From the Seminary to the Community: Bringing Hope to the Hopeless
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in ministry internships as part of my Master of Divinity program. These experiences have included visiting Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and engaging in prison ministry. Each time I serve, this verse resonates in my heart:
"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” (Mark 2:17)
Indeed, doctors exist for the sick, and likewise, every person may find themselves in need of healing. Without doctors, patients might never recover. This reflection has reaffirmed the importance of relationships—how our existence completes one another’s presence. This mutual reliance and outward focus beautifully illustrate the relationship between Christ and us.
God became flesh in Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost, sharing the good news of the Kingdom. For the sake of one lost sheep, He is willing to go out and find it. Similarly, our lives are meant to glorify God, and through the transformation of our actions and character, we make Christ visible and real in the world.
As Auguste Rodin once said:
"The world is not lacking in beauty, but only eyes to see it."
When stepping into Vancouver's Downtown Eastside or entering spaces for prison visits, our hope is that people might come to know the presence of Jesus Christ through our care and concern. We are simply messengers, tasked with accurately delivering the Kingdom values of Christ. We aim to bring light into darkness and hope into seemingly hopeless situations. As Hebrews 11:1 reminds us:
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Faith is the foundation for transformation. May we continue to live out this faith, enabling more people to see and experience the love and salvation of Christ.
- Passion Cheung (MDiv Student)
