EGC Staff tell stories of God at work in 2011 - Emmanuel Gospel ...

a bimonthly report of Emmanuel Gospel Center
Nov-Dec 2011
Vol. 18 No. 5
www.egc.org · 617.262.4567
@EGCBoston
EGC Staff
tell stories of
God at work
in 2011
As the year came to a close, EGC
staff reflected on ways we saw God
work in our ministries and lives in
2011. Thank you for your support
this year and for enabling this
ministry work. We hope you'll be
encouraged and blessed by these
stories, and look forward to seeing
how God will work in 2012!
Selected stories below; read more
at www.egc.org/2011stories.
Stories compiled and edited by Dana Wade.
(From left to right) Front row: Grace Lee, Grace Yeh, Sabriya Dillard,
Gregg Detwiler, Ruth Wong, Hanno van der Bijl.
Second Row: Jin Min Lee, Erik Nordbye, Sol Védrine, Judy Hall, Liza Cagua-Koo, Sandy
Jackson, Sheba Telore, Charlotte Schulz, Michele Mitsumori.
Third Row: Elena Mireles, Steve Daman, Hector Gonzalez-Ayala, Ruben Rodriguez, Dana
Wade, Sara Mitchell, Rudy Mitchell, Jeffery Foxon, Ramesh Telore.
Top row: Clarence McGregor, Sarah Durfey, Dave Kimball, Brian Gearin,
Bianca Duemling, Doug Hall, Jeff Bass, Brian Corcoran, Bobby Bose.
Not pictured: Rema Cheng, Alex Grant, Ralph Kee, Sam Kim, Jasmin Sung, PoSan Ung
Photo by Laura Frycek
Jeff Bass
Executive Director
In November, Liza
Cagua-Koo and I had
an all-day leadership training for
the Institute for Pastoral Excellence
(a program of the Hispanic
pastors’ association, COPAHNI).
I must confess, my attitude going
in was not very good. Liza,
though, was upbeat, and we
prayed together for God to use us.
So we arrived, met the 30 pastors
and church leaders in attendance,
and launched into our material
(Liza in Spanish and me through
a translator). After I closed, the
group spontaneously went into
a half-hour of testimony of how
God was powerfully speaking
to them, and the decisions they
were making in response. Liza
and I were humbled and amazed.
It truly felt like a loaves and fishes
kind of experience.
Bobby Bose
Global Urban
Ministries Coordinator,
Vitality Project
God is always good, and 2011 is
no exception! God provided continuously
this year: he enabled
me to go to India to network
and encourage urban leaders; he
opened up an opportunity for
me to speak at a missions conference
in Finland; Doug and Judy
Hall, Bianca Duemling, and I
were able to visit two seminaries
to network and explore opportunities
to teach Living System
Ministry; and in September several
EGC staff shared with representatives
from nine U.S. cities
about what the Lord has been
doing in Boston and the ways we
want to partner with other urban
ministries nationally.
Liza Cagua-Koo
Assistant Director
Last summer, I helped
facilitate a weekly
team using the Youth Violence
Systems Project model and
prayer to identify leverage points
to fight violence in our neighborhood.
In August, members
shared how their own thinking
changed from resignation/survival
to seeing potential for reducing
violence, how lifegiving
it had been to connect together
and curtail the trauma experienced
from violence in our community,
and how amazing it was
to hear God’s voice together and
see recurring themes emerge on
responding to violence. I’m so
grateful for the group’s commitment
and our growth. When we
show up, God definitely does!
Rema Cheng
Ministry Associate,
Living System
Ministry
In October, I received an email
from a woman in India. She, her
husband, and her father have
been reading The Cat & the
Toaster [by Doug Hall] and learning
about Living System Ministry.
She shared the realization
that they’ve been doing ministry
through a man-made constructed
approach instead of the living
system way that God intended,
and wanted that to change. Reading
this email, connecting with
a fellow believer halfway around
the world, and seeing how God
is using LSM to equip ministries
globally was an incredible and
humbling experience!

Brian Corcoran
Project Director,
Applied Research
& Vitality Project
For the first time, Gordon College
in Boston students joined the
fall Inner City Ministry class* to
learn about Living System Ministry.
As I facilitated our regular
group discussions or reviewed
student work, I was impressed
and moved by the group’s openness
to learning, their transparency
when sharing personal
experiences and struggles, and
their willingness to consider
both a broader and more systemic
understanding of the gospel
and the city. There were multiple
epiphanies for the students and
me regarding the importance of
small conversations, the ministry
of remembrance, healing, vision,
and the purposefulness of participating
in a teaching team to
equip emerging leaders.
Gregg Detwiler
Director, Intercultural
Ministries
This year, I took a
much-needed sabbatical. It was a
wonderful gift of rest, reflection,
and recalibration for my next
season in ministry, and God was
clearly at work before, during,
and afterward. In my pre-sabbatical
state of weariness, God
assured me that he was with me.
In the sabbatical, God met me
in specific ways that ministered
deeply to my soul. Amazingly he
brought to us two full-time staff
who are both highly qualified in
the precise areas that we needed.
After the sabbatical, God brought
renewed energy, joy, and focus to
our work. I learned that God is at
work while we are at rest!
I learned that
God is at work
while we are at
rest! —Gregg Detwiler
*Inner City Ministry is a two-semester
class through Gordon-Conwell Theological
Seminary that has been taught
by EGC staff for the past 35 years.
There were multiple
epiphanies for the
students and me
regarding the importance
of small conversations,
the ministry of
remembrance,
healing, vision, and
the purposefulness
of participating in a
teaching team to equip
emerging leaders.
—Brian Corcoran
Sarah Durfey
Director, Abolitionist
Network
Recently a friend told
me her church in Richmond, VA,
wanted to know about resources
against human trafficking in
their area, but I didn’t know of
anything. Around then, a Facebook
friend posted about a safe
house project she is working on.
We talked on the phone, and I
shared some resources with her.
A few days later, I received an
e-mail from someone (who had
gotten my name from the Facebook
friend) wanting to know
about my program. This man
and his wife had started a group
to look at human trafficking
more holistically and systemically.
And they are in Richmond!
So I connected my college friend
and her church with this group.
It’s exciting to see how God had
been working!
Judy Hall
Assistant to the President
Every fall, Doug and I
try to have every person
in our Inner City Ministry
class* over for dinner. The 40-50
students come in groups of 4-7 on
different weeks. It is a rich time of
learning from the Body of Christ,
because they are from many different
ethnicities, walks of life,
and areas of the world. Many
have told us it is the first time
they have been invited to a white
American’s home. This year’s
class included six South Korean
students who drove to Boston
from New York City and New
Jersey. Students also drove from
every New England state except
Vermont —seven states in all!
Jin Min Lee
Assistant Director,
EGC Consulting
It’s always a miracle
and a working of the Holy Spirit
when organizations are willing
to make significant operational
shifts for the ultimate benefit of
individuals and communities in
need. As I walk alongside clients
wrestling with how to make sustainable,
transformative impact in
the midst of shrinking resources
and increasing need, I’ve been
blessed to witness a select number
commit current and future
resources to ensure “the least of
these” are receiving the best quality
of services and have the best
chance at life-changing success.
These organizations demonstrate
remarkable humility and selfless
dedication.
Clarence
McGregor
Outreach Pastor,
Starlight Ministries
I saw God’s hand this year in
how he provided for us, especially
through the volunteers that
have grown in many ways and
have stepped out in leadership.
For example, David took over
the Christian 12-Step program,
Arvell took over the Bible Study,
and Little Nate has increased in
leadership at Starlight’s Opportunity
Resource Center. I see
how God is preparing them for
what is ahead, especially in view
of my retirement.
Charlotte
Schulz
Bookkeeper
Both at home and at
EGC, I have seen God at work
in his Provision. In both places,
it has been a “Gideon Year” as resources
have been slipping away.
But the good thing about Gideon
Years is that when something
needs to be done, it is quite clear
that God is the one providing the
resources! As the bookkeeper at
EGC, I see a great deal of faithfulness
and generosity, which
keeps me in a pretty constant
state of thankfulness.
As the bookkeeper
at EGC, I see a great
deal of faithfulness
and generosity...
—Charlotte Schulz
Ruben RodriGuez, Ministry Associate, Starlight Ministries
I was a
drug dealing,
coke snorting,
womanizing,
gangbanging
animal behaving
human being. Until one day I looked up to God and
asked if he would take my life and do what he wanted
to do with it. He made me his servant. I am serving the
Lord and trusting and living by faith. He has given
me a ministry in
an area that is
infested with
heroin,
prostitution,
cocaine and
poverty, along
with homeless
individuals. He
surrounds me with
Christians and other
organizations that
help me spiritually,
such as EGC.
My cup runs over,
He restores my soul.
ALL GLORY TO CHRIST
2 insideEGC · November-December 2011

Sheba Telore
Administrative Assistant;
Micro-Enterprise Trainer,
KCC Support Council
Since our introduction to the
Kolhapur Church Council in India,
my husband Ramesh and I
have been praying for God to use
the KCC in multiple ways. One
of KCC’s main goals is to plant
400 churches in a predominantly
Hindu area, using indigenous
leadership, indigenous funding
and indigenous resources. This
year, we were blessed to see God’s
hand as they planted five new
house churches. Ramesh and I
were there with the EGC team
for the ordination of one of these
new churches. Praise be to God!
Lauren and I
dedicated ourselves to
take care of the city,
and God has used the
city to take care of us.
—Hanno van der Bijl
Hanno van der Bijl
Research Associate,
Vitality Project &
Applied Research
God has used EGC and my
church to support my wife and
me this year spiritually, emotionally,
and financially. Three major
changes occurred in our lives this
past year: new baby, new house,
and new jobs —all at the same
time. We were supported spiritually
through prayer: people
prayed for us when we couldn’t
even pray for ourselves. We were
supported emotionally and physically:
people cared for us body
and soul. We were supported
financially through generous
donors and two friends who connected
me to two teaching English
jobs in the city. Lauren and I
dedicated ourselves to take care
of the city, and God has used the
city to take care of us (Jer. 29:7).
Sol VÉdrine
Director, Haitian
Ministries International
Several months ago,
I was leading a prayer meeting
in Haiti with a group from Boston.
I met a man who had been a
teacher at a school that collapsed
in the earthquake. He was pulled
from the rubble, but lost one of
his legs. Now he uses two canes
to get around. When we met him,
this man was still in pain physically,
emotionally, spiritually. Recently,
we were able to respond to
three requests from him: a laptop
so he can continue his studies at
a distance, someone who will examine
the possibility of building
a small reservoir to collect rain
water for cooking and bathing,
and a contractor to look at the
construction work on his home.
Brother Jean is full of joy today at
this good news.
Ruth Wong
Director, Boston
Education Collaborative
So much of the fruit
that has come out of the Boston
Education Collaborative’s work
these past four years—to help a
youth center in Quincy build a
college preparation program for
recent Chinese immigrants—is
the result of time spent in nurturing
relationships and walking
alongside individuals in their
life journeys. I have been blessed
to see personal and leadership
growth in the young staff and
youth. This year, I nominated
four of my Quincy students for a
competitive scholarship program.
Out of 1300+ applicants, two of
my students became finalists, and
two were semifinalists. These students
started with low self-confidence
when entering the application
process, but by the end, the
experience encouraged them in
ways that are life changing.
oaRD oF
iReCtoRS
Y 2011
r. nathan Abramson,
Clerk
Partner and Software
Developer, Noteflight
Mr. Gregory Allison
Investment Director,
Wellington Management
Mr. Jeffrey bass
Executive Director,
Emmanuel Gospel Center
rev. rocklyn Clarke,
Chairman
Pastor, Life Church
Ministries
rev. ramonita diaz
Retired
Ms. nika Elugardo,
Vice Chair
Senior Aide for Policy &
Planning, Sen. Sonia Chang
Diaz, Mass. State House
Mr. William Galanes,
treasurer
Financial Planning,
Daintree Advisors
dr. douglas Hall
President, Emmanuel
Gospel Center
Mr. daniel Jang
Vice President, Monitor
Clipper Partners
rev. Mark Yoon, Ph.d.
Chaplain, Boston University
view current eGC Board at
www.egc.org/boardofdirectors
Emmanuel Gospel Center
dedicated to the vitality of urban churches & communities
annual Report FY 2011
FOr MOrE tHAn A GEnErAtiOn, the staff of the Emmanuel
Gospel Center has wholeheartedly pursued our shared mission
to understand and help nurture the vitality of urban churches and
communities. God has been showing us how to be effective in
the urban environment, and we’re learning how to help churches,
organizations and leaders make Christ’s love known in tangible, lifegiving
ways.
now we’re pouring what we’ve learned over the years into an
approach we call “liVinG sYstEM MinistrY.” in Fiscal Year 2011,
we began to orient the Center’s work more clearly around living
system Ministry, as this thinking and practice will become the
framework for all that we do going forward.
One way to understand living system Ministry is to see it as a
process that cycles between three interrelated actions: lEArninG,
COnnECtinG and EqUiPPinG. Each of the Center’s programs does
all three:
1. leaRn – we take time to understand the city and the living
systems in which we operate.
2. ConneCt – we get to know the people involved and
facilitate strong working relationships at every level.
3. eqUip – we provide training, tools and resources for
effective ministry and to help others learn and connect.
inSiDe thiS RepoRt, you’ll find three stories that illustrate the
Center’s work over the past year. We also include our FY 2011
financials and other information to help you ge to know us better.
to learn even more about what we do, including living system
Ministry, visit our website (QR code and link inside) or contact Jeff
bass, our executive director, at jbass@egc.org or 617-262-4567.
Cambodian Ministries International
EGC PrOGrAMs
(details at www.egc.org/programs)
Dr. Douglas Hall, President · Jeffrey Bass, Executive Director
P.O. Box 180245, Boston, MA 02118 · 617-262-4567 · www.egc.org
July 2010 - June 2011
Applied Research
Abolitionist network
Applied research
boston Education Collaborative
Cambodian Ministries international
EGC Consulting
Greater boston Church Planting Collaborative
Haitian Ministries international
intercultural Ministries
Ministry development
neXus boston
starlight Ministries
teaching/training
Vitality Project
Youth Violence systems Project
Hot off the press!
EGC’s latest Annual
Report now available
Read stories that highlight the work you helped
us accomplish in the past year, learn more
about our FY 2011 financials, and get other
information to help you get to know us better.
Read or download the report at
www.egc.org/annualreport-fy11
Read more staff stories
of God at work at
www.egc.org/2011stories!
Steve Daman Sam Kim
Sabriya Dillard Elena Mireles
Bianca Duemling Rudy Mitchell
Jeffery Foxon Sara Mitchell
Brian Gearin Michele
Hector Gonzalez-
Mitsumori
Ayala
Erik Nordbye
Doug Hall PoSan Ung
Dave Kimball Dana Wade
Grace Lee
The mission of the Emmanuel Gospel Center is to understand and help nurture the vitality of urban
churches in the context of their broader urban communities.
is published by
Emmanuel Gospel Center
2 San Juan Street
PO Box 180245
Boston, MA 02118
© 2011 EGC. All Rights Reserved.
www.egc.org
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November-December 2011 · insideEGC 3

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SAVE THE DATE!
Emmanuel Gospel Center's
Annual FUNDRAISER
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Jubilee Christian Church in Boston, MA
For more info,
visit www.egc.org/dinner or
email dinner@egc.org
New ways to connect
More opportunities for networking
Delicious food
Silent Auction
Live music
please join us!
Photos by Natalie Parys