Deeper Love Through Discipleship

SVCHA Newsletter - Summer 2010 | www.svcha.org | 2360 McLaughlin Avenue, San Jose, CA 95122 1

Summer 2010 Newsletter

What’s Inside?

p.1-2 “Deeper Love • Through Discipleship”

by Andrew Hwang, MD

p.2 “My Volunteer • Experience – Seeing Joy in

People After God Rescues

Them”

by KhenYian Cheung

p.3 “Believe in Investing in • People”

by Mary Perez

p.3-4 “Pointing Patients to • Christ”

by Jim Khoe, DDS

by Andrew Hwang, MD

ABOUT SVCHA:The  Silicon  Valley  Chris1an  Health  Alliance (SVCHA) is a non‐profit orga‐niza1on comprised of volunteers who share a common rela1onship with Je‐sus Christ. Our mission is to show and share the love of Jesus Christ by pro‐viding accessible health care oriented to  the physical,  emo1onal,  and  spiri‐tual  needs  of  the  underserved  com‐munity.

VISION:“Then  your  light will  break  forth  like the dawn, and your healing will quick‐ly  appear;  then  your  righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 58:8

continued on p.2

Like individuals, organizations may change in perspective and direction as they grow and mature. As we pass our 6th-year anniversary at SVCHA, we

find ourselves going through a season of change.

This change was spurred by the desire to devote more of our efforts toward discipleship. At past leadership retreats and in talking with our volunteers, we saw that we wanted to make a more lasting impact on the lives of the men and women we were seeing at SVCHA. We realized that real change would only come about as we took the time to invest in individuals’ lives. CityTeam has used a discipleship model to reach more deeply into the communities that they serve. As one of the ministries operating under their umbrella, we saw the tremendous power this had in transforming individuals and their communities. But we were wondering how we could even participate in such a profound calling, since we are only present on a monthly basis with our medical and dental clinic.

Through additional board, leadership, and organizational meetings, we laid out our desire to partner with CityTeam in the enormous task of discipling men and women. We realized that in order to disciple others we each need to be in the path of discipleship ourselves. Not only does this mean that each of us spends personal time with God, it also means that we take the time to build relationships among ourselves. Discipleship, as a component of community, cannot be grown in an instant.

Consequently, we are now starting our Saturdays with a pre-clinic meeting in order to pray for each other and for the men and women who will be coming

by KhenYian Cheung

My Volunteer Experience – Seeing Joy in People A*er God Rescues Them

Deeper Love Through Discipleship

“Seeing the joy people had a"er being rescued by the Lord from darkness was incredible .”

SVCHA Newsletter - Summer 2010 | www.svcha.org | 2360 McLaughlin Avenue, San Jose, CA 951222

As I am about to leave for medical school, I have been given this opportunity to look back on my time here at SVCHA. It’s been a wild ride, full of ups and downs and a lot of learning. I doubt I’ll ever have an experience quite like this in my future work, studies, or volunteering.

I first learned about SVCHA after my dad attended a breakfast that Cheryl Thieu was speaking at. He thought it might be a good opportunity for me, since I was looking for some opportu-nities to volunteer for my medical school application.

► OrientationIn June of 2008, I attended the SVCHA orientation, where I learned about the mission of SVCHA and what they have been doing for the last several years. Our orientation group later met in the courtyard, where we spent time with men from the CityTeam Recovery program and with local homeless individuals who came for the lunch that was being provided. I found myself surprisingly at ease with them. The conversations I had were pleasant and the sharing was indeed blessed. After that wonderful time, I decided to show up for the next month. Little did I know it would be the start of a long-term commitment.

► Rescued by the LordEach session came with new faces, new stories, and most importantly, people whose lives were changed by God. Seeing the joy people had after being rescued by the Lord from dark-ness was incredible. God is for us, even if we choose to refuse his love. Hearing these stories was a source of encouragement, a reminder of God’s faithfulness. Also, it was uplift-ing to see the smiles and enthusiasm of the patients after they received dental and medical services. How-ever, some people can be difficult and hurtful. But I had to learn to be willing to say “no” to them and have the grace to forgive.

► Success in God’s EyesThe most difficult part of my time as a volunteer was learning to understand what a “successful” clinic looks like in God’s eyes. Initially, I felt the clinic was inef-ficient since we weren’t seeing as many people as I thought we could. I needed to understand that this is not a clinic that is

focused on worldly results, but on spiritual results that ad-vance God’s Kingdom. The number of people God wants seen on any given day is not for me to change or decide. By letting go of this, I began to see that one’s real health encompasses the state of one’s soul.

As I am about to complete my second year as a volunteer and say goodbye to the Bay Area, my prayer is that SVCHA continues to bless the unfortunate and the unreached people of the Bay Area and that God’s light may shine through all who volunteer. I also pray that many more can take my place because SVCHA needs more volunteers who wish to serve the underprivileged.

I will never forget my time here, so I want to thank everyone who I worked

with and learned from because without you, this experience would not have been as powerful as it was. I will take what I’ve learned to medical school and beyond. I do hope to return again in the future. God bless you all!

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through our doors. This time not only helps to set the tone for the rest of the day, but also helps to nurture fellowship among the volunteers and with our patients. Not only do we uphold and encourage our fellow brothers and sisters who are going through recovery, but I myself have seen that God can work through them to minister to me where I am spiritu-ally. Discipleship can—and does—go both ways.

Our desire to be disciplers and disciples does not affect who we serve. We have cared for, and will continue to care for, all men and women who come through our doors regard-less of their faith and where they may be at in their spiritual journeys. It does, however, affect those of us who want to be the visible ambassadors of Christ’s love at SVCHA, as we re-focus on loving God and loving our neighbors in a deeper way.

This process has not been easy, but we feel that this is a necessary and good step as our organization grows in spiritual maturity. As CityTeam has seen, true change comes not from the top down, but is organic and grows up from the roots. As we come together in Christ, He will give us the strength and stamina to continue “to show and share the love of Jesus Christ by providing accessible health care oriented to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the underserved community.”

Pictured from left to right: John Sylvester, KhenYian Cheung,

and Tommie Pratt

Pointing Patients to Christ

Believe in INVESTING in PEOPLE  because they are the only earthly  beings who are ETERNAL

SVCHA Newsletter - Summer 2010 | www.svcha.org | 2360 McLaughlin Avenue, San Jose, CA 95122 3

In Matthew 20:28 Jesus said “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve...”

► Blessing to OthersJesus, the Son of the God of the universe, humbled himself to be a servant and sacrificed himself as a ransom for many. For quite some time, I felt an inner unrest or need to serve. God had blessed me with a wonderful family, a church and a pro-fession that provides a fairly comfortable lifestyle. Yet, there was a sense of being disobedient. Just as God has so abun-dantly blessed me, He asked me to be a blessing to others.

► Prayer Team is the CoreFour or five years ago, I received an e-mail from the Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) regarding a ministry in San Jose. I met Eddie, who was the volunteer coordinator

by Jim Khoe, DDS

Ma#hew 25:34‐40“Then the King (Jesus) will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared  for  you  since  the creaKon of  the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked aOer me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 

Investing in people involves self-lessness and generosity.Sometimes it involves your time.People don’t always need you when it’s convenient.People can be obnoxious and uncaring.At best, people are loving, kind and thoughtful.

at that time, as well as Allen, Cheryl and Andrew. Unlike the secular charity clinics where I have volunteered in the past, I felt the Holy Spirit at SVCHA. The prayer team is the core and essence of this ministry. We can treat the medical and dental ailments, but this would be treating just the symptoms and not the underlying disease.

► Longing to RecoverThis disease is sin, which leads to destructive behaviors such as drug and alcohol addictions, physical abuse, etc. I feel the pain of the patients, who share their life stories with me. In their eyes, I see a longing to recover and rebuild their lives.

At worst, they are evil, without a conscience or feelings.Yet somehow, God thought it over and chose to redeem you and me and the world through His Son, Jesus.Perhaps your investment in people, just like His, can reap a great harvest of souls.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ ”

by Mary Perez

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Pointing Patients to Christ

Jesus said “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve...”

MaAhew 20:28

SVCHA Newsletter - Summer 2010 | www.svcha.org | 2360 McLaughlin Avenue, San Jose, CA 951224

Volunteering and Giving Opportunities

To volunteer contact: Linh Ly at linh.ly@svcha.org Dental Ministry:• Open every 3rd Saturday of the monthMedical Ministry:• Open every 3rd Saturday of the month

Special thanks goes to

Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara • Community Benefit ProgramSan Jose Christian Alliance Church• Grace Community Covenant Church• Individual donors•

for their financial support this year in the midst of an economic downturn.

We invite your small groups to minister with us by:

Assembling hygiene kits (toiletries, socks, etc.)• Hanging out at CityTeam• Witnessing for Christ and praying in the courtyard, • waiting room and basketball court

Donate to SVCHA

Thank you for your support of the Silicon Valley Christian Health Alliance! Your gift is helping to show and share the love of Jesus Christ by helping to provide accessible health and dental care oriented to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the underserved community. Silicon Valley Christian Health Alliance, Inc. (SVCHA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Your gift is tax-deductible.

Option 1 - Donate online at www.svcha.org Option 2 - Donate by mail:Please make your check payable to SVCHA and mail it to:

Silicon Valley Christian Health Alliance2360 McLaughlin Ave.San Jose, CA 95122

Thanks for your support!

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Special Thanks!

► Christ is the Hope We GiveThe patients at SVCHA are very appreciative of our service. It is rewarding to serve them, but more rewarding to know that we can point them to Christ through this ministry. Christ is the hope we give to those we serve. It is truly a privilege to be God’s tool for His glory. It is such a blessing to be co-workers with God’s people.