ignite 'n inspire

          During every ceremony, couples will often exchange and say something along the lines of... "I take you...to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part." But what does it mean to put these vows into action, especially when familial pressure is suffocating, personal loss is unbearable and unexpected obstacles arise? A-list actors Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun have teamed up to create the tragically beautiful "Queen of Tears" world, a masterpiece that has left audience with tears welling in their eyes week after week. It's been a long time since I have written a kdrama review, but I felt a need to capture my thoughts as many (myself included) eagerly await for what I believe will be a record-breaking drama finale.  Why do I think "Queen of Tears" is "the drama:" (1) Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun are simply acting geniuses : As the fam

As I tapped through countless photo and video recaps of TC this morning, I decided to re-read my post-conference reflection from 2019. I found it surprising how God provided me with such fresh and new revelations this year. Though I have been absolutely exhausted this weekend, the Spirit continues to tug at my heart, giving me flashback to important moments last week and reminding me that ministry is not easy, but is worth it because it is life changing. This year, God reminded me: ...about the body of Christ and how it is one body made up of many parts. Leading this year was no doubt a smooth process because I had a God-sent team who brought diverse strengths and gifts to the table. While one had deep understanding of the Bible, others came with lots of youth ministry leading experience. While some of us are chatty and extroverts, we also had some great listeners. While some loved discussing about science/facts & faith, others had a more emotional story to share. During the confer

     In a Lifeway Research study, it states that "two-thirds of those who attended church regularly for at least a year as a teenager say they also dropped out for at least a year as a young adult." As a former youth mentor, I often avoid reading these studies as these articles leave me with a long mental panorama of childhood friends and youths I have personally journeyed with who have decided to leave the church. Over the years, I cannot help but affirm these statistics...these research studies do align with the ministry attendance records as many choose to dedicate their lives to building a promising career, solid friend-network, and establish their own definition of freedom.       As a church servant and their former youth mentor, I am often conflicted when Christmas and reading weeks come along. I ask myself, "should I really  message these youths/friends?" "do they care about these church friendships that they have built during their junior/high school ye