California Reunion - Haein Hwang (Class of ‘09)

The California reunion was a refreshing time of fellowship and teaching. At the reunion, we got to catch up with one another and share what God had been revealing to us post GLDI. Thinking back on the reunion, I was most grateful for the times we got to share and talk deeply within our small groups. It was a time for us to be transparent with one another and in those intimate settings, we shared our honest struggles, concerns, fears, and hopes. That’s something we are so lucky to have with each other, and I was challenged to apply that appreciation to my church here in Fullerton. That weekend at the reunion the greatest thing I realized was that none of us are alone. We have God and each other to cling onto in this fallen world.

We all said together, Hebrews 10:23-25 - “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” These verses remind us of our goal and purpose as brothers and sisters, church members, and GLDI alumni. We are reminded to first and foremost look to God and have hope in God and then make that hope visible by the effect that it has on our lives. The aim of our lives is not just loving and doing good deeds, but helping to stir up others to love and do good deeds. My eyes were opened to see that God blessed me with such great sisters and brothers in Christ who keep me accountable, are an encouragement to me, and time and time again lead me back to focusing my heart and eyes upon God. We have other runners in this race that are a blessing from God and we really need to acknowledge and take advantage of that. The reunion was a sweet time of being and talking with people who had the same goal, which is to be like Jesus Christ.

I hope that we will continue to consider and remember each other, stimulate and encourage one another towards love and good deeds, and to let the heart of that encouragement be reminders of how great our hope is in Christ and that God can be trusted.

Haein Hwang