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It seems I was too biased with my previous post regarding Aletheia…so it’s only fair that I also share my memories of Hosanna.

For starters, Hosanna was the place where I first understood what was going on, this whole deal of fellowship, bible study, worship…the list goes on. It was easier for me to transition into this new church environment since I already had friends from school going to Hosanna (Sam, Tim, Cat, Char…). Also, there was usually a hyped vibe in the air, perhaps because we’re all teens going through puberty, or because people were ecstatic about coming to fellowship to see people and/or worship God. Notice I said “and/or”, and the way I ordered my words. But that was addressed in the other post anyway, plus I am guilty for doing it in more than one occasion at times.

Hosanna is VERY good at welcoming newcomers. Rather, I should say that because the attitude in the fellowship is different (and because its a different age group; high school, after all), it is easier to bring in friends who have never experienced anything Christian (or have, but are just visiting). In my reflections, and in my coming analogy, Hosanna is capable of becoming a group of wild school girls crowding around a new male student, trying to learn as much about him as possible in the shortest amount of time…where Aletheia is capable of becoming a group of 20-something year olds casually chatting with each other (though we can also have a craze moment for select people?).

Being in Hosanna for 3 years, I had ample opportunities to serve everywhere. And if you’re in the serving positions…we all know that your absence doesn’t go un-noticed. One thing that stands out in Hosanna, perhaps because they have the entire sanctuary (and its gear) to use, is the time set apart for musical praise&worship. The depth of the songs and the liveliness depends on the worship leader and the team; there were many, MANY occurrences where the team would play songs for the sake of coolness — it wasn’t heart-felt, it didn’t mean anything…the heart of worship isn’t all that present most of the time. So although there is time set apart for worship, there isn’t time set apart for worship — if the heart isn’t set on pleasing God, but was rather striving to glorify ourselves, then it is better to not have worshiped at all (ie. giving God a blank cheque of worship). There are times though, when people can be convicted through the musical worship…but in my years there, it was few. Perhaps things have changed now?

The more I think about it, the more I see that my experience in Hosanna was not the same for anyone else. My experiences are fabricated by how I chose to interact with people, how I contributed to bible studies and discussions. I found that although I spoke my mind while in Hosanna bible studies, I spoke my heart in Aletheian bible studies. The groups are small enough to be able to be transparent with one another, and since everyone has matured (ie. has been weathered by university life), the critical questions, thoughts and discussions goes beyond our own understanding at times. I found it true for Hosanna, and I still find it true for Aletheia, but it the group dynamics truly depends on how the leaders present the material and engage the groups. As a bible study leader in Hosanna, I tried my hardest to present the material and actually engage discussion…I am only aware of a few other leaders during our time in Hosanna who would’ve felt comfortable engaging others. Perhaps how the studies are being led now is different, I’ll have to ask Arthur sometime.

I think I stated this in my previous posts…but I don’t miss Hosanna anymore. The first few months or so in Aletheia, of course…everybody misses what they previously had. But we moved on, accepted the new environment of our new family. Though we are all part of the same family in Christ, each fellowship is a family unto its own. And being part of the family means learning of its inadequacies and short-comings, which every family has. However, being part of the family, we also have the conviction to get our hands dirty, get bruised and battered if we need to, all in attempts to help the family overcome the problems. Being part of the family means sticking together and toughing it out; if you see there’s a problem, man up and point it out…and help.

The question of how one can abandon a family in need, while sorely pointing out its inadequacies…but also refusing to help the family heal and grow, can only be answered by the people themselves. If I had relied on my friend’s biased opinions on how Campus Church was, I never would have gone and seen what I was missing, what was needed, and how I could help. Surely enough, just being there and offering my opinions and engaging in discussions helped. But that’s just my lifestyle, and no one else’s — some people would rather walk/run away from potential, rather than endure a little to expand it.

I have heard, I have seen, I have felt…and now I will help.

All hands on deck.