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September 10, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
475. My Family Update
It's been almost a month since I wrote my last blog post, so I'd like to share some updates about my family. We visited my aunt and uncle in Indonesia last month. They got to see my kids for the first time, and we spent a good amount of time together. They've been serving as missionaries for a long time, but I heard their ministry stories for the first time. Hearing their ministry fruit, hurt, and challenges helped me to get to know them better and pray more specifically. God gave them favour through a businessman who owns the mountain, who helped them build a nice house on top of a mountain. So our stay was very comfortable, and we enjoyed the nice view. Our time in Bali was great. August is hurricane season in Mexico, but it is the driest season in Bali, so we enjoyed continuous sunlight throughout our stay. Our kids liked Indonesian food (though limited to a few options), so we had a good time eating and resting. On our way back home, we had a 24-hour layover in Taipei (Taiwan). So we ventured out to stroll around Taipei 101, which is famously known for pro climber Alex Honnold climbing it without any safety gear. It was very urban and felt like we were in Korea. A bunch of us caught some colds during this time. After arriving home, we had a rough week battling jet lag and cold symptoms. But thankfully we are pretty much recovered now. We bought a used 2011 Honda Pilot in 2014. For the last 12 years, it served our family well, and we also used it extensively for ministry. (It was a non-official church van) But it had been acting up lately, and all the tires (including snow tires) were due for a change. Given its age and upcoming large expenses, we concluded it was time for a new car. We still need a 7-seater and cargo space for ministry, so we decided to buy another Pilot. We signed the deal on Wednesday (I'm writing this post on Thursday) and will pick it up on Saturday. The most exciting part for me is finally having Apple CarPlay and a power tailgate. Every time I go on a family vacation, I'm reminded that family is a wonderful gift from God. Just being present with my family gave me a great sense of joy and fulfillment. I reflected that this is why God wants to create a spiritual "family" through his church, because it is his heart: To dwell among his people forever. (Rev 21:3)
August 14, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
474. Slowly but Surely
There are many things in my ministry that felt like a distant dream years ago, but are now a reality. One of them is having multiple people in a preaching rotation besides me. Though I wasn't actively trying to make it happen, I now recognize that God has been "slowly but surely" raising up communicators in the church. First it was pastor Anthony, and then shepherds (and spouses). Years ago, one of my mentors who used to be a church consultant visited our church to speak. After the service, he gave me a couple of pieces of good feedback, and one of them was the need to raise up multiple communicators in the church. Back then, I was busy improving my own preaching, so that didn't stick with me. But I did agree with his point that the church needs multiple communicators, so even if something happens to me on a given Sunday, someone else can preach. It didn't resonate with me then, but now I see its beauty and necessity. We have already seen its benefits. During my sabbatical last year, in addition to Pastor Anthony, shepherds (and spouses) rotated in preaching during my two-month absence. I heard great feedback after I came back. So I have asked our shepherds to volunteer if they want to do it again this year, on the Sundays when I am not present. A few shepherds signed up to preach, and they will speak for the next two Sundays. Though I remain as the main communicator, I love that I get to empower other communicators. I feel so blessed that not only do we have a second strong communicator in Pastor Anthony, but also many shepherds who can be part of the preaching rotation. I shared before that shepherds' preaching will not be exegetical but testimonial. Pastors have enough time to study the text and consult many resources to make it the main focus, but lay leaders don't have enough time to do so. They will choose a theme they feel convicted about during this season and use the text as supporting evidence to make their point. And as they must rely on their real-life examples to make their point, their preaching will be relatable and could be more impactful. As shepherds function as lay-pastors for their house churches, I believe they already live a very pastoral life and have what it takes to speak into our lives.
July 17, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
473. God Did It
Praise team and I came back safely last Sunday, after serving in the Shepherd Conference and NLF Sunday service. During the conference, I heard so much positive feedback from the participants, including pastors. One pastor told me this: "Your team not just plays songs, but leads worship." I believe that is the utmost compliment a praise team could hear, and I was so proud of our team. During one morning session, the main speaker said he rarely cries in response to praise, but he did. (Funny thing is, I cried during that session in the middle of a fast song!) There was an undeniable presence of God during each praise session. My sermon at the NLF Sunday service was well-received as well. As I was preparing for the message, I prayed that I would not preach to impress but to benefit. After the service, many came to me personally to share how the message encouraged them, so I was glad they found it beneficial. All our shepherds and spouses who attended the conference shared that it was really helpful to them. I was very happy to see them connecting, interacting with shepherds from other churches, building wonderful friendships within the universal Church and learning from each other. Leading up to the conference, I wasn't sure what this would lead to, but after the conference, it was clear that God would use our church more to bless other churches in the HC ministry network. I saw it as an answered prayer to the prayer we make every week to become a resource church. Though we might be small, I was reminded that God used a shepherd boy to strike down a giant. He can use 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed the thousands. As we were about to leave NLF, a verse on the wall caught my eye. It said, "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." (1 Th 5:24 NIV) I felt like this wonderfully summed up our trip: God, who called us, enabled us.
Jesus said, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required". I didn't know how much we had, but through this trip, I realized how much God has given us. If God is increasing our capacity to serve, we just adjust accordingly, trusting that God will give us the ability and resources to do so.
July 3, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
472. God Who Calls also Enables
Many of you already know, but our praise team is invited to lead praise time at the Shepherd's Conference next week. It is an annual conference that happens for shepherds and spouses in North America, and about 200 people attend. This year, all our shepherds and spouses are attending as well. Though the conference starts on Thursday, the praise team will fly out with me early on Tuesday to practice. They were also asked to lead praise time during Sunday service at NLF (New Life Fellowship), the host church, so they will return on Sunday evening. (I will also be preaching there on Sunday) Last year, when Pastor Eric came to speak at our members' retreat, he noticed something about our praise team. After the first praise session, he openly invited our team in the middle of his first sermon at the retreat. We were all surprised, and some thought he was making a joke. But when the official invitation came, we knew he was serious. I believe there is a special favour of God on our praise team, and his favor is always for the greater good of His people. So, I think God has called our praise team not to showcase their talent but to bless the greater body of Christ, particularly within the house church ministry network. Also, we believe it is our privilege to serve back the church that hosts HC lay leader seminar, pastor's seminar, and Shepherd conference every year. Just as we were blessed through their service, I believe God is giving us the opportunity to show appreciation through this. Our praise team has been practicing multiple times a week for the last 6 months. Even with such preparation, it is sometimes easy to doubt ourselves: "Are we good enough?" This is the type of doubt I wrestle with when I am invited to guest speak as well. But one thing I have learned over the years is this: **God who calls also enables.** God wants our success more than anyone else. He never calls us to fail. He sets us up to succeed. And when he gives us an assignment, he also gives us the ability to fulfill it. I am confident that this trip will be a great blessing not only to the participants but also to our praise team. Please pray for safe travel for the praise team and all who are attending.
June 26, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
471. My Testimony - Pastor Mitchell Perez
God's love found me at 16 years old while in my bedroom. I cried out to God to save me and use me. I repented of my hypocritical life. One way with my peers at school. Another way with my peers at church. Soon after, I made it my aim to live for God's Kingdom. I was consumed with letting Him do a great work through me. So I evangelized peers. Taught Bible studies. Served my church. My life was marked with passion. Boldness. Risk-taking. I would go on to Bible College and become a youth pastor at a large church at the age of 20 years old. But what began to happen beneath-the-surface was a brewing problem. See God, in His grace, brought fruit to many of these endeavors. People were getting baptized and growing under my leadership. Ministries grew by multiple metrics. I received much affirmation from leaders. But I didn't just receive it, I reveled in it. I'm not even sure I was aware of this at the time. Over time, I began to judge fellow Christians who struggled with doubt or those who didn't have the "passion" like me. I rebuked fellow Pastors that weren't as "biblical" or who weren't willing to sacrifice and work like me. I became the "older brother" in the Parable. But I was blind to see this. So then... God because He really really loves me... began to do a great work in me. He gave me the gift of sending me to plant a church that didn't result in explosive numerical growth like I wanted. If it had grown like I wanted - perhaps I would be yet another pastor scandal. Another leader that didn't have the character to handle the weight of such a ministry. Along with this gift - a Christian leader I looked up to, whom I longed to be affirmed by, crushed me with his words: "You're an unfaithful Pastor and if the Holy Spirit was truly anointing your ministry there would be fruit - your church hasn't even grown passed 30 people..." To be clear - He was wrong to say these words and they certainly weren't based in biblical teaching. But His words - sinful as they were - became a gift from God. In my brokenness, I believed these words from this leader. My shattered heart turned to God with anger. I considered leaving Christianity altogether. I willfully opened the door to pornography as a way to spite God. Though my actions were sinful. It revealed something profoundly important: "Mitchell, you're not as strong of a Christian as you thought were..." My God loved me so much, He broke me. And this was His great work in me. Bible scholars call this "sanctification". The lifelong process of becoming more like Jesus Because - as it turns out - God wants to reach the lost in the world. But He also wants to reach the "lost" in His children's hearts. We have a great mission for Jesus - Matthew 28 But the Spirit has a great mission for us - Romans 8 The Spirit wants to conform my character to Christ... I'm 38 years old now. And I'm so grateful for His great work through me. It's a privilege to be a pastor. A high honor. But I'm now so so so grateful for His great work in me. I've come to see that spiritual maturity is not: Learning more Bible Doing more good works Accumulating Church titles Spiritual maturity is when more and more of my pride is broken and I become increasingly controlled and content in the Holy Spirit. I hope my testimony blessed you. Thanks for reading.
June 19, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
470. Easy or Excellent
Last Sunday, we had to gather online only as the school we rent had an annual event for that weekend. We were notified only a few weeks beforehand, so I quickly searched for potential places to rent, but either the location was too far, or the rate didn't make financial sense. So we settled on an online service, which was actually our last resort. So I had an option. Either use Zoom (which we did last time) or do a livestream. The easy way was to use Zoom. I already have all the settings prepared for the "thought of the week" video recording, which I use every week. Camera and lighting are already set up, and I just have to turn on the computer. But since Zoom cannot reliably stream live music, after talking with Jen, we decided to do a YouTube livestream instead, just like we did in the pandemic. And since I wasn't preaching that Sunday, I felt I had enough time to just work on the livestream. And we decided to set it up in our living room, and also asked the special praise team and the prayer person to attend in person. But the work was much more than expected. We had to move the sofas, bring all the sound gear up from the basement, and set up the livestream gear. Thankfully, my house church members helped a lot with the setup. But trying to refresh my memory and learning about livestreaming all over again took longer than expected. My mind was on it all week, and at one point I found myself asking, "Why am I doing it the hard way?" "Did I make a mistake when I could've easily chosen an easy path?" But that's when I remembered King David's confession. King David made a mistake by performing a census when God didn't instruct it, which caused plague to spread in Israel. Prophet Gad asked him to set up an altar to God at the field of a guy named Arauna and offer a sacrifice there to stop it. When David arrived, Arauna offered to provide everything for the sacrifice. But David refused the offer and said, "I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." (2 Sam 24:24). He paid for the field and oxen required for the sacrifice, and God was receptive to his sacrifice, and the plague stopped. We can sometimes choose the easy path. But there are certain things, at certain times, that we must be willing to pay the price. Choosing what is easy is not always rewarding. But choosing excellence always feels rewarding. And excellence demands cost. As all who joined online already know, there was an issue with sound, and things didn't go that smoothly as I expected. But my heart was still joyful afterward because we chose the difficult but rewarding path. And I believe God was pleased with what we offered to him. And I found it amusing that the sermon was also about excellence. Regardless of our experience, what is important in our worship is that God is honoured, and I believe he was.