Two weeks ago, I had the honor and privilege of being ordained at NCFC VA campus. It was such a special moment to be ordained at the church I grew up in from 6th grade to a college graduate. It was special because my father was also ordained at NCFC back when we were worshiping at Watkins Mill. What made it really meaningful was my father’s message to me during the ordination service.
The first words he said to me was “Be a nobody.” My first thought was “thanks?” But then he began to explain that the world always tells us to go be somebody. Go and make a name for yourself. Live the American dream. That’s why we study hard and get into a good school and find a good major. By good major we mean one where there’s money to be made. Not something like sociology (my major). The world is preoccupied with trying to be somebody.
In high school, I had a Chinese friend who was so obsessed with his grades. Depending on his grades, he would be either “building up the Zhou dynasty” or “destroying the Zhou dynasty.” Zhou was his last name. I remember I would crack jokes about how ridiculous he was acting, but I think we all do that. We may not say his exact words, but in the back of our minds we want to make sure we’re building our name. We want to build up our “dynasty.”
That’s the opposite of what the Bible tells us. Jesus said things like “the last will be first, and the first will be last” and “whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.” John the Baptist said “He must become greater; I must become less.” As Christians, it’s easy for us to follow the mindset of the world. It’s inevitable because we live in this world. So we want our kids to be the best. We want them to be successful. That’s why we don’t see bumper stickers that say “My kid is a so-so student at (insert school name here).” Also as parents, we want to leave behind some kind of legacy to our kids.
Perhaps, the best “legacy” that we can leave for our children is teaching them how to be a nobody. Being an example by reading God’s word and following it and teaching them that it’s not about what you become but who you are in Christ. As we lower ourselves and humble ourselves, that’s when God can be glorified through us. If you think about it, all the characters we find in the Bible were nobodies. God used people who were too old or too young or uneducated or Christ-haters or had speech impediments to do His work.
We’re in the book of Judges according to the M’Cheyne reading, and we find the story of Gideon. God calls him a “mighty warrior” before he’s done anything. If you look at Gideon, there’s nothing “mighty” or “warrior” about him. In fact, he needed multiple signs before obeying God’s command. It’s safe to say that Gideon wasn’t called a “mighty warrior” because of anything he had done. God calls him a mighty warrior because of what He planned to do through Gideon.
It’s great being a nobody. When we become a nobody that’s when God can be a somebody in us. As a Christian, it’s not about making our name known, but it’s about making God’s name known to everyone around us. As a pastor, my hope is to be a nobody. I’m fine with not being remembered and not being known as long as God is being known through me. I hope that NCFC would be full of nobodies. When newcomers visit, they won’t really remember the people they met, but they would remember how they met God through us during worship that day.

From Pastor Eugene’s Heart
July 26, 2015

Last Sunday, I had the privilege of witnessing and participating in P. Eugene Cha’s ordination service. Many people including P. Eugene’s family and relatives were there to celebrate this very special occasion.
What really touched my heart the most was watching P. Eugene’s dad, who is also a pastor and currently pastoring a church in Charlotte, North Carolina, give the word of encouragement to his own son. His dad was ordained as a pastor at NCFC 15 years ago and served many years for our church. So P. Eugene grew up watching his dad serving as a pastor in the church. Now he is following in his dad’s footsteps and carrying on a legacy of faith which he inherited from his dad.
Most of the time when you think of passing on a legacy you think about the ways you can leave some tangible things to your children—wealth, fame, reputation. But there is a more valuable thing you can leave to your children than all of these. It is the legacy of faith.
In Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Moses instructs the Israelites, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
It is very important for parents to be involved in their children’s spiritual teaching and growth. It’s important for fathers to spend time with their children and teach them what it is to be a man of God. Mothers also should spend time with them to teach them what it is to be a woman of God. 
Nothing in life, as Christian parents, is more important than how we raise our children in a godly way. Yet many believers spend more time planning their activities than how they are going to raise their children in a godly way. How important is teaching God’s words and prayer in the upbringing of your children? It is impossible to pass on your faith in your own strength and wisdom. It will not happen.
Our children do not belong to us—they are God’s children. Our children have been entrusted to us as gifts to pass on our legacy of faith. So we, as parents, have great responsibilities of raising our children in a godly way. They say there are no grandchildren in God’s Kingdom because when you fail to raise your children in a godly way, your children will not able to pass on the legacy of faith to their children. So we just can’t afford to fail at this.
So what legacy do you want to leave behind? What kind of life lessons will your children have when we are gone from this world? What will they have to look back on in their lives and say, “that was something that I inherited from my dad or mom?” What will they remember about you is the big question.
In response, P. Eugene shared that this was a very special moment of his life. He had several opportunities to get ordained in the past, but God had a better plan and had saved it for the best. He said he was so grateful that he got ordained at the church where he grew up and with his dad’s blessing for his ordination.  Who knows? There is a possibility that his son Andrew might one day find himself in the same situation. Wouldn’t that be awesome if that is the case?
So how are you going to pass on your legacy of faith to your children?  As a parent, you must live out your faith in your own life. It is impossible to give away something you don't have. When your children see you finding ways to "be a blessing," it will become a way of life for them too, and that is the best way to pass your legacy of faith onto your children.

From Pastor Neil’s Heart
July 19, 2015