It was one of the most important of retreats in the church’s life and we knew it. We had  our consultant, Dr Philip Huang’s analysis, notes and recommendations with us. He has had many meetings with the staff, the board of elders, and with the G20 a name we coined for the group of  20 church leaders. Together we have compiled and categorized a profile of the kind of disciple that our church wants to make when God sends people to us. At the retreat we tweaked it so that it easily resonates with members. We also identified the core programs (where most of the believers meet regularly):namely, the worship service and the cell groups, and added a few to these. Then we looked at the different stages a pre-believer would go through in his discipleship journey in the church: from being won to Christ, being assimilated, built up, equipped, and sent back to the world of per-believers to win others, and wheter there were sufficient programs at each stage. We also diagnosed several serious  gaps in the process and had to decide which to fix up. By the end of the retreat of 3 days and 2 nights, we had  a clear direction over the next one to three years with the year 2010 in broad strokes.

We worked together with the help of the Lord but he gave us even more than we asked or imagined. He was clearly present in our prayer times and holy communion. He was there as we discussed and could see how deft touches from His hand led to better synthesis, ideas and confidence. There was oneness despite occasional different opinions. The inter-generational platform of the current board of elders and pastors and senior leaders yielded synergy, ownership, confidence and a hopeful picture of the future.

-Report by Kenny Chee; photos by Francis Shin

The young adult ministry presents URBANE – Awaken to a new you

Calling out to all young adults.. MALES!

URBANE Registrations are on till 11th October 2009.

Limited to the first 100 participants only. Stand to win 4 hampers worth $200 each from our sponsors (L’Oreal & Redkens) from our grand lucky draw!

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Registration booth opens in our church premises, level 4, every Sunday, 12pm – 12.30pm at the cafetaria. See u there!

REGISTER TODAY!

The Board of Elders, Pastoral team, and some senior leaders will be at Batam for a planning retreat from 24th September to 26th September 2009. Pray for them as they set direction for the next several years based on the insights and observations and processes recommended by the church consultant Dr Philip Huang.

The objectives we set off with were all achieved. We affirmed St and his ministry of 15 years in Turkey. We shared in a worship service with the Turkish brethren. And we prayed with St for Turkey and his future.

During the 9 days, two full days were used for travelling and recovery time. I interviewed and videotaped two couples in a large city in Turkey who worked with and under St, and his supervisor in another city. I also videotaped the parts of the church service on Sunday in which I preached and St conducted the holy communion in Turkish, so people can actually see and feel the church they helped to plant, and also interviewed three Turkish believers. I had numerous conversations with St at mealtimes, while travelling and in the room when work matters are concerned. Ministry to the public in a Muslim country is risky so none was planned for the team but they got to visit and encourage St and get to know him and his work better. We also visited several sites of ruined cities like Smyrna, Ephesus, Laodicea, Philadelphia and Sardis. We read relevant portions of Scriptures from Rev 2, and 3 and prayed.  We also carried back three big bags and hand luggage for St and Yip even offered to pay for postal shipping fees for his boxes of books. Praise the Lord.

15 years is a lot of life to lay down for a foreign people and St has done so. He has learned the language, the culture, and with a team planted a small fellowship of converts. Both the fellow workers and believers appreciate the church for its faithful support of St and felt they would miss him and his ministry. Pray for St has he closes one chapter, takes himself out of the situation, process how God has been using him in the past and consider what the next step will be. Pray also for Turkey which has a population of 72 millions, still largely unreached and most have never heard the gospel. 61% of Turkish population is under 35 and that is a lot of young people. Pray.  -Kenny Chee

(Photos and names of places and people cannot be posted for security reasons).

Pray in your cell groups, prayer groups, families and privately:

1. Pray for God’s grace to be upon the church as we go through many changes, but especially hold up the pastoral staff and board of elders in love and prayer.

2. The church consultant has practically finished his work. Pray for the Board of Elders, pastoral staff and key persons as they go on retreat to pray and plan the church direction for the next several years.

3. Pray for the recruitment of a church administrator and pastor (children ministry). The right person would be found and he or she would be a blessing and be blessed in the service of the Lord.

4.  For our partner Pastor John in Yangon, Myanmar. Pastor Thomas has just gone there to encourage and refresh him, train leaders using MLM, and also to see the progress of the church building project(Look oout for the pictorial report which will be posted soon).

5.  Pray for our young people preparing themselves for major exams. Its easy to be discouraged, distracted and feel like giving up. They need our prayers as they fulfill their responsibilities before God in studies. For parents to be encouraging, sensitive and supportive during this time.

6. For all who attended and completed Alpha Course, that they will build on the solid foundation they have received and will grow in grace and in the knowledge of God and be salt and light to other non-Christians.

7. For all cell group leaders to be revitalized even as they feel weary at times. Pray for unity and faithful and supportive cell members to use their gifts and abilities to serve one another in the cell groups.