Let’s face it, life can flat our wear us down, can’t it! It’s true for everyone, but especially for the go-getter, fast-paced, action-oriented, get-er-done types like me! That’s why I’m going offline for a few days.

In the last five years I’ve…

• Pastored a new and growing next generation congregation
• Parented three growing boys (now age 10, 8, 5)
• Coached various football and basketball teams
• Spoken at various retreats, conferences, and been a guest speaker at area churches
• Started and finished a D.Min. degree (click HERE to read about it)
• And lots of other stuff!

I confess that through the busy-ness I haven’t always shut down, rested, recharged, or listened carefully enough to the Holy Spirit. That’s why I’m going offline. I need to recharge and renew my body and soul.

This afternoon my wife Laura and I will fly to Dallas, TX. Saturday I will receive my D.Min. degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. In light of this journey I want to share some of my experience. The last four years has been life-changing. I trust this personal note and update will encourage you and give you a glimpse into my experience.

Five years ago I was seeking God for the next steps of ministry. My wife and I had plans to move to Texas for me to begin a Ph.D. program. Thankfully the door closed on that! But as usual when one door closes another opens. We stayed in Maryland I became the English pastor at the Chinese Christian Church of Germantown (Maryland). Part of that decision was to begin a D.Min. program with an emphasis on multiethnic ministry. The results have been life-changing!

D.Min. in Church Planting/Leadership

The D.Min. program at DTS is cohort based, peer learning, and case study based. My cohort started as a church planting cohort. My first class was with Aubrey Malphurs, known as somewhat of a guru on the topic. We did case studies on churches like Watermark Community Church, The Village Church, and Lakepointe Church, to name a few.

The cohort didn’t have enough momentum to continue. That enabled me to participate in two others, the executive and large church/preaching cohorts. That experience gave me a much broader experience and exposure. I had classes in leadership with Dr. Bill Lawrence, Dr. David Fletcher of xpastor.org, and Brad Smith, President of the Bakke Graduate University. Alan Hirsch of Forge Mission Training and Future Travelers was a guest in a class on the missional church. And I had a preaching class with Dr. Haddon Robinson. What an amazing experience!

Dissertation and Research

When I began the program I was challenged to consider my greatest need and do research to meet that need. Building a team to plant a new church was at the top of the list. I was burdened to do that in a multiethnic context. So the topic of my dissertation is identifying and recruiting leaders in a multiethnic context. Let me know if you’re interested in reading my dissertation by leaving a comment.

I had the privilege to do case studies on two great diverse churches. Ray Chang is the senior pastor at Ambassador Church in Brea, CA. Aaron Graham is the lead pastor at The District Church. My dissertation is worth reading just to learn about their stories!

My hope is that the research I did results in two things. First, that pastors and church planters will be helped in their process of recruiting new leaders. Second, that my research will inspire more research to be done in the area of multiethnic ministry.

Lessons learned

Developed great friendships and mentors

What an honor to study with pastors and leaders from around the country and several from other countries. Many of these relationships have forged close friendships that will last a lifetime! Not to mention access to some great leaders, professors, and pastors of churches we studied.

Always a story behind the story

Using the case study research method we unearthed the story behind the story of many large churches. There are good reasons why Andy Stanley, Matt Chandler, and Steve Stroope’s churches are mega! And it’s highly unlikely you or I will replicate those circumstances. We can celebrate what God has and is continuing to do in and through them. But let’s quit trying to be them and be the men and women, leaders and servants God saved us to be!

Hypotheses

In the near future I will write a series of blog posts on my three hypotheses. The research conclusions have given me a foundation to build on for the rest of my life. In short, the three “secrets” to identifying and recruiting leaders are:

1. Cast clear and compelling vision
2. Assess potential leaders for the specific roles you’re looking to fill
3. Empower leaders with real authority and responsibility
   

Getting a doctorate is a big deal and a little deal

It’s pretty cool to think that on Sat I will be introduced as Dr. Ed Choy. I remember joking about that with my buddies in college. It’s been a lot of time, effort, work, and some sacrifice to complete. So yeah, on one hand it’s kind of a big deal.

BUT, on the other hand it’s kind of a little deal. This is what God called me to do. So I give Him the glory and credit for the grace to do it. And whatever good fruit comes as a result is for His honor and glory, not mine.

Next steps

At least three things are next…

1. Vigorously apply what I’ve leaned

1. Currently serving with a great group of co-workers at CCCGermantown. My desire is to serve them and prepare for transitions in the coming year. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. I want to finish this season of ministry well.
2. In the coming year I hope to help our co-workers develop a clear vision, assessment process for potential leaders, and empowerment culture for leader formation.

2. Develop launch team for Restoration Church in Gaithersburg, MD (launching Fall 2015)

1. Cast vision. I’m in the final edits of the Restoration Church Launch plan. As God opens doors to share this plan I will share it and cast the vision wide.
2. Assess potential launch team members. Those interested in being a part of Restoration Church will be assessed for fit. The DNA of a new church is important. If we set this right from the beginning the chances for something special are great!
3. Empower the launch team to make disciples and lead well. We will build a disciple-making missional culture in the next year to prepare for the church launch. Once the right people are on the bus, as Jim Collins says, they will be empowered to lead according to their unique SHAPE.

If you’re interested in hearing more about Restoration Church let me know. I’d love to share more of the vision with you. We’re looking for some great people to be a part of this new life-giving church just outside of Washington, D.C.

3. Give my life to help RESTORE  people to God and to UNLEASH their God-given potential!

1. See a MOVEMENT of Restoration Churches. We want to launch a church that launches church launching churches, locally and globally!
2. Coaching leaders. As God allows and blesses Restoration Church I want to give myself to helping other leaders and church planters unleash their full God-given potential.
3. Teaching. Part of my passion is developing healthy relationships between formal biblical and leadership education and the church. I hope to teach some courses at the college/seminary level and build bridges between higher education and the church through internships and apprentice relationships.

QUESTION: What one or two things have had the biggest impact on your leadership development?

Last weekend my wife and I, along with 33 teens and 10 adults attended the Dare2Share Reverse Tour conference in Woodbridge, VA.

My wife Laura and I.

Dare2Share is one of the few youth ministry organizations I whole-heatedly endorse. If you work with, care about, have, or are interested in the next generation, please consider using Dare2Share as a major part of your evangelism training and disciple-making strategy!

If you missed it HERE is a post I wrote on Friday, Why the Dare2Share Reverse Tour is a Must. And if you attend conferences with any regularity, HERE are 5 Do’s and Don’ts to Make the Next Conference You Attend Radically Beneficial.

The Christian Post write a great follow-up article about the conference. Check it out HERE.

The THEME was based around the story of Daniel in the Old Testament. It can all be summed up like this: Stand when others bow; bow when others stand!

The Dare2Share Conference Experience

One thing I love about Dare2Share is that while they are serious about the GOSPEL, they do not take themselves too seriously! They conference started with the drama team, with founder and speaker Greg Stier, speaker Zane Black, and hip-hop/poet Propaganda doing a 70’s spoof!

70’s spoof

Worship with The Desperation Band

The Desperation Band

This is the first time I’ve heard these guys. They started off saying, “We’re just some dudes who love Jesus who want to worship Him with you. Is that okay?”

Their humility and non-showy music and worship sets were great!

The Desperation Band, hands raised in surrender

Highlights

Highlights included: great music and worship, solid teaching, great use of media/movie clips, engaging drama Fri night about a girl who dared to sacrifice to be bold in sharing her faith in Jesus. But three highlights stood out.

1. Leadership training

This has always been THE highlight for me. It’s easy to get bogged down DOing ministry. And it’s not hard to get discouraged. We all need a leadership injection and Greg Stier does this with excellence.

The training was based on The Four Characteristics that made Daniel a great leader.

1. Conviction: WHY you do what you do.
2. Character: WHO you really are.
3. Competence: HOW well you do what you do.
4. Courage: WHAT you are willing to risk for victory.

 At the end Greg did something powerful. He prayed for the leaders present (several hundred). He asked everyone to keep their eyes open and look at him. He walked around praying out loud, looking into each leader’s eyes. It was one of the most powerful moments of prayer I’ve ever participated in. THANK YOU for your prayers Greg!

2. Outreach Experience

Dare2Share puts a premium on doing, not just hearing. From 3-6pm 3000 teens and adults were unleashed all over the area to serve and share with people. Our group divided between two shopping areas. Almost all 43 from our group talked with and prayed with people. It was awesome to engage people, talk with them about the gospel, and pray with and for them.

Two of our kids in the mall. Yes, that’s the Easter bunny!

It was awesome to gather for dinner and hear stories of how the love and gospel of Jesus were unleashed! There is NOTHING more rewarding or exciting, NOTHING!

3. Prayer meeting

New to the conference this year was an extended time of prayer at the end of the conference. Greg Stier led us all to get on our knees and intercede for friends, family, and those we know who are far from God. We prayed for schools, communities, and the spreading of the gospel to go far and wide. The prayer meeting ended Korean style. We all stood and shouted our prayers at the same time. What a powerful experience.

Thank you Greg!

Christine with Greg

Michelle with Greg

Next Steps

1. #30dayDanielPrayerChallenge

We were challenged to get on our knees three times a day, like Daniel. We are praying for our schools and the people around us who are far from God. We’re praying for doors to open for us to share our hope in Jesus.

2. Prayer emphasis in youth group

Our youth group is going to end our gatherings with mini-prayer meetings. Not sure how it will all come together. But we’re sure prayer has to be the foundation.

3. #Lifein6words

Dare2Share has developed an awesome tool for starting gospel conversations. It’s a booklet that walks through the Lifein6words video done by Propaganda. We have been using these but will ramp up our gospel conversation efforts. Check it out HERE.

Thank you Jesus!

Many lives were touched and transformed. Several kids from our group gave their lives to Jesus and committed to living in reverse. Alice shared her commitment in our service Sunday.

Alice sharing her testimony in our Sunday service

QUESTION: what are you doing to equip, mobilize, and deploy people, whether youth or adults, to share the gospel with people in their world?

JOY… God wants you to have it. Not just a little. Not just here and there. He wants you to have a LOT of it. Abundant. Real. Lasting. Big. JOY!

What is it?

The feeling of gladness. The things that make you smile. We reJOYce in the things that make us glad, happy, content.

Joy can be a temporary feeling. It’s the feeling my son (Elijah, 10yr old) had when Kentucky beat Wichita State. Which is the opposite feeling I had (picked WS to go all the way. He picked Kentucky to go all the way).

Yes, God wants us to have that feeling when our team, or child wins. But in contrast to the feeling that quickly fades, the joy of God is deeper, lasting, and yes, supernatural!

Where is it?

I’ve been a Christian since May 1996. Through the years I’ve met and been mentored by some joyful people. Unfortunately I’ve known more people who claim to know God and follow Jesus yet have no joy!

This is not meant to criticize anyone. I want to encourage you. God wants you to have JOY! And no, He isn’t pulling for your team!

My Joy

I don’t always have joy. The last twelve years of ministry have included many difficult days. Some bordering depression. But anyone who knows me would tell you I smile a lot.

Admittedly I have a lot of reasons to have joy. My beautiful wife @laurakchoy. My sons Elijah, Ephram, and Emet. Loving extended family. Supportive ministry. Wonderful mentors. Faithful friends. Yes, a lot of reasons to have joy.

While I count those blessings, lasting joy comes from God.

The Source of Joy

The final instructions a teacher gives are important. In the last hours Jesus had with His disciples He spoke about many things. What struck me recently was His emphasis on joy.

John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

John 16:20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

John 17:13 I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

Notice the apostle Paul’s emphasis on joy…

Romans 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ultimately, joy is borne in our lives by the work of the Holy Spirit…

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

As we welcome Jesus into every area of our lives.

As we tune our listening antennae to hear the Spirit.

The more we surrender our will to follow His… the more joy we experience.

The fruit of God’s Spirit in our lives does not depend on circumstances. It’s wholly dependent on our welcoming and surrender to His will. Go back and meditate on Jesus’ words above.

Lastly, note the joy Jesus had, even with the shadow of the cross looming.

Heb 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

YBH? (Yes.But.How?) 3 Practices to Increase Your Joy

1. Welcome God’s will and work.

Begin each day with a simple prayer like this: “God, I welcome your will and work in and through me today.”

2. Remember God’s promises

Review the verses above. Mine and dig for promises in the Bible. Make a prayer promise list.

3. Review what you’re thankful for

Take a few minutes each morning to list a few things you’re thankful for. Be as specific as you can.

Don’t settle until your heart finds joy in God.

Question: What one step can you take today to increase your joy?