Meeting on Sunday afternoons is not the norm for us. So to see 130 people turn up for the first run of our Discipleship 1 training track was an encouraging response. Different trainers have been trained to do the teaching and facilitating too. So after lunch it was a short talk followed by about an hour of discussions in small groups. The topic today was “Our Works In God” and Kay Choo gave the talk.

Dr Philip Huan has consulted with us and the results are these key components of ministry structuring: Firstly, core product, which is, an agreed list of the traits we want to develop in the members God entrust to us. Secondly, the core process, which are the stages of the discipleship journey, its balance and the plugging of the gaps in between the stages. Thirdly, the core program, which are, the main instruments in the church that God will use to shape his people. In our case it is the church service, cell system and prayer gatherings. Fourthly, core pastoral leadership, which is the roles of the pastors and elders working together in harmony and mutual respect, to guide the process and discipleship journey. This article aims to describe the core product.

The discipleship journey must begin in the church with an end in mind. The core product spells out the kind of traits we want embodied in the members God entrust to us. Dr Philip Huan, our church consultant, guided G 20 or group of twenty pastors, elders and ministry heads and zone supervisors form all the component congregations: the kids, the youth, deaf, Chinese, and English Adult. After studies, discussions, prayer, and collation and summarizing we categorized all the results under each letter of the acronym S.W.O.R.D. The acronym stood for Service; Worship; Outreach; Relationship; Discipleship.

In September 2009, we had a strategic planning retreat at Batam. the participants were pastors, elders and the three senior leaders. The Spirit was stirring our hearts and there was the feeling that SWORD was not as resonant and consonant with our church history and core value and it was proposed and accepted that W.R,P,F. be the new acronym used instead and all the traits should be re-categorized under them. Surprisingly, WRPF captured all the traits and included the church’s distinctive values of missions and intercessory prayer.

WORLD- evangelism and missions

REVIVAL- work of the Holy Spirit (gifts and fruit of the Sprit)

PRAYER- prayer (intimacy and intercessory)

FELLOWSHIP – discipleship in community (making disciples through community)

Over the next five years we will emphasize the traits under the following acronym:

2010 – focus on developing WORLD(evengelism and missions); and PRAYER(intimacy and intercessory prayer)

2011 – we will focus on REVIVAL( gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit) and FELLOWSHIP (discipleship in community)

2012 – FELLOWSHIP

2013 – WORLD

2104- REVIVAL

Therefore in 2010, the programs planned will be deliberate and intentional in making disciples who will cultivate the traits of being compelled, compassionate and to have a community impact. It will also work at building disciples who seek God with intimacy and intercessory prayer. We urge the church to join ranks in being united in purpose and strategy.

KENNY CHEE

(based on slides presented by Alvin Lim, President, Board of Elders)

We WIN them by various programs like Alpha course or simply inviting them to church or to cell groups or even by sharing Christ with them in the office or school. Once they are won, ASSIMILATION is the next stage. We help them into baptism and establish them in the faith through follow up and help them to feel at home in the church and cell group as members. The third stage is where they grow in grace and in the knowledge of God through Sunday services, cell participation and Christian courses. this is the BUILDING stage. The fourth stage is that of EQUIPPING them with ministry skills such as evangelism, follow up, how to lead a cell group, how to serve in church, etc. The final stage of SENDING is when he or she who was invited is engaged in inviting others to Christ, in community service, or missions or some other ministry of reaching out to non-believers, thereby completing the cycle.

We also want to identify where people have fallen through the cracks or gaps between the stages and how we can help more people move through all the stages. For example, in 2010 we will be concentrating on following up guests and visitors that are invited to the sunday services. We want to do a thorough follow up of these precious people who have visited us. All this entails a great deal of attention to details, of data collection, and of stamina and motivation. Let us pray the Lord’s grace will see us through the implementation and sustenance of the work.

Kenny Chee

Senior Pastor

One of the main ways is to look at where most of the people gather together frequently and to ensure they become good learning and transformation places. The Sunday worship service and the cell meeting are where we have the most time to shape and form the minds and hearts and lives of our people for transformation. They are the main programs.

This means that we have to be deliberate, systematic and wholistic in what we impart on Sundays and in the cell groups. These are the hours where our people have offered themselves to be open to God’s Spirit and Word and trusted people to influence and change their lives.

“Wholistic” means that we have to look beyond just cognitive understanding of a trait. So for a trait like prayer, besides teaching on prayer, we also do a project or avenue for people to exercise a prayer habit; and a way for them to feel its impact; and an environment and method of encouragement and accountability to ensure the trait is developed.

It’s no longer hit and run and hope for the best. Its intentional and thorough.”