Shawn's Story

Hi, my name is Shawn Jeong. I attend the Hi, my name is Shawn Jeong. I attend the Saddleback Lake Forest campus and I Saddleback Lake Forest campus and I Saddleback Lake Forest campus and I develop financial professionals and I develop financial professionals and I develop financial professionals and I started a small group at work. A few years back, I was at a very A few years back, I was at a very difficult point in my life. I was living difficult point in my life. I was living difficult point in my life. I was living for myself, doing whatever I want to, for myself, doing whatever I want to, for myself, doing whatever I want to, doing whatever I think would help me doing whatever I think would help me doing whatever I think would help me succeed. succeed. succeed. And so that [music] led me to Colorado And so that [music] led me to Colorado And so that [music] led me to Colorado where I had no one to lean on and just where I had no one to lean on and just where I had no one to lean on and just got stripped everything out. got stripped everything out. got stripped everything out. A friend since I've known since middle A friend since I've known since middle A friend since I've known since middle school, Steven Moon, he's the campus school, Steven Moon, he's the campus school, Steven Moon, he's the campus pastor at South Bay pastor at South Bay pastor at South Bay and he said, "Well, and he said, "Well, and he said, "Well, um just last year, we had this thing um just last year, we had this thing um just last year, we had this thing called One Life and I wrote your name on called One Life and I wrote your name on called One Life and I wrote your name on it. it. it. And I've been praying for you." And I've been praying for you." And I've been praying for you." A middle school friend A middle school friend A middle school friend >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> that would pray for me and have that >> that would pray for me and have that >> that would pray for me and have that relationship with him, bring me back to relationship with him, bring me back to relationship with him, bring me back to God. God. God. Everything I did led to ultimately my Everything I did led to ultimately my Everything I did led to ultimately my downfall. And then when I And then when I when I listened to God and or did what when I listened to God and or did what when I listened to God and or did what he wanted, he wanted, he wanted, uh uh uh he just connected [music] the dots.

he just connected [music] the dots. he just connected [music] the dots. I think that's ultimately how I kind of I think that's ultimately how I kind of I think that's ultimately how I kind of came back to California. came back to California. came back to California. I was looking at the Saddleback app and I was looking at the Saddleback app and I was looking at the Saddleback app and I found some resources, but I found out I found some resources, but I found out I found some resources, but I found out that I had to be a small group leader to that I had to be a small group leader to that I had to be a small group leader to [music] use those resources. So then I [music] use those resources. So then I [music] use those resources. So then I said, "I'll be a small group leader so I said, "I'll be a small group leader so I said, "I'll be a small group leader so I can do my daily [music] devotionals." can do my daily [music] devotionals." can do my daily [music] devotionals." And I had a co-worker who shared about And I had a co-worker who shared about And I had a co-worker who shared about Jesus to another co-worker and her name Jesus to another co-worker and her name Jesus to another co-worker and her name is Issa. is Issa. is Issa. I kept wondering, I kept wondering, I kept wondering, >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> you know, she accepted Jesus, but what's >> you know, she accepted Jesus, but what's >> you know, she accepted Jesus, but what's next? How is she doing? And that next? How is she doing? And that next? How is she doing? And that curiosity is what ultimately curiosity is what ultimately curiosity is what ultimately got me to start a small group. We meet every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at We meet every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the office. Uh the office. Uh the office. Uh >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> it's before, you know, everyone else >> it's before, you know, everyone else >> it's before, you know, everyone else comes in. It's a little bit of quiet comes in. It's a little bit of quiet comes in. It's a little bit of quiet time [music] time [music] time [music] and we use that time to really share, and we use that time to really share, and we use that time to really share, talk about each other's [music] lives, talk about each other's [music] lives, talk about each other's [music] lives, get to know get to know get to know co-workers on a personal level and to co-workers on a personal level and to co-workers on a personal level and to really learn more about God really learn more about God really learn more about God >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> to see what he has in store for us.

>> to see what he has in store for us. >> to see what he has in store for us. We started a new video series and after We started a new video series and after We started a new video series and after the video the video the video Isa had gotten emotional and she said Isa had gotten emotional and she said Isa had gotten emotional and she said she's [music] been a Christian her whole she's [music] been a Christian her whole she's [music] been a Christian her whole life but not once did she feel a life but not once did she feel a life but not once did she feel a connection. And then as she was talking, that's when And then as she was talking, that's when I realized why God I realized why God I realized why God started me on this path to starting a started me on this path to starting a started me on this path to starting a small group. Starting a small group small group. Starting a small group small group. Starting a small group has had a lot more impact on me than I has had a lot more impact on me than I has had a lot more impact on me than I had realized and I thought I was doing had realized and I thought I was doing had realized and I thought I was doing it for someone else. And you know, I it for someone else. And you know, I it for someone else. And you know, I totally invite other people totally invite other people totally invite other people if they have a calling, if they have if they have a calling, if they have if they have a calling, if they have some small desire some small desire some small desire to start one to start one to start one then take the first step because then take the first step because then take the first step because you have no idea where God's going to you have no idea where God's going to you have no idea where God's going to take you.