February 2009 Update

[al...@yu1.ca]

Dear Prayer Supporters,

One of the excitements (and challenges) of working in ministry is that
things are different every time.

I have been working with the Jubilant in organizing 32 series of
praise and worship concerts and later Jubilization events since 2000.
Every time the challenge is different, and every time I learn
something new. And this is particularly obvious for the most recent
production of Jubilization.

We have been sensing something unusual during the practices and
rehearsals. At first we could not quite discern what exactly was wrong
with the team; we just felt different. Turned out that it was a
mixture of fatique, miscommunications among the team, relational
difficulties, struggles in personal lives, and many other. This giant
hair ball of tangled issues was manifested as poor stage performances.
As a result, during the critique session, the team was very
discouraged by the comments of the outside critics.

After the devastation, we were left with only one more rehearsal
before the final production. There were many technical issues that the
team needed to resolve. We even considered scheduling an extra
rehearsal because we did not have enough rehearsal hours to tackle all
the technical issues that needed to be worked on. However, it dawned
on me that the real issue was not technical. So I made a bold
decision.

During the last rehearsal, instead of practicing the music, I asked
all the team members to sit down and talk about their real feelings
and struggles. After their honest sharing, I asked the team to put
away all the technical concerns, and led them in simple and authentic
worship. For may be the first time, the songs that they had practiced
for the last two months came to life in them, and we were all grateful
for the transformation from the Holy Spirit during that hour of
worship.

I was reminded again by this experience that it is not about the
production at all. It is all about the people. And this is what I was
called to do: not producing events, but building up lives and making
disciples.

You may be curious about the event. 54 young people committed to
pursue restoration in their life in preparation for God's revival. I
hope that this will become an important milestone in their lifelong
discipleship pursuit.

On the personal side, February was a productive month. I have finished
my doctoral thesis proposal, and I have also finished applying to a
new program. I have lost another 10 pounds, and I have started working
out at the gym. I am contended with all the changes in my life. God is
good.

Please continue to pray for me, that God will continue to transform
and restore me, so that I am prepared for the ministry that He will
lead me into.

Thanks very much.

Blessings,
Alan Yu

Alan's Engagement in March:
Mar 1, 8, 15: Sunday School on Evangelism at Westside Baptist Church
Mar 14: Fellowship Counsellor training for Vancouver Chinese Baptist
Church
Mar 15: Worship Discipleship program for the Jubilant
Mar 22: Preaching at Sunday service and leading worship seminar at
Eugene Chinese Church, Oregon
Mar 23-25: Preaching at Youth Spring Camp, Eugene Chinese Church,
Oregon
Mar 26-28: Vacation
Mar 29: Preaching at Sunday service at Abundance Baptist Church,
Richmond BC
Mar 29: Leading Restoration Worship at AFC