Growing up, I struggled to find a community where I always felt welcomed, loved, and accepted. Every place and person I was introduced to felt inauthentic and lonely. When I was in elementary school, my parents brought me to Canaan for the first time, kickstarting the beginning of beginnings. For 2 years, every Sunday, I would be excited for Sunday school. I couldn’t wait to sing, dance, memorize bible verses for tickets, and exchange them for prizes at the children’s store. I loved the food they served for lunch and how I got to play with other kids after. During middle school, I graduated from the children's ministry and transitioned into the youth ministry. For the next four years, I would stay with the youth ministry until I graduated from high school.
When I was in high school, I often had places where I would go to “escape the world.” Canaan was that one place for me. It would eventually become a second home for me. Every Friday night, I would enjoy the games that we played, the bible study that we did, and the snacks we got to eat after. On Sundays, we would have service in the mornings, conjoined with the English ministry, and break off for Sunday school after. Even though it was Sunday, we would still play games sometimes. The bible study we did was all very encouraging, understandable, and easy to follow along with. I normally wouldn’t enjoy sitting down and taking the time to read and analyze a book, especially not a book as long as the bible, but the youth pastor made it very enjoyable. Every Christmas, we would have an annual church lock-in where we would sleep over at church. That night would consist of a white elephant gift exchange, broomball, and staying up until three in the morning, bonding with the other youth, whether that be playing games or watching movies together. We were always super sleep-deprived after, and the first thing everybody did when they went home was sleep. As much fun as I had during normal church times, annual events, and activities, there was one thing that changed me forever.
During the President’s weekend every year, Canaan goes on a joint retreat with other churches. This time is a time for the youth to separate themselves from the ongoing distractions and noises of the world to spend time with god and each other. The Children’s ministry was fun, the Youth ministry was even better, but nothing could compare to the first-ever youth retreat I went to. When I got there, I had a chance to escape reality. I felt empty, alone, and was scared to face difficulties and challenges in life. But as I departed from the retreat site, things were different: I had this new bravery and courage to confront reality, didn’t feel alone anymore, and felt fulfilled. As I moved on, it didn’t feel like the retreat ended. It felt like the retreat experience followed me wherever I went and stayed in my heart. It added to my personality, heart, and soul and made me feel changed and new.
There are so many more experiences I’ve had in Canaan and with its members. Some of them include getting lunch out with the youth every once in a while, learning guitar to serve on the worship team, senior nights, painting the wall in the youth room, beach days once in a while, serving in children’s ministry, attending art, cooking and table tennis classes at the Taiwan center on the second floor, helping out with worship, the retreats we go on every year either just with our church or other churches, combined worship nights with other churches, the recent mission trip to Taiwan, and so much more. Canaan was a big part of my childhood growing up, and I want to thank all the Sunday school teachers, pastors, youth counselors, church members, and lastly, the church members for being with me every step of the way and supporting me, making the end of my elementary school year, my entire middle school, and high school years something to remember.
By Benson Chang