Community - A Means of Grace

 "...because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:9b

We often feel like the difficulties, pains, suffering, etc we are currently going through are the worst, and no one will understand how much we are putting up with, or hanging in there.

On one hand, it is true. Because you are unique and individual. Your emotions to situations, your blend of difficulties and your triggers to what causes you anxiety, or the straw that breaks ur back is unique.

Yet on the other hand, the situation itself, the fact that there are seasons where a collection of difficult circumstances happen concurrently is not unique.

The Word exposes this lie "that you are alone" or "no one can understand". The Word reminds us that there are others in the world who are undergoing the same kind of suffering (or also having very difficult circumstances), and still holding out their faith.

Be encouraged and find community who can lend you strength when you own strength wanes - Corporate gatherings & Worship in community are also means of grace offered to us for the Journey to Really Live. :)

The God who makes things happen...

 

Photo taken from this post by BroHenson

In this Pentecost season, we ae reminded of how God poured His spirit & ability upon His followers in the book of Acts and they supernaturally spoke in a new language, that is not their native tongue.

The foreigners among them heard and wonder how it is that these jews could speak their language! And in that language, they heard the gospel & praises proclaiming God's works, and came to accept Christ as Lord.

Pentecost for us
This reminded me of the conversation we had in our cell group the week before. We shared about our ideas and hopes to see various improvements in the area where we serve. Whether it is hoping for more capable talents, clearer roles & responsibilities or more efficient structure and work process, we all had our "wish list" and thoughts. 

But in the midst of that discussion, a wise sister shared "that is why we need faith and we need to humble ourselves. If all these "better ways" were implemented, would it not be so easy to say that it was our wisdom and ability that brought success to whatever it is we are trying to achieve? We need to learn to open our hearts, embrace everyone as they are, love them where they are, and trust that if these are the people and resources he has placed here, He can use all of it and bring His work to pass. It is Him to make things happen, not our cleverness or capability." 

Paul shares directly in 1 Corinthians 1:24-30

But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him (Christ) to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

Sure, we need to continue to learn, and equip ourselves in the spirit of excellence to serve the Lord and all He has called us to. But when we start getting frustrated, when our hearts start growing bitter and when we start to linger in complaining, we have departed from Wisdom - Wisdom that is Christ himself. Wisdom that says God has united us with Christ Jesus. 

Collectively as His people, God made us pure and holy. His Spirit has been pour upon us as one, that even in our weaknesses combine, God is still wiser than the wisest of human plans.

This is a call to humility on our part, and a call to abide in the Vine which gives us all the Life we need. It is a reminder that if we want to boast, let us boast about the Lord, His ways, His workings. And if we are frustrated, and when we look at the seemingly "incapable" or "insufficient" situation, let us enter His Presence, draw close, humble ourselves and ask for His Grace, Mercy, Wisdom and Faith, to keep trusting that His plans cannot be thwarted by our lack of ability.

We may not have the best tech, or experts or coordinators in charge. But perhaps it is through these gaps that the Holy Spirit uses to prod others to rise up and offer their talents; and 

in a divinely orchestrated manner, the Kingdom of God advances, in God's fullness of time, in God's way, through God's people where "His power is made perfect in our weaknesses" (2 Corinthians 12:9); that at the end of it all, the world may "see our works, and praise our Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

For all things and in everything, 

May all Glory be unto our Lord alone!

Community is messy business...

Community is messy business.

Picture of drawing of what community means,
put together through the collective effort of
Forerunners Adults & Children in Aug 2012

2 hours ago, a group of leaders met up and shared about how each of our communities are doing, the help needed and sought each other's insights on how we should proceed on various matters. And I left the session overwhelmed about how messy community life is. 

Forget the wonderful picture discipleship books paint about how wonderful and supportive community life will be IF everyone embraces the same principles, put their hands to the plough and regularly come with joy and gladness, ready to love everyone, or extend generous help when someone is in need. 

Reality is not quite so rosy. Many of us come tired, our patience a little challenged, our spirits a little prickly and easily offended (though we may not admit it so readily). 

On some days we come because....it's a commitment we made to our leaders - we need to come and support, boost the numbers, because, well...we are the regulars you know. 

On other days, we secretly wish in our hearts the meeting will be cancelled so we can take a break, have a night to...well... just rest. There are days & seasons where the weight of life become too heavy for us and we no longer have capacity to engage with any more social interactions. I get it. Because I feel that too.

Community can be frustrating, because we are all very different individuals, and very human; and

Community is messy, because... life is messy.

We, and others bring all our wonderful self, as well as our messes into our interactions. So it is hardly surprising that we frustrate each other (some more than others... 😆 - and myself included.)

Community is God's business

Then I read 1 Corinthians 3...

"Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?..." (1 Cor 3:1-3)

How exasperated Paul might have felt. How frustrating that after the years of leading, teaching and encouraging, the Corinthians were still acting so... childish!

Still he reminds them (and us!) that "What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose." (1 Cor 3:7-8) We labor & advocate for meeting in community, speaking into each other's lives, praying for & prodding one another for the same purpose - that the Lord will make seeds grow, and the people of God will build their lives upon the foundation of Christ Jesus (v11), and that God's temple - the church of Christ (v16) - will be Holy (v17) and their hearts will belong to Christ wholly (v23). 

Paul reminds the Corinthians & us, that Community is God's business.

"Don’t you realize that all of you TOGETHER are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives among you" (v16). 

And God is jealously guarding His Temple and ensuring it's completion in the Fullness of His time. Anything that comes against the growth, maturing and glory of His temple, he will destroy. His temple (the community of His people, His church) is precious to Him!

"God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple." (v17)

We're not struggling to hope things will happen. We are praying & laboring to proclaim to those in our community, the Truth, that "It has happened! It is Finished! Christ is Risen! Arise! Shine! The light has come!"

So:

to the passionate ones: Do not let your heart be weary. Christ has won the victory and He has a sure end for His Church, one that is a glorious bride, a Holy Temple. Come and follow Him. Let His Spirit enfold you and strengthen your hearts. For You belong to Christ. That is your (and our) assurance and peace.

to the ones laboring: Labor in Christ and remember we are in this TOGETHER. You are not alone.

to us all who are TOGETHER, the temple of God, who have the Spirit of God dwelling among us: let us press on in our pursuit of holiness, and be hungry for more of His Glory in our lives and in our communities. And let's encourage each other to keep doing this TOGETHER.

Because Community is God's Business. 

Christ in our midst...

We (FF4) recently had a new couple join us for cell.
The topic of the evening was "Justice - a people for others" from Tim Keller's book "The Gospel in Life"

As the discussion progressed, the Lord divinely lead the conversation to a much lesser talked about topic in life. As it turned out, that was exactly the topic that weighed on the hearts of our new friends. While we had not known, the Lord knew exactly what the needs were and provided faithfully the answers that needed to be heard.

We praise God for his faithfulness to us and to our new friends. Truly when God's people gather in His name, Christ is in the midst of us. And the Holy Spirit will speak and touch the hearts of those who would lean in and listen for His voice.

To those who are leading cells - our encouragement to you is been strong in the Lord. Pray and draw close to Him. He is the one who will direct his people. You are His partner so walk close with Him that you will not miss his voice.

To those who are attending cells - our encouragement to you is seek the Lord each time you gather. Never grow weary in meeting and doing good. Never let your heart become tire of worshipping together, learning together and pressing into God's presence. To those who lean in, you will surely find the grace you need from the Lord.

To those who are considering cells - our encouragement to you is trust in the Lord. Yes it is men facilitating and people who are talking. But it is the Holy Spirit who orchestrates the forming of the group and He knows your needs. Take a step of faith and explore with an open heart. We pray you will find a community that connects with you deep in the spirit.

May Christ be glorified in all of our various group meetings. :)

Auntjess - on behalf of FF4

Church Camp is coming!

Photo taken during last year's Church Camp. Personally, I am excited about going to the camp to be in the fellowship of His saints to praise and worship Him and to learn of His word!

Prayer Focus 2.1 - A Church Revived

(Review instructions here)

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of life."
~Philippians 2:14-16~

In this day of revival, ask God to brand your heart with the fire of His holiness. That you will fear Him, love Him and serve Him with singleness of heart, renouncing all other gods and worthless pursuits that drain energy, waste resources, and distract us from our true mission - to be ambassadors of Christ and herald of the Gospel.

Ask God to change you and your church inside out to be His blazing torch to light up the world! To be a people of distinction, a people of destiny: victorious, visionary, visible, vigilant, valiant, vibrant and vocal!

That we would mould and mentor a young generation in the fear of the Lord, passing a legacy of humility, unity, compassion, servanthood, prayer and passion for the lost.

That you and your church will be the compass and conscience of our nation, rightly representing God.

Ask the Lord to speak to you regarding your church. What is His heart for our church? What does He say about her now? What is He saying about your role in our church? Journal your response and act out your obedience where appropriate.

Prayer focus 1: A life changed.

(Review instructions here)

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
~2 Corinthians 5:17~

Thank the Lord for every person alive in Singapore today!
Stand in agreement with God our Maker that every person matters. Every life is a gift from Him, precious.

Praise Him for the people in your web of relationships. Bless every one of them in Jesus' name. Ask God for His grace to open their eyes and awaken their hearts to experience His love for them.

Praise God for every effort and project in our nation that aids transformation and a renewed life. Bless and pray for these efforts as the Lord leads. Example of projects you can pray for are:

• Yellow ribbon project
• Works done by various rehab centers (eg: The Helping Hand, etc)
• Initiatives by Workforce development agency

Is the Lord speaking to you to respond in any other way? Trust and obey.

Pray-a-thon 2008

Pray-a-thon 2008 has begun.
In case you have not managed to get a copy of the prayer guide, I'll be putting up the prayer focus along the way to help you pray along with us.

But before that, here are the instructions and guide:

1. Begin your devotion thanking the Lord - for His faithfulness: To you, to your family, to your church and to your nation.
2. We encourage you to dedicate at least a good half-hour for the Lord as an offering to Him to this purpose.
3. Meditate upon one of the four prayer focuses. Do not attempt to meditate all four prayer focuses in the same sitting. We want you to really take your time and dig deep as you allow the Holy Spirit to speak to and through you. You may be led to pray on a prayer focus more than once during the course of this pray-a-thon. Obey the leading of the Spirit.
4. Press in deeper as the Spirit leads and reveals. Journal your reflections, thoughts, response and other things that the Lord may be speaking and showing you.
5. (Optional but encouraged) If you receive anything that you feel the prayer leaders of the church should know (visions/encouragement/verse/etc received for the church or nation, etc), please feel free to email your responses to Sue or Serene.

Be Driven...

...by ETERNITY.

More details at http://www.forerunnersonline.com/

Refreshed by God!

Testimony – Workplace Alpha Day Away on 26 April 2008

(By Carol Yip)

In March this year, at the encouragement of my cousin Yvonne, I enrolled myself in the Workplace Alpha program over lunchtime at Telok Ayer Methodist Church. As I am already a believer, I went with the aim of grounding myself once again in the foundation – which is the Word of God. I also hope that through the Alpha, I’ll be refreshed by God as the past year (2007) has been a traumatic one for me.

25 October was my dad’s birthday. Unfortunately, it was also the day which he passed on after a sudden heart attack. I was devastated and no amount of words could describe how I felt. I could not express myself and only managed bouts of tears occasionally. My dad was not a believer and thus the buddhist rites at the wake did not make me feel any better. More often than not, my heart was filled with fear and flashbacks of how my dad grasped for his breath during the attack. I remembered telling God that I did not want my dad to suffer on my way to the hospital and I would like to believe that God answered my prayer as my dad look peaceful at his death and the time of pain was relatively short.

When all the rites and wake was over, when friends and relatives resumed their routines, I was still in a state of shock and fear. I could not sleep well during the night as I was constantly haunted by flashbacks. Eventually, I broke down and had to confront the pain of losing my dad. On many occasions, prayer was difficult and I doubted the goodness of God in my life.

Despite the fact that I was faithless, God remains faithful. He has surrounded me with many friends and a loving community of believers who was there to catch hold of me when I was down. My leaders and cell members at AMKMC also took time to keep me company at almost every time interval during my dad’s wake. My colleagues and friends also showered me with their love and concern.

More importantly, God also spoke to me during the Alpha Day Away on 26 April 08. God reminded me through the word of knowledge that I needed to spend more time with my mum and I believed God also wants me to share Christ with her. I was also moved by the presence of God during the time of worship and ministering during the Day Away.

I thank God also for my cousin Yvonne, without which I would not be attending alpha and sharing my testimony with you. I also thank God for Peggy, my group leader for praying with me and for her faithful service every week.

Moving forward, I pray that the joy and presence of God will continue to be my strength. Amen.

In His Grace,

Carol

BMC testimony (Elin)

I came to know Christ via a broken relationship that I experienced in early 2001.

The bible was first given to me by my ex boyfriend, a backslided Christian. A feverent reader by nature, I was not offended at the sight of it. In fact, I blazed through the first chapter of the bible as it is peppered with many amazing stories of miracles and courage. For obvious reasons to all readers of the bible, I did not go beyond the chapter of Exdous. During the last stage of my relationship with him, he demanded that I go to Church with him if we were to give the relationship going. Of course, I did out of the great desire for him. This started my amazing journey with God.

I went Church hopping with my ex boyfriend, who was trying to find a Church to settle in. I wasn’t sure what was to him, the deciding factor of the best Church. However going to a Church, provided a form of peace and brief moment of restoration to my soul. I was holding on to every word that comes out from the pastor's mouth like a form of hope and praying with all my heart that the man standing front of me would love me once more. Without knowing what the concept of prayer is, I was already journaling incessantly everything that was going on in my life to this God. Amazingly even though the relationship did not work out, I was still going to Church on my own as it was the way that I knew how to find the momentary of peace and hope that I very much needed at that point of time.

Nov 2001 marked the start of my life transforming journey. I received Christ at New Creation Church. Since then, God and I have been walking together like old pals through thick and thin. As I did not get to know God through the best circumstance, in the infancy of my faith, I already knew that I could present my true self before His throne of grace and count on Him to hold me in His tender, loving hands.

I can still recount the day when I was sitting in my bedroom in tears, He came and said to me ' I have taken your ex boyfriend away from you but I have given you the best gifts ever which are Church and cell'. As I grow in my faith, I know the greatest gift that He has ever given is actually His Son, Jesus.

Glory to God for all that He has done in my life. I am excited about my impending marriage (baptism) to this LORD! Like what the wedding vows always say ‘For riches or poor, in sickness or in health’…May the LORD have mercy on me, as I carry the cross in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Transformed in Christ: A family’s journey into love and life.

- By Mrs Patricia Wong

As the mother of two young children, I used to feel burdened with the responsibility of bringing my girls up the right way. I was often frustrated when they asked me about God, so I would tell them that God does not exist. I now thank God for placing the hunger in them to long to know Him and to persevere in finding out the truth. God has been very kind to our family. He did not leave us even though my heart was hardened.

We were having dinner at my sister’s house one evening when Jaymie (my younger daughter) asked innocently, “Is there a god in the world?” My sister’s best friend, Christine was patient in explaining the answer. “In the beginning, God created the earth. Then God created man. We can’t see God but He sees us and He loves us!” The girls’ faces lit up when they heard about our good God and how powerful and mighty He is. Their hunger for God was evident.

I knew then there was no way I could deny my children of the opportunity to know God but at the same time, I felt unworthy of His love. I prayed for strength and courage and God gave me both and much more. The Lord said to me, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand.”

We started our walk from darkness towards the path of light.

The first lesson I learnt was that the Christian walk is not a bed of roses. I was terribly uncertain when I faced challenges. However, God has been faithful to send Christine into my life. She encouraged me greatly with these words. “Just tell God you are uncertain and let Him handle the rest. He knows what you are doubtful of because He is your Creator!” During this time, I grew more intimate with the Lord as He taught me that "He will redeem us from our iniquities’” (Psalm 130:8)" …"and present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 24) Praise the Lord!

The first challenge came when the girls started asking many questions about God’s nature. I felt helpless and embarrassed as I was unable to answer to most of their questionsqueries. Tamie (my elder girl) wanted to know if God has hands and Jaymie could not believe that God is everywhere! Fortunately the teachers in Sunday school took time to explain things to them.

The biggest challenge came when I faced objection from my husband. He was upset with me for bringing the girls to church every Sunday morning and frowned when we turned on worship songs in the car. I felt that God was taking us away from my husband. It was later on that I found out it was far from the truth! Our marriage is a blessing from God.

My relationship with my husband Peter was not good. Before I accepted Christ, I was too busy with my children to remember that Peter is the head of the household.

As I read the Bible, I found out that God wants us to respect our husbands. The Word also says, ‘”A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies”’ Proverbs 31:10 Thus, After this realisation, I started showing love and respect for to my husband out of obedience to God. I now recall that would have been impossible to do without God’s help! God strengthened me with His Word each time I needed encouragement and to my amazement, our marriage improved over time.

I thanked God when Peter came to realize the change in me. Eventually, he also accepted Christ. Tears flowed down my cheeks when I heard him say the sinners’ prayer with brother Cam Yew, Calvin and some of our cell group members on 23^rd December last year. The girls were delighted that daddy has gained eternal life.

It is so wonderful to know God. There is now peace and joy in our family and we experience God’s love in our daily living.

Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare His praise?

Psalm 106:2

Patricia now worships at 10.30am service and serves as an usher. Her girls are attending Sunday School at the Hub, while her husband worships at the Mandarin Service at Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church (CAC).

Ministry-on-the-go...

A simply testimony by Jessica.

This morning, I met one of my colleagues on the way to work and we took the bus together. She is a believer but we seldom talk about spiritual matters. This morning, I was to be surprised by the work that God has prepared in advance for me. =)

As soon as we got on the bus, she started sharing with me how she didn't sleep well because she spent the night praying and worshipping. Her father was having a medical condition that is causing him to have rashes all over his body for months and the itch was becoming unbearable. That night, he was feeling so terrible that he was crying. There was nothing she could do so she started to pray and praise.

During the whole bus trip, she shared with me about her journey that night. It was victorious and I too was encouraged. As we reached office, she asked me to pray for her whenever I can, and I promised I would.

As I reflect upon this episode, I thank God that I was there to be a comfort and minister by sharing her burden and listening. While some of you may think it's nothing big, but I'm thankful for the grace to be able to connect with another sister and be there in that moment of grace for her, and joining God in His work. =)

You too, I believe can be God's minister on-the-go, if you will give yourself to Him, and let the Holy Spirit lead you to be His tool of comfort, counsel and peace. Leaving you with the words in this song that we have sung, and may they inspire you to Live Christ, Share Christ.

Jesus, hope of the nations
Jesus, comfort for all who mourn
You are the source of heaven's hope on earth
.
Jesus, light in the darkness
Jesus, truth in each circumstance
You are the source of heaven's light on earth.

May each of you reflect Jesus, the hope that's living through you for all to see, for all who will receive.

Christmas Greetings from Korea

Greetings from our forerunner in Korea. =)

.

4th service is moving...

13^th November 2007

Dearest Family,

After a day of slumber, I’m finally awake to face the world and return to work (reluctantly :P). How was your first day back at work? 

This year’s retreat is the first time we have the FOC joining us with the kids and house helpers in tow and boy! has it made the retreat more exciting and challenging! Many thanks are due to the Children’s Ministry leaders who anchored the Children’s ministry time to ensure that the kids are well-occupied during the teaching sessions.  Thank you for your sacrifice during the teaching sessions to be with the children so the parents may be able to benefit from the sessions. 

Huge thanks are also due to the Retreat Committee led by Jiahui who looked into the venues, accommodations, food, programme arrangements for the entire retreat. Thank you to each and everyone one of you for serving the ForeRunner zone in the ways that you have in spite of your busy daily schedules and commitments. 

A big thank you to Adrian as well, for being God’s willing instrument to guide and teach us through yet another series of teaching. To each and every one of you who prayed before, during and after the retreat, thank you for being the prayer warrior that you were, and for partnering God through your prayers.

Thank you also for your individual sharing during the Worship Extravaganza sessions which no doubt encouraged the hearts who were listening. I’m indeed very privileged to be able to hear and witness for myself, the transforming work of God in each and every one of your lives. 

I know God has spoken in His own way to every one of us and I pray that we will continue to take the lesson with us every single day as we come down from the “mountain-high” experience. Let our hearts and minds soak up the goodness of His word to us during the retreat so we may carry them into the rest of the days ahead of us. 

PS/ This is not my testimony; this is my love letter to all of you. 

In His love,

Esther Marikea

1 week to retreat...

Let us all arise and pray:

1. Remember to put on the armor of God as we go about the preparation for the retreat and our daily lives
2. Pray for the blood of Jesus to cover us and our love ones from the crown of our head to the sole of our feet.
3. Pray for unity among all the people involved in this retreat
4. Pray that all logistics to be available and ready
5. Pray for the hearts of everyone who's going fof the retreat ( to be open, sensitive and receptive when God speak to them)

Dont know about you guys but felt more and more excited about the retreat as the day is coming soon as really having this inkling that God is doing and going to do something during the retreat. SO, while waiting to see what God is going to do, let's partner Him in prayers and start praying NOW if you haven got down to doing it!!! :)

Serving with you,
Mummy Ho - Prayer IC of The Retreat 2007 Committee.

RETREAT 2007 - A PASSIONATE LIFE

We are about 6 weeks away from our zone retreat which will happen on 8th Nov till 11 Nov.

Once again, we urged all of you to join us for this annual event and start applying your leave for 9th Nov. :)

The retreat committee has worked hard to recee for the best venue that is affordable to all at Singapore Vision Farm and we are in the midst of firming up the program plus ordering new zone t-shirt for all of us.

The study books "A Passionate Life" have been ordered too.

We are committed to make this retreat a success because we truly believe that all of you will be able to encounter God as we spend 4 days together, setting aside time to learn His word and to rest in His presence.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

1. Doing "A Passionate Life" book study by Mike Breen and Walt Kallestad

This is a 8 sessions group study and we will complete 4 sessions during retreat and finish the remaining 4 sessions after retreat. (Details to be confirmed of post-retreat)

http://www.lifeshapes.com/

Introduction from textbook

Countless people today are disappointed with the way their lives are going.

Although they truly believe they were created for a Divine purpose, deep in their hearts, they wonder "What's so great about knowing God?"

Perhaps you can relate.

Do you have friends who talk about how wonderful God is and what he's doing in their lives and secretly long to know him the same way?

Maybe you go to church every week, only to go away empty and thinking There's got to be more.

There is more!

Mike Breen and Walt Kallestad want to show you how to live A PASSIONATE LIFE!

You will learn how to live your faith the way God intended.

You'll learn what it means to be a true follower, and by using easy to recall shapes (Called Lifeshaped),

you'll learn to apply those steps to every situation and relationship in your life.

Soon the enthusiasm you'll be feeling will be real.

You will have a PASSIONATE RELATIONSHIP with the Creator of the Universe.

You will have a PASSIONATE conviction to impact the lives of the people in your life.

You will have A PASSIONATE LIFE!

2. SILENCE TO FIND GOD

Have you been busy with your work and trying to juggle your church commitment and ministries?

Finding it hard to rest and instead of growing in your spiritual walk, you are getting burned out physically..

Instead of hearing from God and resting in His presence, you are frustrated with your duities and responsibilities?

Then it is timely for you to learn to hear God in retreat.

Yes in silence, right in a farm, we want to devote few hours to rest in His presence and renew our sense of hearing His still small voice.

3. WORSHIP EXTRAVAGANZA

God gives us different stories and unique life experiences.

Worship extravaganza is a wonderful opportunity for you to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in a small and fun way. :)

Share and express your story or your worship to God in anyway you are comfortable with.

You can do it alone. Or you can grab someone else to create an item to bless the rest of the zone.

THIS IS NOT SELF-ENTERTAINMENT. IT IS A WORSHIP.

We have been deeply blessed by the transparent sharing and authentic worship put up last year.

I am sure this year will be another year of breakthrough for many of us.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

4. ZONE T-Shirt

I think we are the only zone in Ang Mo Kio Methodist to have a Zone Tee Shirt? :)

We see the need to have a lighter colour teeshirt since the weather is getting hotter in Singapore. Ha!

Which is why we are going for a brand new white colour T-shirt. Design will be the same as the black-one (design by Aichoo) :)

We encourage the whole zone to order the new Tee-Shirt and this will also help to reduce the cost further with more quantity purchased.

Cost - $12.50.

Sizes will be the same as the black t-shirt the previous time.

For those without forerunner t-shirt presently, to ask a friendly cell member of approx the same size to gauge size :-)

Please let your cell leaders know your size in COMING WEEK.

Deadline: Cell Leaders to let Jiahui know by 12 Oct 07.

THANK YOU FOR READING TILL HERE!

LET US PREPARE OUR HEARTS TO MEET GOD IN RETREAT! :)

FROM 2007 RETREAT COMMITEE

An Exhortation - Romans 12:5

1st Corinthians Journey – Phase 1 conclusion

An Exhortation : By Swee Ching

As we came to the end of Cafe Charis and the teaching on Sectarian Spirit, just feel the need to do a sharing on some of my thoughts which I hope can encourage us to apply what we have learned from cell.

This is a long email so please take time to read. Thanks!

Verse from Roman12:5

..so in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

The key word here is belongs. Normally when something or someone belongs to us, we own that that particular subject.

Eg. the Mazda car belongs to me, so I am the owner of the Mazda and I am responsible to take good care of my car.

So the above verse says "EACH MEMBER BELONGS to all the others".

So when each member belongs to all the others, it will mean that the rest own the member!

What I want to touch on now is the sense of OWNERSHIP.

I'm going to break this ownership into 2 levels.

1. Personal ownership

- Take ownership over your own spiritual life. All of us have personal responsibility to do our own QT and to seek God for answers in our prayers. On Sunday, Pastor Leslie taught that when you remain stagnant, you risk backsliding. How many of you know that you are stagnant but you are not doing anything about it? Start now!

Practical steps:

a. Tell someone! Be accountable and take action.

b. Go back to the fundamental and build your spiritual disciplines and fundamentals with word of God.

c. Start serving in cell and ministries and mix with people who can help and spur you in your spiritual walk.

2. Ownership over the rest of the cell group/zone/church.

- Once you understand the personal level of ownership, take on a 2 ^nd level of ownership for your cell/zone/church. The verse says that we are a body of Christ and a member belongs to us! What are we doing about this ownership that God has given to us? Are we pro-active in helping the weak in faith and are we a blessing in cell/zone/church? Or are we simply there to receive?

- Start making a positive difference in our cell group.

a. Transparency/ accountability. Pastor Stanley taught about having a spiritual friend. Be one and look for one now! Start sharing authentically and be accountable. If not, start with your cell leader.

b. Lack of people serving. Start encouraging people to share testimony and to start serving and bless in small ways. Offer your help in small ways! Start small! Affirm one another's spiritual gifts and service.

c. Being serious in word of God. Come prepared for cell word. Read Corinthians and anticipate God to speak through Adrian. Listen attentively and meditate and chew on the truths you learned.

Infact it is natural that cliques are formed. There are healthy cliques and unhealthy cliques (like what Xinhui shared with me). Healthy cliques support one another spiritually and challenges or rebuke one another in love. It includes others unconditionally and uses its strength as a clique to be a blessing to the others. Unhealthy cliques stick to themselves only and are selective in who they want to bless.

We are a big group and we are diverse because God created us differently. However the beauty of unity is to see it in diversity and to see His people standing together in times of blessings and in times of crisis. Do we stick together or do we run away when there is a need for help?

God bless and may we stand together in good or bad times.

love,

SC

Testimony from Esther Marikea Tan Su Cheng

Saturday, August 11, 2007

(Quietly, introspectively, as I sit here in the night, writing this story, may I be reminded that this is Your story of glory and of triumph, of how You have redeemed this person from a life of depression and doom that she seems to be destined to. This story is inspired by You, for You. May it bring You all the glory only You deserve. Amen.)

Allow me to introduce myself – I am Esther Marikea Tan Su Cheng. To some of you, I may be an unfamiliar face while to some others, you may know that I’ve been a part of the Forerunner/ AMKMC family for the past 3 years and you have been witnesses and partners to my journey here on earth. For that I give thanks to God for you have been such an integral part of my journey that I cannot do without.

I am here today to share with you the story of the past months of my life and I pray that through the sharing, you may be encouraged, wherever you may be in your walk with God right now, I stand here to testify that God is good and His perfect plans for you will come to pass.

This will be the first time I’m sharing this and it is difficult because it is not something I want to be talking about or to associate with me. I fear what you would think of me if I were to be so honest and transparent with you, especially if you do not know me well…Yet I must persevere and acknowledge where I come from, for it is by doing this that I bring glory to the One who has brought me out of the miry clay unto the sunshiny path I now walk on.

Let’s go back to 2001, after a failed attempt to pass my A-levels with flying colors so I may gain entry to the local university. I was despondent and felt that my life was over because I couldn’t “right the wrong” by getting myself to the university. I felt utterly lost and didn’t know what was to become of me.

I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep and I was diagnosed with clinical depression. Not long after, I was admitted to the hospital when the doctor deemed me too dangerous to be left on my own after I cut myself with a penknife.

There began the yearly admissions to the hospital because I got too suicidal to be without medical attention. It seemed like a never-ending cycle and a pattern of sorts that I had developed for myself.

I thought the breakthrough came in 2004 when I wasn’t admitted for the whole year and that I had found a job in spite declaring that I had depression on the application form. I thought that it was to be the year I would be healed from depression and the hospital admissions and the medication, but it was not to be for in late 2005, I was admitted to the hospital yet again.

And lesser than six months later, in 2006, I was hospitalized yet again for two weeks. I was working full-time at that time and I was also struggling with many issues which coupled with work stress, saw me taking a cocktail of medication one night because I wanted a good night’s rest which I wasn’t getting.

During the two weeks in the hospital, I rested well and in the second week, I had made friends with two other patients and by His grace, I was actually encouraging them and praying with them. That helped me see that in spite of my brokenness, God had His use and plans for me.

Fast forward to 2007, I was going through yet another slump in my life where I was jobless and all the interviews I attended essentially told me that it would not be possible for me to get hired because of my less-than-illustrious employment history. I was very depressed and was convinced that I was never going to get a job for the rest of my life.

After yet another depressive episode late at night, Jingting and Liwei spent the next day with me as I went for my appointments at the hospital and came over to my place to pray with me about the concerns I had about my future. And I know that they were not the only ones to pray that night.

What happened next is nothing short of a miracle – Jingting emailed me a link to a job site where I submitted my resume to an agency. The very next morning, I received a call from the agency to attend an interview! The interview went well and I went home happy.

While waiting for the result to that interview, the same agency called me to try for another job. She gave me the contact to the company and asked that I call the company right away. So I rung up the company and was asked about myself and I was quite sure that the person on the other line wasn’t quite paying attention to what I said. It was a relief actually because I had just woken up not too long before the call!

I was to start work two days later, but I wasn’t too keen as it was an administrative position. Now, if there’s something you need to know about me, it is the fact that I don’t like to do administrative work. Yes, I know it’s inevitable in every position that there is some administrative work involved, and I’m perfectly fine with that. Please, just don’t ask me to do solely that!

I started work two days later, not quite knowing what to expect, but as the days unfolded, I began to see why God had placed me there. I later learnt that my resume had been picked out of a handful submitted and the colleague who picked out my resume didn’t even look through it; she just went by her intuition.

My boss who conducted the phone interview with me, didn’t quite pay attention to what I was babbling over the phone either. If this wasn’t by His divine doing, I wouldn’t know what else to call it!

What is more divine is that I have a boss who also recognizes that God has a purpose for both of us while we are working together and she has recently committed to be my mentor for the next year! I have learnt lots of things from her and she has also given me many opportunities to do so many different things that I would not be given an opportunity to do elsewhere.

Besides that, she has also been a spiritual guide who would not hesitate to give me tough love if the situation calls for it. She has also been God’s voice in reminding me that I have a great destiny in Him and that my role in life is not that of a person who suffers from depression for the rest of her life.

For the first time in my life, I see a future for me, one that is full of light, purpose and endless possibilities. I no longer have to enchain myself to the limitations of my mind because I’ve seen Him work in my life! Every step I take now is one that will count toward my future and I see everyday with a greater sense of meaning than I ever used to.

I’ve also recognized strongholds in my mind that needs to be torn down because they were stopping me from fulfilling my purpose for Him. I believe that the evil one tries so hard to trap me with his lies because he knows God has a great purpose for me and he feels threatened by it. If he is able to trap me with his lies, I will be one less force to reckon with.

I may still be on medication for depression, I may still have issues I need to work out, His purpose for me remains unchanged. I may not be able to figure out where His big picture will be leading me to, His purpose for me remains unchanged.

What I do know is this – I will be faithful to every little thing He has called me to so it will build character for where He is leading me. I will be His light unto the world so that others may see Him in me and give glory to Him in the highest. I will stand and testify of His love for me that has never once failed.

Here my story ends, for now. Join me as my journey continues to unfold; I promise excitement and things you never imagined possible happening because I have seen it and tasted it for myself. 

In case you are wondering, yes, I’m back for good. I’ve disappeared for the earlier part of this year because I held a grudge against a sister in church. By His grace yet again, we’ve reconciled and I’ve also learnt the importance of bringing up issues early instead of allowing the evil one to use it to sow discord especially between sisters and brothers-in-Christ!