On 4th October 2009, a group of 5 students attended our Sunday Worship Service. They were Suraya, Maphoka, Esther, Anjil and Eunice. Except for Eunice who is our member, the rest have never been to our church. As part of their university assignment, they came to observe and do a report on our church. Below was how they reflected and wrote about our church.
Our visitation was warmly welcomed by two ushers who gave us a church bulletin. From the bulletin, we can clearly see this church focus very much on God’s Word and building lives strong in the Word, Worship and Witness (WWW). Worship comes in different forms depending on how the church service proceeds. The emotion from the congregation was very distinctive to us and singing was an important tool of expression. We found the music and lyrics sung were very uplifting and filled with meaningful prayers. We understood that the preaching of God’s Word is for inspiration, instruction and impartation.
The people at Amazing Grace Church show tremendous devotion throughout the service and there was a positive message to spread. We found the song “Faces without Races” very encouraging especially when youth want to do something positive with their lives and talents. It does not matter whether they are young or old; they were all side by side giving out their prayers and praises to their Lord. There was no racial discrimination among them as they worship the same God.
Visiting this church showed us that a Sunday gathering is not boring but interesting and educational. We were stunned to see the pastor because of our preconceived idea of a religious man with long robe and a bible. We were amazed to see how versatile their pastor was and we could see how devoted he is as a pastor. All the events that we saw during the service were literally different with the ones that we had imagined in the back of our mind.
Things are very different since Unni's passing. It is never easy losing a spouse . . . even more so when he is your closest friend and you've been through thick and thin in your 20 years of marriage. I don't understand why God took Unni away but I feel peace in my heart, assured that he is with God. I know that God has His own plans and we should trust Him with all our hearts. He did not promise us a life free of trouble but His eternal promise is to be with us always.
Unni and I went through a few very challenging times, the biggest being his fight with cancer. We had a difficult time - both of us in different ways. There were times when we questioned God but what kept our faith burning was our focus on the endless small blessings that were showered upon us that made riding this wave of pain and hurt more bearable. There were too many blessings to count and even now they are still coming from strangers, friends and family. Such love and blessings kept us strong in the face of adversity. Praise God and Jesus Christ our Lord!
We need to trust His will and believe that He knows what is good for us. I believe that if we trust His will then all things will fall in place and we will endlessly be showered with His grace and mercy. When you are troubled, take your eyes away from what is overwhelming you and focus daily on God's goodness and watch Him work miracles in your life. Give thanks to the Lord always even before you receive your miracles. I thank the Lord for blessing upon me and my family. I also wish to thank Pastor Gan, Pastor Bee Ling and my friends in Amazing Grace Church.
Upon our arrival in Penang, my wife and I were warmly received by our friends from GatewayChurch. The drive from the airport to Safira Country Club in a Proton limousine was nice. Pastors from KL, Malacca and Ipoh also came to support the Revival Now! Conference in Penang hosted by the Seberang Prai Pastors Fellowship. The main speaker was Dr. Jonathan David. Morning meetings for pastors and leaders were held at Harvest Revival Centre and the night healing meetings were held at Pearl View Hotel.
The conference started with the song ‘New Malaysia – Faces without Races’, a prophetic song for our nation. The youth and children then made a stirring declaration of faith in God for a righteous nation with no religious or racial politics and where there will be equal and distribution of wealth and resources; peace, protection and prosperity; freedom of religion; an open door for revival and city transformation; deep reformation in the church through intense personal consecration; a Malaysia for all Malaysians. We believe that the Lord will give us a great future in this nation. Be assured that a new generation in God is emerging in our land.
Many of the 200 pastors and leaders who attended the morning prophetic seminar were very responsive to the challenges for changes in their lives and in their churches through Dr. JD’s messages on Church Reformation, City Transformation. It is a new dawning for us to see beyond our local church situation and embrace nation vision. Hundreds of people came for the night healing meetings. Hearing the testimonies of those healed was indeed uplifting to our faith. Dr. JD’s messages on the Revival of the Word and the Spirit were prophetic and inspiring.
FRIENDSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, STEWARDSHIP, PARTNERSHIP.
These are the four levels of relationship in a church. Each level has its value and validation but we must not stay at the lowest or most comfortable level. There must be a continual progress to a higher level so that our church can be a strong finishing generation for God and His destiny for our lives.
FELLOWSHIP
After Friendship, the second level of relationship in a church is Fellowship. While Friendship is casual, comfortable and often determined by convenience, Fellowship has a higher degree of commitment, communion and contribution. While Friendship is valued for its Affection, Fellowship is valued for its Appreciation (that means to add value, significance and importance to each other). At Friendship level, we think as friends but at Fellowship level, we think as a family.
It’s not how long we have been in church but whether we truly seek to belong. The difference is in the word ‘BE’. It simply means how much we have BECOME part of the church; BELIEVE in the church, BENEFICIAL to the church. It’s not how long we have been ATTENDING church but how much we are TENDING to the flock of God (John 21:15-17).
1 John 1:3
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Fellowship must first be founded upon our relationship with the Lord. It is our fellowship with God that makes our fellowship with each other meaningful and strong. We can’t be unequally yoked together in fellowship with those who serve other gods (2 Corinthians 6:14). We can be friends because Jesus was also called a friend of sinners (Luke 7:34) but to be in fellowship is to be yoked together for destiny.
Fellowship must be built upon our agreement and alignment to the Word of God for us as a church. It is the Word of His power that will uphold all things (Hebrews 1:3). We have fellowship in the church when we embrace and understand what God is saying and doing in our own church. Apostle John told us that the process of fellowship is established when the people receive what he had seen, heard and declared to them. We must give priority and understand the purpose of the prophetic proceeding Word of God for our church instead of running after every sermon and ministry elsewhere. We are not looking just to be blessed, we are looking to build. As we hear and heed to the same sound of His voice (Word), our fellowship in church will be strong and vibrant.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Let’s try to understand what it means to walk in the light. In Matt. 6:23 (also Luke 11:35), we are warned to guard the light inside us. How can the light inside us turn to darkness? In the following verse (Matt. 6:24), we are told that we cannot serve two masters. Our fellowship is established by our single-mindedness in serving God and Him alone and to fulfill His purposes for us individually and corporately as a church.
To walk in the light also involves loving and obeying the truth (John 3:21). God seeks for truth in our inward parts (Psalm 51:6). In other words, to have fellowship, we must be truthful in our thoughts, words and dealings with each other at all times. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
By God’s grace, let’s move on from the Friendship level to the Fellowship level.
During our Mother’s Day service in church, we asked several members to share a significant moment or memory of their mother which greatly impressed or impacted their lives. It was a very touching and meaningful time as different ones shared. There was laughter and there was tears as the curtain of memories was rolled back.
We used Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages to identify the love languages of our mothers. From this we also realize which love language we are most inclined to give and would like to receive. Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages are Words, Time, Gifts, Service and Touch.
Recently my wife, Bee Ling, and I were invited by Alpha Malaysia for a relaxing and refreshing time at Awana Genting Golf & Country Resort. It was also an opportunity to find out more about The Marriage Course by Alpha. There were 12 pastors with their wives who were hosted by Alpha Malaysia. The 3D/2N (5th-7th May) stay and The Marriage Course were really beyond our expectation.
Right from our arrival at and upon our departure from Awana Genting Resort, we experienced VVIP treatment and hospitality. My wife and I were really overwhelmed by the kindness and warmness of the Alpha Malaysia hosting team: Lai Wei; Fan and Sian Li and Joseph and Debra. They showered us with gifts, lots of food and plenty of rose petals. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank all these ones who served us selflessly. We know our Lord will abundantly bless them even as they have been a blessing to us, His servants.
As for The Marriage Course, we were very encouraged and enriched by how appropriate and applicable this course is. Both my wife and I were blessed by the simple relevant exercises throughout the course. Indeed our own married life has been enriched and we do recommend this course for married couples who want to build strong foundation and strengthen relationship. For more details of this marriage course and other courses by Alpha, go to their website: www.themarriagecourse.org or www.familylife.org.my
The conference speaker is Dr. Jonathan David, the Presiding Apostle of International Strategic Alliance of Apostolic Churches (ISAAC). More details of Dr. JD can be found at www.jonathan-david.org
Amazing Grace Church, Seremban is in the ISAAC network of churches.
