God's Fingerprints In My Life (Part 2)

Spent the entire day doing up this summarised personal timeline of God's fingerprints in my life just before I start my journey at Trinity Theological College in less than a couple weeks time. This is a revised note to a similar one I posted last year to also remind myself again how and why I started this Faith adventure with the Lord into full time ministry today. The part 2 is also an extract of a question posted to us on our present understanding full time service as part of our Spiritual Autobiography in my initial application to study at Trinity Theological College (TTC).

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards"- Soren Kierkegaard 

Part 1 - My Spiritual Autobiography

Reflections of God's fingerprints in my life! (Part 1/2) 

Part 2 - My Present Understanding of Full-time Service 

I once heard from a church leader that once you’re a Christian, “We are actually all called to be full time service for our Lord." However, you are either full time ministers for the Lord in the market place or vocationally full time ministers in a church, Para-church organisation or in the mission field. 

My present understanding of full time service means that I am able to focus my entire time and energy to prepare myself to the specific call of the ministry that God has called me too. 

Ever since I sense God’s confirmation for me to full time service on 17 Jan 2009 see (Reflections of God's fingerprints in my life! (Part 1/2) ), there have been this deep hunger in my heart to search, seek, study to find out more of this God of mysteries. The more I study and read His scriptures, the more I realised there’s so much of God which I do not know, and it’s such a thrill just discovering his hidden treasures. As said in Ephesians 3:3-5, “... the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.”

There’s this quote by Selwyn Hughes which just resonates in my heart.

"God plans life in such a way that the greatest treasures are concealed, waiting for you to discover them. And there is no thrill like the thrill of making a great discovery." - Selwyn Hughes

Ever since I started working full time as a staff in the Youth Ministry in church, it has definitely assured my call even more each day. Being able to live out my passion to minister to the youths and leaders and to be so directly involved in ministry in all areas of my life has definitely been a great privilege for me.  And it’s such an intrinsic joy to see lives being transformed by God in my time serving here thus far.

“Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.”- WarrenW. Wiersbe, “On Being a Servant of God” 

My Personal Time Line:

Below are just some of the significant events that have made some what of an impact in my life to my call in ministry today.

1989- 2005- Growing up days (The Prevenient Grace of God)

Looking back, I’m grateful that I was born into a Christian family. Like what John Wesley would probably say, it was because of this that the prevenient grace of God could have led me to Christ eventually. In my growing up days, I just followed my parents to church each Sunday. Heard from my parent’s that I accepted Jesus Christ into my life when I was about 4 years old.

2005- (9 Dec)- YM Camp 2005 (God's Transformation in my life)

Had my first real encounter of God's manifest presence in my life at the age of 16 years old despite growing up in the faith. My life was never the same again after this camp.

"The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become... It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own." - C. S. Lewis

http://benlau89.blogspot.sg/2008/04/my-personal-life-changing-testimony.html

2006 (Jan)- Step up as a Youth Leader in YM (Started peer leading)

2006 (Feb)- Joined the Crosstrainers Sub-ministry (The YM Activities Ministry)

2006 (May)- Joined CRU Singapore (Formerly known Singapore Campus Crusade for Christ)

I’mthankful for this amazing season, serving in CRU Singapore (Formerly known Singapore Campus Crusade for Christ) from 2006-2009 as a student on campus. This is the ministry whichequipped me greatly especially in the area of Discipleship & Evangelism. Inmy later years started to serve as a Spiritual Multiplier (SM), the ServantTeam (ST) and then eventually the Student Coordinator (SC) for the ministry.This exposure equipped me greatly in Christian leadership planning for eventsfor the Christians on campus and mentoring the future leaders in the ministry.Being involved in this Para-church ministry also allowed me to understand thedifferent theological views from my Christian brothers and sisters fromdifferent denominations.    

2006- (2 Sep)- YM Leaders Retreat (My Strangely Warmed Experience)

Probably my first powerful encounter of the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" after YM Camp 2005. When I felt that "strangely warmed" experienced. 

https://www.facebook.com/notes/benjamin-lau/a-strangely-warmed-experience/10150501640562315 

2007- (13 Dec)- YM Camp 2007 (Heard God's Audible Voice...)

On the first day of YM camp 200, after a message on hearing God's voice by Pastor Alvin Chan, he asked everyone to quieten their hearts and hear what God want to tell us abt out destiny... The thought of "to minister to others" kept appearing in my mind. I believed it was from God. "...and after that I heard this AUDIBLE VOICE, it sounded like someone I knew but wasn't at that camp at my left side of my ears. And it was just this 2 words.... "HEY BEN" ... till today I've never experience anything like that before. And looking back I think this could be an initial call for me just like how God spoke audibly to Samuel.

http://benlau89.blogspot.sg/2007/12/wesley-ym-camp-2007-at-singapore-sports.html

2008- (17 Jan)- A Personal Devotion (God opened my heart to be ready for His Call)

An extract of a of my devotion... "EVERYDAY WITH JESUS" by Selwyn Hughues.....

Before i started today QT... I told God to continue to reveal to me his purpose and calling for me, and basically to really speak to my heart... and well today passage was base on "Judges 5:1-18...  Some will find the year ahead to be one of the most exciting of their lives, and will be determined to respond to all the challenges God gives them. Others of us, I am afraid, will be like Asher who "sat still by the seaboard,clinging to his Creeks" (V.17)

The passage is questioning us if we are that "CREEK-Minded" Christian like Asher in (V.17) or an OCEAN-minded Christian where you are ready to accept all the plans God has for you who is willing to lose the little in order to reach out the BIG. As I read the latter again, it spoke to me.... Am I really READY for the BIG THING GOD has for me? I responded and confidently said a resounding... YES! But right now i'm just waiting for that continual assurance of what really my TRUE Calling really is! And when i'm that sure! I will go for it!... is it to be used by God in the market place? or serve Him in a Full time vocation? Thats an area of my life that I will continue to Trust the Lord as I live each day for HIM.... 

http://benlau89.blogspot.sg/2008/01/my-450-post-god-is-so-amazing.html

2008- (7 Oct)- CRU Singapore Wordwide Day of Prayer Meeting (Dreaming with God)

I was in this prayer room called the “Dreams & Destiny” room. And as I was just being still and waiting upon the Lord, for the first time ever, I experience a very strong sense of God speaking to my heart, it was so real that questions that was on my mind was being responded by God immediately on my mind. It was as though it was a two way conversation with God, and I just had to write everything that was being said to me at that time. It started when I just openly asked God in faith for his call for my life.

As I asked him where specifically, Psalms 37:3-5 came to my mind, "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this." I knew this desires of my heart, wasn’t my desires but as I delight in the Lord, he will place His desires into my desires. And it made so much sense at that point of time. And then the phrase "From the Inside out" came into my mind, an interpretation came quite immediately and this was what was impressed on my heart that very day in that prayer meeting. “To reach out to the world, by starting with equipping the people in the church to prepare them for outreach to the World.” 

http://benlau89.blogspot.sg/2008/10/dreaming-with-god.html

2009- (17 Jan)- Fellowship of Burning Hearts Retreat (God's Confirmation Call for my life)

On 17 Jan 2009 was where I got the confirmation of God’s Call for me. I attended this retreat called "Fellowship of the Burning Hearts (FBH) under CRU Singapore (Formerly known as campus crusade for christ) where a selected few graduating students who have some desires or questions about full time ministry came together to seek God's calling.

I still remember the speaker shared on these 3 points that may help us discern that call. Firstly, the Providential Call, incidences or events that have happened before, Secondly, the Charismatic call, spiritual gifts that God give one, and lastly, the Heart Call, where deep in your heart you actually know that you know that God has called you somewhere, but sometimes we are to afraid to verbalized it out to others, as we are afraid to be verbally accountable for it, and when he said that, I felt a deep conviction for it, as that was the feeling I was feeling at that time.

However, I still desired more confirmation, I prayed before I slept that night and in my amazement, I actually had a dream of where I was in my bed there was a signboard in front of me that said “Just Say it”. I woke up the next morning, recalling what had happened, and still wanted more confirmation from God’s Word itself and not have a dream determined my future, so decided to spend some time with the Lord, and my devotional reading of that day was taken from Hebrews 3:1-11 and when it came to verse 7-8 it said, "So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." , there and then, a deep conviction resonated in my heart again, as I knew that the Holy Spirit was speaking to me all these while, and flashes of my initial call came back to me again. And I knew when the Lord said, “God is faithful always, just be obedient to His call”. I knew I cannot run away already, and there and then I prayed and committed myself to response to His call on the spot.

When I thought that was it, God just assured me yet again when I went home that afternoon to share with my parents about it, my mom responded that the devotional book that I use to read a year ago also spoke to my sister today too for a different matter in her life. And then a flash back came to me that exactly 1 year ago on 17 Jan 2008, I wrote an entry on my blog about this same devotional reading that my sister is using now. And when I searched back to that post, this was what I wrote, “I was ready to be that “OCEAN-minded” Christian who is ready to accept all the plans God has for me, and that I’m willing to lose the little in order to reach out the BIG.” And I left an open questioned at the end, “that I’m all ready to be fully used by God, but didn’t know if it’s going to be in the market place or to be in full-time ministry?”


And now exactly 1 year later on 17 Jan 2009, God answered that open question to Him. I was just in awe, I knew this was one of the many “providential calls” that the speaker the night before was talking about.

http://benlau89.blogspot.sg/2009/01/i-have-received-gods-call.html

2009 (Jan)- Step down from peer leading my own small group to take a Sec 1 group in YM
2009 (13 Jul) - 2011 (12 May) - Full Time Nation Service (NSF) 

Godhas developed me greatly in the 2 years serving full time in the National Service. Going through the mental & physical demands in BMT, OCS & later as a platoon commander.

http://benlau89.blogspot.sg/2011/05/my-nsf-journey-13-july-09-to-12-may.html

2010 (Dec)- Stepped Down from Cross-trainers (The YM activities ministry)

2010 (Dec)- Joined YMove (The YM Mission Committee)

2011 (5 Jan)- Appointment with Ps Alvin Chan (Pastoral Advice) (An answered prayer)

On 4 Jan 2011, just few months before my Operationally Ready Date (ORD) from the National Service, I was contemplating deeply on 2 possible paths after my ORD. Firstly, I was seriously considering the option of extending my contract in the SAF for awhile after many opportunities to sign on came. Secondly, to explore a new area of ministry in church in the area of Sport’s ministry, which I left of as a sports intern before going into National Service.

I left with this prayer "Dear Lord, Where do you want to sent me next? I believe i'm ready to step into the area you want me to go!"

http://benlau89.blogspot.sg/2011/01/where-sld-i-go-next.html

The next day on 5 Jan 2011. Met up with Pastor Alvin Chan the next day for some pastoral advice, and he told me there weren’t any job opportunities as a staff in sports ministry at that point of time, but this was what shocked me, the previous YM programme coordinator actually just left for a career change, and now they were actually looking for someone to replace him. And the amazing thing was I didn’t even know he was planning to leave. I knew there and then that this was a door opening for me to serve in. Back into the very ministry that God has place such strong passion and desires in my heart all this while. And that was with the youths in the ministry that I have grown up in.

http://benlau89.blogspot.sg/2011/01/god-answers-to-my-previous-post.html

2011 (16 May)- Full Time staff in Wesley Youth Ministry

Began my journey as a full time staff in the youth ministry as a programme coordinator (youth worker)

2011 (The entire year)- Journey towards YM Camp 2011 (Seeing a glimpse of God's vision taking place in my life)

"To go into FAITH adventures with the Lord where i have never been before!"- One of my main new year resolution for 2011 on 1 Jan 2011.  
In the beginning process of  planning camp, God reminded me to re-look into the calling that He has called me. Dated back on 7 October 2008 at a Campus Crusade World wide day of prayer meeting. This was what was He impressed on my heart on that very day, “To reach out to the world, by starting with equipping the people in the church to prepare them for outreach to the World.” And now YM Camp 2011 is over, and going in to the year 2012, where the YM theme is followed up on SHINE FORTH: Light Up The World...its like a glimpse of that vision really coming true? 

https://www.facebook.com/notes/benjamin-lau/my-personal-journey-of-ym-camp-2011-shine-forth-light-up-the-world/10150428786662315

2011 (Oct)- Journey being in a Mentoring Group, (The beginning of the "BPX" band) 

John Wesley the founder of the Methodist movement initiated this small covenant discipleship support group known as the “bands”where members were accountable to each other. They confessed their faults to one to another, prayed for each other, and stirred up one another to love and good works. 

https://www.facebook.com/notes/benjamin-lau/my-personal-journey-in-a-band/10151392895482315

2012- (30Jun to 10 July)- Hillsong Conference 2012

Spent one of the most memorable 10 days of my life in Sydney with a bunch of wonderful people as we all attended our first ever Hillsong Conference 2012 together and came back so inspired & bless from the conference!
We want to keep that flame going on and not let it just be a "spiritual high" experience that we experience and leave it behind when reality kicks in! Like what Joyce Meyer said in her sermon on spiritual maturity, "we shouldn't just go from conferences to conferences, hear inspiring sermons, feel good like a sniff of a perfume and then go back to our worldly lifestyles. We need to take it back and study it!"  Below are a couple of links of my internalised thoughts of what God has inspired & revealed to me in this conference! :) 

https://www.facebook.com/notes/benjamin-lau/sermon-notes-from-speaker-sessions-electives-from-hillsong-conference-2012-part-/10150891851882315

https://www.facebook.com/notes/benjamin-lau/personal-reflections-from-hillsong-conference-2012-part-22/10150893587612315

2012- (7-9 Sep)- Young Methodist Leaders Conference (YMLC)

This YMLC has definitely assured me of my calling again,especially in the specific area of the pastoral call in a methodist church after I responded to the call on the last day after a closing message by Dr Ed Pousson on  "Remember your roots, remember your future..."
This conference just made me so proud to have been brought up as a methodist which such a rich heritage left of by John Wesley, more than 200 years ago. And now we are the generation to carry on that Wesleyan flame! :) 

https://www.facebook.com/notes/benjamin-lau/reflections-sermon-notes-from-young-methodist-leaders-conference-ymlc-2012/10151001352397315

2012 (8 Oct) -  My Present Theological Framework
 

Developed this mind map of my present theological understanding of God in this framework on how we should live out life for Him in accordance to “Missio dei” (God's Mission), influence from the few mission trainings that i've been exposed too the past 2 years & "order of our salvation" according to John Wesley.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/benjamin-lau/whats-your-theological-framework-of-god-8-oct-2012/10151075622872315

2012 (Dec) -  YM Camp 2012 & Cambodia Mission Trip

YM Camp 2012 Reflections

https://www.facebook.com/notes/benjamin-lau/ym-camp-2012-roots-to-fruit-reflections/10151127881687315

YMove Cambodia Mission Trip Reflections

https://www.facebook.com/notes/benjamin-lau/cambodia-mission-trip-2012-reflections-part-22/10151150198227315

2013- (Jan to April)- TRACKERS 2013 (Intensive Discipleship Journey)

This 3months being involved in this intensive discipleship programme as one of the mentors as been one of the most rewarding ministry that i've ever been involved. Being able to journey with an amazing team of youths from different methodist churches and even going on a mission trip with them and still maintaining the spiritual friendships formed from the 3 mths spent together.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/benjamin-lau/pre-mission-trip-reflections-trackers-2013/10151232539617315

https://www.facebook.com/notes/benjamin-lau/trackers-mission-trip-reflections-18feb-to-1mar-2013/10151255570282315

2013- (18 June)- Wesley Methodist Church Camp 2013 (A re-ignited fire)

"We want to run to the Altar..and catch the Fire"... This line just kept resonating in my heart as Ps Benny Ho shared the story of how this heartfelt song came about at his final session at the Wesley Church Camp on day 4 morning. And when he gave the altar call after his final message, my heart was jumping so hard that I knew God wanted me to run back to the altar to catch this renewed fire from God! And I will always remember this very morning on 18 June 2013...At that very altar, God brought me again to this deep intimate experience of God's fire in my belly to pursue the big dreams that he has place in my heart for His church! And looking back at all the Wesley Church Camps (not including YM Camps) i've been too, I never expected to have such a deep encounter of God's presence like this until this very church camp! :)

2013- (1 Jul)- Beginning of my new journey in Trinity Theological College (TTC)

(The Future- ?) - On this exciting journey stepping into Faith Adventures with the Lord each and everyday! :)

"God plans life in such a way that the greatest treasures are concealed, waiting for you to discover them. And there is no thrill like the thrill of making a great discovery."- Selwyn Hughes

We want to run to the Altar..and catch the Fire

“We want to run to the Altar..and catch the Fire”… This line just kept resonating in my heart as Ps Benny Ho shared the story of how this heartfelt song came about at his final session at the Wesley Church Camp this morning. And when he gave the altar call after his final message, my heart was jumping so hard that I knew God wanted me to run back to the altar to catch this renewed fire from God! And I will always remember this very morning on 18 June 2013…At that very altar, God brought me again to this deep intimate experience of God’s fire in my belly to pursue the big dreams that he has place in my heart for His church! And looking back at all the Wesley Church Camps (not including YM Camps) i’ve been too, I never expected to have such a deep encounter of God’s presence like this until this very church camp! :)

Making A Difference  

Won’t You, Lord Take a look at our hands? And everything we have Use it for Your plans 

Won’t You, Lord Take a look at our hearts? Mold it, Refine it As You set us apart 

We want to run to the Altar And catch the Fire To Stand in the Gap between the Living and the Dead 

Give us a heart of compassion for a world without vision We Will Make a Difference Bringing hope to our Land 

We will answer the call to build this church without walls let Your glory be shown bring salvation to the lost to the lost

The CROSS

A new believer in our group shared this powerful story of God’s revelation of a CROSS to her to our small group last night. And just listening to it gave us such encouragement & joy! It’s divine stories like this that reminded me yet again how faithful our Lord is if we truly seek Him with all our hearts!

Got her permission to share this story below, as I was so encouraged, that it left me with UNSPEAKABLE JOY!

The CROSS (Actual Sharing from Small Grp Member)
“It’s been quite a hectic week for me, this and for the coming ones.. But I’ve been telling myself if God has put me to it, He’d put me through it. So on Thurs night (30 May 2013) I was typing my stories at around 7ish pm. Then I was at the word “destination” - I suddenly saw the cross at the 2nd letter T. I backspaced immediately w/o thinking. Then later it hit me that it was THE CROSS and undoubtedly God sent that to me. I was very upset that I deleted it so quickly. I retyped at least 20 times, but couldn’t get it back.

When I came home, I spoke to God (of course I did haha) about this encounter and told Him how upset I was that I didn’t get to see it again cause I didn’t know how to share with others if I don’t have pictorial evidence!! I asked Him to pls show it to me again. That was at 11.50pm (all documented in my journal).

After that I went to read my book - “FAQS On God”. I had stopped at pg54. The moment I flipped, this was what I saw.

(See picture above)

This was at 12.10am, effectively 20mins after I spoke to Him. I wanted to cry (and i’m not one that cry easily).

That was exactly the t I saw on my computer.”

JOY UNSPEAKABLE! :)

Felt such a deep intrinsic JOY UNSPEAKABLE experience in my heart just hearing the powerful testimony of a couple of small group members sharing just this evening. And it all started in our discussion after watching the alpha video on "What does the Holy Spirit do?" ... God sure knows how to make a teaching session comes alive in my own heart...

And what make it even more amazing was this overwhelming joy came after a new believer in our group shared such a powerful revelation of God through her prayer & devotion with the Lord! This testimony just reminded me so strongly of this intimacy with Him that I really miss & I pray & hope I can dwell deeper to cultivate that inner life and devotion with Him each & every day again! :))))))

TRAC Youth Workers Retreat Reflections/Notes! (25-28 May 2013)

Decided to share some of personal thoughts & reflections after coming back from yet another inspiring & refreshing youth workers retreat organised by Truthmin at the Le Grandeur, Palm Resort in JB. Where we spent an amazing 4 days & 3 nights interacting with youth workers & leaders from different methodist churches with a couple of our Anglican friends. We also had the wonderful privilege to have our favourite guest speaker Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn who spoke to us a few times before, as he spoke on 5 sessions on the topic of  "Discipleship re-defined" .

Besides the good time of catching up with fellow youth workers/leaders from last year retreat, as well as getting to meet new people again. This year we had a lot more space for interacting, listening and dialoguing with each other after each session. And it's always so encouraging to hear how God has called each of us in different churches into ministry be it in full time or as a volunteer. 
This specific retreat has also reignited a strong burden in my heart for our youth ministry yet again and reminded me of my calling into ministry. Especially after the last night where we were brainstorming in our own churches on what we can do next to implement such a Discipleship culture in our youth ministry. This has been an area which has been resonating in my heart a lot more in the last couple of years since serving full time as a youth worker. Hearing the similar struggles from fellow youth workers and leaders from the other churches just compels me of the so much more I hope I can do or could have done better for my youth ministry. But having said that, I have been feeling this strong tension that I've to eventually dropped all my commitments in this youth ministry once I start my new season in Seminary on 1 july. Not sure when I can be back again serving in this area of ministry but will hope that I can be back again one day serving in a different capacity in the future. 

Below are some of the notes that i've taken from the 5 session talk by Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn, which I hope will encouraged you all as how it has encouraged me!

"Discipleship Re-defined: The Primary relationships of a Disciple" by Rev Dr Tan Soon Inn

Session 1 : Discipleship & the Kingdom Agenda

Matthew 4:12-25

  12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Going back to Genesis 1, the garden of Eden 

1) Jesus proclaims the good news of the impeding rule of God.

Kingdom of God. Where God is King over man & creation.

2) He bears witness to this impeding rule through deed & word

Jesus demonstrates in Kingdom in DEED & WORD

- He hangs out with children & women

- Even the sinners

- Tax collectors , prostitutes 

- the Samaritans (Half Jews)

- the Gentiles

3) He calls people to realign their lives with God to be part of this new beginning.

His agenda has begun, but not yet completed 

To help others to able to live out to the fullest in God's kingdom in every sphere of living. Helping others to live out Kingdom values

"A church succeeds when they help our people fulfil their calling either in the church or in the world"

4) Jesus calls together a community to be an instrument of the Kingdom

Jesus demonstrates the kingdom.

Our lives should be different, until people ask why we are different.

People need to see the power of the transformation in our lives

5) The church is to continue this mission till Jesus returns. 

Are we giving our people the vision of this Kingdom? 

Are we allowing our people to be a part of this mission?

We are to demonstrate to people & allow them to follow! 

People catch vision from you!

4 kind of leaders:

- Vision casters

- Strategist 

- Manager/implementation 

- Team builder (make sure the 3 don't "kill" each other)

Session 2: Discipleship and your personal life mission

1) The General Call (Call to follow Christ)

2) The Specific Call (a vocation that is unique to a person; that individual's mission in the world)

3) The immediate responsibilities (how to live moments by moments)

Creation:

Genesis 1&;2

Adam & Eve were called to tend the garden. But different duties.

Personal mission:

Jeremiah 1:1-19

- Called to be a prophet to the nations

Ephesians 2:10

Don't compare to others calling, be true to your own calling.

Focusing on your primary calling 

Recognising God's hand in your life!

Believe in faith that Jesus is the author & perfecter of your faith!

Knowing of your wounds, to know that you can get substantial healing in it.

Living a life of on going repentance. (Isaiah 6:1-13)

Being a COG! Child of God is the highest calling anyone can get! 

Be careful that "Ministry success can be a drug". 

Make sure your joy is not in success, or in meeting needs, but in your relationship with God.

The ABCs of discerning your life mission.

A- Ability 

What you do well?

-Natural abilities (creation)

-Acquired skills & knowledge (education)

-Spiritual gifts (Salvation)

What do you well & enjoy doing?

(E.g think back of your 10 most happy moments in your life)

Which ability, which, when you exercise it, you lose all sense of time? What do you do that makes a significant impact in the lives of people & organisations?

What are the things that people say you do well?

B- Burden 

(1 Sam 17:12-58; Acts 17:16-34)

What need(s) in the world really bugs you? (Everyone has different convictions)

What needs doing in the world, which you would like to focus on?

What things/issues do you daydream about; wish you had more time to our energy into?

What do you care deeply about?

What would you like to invest your life in?

C-Circumstances

(1 Cor 16:9, Philippians 1:6)

What are the defining moments of your life?

What have you learnt from them?

What are the closed doors and open doors in your life?

Have you been invited to do something that feels right to you?

What is your personality type? What clues does that give you  as to the kinds of work you should be doing?do the details of your life seem to be converging to a particular focus?who are they key people in your life? Have they shared with you what you think you should doing with your life?

"A humble prophet who prophesy over one sld give one space for discernment still"

Community helps too!

Direction can come:

- Prophetic way (special revelation)

- Faithfully serving God, reflecting God's leading

Nothing in our lives are wasted..

Session 3: Discipleship and the new realities

(See worksheet)

Session 4: Discipleship and your personal timeline

1. A key way of celebrating and releasing the uniqueness of individual disciples
2. Life is lived forward but understood backwards.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards"- Soren Kierkegaard

(See worksheet)

Session 5: Disciple making--- some basic convictions

1. Basic convictions about discipling

- the first step in any mission is shaping people

- nurturing lives is a "slow & deep work."

- start a grassroots movement not a programme or Organization

- paying attention to individual is key.

- make our churches & fellowship ministries "significant places of learning & growth."

2. What is needed in disciple making?

- 4 keys needs of a disciple

- models 

- accountability

- life processing

- encouragement

"Discipling is helping one group in Christ likeness, Mentoring is the processes"

"Spiritual mentoring in the context of discipling is an intentional, relational process by which one person takes responsibility for guiding the spiritual formation of one or several others. It provides It provides a safe relational context for discipling by providing a context for encouragement, accountability , life processing & modelling."

3. The 3 directions of discipleship mentoring

- Upward 

- Peer 

- Downward

4. Discipline making & the church

- teach about the meaning & the importance of disciple making

- use existing small groups & other miniatures of the church to do some level of disciplemaking.

- the pastor & other key leaders must lead the way

Explore the setting up of more formal discipling programmes.

Session 6

Some tips for praying & intercession

- Asking one what one can be prayed for?

- listen to one as one shares, listen to the spirit at the same time & pray specifically

- Following up with one again

1) Ask

2) Listen

3) Discern

4) Pray

5) Follow up

The Power of "Spiritual Friendships"

"To create space for God among us requires the constant recognition of the Spirit of God in each other. When we have come to know the life-giving Spirit of God in the center of our solitude and have thus been able to affirm our true identity, we can also see that same life-giving Spirit speaking to us through our fellow human beings. And when we come to recognize the life-giving Spirit of God as the source of our life together, we too will more readily hear his voice in our solitude. Friendship, marriage, family, religious life, and every other form of community is solitude greeting solitude, spirit speaking to spirit, and heart calling to heart. It is the grateful recognition of God’s call to share life together and the joyful offering of hospitable space where the recreating power of God’s Spirit can become manifest. Thus all forms of life together can become ways to reveal to each other the real presence of God in our midst.”  - Henri Nouwen  

"Spiritual Friendships" a subset of the big term "Discipleship" which has been one of the key topics that the leadership in the youth ministries been in discussion in the past couple of years. When one think of "Spiritual Friendships", without hesitation I would say Rev Dr Tan Soon Inn and Rev Ivan Tan as two people whom I know are an epitome of what Spiritual Friendship is about.  I've learnt much from them and would like to share a series of events that led me to see the power of "Spiritual Friendships" in this journey of faith. 

Few weeks ago, I suddenly felt this sudden period of low and an apparent dryness in my spiritual walk after coming back from my mission trip. It actually started after I caught the flu bug and was down for a week. Initially thought the flu bug have led me to this sudden low. But even when I recovered, I felt some disconnect in my spiritual life. It even went to the extend that led me to question my calling, started to question God and even how much I tried to keep my spiritual discipline to read His Word, and to take regular Sabbaths, yet my heart felt distant. Each morning waking up and stepping into the office suddenly felt mundane and I started to feel a strange sense of discouragement and I didn't know why?  

During this time, I recalled a similar period a year ago where Ps Ivan shared with me how our lives is like a ribbon effect. In this journey, there are seasons of high where God maybe preparing you for the lows. And this was where I knew God was really putting me to the test of "Walking by Faith, & not by Sight". I knew the answer to this in my mind but somehow I couldn't experience that intimacy of God in my heart. I started to download podcast of sermons from Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Steven Furtick and Christine Caine to listen each morning on my way to church. Even attended this very charismatic night rally, the Kingdom Invasion conference where Heidi Baker was preaching that night.  Hoping for some powerful divine revelation and encounter with God. It felt good being there with so many passionate christians, but then again God was teaching me something much more deeper. 

As a youth worker in church, I try to keep this "front" and image that i'm alright, especially in front my youths. It's hard to be vulnerable when there's this kind of "holy" image and expectations that people have of you, and i'm always very careful not to show my weakness thinking that I might stumble them. 
And than I realised on hindsight, it was only when I let my guard down and be vulnerable to people that I saw God starting to lift my heart again.  And this was when I began to see God starting show me the power of spiritual friendship.

It all started at the recent YM GAP prayer retreat on 16 Mar 2013. There was this segment where we broke into small groups, and this 3 other youths who were all younger than me actually shared something to me in that time of listening prayer for one another that encouraged me deeply. 

And this was what they felt God saying to them to me.

"Do not be disheartened , your doing a good job. "- 17 year old youth

"Wait upon The Lord, to be steadfast in your walk with God"- 19 year old youth

"God has place different people in your life to encourage you" - 14 year old youth

When the 14 year old youth said that, it reminded me so much on the power of Spiritual friendship. And this was someone who was 10 years younger than me! I realised that each time I became authentic to people, to share my weakness and actually asked for prayer, it open the door for God to come in. And all things started to pick up when I started to share with my small group, a couple of close friends and even to one of my youth who was going through a rough patch of his life.

And then came 22 March 2013, when God spoke to a dear friend of mine who is studying in Australia. He randomly drop me a message just before I left the house in the early morning for the YM Sec 1-3 Camp. 

22 Mar 2013 (The text I received in the early morning I woke up before Sec 1-3 camp)

(Got his permission to share this) 

"I was praying in this morning devotional for a couple of good friends especially you who impacted my christian journey . I am grateful and thankful for you. Without yo , I wont be here today. This very day,something hit me on my knees and I teared badly this morning. I opened up my worries and anxiety to God …He comfort me when a soft warm voice , Don't worry, I am in control. Have faith in me, even in your pain, even in our troubles. Through these all, my love will transform you , perfect you and complete in you. I could bearly hear the rest words but piece together his thoughts towards my worries. Dear Ben ,when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. For this, I prayed that faith and courage will stand within you through not only good times ,and bad times . If there is any problem , if comfortable , if I can't be there for you physically , I pray for you .God bless and you have been missed:) " -Gifford

That prayer meant so much to me and it lifted my spirit just in time for me to serve as a mentor for the Sec 1-3 camp. And it didn't end there God showed me a couple more incidents at this camp that encouraged me. 

23 Mar 2013
At the last night of this camp, I saw all the 17year olds from my youths batch who were now serving as leaders for this camp, coming together to share and encourage each other. And they gathered on their own without any older leader initiating it. This was when I began to see spiritual friendships naturally developing in their time in YM. Rev Dr Tan Soon Inn would probably say this is an example of  "Friendship Discipleship".  

24 Mar 2013
Right after we broke camp, I received a couple of texts message from 2 of my sec 1 youths who were fairly quiet in my camp group. One of them wrote a very long heartfelt text message of encouragement. He didn't share this at the group time, but God actually touched him in a very special way for the first time in his life. He even wrote a prayer in that text for me that touched me deeply as what he said in that prayer actually reminded me of my calling of why i'm serving the Lord in full time minstry today. 

What can I ask more right? God actually use someone who was only just 13 years old to encourage me again. This is the power of words and encouragement and prayer from people that I would want to encourage you all reading this to pray for your leaders, your pastors and friends too. If not for this people whom I came in contact with the past few weeks, I probably won't have seen the power of spirtual friendships becoming a reality in my heart.

True discipleship takes a life long process, in my recent mission trip to Nepal, we were laying the foundations of the church building project and we saw how the brick was literally laid one brick at a time. I see the process of this foundations being laid through the means of spiritual friendships.

There will come a time when we are down and spiritually dry. But besides doing the daily spiritual disciplines to maintain your walk with God, I believe God wants to use people around us to encourage one in this journey with the Lord.

I see spiritual friendships potentially being form naturally, whenever there's groups of different ages and spiritual maturity interacting together for a period of time. This are platforms which I hope the older leaders of such groups can take opportunities to be intentional in such groups.  


If I can think of a particular sub-ministry, I will say our YM GAP prayer ministry is one of the best platforms that I see God using in Wesley YM for spiritual friendship to evolve from. With so many youths from different small groups of different ages & I believe also from almost every single sub-ministries coming together every friday to worship, share & prayer together. God is really doing something here and its's so encouraging to see so many young youths as young as 13 yrs old coming to pray together with the older ym leaders.

My hope and dream one day is to see true spiritual friendships naturally forming in the church and outside the church. Wherever we are, we have friends that will pray for each other, who constantly encourage and build each other up. Using the youth lingo of "HTHT aka Heart to Heart talk" where one share deep personal issues with each other. Instead of having any normal "HTHT", I hope one day there will be an increase of natural spiritual "HTHT" conversations that starts of naturally whenever friends meet up. That's the kind of conversations that I've always enjoyed and always feel spirtually refresh just talking about things that matters to God. :)

Hebrews 10:24-25
New International Version (NIV)
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Below are just some of this platforms that I've seen Spiritual Friendships being formed in my life the past year which i'm so thankful for! :)

"BPX" the name of our mentoring band with Ps Ivan

The "SBJ" mentoring band, the group of youths that I gathered to form a mentoring band group

Our yearly Men's Spiritual Kelong Retreats

My own small group God's Clay which have been lasting for more than 10 years.

My youth small group. God's Everlasting Love (G.E.L)

The Disciple 1 Classes, an amazing platform of spiritual friendships to be form where I see youths and leaders coming together to spend 9 mths studying His word together.

Ymove! The sub-ministry which i've been serving in for the past 2-3 years.

My office roomates!

"Team Wesley goes to Hillsong" where spiritual friendships developed through our time in Sydney together. :)

My TRACkers team, where we spent 3 mths together even going for a Mission Trip together in Nepal. :)

Wesley YM Sec 1-3 Camp 2013 (22-24 Mar)

My beloved OLIVES Camp group!

WORD MADE FRESH!

Back from yet another camp again! This time probably my last Wesley YM Sec 1-3 Camp before I start theological studies for the next few years! Looking back the last 3 days. Despite going for countless of camps and retreats since I started being a full time youth worker. Yet again, I'm so encouraged after each camp at how it has been yet another milestone for so many youths.

Especially on the last night of this camp, when I actually unknowingly stumbled across to see all the J1s from my youths batch coming together on their own to just share and encourage each other. Even when one of them shared how exactly 2 years ago, at this same place, we were all gathering to share as a ysg, and I didn't recall that I actually casually remark that he could be a leader at one of the sec1-3 camps in the future,and now it has actually become a reality for him where he is actually serving as a CGL.

And what a way to end the camp, when one of my sec 1 youth sent me a really long heartfelt text message after we broke camp at how he didn't share at the group time, but God actually touched him in a very special way for the first time in his life. And that really just highlighted this camp experience for me. And is probably the most encouraging thing to hear from any mentor to know that their youths have actually encountered God in their own personal & special way! :) 

TRACkers Mission Trip Reflections (18Feb to 1Mar 2013)

First like to thank my small group, my youths, the gappers and many church friends who has supported my TRACkers team, both financially & in prayer throughout the last 12 days when I was in Kathmandu, Nepal! Really appreciate the prayer smses from some of you all too! This has been my 3rd Mission Trip since my first trip in 2007 to Selangor under Campus Crusade for Christ when I was just a young inexperience 18 year old youth. And now 6 years later i'm going for a mission trip as one of the mentors for this team. And it has been an amazing journey just walking through this journey of Faith in the past 8 weeks with them and learning so much from each and everyone of them too!



Below are some of the reflection questions which i posted to the team to reflect on in our Final Debrief at Nargarkot.


Nepal Mission trip Reflections 2013 (TRACkers)

1) What were your key highlights?

2) What was your struggles & challenges? And what did you learnt from it?

3) What was your one biggest take away?

4) Have your views of Missions change?

5) What's next? (In ones relationship with God)


1) What were your key highlights?

a) Experiencing God's Majestic Creation before ones eyes, how often one get to be so close with such beautiful snow cap mountains of the Himalayas. Seeing that rainbow at phulbari just highlighted God's promise & assurance to us. Out of all the different mission trips & countries I've been so far, I've never experience such beautiful majestic creations from God so up close for nearly 12 days straight!



Romans 1:20 " For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Just some of the other majestic view of God's creations in Nepal! From the amazing clouds, watching the sun rise each morning, seeing the beautiful terraces & this divine chance to see God's promise to us when we saw this beautiful rainbow after ministry at the village. We were abit down when it started to rain as we trekked down the hill. It reminded us that, God has a purpose for circumstances to happen, and if not for the slight rain, we will not have experience this rainbow so up close in the mountains thereafter as the rain stopped soon after! :)



Day 11- A few of us who bothered to brave the cold windy morning to catch the sun rise at Nargarkot!



One of the many beauties of Nepal to see God's creation before your eyes. The Majestic Snow Cap mountains of the Himalayas in the background, the mountains, clouds, valleys & grass that we saw each morning trekking up this mountain to the village.

b) Interacting with the different missionaries & pastors, Uncle Noel, GS, Jacq, Ps Saba & Grace has been such good host to us in the past 12 days. Learning so much from each & everyone of them. Each had their own personal stories & insights from their wealth of experiences. Learnt that "change" is constant in Nepal. And efficiency may not exactly be best compared to effectiveness. Also learnt much from my observation of these missionaries as parents to their kids. I really admire them so much, observing their moral values that they impart as parents to their kids even as busy missionaries on the field.

c) Interaction with this team. Had an amazing group of capable individuals with diverse personalities, spiritual gifts, working styles, all coming together from different methodist churches. And even Ps Saba mentioned to us that he was amazed that our team were actually a group of youths from different churches as we seemed to be so united. Enjoyed the daily devotions in the morning & the debriefs at night with them. All this allowed us to always be in constant awareness of God's presence with us throughout the day. Also enjoyed our sharings and the spiritual conversation with individuals throughout this trip.



Our TRACkers Mission Team at Nargarkot View point, probably the highest point we ever stood on this earth at about 1800m above sea level.


d) Sabbath day in the international church. I felt spiritually recharged just attending this International church in Kathmandu on Sunday. Where 200 plus NGOs & Missionaries from all over the world came together in one same building just worshipping God together! It was nice meeting my fellow church members who were on a medical mission from Wesley too.



The International Church that we attended on Sunday!


Ps Randell Day gave an amazing inspiring sermon on Colossians 3:12-17. On clothing on LOVE!



2) What was your struggles & challenges? And what did you learnt from it?

a) The language barrier. Not a big issue compared to my last mission trip to Cambodia, as the locals especially the college students know decent English to start a conversation with them.


b) The "dark" environment. Found it such a struggle to see how "dark" some of the places were. Like even on our r&r day when we went shopping at Thamal street. It was sad to see vices so openly, a young kid glue sniffing with an older delinquent. A kid who was crippled & apparently possibly being mistreated by a syndicate to beg for money. And all kind of spiritual forces in the different place that we were in, even at one of the guest house one night.


3) What was your one biggest take away?

Understanding the challenges of the missionaries & local pastors. Spending so much time with them, with their families, seeing how they actually lived out their faith in such a country with high political tensions, poverty & when "change" is constant. You will never know when a strike will happen & the when the country goes on a total stand still. All shops in the entire nation close down, no vehicles on the road. And everyone is on high alert. And this people faithfully still serve our Lord there!



Our last day with the staffs of Jars of Clay!
4) Have your views of Missions change?

Not much, but it has definitely sharpen my understanding alot more. For example the roles of the missionaries here, how they faithfully serve the Lord & are like catalyst for the work of God to be done here. Was aware that the Culture also affected some of the practices there, for example in the methodist church that we visited, the holy communion was only for those baptised although we methodist believe in an open table. But they had their own theological reasoning for that.



Phulbari Church Service, where Uncle Noel was preaching on Shining Forth!

Also found it really interesting how the Nepali believers have their special way of greeting one another of "Jai Masi" which means "Victory in The Lord" , compared to "Namaste" which is the general Nepali greeting of "greeting the god in you". So whenever one greeted us "Jaya Masi" we immediately can tell that they are fellow believers.

It also affirmed my view of one of the pros that I see in participating in short term missions. Besides supporting the missionaries & local pastors there. It's one of the best platforms for life to life discipleship to take place. And that's also one of the main reason why I decided to be part of this year batch of TRACkers as one of the mentors. Having the opportunity to walk through this journey of faith with them the past 8 weeks & spending 12 days &11 nights straight with them has been quite a journey for myself too. Seeing how each of them grew so much spiritually since day 1 of trackers & learning to be vulnerable with them allowing them to see my who I really are & just being like an older spiritual brother to them.


5) What's next? (In ones relationship with God)
We were very intentional about being aware of God's presence all the time. We constantly prompted & encouraged each other to look to God, sensing what His teaching us each day. The readings & discussions of His Word in the daily devotions really allowed one to really maintain our intimacy with Him. But the challenge after this mission trip is, how do we maintain or grow even deeper in our relationship with The Lord back at home. That's a challenge even for myself to have that constant spiritual discipline everyday to maintain what we did here.



Photo Journal of my 12 Days in Nepal:


Day 1! Arrival at kathmandu,Nepal!






Spend 4 days 3 nights in the mountainous area of phulburi, Nepal, as our TRACkers team spend 3 days of pure hard work helping in the process of laying the foundations for the extension of this church annex. Carrying cement, stones, & bricks after bricks up & down under the scorching hot sun. However we had an amazing time just interacting with the people there. :)






The short cut up to the church in Phulbari! God really had mercy on us as when we thought we were lost but we found the right path sometime later when we divinely met Uncle Noel & Ps Saba in their vehicle at this crossroad. And we actually got to the church in time and much faster compared to our usual route which we took abt 45mins to hike each day. We actually took 25mins to reach to the church!




The Phulbari Youth Fellowship! Had an amazing time of worship with them! This youths really have such deep hunger for the Lord!



Spent day 8 of our Mission trip in Nepal painting the fence for the Jars of Clay cafe! :)


The finished painting work of the fence at Jars of Clay!



Day 9- Our last day of ministry where we had an evangelistic music gig at Jars of Clay where about 70 people attended with 30 who are pre-believers! :)



Day 10- After a 2-3 hrs hike up Nagarkot mountain & experiencing the Himalayas up close, our team spent a night here as we look back & reflect the entire mission trip experience in Nepal & had our final debrief. :)



Day 12 - A last minute decision to play a really fun game of laser tag own by a missionary in Katmandu, Nepal just before we head back to Singapore today!

Pre-Mission Trip Reflections! (TRACkers 2013)

It's been about 6 weeks since TRACkers 2013 have begun, and it all started with youths from different methodist churches gathering together for the first time at a 3 days boot camp at PLMC on 9 Jan 2013. And although i'm one of the new mentors for this batch, I've never been through TRACkers myself, and walking through this past 6 weeks with this group of passionate youths almost every single day have made this such an amazing Journey of Faith for me thus far and i've no regrets agreeing to come on board this team!

  

 10 Jan 2013 (Day 2) of Boot Camp

Just like the rest of the trackers, the mentors were told to go through the listening process to God's heart for the nation that we are led to go out of this 6 different places. And as we were looking at this World map, somehow an impression of mountains first hit me.

In that process was led to 2 particular countries. So I decided to just pen down what ever thoughts that came. I prayed for a word for each of this 6 nations, and Isaiah 40 was the first that came to me for Nepal.  

Isaiah 40:3-5, 9-10

New International Version (NIV)

A voice of one calling:“In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 

You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain.You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout,lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is you God!” See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm.See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.

Day 3

The mentors came together to each share the countries they were led too, and after much shuffling around both for the Trackers and mentors, I was finally allocated to Nepal. Where the mountainous image that first came to me came was confirmed. 

The following week our team came together for the first time and spend some time praying and listening to God, where after a while we decided on this scripture text below as our theme verse...

Psalm 43:3

New International Version (NIV)

"Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me;let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell."

The preparation stage towards our Mission Trip! (5 weeks) 

Fund Raising! 

Thank God for the many supporters who supported us financially for this trip! I'm really grateful for those whom God actually led to supporting us. This love gifts has definitely encouraged us tremendously as we were a little fearful at the beginning for the large amount we had to raised.

Training Runs!

We were told by the missionaries that the physical conditions will be really tough so we decided to prepare some training runs to at least condition ourself with a decent level of fitness in time for the mission trips! 

The last 2 weeks have been crazy where our preparations have geared up, where we rehearsed and prepared our various ministry tool box, from skits, to dance, to games, to crafts & even a music gig! And coming to PLMC at 730am everyday to pray when Trackers actually starts at 9am has definitely been a huge spiritual discipline to us. And to be honest, I felt really tired at times to wake up early the next day especially when I had meetings at church the night before, but felt that prayer in itself is a spiritual discipline. And I can definitely say those prayer meetings have definitely prepared us much to really trust and depend on God as the one leading us. 

And now just 2 days to go, will be flying off this coming Monday morning, for 12 days, from 18 Feb to 1 Mar 2013 to Katmandu, Nepal! Will really seek your prayers for both physical & spiritual coverage as we begin this misison trip where physical conditions are tough, with drastic temperatures from 17degree in day to 2 degrees in the night. 

Besides that! Hope to share more again when we are back 2 weeks time! :)