September 1, 2026

Do we trust our trapeze “Caller” (i.e. God) in everything we do or only in the spiritual realms of our lives? Last month’s article was a good foundation for the July air conditioning crisis; it was a crisis only because we had 5 big events scheduled with 200-300 people, plus the normal activities of the Food Mission and Missions Center groups, plus 3 weekly church services. Building & Grounds and many others put our heads together to research multiple options. After prayer, proposals, and analysis, we broke the problem down into “short term” and “long term.” We called a church membership meeting to discuss any questions and all voted yes to install a temporary chiller for two months until the heating changeover occurs mid to late October. The unit sits on a 15-foot trailer with a protective fence around it just outside our Boiler Room. It only takes up 1½ parking spaces and is working much better than our 1972 chiller that needs replacing in the spring. Thank you for your recent prayers; the equipment installation and the first big event all went well, praise God for bringing all things together! We have another NBMBC large event in the Sanctuary this Sunday, so please pray for our Missions Center (MC) partners, fall activities, events, our church, your pastor, and the team.

​

By dramatic contrast, this below was happening inside! A beautiful, comfortable wedding and reception took place (son of Linh Lam, VGBC Trustee), thanks to this temporary solution. In August, we adjusted our worship to the Choir Suite and Bible Study to the Conference Room as needed for everyone’s health and safety during those 100+ degree temperatures. Our MC groups remained flexible too, and are very happy with our short term solution. We completed the Jeremiah and Romans study over the summer and are back into the 2026 theme, “Roots and Branches.” Hope to see you some Sunday at 11 am or 9:45 am for Bible Study. We are trusting Christ in all things here at United Baptist! ​

​

August 4, 2026

Thank you! for all the beautiful birthday cards, messages, meals, and gifts this August! I am truly grateful you are thinking of me and praying for me. We have had a crazy couple of weeks, so your support is appreciated.

 

I promised last month to share my response to the trapeze article, and it is perfect timing in my birthday month. So let me ask you if you’ve had a trapeze moment? The trapeze moment for me is May 2023 when I faced mitral valve heart repair surgery with no time to prepare my church or myself for an invasive surgery with 8 to 10-weeks to recover. I was treated for asthma by mistake when what I had was a failing childhood heart murmur with fluid filling my lungs and heart. The ER treatment and care I received was outstanding at Inova Fairfax Heart and Vascular Institute. My pastor friends, staff, and church all came to support me, yet the unexpected meditation was about life and death: was I ready to meet Jesus? Would I meet Jesus? “But Lord, I have so much more work to do here!” I felt not ready but not fearful either. He had also called the medical team into service, gifting them with skills I required. I felt a renewed calling to survive and to share my faith with anyone close by. And I did; nurses and techs found out I was a “Preacher” and they came in for pastoral counseling! I saw more “potential congregants” in those 2 weeks than in my own church over 2 Sundays. Going into the surgery itself was a trapeze moment of trusting the Caller, and then taking whatever action was required next. For me, that was trusting God’s plan, helping the church to carry on (short-term interim), and following instructions to heal and get my strength back.

 

Lisa Rodriguez-Watson’s trapeze article rang true for a medical emergency, especially for a solo pastor of a small church: “First, the strength of the swing depends on the commitment of the leap. A hesitant jump doesn't generate enough momentum for what comes next. Second, and this one stopped me, the caller is the catcher. The one who calls you to jump, to release, to stretch out for the catch is the very one waiting to receive you. Listening to that voice calling for the jump and release brings a new level of awareness that the call and the catch are not two distinct things; they are one act of trust.”

 

I had to commit to my future and trust my creator, the one who gifted me with leadership. I also had to do the physical and mental exercise to get back to God’s work, whatever that may look like. I never thought of being a pastor like this before. For the trapeze artist, or any Christian or Artist, it takes courage as well as trust to make that leap of faith into the hands of the catcher (God, viewer, reader, listener, or patron); what a beautiful metaphor! Facing my surgery did not feel amazing at the time, but when I read her words about her missional work, I realized that my courage was strengthened because of that “Trapeze Moment”. My trust is stronger than ever before. So, am I willing to release the safety bar and let go? Are we? Do we trust our Caller?

​

July 7, 2026

Happy 250th Birthday, America! As a college history major, my favorite classes were Colonial Virginia History and Revolutionary American History with Professor Stephen Innes from Massachusetts. I imagine he made it more interesting since he had grown up around our nation’s early history. I hope you watched recent documentaries and movies about our 250 years (between the FIFA Soccer games, of course!) It’s been a rousing week of patriotism, no matter your political views. I am sorry to say the U.S. Team lost last night to Belgium. But I hope you noticed how much prayer has been lifted up in all the teams. These players value their religious liberty of all types. Do we?

 

Changing subjects, let me share part of a newsletter from the National Director of Missio Alliance, Lisa Rodrogiez-Watson, who is also Associate Pastor of Discipleship nad Equipping at Christ City Church, in D.C. Her story about a trapeze experience moved me enough to reply back to share my own. Her remarks are in quotes: “It was a moment I'll never forget - my toes hung over the edge of the platform 25 feet above the ground, my hands gripped the trapeze bar, and my whole body went still. Then, I heard the call, and I jumped! Air rushed past as I swung out over the net below. I listened intently again for the second call - the signal that it was time to let go of the bar and be caught. When it came, I released my grip, stretched out my hands, and looked for my catcher. He was right there with perfect timing and strength to catch me in mid-air.

 

“I took flying trapeze classes last Fall during my study leave. It was the perfect, embodied complement to all the interior work and discernment I was doing at the time. Trapeze isn't something you learn by reading a book or watching someone else do it. Eventually you have to climb the ladder, step onto the platform, and trust your body to learn what your mind alone never could.

 

“Two lessons stay with me. First, the strength of the swing depends on the commitment of the leap. A hesitant jump doesn't generate enough momentum for what comes next. Second, and this one stopped me, the caller is the catcher. The one who calls you to jump, to release, to stretch out for the catch is the very one waiting to receive you. Listening to that voice calling for the jump and release brings a new level of awareness that the call and the catch are not two distinct things; they are one act of trust.” ©Missio Alliance. Lisa goes on to explain that our Creator God is both “Caller” and “Catcher” in terms of our faith and spiritual selves. Are you listening? Are you ready?

 

Next month, I will share my reply to her email. Until then, please ask yourself: what has been your trapeze moment? Is there one moment where God called you to trust him with no room for doubt? Did you release your grip into his loving arms or were you fearful? And did he catch you? Have you given thanks for that? And for his love?​

 

June 2, 2026

Happy Father's Day! and Happy Summer! The first month of our traditional Summer holiday 3 months. May was a busy month, and June appears to be a full one as well. Praise God! Our two other churches (NBMBC & VGBC) are thriving and serving their members and the community; the New United Gospel Food Mission need is great yet God keeps providing both food and volunteers; the Annandale Greenway Alliance planted a native plants bed for us; the DMV Asian Night Market utilizes our parking lot well once a month; Amerikids’ children’s voices fill the courtyard on nice days; Arch Home Care is helping families cope with aging; FACETS stores diapers for giveaway to assist Fairmont Gardens residents; GUTS Toastmasters is grieving the loss of Bernie Cohen but carrying on his example; Kohaku Ensemble is rehearsing for their October recital; local voice teachers are having recitals here; Sopranessence ladies had a successful Benefit Concert here with new attendees; a wedding was held in late April; and another will be held August 30 in the Vietnamese Gospel Church service! Church is no longer just on Sundays! Christ is present every day of the week on our campus, and because of your support, we set the example for many other churches.

 

Yesterday, during a lunch with fellow pastors and denominational leaders from MACBF and CBF Global, Exec. Coordinator Paul Baxley shared that our 2014 Mission Center model is now a popular financial model for many CBF churches. “You pastors are not alone in the struggle. A massive economic and congregational shift has occurred in all churches, not to mention the economic instability of today’s world. Your (attendance) decline is not because of music choice or a bad sermon! The ministry marketplace and theological educational models are changing dramatically everywhere too! The fastest growing seminary training is online and not on a campus. This presents a congregational opportunity to develop leaders by ‘naming, noticing, and nurturing’ those who are called into ministry. CBF will be launching new Financial Health resources for churches, denominational partner trainings, and mentorships.” Our rich and affirming conversations continued after his presentation, so I feel encouraged and looking forward to the CBF General Assembly in Jacksonville, FL June 17-20 to connect with like-minded pastors and transforming churches like ours. Yes, we are making slow progress and it won’t show up on Sundays like the 1950’s experience of church, but the triune God is still in charge, and we are called to be his voice in this world and our neighborhoods and even in our families who may have strayed from Christian practices. We must be the hope and clarity of our faith. Remember my reading of The Tree that Survived the Winter? You are loved. “I am the vine, you are the branches, John 15:5.” Amen!​​​​​​