It's all been about spiritual growth recently, refreshing, and new insights, new experiences, all coming up. Well it's exciting and we look forward with anticipation. Really have to thank God now and then for all the various ministries that He has so graciously involved me in....once in a while it's nice to post these serious posts...one day i'll look bad and check if i've grown any closer to God since this post....it's like leaving small little altars around, and looking back to the place to remember God's mercy and providence :)
3 years ago, God called my dad out of Fairfield Mother Church to a little Preaching Point in Woodlands. Every sunday, it was to Causeway Point for church, as we settled down in a cinema on the seventh story. Those were humble beginnings, a pioneer group of about six families from the Bible Study group in the steering committee, everything started simple, there was just an intergenerational service every week. At that time I was Secondary 1, and i grew in a church without a youth group or a children's ministry, it was the sermon every sunday.
I must say it was honestly quite boring, profound sermons and all, esp. those by Uncle Roland (when in his very peak...he is such a powerful preacher), but that was from a perspective of a 13 year old, never take my word for it. Gradually, and slowly, i guess God opened my heart to Him, and i started to enjoy the sermons, week after week there would be new lessons to learn, new applications and new stuff. It was a wonderful experience.
Singspiration or Praise and Thanksgiving was led by music groups from the Mother Church, they supported us back then, and very enthusiastically as well. I would occasionally go for some worship practices, in the mother church....Uncle King Hee, Eunice, 'Ah bei' Christopher, Uncle Joel, all people who had a great impact on me as i was moulded by God to be prepared for service in the Preaching Point...of course i was unaware of His plans at that time...
It was December 2003, the end of Sec1...my dad thought it was finally time to get involved. We led worship for the first time, i still remember, it was so simple, so simple. A piano and a guitar, The songs were 'Only By Grace' and 'Be Still'. It was so solemn, so gracious, so memorable a beginning. Subsequently, God could only get better and better. Thus was the reason for bringing me to the Preaching Point, the start of a very very fruitful music ministry.
However, things only got tougher, with the new preaching point in Causeway point came many new temptations after church, it was a tough battle with sin every week, and most of the time i fell, fell so hard, and begged for forgiveness, only to fall again the next week, it was most painful for God, i was just being selfish, and sometimes i hated myself for that. It was horrible serving in the PP on one hand yet living in the dark. It was hypocritical.
Eventually, God told me it was enough, and enough was enough, i stopped. And that took about 2 years, yet the scars of this sin are still present on me till this day. Only till i rise to be with my Father will they disappear i guess...Struggles persisted on...but God provided to grace to manage them every single time. Thanks be to God in heaven.
So begun a blossoming next few years. The Worship ministry grew. Huiyi slowly got involved on the second keyboard, even the lead keyboard. Occasionally we would have Uncle Joel join in on the drums. It was exciting as slowly God helped me to discover the true meaning of worship. More and more sermons supplemented my growth with the necessary spiritual milk.
Soon, a youth group was started. By a couple by the name of Uncle Wilson and Auntie Doris from the Mother Church. Hwee, Jun and Me were the first in that group, and we started small, uncomfortable with one another even. I was actually pretty much against that youth group idea...thought it was better to just stay in the adult service for sermon. But you know what...God provided, and slowly we were nurtured to God-fearing youths, and the youth ministry has grown since....how much? well...
Fast forward today, we have a strength approaching 20 youths. the 517 youths from Uncle Wilson's Youth Guidance Centre have started fitting in...the next year of youths have started to settle in as well...Tian, Daniel, My brother, Abel...all starting to grow slowly but surely. We've had 2 youth camps in the past 3 years, the next one being at the end of 2006. This sunday we're going to do some street evangelism....TRAC and stuff. And it's getting really really exciting. A bible study group with Michael has also started...and we're kicking off to great years ahead! By God's grace, direct our sail!
Other blessings of God on these Preaching Point...wow...Cell group has been formed, so many so many newcomers, expanding now to much more than the original six families, numbers of course don't matter, just pray that God unites us as one body of Christ in one purpose to serve Him! Like the church in Philidephia...small but mighty and tall for God and by God!
Now...the worship ministry...wow i just can't stop talking about God's grace and love! We've formed a full band...Uncle Kok Meng and Auntie Christine have become involved in leading the worship as well. The mother church has left us to be independent since about april...and thankfully we've been able to cope so far with God's help. He's provided Abel...new logistics person...KaiSiong...new comp personnel....Darrel and my bro...new and upcoming drummers....the two Rebeccas...with some help soon to be pianists as well! How great is our God!
My relationship with God has definitely grown more intimate...i can sincerely say i love Him now...because He loved me first, took me from darkness, Gave me strength, never gave up on a wretch like me...loved me the underserved...and took me and made me beautiful. If you haven't known God yet...what are you waiting for...it's so wonderful to be in His caring embrace!
As I type...i can't help but smile and smile again. Joy!! Joy and Strength!! It's always good to reflect on your life in the past few years...it brings such joy...and such refreshment! and it's just wonderful to know that God has helped me grow and draw closer to Him. How thankful i am. And that's just the Preaching Point....there's much more as well (next post)
I built this altar for You Lord. Thanks for the great work you are unfolding in our lives :)
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