Mission Sunday
March 22, 2009
Thank God for the Mission Sunday.
The Praise and Worship was so powerful that we all felt joyful in following Him.
Our Chairman reminded us not to be Jonah, who tried to deny and run away from God’s calling but instead we should run to the Alter and offer ourselves as a pleasing sacrifice.
In Sister Janice’s testimony, she shared that she pioneered the Macau group in 2006 with 3-4 sisters, who graduated from Nanjing. They started with no fixed schedule and venue then. She insisted to carry on building up the people and the Care group though she had faced a tough time. At that time, the group was not growing and the members of this group even asked her to stop this ministry. One of the core members even left after her father’s death. The passion in her flowed as her tears rolled from her eyes when she stated the pain in her that this sister had not returned.
In March 2007, God blessed the Macau group with a ministry house and therefore starting to have fixed schedule and venue. The group began to be stable and grow. In March 2008, when the tenancy agreement was due, God blessed them with a bigger venue and how God even arranged that the Landlord, without request, lowered the rent. Praise the Lord that with God all things are possible.
In their celebration in February this year, 14 people joined, out of which 8 were visitors. She has learnt to overcome when she placed difficulties in the Lord instead of focusing on them. They will have their first Sunday Service in July and she looks forward to that. God opened the way to their faithful fast and pray and prayers. God has given her assurance and she is very sure of what she is doing and will never turn back. She ended her testimony with Philippians 4:13 I can do anything though HE who gives me strength.
The preaching of Pastor Gavin inspired many of us to bring the gospel to the world. The teaching was on Matthew 9:35 38, entitling Mission of the Messiah. He stated that the harvest was plenty but the workers were few. There were 3 things that Jesus Christ did that He wants us to respond. One was to minister to others by pouring down our life for them, by going for mission and living a life that has impact to others. This must be complimented with a compassionate heart. He quoted a very good example of how Jesus shows His compassion to cater to the needs of the people by “GOING” to help people of all status, from beggars, sickly to the King. He said that we should learn to see with our hearts and not our eyes and, out of true love, show our care and offer our heart. Everyone have different needs some do not have directions in their life, like sheep without shepherd and we can help them with the truth for the truth will set us free.
We should bring the message to the people and not sit and wait for them to come to us. This calling is for ALL as stated in Matthew 28:19-20 “GO and make disciples of all nations”. A video was shown, in which brothers and sisters shared their feeling about their Mission work. It was very, very encouraging.
At the end of the message, Pastor gave us a chance to pledge to support the mission work and made a calling for brothers and sisters to join the mission team, either in the frontline or back support. Many brothers and sisters responded in all aspect to give their best to the Lord. Praise the Lord for all the willing hearts.
