Established in 1988, EFC Phoenix is located in Phoenix, Arizona, belonging to the Southern California Southwest Region. On July 31st, I was on my way to visit the church and to meet Minister Rou-Her Yuan, who had just recently started her ministry at the church.
When the plane was about to take off, we suddenly encountered a sandstorm and were covered by an enormous amount of sand and dust. As a gigantic “sand wall” slowly took into shape, the sky seemed to be divided into half, it was indeed a unique experience. As I looked up, the sun was shining brightly on the other side of the clouds. At that moment, a scripture came to mind, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Our Heavenly Father loves all, if even the run rise on the evil, not to mention we are God’s beloved children!
Rev. Po-Min Wang, the Acting Senior Pastor, has been serving at EFC Phoenix for nine years! Prior to the new school year, Rev. Wang held a children’s dedication ceremony for seven families. As he prayed for each child, he also invited the congregation to join him in blessing each family, it was indeed a touching moment. The experience reminded me of what Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Children are truly the most beloved of their parents, they are the source of joy for their families, and the future hope of church and society. May we learn to regain the pureness and the innocence of little children, to have the desire to draw closer to Jesus.
Through the faithful service of the pastors and members of the church in the last 34 years, just like how God promised: “I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert… for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people.”
