Redeemer East Side Update

We have been using these East Side updates to feature historical vignettes of when the Spirit brought about an awakening in the church. These “Stories of Movement” remind us that, while our 10-year vision for New York City won’t be realized without the work of the Spirit, he has so often worked through the ordinary yet bold obedience of everyday Christians.

Scott Sundquist, in his book, The Unexpected Christian Century, recounts a story that illustrates this in a dramatic way. In a chapter surveying major figures of the 20th century global church, Sundquist highlights the indigenous Chinese evangelist John Sung (Song Shangjie). Born into a Christian home in the Fujian Province, Sung came to the U.S. to pursue graduate studies. During his seminary training here in New York City, Sung’s life was transformed:

In December 1926 [Sung] was deeply moved to repentance and tears by the preaching of a young female evangelist only fifteen years old, preaching in Harlem … Sung returned to his dorm room a changed man. During the next month and a half he sought God through reading, tears, and prayers. [In his diaries] he describes this as a period of weeping over his sins, pleading with God and seeing visions of Jesus Christ.

Incredibly, it was through the ordinary preaching of an unnamed fifteen year old that China’s greatest indigenous evangelist experienced deep repentance and faith. I imagine that this young woman had no idea that day just how powerfully she had been used by God.

As we continue to focus in our Community Groups on how to share our faith, I pray that God will give the same fearlessness we see in this young evangelist. And, as you go through the routines of the everyday ways you seek to serve God in the city, know that your routine faithfulness can be used unexpectedly by God.

Warmly,

Rev. Abraham Cho
East Side Senior Pastor

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