfully in a2f, kairos, koinonia, csueb, davis, praxis, sf, austin and hsinchu. Though we are so spread out and we will continue to be physically apart, the depth of our relationships only grow stronger. I’m thankful to see how the gospel has penetrated our hearts, transformed us, and how God can use us to minister and be a source of blessing to others.

By: Gary Zhao

Gary Zhao — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:22:44 +0000

I am thankful for my peer brothers for accepting and loving me as who I am, not who I make myself to be. Through these guys I am able to experience for the first time in my life the amazing love that God has for me. I am thankful for God for providing such wonderful people in my life who I could turn to and talk about anything ranging from the latest sport news to particular struggles I am going through. Despite the different backgrounds and rather different personalities, we are able to put aside such differences and unite together as band of brothers. Although I only know these guys a little more than a year, I am thankful for God for blessing me with these guys.

By: Sang-a Kim

Sang-a Kim — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:49:54 +0000

I am so thankful for Chris and Alex!
We all are pretty immature together, however, we still keep each other accountable. This is because we have strengths and weaknesses in different areas. I really appreciate how much different our backgrounds are such as having a Christian parents vs. non Christian parents. I am so encouraged and inspired by them. They teach me a lot a lot.
I am also thankful for Stephanie Kung.
Whenever I work late, I come to her house to sleep over, since the Bear Market is right across her house. No matter how late it is, she always welcomes me!!! AND she always tell me to get back to work when I procrastinate.
Even though I specified the names too specifically, I love all my peers!

By: Mike Ho

Mike Ho — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:11:19 +0000

I am thankful for my brothers of the Class of ‘05. They are guys I have known for about 8 years now, and I have come to see how extraordinarily rare and precious that is. In spite of our medley of personalities, by the grace of God we have been brought together as peers: we pray for one another, offer up strength for one another, and push each other to our full potential. And I am grateful that I have peers who live out the gospel, faithfully serving in Taiwan, Austin, Davis, SF, and Berkeley.

By: Vivian L

Vivian L — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:37:18 +0000

I am SO thankful for my peers… the 09 sisters.. there’s 30 of us! It’s so amazing how God is continuing to add to our numbers as we have witnessed the salvations and baptisms of several sisters this year. As I see my friends and coworkers outside of this church lose contact with their friends from college, I am so amazed and blessed that we are all growing in this church, meet regularly for birthdays and other gatherings, keep in contact through our google groups, sending prayer requests about family, job interviews, etc. I’m thankful for the richness of relationships God has given me!

By: David

David — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:20:51 +0000

Class of 2003!!! Being out here in Austin makes me that much more grateful for all of you and the many years we’ve spent since our college years. Praise God that He’s enabled each of us to partake in His grand work of saving souls.

By: Esther W

Esther W — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:06:41 +0000

I’m thankful for my peers who have loved and accepted me as I am. I’m so thankful for the different ways in which they really encourage me. I really enjoy their presence and care in my life. It’s so special that our church has this rich culture of close relationships. I’m thankful for the way God has used my friends to carry me through difficult truths/times to help shape me to who I am today.

By: Thanh Le

Thanh Le — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:41:43 +0000

Since the time I came here in 2008 April, I have been able to build meaningful relationships with my small group. Its those times that we have sharing that really makes me grateful. The fact that I even have people to talk to about these kinds of things really makes me realize all that I have been given. As I look at those times of sharing this really makes me think of teenagers out there who commit suicide. If they only had someone to talk to about their struggles. They really drives me to serve more and be more open to people at Alameda High and not let insecurities hinder me from the work God has given me to do.

By: Patrick Lee

Patrick Lee — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:11:20 +0000

I am thankful for my friends with whom I have shared life with these past 22 years. I remember when I came to this church, I didn’t know myself or life or love. I was very ignorant but too insecure to let it show (although I am sure most people figured me out). When I think of those times, I cringe, remembering how in so many areas my knowledge, experience, and character were REALLY “lacking.”

Then God stuck me with a few guys, my friends whom I have known now 20 years on. When I think of them now, I feel small in front them, seeing how they are now so robust humanly and spiritually.

Yet, things were not always so. When I got to Berkeley, an honor-loving and restrained soul, one of them slugged me HARD in the arm in the first minute we met; another guy tried to change my “backward” politics; another who I knew since junior high and who I NEVER thought I would see in church, shocked me by turning up at our church. When I saw him, I said, “What are YOU doing here?!?” Another, was such a famous exaggerator that I actually calculated a multiplier for any number he gave. But through lots of talks, meals, arguments (some quite heated), long drives, messages, DTs, trips, expeditions to foreign lands, lots of basketball games, and lots of ordinary living their lives have influenced and nurtured mine. And God has welded our lives together.

Through the years, they connected me with God, showed me what love is, and taught me about life (a lot through just struggling together to live it), so now I have come to know and be at peace with myself. Now, I wouldn’t trade knowing them for any other more “normal” people. Without them, I don’t think I would count myself so rich today.

A grateful not-so-normal peer

By: Matthew Kim

Matthew Kim — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:25:43 +0000

It’s been 21 years since my freshmen year. I wonder how many people in the world who can say that they had stayed very very close to the same set of friends for over 20 years. I wonder how many can boast of having peers like I do. I am not bragging or anything. I am simply thankful and I marvel at God’s grace for allowing me experience this. We are not some extraordinary people either. There is no super Christian among us. Some of us are extremely moody and lazy. We have our issues. But my peers are precious to me just because they are my peers. We are fellow sojourners and I am deeply grateful for them. This journey would not have been possible without them.