Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Ethnos, La Jolla

"God is involved in a lot of ways in hurricane Katrina," said Seth Pruitt, the worship leader at Ethnos. "God is sovereign. He allowed Katrina to occur. In allowing it to occur, He has a plan beyond my understanding. Maybe it is to open people's eyes to the importance of compassion, now that the hurricane has come and gone. Or it reminds us of the frailty of human life. It may help people see the acts of evil and selfishness that exist under the surface of our civilization. Ultimately, why God allowed it to happen, I don't know.

"I do know that God does not delight in the suffering of people," said Pruitt. "He is intimately aware of every person He's created. It doesn't please Him when people die. Personally, I don't think God is pouring out His wrath on the city. All the wrath of God, the Father's wrath, was poured out on His Son. God is very gracious in his dealing with us. Everyone has been given a time to accept His grace and we can avoid His wrath if we accept it. This is hard love. I know it isn't much comfort to someone who lost their children in the hurricane. I grieve with [the people who experienced loss]."

Sponsored
Sponsored

A number of Christian groups have said the hurricane was a form of punishment from God. The Columbia Christians for Life said that the storm was God's way of punishing Louisiana for having ten abortion clinics and to prevent Southern Decadence, a gay-themed bash, planned for Labor Day weekend. Another group, Repent America, stated, "Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city. From 'Girls Gone Wild' to 'Southern Decadence,' New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same."

Pastor Yucan Chiu disagreed with the responses from these groups. "I think it is presumptuous to determine what God's motives are. Unless we have a direct revelation from God, Christians shouldn't say those kinds of things." Pastor Chiu added, "The amazing thing is that God hasn't done this to all of us. Sin has distorted creation and the human heart." Yucan said this is why he wants people to hear about Jesus, who provides forgiveness for sin.

Ethnos is Greek for an ethnic people group. Central to Ethnos' vision is to reach a variety of ethnic communities. "In the UTC area, there are 40 languages spoken at the local elementary school," said Pastor Chiu. "We want to help people realize that Jesus is unique and culturally relevant to all people." Chiu said he is intentional in his outreach to numerous cultures. In Ethnos' membership class, time is spent on multicultural training. Chiu cited numerous Bible passages, such as Galatians 3:8, which emphasized God's desire to reach all people. "People are attracted to Ethnos because of our multicultural vision, so they come knowing and wanting to experience many cultures. We are a real mix, which includes low-income families, Ethiopians, Gypsies. I'm a Chinese pastor; we have a white worship leader, and we often sing worship songs in Spanish."

"Multiracial churches honor God," said Seth Pruitt. "God put it on the heart of Pastor Chiu to pursue a multiracial church, and he has been obedient. It isn't something that can be programmed." I asked Pruitt why more churches don't have multicultural success. "It's hard enough to come together and reach out in faith to a God who is unseen. Then, add to this the discomfort of multiracial services. For many it's too much." Seth Pruitt believes it is sin to not pursue diversity. "It is a falling short of what God has intended. Whenever we fall short, it is sin. [Christians] need to pray and search the scriptures to inform us of God's heart for all people. Ask God to teach us His heart to make a practical difference because we need to reach all people." Pruitt mentioned cultural changes he has brought into worship. "I've been studying Indian music at http://Aradhna.com to bring in some of these elements. We use a sitar in the worship music. We sing songs in other languages, or we have had Ethiopians perform a song."

Last Thursday I attended a midweek Ethnos community group. The community group met to discuss different characteristics of Jesus. The group sat on couches and chairs in Seth and Courtney Pruitt's living room. After introductions, the women and men split for a time of accountability and prayer. In the men's group, men who requested accountability wished to discuss pornography, relationship problems, and work. Seth Pruitt asked the group to pray for him, that he would be a better witness to a coworker in the office. A college student asked for prayer for depression. The student desired to feel closer to God. After everyone spoke, the group prayed for each other. When the women returned, Steven Lee, the facilitator, requested that the group spend the remainder of the evening in prayer about the hurricane Katrina.

I asked Seth Pruitt what happens to the people who died in the hurricane. "The person who dies without Christ will face God's wrath," replied Pruitt. "Christians who die go to a new life with God. They go to a new creation that Jesus is preparing for us called heaven."

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Jayson Napolitano’s Scarlet Moon releases third Halloween album

Latest effort has the most local vibe
Next Article

Morricone Youth, Berkley Hart, Dark Entities, Black Heart Procession, Monsters Of Hip-Hop

Live movie soundtracks, birthdays and more in Balboa Park, Grantville, Oceanside, Little Italy

"God is involved in a lot of ways in hurricane Katrina," said Seth Pruitt, the worship leader at Ethnos. "God is sovereign. He allowed Katrina to occur. In allowing it to occur, He has a plan beyond my understanding. Maybe it is to open people's eyes to the importance of compassion, now that the hurricane has come and gone. Or it reminds us of the frailty of human life. It may help people see the acts of evil and selfishness that exist under the surface of our civilization. Ultimately, why God allowed it to happen, I don't know.

"I do know that God does not delight in the suffering of people," said Pruitt. "He is intimately aware of every person He's created. It doesn't please Him when people die. Personally, I don't think God is pouring out His wrath on the city. All the wrath of God, the Father's wrath, was poured out on His Son. God is very gracious in his dealing with us. Everyone has been given a time to accept His grace and we can avoid His wrath if we accept it. This is hard love. I know it isn't much comfort to someone who lost their children in the hurricane. I grieve with [the people who experienced loss]."

Sponsored
Sponsored

A number of Christian groups have said the hurricane was a form of punishment from God. The Columbia Christians for Life said that the storm was God's way of punishing Louisiana for having ten abortion clinics and to prevent Southern Decadence, a gay-themed bash, planned for Labor Day weekend. Another group, Repent America, stated, "Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city. From 'Girls Gone Wild' to 'Southern Decadence,' New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same."

Pastor Yucan Chiu disagreed with the responses from these groups. "I think it is presumptuous to determine what God's motives are. Unless we have a direct revelation from God, Christians shouldn't say those kinds of things." Pastor Chiu added, "The amazing thing is that God hasn't done this to all of us. Sin has distorted creation and the human heart." Yucan said this is why he wants people to hear about Jesus, who provides forgiveness for sin.

Ethnos is Greek for an ethnic people group. Central to Ethnos' vision is to reach a variety of ethnic communities. "In the UTC area, there are 40 languages spoken at the local elementary school," said Pastor Chiu. "We want to help people realize that Jesus is unique and culturally relevant to all people." Chiu said he is intentional in his outreach to numerous cultures. In Ethnos' membership class, time is spent on multicultural training. Chiu cited numerous Bible passages, such as Galatians 3:8, which emphasized God's desire to reach all people. "People are attracted to Ethnos because of our multicultural vision, so they come knowing and wanting to experience many cultures. We are a real mix, which includes low-income families, Ethiopians, Gypsies. I'm a Chinese pastor; we have a white worship leader, and we often sing worship songs in Spanish."

"Multiracial churches honor God," said Seth Pruitt. "God put it on the heart of Pastor Chiu to pursue a multiracial church, and he has been obedient. It isn't something that can be programmed." I asked Pruitt why more churches don't have multicultural success. "It's hard enough to come together and reach out in faith to a God who is unseen. Then, add to this the discomfort of multiracial services. For many it's too much." Seth Pruitt believes it is sin to not pursue diversity. "It is a falling short of what God has intended. Whenever we fall short, it is sin. [Christians] need to pray and search the scriptures to inform us of God's heart for all people. Ask God to teach us His heart to make a practical difference because we need to reach all people." Pruitt mentioned cultural changes he has brought into worship. "I've been studying Indian music at http://Aradhna.com to bring in some of these elements. We use a sitar in the worship music. We sing songs in other languages, or we have had Ethiopians perform a song."

Last Thursday I attended a midweek Ethnos community group. The community group met to discuss different characteristics of Jesus. The group sat on couches and chairs in Seth and Courtney Pruitt's living room. After introductions, the women and men split for a time of accountability and prayer. In the men's group, men who requested accountability wished to discuss pornography, relationship problems, and work. Seth Pruitt asked the group to pray for him, that he would be a better witness to a coworker in the office. A college student asked for prayer for depression. The student desired to feel closer to God. After everyone spoke, the group prayed for each other. When the women returned, Steven Lee, the facilitator, requested that the group spend the remainder of the evening in prayer about the hurricane Katrina.

I asked Seth Pruitt what happens to the people who died in the hurricane. "The person who dies without Christ will face God's wrath," replied Pruitt. "Christians who die go to a new life with God. They go to a new creation that Jesus is preparing for us called heaven."

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Jazz guitarist Alex Ciavarelli pays tribute to pianist Oscar Peterson

“I had to extract the elements that spoke to me and realize them on my instrument”
Next Article

Big swordfish, big marlin, and big money

Trout opener at Santee Lakes
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader