October 17, 2010
Missions is not an optional department in the church ministry.
It is intrinsic to our calling as a church. Like a fish cannot but swim, a bird cannot but fly, so a church cannot but do world missions. However, the church will only be most effective and involved when she focuses her energy, resources and prayers on one mission field.
For BHLC, we have identified our mission field – the Dalits of India. Thus, it is our church’s aim to empower the Dalits of India to break the caste system.
Born as the ‘untouchables’, they have been labelled by the Hindu scriptures as the ‘unborn’, which in translated means, ‘it would be better if they had never been born’.
As sub-humans, they are denied water, education and healthcare by all levels of society. After being oppressed for more than three thousand years, the Dalits have finally cried out, ‘enough is enough!’ Open invitations to Christians have been issued by the Dalit leaders - not unlike that of the Macedonian call in Acts 16:9-10,
"During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
What do we do with such a vision?
We must conclude that NOW is the time to stand with them.
To that end, we have committed to help build a school for them in India.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Spiritual Friendships
October 10, 2010
If we can only do one thing, what is the one thing BHLC will do and must do? The answer will be discipleship. Thus, I envision BHLC as a church that anchors in discipleship and mentorship.
For this to happen, I will pray with you for three sets of spiritual friends:
(1)‘Paul’ - He is a spiritual mentor who is committed to love, guide and walk with you. He exemplifies what it means to follow Christ and imparts wisdom and understanding in your faith journey. You will be inspired by him.
(2)‘Timothy’ – someone younger in faith, who watches your moves, laughs at your jokes and looks up to you. You will be aspired to live worthy of his respect.
(3)‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’ – peers with whom you have a spiritual alliance. They are your comfort and towers of strength as you brave through life’s challenges.
True spiritual friendships are scarce and gifts bestowed by God. Like precious pearls, they are to be treasured and cherished.
As Thanksgiving draws near, if you have any of such friends, thank God.
If not, start praying for them. “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord” and He will give you.
"Hold a true friend with both your hands." (Nigerian Proverb)
If we can only do one thing, what is the one thing BHLC will do and must do? The answer will be discipleship. Thus, I envision BHLC as a church that anchors in discipleship and mentorship.
For this to happen, I will pray with you for three sets of spiritual friends:
(1)‘Paul’ - He is a spiritual mentor who is committed to love, guide and walk with you. He exemplifies what it means to follow Christ and imparts wisdom and understanding in your faith journey. You will be inspired by him.
(2)‘Timothy’ – someone younger in faith, who watches your moves, laughs at your jokes and looks up to you. You will be aspired to live worthy of his respect.
(3)‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’ – peers with whom you have a spiritual alliance. They are your comfort and towers of strength as you brave through life’s challenges.
True spiritual friendships are scarce and gifts bestowed by God. Like precious pearls, they are to be treasured and cherished.
As Thanksgiving draws near, if you have any of such friends, thank God.
If not, start praying for them. “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord” and He will give you.
"Hold a true friend with both your hands." (Nigerian Proverb)
Saturday, October 2, 2010
A family church
October 3, 2010
Newer may not be always better just as older may not mean wiser. A newer generation who refuses to learn from its past will become steep with stupidity. An older generation that is closed to new ideas runs the danger of being irrelevant and useless.
In our world, individualism is almost deified. Though craving for community, inter-generation contacts have been diminishing as more young couples are choosing to live alone. The media labelling the different generations such as ‘Gen X’, ‘The Yuppies’ and the ‘Baby-boomers’, etc. further polarises the generations and creates unconscious disdain and distrust among the different age groups.
If we heed the word of God, the church will have the real ‘feel’ of a healthy functional family.
I Timothy 5: 1,2
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Coming from a dysfunctional family myself, I found God’s love most evident when I was introduced to a church in Singapore. I found the older folks accepting, guiding and loving me like responsible parents. Many of the uncles and aunties took me into their lives and homes and gave me a feel of how it was like to be protected and cared for. Many of the young teens under me looked up to me as their big sister and that taught me how to love and nurture others. In all aspects, I was healed emotionally and grow socially and mature spiritually in the Lord through God’s household.
I learned then that I belong to all the church members and all the church members are my family, “so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to ALL the others.” (Romans 12:5)
Thus, it is my vision to grow the BHLC congregation into a real family church where no one feels left out and where Sunday feels like a homecoming day.
Newer may not be always better just as older may not mean wiser. A newer generation who refuses to learn from its past will become steep with stupidity. An older generation that is closed to new ideas runs the danger of being irrelevant and useless.
In our world, individualism is almost deified. Though craving for community, inter-generation contacts have been diminishing as more young couples are choosing to live alone. The media labelling the different generations such as ‘Gen X’, ‘The Yuppies’ and the ‘Baby-boomers’, etc. further polarises the generations and creates unconscious disdain and distrust among the different age groups.
If we heed the word of God, the church will have the real ‘feel’ of a healthy functional family.
I Timothy 5: 1,2
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Coming from a dysfunctional family myself, I found God’s love most evident when I was introduced to a church in Singapore. I found the older folks accepting, guiding and loving me like responsible parents. Many of the uncles and aunties took me into their lives and homes and gave me a feel of how it was like to be protected and cared for. Many of the young teens under me looked up to me as their big sister and that taught me how to love and nurture others. In all aspects, I was healed emotionally and grow socially and mature spiritually in the Lord through God’s household.
I learned then that I belong to all the church members and all the church members are my family, “so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to ALL the others.” (Romans 12:5)
Thus, it is my vision to grow the BHLC congregation into a real family church where no one feels left out and where Sunday feels like a homecoming day.
Monday, September 27, 2010
A Multi-cultural church
September 26, 2010
“Canadians are:
1. Either English or French
2. Bilingual
3. Peaceful and respect authority
4. Tolerant and welcoming to newcomers
5. None of the above
6. All of the above
7. None of the above and all of the above
If you answered 7, you’re a real Canadian. You understand we’re not who we’re told we are.”
Since the day-to-day contacts of our members are a mosaic of different ethnicity and colour, our church must reflect that multi-cultural and multi-racial mix of the mission field that is right in our midst. While predominantly Chinese, we must strive to consciously grow into a multi-cultural, international community of believers. A church that only reaches “its own kind” in a setting like Canada will be seen as ethnocentric and irrelevant and unfaithful to the vineyard that God has placed us.
In the next few years, we will consciously widen our sphere of influence in our social settings to deliberately win and disciple people of different races.
Revelation 7:9-10 will then be God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven. Hallelujah and Amen!
9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
“Canadians are:
1. Either English or French
2. Bilingual
3. Peaceful and respect authority
4. Tolerant and welcoming to newcomers
5. None of the above
6. All of the above
7. None of the above and all of the above
If you answered 7, you’re a real Canadian. You understand we’re not who we’re told we are.”
Since the day-to-day contacts of our members are a mosaic of different ethnicity and colour, our church must reflect that multi-cultural and multi-racial mix of the mission field that is right in our midst. While predominantly Chinese, we must strive to consciously grow into a multi-cultural, international community of believers. A church that only reaches “its own kind” in a setting like Canada will be seen as ethnocentric and irrelevant and unfaithful to the vineyard that God has placed us.
In the next few years, we will consciously widen our sphere of influence in our social settings to deliberately win and disciple people of different races.
Revelation 7:9-10 will then be God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven. Hallelujah and Amen!
9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
Saturday, September 18, 2010
The Purpose of Church
19 September, 2010
“What is God calling us as a church to be and to do?”
To put BHLC’s English congregation’s vision in a sentence, I believe God is calling us to be ‘An International Community that Makes Disciples’.
When asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:27-31)
Before leaving earth, our Lord left behind a task for us. This is what Jesus said,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
Upon the Great commandment and the Great Commission, we find our church’s bearing and direction.
In making disciples, we glorify God and love Him and in bringing others to His kingdom, we fulfil the commandment to love them as ourselves.
How our church expresses ourselves in disciple-making will be different from another congregation. I will share more about our church’s vision in the next few write-ups. Look out for it.
“What is God calling us as a church to be and to do?”
To put BHLC’s English congregation’s vision in a sentence, I believe God is calling us to be ‘An International Community that Makes Disciples’.
When asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:27-31)
Before leaving earth, our Lord left behind a task for us. This is what Jesus said,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
Upon the Great commandment and the Great Commission, we find our church’s bearing and direction.
In making disciples, we glorify God and love Him and in bringing others to His kingdom, we fulfil the commandment to love them as ourselves.
How our church expresses ourselves in disciple-making will be different from another congregation. I will share more about our church’s vision in the next few write-ups. Look out for it.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
"Mountaintop Experiences" and Discipleship
I just came back from two great experiences – the India Mission Trip and our English Family Church Camp. Both were exhilarating.
There are two great temptations after a spiritual ‘mountaintop’ experience.
One temptation is to try to hang on to them – to build ‘monuments’ out of them. We do so by re-visiting these episodes again and again – to dwell on the ‘good old days’. We become spiritual ‘cowboys’ who love gazing into the open space, reminiscing about how God ‘used to’ work among us.
Another temptation is to try to run after spiritual experiences. Like an addict running after the next dose, we seek to recreate and pump up for the next high. In so doing, our faith is like a ‘roller-coaster’ ride decided by our feeling spiritually charged or not.
Peter, John and James had such an encounter – they witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus and saw two great ancestors of faith, Elijah and Moses. What was their response? “Put up three shelters,” Peter suggested. The narration said, ‘(He did not know what he was saying.)’ and God rebuked them,
"This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." (Luke 9:35)
What happened after is more important than what happened on the mountaintop.
Would we become effective workers for Him or will we be labelled as part of the ‘unbelieving and perverse’ generation even after the experience? (Luke 9:41)
Listen and follow the Lord of our experiences – not the experiences per se.
There are two great temptations after a spiritual ‘mountaintop’ experience.
One temptation is to try to hang on to them – to build ‘monuments’ out of them. We do so by re-visiting these episodes again and again – to dwell on the ‘good old days’. We become spiritual ‘cowboys’ who love gazing into the open space, reminiscing about how God ‘used to’ work among us.
Another temptation is to try to run after spiritual experiences. Like an addict running after the next dose, we seek to recreate and pump up for the next high. In so doing, our faith is like a ‘roller-coaster’ ride decided by our feeling spiritually charged or not.
Peter, John and James had such an encounter – they witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus and saw two great ancestors of faith, Elijah and Moses. What was their response? “Put up three shelters,” Peter suggested. The narration said, ‘(He did not know what he was saying.)’ and God rebuked them,
"This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." (Luke 9:35)
What happened after is more important than what happened on the mountaintop.
Would we become effective workers for Him or will we be labelled as part of the ‘unbelieving and perverse’ generation even after the experience? (Luke 9:41)
Listen and follow the Lord of our experiences – not the experiences per se.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Radical Community
August 29, 2010
The Christian community is God’s idea. It is not a human invention.
Christ binds Himself irrevocably to the church. Christ “is the head of the body, His church” (Col 1:18).
Christians are bound together eternally to each other, not by natural blood and birth but of a supernatural source. In the veins of every Christian, there lies a common blood type – Jesus’ cleansing blood.
"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:33-35)
So it is not a mere title when we tag each other as brothers and sisters and mothers. We really are. Our relationships with fellow Christians start now and will spill into all eternity.
God’s vision for the Christian community is that of a place to practise radical love.
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)
What a brilliant idea for me to repay my debt to God’s love by radically loving my family members.
Jesus’ love for us is nothing short of radical. We dare not do less for our brothers and sisters.
The Christian community is God’s idea. It is not a human invention.
Christ binds Himself irrevocably to the church. Christ “is the head of the body, His church” (Col 1:18).
Christians are bound together eternally to each other, not by natural blood and birth but of a supernatural source. In the veins of every Christian, there lies a common blood type – Jesus’ cleansing blood.
"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:33-35)
So it is not a mere title when we tag each other as brothers and sisters and mothers. We really are. Our relationships with fellow Christians start now and will spill into all eternity.
God’s vision for the Christian community is that of a place to practise radical love.
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)
What a brilliant idea for me to repay my debt to God’s love by radically loving my family members.
Jesus’ love for us is nothing short of radical. We dare not do less for our brothers and sisters.
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