“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.” For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”~Isaiah 55:8-9
Being a layperson all my life since baptized into the Seventh-Day Adventist church. Only at the age of 56 did I finally become a mission worker, and no less in a country without an SDA presence.
All my years as a believer since Oct 1997, I’ve always wanted to be a pastor to be honest. However, with life’s commitments and having a family and parents to take care of it seems my desire to work for the Lord might not happen. This went on till several years ago there was a call to all the churches in Singapore, if any member would like to be considered for pastor-ship. And lo n behold, I was short-listed along with another member (just the two of us). The other member decided not to take it up, and the Union ministerial secretary at the time together with our pastor, came calling at my home to tell me that I’ve been selected.
At the time my heart really wanted to accept the call, but the circumstances surrounding my family and also all the financial commitments just made it not possible. Rather than rejecting it, I had asked for a year to consider. My request was granted, but as the story goes I didn’t take it up in the end.
I knew at the time perhaps my time has not yet come. I still needed to mature in my walk with Christ, and I still needed to settle and balance my commitments. I knew the day when all my commitments are done, that wud mean my time has come.
So it was in late 2017, that time came. My heart knew that I had to keep my promise. But at 55, I’m too old to be a pastor (can’t afford to go study theology for a couple of years than return. Jesus might return already). So what can I do, I’m not a graduate but I’m a graduate from the school of hard knocks as they call it. I decided to write to a few people, friends I know whom might be able to help. To cut the story short, the call indeed came a few months later that there might be an opportunity to be a Urban Center of Influence director for an unentered country. Wow… I said yes without thinking too much (My Peter moment, always impulsive and never think about consequences.)
Few months later early 2018, the Union confirmed my position and I had to resigned from my work and business. And since starting the work in July 2018 my first anniversary this month, I can honestly say that it has been such a blessing. I believe I’ve received more blessings than I’ve given. God has given me this very precious work, and at the same time given me a “Moses lesson”. What do I mean by that? The day I accepted the call, I was reading my devotion about Moses. He thought that been the commander of the Pharaoh’s army, etc. he was more than capable of leading God’s people out of Egypt. And how mistaken he was, God had to send him into the wilderness to unlearn and relearn God’s way. I had almost the similar experience (though I’m far from this great man Moses not even close).
Been in sales & marketing for years, hospitality industry, set up businesses, etc. running a small business for God? “a piece of cake”. Hahaha…that’s what I thought. But God knew better, this Moses experience was a conviction to me. God was telling me {Isa 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. (9) “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”} this is My work and not your work. I had to come here to unlearn and relearn just like Moses. Praise the Lord!
God knew exactly what I can take and what I cannot. Personally coming from city living, God knew I am not equipped with country living and He gave me this ministry which fits me and was what I needed, to spend time with Him, quiet time, and to learn how to work with Him. Not always using my human wisdom etc. He open doors and I go in, He close the doors and I move on. Seems easy to say but not easy to do, how does one know which is the door open and which is close? If anything else, I’ve learned within this one year two important truths (22 years in church, didn’t see it)
1) Matthew_6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” We all have heard this very familiar scripture, but I never saw the value and never quite understand the principles behind this. This rule applies to every situation in our lives, be it family relationship, girlfriend, boyfriend, any relationship. If there is a problem in a relationship, first thing is not to try and remedy the relationship. First thing is to examine one’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If our relationship with Jesus is weak, our relationship with our fellowman is weak. Did u see that? As Sister White illustrated, like a wheel when we all go towards the center of the wheel, all of us will inadvertently come closer to each other. Thus our own relationship will work out when we first work out our own relationship with Jesus. Amen!
2) 1Thessalonian 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” To know God’s will, is not an information issue but a character issue. Wow, this was one of the best thing that happened to me when I attended the recent AMM conference in Penang in April this year. This profound statement by Dr. John Shin opened up my mind and cleared my thinking and doubts.
I’ve attended the 2018 and 2019 AMM conference, and both times I’ve been blessed abundantly. 2018 was a networking blessing where I got to meet with PAH’s doctors and contacts that can support this young ministry here. And 2019, was no different, it reinforced the connections and even more-Alan Teo, Director of Urban Center of Influence (UCI), Brunei.