Guest blogger: Anne Lau Choy on prison ministry

May 2, 2007

I volunteered as a chaplain at the Santa Clara County Elmwood jail’s Correctional Center for Women in Milpitas for a year and a half. I led a weekly Bible study and prayer group and then would go door to door, praying with whoever wanted. I was in a medium security section with individual cells housing 1 or 2 women.

Initially it scared me to interact with them and broke my heart to see people being treated like animals. About 98% of women in jail come from abusive childhoods and are on drugs. There is no pretense about needing God when you are in jail. The most basic message of the gospel, that Jesus loves you and offers forgivingness, is life and life changing. Somehow the gospel doesn’t always seem as powerful in our local churches. At the jail, I got to witness the power of God. I was deeply blessed!

We need to do hands on ministry, not just out of obedience, but to see Jesus and the power of the gospel. Jesus says when we feed the hungry, we do it to him.

I have new questions and concerns about our society and the church. How do we care for those in need? Do followers of Jesus Christ make a difference in our communities for the better or is there little change? What happens to the mentally ill? Many inmates are but prisons are not equipped to offer them help. How can we care for the mentally ill in appropriate and loving ways? What happens to the mentally ill in Asian communities and how does the church play a part in that or not? In this season of Eastertide, how is the body of Christ offering the hope of the resurrection to those in need?

I met a few Asian American women in jail and some of their family. Several were Christians who did not want their church or communities to know. I am saddened and yet know the reality that in the midst of this great need, the Asian American Christian community is the last place people would turn to for help. Reaching out to the church would lead to shame and greater isolation.

May our churches truly become the body of Christ led by our Lord.

Rev. Anne Lau Choy
Asbury United Methodist Church, Livermore CA

Horrific Tragedy at Virginia Tech - NKPC response

No words are adequate to respond to the tragedy at Virginia Tech last Monday (April 16). I'll try to share some thoughts in a day or two. At the moment, I want to simply grieve with the victims' families and pray that there will be no backlash against Korean and Asian Americans.

Here is a letter to President Steger of Virginia Tech from Rev. Myong Bae Choi, the Moderator of the National Korean Presbyterian Council of the Presbyterian Church, USA. It was given to me by ISAAC Board member, Dr. Young Lee Hertig. - Tim Tseng

April 17, 2007

Dr. Charles W. Steger
President
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA

Dear Dr. Steger,

We, the believing Korean American community lost words how to express our deep sorrow for the tragic shootings and sufferings that had occurred in your university community. As we are moaning with heavy hearts, we wish to extend our sincere condolence to grieving families that have lost their loving sons and daughters and the grieving VT student body that has lost dear friends and clasmates.

In the midst of wailing in broken heart we cry out to our merciful God to stretch out God’s caring hand to comfort and heal all those who are afflicted by the unfathomable tragedy. We are calling all of our Korean American congregations to have a vigil service to remember the victims and their families and to pray for the deliverance of the VT community and the nation from anguish of heart and brokenness of spirit. We also pray with all our heart and soul that God may strengthen your loving VT community with faith and hope so that it can soar out of the tragedy to become a great learning institution that helps people live with caring and loving hearts more than ever.

We hope to join in your effort to recover from the tragedy through memorial fund or other means as much as we can.

Sincerely,
Myong Bae Choi, pastor
Moderator
National Korean Presbyterian Council
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)