2008 Winter Retreat

This year's annual Winter Retreat was a momentous event since it was the first retreat that combined both HMCC of Ann Arbor and Chicago churches. About 320 participants, including over 40 from Chicago, attended the three day retreat that was hosted at Gull Lake Ministries in Michigan. In addition to both churches attending the retreat, all life stages in the church were represented-from newborns and toddlers to college students and married couples. This year our theme was "Undivided" - being one community of faith and having hearts that are completely devoted to God.

Much anticipation had been built for the retreat as both churches prepared for through a two week fasting and prayer chain. Also, every member had the opportunity to fill out a prayer card and be covered in prayer throughout the two weeks and at the nightly prayer gatherings prior to the retreat. We experienced the power of answered prayers as we witnessed changed lives, healed hearts, and new believers who joined God's family.

Pastor Mark Vanderput was our special guest speaker and delivered powerful messages on idolatry, forgiveness and commitment. Pastor Mark and his wife Mary Jane, served not only through preaching, but also through their prayers and the testimonies of their lives.

The fellowship and small group times were a special treat since members were able to meet and converse with members from other cities, life stages, and small groups, and even peers who they've never met before. And we saw the growing number of families in our church as they attended and worshipped together at the retreat along-side college students and single adults. As the one time of the year when all life stages and all our churches can come together, this was a special and very memorable way to start the new year.

L3 - Leadership Lessons Luncheon

Approximately every other Tuesday, you can see a number of college students eagerly bringing their lunches to a large meeting room in the Michigan League. It's not a routine hang-out location, nor is it a Spanish conversation practice round table. Rather it is a group of HMCC students attending the bi-weekly Leadership Lesson Luncheon to eat together with the pastors and dialogue about topics related to leadership. Already they have shared ideas and discussed important leadership principles to apply into their daily lives. To find out more about what's been happening in our campus ministry, check out the HMCC Campus blog at: http://annarbor.hmcc.net/blog/campus

HMCC of Chicago Update

Although only a month has passed in 2008, we have so much to praise God for! We launched into the new year eagerly expecting God to do great things at the Winter Retreat. One of the biggest blessings of the retreat was actually in its preparation. Seeing the body lift up specific prayers for one another at the pre-retreat prayer gatherings and even struggling in prayer together was a great testimony of God's power. Our love and commitment for one another increased through God. Many of the blessings our brothers and sisters experienced were the direct result of the loving prayers of the saints. After the retreat, we heard testimonies of answered prayers, such as receiving conviction for direction, experiencing the healing love of the Father, and hearing the loving admonishment of the Holy Spirit as people were convicted of sin. All of the answered prayers from the retreat will hopefully translate into a greater discipleship of His people. As we have been learning through ACCESS, the call and cost to be a disciple is, at times, great - but the reward of Jesus Christ himself far outweighs it all. It is time to hear again, the voice of Jesus saying, "Come, follow me," and for us to faithfully seek his face and will in the upcoming year. Indeed, the month of January has been an incredible month for HMCC Of Chicago!

We are learning in a profound and very tangible way, what it means to be part of the larger Body of Christ. Worshipping together with the Ann Arbor church at the retreat has left a lasting imprint on our lives.

Another Church Plant On the Horizon

We are excited to announce that by the Fall of 2008 we will be planting another HMCC Church in Austin, Texas! At the January 6th Congregational Meeting, Pastor Ben Kim first announced to the church that he along with his wife, Susan, and baby boy, Isaiah, will be planting a church along with a small team of HMCC members at the campus of University of Texas, Austin. Be on the lookout for more updates and information.

Introducing a new Interim Pastor into our HMCC Family: Pastor Peter Yoo

The 2008 Winter Retreat was not only historical for its union of both churches and all life stages within HMCC, but it also was a time to introduce and recognize the addition of another pastor into our HMCC family in Chicago. Here is his testimony of his journey:

To explain a little on how I came to be an intern staff at this church, it all started 13 years ago at my first youth retreat. Pastor Seth was our retreat speaker and I do not remember the message but all I remembered was that Pastor Seth was yelling and I was scared of going to Hell. Ever since that time I always believed but struggled immensely in my faith. Throughout high school I fell away and by college I was indifferent to God. However, God used old friends to invite me to Christian fellowships and I checked them out and that's where I rededicated my life to Christ. Seeing a community live out their faith and love for Christ gave me a vision of what the power of the Gospel could do on college campuses.

I became burdened for ministry as I got involved in an inner city youth missions during college. It was there that God gave me a heart for the city where so many lives have been broken. I saw kids who were caught up in many things being set free through the Gospel. I received my calling to ministry and that led me to attend seminary, but in the midst of my studies there was a void in my life. As a youth pastor in a 1st generation Asian church, I did not receive much oversight and struggled-yet I also learned a lot and realized the need for discipleship in my life. It was at my wits end when HMCC of Chicago started the church plant that included some friends from college and high school. It also started at a time 5:05pm... where I could go to get spiritually refreshed. Here I got reconnected with Pastor Seth who played a crucial role in me accepting Christ in junior high. As he started to share the heart and vision of the church with me it resonated with what God had placed in my heart early in my college years.

God has brought me to a place of greater surrender over the years and He has changed my heart to desire to go anywhere that He would have me for His purpose. Pastor Seth shared that God has also placed on his heart a desire for people in the church to surrender 1 year of their lives to be a part of church planting around the world. It's exciting for me to join this ministry as an intern staff member and I am looking to learning, growing, serving, and partnering together in the ministry with everyone here.

Alumni Spotlight: Rebi Varghese

Location: Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Profession: Information Technology
Job Title: Desktop Support Specialist Senior
Company: University of Michigan, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

What have you been doing since graduation?
I am still here in Ann Arbor, serving the church, working for the college and growing in my love and understanding of the Lord.

Please share some of your favorite memories from HMCC
My first memory is just missions trips, to Peru and India. Getting an exposure to missions life and sharing the Gospel in a cross-cultural setting really prepared me for my current job and my opportunities to reach out to students from all over the world and share the love of Christ.

My next memory that continues to grow is my time with undergraduate students. They keep me young and help me to continue to keep my love, passion and excitement for the Lord in check. It's been great to see college students gain a passion for living for the Lord, and their whole lives being transformed; as they gain a greater heart for the things on God's heart.

What are some lessons from HMCC that has positively impacted where you are today?
I learned and continue to learn what it means to give all of my life to the Lord in surrender. This has been a tough learning process, but in the process as I learn more of God's love and sacrifice for us, I began to see why I need to offer my whole life to the Lord.

What are some professional and personal goals you hope to attain in the future?
I want to continue to serve God here in Ann Arbor faithfully, and continue to discover His destiny for my life. I am thinking about going back to school to further my studies. Finally I want to continue to be a witness of the Gospel in my work place, especially to those students that God has brought from all over the world.