Abide in Christ

CVCF Annual Staff Retreat 2021

Harrisonbburg, VA | April 16th - 18th

Every year, our leadership team comes together to build meaningful relationships as well as get ready to plan for CVCF. This year, we spent time together for a weekend in Harrisonburg, VA. Pastor Ken, chi TV, and their baby Asa were there with us as well.

The theme for this year was Confidence in Christ for Decisions. On Friday, some of us arrived early and had a delicious chicken alfredo meal made by co Mai Thu, a CVCF board member. It was so good that some of us ate too much even when we knew we could not handle that much dairy. Opps… After that delicious dinner, co Uyen Dang, a CVCF board member, led us into prayers and lament. 2020 has been a chaotic year for all of us. We spent time lamenting for the brokenness of this world. We prayed for conviction, courage, commitment, and restoration. It was such a refreshing moment to lay it all down before our Lord Jesus Christ.

On Saturday, chu Thai Chung, a CVCF board member, spoke on Psalm 19 for devotion. The Lord is surely our rock and our Redeemer! He is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, and firm. After breakfast, we had an awesome time sharing our wisdom, desire, and struggle with each other led by Pastor Ken. It was such a great time getting to know everyone better as well as speaking into each other’s life. God has given each one of us different abilities, talents, and personalities to serve his kingdom. We are different, yet we are bided together by Christ. After that, our master chef, co Mai Thu, went all out and prepared a flavorful hotpot for us during a chilly day. After dinner, we spent time together singing, sharing, and having communion together.

On Sunday, Pastor Ken led a session on biblical decision-making. It was very informative and helpful especially for young leaders like us. We are excited to apply these biblical principles to our lives. We then packed and left after lunch.

What a weekend! It was great to see each other in person again after a very long time. Praise God for this opportunity! Praise God for these wonderful and godly people! Praise God for his love, grace, and mercy for us! We are ready to serve our youth this year!

CVCF Virtual Youth Retreat 2021

ZOOM | Jul. 29th - Jul. 31st, 2021

Praise God for another amazing year! We were in awe of how gracious our God was. Even though many things didn't go as we had expected, God had something else in mind. When God moves, something good is going to happen; and something good has happened. Undoubtedly, this year was a testament that God has not forsaken our people. He is always here beside us and working even when we don't see it. He is a great God!

This year, we had a total of 70 people from nine different states! Praise God for technology that has allowed us to reach so many people across the country. It was so encouraging to get to know other Christians from different states who have the same heart and the same vision for the Gospel. For the first time, we offered 2 sermons and 6 simultaneous workshops that were led by 8 speakers. Additionally, we had a wonderful opportunity to interview a missionary couple from Thailand. We also wanted to maintain the quality of the retreat. Therefore, we decided to keep small groups and workshop sessions small to encourage interactions and meaningful conversations. We had 10 small group leaders, leading ten groups which equal to one leader per 4 attendees. On the last day, we had to merge a few groups because some could not join.

We praise God for this unique opportunity to share the Gospel and plant many seeds in our young people. May God continue to raise the next generation for his Kingdom!

CVCF 2021 Worship Song List:

• Grace Alone (Kings Kaleidoscope)

• Death Was Arrested (North Point Worship)

• Lord, I Need You (Matt Maher)

• Undivided (Emu Music)

• Hidden (United Pursuit)

• Your Will Be Done (CityAlight)

• Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb (People & Songs)

• Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me (CityAlight)

• Glorious day (Passion)

CVCF Mission Trip 2021

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD | may 23rd - 27th

CVCF staff and board had an opportunity to go and serve at Chanku Waste Ranch in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota partnering with Send Relief. What a blessed and refreshing time! We were humbled, encouraged, and challenged by what we learned there. We praise God for how faithful and gracious he is. He has not forgotten the Oglala Lakota people group. He is still calling and raising up ordinary people to do extraordinary things for his glory. There is hope in Jesus! We cannot wait to come back and continue this partnership in the Gospel!

You can read more about a perspective from one of our staff members here.