CoHi2005 & AsianAm Church Thoughts

This past Monday night, there was another meeting for CoHi2005. A lot of people came (a lot = 12 to 15), the most I've ever seen, and it was a fairly good mix of different people, past participants, and various churches. It was encouraging and yet to me, also daunting to think that there's only 6 months from the projected date of the event in October.

Ten random thoughts I had during the meeting:

1) I like the idea that some people who have never been to CoHi and people who are CoHi "veterans" might be working together... something new and something old combined.

2) It's good to see some people who are passionate about the Asian American community knowing God like I am.

3) Everyone has the potential to be a "leader", but I'm not sure how committed people are. Some people gave me the impression that CoHi is just another thing being added to an already crowded plate.

4) Everyone seems to see the same needs in our community, but I think opinions vary widely on what's the best way to minister as God would to those needs. There's a lot of good ideas bouncing around, but they haven't been sorted fully for the details to be fleshed out, and the clock is ticking.

5) The conference format is very commuter dependent... but it brings the challenge that many of the targeted demographic of people, high schoolers and college students, are often dependent on others for transportation.

6) It's also going to be a challenge to build inter-church community when people aren't going to be spending as much time together as they would have to if they were shut in together inside a cabin.

7) I like the idea that CoHi is viewed as a part of a movement that God is already stirring, but I wonder how much long term planning is being considered taking into account that we want people's faith to be carried out over their lives and not just one weekend.

8) In relation to #6, the arguable weakness of many past CoHi events (including 2002), has been the weakness in follow-up and developing disciples from large numbers of those who had a desire to grow. There are of course exceptional people to whom this doesn't apply, but "CoHi droughts" point to a consistent error: many leaders have failed to properly raise up future leaders.

9) The ability of local churches to evangelize young people often depends on the quality of the faith of those who already attend them, and the vitality of their lives as living witnesses. CoHi will be depending on local churches a lot to help with this conference... but what if the local churches are weak? What if leadership and faithful people who serve are either poorly supported or completely absent?

10) I hope a lot happens between now and the next meeting in May. It's exciting to see God at work visibly around me.

Any other people who attended the meeting have thoughts?