Salem Community Church

Time to time, I encounter an event which makes me proud to be a Methodist pastor.  The Bone-Marrow Donation Campaign in Chicago is one of those events.  This campaign has begun by Pastor Young Min Paik at Glenbrook Korean United Methodist Church in Northbrook.  He found out that one of the members at his church was a leukemia patient and wanted to do something about it.  Realizing that the only hope for those patients is bone marrow transfer, he and his church members have launched a campaign to collect 3,000 bone marrow registrations from the Korean community in the Chicago area.  It is indeed a very ambitious plan.  When told by the director of Bone Marrow Association of Asia that it is an impossible goal, Pastor Paik replied, “Yes, I know it is almost impossible.  But I believe that God’s people can do this together!”

My heart is “strangely warmed” by his remark.  I was told that there are 3,000 leukemia patients of Korean decedents.  And if we have 500,000 bone marrow registrations, the chance is that 90 % of them can be cured.  However, we have only 160,000 registered donors so far.  This campaign will help increase chances of someone receiving a life again.  If you are over 18 years old, you can be part of this worthy campaign.  Would you be a proud Methodist today by being willing to share your life with someone in desperate need?  Thank you!

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A couple of Sundays ago, I spotted Henry squatting in the playhouse in the Children’s chapel.  I later found out that he spent quite some time there sitting next Vincent who got upset about something that happened during the children’s time.  When we remember that ministry is being with people at where they are, our brother Henry showed us what it really meant to serve others.  As a minister, it was heartwarming to see him in that playhouse.  

That could have been why he got lucky to win the first prize for the “Thanksgiving” bingo that we played at our last downtown small group gathering at Holly’s apartment.  As we took turn to share what we are thankful for, Eugene, another recent comer to our church, shared that he was thankful for the Salem community, where he found love and care, which meant a lot for him as he was about 300 miles away from home.   As the minister, it was heartwarming to be able to hear that about our church.

As we played the “Thanksgiving” bingo, I was reminded that it was the season of thanksgiving.  And I am truly grateful for so many things that I see around me that bring heartwarming thanksgivings.  Yesterday, I saw Annie, a youth group member who began coming to our church a few months ago with her friend Mira, working all day with other youth members, for the preparation of the Fun Fall Fest.  I was really glad to see that our church became a place where she could feel at home.
 
For these and many many more, I am truly thankful.  Hallelujah!
 

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