My Learning from IDMC Conference, Singapore (1-3 Sept)

Rev. Edmund Chan, SP of Covenant EFC Singapore

“Ministry is the outflow of your life… Take care the depth of your life and let God take care of the breadth of your ministry.” –Rev. Edmund Chan

This quote caught me thinking even before I joined the IDMC (Intentional Disciple-making Churches) Conference. Depth of one’s life, something we get over with all too briefly in our daily conversations and ministry evaluation. Living in a culture where personal dignity is highly respected and ministry result is highly valued, issues like these are always being sidelined, intentionally or unintentionally. I saw a decline in my personal walk with God when no one around me see me as a spiritual being that hungers for correction, love, acceptance, guidance, and spiritual company. I saw how hard I try to look good on the outside while I know I’m a dead soul trying to look alive. No one dared to ask about my heart. No one dared to rebuke me. They seemed satisfied with my superficial answers!  Superficiality in Christianity today is poisonous! That is why we go around looking for answers for questions like why our ministry is not going anywhere but found none. We’ve missed the main issue!

Attending the conference helped me identify this crisis. God used the conference to help me deal with my heart issues. Things discussed like: intimacy with God, choose truth over lies, spiritual disciplines, overcoming sins by the power of the Holy Spirit and becoming a spiritual friend to someone else etc. prepared me deeply to be a true follower of Christ. I heard God said: “Son, don’t go any further before you get these things right!” Every session confirms my need to go deeper into Him and hide myself in Him, because apart from Him, I can do nothing. Nothing! It’s a refreshing soul-searching experience. God, being so loving and faithful, has NEVER FAILED to draw my heart back to Him when I need Him to.

I also realize the importance of cultivating spiritual friendship. Being a long-time struggler of becoming a friend to someone, I realize that unless I am intimate with the friend of all friends, Jesus Christ, I can never be a true friend to others. I long to be someone who come to my friend’s mind whenever they need someone who accepts them for who they really are. Spiritual friendship is what we need in the world today!

I want to close with this sharing. I still remember on the 1^st morning of the conference, a pastor actually asked all of us in the conference: “What are you looking for in IDMC?” I remembered my prompt answer was: “Another life changing experience.” But the Spirit of God asked again in my heart: “What are you looking for, REALLY?” …and I found myself saying from my innermost being: “God, I come and look for You. Yes, it is You that I seek”

What are you looking for in your life, really? What really matters?

Unless we constantly plunge ourselves in the sweet fellowship with our Lord, people will never see the beauty of God from our lives. It is His desire to draw close to us, why don’t we take Him at His Word?

 

Cameron Highland CG Mission Trip cum Retreat

This is my first trip with my CG members from PJEFC. I treasure every single moment spent with them. Never had so much fun and laughter before Thank God for making this trip possible. My heart for the Orang Asli (Malaysian in general) is revived! There are still a lot to do in this nation! Now let the pictures tell you the excitement, as well as something to ponder over…

Erwin (right), a professional balloon sculptor, taught us some basics about balloon sculpting before the mission trip

The final products

All of us! Before we depart from church

Wonderful lunch at Bidor Pun Chan Restaurant

Spacious Winter Home. Our host Bro. Isaac (right)

More balloon sculpting

Breathtaking view from Winter Home . Sunshine after the shower!

Can't go without having steamboat in C.Highlands!

Bro. Isaac use his 4WD to bring children from surrounding Kampung to join our children program

We had great time with the kids! Singing songs, learning ABC, learning how to wash out hands properly...

Aren't they adorable?

Jesus loves you, kids!

Yea, wash your hands before lunch

Happy meal

One good way of keeping the food warm

Group picture before we leave

Discover the best Roti Canai + Sambal in Cameron Highland!

...and of course, the best scones and crepes!

Worship with Semai brothers and sisters on Sunday

Worship the Lord with singing

Group photo with the church members

Nothing flock Malaysian together like Durian!

The village

Brothe Jisah, the durian "supplier" of out team

Stopped by to pray for Tok Batin on our way back

Love this group pic!

Let there be love!

Wonderful lunch: Curry fish and Bak Kut Teh '

Sapu all the durian before we go back.

This trip remind me of the vast needs in Malaysia. There are so many orang asli in this nation that need to be reached with the Gospel of Christ. They stay so near to us, yet they live as if they are not of this country. It sadden my heart when I see their living condition.

I thank God also for the dedication of Brother Isaac and other pastors who minister to the OA tirelessly and faithfully. It is very challenging indeed! I praise the Lord for His everlasting grace and strength upon His servants!

Malaysia for Christ! This is my heart-most desire!

Malaysia for Christ

Student / Staff Congress

It was a great time learning Conversational Evangelism From Dr. Dave Geisler again. It’s time to sharpen my evangelism and pre-evangelism skill too. Dr. Dave helped me to see the importance of ‘communicating’ the Gospel rather than ‘preaching’ kind of evangelism.

Another thing that I learned is that evangelism can be very simple, as long as we make it a lifestyle! I’m training myself to direct a conversation between me and my friends onto spiritual topics. It is actually quite easy as long as we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, and follow God’s guidance in each and every conversation.

I stood in front of various discussion results on how to talk to different people with different perspective on Heaven. It was a fun assignment!

Dr. Dave (Centre)

You may go to his ministry websites to find out more on how to use your day-to-day conversation to guide your friends one step closer to Jesus Click here

We also had wonderful time to share our struggle as a leader in the ministry. Thank God for the open sharing among the staffs (especially my group mate Boon Hwi and AlbertK). There are some good times where I can ponder upon my style of leadership, as well as some potential weaknesses that I might have. Thank God also for helping me to embrace the imperfectness in me and in others, so that we can work in such a way that He’ll have His full glory!

Building a ship that can withstand the attack (a game to test our team function). We had lots of fun

MyPersonality.info Badge

Caught you by surprise?

Haha, find this test really accurate. I was quite hard to accept this at first (slightly more introvert and depends strongly on feelings rather than thinking) But, well, I learn to thank God for who I am

Come on, I am fearfully and wonderfully made for a purpose!

Mobilephone vs. Bible

Saw this article in my mailbox today. Thought it is nice to share with you

Mobile phone vs. Bible

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our mobile phone?

What if we carried  it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped  through it several time a day?
What if we turned  back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it  to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated  it like we couldn’t live without it?
What if we gave it  to Kids as gifts?
What if we used it  when we traveled?
What if we used it  in case of emergency?

This is something  to make you go….hmm…where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more  thing.
Unlike our cell  phone, we don’t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because  Jesus already paid the  bill.

Makes you stop and think ‘where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!

Trust in the Lord and *ASAP (Always Say A Prayer)

Grateful I-Connect!

Praise God, it has been an impactful week for all of us who join I-Connect Phase 1 here at Majodi Centre, Plentong JB. God has ministered to all of us with His Words and He also called some of the students to offer themselves for Him to use them fully! Praise the Lord!

It had been an exciting week as well as we see God moves as we humble ourselves before Him and walk closely with Him. I particularly enjoy the morning prayer and group devotion together. God’s presence just ministered to me everytime I see how His faithfulness is seen in other people’s lives!

MEDIA WORKSHOP

We have 21 students joining the media workshop this year. I’m very encouraged by their positive attitude: They are humble in learning, give each others help and accept one another. I can see Christ through everyone of them as they produce the assignments. Unlike previous asignment, they need to produce documentary this time instead of shortfilm. This is to give them the first taste of experience in video production, and not to wear them down so much as filmmaking has the tendency of doing it over night…

The team "Gospel-ING" is looking carefully at what they have shot

Working on editing

Bro. Aron Koh, facilitator from LimKokWing University helping a student on his team project

Another team: M-Generation. These guys have just fell in love with the gadgets!

They are super creative and I’m really impressed! Please pray for me that I’ll be challenging them to join me in the Campus Media Ministry as interns or Full time worker. Pray for fruitful relationship to be built and follow up works can be effective!

EVENTS DURING PHASE 2 IN JB AND SKUDAI

As we are ending the 1st phase, we continue to need your support in prayer for the 2nd phase. 7 teams will set foot at Johor Bahru and Skudai area for the coming 10 days. We’ll be ministering to local people here.

If you are happen to be in JB on 16 May 2009, please join the I-Connect Carnival at Sutera Mall, 10am-10pm held on the 1st floor of the mall. We’ve prepared all sorts of activities and services to help you knit stronger with your family members as well as increase social awareness! Please call Peter Ling (016-4965500) for more details!

On May 23, we have a big event at Good Hope Hotel, Skudai main ball room. It will be a meeting focusing on parenting and courtship. We’ve invited Mdm. Siew Lai Kuan to be the main speaker. Though her face was scarred due to the brutal attack of an envious man she aquainted in the past years, she accepted Christ and left her sinful lifestyle and became a born again Christian. She is now a counselor and has helped so many young lives to find true meaning to keep on living. Please do not miss! You may contact Grace Tan (016-9291179) for te ticket selling only at RM3 per entry!

PRAYER ITEMS FROM SABAH MISSION TRIP TEAM

I won’t be joining the majority in serving JB people. I’ll be flying to Sabah as a special team to minister to indigenous people there. Going together with me is 7 other chinese (including our staff leader Hoon Guan, 6 students). Please pray:

1. For us to be filled by the Holy Spirit FROM TIME TO TIME.
2. For journey mercy – we’re flying on 16 May, 7am flight from JB to Kota Kinabalu, then we’ll go into the village after meeting up with staffs there.
3. For God’s spirit to work in those villages as we preach
4. For the raising up of workers (FULL TIME Especially) after they join the trip
5. For gifts of speaking BM – We’ll be using BM mainly during the whole trip
6. For health unity and humility among the team members
7. For protection over our loved ones while we are away

Thank you so much! I’ll not be able to log on to Internet in coming week. I’ll update you as soon as I’m back from the battle field! God bless