In June, the El Monte Vietnamese English Worship group held a special service at the Los Angeles Mission, a center aiming to provide help and hope to men, women and children in need.
The young people conducted Sabbath service in the heart of L.A. and Skid Row, providing uplifting praise songs and inspirational messages to the residents and guests. They were treated to music provided by the youth choir, a presentation on NEW START and a heartfelt sermon.
After the service, members fellowshipped with the residents through food and conversation. It was a a blessed opportunity to share God’s love with strangers-brothers and sisters in Christ-who needed to know that there are people who care about their well being.
“I got to visit the guests and got to pray with a few of them,” said Vuong Doan. “As I prayed for someone, the next guest I visited instantly asked for prayer right away before introducing himself. It made me felt that when any two strangers are united in prayer, we become in close contact with one another as if we’re family-which is true in Christ. That’s what I love about the gospel; it breaks down any barriers of social class, race, gender, culture, ethnicity, and backgrounds…and we being many, are one in body.”
The El Monte Vietnamese English group also participates in other various outreach activities in the San Gabriel Valley.
Monthly outings to a local nursing home are highlights for the young members as they are happy to sing of God’s love and put a smile on a stranger’s face. Members with a passion for food share their talents through cooking and serving meals to the homeless. Jessica Trinh shares a memory she had while volunteering at the Union Rescue Mission in Pasadena.“We had just finished preparing the food, and we got a short period [of time] to mingle with the people. I happened to sit at a table and got into conversation about our favorite books of the Bible,” said Trinh. “A woman who previously was not showing much interest in the topic of conversation jumped in [when we spoke about] Revelation. Her jaw dropped as I shared how Daniel was sealed and Revelation finishes that which was in Daniel. At the end, she happily and eagerly took some GLOW tracts that I had brought.”
Whether it is through conversations, music or food, the young people have a heart and goal to reach people spiritually, emotionally and physically. The El Monte Vietnamese English group hopes to continue shinning God’s light and love in the community with more events lined up in the upcoming months. The building of the new Mission Center will also allow our young people to further the work of Christ and do just what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20 to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”
Jennifer Thach
