On the evening of Friday, February 13, at 6:30 p.m., the congregation of Bethel Presbyterian Church gathered for a powerful sermon delivered by Pastor Mary Hu. Drawing from the book of Philippians, Pastor Hu challenged believers to examine their spiritual priorities and commit to a life of “putting it all on the line” for Jesus Christ.
Pursuing the Ultimate Prize
The sermon centered on Philippians 3:12-14, where the Apostle Paul speaks of forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead. Pastor Hu noted that while Paul never criticized the Philippian church-a community that supported him financially even during his house arrest-he used his own life as a testimony to show that knowing Christ is more precious than any worldly achievement.
“Everything Paul had as a Pharisee, he considered a waste just to gain Christ,” Pastor Hu stated. She compared the struggle of letting go of worldly desires to a child reluctant to give up candy until they are shown a much larger bag. “If we give up many things to follow Christ but don’t actually obtain Christ, life becomes painful. But when we realize what we have gained is eternal, everything else feels like a loss.”
A Call to Authentic Faith
Pastor Hu touched on the sacrifices made by the immigrant community, noting that many left their families and careers in Asia to seek a better life or deeper faith in the United States. She cautioned the congregation against losing their “initial heart” and becoming distracted by material status symbols like houses, cars, or visa statuses.
Reflecting on her own family, she shared a poignant moment of prayer for her children. “There is a Chinese saying that you bring nothing when you come into this world and nothing when you leave,” she said. “But there is one thing we can bring to the next life: our relationship with God. That is what we must pass down.”
“Try Your Best” vs. “Put Your Life on the Line”
In a memorable illustration, Pastor Hu recounted a story of a hunting dog chasing a wounded rabbit. The dog eventually gave up, telling the hunter he “tried his best.” The rabbit, however, escaped because he was “putting his life on the line.”
“Are we going to live a life of simply trying our best, or are we going to put our lives on the line for the Gospel?” she asked. She pointed to the example of the Senior Pastor and church leaders who fast and pray fervently before major church decisions as evidence of a life truly committed to the “upward call.”
A Community in Prayer
Following the sermon, the atmosphere shifted to one of collective intercession. The members of Bethel Presbyterian moved into a dedicated time of prayer, first addressing the church’s collective needs before praying for one another and personal requests.
According to the church’s prayer list for February 13, the congregation focused on several key areas:
- Spiritual Renewal: Repentance, gratitude, and a “Media Breakthrough” for the church’s outreach.
- Missions and Growth: Support for the Senior Pastor’s upcoming Asia mission trip and the recruitment of NC Missionaries.
- Local Projects: The Baltimore Church loan renewal, building renovations, and the 2026 Summer Pioneering Project.
- Education and Business: Development of the school fund, campus teachers, and achieving “Biz Profit Goals” through faith and patience.
- Healing: Specific prayers for the physical health of members, including the healing of Pengfei, Nancy, Yenyi, and the recovery of Baby Hudson.
The evening concluded with a shared commitment to “press on” toward the goal of Christ, leaving behind the distractions of the past to embrace the eternal prize.