From INHERITANCE Issue #3 - Fall 2009

It is barely 4:30 AM on a Wednesday morning when the store’s employees arrive. Inside Starbucks, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee signals a new morning.

A couple of hours later, with a green apron around his waist, David Tsai greets his next customer with a smile. While he takes another order of caramel latte, a guy in his early twenties at a cashier next to him proudly blurts out to the customer that David is a pastor. David responds with a smile and silently wonders how his life has impacted his co-workers at Starbucks.

Challenge to the Congregation
On one particular Sunday morning, David reminded the congregation that many people in the world lived without access to clean water, food, or even shoes. “How many of us are complacent and living lives that are too comfortable?” he asked.

David proceeded with a unique proposal to the congregation: donate the shoes that they were wearing and live the rest of that day barefoot while carrying on their regular activities.

At first, the congregation sat stunned, touched by the message but unsure of what to do. Eventually, 30 members felt compelled to step forward and leave their shoes in a pile by the pulpit.

More important than sacrificing our shoes is the underlying message of “Are we willing to forsake our earthly possessions and bear up our cross to follow God?” In the following week, three people shared their stories with David about why they gave up their shoes.

Three Unexpected Stories
A twenty-something year-old lady had recently taken a trip to China and found a “perfect” pair of boots. She had been unable to find such a pair in the States and was happy that this pair was stylish and a great fit.

During the altar call, she internally struggled because she finally had found a pair that she liked, yet she was willing to donate what she had. She did not want to have something that was more important than God in her life.

The second story came from a man in his mid-forties. A businessman, he had hesitated not because he couldn’t afford another pair, but because it had taken him a while to break in the shoes he was wearing. He, too, obeyed God’s call and went home barefoot by willing to put up with the discomfort.

The third incident was a mother of two young children. She did not mind walking barefoot outside. However, later that day, she took her children to a friend’s birthday party. On the way, they had to stop at a public bathroom for her children. It was stepping on the slimy, dirty and wet public bathroom floor that proved uncomfortable and “hard to swallow.”

David’s suggestion had affected them deeply, and they saw how Christ’s love could be lived out in the midst of uncomfortability.

Family Background
In his mid-40s, David is a Taiwanese-Brazilian American immigrant and an English pastor in an immigrant Chinese church. Integrity, humbleness, and generosity are words that describe him. His mission in life is to be a voice for the lost and broken while he desires to leave a legacy of a bridge between the first and second generations in Asian American churches.

While growing up in a pastor’s family, David had longed to become a medical doctor. His two high school best friends became doctors in Brazil. One day during sophomore year in college he came out of a classroom and felt the Lord asking him some questions. “Where are these people going if they do not know Christ? What do they have to live for?” As these questions and images haunted him, he initially ignored and rejected God’s call to minister to them.

In 1979 David’s family immigrated to United States because his father wanted to pursue further seminary studies. David became actively involved at church as a junior high advisor then eventually moving up to high school ministry. He realized that if he became a pastor he would have the opportunity to work with people and influence their lives.

Then came the realization that even if he became a doctor, patients may still die. Obeying God’s call to be equipped as a pastor, he attended seminary while studying part-time and working full-time at a clothing company. All the while, he continued to faithfully minister to students.

Initial Back-story
At a church coworkers’ retreat in the spring of 2007, they studied a book and DVD series entitled “Walk Across the Room” by Willow Creek Church. Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Church near Chicago, challenges his audience to get out of the saltshaker and our comfort zones in order to meet unbelievers. Hybels stresses the limitation of random evangelism and emphasizes on the one-on-one relationship and the opportunity it creates to share the gospel with someone.

Convinced by this message, David realized that he was living a comfortable life surrounded by many Christians. He also heard of a pastor who volunteered his time once a week at a local grocery store. Even a college advisor at church stepped down from serving to make Friday nights available to hang out with non-Christian co-workers.

During a summer home Bible study group at his house, Philip mentions to the group that he works at Starbucks. Casually David asks when the morning shift arrives. Philip replies about 4:15 AM. By now, David has been seeking for an opportunity to give back to his community. Yet, as a full-time pastor, dad, father of two young children, he knew it was not feasible to take on a second job. David begins to consider applying for a job at Starbucks in order to “walk across the room” and out of his comfort zone.

Now and then, when Philip comes to Bible study, he would casually ask David if he picked up an application yet. Once David finally did get an application, he filled it out and turned it in. He set for himself three “green-light” questions in order to move forward. The first was to convince himself to wake up at 3:45 AM. The second was his wife’s approval. The third was receiving approval from the senior pastor and the elders. Surprisingly, God answered all three requests and David submitted his application.

During the Starbucks interview, David made it clear that he did not need the money but was looking for an opportunity to give back to his community. Since December of 2007, David has been working Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 4:30 AM - 10 AM.

At first, the manager told the other employees to watch out for him fearing that David might be some maniac preacher trying to convert Starbucks customers. But his kindness and helpfulness quickly won him over.

Lifestyle Evangelism
As an advocate of lifestyle evangelism, Tsai lives his life with integrity and love for all people. Lifestyle evangelism is a form of evangelism expressed the way an individual live his or her life as a testimony of God’s love and truth. As we befriend unbelievers, we find common ground and then earn the right to be heard instead of pounding them head over heels with the message of repentance or eternity in hell. This is not an intimidation tactic using the gospel pamphlet of four spiritual laws or asking the frightening question, “If you die tonight, would you go to heaven or not?” Rather, when the appropriate time arises, we as believers pray for wisdom and discernment.

Outside the Christian Bubble
There were also some adjustments on Tsai’s part. For many years he was in a Christian bubble surrounded by family and church friends, now he had to learn how to interact with unbelievers. The first awkward encounter came two weeks after he was hired. Their local branch of Starbucks were having a company Christmas party and David was invited. That night proved to be uncomfortable, he admitted, because he did not remember the last time he had been in a non-Christian social event.

Most of the employees at Starbucks are in their late teens to mid twenties. Tsai’s presence is being one of a counselor and father figure. On a particular morning during the opening shift, he had a brief chat with a college-aged young man who needed to work to make ends meet so he had been unable to attend college that quarter. Up until now, he has befriended many employees, and they proudly introduce this barista as a pastor.

Instead of keeping the extra income for his children’s college fund, Tsai donates every penny to the church’s ministry, especially to the work of missions. As he honors his promise, God has abundantly provided for his each and every need.

Legacy
When asked about his legacy and how he wants to be remembered, David wants his life to be left as a legacy of faith for the immigrant church. Since 1996 to present, David has served as an English pastor at Evangelical Formosan Church of Los Angeles. He genuinely cares about the spiritual growth of his congregants.

He has been an instrumental bridge in the communication between the first and second generations in his church. This June marks the 40th anniversary of the church his father planted in Brazil. Next year, EFC LA will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

As Pastor David Tsai lives his life purposefully to leave his legacy, how will you be remembered? In what areas of your life are you willing to surrender and allow God to challenge and lead you? When God calls you, what “pair of shoes” will you offer?