Dear WGM Family. . .

           Before we knew it, we have come to yet another point of transition in our student cabinet. For some of us who are graduating, it hasn’t hit us yet. For me, writing this post is part of my attempt to come to grips with that reality, but it will also serve as my personal letter to you all who are part of the WGM family.

           WGM has tremendously impacted and shaped my life. Through Global Café, God has opened my eyes to whole new horizons. He has shown me more of His heart. He has painted for me a picture of the world as He sees it, and He is inviting me to share in the work of the Kingdom. I hope and trust that the same can be said for you as well!

           Global Café has grown tremendously during my time here, and I am so privileged to be allowed to be a part of it. The relationships I have formed here are precious to me, and it’s painful to say goodbye. This place is one of the few places in my life where I feel like I truly belong.

           But now I turn specifically to next year’s student cabinet. I want to paint for you a picture of who Asbury WGM is. Even though I have spent barely a year on cabinet, I think I have been a regular attendee long enough to attempt to articulate the heart I have found here (side note: if a newcomer can articulate what you are about after knowing you for a short while, you’re doing something right).

            If I could take everything we do and boil it down to three main purposes/missions, they would be these: 1) to connect people to the heart of God and to others; 2) to make sure every person who walks in those doors feel seen, heard, and valued; and 3) to exhort one another to say “Yes” to God’s call. I am so grateful that we have a group of people who give their all to these purposes week in and week out, and a director who unendingly reminds us to be expectant of what God wants to do. WGM is a vision-caster, and God knows we need more of them. We need people who cast a vision of the Kingdom, of the call, and of the heart of God.

         This is why we do what we do. Whether you make gallons of coffee every week, or you stand outside in the elements to welcome people in, or you spend every Saturday making desserts. Whether you stand up front with a guitar or at the back putting out chairs for the latecomers (we see you), this is why you do those things. Believe it or not, the reason you wipe down the tables and “store up treasures in heaven” is so that someone can have a place to say yes to Jesus. You are doing Kingdom work! Don’t ever forget that.

          Treat every person who walks through those doors as special guests, for you’ll never know when you may be attending angels unawares.

            You will be blessed with a family you never expected to have but will be eternally grateful for. You will be known as the wild ones and will be proud of it. You will be surrounded by people who are willing to stand with you through the storm. They will celebrate when you celebrate and weep when you weep. This is a place where vulnerability is received with love.

             The seniors are leaving to you a great work, a legacy. That legacy is not ours. It never was. We were only stewards of what had been passed on to us for this short time. Neither will it just be yours. You are a part of something bigger than yourselves. And we know we are leaving this place (and James!) in good hands.

              Here at WGM, we connect people to God and to the world. It is what we do. It is who we are.
 

Praying God’s blessings on you,
Nathanael Chong (​'19-'20 Webmaster)