An Evening at the Park

On the 9th of September, CG had an awesommeeee evening at the park! With over 40 brothers and sisters, we had a water balloon toss, relay race, and tons of getting to know each other more!  Filled with fellowship and love and bbq, the night was a success!  Praise the Lord! 

Below is a small glimpse of those who were there.  Photo credits to the most beautiful Leia Yen!  

Upcoming September Events

• Sunday 9.9 BBQ at the Park. 
• Thursday 9.13 Hangout at Matsushima's.  Make your own bread and learn how to swing dance.
• Saturday 9.15 Keep Gardena Beautiful (whole church event)

• Sunday 9.16 Ruth Series #1
• Thursday 9.20 Hangout at Matsushima's.

• Sunday 9.23 Ruth Series #2

• Sunday 9.30 Ministry Rush

*Events subject to change :)

SUMMER 2012

Thanks everyone for giving EPIC one of it's most awesome summers ever!  Here is a 10 minute video to recap what we did.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW (sorry couldn't get the thumbnail up)

EPIC SUMMER 2012

Photo credits to: Michelle Cordill, Kelcie Kadowaki's Facebook page, Aubrey Kaneshiro's Facebook page, Ben Lee, and Corey Atkinson.

hello hello EPIC familia!!!!
sorry it's been a while since we've had a message re-cap/message responses :( i hope this post finds you all well with the school year almost done and summer right around the corner!!! can't wait to see everyone's lovely faces return home and have us all re-united back home at GVBC :D

Here's a little something to munch on! :D

SELFISH vs. SERVANT (speaker: Chris)

Main passage: Mark 10:35-45

Our goal should not be to be the person everyone serves, but the person that serves everyone. In this passage, we are James and John. Too often do we have the mindset of how are MY actions going to benefit ME? What am I going to get out of this? How will I be blessed? How will I be glorified? We give to receive and serve to be blessed. Christ, the Son of Man, did not come to be served, but to serve. (verse 45) We need to follow Christ's example in doing nothing out of "seflish ambition or vain conceit" but rather putting others above ourselves, looking not to our own interests, but the interests of others. (Philippians 2:2-4) God has called us to serve others to glorify Him, to show others His love, to bless Him.

How would you gauge your selfishness in terms of family, friends, your church, at work, at school? What areas do you need to work on developing a servant's heart? Do you serve to be glorified, or glorify God through service? Here are some things to consider...
-Do you HUMBLY serve others with selfless motives? (Do you donate to be
recognized, do you help expecting a thank you, do you serve anticipating an
earthly reward?)
-Are you willing to do MENIAL tasks? (whether that be doing the dishes at
home without complaining or helping set up/break down at college group, are
you willing to be faithful in the small things that at times may go
unnoticed?)
-Is your life marked by giving or getting? (is it all about me me me, take
take take? or how can i help? how can i give? how can i benefit those around me? how can i glorify God?)
-Are you about achieving a status or making a difference? (is this life
about how high and mighty people think you to be or how you can better
someone else's life?)

Selfishness is not something that will go away overnight, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can turn our self-centered hearts to hearts of service and love bringing glory to the One who deserves it.

I pray you all have a blessed week whether you are taking finals, studying for finals, working, stressing, chilling, whatever you may be doing this week :) May you see God in the little things, remember Him in EVERYTHING, and find peace in knowing that YOU are HIS. Whether you want to take a vacation form life or life is rainbows and butterflies for you, I pray that you contine to seek Him and live this life for Him. <3

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humilty consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..." Philippians 2:2-5

Epic Camping Trip 2012

Epic Camping Trip 2012

Just a quick slideshow of the pictures from the camping trip. Enjoy!

To describe the trip, I would use the word peacefully amazing.  Although we all planned for rain, God shed His light (literally) on the camp site, for a cool 70 degrees during the day.

Deep one on ones, two worship sessions, a football game on the beach, a mile walk/run to the pier, boccie ball games, board games, cooking teams, and spending quality time with others were absolute highlights of the weekend.  Personally, I enjoy the fact how all of us members of EPIC come from different walks of life.  Who would have thought we could all work so well as a family? Well God did.

Seeing God's beauty through His creation of nature was mesmerizing.  His presence was all around.  God you are so wonderful.  Thank You for this community and the love You overflow among us.

1 John 4:7-8

message responsesss!!!! :)

hello hello everyone!!!! sorry there's been such a delay with these posts :( butttt hope you are all doing well!!! here are some message responses from Brad's message about trusting in God through all of our fears, doubts, and worries because He is such a strong and powerful God <3

God has been teaching me over the past few weeks, or rather encouraging me, to be very strong and courageous because i have a firm foundation to go out from and return to. Because the LORD has power and love beyond measure despite not being sure what to do i just need to trust.

This just reminds me of an important fact in my life that God has been showing me. Despite what I'm going through i need to trust Him and know that He is the loving God whom cares.

I am reminded today that God is completely worthy of all my worship. Especially worthy of my complete faith & trust. I can be worried about countless things, and afraid of everything, but I can give up all of these things & trust God with them because He is faithful.

Knowing who you believe in and understanding His magnanimous power is paramount in being a follower of Christ.

This message was a good reminder to not worry so much about my problems because I know God will provide for me if I focus on Him.

I thought it was very meaningful and it makes me want to try and have more faith in everything I do.

I want to become more loving.

I'm so happy when I'm weak, He shows me His love through His work. I'm encouraged to study about God after I heard the message today.

I think the message had pulled a great perspective for me. Also, the message was a great reminder that God gives me storms in life because He loves me enough, and He believes that I can handle it more than I believe I can. Ya boy-Lainel ;)

Hearing how you put all your faith in God keeping Him in control of your life was motivational for me to put more faith in Him in my life.

I have been ashamed to go to God because I have not been spending enough time with Him and doubting Him but after Brad's message I remembered that He is always with me and wants the best for me. And that honestly is enough.

I just want to know how awesome God is. So that I have to read the Bible more even when I'm tired.

I've been frustrated with God for not "calming the storm," especially because it seems like our financial/family situation has been going on for over a year now. But I am encouraged tonight to seek God to see why he might have brought this "storm" and to trust His character through it.

Tonight I was reminded that God is the same God He was when I first believed-same character, same promises...the only thing that has not been the same (especially during this break) is remembering that He is unchanging and how He has provided for me through all things.

I hope you all had a blessed winter break and I pray He has blessed you with a wonderful 2012!!! May you continue to seek Him with a whole heart and may you have an open heart to ALL the amazing things He has in store for you this year! Loves <3

EPIC Christmas Party + Personal Message from Chris Koga

Hello everyone! Here are some photos from our EPIC Christmas Party a couple of Saturdays ago, and below you'll find a personal message from Chris Koga, enjoy!
~Sheri

Kei with food from L&L's :P

Austin as "The Grinch"!

EPIC's awkward family photos

"Dad's in jail"

"bathroom mirror, myspace"

"Charlie's Angels? + family friend"

Worship Afterwards :D

photo credit: Kristy Lee

Hey students of EPIC! It was good to see those of you who could make it out to our Christmas party last Sunday! We had a great time with Austin in his green skin-tight body suit dressed as the Grinch and Traci being her usual crazy self! I appreciate them and all the stuff they planned for us! It was definitely a fun night with the free food, good conversation, and the action-packed gift exchange, but I’ll tell you that for me, my favorite part was our time of singing Christmas songs together. There was over 40 of us packed in a living room celebrating with wonder and awe and worship that Christ had come to us, and for us, and was now with us.

You know, in the midst of all of the parties and celebrations that I attend during this busy vacation time, I like to think about a guy named Simeon who doesn’t appear in any nativity scenes or in many Christmas cards, but he’s actually a significant player in the first Christmas pageant.

In Luke 2:25 it says, “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon Him.”

Things weren’t going real well for the nation of Israel. They hadn’t heard from God for many years and were under Roman rule. They had lost their political independence and were living in fear of the capable, crafty, and cruel King Herod, and many were wondering if the Messiah would ever come.

But verse 26 shows us that Simeon had good reason for his hope and anticipation: “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

And so what happened was that the Holy Spirit prompted Simeon to go to the temple courts at just the right time on just the right day that Joseph and Mary were bringing their infant to the Temple. When Simeon looked at the baby Jesus, now about 6 weeks old, he knew that God’s promise had been kept. Here was Immanuel, “God With Us,” to make everything right, to provide comfort by His presence, and to eliminate rejection, fear, and loneliness and to meet our greatest need in the forgiveness of sin.

Verse 28 of Luke 2 says that Simeon reached down and took Jesus out of Mary’s arms and began to praise God. As he broke out into praise, he acknowledged that God had not only fulfilled the individual promise to him, but also the promises of the prophets to send the Anointed One to comfort both Jews and Gentiles.

The presence of God with us is our celebration during this season and our joy each day in giving us cause and reason to break out in praise that God has met our deepest need in the Lord Jesus. So if you feel lonely, empty, afraid, and maxed out. If you need some comfort, some consoling, or a fresh sense of God’s presence, you can find what you’re looking for in Jesus. Have a merry Christmas EPIC family and hope to see you all at our winter retreat!

~Chris