Welcomed and Wanted

Written by Lawrence Yoo

Think of a place where you felt welcomed and fully at home. For me, growing up, that

was the Zimmerman house. The Zimmermans were family friends with four daughters,

two who were close to my age and one who later became my wife Jina’s roommate in

college. Mr. Zimmerman was the choir director, and they were active in our church. My

group of friends used to call their house “the time warp,” because you had so much and felt so comfortable there that time just flew by. It meant so much to me to have a safe, loving place to experience family and to learn and grow (and to have a lot of fun).

I have often thought about what made their house that way. Why was it a time warp? As I reflect now, I see they did certain specific things to achieve this result:

1. Their house was comfortable and inviting. It didn’t feel like a museum. You weren’t afraid to touch things. You felt at home.

2. They made gestures to let us know we were wanted: they always had snacks,

   they made space in their schedule, they moved the cars off the driveway so we

   could play basketball.

3. They let us into their family showing us both some of the highs and the lows.

   Teenagers have a radar for genuineness, and we all felt they were “real.”

What would it look like for our church to represent this type of hospitality?

1. You can help make Waypoint a welcoming place by arriving early and looking for

   people you haven’t met before. Most visitors come early, and they can feel

   awkward not knowing anyone. The staff can’t meet every new person, we need

   your help.

2. Hospitality can also be shown by small gestures like giving up prime parking spaces

   and seats. Visitors tend to want to sit on the edges and in the back. By simply

   scooting into the center, we can make things easier for new people.

3. We can also be welcoming by being vulnerable in our community groups, men’s

   and women’s Bible studies, and other spaces. We can’t be perfect, but we can be

   open, honest, and kind.

Waypoint Church, we have the call and the privilege of being a welcoming family to our community, especially as Easter approaches. What a joy to work towards that goal

together and see what God will do in and through us!

Southeast Asia Mission Trip Reflection

Written by Justin Yee

I want to begin by thanking everyone that prayed for our recent trip. We had an amazing time! We saw God work in us as well as in the people we encountered and met. 

Although we came to serve and bless, I believe that we were served and blessed by those there in equal or greater reciprocity. It was encouraging, edifying, and convicting to see the faithfulness and obedience of Christians who persevere through hardship, persecution, and suffering. We were able to meet with pastors and their families who have been, and are still being, persecuted for their faith and almost killed. We were able to meet Christian refugees who had to flee from their homes and come to a new country that does not recognize them or offer them any social services. We were able to meet faithful Christians from the West who have chosen to give up many of the comforts of living in the West to take part in the work God is doing there. It was humbling and a blessing to be welcomed with their hospitality, kindness, and love. 

One of the ways that God worked in the group is that He made 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 reality for us. What was so amazing was that none of us really knew what each person would bring to the table. And yet, each member of the group brought giftings and experiences that were unique to them. And that allowed the group to work in unity and really flourish during this trip. It was a blessing for me to be a part of this group and see the giftings God gave them shine forth.

Helena Pearce led the leadership lessons for Kingdom Refugee Care. She did an amazing job in engaging the students and helping them begin the process of developing into leaders. Her lessons for KRC were the first lessons for the leadership academy that KRC is starting. Helena also looked out for each one of us with motherly affection.

Gracie Helms absolutely crushed the Gospel presentation and testimony sharing at the Ruth Education Centre. Her ability to draw the students in and teach in a clear and engaging manner ultimately bore fruit in the students’ willingness to stand in front of everyone and explain the Gospel and share their own testimonies. Her experience as an IV leader was evident and her passion for ministry was a blessing to everyone. 

John Kline did a wonderful job with loving and ministering to all the little kids that we encountered. From babysitting the Weiner and Susman kids to helping out at the schools and house church we visited, John was loved by the kids. He bailed out our group multiple times in leading games and helping the kids have a fun time. John also demonstrated the heart of Christ with humility and submission on multiple occasions.

Daniel Manila was as good of a co-leader as I could ask for. If I was to ever lead a mission trip again, I would want Daniel to be my co-leader. Daniel helped me carry the admin and logistical load. There were times where he stepped in at just the right time without me needing me to ask him. That was huge. Daniel (& Helena) also did a great job carrying a lot of the mental load of asking really good questions when we were visiting ministry leaders. I could not have done it without his leadership and assertiveness. 

As for myself, God has been leading me to Southeast Asia for some time now since the previous mission trip during summer 2026. He continued to affirm that during my week there. And God, with fatherly care, has so graciously and gently walked with me through this process. I am excited to say that when I graduate seminary at the end of 2026, I’ll be (God-willing) heading off to pastor out there.  

I hope that if you are interested in hearing more, that you would reach out to each member. God is at work, and I hope you will consider going the next time Waypoint has a mission trip there. 

Linger in the Presence of God

Written by James Shafto

For the first time in my life, I spent an hour with God… alone. I was 14 years old, and I woke early to climb the hill near the village where my parents’ summer mission team ministered in Northern Ghana. I remember watching the sun rise as I pulled my Bible and leather journal from my Jansport backpack. In the past, I’d felt the spirit moving through the music of worship or a sermon at a youth conference, but here, for the first time, God met me one to one. I longed to linger in the LORD’s presence like Joshua, who did not leave the tabernacle, even after Moses had returned to camp. Like with Elijah, He whispered in the breeze, which rustled the leaves of the tree I leaned against. No words were spoken, yet I was awe struck that Jesus would come to me, and speak truths to me as I sat in nature and read my Bible.

I’d like to say my lingering impulse stuck around; it did not. I have tasted the delicacies of the Lord’s table, yet still I find myself grasping after the corn-syrupy slop of the world. Most mornings, I choose to wake up late and say a hasty prayer over my meal. With luck, I cram Lectio 365 or the Bible Recap with Tara Leigh Cobble into my 10-minute commute. Often I forget both. Mid-morning, my phone reminds me that screen time for Chrome, has more than doubled my spiritual efforts for the day. I beg the Lord to increase my faithfulness, making me a man of prayer and humility, “worthy of the calling I’ve received.”

Enter “24-7 Prayer,” an organization which champions Mission, Justice and Faithfulness, through facilitating 24-7 prayer rooms across the globe. Such prayer rooms provide a space to reset my heart and reorient towards intimacy with Jesus. They capture the heart of Lent in a single room, inviting us to turn our eyes to the cross. Furthermore, 24-7 has picked up the baton of 100 years of non-stop prayer, which fueled the Moravian Missionary Movement in the 1700s.

In October, some Waypoint members attended the 24-7 USA conference, and we decided we want to join their work of global, non-stop prayer. At the start of Lent, Waypoint will open our own 4-day prayer room, and take our stand as “watchmen on the walls”.

The room is a creative space designed to allow us to meet with Jesus and transform our hearts towards his mission. There will be creative stations for poetry, music and art, along with guided reflections and a wall for capturing the prayers of the people. You can sign up as an individual, or with a friend, spouse, or even come in as a whole community group.

If the idea of sixty minutes of prayer feels daunting, I’m with you! But I’ve heard the testimonies of the folks who began this movement. They talked about how the creative stations do the work of drawing us into the presence of God, and how often one hour feels like ten minutes.

The Ancient Celts used the phrase “thin places” to describe locations where the veil between heaven and earth becomes so fine that prayer flows easily. We hope Waypoint’s Prayer room can be that kind of place for you. I am eager to meet with God here, and I hope you will join me!

To find out more, check out the 24-7 prayer website.

Sign up for a slot here.