2021 Family Retreat

For medical assistance, contact camp doctor: Dr. Al Lee – (714) 606-2293
For medical emergency, notify FCBC leadership immediately, request 911 services or
notify any Forest Home staff.

For shuttle service at camp, contact brother TC Cheng – (714) 661-4565

Schedule

August 7
Saturday
August 8
Sunday
August 9
Monday
9:00 AM Setup
Receive wrist bands
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Welcome, Worship		 9:45 PM -12:00 PM
Nur/PreK

11:15 AM - Message 1

11:15 AM - Children #1 / Youth #1
12:10 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch
(1:40 PM) All-Retreat Photo
Check-in Recieve room keys
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM Recreation Options:
Main Pool;
Canyon Park: Sky Trail and Giant Swing

Counseling:
Counselor 1-1's
(4:00 PM - 5:00 PM) Counseling & Prayer with Pastors
5:30 PM - 6:50 PM Dinner
7:00 PM - 9:15 PM
7:00 PM - 7:50 PM
Worship		 6:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Nur/PreK

8:00 PM - Message 2

8:00 PM - Children #2 / Youth #2
8:45 PM - Small Groups
9:15 PM Snacks, Fellowship
10:00 PM Cabin Time
11:00 PM Bedtime (Counselors, please enforce)
6:30 AM Morning Devotionals
7:15 AM - 8:00 AM Guided Prayer (Sanctuary)
8:00 AM - 9:20 AM Breakfast
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Worship		 9:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Nur/PreK

10:40 AM - Message #3

10:40 AM - Children #3 / Youth #3

11:25 AM - Small Groups
12:10 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM Recreation Options:
Mears Lake: Swimming, Boating, Water Slide and Blob

Crafts:
(3:00 PM on Sunday Only) Arts & Crafts

Counseling:
Counselor 1-1's
(4:00 PM - 5:00 PM) Counseling & Prayer with Pastors
5:30 PM - 6:50 PM Dinner
7:00 PM - 9:15 PM
Ivan & Stephanie Ling's Sharing
7:00 PM - 8:15 PM Praise Presentation (No Nursery/Prek)
8:15 PM - Children #4 8:15 PM - Testimonies
(No Nursery/Prek)
Youth testimonies will be at outdoor bonfire.
9:15 PM Snacks, Fellowship
10:00 PM Cabin Time
11:00 PM Bedtime
6:30 AM Morning Devotionals
7:15 AM - 8:00 AM Guided Prayer (Sanctuary)
8:00 AM - 9:20 AM Breakfast
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Worship		 9:15 AM - 11:10 AM
Nur/PreK

10:40 AM - Message #4

10:40 AM - Children #5 / Youth #4

11:15 AM - All-Retreat Closing, Slideshow, Thanksgiving, Children's Presentation
12:10 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Checkout, Free Time / Go Home
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Recreation Options:
Mears Lake: Boat and Paddle Boards Only

Camp Rules and Sharing

Spontaneous Prayer 

  • Pray with and over each other at any time, in any place

Participation 

  • Make the most of every opportunity to glorify God and bless your fellow brother/sister here at camp. 

Campground Environment 

  • Safety first! Supervise and know where your kids are at all times. 
  • Prohibited: profanity, abusive or inconsiderate language, use or possession of tobacco and alcohol products, lewd or pornographic materials or publications. 

Lodging Areas 

  • Respect lodging areas. Keep noise to a minimum. Curfew is 11:00 p.m; enjoy your cabin time in your apartments. Quiet hours are 10:00 pm to 8:00 am. 
  • Youth must avoid opposite gender quarters. 

Electrical Devices 

  • Silence phones during worship and general meetings.
  • Use electrical devices in a God-honoring way. 

Campsite Rules 

  • Forest Home EMERGENCY AND WELCOME ORIENTATION provided electronically

 

Testimonies & Small Group Sharing

Testimonies: Sharing God’s Goodness

  • Audible: tell us your name and introduce yourself.
  • Brief: limit your sharing to 3 minutes.
  • Christ-centered: confess Jesus Christ publicly, especially if you have accepted Him or re-established your relationship with Him.

Small Group Sharing

  • Open the time with prayer.
  • Get personal – talk about your Christian testimony, your family, some current life challenges and joys, why you are here at camp.
  • Prayer – Pray for one another and the camp.
  • Share a recent experience or praise God for what He has done or quote something from God’s Word.

Welcome

Welcome back, church family! 

Welcome to our "Home in the Forest". It has been two years since we have taken a family "vacation" together. So this year 's retreat is doubly special! :) 

Our annual church theme and camp theme, "Now More Than Ever," comes from Hebrews 10:24-25, where church members are exhorted to "not forsake assembling together" but to "encourage one another" and all the more as we see the "Day drawing near." 

Unfortunately, COVID-19 has been and continues to be a hindrance to our assembling together. So, may I urge each one of us to really make the most of our time together at this retreat. We don't know how many more interruptions to our meeting schedules may occur due to COVID or other reasons. Therefore, let us have a godly urgency about our time together, making the most of the 55 hours or so we have. 

Would you take the time to ask someone how the Lord is working in their lives, and how you might be able to pray for them? And then, of course, pray together. 

Would you also take the time to play with someone? You might protest, "Pastor Godfrey, playing is NOT making the most of the time with others." I agree if playing is only for the purpose of winning and dominating others in competition. But if you "play with a purpose" to grow in grace, patience and relationships with others--then I believe that's playing with a "godly urgency". Your playing together can and will lead to praying together.

As I write this, our dear sister Melissa sits at home with a broken elbow, and her attendance at the retreat is tenuous, at best. Let us uphold her, and one another, in love and in prayer. We take many things for granted, but in reality we never know how things will turn out in the future. Hopefully we will be able to take another "family vacation" next summer, but there may be some who will no longer be with us 12 months from now. 

Therefore, now more than ever, let us "number our days, that we may present to (the Lord) a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).  

Blessings,
Pastor Godfrey

Speakers

English Speaker - Dr Derek Quan
Pastor Derek was born and raised in the Bay Area.  He became a Christian after college. In 1986 God  called him to full-time ministry. He started his  Master of Divinity at Western Seminary in 1988.  God led Derek into Chinese ministries in 1991.  Upon graduation from seminary in 1993, he took  the call at Greater Phoenix Chinese Christian  Church in Chandler, Arizona. He was ordained in  1997 and has been serving as the English Pastor,  Administration Pastor, and Lead English Pastor.  He retired from full time pastoral ministry in  2019, and currently serves as the interim Senior  Pastor of Journey of Faith Church. Pastor Derek and wife Kathy have three children.
Chinese Speaker - Dr Ekron Chen
Rev. Ekron Chen was born and grew up in Hong Kong. He came to the United States for college education, studying computer science. While in college, he felt called to full-time ministry. He got his Master of Theology (Th.M.) from Dallas Theological Seminary. After graduation, he started a Chinese speaking congregation in a Dallas suburb and served as the pastor for seven years. Then he pursued his doctorate at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and received his Ph.D. in Christian Philosophy. He joined the faculty of Logos Evangelical Seminary in 1999. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and the Director of MDiv/MACS Programs. Rev. Chen loves teaching. He is deeply burdened in theological education, equipping servants for God’s kingdom. His favorite hobbies are music, basketball, movies, and science fictions. He has been married for more than 30 years and has three children.
Youth Speaker - Pastor Robert Chan
Robert Chan is proud to have Jesus Christ as his Savior, Master, Treasure, and Friend. His eyes were opened in the 7th grade to his own deeply sinful heart and the glory of the gospel of the cross of Jesus Christ. Since then, he has been carried by grace to live an imperfect but increasingly devoted life to God. Robert received his M.Div. from The Master’s Seminary in 2013 and serves as the youth minister at the church where he came to faith, Mandarin Baptist Church of Los Angeles. He enjoys playing tennis, reading, listening to (and making) music, engaging in conversations, and sharing everyday adventures with his bride, Kathy, and their daughter.
Children's Speaker - Auntie Lois Sherwin
Lois Sherwin is dedicated to building teams that invest in the lives of children and help them meet the best friend they will ever have,  Jesus Christ! She loves to partner with parents to help equip them to raise kids who know and love Jesus. Lois has earned two Masters degrees, one from Trinity and another from Talbot School of Theology (M.A. Christian Education).  She is currently a student at Talbot working on a DMin. in Spiritual Formation.  Lois is happily married to Dr. Nick Sherwin, a business professor at Biola University.  They are blessed with two adult children, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters and a grandson! Lois regularly speaks at camps and conferences and is passionate about equipping others in their spiritual journey!

Message Outlines

August 7
Saturday
August 8
Sunday
August 9
Monday

English Messages - Pastor Derek Quan

(separate handout for Outline & SG Questions)

Message 1
Teamwork, Teamwork – That’s What Counts!
“Spurring one another on to Good Deeds”
Nehemiah 3

Message 2
Airing Out Our Dirty Laundry
Spurring on to Love
Nehemiah 5:1-19

Youth Messages – Pastor Robert Chan

Message 1

Now More Than Ever: Why We Gather (Hebrews 10)

Hebrews 10:24-25 - “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as
you see the Day drawing near.”

I. Now More Than Ever... Because He Died Once for All (Heb 10:1-18)

II. Now More Than Ever... Because We Need One Another (Heb 10:24-25)
  1. As the ______ of Christ, we gather to ________ Christ by our love for Him (Eph 5:25-27).
  2. As the ______ of Christ, we gather to ____________ the body in love (Eph 4:16).
  3. As a __________ of ________ unto God, we gather to __________ others to God and His gospel (1 Pet 2:9).

Discussion Questions:
  1. How does remembering Jesus’ sacrifice motivate us to approach God in worship?
  2. Which biblical picture of the church do you want to better represent: the bride, the body, or the royal priesthood?

Message 2

Now More Than Ever: Finding Rest in God (Genesis 2:1-3)

  1. Resting on the 7th day reveals the purpose of man: to glorify God by ___________ His ____________ and resting in His _____________.
  2. God did not rest on the 7th day because ______ not God, but because _______ not God.
  3. Sabbath is our declaration to the watching world that our ultimate ________ is in the Lord and not in our __________.
  4. Sabbath is a declaration of our ___________, where we step away from our ____________ work to rest in God’s ____________ work of creation and salvation.

Priorities to Pursue on the Lord’s Day:

Discussion Questions:
1. What are you worried you’ll miss out on if you stop regularly to rest in the Lord’s presence?
2. What are some ways that you can make the Lord’s Day a special time with God?


Children’s Schedule & Messages – Auntie Lois Sherwin

"Now More Than Ever" (Hebrews 10:19-25) – Keep meeting together! We need
each other!

Saturday Morning – The Creation Story – Genesis 1:1 – 2:9

Saturday Evening – Moses and the Burning Bush – Exodus 3:1-20

Memory Verse: Arise, shine; your light has come. The Lord’s glory has shone
upon you. Isaiah 60:1

English Messages - Pastor Derek Quan

(separate handout for Outline & SG Questions)

Message 3
Urban Renewal
Encouraging One Another
Nehemiah 11:1-36

Youth Messages – Pastor Robert Chan

Message 3

Now More Than Ever: Body Building (Romans 12)

I. One Body, Different Functions (Rom 12:3-8)

II. Outdo One Another (Rom 12:10)

III. Live in Harmony with One Another (Rom 12:16, Col 3:12-16)

IV. Exhort One Another (Heb 3:13)

Discussion Questions:
  1. What is one specific way that someone in your church has inspired you toward a greater love for Christ?
  2. Write down the names of three people in your church family that you would like to encourage in the coming months. Consider how you will practically stir them up (Heb 10:24-25).
 

Children’s Schedule & Messages – Auntie Lois Sherwin

"Now More Than Ever" (Hebrews 10:19-25) – Keep meeting together! We need
each other!

Sunday Message – Faith Through the Roof – Luke 5:17-26

Sunday Evening – The Lost Parables – Luke 15

Memory Verse: Arise, shine; your light has come. The Lord’s glory has shone
upon you. Isaiah 60:1

English Messages - Pastor Derek Quan

(separate handout for Outline & SG Questions)

Message 4
Have a Happy Day
Meeting Together
Nehemiah 12:27-47


Youth Messages – Pastor Robert Chan

Message 4

Now More Than Ever: We Gather to Scatter (Acts 28:16-31)
I. The Gospel Unhindered: When Things Don’t Go Our Way

II. Paul’s Example Under House Arrest
  1. He __________ Christ at home (Acts 28:16, Phil 1:14-16)
  2. He __________ connection to the body of Christ (Epistles)
  3. He __________ others to hear the gospel (Acts 28:17, 23)
  4. He __________ himself to God’s calling (Acts 28:30-31)
III. The Huddle

Discussion Questions:
  1. Think of a something in your life that has not been going your way. How might the Lord be calling you to represent Him in your circumstances?
  2. How will you take what you’ve received from the Lord during this huddle and implement it on the playing field?


Children’s Schedule & Messages – Auntie Lois Sherwin

"Now More Than Ever" (Hebrews 10:19-25) – Keep meeting together! We need
each other!

Monday Morning – Mary at the Tomb – John 20:1-16

Monday Family Presentation – Song: Genesis 1:1 & Isaiah 60:1

Memory Verse: Arise, shine; your light has come. The Lord’s glory has shone
upon you. Isaiah 60:1

Devotions

August 8
Sunday
August 9
Monday

Sunday, August 8 Children’s Morning Devotions

When you wake up, before you do anything else (unless you really have to go to the bathroom)

Talk to God, present yourself to God as a living sacrifice, open to Him and His will in all things.

Prayer: “Lord, I am here. I present myself to you. Here I am. God I want to do what you want me to do. Whatever I do today, I want to do in you. I know I am Yours. Be with me today, I open my heart to You. Help me to do Your will. Thank you that You love me. I love you.”


A Humongous Love

God created human beings in His image. Genesis 1:27

Have you ever thought about how much God loves you? You could spend your whole life thinking about it and still never understand how humongous God’s love for you is.

For starters, God made you in His own image! Just think about that! God wanted you to look like Him – maybe not on the outside, but in your heart and soul. Then think about how God created every treasure in the universe, but He says you’re worth way more than any of them. In fact, you’re so special to God that He wants to talk to you and to be part of every single moment of your life. He wants to fill you up with His love so full that when other people look at you, they see His love (Matthew 5:16).

So if you ever wonder what you’re worth, remember this: God created you. He loves you, and He says you belong to Him (Isaiah 43:1). You are the best of God’s creation!

Thank God for loving you with such a humongous love!

Today with Jesus…Think about how much God loves you.

Monday, August 9 Children’s Morning Devotions

When you wake up, before you do anything else (unless you really have to go to the bathroom)

Talk to God, present yourself to God as a living sacrifice, open to Him and His will in all things.

Prayer: “Lord, I am here. I present myself to you. Here I am. God I want to do what you want me to do. Whatever I do today, I want to do in you. I know I am Yours. Be with me today, I open my heart to You. Help me to do Your will. Thank you that You love me. I love you.”

Now read this.


Praise God

Come, let us bow down and worship God. Let’s kneel before the Lord who made us. He is our God. Psalm 95:6-7

Every day is full of good things and not-so-good things. It’s tempting to let the not-so-good things take over your thoughts and stress you out. Don’t do that. 

Think about God instead, and how He’s able to help you, no matter what you face (Romans 8:37). Think about who God is, and worship Him. Remember all that He’s done for you in the past and praise Him. Thank Him for sending Jesus to save you and for all the ways He takes care of you, protects you, and loves you so very much! Open up the Bible and read about all the ways God has helped His people. Thank God for using His great power in your life – just as He did for Moses, Abraham, Esther, the Crippled Man, and more. Because when you remember how big God is, then your troubles seem so much smaller. Stay close to God, and nothing will be able to stand against you.

Prayer: God, You are the most powerful, the most wise, and the most loving, and I praise you! Thank you for loving me. I love You, amen.

Today with Jesus…think about the great power and might of God.

Family Camp Team

Program

Worship Song Leader & Musicians Vocalists: Venus Tong, Fred & Vivien Lee, Percy & Ming-fen Cheng;
Musicians: Manfredi Lee, Matthew Tong, Mike Nguyen, Josephine Yee
Families Leading in Worship Samuel & Manfredi Lee family, Ruth & Debbie and family, Lin Zheng & Chelsea family, Wei-wan & Judy Li family
Messages Pastor Derek Quan, Dr. Ekron Chen, Pastor Robert Chan, Auntie Lois Sherwin
Interpreters Annie Chow, Polly Sequeira, Philip Huang
Praise & Presentations Pastor Godfrey Hom
Testimony Night Pastor Godfrey Hom
Pray for Meals Stacey Hom, Renee Lin, Jack & Aaron Nguyen, Joshua Do, Su Chen, Roger Peng, George Chiu

Caring

Little Kids’ Camp Stacey Hom, Carren Chang
Children's Program Uncle George Chiu
Youth Camp Pastor Steven Lee, Scott Lee
Youth Counselors Nathaniel Chang, Caleb Cheng, Carter Chi, Ben Chi, Uncle George, Jonas Choi, Peter Kim, Scott Lee, Mike Nguyen, Thien Han Nguyen, Tony Nguyen, Tim Nguyen, Robert Sie, Matthew Tong Elizabeth Huang, Michelle Park, Chris Wong, Josephine Yee
Small Group Discussion Coordinators Rose Lee, Philip & Carol Huang, Dian Choi
Small Group Discussion Leaders Kevin Lee, Samuel Lee, Jeff Yeh, Michael Wong Nipa Halim/Dana Nguyen, Renee Lin, Ruth Chi, Elaine Wong Daniel Lim, Lin Zheng, Grace Lim, Judy Yang, Christine Lee, Erica Wu Dian Choi, Annie Chow, Polly Sequeira, Emily Ta
Ushering-Greeting Lin Zheng, Samuel Lee, Alex Chi, Ben Chi, Carter Chi, Katie Ma, Joshua Li, WeiWen Li, Roger Peng, Wystan Tong

Activities

Craft Naomi Suzuki, Christi Chiu
Camp Photo TC Chang, LiHui Hsu, Roger Peng
Slide Show Nathaniel Chang

Support

Logo Design Adrienne Lee
Brochure, Banner, etc. Rose Chan
Promotion LiHui / Ruth Chi, Carter, Alex & Lauren; Wystan & Venus Tong; Debbie & Josh
Registration Melissa Sum, Debbie Yau, Jenny Sy-Munoz, Judy Yang
Audio/Visual Jonas Choi, Peter Kim, Carter Chi, Caleb Cheng, LiHui Hung
Handbook Patrick Sum
Translation Dian Choi
Camp Info Microsite Scott Lee
Check-in Rose Lee, Suan Fung, Jenny Sy-Munoz, Ruth Chi
Hospitality Nipa Halim
Snacks/Refreshment Carol Huang, MinHsiu Chen
Medical (714) 606-2293 Drs. Al Lee, Peter Fung, Josephine Chen, Daniel Lim
Transportation, Camp Shuttle TC Chang, Wynstan Tong
Name Tags Ruth Chi and family
Camp Planning Patrick & Melissa Sum