X-Factor hosts The Awakening, a monthly Sunday gathering of people interested in discovering and developing their spirituality through the creative arts, and experiencing God in non-traditional ways. The vision is to grow a community that serves one another including the underprivileged and marginalized. The purpose of The Awakening is to reach out to the unchurched, unsaved, and those that don’t feel comfortable in a traditional church setting. This will be an interactive and experiential gathering to engage dialogue and to initiate personal reflection. This is an opportunity to bring your friends that are unchurched, unsaved, or don’t feel comfortable in a traditional church setting.
The Awakening
Sunday, November 14th
2:00 to 3:00 pm
Mission City Coffeehouse
2221 The Alameda, Santa Clara
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163394433681920&ref=mf
Hey X-Factor,
God has put on my heart not to settle but lead X-Factor with a spirit of excellence. We are uniting the Body of Christ and gathering to seek God through powerful worship and intimate prayer with a handful of worship leaders from the Bay Area. Come to the Upper Room on Tuesday, June 1st at from 7-9 pm at Mission City Coffeehouse, 2221 The Alameda, Santa Clara. Expect God to move and fill you with his mighty spirit.
Invite and bring your friends, neighbors, coworkers, relatives, churchgoers, strangers …
Start praying for protection, favor, transformation, and a packed house for Jesus!
After leaving the Academy of Art University last fall, I thought my lifestyle would completely change and that I would have much more free time without a three hour daily commute. On the contrary, I have little free time and aside from my responsibilities with my family and ministries, have been consumed with creating and building new curriculum at Santa Clara University, preparing for classes, grading assignments, finding creative methods to challenge and push my students, and acclimating to an entirely new culture and academic system.
The last X-Wire that I wrote was September 2009. Since then God has put many things on my heart and while I have been able to use my spiritual gifts, I have been too busy to truly flow within the Lord’s full anointing and power. To be able to have ears to hear, eyes to see and know the Lord’s heart requires a deep commitment, to get down on your knees and seek His face with an open heart and to bask in His glorious presence.
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Last Wednesday I preached on the book of Ecclesiastes at CityTeam Mens’ Rescue Shelter. City Team is one of my favorite places to speak because it is such a real and relevant environment. The 50 or so homeless men have embraced us month after month, year after year and we have received great favor and blessings witnessing salvations, rededications, and breakthroughs. After I talked about how King Solomon had everything and was still not content, and compared his circumstances to many celebrities today, a man in the front row became defensive, disruptive and challenged me to point that the rest of the men finally booed him. It was uncomfortable but I knew my faith was being tested. I later found out that one of the men who helped defend me had literally lost everything and broke down crying after the service, so the Lord took my focus away from the incident and confirmed the message was for this man.
This all led to the Lord putting on my heart to begin fasting so I could draw closer to Him and be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. My only desire was to know the deep things of God and to strengthen my relationship with the Lord.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:11-13
I have been on a liquid fast for the past 6 days, which has enabled me to really seek God’s face through continuous prayer, quiet time, journaling, worship, and engaging in the Word. I am receiving some revelation from the Lord and am beginning to crave for His presence. During the past 6 months I have remained faithful to God, but am desperate for His fire in my life again!
This past Monday I was blessed and refreshed by Freda Garry’s ministry. Pastor Dr. George Chigwada of Christ the Rock Ministries International in Harare, Zimbabwe delivered a prophetic message and personally spoke into my life. I received the words of life and increased anointing from the Lord. It was an evening of confirmation and encouragement. God continues to remind me that He has great plans for my life and that I must look up toward open heaven and stay connected with Him. This past week has been life changing in so many ways. I feel that I have been spiritually reawakened and transformed in the ways of the living God.
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
I challenge you to fast and pray to identify some gaps in your own spiritual walk. It’s easy to become so focused on our day-to-day life that we become complacent in our spiritual life and don’t even recognize how far we’ve wondered from His path. The time is now to fulfill the vision that God has put on your heart! Your destiny is awaiting! So go fulfill your purpose and calling for God’s great and magnificent glory! Remember He will be with you always.
God Bless You,
Jonathan
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1963
January
· Jonathan celebrated his 10-year anniversary at the Academy of Art University
· Jonathan attended the Sundance Film Festival and Windrider Forum at Park City, UT
· Jonathan and X-Factor produced the Not For Sale Backyard Abolitionist Tour
February
· Ayla Rain turned 5-years-old on February 15th & had a Disney Princess birthday party at Ariel’s Grotto at Disneyland (Nana even flew in from Alabama)
· Allison traveled to Orlando, FL for meetings and survived another re-organization at Symantec Corporation – whew!
March
· The Fung home addition and renovation was completed! We love our new house!
· Jonathan directed Do or Die commercial for the Epidemic Film Festival for AAU, which aired in April on MTV, FX, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central & E!
April
· Jonathan produced and directed the 3rd Annual Epidemic Film Festival at the historic Castro Theatre for 1400 guests in San Francisco
· Jonathan moderated a Sundance 2009 Directors’ Panel Discussion in San Francisco
· Ayla auditioned for Super Kids and was accepted into a competitive gymnastics program at California Sport Center in San Jose
· Jonathan was the guest pastor at a Young Adult Empowerment Rally at Good Shepherd Fellowship Church
May
· Fight Club campus church leadership and members multiplied and experienced much spiritual growth, transformation & produced fruit during the spring semester
· Jonathan produced the 3rd annual Super 8 film festival sponsored by Pro 8mm
· Jonathan preached at SCFBC on Memorial Sunday – “Sin Has Repercussions”
· Jonathan had an interview with the Santa Clara University’s Search Committee
June
· Ayla graduated Pre-K with cap & gown from Joyful Noise Christian Preschool
· Jonathan got hired to teach at Santa Clara University, College of Arts & Sciences
· Disneyland getaway - the happiest place on earth!
· Ayla began gymnastics with Super Kids at California Sport Center
· Ayla took swim lessons again at the YMCA, complete with Tinkerbell swimsuit
· Jonathan preached on the Power of Influence at SCFBC on Father’s Day
· Ayla got accepted to San Jose Christian School in Campbell, CA (K-8th grade)
July
· Jonathan celebrated the one-year anniversary leading The Upper Room monthly prayer gathering at SCFBC
· Allison led VBS worship and Ayla helped, Jonathan was a family group leader & actor
August
· Family vacation to Paris, France to celebrate Jonathan’s birthday
· Led 7h annual X-Factor Retreat at Prayer Mountain
· Ayla started Kindergarten at San Jose Christian School
· Allison flew to Philadelphia for Symantec team meetings
· Jonathan dedicated Emma Anne Agustin to the Lord (Royce & Nicole-parents)
· Jonathan & Allison became Godparents to Sophia Bella Chou - (Tom & Lisa’s baby)
· Jonathan made a life change & left the Academy of Art University after 10.5 years
September
· Jonathan started teaching film & communication classes at Santa Clara University
· Ayla received salvation to walk with Jesus as her Lord and Savior on Allison’s b-day
· Jonathan celebrated his 11-year anniversary of his salvation on September 6th
· Allison’s mother came from B’ham, Alabama to celebrate Allison’s b-day in Carmel
· X-Factor celebrated serving CityTeam Mens’ Rescue Shelter for the past 8 years
· Jonathan joined the steering committee for Fuller Seminary’s Windrider Film Forum
· Fight Club leadership and ministries multiplied with prayer and small groups
· Jonathan dedicated Sophia Bella Chou to the Lord (Tom & Lisa-parents)
October
· Jonathan & Allison celebrated their 11-year wedding anniversary (Oct 3)
· Jonathan & Allison baptized Ayla Rain on Oct 10th before family and friends
· Jonathan planted Fight Club at Promised Land Fellowship on Oct 9th
· Allison flew to Chicago for a business conference
· Allison won an Innovation Award from Symantec for her efforts in replacing their sales portal
· Jonathan led & collaborated with artists for the Wonderland Exhibition-Down the Rabbit Hole installation in San Francisco (human trafficking) Oct 17-Nov 15th
November
· Jonathan celebrated his 6-year ministerial ordination on November 16th
· Reflected on William Fung (Dad) and Hanh Do (Ayla’s Godmother) who both passed away in 2003
· We spent Thanksgiving in Birmingham, AL with Allison’s family
· We adopted a new member to our family (thanks to Ayla’s pleading) – a lonely lil rescue dog named Poofert – we love him!
December
· Celebrated X-Factor’s 9-year anniversary on December 6th at Buca Di Beppo
· X-Factor adopted a family for Christmas and blessed the men at CityTeam Shelter
· Jonathan had a successful first quarter teaching at Santa Clara University
· Ayla played Rachel in Bethlehem for the 2nd year and sang a solo for 10 performances
· Ayla played the talking squirrel in her school play, Three Seeds
· Jonathan directed the outreach team (prayer tent & speakers) at Bethlehem
· Jonathan officiated Josh Boucher and Melissa Cheung’s wedding ceremony on 12/23
· The Fungs had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas celebration at home with family
The Wonderland art exhibition will takes place in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco from October 17- November 15, 2009. The exhibition encompasses 16 site-inspired projects created by 75 artists from San Francisco and beyond.
Our art installation Down the Rabbit Hole (Jonathan Fung, Monika Jones, Mark Lee, Erik Otto, Brandon Robinson) will include art, video and sound that graphically depicts a working / living space of a young girl that is a hostage of sex slavery. Guests will leave Down the Rabbit Hole uneasy but hopefully stirred to seek information about the human trafficking travesty that looms over San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area. This is the only social justice issue in the exhibition and our aim is to spread awareness of the reality of human trafficking in our own backyard. We are fortunate to have a platform that is creating buzz throughout San Francisco and among city officials. The New York Times, SF Chronicle and Examiner, The Art Newspaper in London and ABC News has already given us press. We are partnering with YWAM, Not For Sale, SAGE Project, Safe House, SF Rescue Mission, and Community Benefit District. My heart is to see God shine his light and inspire people to do something to help end human trafficking.
Please come to the opening festivities on Saturday, October 17th at Boeddeker Park, 240 Eddy Street at 12 noon. Admission is FREE. There will be maps and docents available to show you around. Down the Rabbit Hole (my team’s installation on human trafficking) can be experienced at 357 Ellis Street between Taylor St and Jones (YWAM building). You are also invited to the Wonderland Symposium on Sunday, October 18th at 2pm at the Warfield Theatre, 982 Market St, San Francisco to gain insight from all the artists on their work. For more information: www.wonderlandshow.org
Thanks for your prayers and support,
Jonathan
PRAISE REPORTS
Ayla Rain Fung received salvation!
On Sunday, September 13, 2009, my 5 year old daughter Ayla accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She has been asking lots of questions and talking with Allison while driving to school. Last week Ayla told me that she wanted to be baptized. This sparked several conversations regarding salvation. Last Sunday evening Ayla received salvation, which was extra special because it was on Allison’s birthday. I think this is every parents dream for their child and we are so ecstatic! We are now planning a day in October for her baptism.
Fight Club may be emerging as an art church in San Francisco in October
Three years ago Fight Club surfaced from being a prayer movement in my office at the Academy of Art University in 2002 to a Christian ministry on campus that has touched many students. Many students were desperate, isolated, lonely and thought there were absolutely no Christians at AAU. The day after I left AAU, all drama and spiritual warfare broke lose and I was emailed that I could not visit Fight Club because I was no longer faculty. The school even sent out an email to all students informing them that Fight Club would not be meeting until further notice. We couldn’t believe the crazy behavior in trying to shut down Fight Club and ultimately drive God out of the University.
After much prayer, patience and discussion, the nine student leaders decided to meet off campus and not be officially associated with AAU. We have been meeting at a public space for our main weekly gathering and at student apartments for small prayer groups during the week. It’s been awesome to see students rise up and lead with passion for the Lord and each other. The vision of Fight Club is to see the presence of God pour out on campus and bring transformation and revival!
Now the Lord has recently opened a door. The Senior Pastor of Promised Land Fellowship, Michael Brodeur has offered his church for us to meet regularly. God has given me a vision for Fight Club to emerge as an art church in San Francisco and to be the hub for other college art students to gather to worship and collaborate on projects. I see it as a think tank for experimenting and partnering with other local churches that have an art focus. We continue to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance, favor and God’s perfect timing. So please keep us in prayer.
Crazy favor for Saint James
After a long period of time Saint James’ criminal record was expunged and his juvenile record was recently sealed. It’s a crazy story that has given Saint James a second chance and a new life. Praise da Lord!
Hello X-Factor + Allies,
It gives me great pleasure to inform you that our 7th Annual Hallowed: an underground awakening has partnered with Wonderland this year. We have an opportunity to impact a larger secular audience by bringing art, faith and justice together. The Wonderland art exhibition takes place in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco from October 17-November 15, 2009. The exhibition encompasses 16 site-inspired projects created by 53 artists from San Francisco and beyond.
Our art installation, Down the Rabbit Hole, will include art, video and sound pieces to create a space that emulates the environment of a young girl forced into the sex trade industry. This is the only social justice issue in the show and our aim is to spread awareness of the reality of human trafficking. We are fortunate to have a platform that is creating some buzz throughout San Francisco and among city officials. Out of 16 teams involved, we are the only Christian-based group. My prayer is to see God shine his light and for people to get involved to stop this horrific injustice.
You are invited to the opening on Saturday, October 17th anytime from 10 am to 6 pm at Father Boeddeker Park, 240 Eddy St. - Admission is FREE. There will be maps and docents available to show you around. Down the Rabbit Hole will be hosted at the YWAM building (Youth With A Mission) on 357 Ellis Street between 6th St and Jones. You are also invited to the Wonderland symposium on Sunday, October 18th at 12 noon at the Warfield Theatre, 982 Market St, San Francisco to gain insight from each of the artists on their work. The press will also be there.
Please pray for Monica Jones, Mark Lee, Erilk Otto, Brandon Robinson and me and the creative vision God is directing through us. Pray for unity and a spirit of excellence among the team. Lastly, pray for the Tenderloin community to unite and ignite positive changes for their neighborhood as a result of this exhibition.
Artist Statement
It is appalling to discover how easy it is to dismiss acts of social injustice that occur globally and even in our own backyard. We live in a world that often turns a blind eye to adversity and seem to be complacent when personally unaffected. Psychic numbing, according to Nicholas D. Kristof of the New York Times, refers to a deprivation of compassion, a deadening of feelings that occurs when one is confronted with appalling images, facts, or statistics that overwhelm the mind. It takes a concentrated effort to stay up on global happenings, let alone what is going on in our own neighborhood. Author and Professor Walter Brueggemann states, “Clearly, human transformative activity depends upon a transformed imagination. Numbness does not hurt like torture, but in a quite parallel way, numbness robs us of our capability for humanity.”
Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery. Victims of human trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor, which can include various forms of involuntary servitude such as work in quarries, sweatshops and farms, and enslavement of child soldiers. Researchers say 80 percent of human trafficking victims are female and half are children. The federal government says it is second only to the drug trade as an international criminal industry.
Down the Rabbit Hole is an art installation collaborated by artists Jonathan Fung, Monika Lea Jones, Mark Lee, Erik Otto, and Brandon Robinson. The art installation will be located at 357 Ellis Street, in the heart of the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. It will graphically depict a realistic environment of a working / living space of a young girl that is a hostage of sex slavery. Magazine cutouts of American pop culture icons will be taped on one wall next to a bare, putrid mattress, and a stash of penicillin, ”morning after” pills, and misoprostol – an anti-ulcer medication that can induce abortion. A video projection of an innocent girl playing in the park will be projected into a crib symbolizing a stolen childhood. Also, a clip of Alice in Wonderland will loop on a television set to signify the exploration of escapism. There will be a haunting sound design that will affect the viewer’s emotional state. Guests will leave Down the Rabbit Hole uneasy but hopefully moved to seek awareness about human trafficking that looms over San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area. Each guest will take a blindfold as they exit that has printed websites of agencies fighting against this horrific travesty to allow guests to respond to the effort to stop human trafficking.
Today the sex trade is thriving, both globally and here in the US. In fact San Francisco is host to 43 percent of all trafficked women entering California. The Tenderloin District has been a host to the sex slave industry and contributing to this growing issue. San Francisco’s liberal attitude toward sex, the city’s history of arresting prostitutes instead of pimps, and its large immigrant population have made it one of the top American cities for international sex traffickers to do business undetected, according to Donna Hughes, a national expert on sex trafficking at the University of Rhode Island.
“It makes me sick to my stomach,” said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. “Girls are being forced to come to this country, their families back home are threatened, and they are being raped repeatedly, over and over.”
Today, I celebrate my 11 year anniversary walking with the Lord. I remember my supernatural conversion as if it was yesterday. My life has never been the same as I continue my journey following Christ. It has been a blessed day of rest and worshipping God with all my heart at church tonight.
This past Monday was a humbling experience for me. Monday August 31st was my last day of work at the Academy of Art University after 10.5 years of service. During that time, I poured out my heart and soul into teaching, mentoring and nurturing students in and out of the classroom, through film productions, festivals and outreaches. It was a quiet and reflective last day as I trained a new instructor, advised a transfer student and met with the Fight Club student leaders (campus church) to strategize for the upcoming semester. Only one colleague dropped by my office to bid me farewell. It was strange that both my former department directors said nothing to me before they left for the day. A couple of administrative assistants said bye on my way out but seemed obligated. It was nice that I received many emails from students and colleagues from other departments wishing me good luck.
I walked out of the Townsend building with my backpack and carried a shopping bag with the last of my belongings. As I hurried onto the train, my eyes glanced toward the Academy building as the train passed by and I felt a definite confirmation from the Lord that he moved me out of the Academy just in time. I thought, “Just in time for what Lord?” I may have felt unappreciated and unacknowledged but this gave me more reason not to look back but forward to fulfill God’s plan for the next chapter of my life at Santa Clara University.
Earlier in the day, my department manager (who reported to me) confronted me about sending an email broadcaster to all onsite students inviting them to join a Fight Club kick off on Friday. This was a standard email that I sent out every semester. She said she thought that Fight Club was breaking up since I wouldn’t be there any longer. Since she’s a Christian I tried to explain the urgency that Fight Club must remain and continue to grow so students could worship God on campus and see his presence spread. A VP informed her that a few people complained about the email they received promoting a Christian group on campus. The executive administration was concerned over the three people that were uncomfortable. The department manager responded and told me that I could no longer be the faculty advisor for Fight Club. I said we would probably go underground and mentioned I would be there Friday to support the students.
The Rubber Meets the Road
I actually thought I would exit the Academy of Art quietly and reminisce on the fond memories over the years. The next day (Tuesday) I received an email from my former department manager that I was not allowed to step on campus and attend Fight Club on Friday since I was no longer an employee. This mandate came from another VP.
This past Friday morning, all onsite students received an email from the Campus Activities Students Events Office stating that the Fight Club gathering in the afternoon was cancelled until further notice in big bold red letters. Obviously, this prompted concern from the Fight Club leaders. We immediately sent out an email retracting the AAU email and met and worshipped at Yuerba Buena Park near the school. We realize that we could not reach all the students in time, but still it was an awesome sight to see over 20 students sitting on boulders in a circle worshipping God in a public park. The presence of God was peaceful and attracted passersby.
Say What?
What does this all mean? After Fight Club surfaced above ground 3 years ago from being a prayer movement in my office back in 2002, students have been so relieved to have found us. Literally, many students were desperate, isolated, lonely and thought there were absolutely no followers of Christ on campus. The Academy of Art is a private university operated by the Stephens family. In the AAU by-laws, we have been told that Bible studies are not permitted on campus, only social Christian gatherings are allowed.
I suppose I have been the gatekeeper on campus appointed by the Lord almost 11 years ago. He has not released me from Fight Club and has given me a strong passion and fire to see revival on the AAU campus. I am encouraging the nine student leaders to seek the Lord for confirmation to either be associated and under the school’s authority or plant Fight Club off campus. I am trying not to influence them so they hear from God. If Fight Club remains part of the school, I will be released from overseeing this campus church since AAU is a closed campus. I will commit to pastor Fight Club if we plant off campus. I truly believe that there are a few AAU leaders that are making these mandates out of fear. Satan is scared and using every weapon to attack and shut down Fight Club. We are at a point to explode on campus this semester. Aside from our weekly gatherings, we have added a men’s Bible Study, women’s Bible study, prayer group and a co-ed Bible study during the week.
We need your prayers!
Pray for God’s wisdom, guidance and direction.
Pray for hedge of protection over the Christian students in Fight Club.
Pray for unity with FC leaders and students.
Pray for our faith to be strengthened & renewed.
Pray for FC to be bold & inspired by Paul’s example on how the early church started and spread in Acts.
Pray for favor and divine appointments.
Pray for God’s will to be done!
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.”
(Matthew 10:16-23)
One recent posting on what’s on your mind I wrote, “I think I’m addicted to Facebook.” Other friends commented we all are. I do enjoy posting status updates, photos, videos, groups, and connecting with old and new friends. It does get addicting to see what your friends are up to and to let them know what you are doing. Facebook is the ultimate social networking phenomenon!
A couple of weeks ago I took a spiritual gifts test. Healer was my gift from God that this particular test revealed. Although I don’t put my faith in random Facebook quizzes, it did make me think since that hasn’t been a gift that I have been operating in. And I began to really think about the gift of healing extending beyond just healing the physically sick since God often uses me to help heal the brokenhearted and oppressed.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19
Later the same day a former student and graduate from the Academy of Art University commented on my quiz result with the following, “I am so wounded lately… please heal me!” My first reaction was that this student was being sarcastic and I was going to reply back with my own sarcastic comment. But then my wife Allison told me to be careful in what I post because he may truly be crying out for help. I doubted her, but changed the tone of my reply to, “Are you being serious or are you messing with me?” He replied that he was not joking and said, “Lately, I am dealing with serious inner and outer struggles, fatigue, headaches, mood swings and even financially troubles. I might need some help..seriously. I am very close to being an atheist… but I need some(thing) that could lead me to right direction. I am so confused these days.”
I am so glad that I listened to Allison. I reached out to him and gave him my cell number so we could talk. Last Tuesday I called him and we talked. The Holy Spirit moved and guided me into prayer, which he received even as an atheist. He respects Jesus’ teachings and has read parts of the Bible, but has been turned off by hypocrisy in Christianity. He was looking for a good church in LA to help with his struggles but has been unsuccessful, so I sent him a recommendation of a friend’s church. Please pray that my former student will attend this house church and will find an authentic community of followers who will love and accept him. He also emailed me yesterday needing prayer for his family. His wife and 2 year old son are visiting family out of the country for a few months. His wife and mother are not getting along and are upset with each other. I pray for peace, unity and salvation for my former student and his family.
I have been so encouraged that my experience this time with Facebook was not social. It can and should be used to reach out to others in need. It is simply another tool to share the gospel and bring others to Christ.
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
This summer has been a fruitful season for X-Factor. We are blessed by the many praise reports and life transformations that are taking place. Our ministry is evolving and maturing in Christ. I am so excited to see the range of life experiences and to hear stories of how the Lord has delivered us from darkness into his amazing light.
Initially change may seem difficult, but submitting to the will of God is the real test of faith. When was the last time that your faith was put to the test? Have you ever been challenged to put aside your own goals and desires because the Lord was calling you to do something out of your comfort zone? This is where the rubber meets the road of faith.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6
Seven years ago while teaching film production at the Academy of Art University, I decided to inquire about job opportunities teaching video production and photography classes at Santa Clara University. I traded emails with the Chair of the Communications Department, which led to meeting another professor and showing him my film work. This opened the door for a few more informal meetings. A tenured track position emerged a few months later at the exact time I was promoted to Associate Director at the Academy of Art. Strangely enough I never received the communication from SCU.
Now seven years later, the Lord prompted me to apply for a teaching position at SCU after this same professor encouraged me to apply again. The timing seemed right since my department is in flux with little vision and direction, as well as changes in leadership. I was among 14 candidates applying for the SCU position. I initially felt some apprehension and anxiety leaving AAU because of the favor and comfort level I had there. But when I was selected for an interview at SCU, I knew God had a bigger plan. The search committee was curious as to why I would leave my title and position to work at SCU and why I would ultimately take a pay cut. I knew it sounded crazy to leave AAU, but I felt God calling me to SCU. I expressed that the title and status were unimportant in comparison to being closer to home, my wife and daughter, and no more long commutes to San Francisco. Also to be able to contribute to a new and growing film program presented some exciting opportunities.
One month after meeting with the Dean I received my offer letter. I was ecstatic but had mixed feelings after working at AAU for 10.5 years and leaving the film program, Epidemic Film Club and Film Festival, and Fight Club campus ministry that I helped build. I started to dwell on the things that I thought I would miss and the changes I would have to encounter - less money, status, authority and an entirely new culture and procedure. My wife and daughter have been extremely supportive since the beginning of the application process and encouraged me to take this step of faith so I could spend more time with them and have a better quality of life. Suddenly I began to understand that God wanted to strip away the unimportant things and force me to rely on him. Once I realized he had a bigger plan, I felt a great sense of peace and knew that he would provide like he always has as I surrender my will for the calling and purpose God has in store for me.
After several rescheduled meetings, I finally met with the President of AAU last Friday so I could respectfully resign. While I waited for her the Lord led me to meditate on these two verses:
“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” John 16:15
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.” John 16:13-15
We mostly talked about the challenges of raising our children and I emphasized the long commute I endure daily and ultimately led me to ask for a one-year leave of absence to teach at Santa Clara University. The President supported and acknowledged the growth I will experience due to SCU’s prestigious reputation and core values.
The Holy Spirit poured out supernatural favor and unity. I was in awe with the love and power of God! Later that morning, I informed my directors and some key faculty regarding my career change. They were all surprised and sad to see me leave, but very excited for me. God’s timing is perfect! As I look back, it was not the Lord’s timing to work at SCU seven years ago. Now the Lord has made it clear for me to experience some major changes in my life and to follow him willingly with an open heart.