Discovering God’s Hand in San Francisco History: Urban Adventures
by Emma Chiang, Member, Grace Fellowship Community Church
For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.
– Isaiah 65:17-19
It is often easy for Christians to think God’s work begins with our presence in the broken places of our city, but I have come to realize, through our Urban Adventure (UA) field trips, that God is already present…bringing about his redemption. He graciously extends his hand and invites us to walk with him in His work. UA, a ministry of GUM for over 5 years, has been an opportunity for congregation members to see the Lord’s work through our partners in San Francisco (SF) by taking field trips to meet churches and ministries that reflect God’s heart in our city. “I wanted to see what ministries our partners are doing and appreciate the different ways that God is at work in our city,” said Jensa Woo, member of Grace Fellowship Community Church (GFCC), as she reflects back upon the field trips this year.
Such field trips have included visits to Mission Presbyterian Church, Holy Family Day Home, SF Christian Center, Cornerstone Church, Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Chinatown, and many other places where God’s hand has been, and still is, at work. This year there were two field trips: St. Peter’s Catholic Church and Casa San Dimas (a community that provides housing and Christian teaching to immigrant youth, many who are involved in gangs and spend time at the Juvenile Justice Center). These two field trips have broadened my understanding and picture of God’s presence in a broken yet beloved city. As I listened to the history of St. Peters Catholic Church, and the legacy of Bishop Peter Yorke’s ministry of advocacy during the 1890s labor struggles, I was reminded that God’s light has been shining through His people in our city throughout the generations.
“These field trips have helped me to pray for these ministries, its work in ordinary ways, and in these places it is where our extraordinary God is at work…bringing about hope in people’s lives,” said Jensa Woo. A clear example of this arose in the middle of our field trip at Casa San Dimas. One of the ministry leaders received a text on her phone indicating that a young man who they have been helping for several years, through his naturalization process, had just received his U.S. citizenship status! Everyone started clapping and rejoicing! It is in these small moments that God’s assuring love and grace is revealed.
As Isaiah 65 proclaims, God is redeeming the city. He has shown us His redeeming presence through fellow Christians as they reflect the face of God in San Francisco…and in so many ways, both past and present. God’s love is limitless and beyond what we ourselves can offer. We simply make ourselves available and, as Beverly Low of GFCC recently shared, “we all have a role to play in sharing our gifts with others.” May the Lord lead us, and we join Him, in what He is doing.
Just the beginning
Welcome to the GRIDD. Whether you want to learn more about the city, see how God is at work in and through His Church, or to simply catch up with what we’re up to and what we’re thinking about these days, we want the GRIDD to be of service.