Memoir of an NSF Journey

As we commemorate SAF day on 1 July 2014, decided to update an old write up that I once wrote about for some NS internet portal for pre-enlistees portraying different aspects of life as an NSF. Here's a revised version from the original article (dated 2011)

Will also like to take this time to just appreciate the different commanders that I had since my time in BMT, OCS, to my Unit life, the different coursemates and fellow commanders that I have train and serve alongside with and of course the men who were place in my unit. Each of you all have made impact in my journey as an NSF from 2009 to 2011 in someway and made that 2 years such a memorable experience. Would also like to take this SAF day to express our support and appreciation to all who are serving or have served the nation! :)

Article of an NSF Journey, (2011) (Revised, 30 Jun 2014)

I still remember the days just before for my enlistment, I was someone full of zeal just anticipating to experience this whole army life that every Singaporean son have to go through. 

Basic Military Training (BMT)

On 13 July 2009, I was enlisted in to serve the nation full time, and was posted to BMTC School 2, Leopard Company Platoon 2. During my Basic Military Training (BMT) in Tekong, it was clearly one of the key transforming periods when I was trained from a fresh recruit to becoming a soldier after just 9 weeks. I met many wonderful friends during that period, where I still keep in contact with some today. One of the amazing take away was interacting with the different personalities. We all came from different backgrounds, had different values and experiences in life, but one thing that unite us was the common purpose of serving the nation in this season of our life.

(BMT- Leopard Platoon 2!)

 (BMT Buddy)

Officer’s Cadet School (OCS)

After BMT, I was posted to the Officer’s Cadet School (OCS), 77/09 batch,Tango Wing. The environment and regimentation here was of such high standard, that in the first 3 weeks of confinement there were many moments where I thought of giving up. But what kept me going was this verse from the bible that my Pastor shared with me just before I entered OCS, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.

(My OCS buddies in CLM (first 3 weeks)

Service term passed after 3 mths and soon I was I in my Professional Term where I was posted to the Signal Officer Cadet Course (SOCC) being trained to be future Signals officers. During this period, had the met many new friends and had the privilege to train alongside many great leaders and future officers of the SAF.

We went through all kinds of mental and physical challenges over our journey, and even having the privilege to go for 2 overseas trainings together. In the end, I ended my course well and was surprisingly awarded the Sword of Merit, which was something I did not even imagine receiving when I first entered OCS. Looking back on hindsight, what probably led me to where I was each time, was being inspired by a sermon I heard once on the importance of having the "Spirit of Excellence" in our life which kept me going since I entered BMT.

After 9 memorable months, on 19 June 2010, we were commissioned by the President and became Officers of the SAF. Going through the gruelling but enriching 9 months in OCS certainly taught me a lot and moulded me in my leadership and character as a person.

(Some good old secondary school mates who were fellow officers in the SAF as well)

(77/09 Commissioning Parade!)

Unit Life

As a fresh junior officer, I was posted as a platoon commander taking care of a highly motivated platoon comprising of really smart and hardworking group of signal specialist and men. Unit life was very different compared to the training school environment, where I spend nearly the entire first half of my life as an NSF. As an officer, the responsibility and demands were a lot higher than before. It daunt on me quickly that that we need to be proactive in giving clear instructions, having good administration skills in our planning, and the responsibility in overseeing real operations, and looking after the welfare of your men. This was where the Officer’s Creed that we constantly recite in our time in OCS became a reality, "we are answerable to our men training, moral and discipline".  

(Unit life! - Alpha Coy!)

I cannot mention much about the operations we do, but I can say I’m really the fortunate to experience such real time urban operations, going to places where one would never ever imagine being involved in as a civilian. Aside from operations, as an officer you really get to work with all kind of people, from your various superiors to fellow platoon commanders, the specialist under you and the men which you train during their Unit Induction Programme (UIP).

Besides all the tough trainings and administrative areas one need to do, there is always the fun times as well when we are on standby during weekends in camp. We get to play games with our platoon, have BBQ in camps or just watch movies together. 

(Signal Formation Ensigns & Escorts for Chief of Army Change of Command parade! With the Colours RSM!)

 (Before 45th Signal Anniversary Dining-in)

Company Tactics Course (CTC)

Towards the end of my NSF time. I had this wonderful privilege to participate in this one month, Company Tactics Course (CTC), as the 81st CTC batch, where I personally found it as one of my most memorable and enriching time as an NSF. Having many opportunities to learn and train alongside capable and competent officers in the SAF from different vocations in the army, comprising of SAF/President/PSC scholars, sword holders, some with overseas deployment experiences, but besides the status of many of my course mates, we were all going through this course together to be future company commanders of the SAF be it regulars or future NS man. Its quite amazing to know that some among us will eventually be future Generals of the SAF too. Besides interacting with the different officers there, there were many life-long skills that I personally took back. Such as being equipped in Organisational Leadership, Conversational Coaching, Facilitation Skills and this amazing team learning system that I fully believe in known as the Action Learning Process (ALP).

 (81st Company Tactics Course)

 

(81st CTC Graduation from the Guest of Honour, the former Chief of Armour (as of Feb 2011)

 

(81st CTC- Syndicate 4)

 (81st CTC Leaders Challenge- Syndicate 4 Captain Ball Champions with the former winner Syndicate 3)

If I can summarise, the experience to fresh pre-enlistees what they can expect. I will encourage them to see this as a precious 2 years of equipping and moulding for any Singaporean son and its probably going to be an adventure of a life time that we will never forget. So do treasure your time if your still serving the nation and make the most of this season of your life. Whatever vocation, rank or appointment we hold, whatever unit, course or training school we end up too. I believe we can look back and still remember the experiences that we get in our 2 years in national service and it is this common platform that unites all Singaporean men from all walks of life.

The Divine Appointment! (9 years later)

Had this divine appointment this evening, when this particular pastor whom I don't actually know prayed for me at this conference that I was serendipitously invited too. But why it was such a divine appointment, as I had this vivid memory that God actually use this same pastor 9 years ago to leave such a strong impact in my life when I attended this youth ministry camp when I was just a young 16 year old youth back in 2005. He was the invited keynote speaker to our youth camp that shared a message that convicted my heart to actually make that decision to surrender and give my entire life to the Lord. It was also the first time I actually experience such an overwhelming love of God that filled my heart that just gave me this full assurance of my faith. Where thereafter God made a complete transformation in my life for Him ever since then.

If only I had that chance after that conference to talk to this pastor and to let him know that God actually use him 9 years ago that led me to eventually obey God's call into ministry in the later part of my life. Times like this you will never know that a gospel message you share with someone, may actually impact a life that would eventually make a complete transformation for God. And I can confidently testify today, that hunger and passion for Christ has grown so much more than ever before and I know it was not any emotional decision that I make at that youth camp but a genuine work of the Holy Spirit that transformed my life for Him when I first surrendered my life to Him. :)

What is your dream of a Small group?

Had this sudden inspiration to finally write out some recent musing that God has laid on my heart for the longest time. And I would love to hear who ever reading this, can too share your own personal insights of what you think small group is to you? 

The late John Stott once said this in an amazing book, titled "The Living Church", that “Small groups are indispensible for our growth into spiritual maturity."  Although I will not entirely agree with the word "indispensable", as I believe there are other ways that contribute to our growth to spiritual maturity as well. However, I can clearly affirm that small groups is that essential and of utmost importance for everyone in the church to grow spiritually. 

Just to set the context to this, there was a series of events in the past year that God has place across my path to not only teach me but use them to impact me to write out and share this dream of what a small group would probably look like to me today.
Firstly, in the last 6mths I had this wonderful privilege to be part of another cell group in a different church in addition to my field placement there. One of my biggest takeaway from that group alone, is this "culture of honour" that I've personally learn from the cell leader and members in the group. They demonstrated to me what hospitality really is, and how they honoured every member in the group always encouraging one another. 

Secondly, it was the recent Wesley Church Camp that inspired me to actually write out all this today. After hearing Ps Edmund chan sharing on building a discipleship environment in a community, interacting with leaders and members from different small groups who each shared different insights of what a small group is to them. One of whom was a small group leader who sat down at our table during lunch for awhile on the last day of camp. And I am so thankful of what he shared to us as our small group was currently facing the same situation when his group was just as big as ours once before they eventually multiplied into a few groups today. His sharing affirmed each of us, that sometimes we just need to take that step of faith to just multiply in order to grow.

Thirdly, the biggest impact was actually experiencing what God has being doing in my small group God's clay just this past year alone. Historically this group has been together for more than 13 years since we were formed in Secondary 1 in the Youth ministry, but today it has grown so exponentially that the dynamics is so different than how it was maybe 3 years back. Just in the past year we have more than 10 new comers coming to join us, a couple of them are new believers & one or two seekers brought by friends along the way. Some have assimilated so well that they are already actively serving even though they have been here for just less than 2 months. We have became so big that we have finally come to terms that we actually need to multiply in order for everyone to grow further. To be honest, i've become so comfortable, I know that I do not need to fear coming to a group where there is not less than 6 people there, knowing that each week there always will be a substantial amount of people attending. But that was when God reminded me that as I become too comfortable and drawn by this wonderful vibrancy of people coming in, the potential danger is we may grow in numbers but not in depth in the life of the individuals in the long term. As the group grew, we constantly began to focus on the newcomers but we realised that some were actually left on the fringe, unless we took the next step of faith to actually multiply into even smaller groups, so that everyone can eventually share and grow deeper with one another. (The latest update as I write this, is we finally all came to a common vision an agreement of a feasible course of action to this multiplication which will take effect in the very near future)

I also sense from interacting with different members that each of us come to small group with different expectation. Some would come for small group as a place of fellowship, some to grow in the word, some see it as a place to sharpen each other, "like iron sharpen iron". But I've personally come to see it in a much broader way that Small group actually encompasses all of these aspects in the process of coming together, all this expectations mentioned are the product of what small group life should comprise of and is not mutually exclusive to one another. In short being and serving in a small group will eventually facilitate one in spiritual growth. 

Someone once asked me what is my dream of a Small group? 

If I can define what small group is first, I would say small group is the best environment on how we as a community of believers can come together to live out our Christian life. Since "regular" church on a weekend contains the larger body of Christ, where we attend a service, worship corporately & listen to a sermon on the pulpit but it is harder for time of closer interactions and personal ministry for one another if we are not in a smaller group. Small group in a way is like a mini church, it allows one to fully experience what church life really is. I say "Church" here not as a building but as a united body of Christ coming together. Just like the early church which described the fellowship of believers in Acts 2:42-47 where members met together in homes, to break bread, worship God, study His Word, share their possession & give to the needy. I believe a small group should emulate such a Living Church which has the same mission and purpose of the direction of the church, but it is carried out in an even smaller community which is the small groups within the church. 

Secondly, I would state that we need to come to terms with reality that it is totally fine to have people of different personalities, different IQ & EQ, different occupations, different spiritual maturity an perhaps God would put some in our midst that will really "sharpen" and test us what patience really is. As we can not have the mindset that we can always be this "holy huddle" that just meet every Friday just focusing inwardly at our own needs. That's one of the biggest and likely danger a small group can fall into, and I'm very thankful that the general direction of the small group has unanimously agreed that we desire to be a group that is always Outward Looking which has a "no close door" policy. Ever since we took that stance, an influx of new members & seekers just came flooding through out group which gave us such a new vibrant life that we know inevitable in order to grow further we have to multiply. (This is partly why I sometimes prefer the term "cell groups" as it is meant to multiply)

Thirdly, I will say a small group is the best environment to start discovering, growing and exercising our different Spiritual gifts. It should be an environment that has such a culture of honor for one another that allows one to serve and to grow without being judge. An environment where we can experience the manifest presence of God and just allow the Holy Spirit to fill us & empower us to exercise our giftings for the common good! For example, a small group is a wonderful place for one to exercise the gift of hospitality to each other, especially when there is a new comer. It is also a good place to learn how to facilitate a bible study session, a platform to lead worship for the first time, its a wonderful place to exhort & encourage one another, to show care & concern, to pray for each other, and eventually there will not be any "consumers" or people on the fringe. Imagine this picture of such a vibrant group, if every single one in the group can be mutually loving, serving, giving, discipling, encouraging and ministering to one another. Just like describe in the early church in Acts 2:42-47, It is through this process that we not only grow deeper in the Word together but we will inevitably experience such Spiritual growth as we love and serve one another! 

Lastly, I hope to see a small group that can be that "Witnessing Community" , that can live out the mission of "Missio Dei", God's heart for the people. This encompass what I have shared in the last two points where the group have the vision to be outward looking and to serve other with our spiritual gifts! We are to be intentional about being "missional". We are not only to feed ourselves as part of a Christian life as a community but to reach out to others as well. A group that is generally touch by God will naturally touch others too. A group that will look out for the least, the last & the lost and to bless others along the way. Just like our Wesley SGM vision, "Growing groups that bears lasting fruit." That is a wonderful vision that I too hope and dream we can fully embrace and live out in our small group. Yet again, I am already seeing a glimpse of this happening in our small group today. i.e. Ever since we started to do SGM Alpha last year, God provided that one seeker, who eventually came to Christ, and is actively serving in our small group today. And another new believer in our group has recently step-up to lead us in a fresh new direction for the small group ahead! Both of them are just one of the many testimonies that God have been doing something in the individuals in the group. And it's such an encouragement to see the new believers actually playing such an active role & reminding us "long-time" or "second-generation" Christians how vibrant a Christian life really is.

Concluding Remarks

In summary, my dream of a small group is to see such an outward looking group that is like a small group "without walls" where God can use such a group who can mutually love and serve one another, who disciple disciplers and be that witnessing community to the world!

I will like to end with this verse that is very close to my heart! In John 13:34-35 says, "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”


Below are just some of the small groups that have greatly impacted me in recent years!

My very own small group God's Clay...

 

My former youth small group- God's Everlasting Love (G.E.L)  whom I have spend 5-6 years with...

 

Shekinah Glory (Coos) cell group (My associate group) that I've been part of in the last 6months.

  

The camp group comprising of God's Clay & Googlegod small group at the recent Wesley Church Camp 2014

 

Personal Reflections & Sermon/Workshop Notes from Wesley Church Camp 2014

Just came back from a memorable and Spirit-filled four days in Melaka at the recent Wesley Church Camp 2014, "Inside & Outside" at Hotel Equatorial. This have been a camp that I've saved on my calendar since the 2011 Wesley camp comm announced 3 years ago at the end of the camp, that they have already pre-booked one of my all time favourite speaker/pastor/writer Rev Edmund Chan to be this year Keynote speaker. Rev Edmund Chan is someone whom have influence me in many way ever since I first heard of him at a conference in 2008. Ever since then i've read almost all his books, listen to many of his sermons, and attended many of his conferences and I'm very thankful that I could finally hear him in at Wesley Camp and have this short but very precious talk with him at this camp. :)

I can confidently say that this camp has supersede the high expectations I already had before going to this camp! Besides the many YM Camps and Family Church Camps I have been involved over the years, this particular family church camp has personally been one of the most impactful and spirit-filled camp that i've have witness and experience, especially on the final day when Rev Edmund Chan gave a heartfelt convicting message and a challenge for us to be that Witnessing community. And from where I was in the front it looks as though 80-90% of the entire congregation responded to that altar call to be in full Surrender to the Lord, to avail themselves to be used by God, and to commit to praying for divine appointments to come along their way. Even during the last segment of camp, many different campers from the young to the old have affirmed this move of God. One of the Young adults that I personally know shared this, "God has awoken this giant (Wesley), I can't wait to see what God has in store for the Church" (paraphrase). 

God's Clay & Googlegod small group

This is my first such Church Camp that i'm actually not involved with the Youth Ministry, but i'm so thankful that my small group, God's clay & Googlegod have been my family here!  I'm very amazed at how God has divinely placed both our small groups to be in the same discussion group throughout this camp, I didn't expect us to be so bonded since the Day 1 of camp, as we actually hang out together throughout the entire camp. We were together almost every meal time, attended the workshop together, even spending the first free & easy night on Day 1 watching a night movie together. Even during the discussion times, everyone was so vulnerable and affirming with each other, sharing their spiritual gifting, dreams, burdens and hopes for the small group and church. They made facilitating this highly participative and open group so easy. They have been such a loving community who have encouraged me so much in this camp, even my small group volunteered to help me with the logistics set up for the optional activities on Day 2 and even my SG leader helped me in my preparation for my testimony sharing on the last day of camp too. I'm also very thankful to have 2 fellow members who kindly helped lead a discussion session each! We are also very privilege to have a friend from an Anglican church, Chapel of the Resurrection (COR) to be part of us throughout this 4 days, and she gave us some really good perspective to our two groups especially during our many impromptu discussions on our small groups future. 

Concluding Remarks

If I can conclude and share the one most memorable & impactful moment of camp, it would definitely have to be on day 4 after the final challenge by Rev Edmund chan, when God just convicted my entire small group as we responded individually but it appeared as though we made a commitment together at the altar. I recall the scene how we were on our knees together & I personally experienced such a fresh in-filling of God's presence that very moment & knee God was overflowing in my heart & could hear God deeply touching my fellow members as well. It's moments like this which is like a glimpse of heaven being in the presence of our Almighty God, and a day that will be grafted in my memory for a very long time to know that this very day on 8 June 2014 at Wesley church camp. We made this covenant together as a small group crying out to The Lord on our knees for such a fresh vision that God has revive in us. We were all so inspired that on the long coach ride back to Singapore, we actually planned an afterglow for both our small groups to come together again so hoping that this fire ignited in us could be passed on to the rest of our small group back home in Singapore and become that witnessing community as one united body of Christ living out what a Christian life really should be in a small group! :)

Would like to end with this beautiful testimony that Ps Edmund chan shared at the Day 2 workshop, "Building a Discipleship Community"

"The most valuable part of being in a small group is the companion of fellow Christians to encourage one another and to share the joys and struggles in our journey, this anchors me in Christ's body. Small group keeps me in check should I be tempted to stray. It helps me constant in me constant in my study of God's Word." 

Photos of my Journey with God's Clay & Googlegod Small group at Wesley Church Camp 2014:

 

  

 

Sermon & Workshop Notes at Wesley Church Camp 2014, Keynote Speaker: Rev Edmund Chan

Session 1

 "The Church Family as a Word-Centered Community"

A parable of contrast 

Introduction

Are you rooted in the deep things of good, in sound doctrine, if one is not rooted one is never ready.

Matthew 7:24-26

24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

To Jesus, the most important thing in life is its foundation….

Matthew 7:24-27 - A Parable of Contrasts 

But first, we must note the similarities: 

There were Two Similar Men ...

- Two men with two resources, similar desires, similar intelligence and competence.

There were Two Similar Houses …

Key Question: Why two similar men building two similar houses had two totally different results? Answer: The Foundation!

Three Profound Lessons -

A. There is A Great Difference Between Hearing And Doing God’s Word.

"Truth doesn't change life, it is truth applied change life!"

- Many are hearing the Word, but it is critical to not only hear but to do.

- Illustration: This pastor who was preaching about  Jesus second coming... He repeated 3 times "I am coming", ... Later trip & fell on this old lady infront, he was apologetic, lady said it's my fault I heard it 3 times but did not move"

Matthew 28:18-20

Great commission is teaching one to do all things! It's not just teaching...it's teaching to do all things!

We cannot walk with God holding hands with the devil… 

B. Your Foundation Is Unseen But Becomes Evident In Times Of Crisis.

- Illustration of LKY tree on the top it look good but on the bottom the cement of the roots is killing the tree. What we do in secret will build or destroy that foundation. 

- We can't just pay lip service we need to build the right foundation first. The foundation in itself will be build in a non crisis.

- We got to come a place in our Christian life and to know that the Word of God is the foundation for our lives.

C. A Life Built On The Word Will Ultimately Stand.

- "The doing of Word is predicated by knowing the Word"

- We need to ground our children with the Word! And the children children! 

- A start do we know the 66 books of the bible? 

Conclusion. What is The Foundation Of Your Life? Upon what are you building?

- Value is caught more than taught. I.e. His daughter who once as a punishment on her own to make her mother smile, was to memories & recite 5 psalms. He was in awe. 

"Christianity started as a passion in Jerusalem,came to Greece & became a philosophy, came to Europe & became a culture, came to Rome & it became an institution,came to America & it became an enterprise".

Session 2

“THE CHURCH FAMILY AS A DISCIPLESHIP COMMUNITY” (Matthew 5:13-16)

13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
A church is called to make disciples!
"If Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all"

A Discipleship Deficit in the Church Today...
Two Metaphors of Radical Discipleship -

The Disciple As “Salt Of The Earth” (Matt 5:13)
- Speaks of a sense if distinctiveness & identity in Jesus.
- Not just who you are but Whose you are!
- In the ancient world, salt is for healing properties, preservative, flavor, seasoning, properties... Or it's wage... "A man worth his wage"
- Jesus was not focusing on the usefulness of salt, but the uniqueness of salt.
- Salt is known as a stable chemical compound. So how can salt lose its saltiness? So what's the point of the rhetorical question?
- But nothing salt salt? So what does Jesus means one lose its saltiness?
- A compromise church is a contaminated church
- Our lukewarmness offence God...
-When one is salt! One is distinct! One is of a certain kind!
- you are the salt of the earth, don't compromise!

The Disciple As “Light Of The World” (Matt 5:14-16)
- Sense of destiny & influence!
The who, the what & the world! 
Who? A ragtag band of inconspicuous people. No money, power, influence. World changers.
What? "Light of the world" Jesus called himself the light of the world. We are called to be like Jesus!
 Christians  like Jesus but are not like Jesus. 
The goal of discipleship is transformation!
Transformation into what? To be like Jesus. When Christ-likeness is understood as the goal of discipleship, then we understand why "light of the world".
Where? Light of the where? Of "the worldL. Nothing less than a global vision would honor God.

Illustration of this millionaire who put 2 sharks into his swimming pool saying whosever can swim across will get a millionaire. Suddenly a splash this guy swam across and got out panting. The crowd was cheering saying what let you to do that. He said , "who push me!" ... This shows that Discipleship cannot be push! 

When there's a spiritual dynamo in you, it becomes so natural that one do not need to be push.
This world is not our home, we are just passing through.

Illustration:  When people ask what he do, he is a leadership mentor because if he say his a pastor, people are apprehensive to continue the conversation. So he say he is a loser ship mentor, one who brings one from elusion to reality ... And that's what the gospel does! 
You and you only are the salt of the earth!

Applicational Focus: Making A Difference!

Conclusion. Be Salt and Light!

Session 3

“THE CHURCH FAMILY AS A UNITED COMMUNITY” (Gal 5:1-26)

The Urgency for Unity As A Church Family...
- The danger of Prophets, is when they speak from God to become speaking as God.
- the church represents the kingdom of God on earth
- But yet many parts of the world, the church is divided
- one can disagree but never disengage
- trust and love is very important. Something to be treasured.
- when love is thick fork is thin
- The unity of the family must be preserved!

Galatians 5:25-26

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Three Things That Tear Unity Apart - 
1. “boasting...” – The Lack of Humility
- Humility is one who is quick to acknowledge grace...to express gratitude, thankfulness, gentleness. 
2. “challenging...” – The Lack of Patience
- Patience comes through trials. When we deal with people who are different from us. 
Global Kingdom Network (GKN), leaders all over the world. Bishops & senior pastors. 
3. “envying...” – The Lack of Security
- don't covet another person glory & don't copy another person's gift. Everyone has different sphere of influence. Be who you are in terms of what God has called you.

Context of Galatians 5, 
Key word ... "Walk"
Walk in freedom, walk in love & walk by the Spirit!
Peripateo- walk, how one walk by the spirit
Since one live in the spirit therefore keep in line with the spirit.
Three Things That Thread Unity Together

Think aright….

1. Think aright of One Another

Galatians 6:1
- Be supportive.
If one meets people who ignores or irritates you, pray for God to open ones eyes of how Jesus would see this person through you. So even if the person doesn't change, at least we are change by Christ.

2. Think aright of Oneself
We need to understand what we look for.
Illustration: story of this f16 pilot showing off to his girlfriend all the tricks and turns. Later the gf comfort him, it's okay next time you will able to fly straight. 
Humble doesn't mean mediocre. Give God all the best one can be to ones giftings & talent!
Ask God how one can be the best one can be to the gift that God has given us!

Celebrity syndrome in the life of a church the other extreme, is when one say I am nothing. Give honour where honor is due.

3. Think aright of One’s Responsibility

Galatians 6:3-4

3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

Conclusion. Flying in formation together!!
Unity is not about being nice... The heart of unity is the unity of purpose. Why we have to be united.
We don't want to come to a state of regret to say we wish to join hands earlier...

Session 4

“THE CHURCH FAMILY AS A WITNESSING COMMUNITY” (Romans 1:16)

We should have a Paradigms shift that at church camp when we experience & encounter God that should be the real world, when we step back to the world, that is only an illusion. We need to continue to live out such sustainable breakthrough and to worship God to allow our life the breakforth to the message of the power of the Christian life. 

It is hard to be a Christian because we are not fully Christian yet. Once we live a life fully surrendered we become a Christian that it's hard to live not as a Christian. 

The apostle Peter is saying to the people that Christianity is possible because God power & providence have been shown IF we give out our life in absolute surrender to the Lordship of Christ. 

We first need to make a decisive choice to allow the word of God to open to us and response to this truth applying in our lives!

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The church family as a witnessing community 

- priority is clear lead to the purpose to be clear. We need to be clear on our mission. I.e. A fire fighter is not about fighting fire BUT saving lives! 

The mission of the church is for lost souls! Everything else is to be align to this mission! We are not to do witnessing we are to be witnesses. 

Five Defining Questions on "Making Him Known": 

1. Why is “Making Him Known” Important?

- The lost ness of man in the agenda of God. 

- The power of God to save us! 

For God SO love the world. 

What did Jesus mean by SO? That's the intensity of God's love. But that's a common misunderstanding. 

If we look back 2 verses

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

The same SO is used not just the intensity of God's love. A more stronger context of v.14 & 16 . It is a comparative word for God to the Jews likewise God love us the Gentiles. And He delivered his son for all of us.

The ultimate sacrifice have already by given! The best of heaven for the worst of earth. God came to say He love us through His son Jesus Christ!

We have been inoculated by the truth! Because we are doing nothing about it!! Imagine hearing millions dying without Christ, and be inoculated about it! That's possible if we do not act on the truth!

Ps Edmund motivation, the reason why his stirred about evangelism is... A 100 million years for now, what is most important from now. When everything is forgotten and gone. The most important thing whose going to heaven & whose going to hell? 

Imagine if one day he open his eyes, and thankfully in heaven & look back of the many opportunities that he had missed back on earth! 

On planet earth when we are given the chance to make a different do we waste those chance?

2. If it’s so important, why is it so neglected?

There's not only fear but deception by the world that "you can't". When satan deceive us, the words are "I can't to us"... 80% of Christians 60% of pastors feel thay can't!
Sharing about pastors who hide behind the pulpit! Will we take the challenge and apply what we preach! 
Deception such as: only those who are eloquent like Edmund Chan or pastors can share! This is prevalent in many churches.
You trust God, make a simple prayer , like today I can't, but empower me and give me that opportunity and I will do it!
Shift the words from "I can't" to "I'm available"...
Story of how this lady shared Christ to 3 people in one day who receive Christ!
God is looking at our availability! If your not willing, pray to God to be make us willing.

3. What is “Making Him Known” All About?

We need PDA!

Personal revival... Pray for Divine appointment & response in Active Obedeince! 

Shared of a testimony of this man who God led him to share to. Who was touch by his sincerity & not because of one intellect. 

4. What Makes it so Difficult?

- It is that conviction that makes one say to make one available to sow the seeds. 

- We need to know that we are not to be deceive of this fear of deception of sharing the gospel because of no result.

5. How can it be Best Accomplished?

- Testimony of this insurance agent who tried to sale insurance to her, she response can I share a life assurance. In the end they pray with their eyes open in the middle of the bus stop for that person to receive Christ.
- You will never know when you are in the right time & place ... Just boldly share & sow the seeds! If we don't know what to say... Just pray for them! 
- story of how he went with a group of pastors, and said who to start first, they said senior pastor to start, when an opportunity came, he told the stranger that this man got something to tell you. 

Conclusion: To Know Him and To Make Him Known!

Workshop Notes: Discipleship in the community- Rev Edmund Chan (WesleyChurch Camp 2014)

Create a discipleship environment 

Five cries of the local church:

1. Too many programmes

2. Too few volunteers

3. Church leadership vision not clear

4. Church leaders not united

5. Church members not disciples (spiritually fed)

The key to implementing a discipleship making church:

Knowing loving & serving Christ

"Our relationship with him flows out of loving, then we go on toserve Him."

1. The discipleship training environment 

2. The discipleship community 

"If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far gotogether"

There is sustainably in community. 

The need to understand the core mission of the church

The purpose of unity in the church

- important of small groups

"Divine appointment" - code word for evangelism.

The positive surpasses the negative... To do others what you want themto do to you. 

We are called to live in community. 

Illustration: Fellowship is not 2 fellow in the same ship.

Fellowship means being of the same kind excited about the samething. 

The key to implementing a discipleship making church:

Create that discipleship environment 

Word & prayer is the root ,

Mission & Evangelism is the fruit

CG members can impact the church

Cells are the primary focus of congregational life

It's not how large the church is, it's about growing life together!Vitality can only be experience in community.

We call cell groups the disciple making of the Cheung 

We must phase out all competing programs. Cells are given a toopriority.

No competition

Programms are good when we are meeting this consumeristic culture, tomeet the choices of such programs. The issue of more programs we have there isnot one infrastructure the connection of the life of the church is not there.

The key is multiplying cell leaders that have caught it!

Paradigm shift:

Our family "shared responsibility"

Cell empowers the service ministries of the church.

Replaced the "volunteer" paradigm

An effective cell infrastructure releases the church for ministry. Cellsrelease the church to accomplish three things:

1. Pastoral Care

2 Evangelism

3. The raising up of the leaders

The church pastors are the equippers! The rest of us are the one thatare the salt & life of the world!

Assimilate newcomers!

Cells look out for new concerts and new visitors to assimilate them intochurch.

Cells close the "back door" of the hutch

Cells offer a sense of belonging & intimacy

Practical considerations for cell group development:

1. Learn from other churches what works and what doesn't

2. Brainstorm what can be done to improve cell life in the church.

i.e mobilization cells to pray for our pastors and missionaries

i.e improve church communications through cells

i.e every 10 cells join together to adopt an I reached peoplegroup 

i.e channel new concerts to a cell group

When people go out to bless we come back being bless! Serving on amission trip together!

3. Have a clear policy and process for cell multiplication . Teach the 5stages of a cell life: (learning, loving, linking, laughing and leaving )

4. End cell meetings with an opportunity for personal ministry

5. Mentor servant leaders on the job through opportunities in cellleadership!

A vision to keep multiplying to train more leaders!

One need to multiply! 

Sometimes we focus on makan after that we miss time for personalministry of the deep things of the heart. 

6. Let the senior pastors set the agenda and pace for discipling cells

7. Avoids the common pitful for over enthusiastic leaders to force cellgroups on the congregation, rather than starting something successful andletting it gradually replace the cell groups . We also cannot force people intodiscipleship. 

Built a discipleship environment 

What is the most important thing in building the cell ?

- Focus on multiplying cell leaders not  multiplying the cellgroups ... BUT that's not entirely the most. The senior pastor need to be fullybehind the vision! Every church that grows is the pastoral leadership , theleadership resonance of the pastoral team! What we decide even if it's notpopular as a leadership.

- We need to go to the mountain and seek The Lord, can create thefoundation but that will not cause the church to grow. 

- The good answer, developing cell leaders, but the underlying answers isthe local council and pastoral staff to come together of the master blue printof the heart of moving the church, to equip the church! 

- The call of the pastor is to do the equipping. The challenge is thepeople willing to be equipped! 

Key to leadership/teacher... Is to inspire the people not to forcepeople. 

"A mediocre teacher tells, a competent teacher explains, a goodteacher demonstrates, a great teacher inspires"

The key is to inspire! Inspiring the people with the Word of God!

The main aim is to inspire the congregation and not to force thecongregation. To set the example & pace.

People do not give to a need, they give to a vision!

How do you inspire a church to give. 

i.e. If we ask someoneto take your neighbor wallet and give in church. What will we give ? It'sthe same for our wallet, the wallet in our pocket belongs to God. He entrust itto us. 

God wants you to be good steward that all that I have. 

If we are to be good stewards of all we have is that right? True orfalse...It’s False

God want us to be a good steward of what He owns. God owns and not weown.

There will be criticism along the way but we just need. 

We do not exist for ourselves. The church is not for ourselves. It's forthe world! We are not to be cliquish but to multiply! 

We need to be careful not to have a controlling spirit. Political will and to inspire.

Workshop Notes: Discipleship in the community

Create a discipleship environment 

Five cries of the local church:

1. Too many programmes

2. Too few volunteers

3. Church leadership vision not clear

4. Church leaders not united

5. Church members not disciples (spiritually fed)

The key to implementing a discipleship making church:

Knowing loving & serving Christ

"Our relationship with him flows out of loving, then we go on to serve Him."

1. The discipleship training environment 

2. The discipleship community 

"If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far go together"

There is sustainably in community. 

The need to understand the core mission of the church

The purpose of unity in the church

- important of small groups

"Divine appointment" - code word for evangelism.

The positive surpasses the negative... To do others what you want them to do to you. 

We are called to live in community. 

Illustration: Fellowship is not 2 fellow in the same ship.

Fellowship means being of the same kind excited about the same thing. 

The key to implementing a discipleship making church:

Create that discipleship environment 

Word & prayer is the root ,

Mission & Evangelism is the fruit

CG members can impact the church

Cells are the primary focus of congregational life

It's not how large the church is, it's about growing life together! Vitality can only be experience in community.

We call cell groups the disciple making of the Cheung 

We must phase out all competing programs. Cells are given a too priority.

No competition

Programms are good when we are meeting this consumeristic culture, to meet the choices of such programs. The issue of more programs we have there is not one infrastructure the connection of the life of the church is not there.

The key is multiplying cell leaders that have caught it!

Paradigm shift:

Our family "shared responsibility"

Cell empowers the service ministries of the church.

Replaced the "volunteer" paradigm

An effective cell infrastructure releases the church for ministry. Cells release the church to accomplish three things:

1. Pastoral Care

2 Evangelism

3. The raising up of the leaders

The church pastors are the equippers! The rest of us are the one that are the salt & life of the world!

Assimilate newcomers!

Cells look out for new concerts and new visitors to assimilate them into church.

Cells close the "back door" of the hutch

Cells offer a sense of belonging & intimacy

Practical considerations for cell group development:

1. Learn from other churches what works and what doesn't

2. Brainstorm what can be done to improve cell life in the church.

i.e mobilization cells to pray for our pastors and missionaries

i.e improve church communications through cells

i.e every 10 cells join together to adopt an I reached people group 

i.e channel new concerts to a cell group

When people go out to bless we come back being bless! Serving on a mission trip together!

3. Have a clear policy and process for cell multiplication . Teach the 5 stages of a cell life: (learning, loving, linking, laughing and leaving )

4. End cell meetings with an opportunity for personal ministry

5. Mentor servant leaders on the job through opportunities in cell leadership!

A vision to keep multiplying to train more leaders!

One need to multiply! 

Sometimes we focus on makan after that we miss time for personal ministry of the deep things of the heart. 

6. Let the senior pastors set the agenda and pace for discipling cells

7. Avoids the common pitful for over enthusiastic leaders to force cell groups on the congregation, rather than starting something successful and letting it gradually replace the cell groups . We also cannot force people into discipleship. 

Built a discipleship environment 

What is the most important thing in building the cell ?

- Focus on multiplying cell leaders not  multiplying the cell groups ... BUT that's not entirely the most. The senior pastor need to be fully behind the vision! Every church that grows is the pastoral leadership , the leadership resonance of the pastoral team! What we decide even if it's not popular as a leadership.

We need to go to the mountain and seek The Lord, can create the foundation but that will not cause the church to grow. 

The good answer, developing cell leaders, but the underlying answers is the local council and pastoral staff to come together of the master blue print of the heart of moving the church, to equip the church! 

The call of the pastor is to do the equipping. The challenge is the people willing to be equipped! 

Key to leadership/teacher... Is to inspire the people not to force people. 

"A mediocre teacher tells, a competent teacher explains, a good teacher demonstrates, a great teacher inspires"

The key is to inspire! Inspiring the people with the Word of God!

The main aim is to inspire the congregation and not to force the congregation. To set the example & pace.

People do not give to a need, they give to a vision!

How do you inspire a church to give. 

I.e. If we ask someone to take your neighbor wallet and give in church. What will we give ? 

It's the same for our wallet, the wallet in our pocket belongs to God. He entrust it to us. 

God wants you to be good steward that all that I have. 

If we are to be good stewards of all we have is that right ? True or false...False

God want us to be a good steward of what He owns. God owns and not we own.

There will be criticism along the way but we just need. 

We do not exist for ourselves. The church is not for ourselves. It's for the world! We are not to be cliquish but to multiply! 

We need to be careful not to have a controlling spirit. Political will and to inspire.