25 Oct A Journey to Connections

Dear Mosaic Family,

It’s been five years since my family and I first stepped into Mosaic Church Austin.

Having just moved to the U.S. in 2019, we were searching for a church to call home. My wife, Audrey, approached it logically, creating a spreadsheet to score each church we visited on coffee, welcome, worship, word, and warmth.

After visiting a few churches, we walked into Mosaic and were greeted with kindness and hospitality. When we asked about the student ministry, Pastor Barnabas not only told us where it was but personally walked us across the street and introduced us to Pastor Wendell, who made our daughter, Cara, feel immediately welcome.

We hold high standards for church membership, coming from a thriving church in Malaysia with the mission to “love God, serve people, and make disciples.” It felt like God had led us to a perfect match, as Mosaic’s core values of ‘worship, community, and mission’ closely aligned with what we had known and loved.

Just as we were starting to connect with people in church, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and life shifted to isolation. Mosaic quickly adapted by moving services and community groups online. Through the church website, we found Pastor Morgan’s community group, led by him and his wife, Carrie. Through Zoom, we formed deep friendships that sustained us through those challenging times, even through a 13-inch computer screen.

When in-person meetings resumed, those online friendships grew into deeper relationships, and we developed community with the beautiful people in Mosaic. Being part of this community has nurtured and strengthened us in ways we never expected.

For nearly three years now, I’ve had the privilege of serving on staff, deepening my relationships with God’s people in Mosaic. As the pastor of connections, I get to bless others the way my family and I were blessed when we first came to Mosaic – making sure that visitors feel welcomed and connected with the body of Christ in our church.

Being connected is such a crucial part of our lives. United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said at a press conference in 2021 that ‘widespread loneliness in the U.S. poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily” and called on organizations to make changes that will boost the country’s connectedness.

We have a community of believers that’s meant to thrive on being connected; however, we need to make the effort to develop those relationships by reaching out to someone. Friendships need to be developed. I implore you to make the effort to get to know someone better this week. Reach out and have a meal together. Instead of spending time on social media, spend time with a person. At our Fall Festival this Sunday, make one new friend and get to really know them.

I am grateful for how God teaches us to live out Hebrews 10:24-25—spurring one another on toward love and good deeds, continuing to meet together, and encouraging one another.

Go on, you can do it. I believe in us.

Blessings,

Keong Fong
Pastor of Connections