12 years on (GPS)

I was reminded by one of the 4 guys in our Guys Prayer Support (GPS) group that we began meeting 12 years ago. Being a significant number in the Bible, e.g. 12 tribes of Israel, Jesus’ 12 disciples, it has truly been a blessing and encouragement to continue to share and journey together as the 4 of us continue in ministry, family life, and overall discipleship with the Lord. Although we only meet up occasionally now, with family and ministry constraints, challenges, I appreciate these brothers deeply, and know that anytime we are able to share and know that they are there, supporting and praying for me and us all.

Phygital – The New Physical & Digital Nature of Ministry

A newly launched initiative by Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, Resilient Church Leadership (RCL) hosted a webinar on the new physical and digital nature of ministry, termed “Phygital,” especially in this post-Covid era, with Eddie Copeland, Nate Bush, and Mindy Caliguire.

(Facebook video here)

Read more about RCL here.

Serving the Lord – a decade in ministry

Today marks exactly 10 years in total that, by God’s grace and enabling, I have served the Lord in full-time ministry. The journey began earlier though, since May 2003, when I first started out as a ministry staff in my home church. In the span of the past 15 years, apart from the 10 years in ministry (including close to 6 years as a pastor), I have also studied for 3 years and graduated from bible college, gotten married and became a parent of 4 children, and served mainly in missions, youth & young adults, and Christian education in both church and parachurch environments. Looking back, it sometimes feels like a lifetime since it all started, but it also seems as though time has flown by quickly. Here are some reflections and lessons learnt along the way.

Of blogs, bikes and Bible ministry

I had the privilege of having lunch today with the original local blogging pastor (or Blogpastor, as he’s more commonly known), Ps Kenny Chee.

PC: Kenny Chee

I chanced upon his blog whilst starting up my own blogging journey in 2007, where he had already been blogging regularly for a few years, and had quite a good following. Since then, we have had sporadic interactions, exchanges through our blogs and social media, and a few near-misses (being at the same events but not meeting), e.g. Pastors Prayer Summit, him visiting the church I was pastoring youth at.
Finally after 8+ years of virtual friendship, by divine appointment (I only found out the night before through his FB post that we were attending the same conference), we arranged to meet today for the first time over lunch at the EPPI preaching conference. Such is the culture and times these days I guess, where people can somehow be connected, yet disconnected, virtual friends, yet never meeting IRL (in real life). But it is also interesting times, where we can actually meet and cultivate kindred friendships across continents, borders, cultures, churches and denominations via social media and the Internet.

We kind of hit it off quite well from the get-go, perhaps as we have some mutual acquaintances and common backgrounds. He shared about his pastoring journey of 35+ years at WRPF, as well as his challenges and struggles. It was a relatively short time, but I was really encouraged and blessed by this humble and faithful man of God, and in his words, I definitely gleaned some “gold nuggets” of wisdom on life and ministry from him. Interestingly, we never really got down to chat about our common, shared interests of blogs and bikes. But as I was reflecting, writing this post, perhaps it was for the better, as we shared about life and Bible ministry, pastoring and preaching, that which counts for eternity, of lasting eternal value – the Word of God, and the souls of man.

Looking forward to more encounters and interaction in the future! Continuing to keep you, Ps Kenny, your family and your ministry into God’s hands.

Reasons pastors should blog

I chanced on this old article on DesiringGod.org, on reasons why pastors should blog. It’s a good read, especially for those in ministry. Here’s a summary.

Pastors should blog:

• To write
• To teach
• To recommend
• To interact
• To develop an eye for what is meaningful
• To be known (as a person)

Read the full article here

Another article – 10 reasons pastors should blog

Before You I Kneel (A Worker’s Prayer) | Keith & Kristyn Getty

Before You I kneel, my Master and Maker
To offer the work of my hands
For this is the day You’ve given Your servant
I will rejoice and be glad
For the strength I have to live and breathe
For each skill Your grace has given me
For the needs and opportunities
That will glorify Your great name

Before You I kneel and ask for Your goodness
To cover the work of my hands
For patience and peace to shape all my labor
Your grace for thorns in my path
Flow within me like a living stream
Wear away the stones of pride and greed
‘Til Your ways are dwelling deep in me
And a harvest of life is grown

Before You we kneel, our Master and Maker
Establish the work of our hands
And order our steps to seek first Your kingdom
In every small and great task
May we live the gospel of Your grace
Serve Your purpose in our fleeting days
Then our lives will bring eternal praise
And all glory to Your great name

© 2012 Getty Music Label, LLC

Don’t waste your life doing youth ministry

​A good read (read through to the end).

http://www.churchleaders.com/youth/youth-leaders-articles/272207-dont-waste-your-life-doing-youth-ministry.html

The day I hit the wall

Good article by Gordon MacDonald.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2016/winter/day-i-hit-wall.html?paging=off

Start of a new chapter

I’m sitting in my new office on my first day of ministry in a new place. It has been an interesting year, to say the least. At least I’m thankful that the year is ending well, and that the metaphorical dust in our lives is slowly settling. Looking back, I can see God’s hand sustaining and guiding us every step of the way, although it has truly been a tumultuous roller-coaster ride at times, and also requiring steps, or even leaps of faith, moving into the realm of the unknown, only being able to place our trust and hope in our sovereign, loving God to bring His purposes to pass in our lives, as we walk in sheer obedience to His will and direction.

I’m truly excited about my new God-given role, in youth and young adult ministries, and looking forward to the retreats and camps coming up in the next 2 weeks. I foresee it’s going to be a busy December, literally hitting the ground running, but also happy to be working and in ministry after a rather long hiatus this year.

10 lessons learned from the resignation of Mark Driscoll

Pastor Joseph Mattera wrote an article in response to the recent resignation of Mark Driscoll as lead pastor of Mars Hill Church. Here’s a summary of his main points.

1. There is less tolerance for a top-down leadership style in today’s culture.
2. There is much more scrutiny today because of social media.
3. Love is more important than achievement and results.
4. All executive leaders and lead pastors need both internal and external accountability.
5. The church often elevates gifted people who are not emotionally mature.
6. When we do not build on character and integrity, our foundation is sand.
7. There are no shortcuts to success.
8. Know who your true friends are before the crisis hits.
9. Leaders need to prioritize spiritual formation in the midst of a busy schedule.
10. It is not how you start but how you finish that matters most.

Read the full article here.