Leadership – APCCS

Moving ahead following the repeal of Section 377A

@dm1n — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 07:27:00 +0000

Dear APCCS members and friends,

At the National Day Rally on 21 August 2022, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Singapore will repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code.

While the decision to repeal S377A came as a disappointment, we genuinely appreciate the Government’s continued efforts in engaging us throughout the process.

On our part, we have been faithful in expressing our stand biblically with regard to S377A, highlighting potential negative social consequences and effects that will flow from the repeal while emphasizing that our hearts and churches remain open to those who are gay.

We trust that the Government has heard not just from us, but also other Christian voices on this matter. Following the announcement, we are heartened that various ministers have given reassurances that nothing would change in the downstream policy areas of marriage1, education2, media ratings3.

Minister Shanmugam gave an important interview, (which I encourage you to watch in full) dealing succinctly in four areas of concern4 that the Christian community had highlighted as a corollary to repeal (21:25 – 27:30): Shift in our laws on marriage, Freedom of religion, Pressure to accept LGBTQ ideology in schools and workplaces, Cancel culture.

We are grateful for the clear statements that the Minister made in these areas on behalf of the government, and look forward to working with the authorities for positive outcomes in Singapore.

How do we move ahead following the repeal? There are 3 key thoughts I’d like to share:

#1 God has gracious intentions for Singapore

This is not the first contentious issue the local church has been engaged in and it definitely will not be the last. But one thing I believe with all my heart: God has gracious intentions for Singapore. Revival is still on God’s agenda, and I sense hope and faith in what God is doing in this season. It bears repeating – the repeal in itself does not in any way signal an end to God’s plans and purposes for our nation.

#2 God is looking for a righteous quorum

When Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19, the Lord looked for a minimum quorum of 10 righteous people in order to avert judgement.

What is the minimum quorum for Singapore? I’m not sure. But if we want to teach our people to be counted in this quorum, this is a time to examine our lives. As pastors, we preach that the starting point of salvation through Jesus Christ is repentance — not just from a homosexual lifestyle, but from all dead works (Hebrews 6:2). From this posture of having a clean heart (Psalm 51:10), let’s continue to take our places as watchmen on the walls.

#3 We should keep engaging

This is an evolving landscape, and our prayer and intercession must continue to rise to heaven for the authorities that God has placed over us. Singapore’s leaders have been courageous to stand on principle to defend key institutions in the face of mounting reputational and economic pressure.

As they try to manage the pace of social change5 for the good of the country, we should – where we can – continue to engage through gracious and constructive feedback. As leaders, we must not be ignorant of the narratives shaping LGBT ideology, but equip ourselves with some basic understanding of these matters.

Above all, Pray

Above all, we must pray. APCCS was started as a company of churches who desire to honour and make room for the Holy Spirit in our churches. We must move ahead in unity despite the repeal of 377A.

Let us be reminded that repealing 377A is only a setback. And a setback is a setup for a comeback. Will God find a company of people who will cry out to Him for His plans and purposes to stand?

May the Lord bless you.

Rev Yang Tuck Yoong

APCCS Chairman

1Channel NewsAsia, 22 Aug 2022 “Govt to introduce ‘unprecedented’ measures to safeguard institution of marriage”

2Channel NewsAsia, 22 Aug 2022 “Repeal of 377A: Education policies, curriculum to stay anchored on prevailing family values, says MOE”

3Channel NewsAsia, 22 Aug 2022, “LGBT content will continue to warrant higher age ratings even as Government repeals 377A: MCI”

4The Straits Times, 23 Aug 2022,” Section 377A: Constitution will be amended to protect Parliament’s right to define marriage, says Shanmugam

5The Straits Times, 22 Aug 2022, “Repeal of Section 377A: Doing the right thing for all while managing pace of social change”

Thoughts on this Season of Debating S377A

@dm1n — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 03:36:57 +0000

As the discussion over Section 377A continues, two pastors share their thoughts and make sense of this season. Ps Zac Zhang is Senior Pastor of Hearts Alive, where the majority of his congregation are under-30’s. Ps Lim Lip Yong is Executive Pastor of Cornerstone Community Church.

#1 Let's be careful not to slip into a "Us vs Them" mentality

Ps Zac Zhang In light of all we are doing in this season, of all we are endeavoring for our nation, I felt led to pause for a moment to consider Romans 8:3-8 (TPT version).

Truth is, we all are frail, and we fail in so many ways. Maybe not in the ways that the LGBTQ+ community do, but we still sin in our flesh nonetheless.

“Yet God sent us his Son in human form to identify with human weakness. Clothed with humanity, God’s Son gave his body to be the sin-offering so that God could once and for all condemn the guilt and power of sin.” (Romans 8:3)

Jesus came to identify with our human weakness. I feel like, even just taking a moment to consider this precious piece of truth will help us to see those in the opposing camp: as Jesus would see them.

So often, we talk much about empathy, but perhaps, in our zeal and fire, we might just find it a little harder to truly identify with the human weaknesses of those far from God. And that’s me for sure.

The fact that Jesus identified with our human weaknesses, tells me perhaps this is a good starting point, and also something to constantly bear in mind as I engage this season.

#2 What can we truly offer this generation?

Ps Zac Zhang What can we offer those in opposition to us? These are some of the questions spinning in my mind, even as many things are happening. Like many pastors in this time and season, I’m doing what I can to engage, educate and empower this generation to confront the impending shifts.

I believe this is a season to make a firm and strong stance, even as matters pertaining to S377A will be decided.

We should all pitch in. We should all do what we can to speak up and use our tools and influence in this cultural moment to let our voices be heard. I believe this is our moment to own, and we must rise to it.

But the question remains: What can we, the church of Jesus Christ, offer a lost and confused world, in a time like this?

As I consider Romans 8:3-8, I’m convinced we can offer life like no other, and we can offer peace like no one else.

“But those who live by the impulses of the Holy Spirit are motivated to pursue spiritual realities. For the sense and reason of the flesh is death, but the mind-set controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace. In fact, the mind-set focused on the flesh fights God’s plan and refuses to submit to his direction, because it cannot! For no matter how hard they try, God finds no pleasure with those who are controlled by the flesh.” (Romans 8:5b-8)

Many are crying for more than what their lifestyles can offer them. In my conversations with others, I’ve come to realize that so many in the LGBTQ+ community live in suspicions, fear and loneliness.

How we engage this generation, how we engage those who oppose us will matter so much. I believe deep in many of their hearts, a painful emptiness and discontentment exist. We need to allow them to see a glimpse of a better life we have in Christ.

This generation needs to see and feel life, true life, powerful life, not hyped up or faked, but life that is so strong, real, yet also unreal… because it’s divine. Life of the most divine nature is what is pulsating in our souls as people in Christ.

And they need peace like never before. This generation as a whole is bombarded with so many things: growing up pains, social media, pandemic, real war, culture wars… it’s tiring. Just like everyone, they need peace, and perhaps, more so. And we can offer them exactly that, through the example of our lives surrendered to Christ, being “free to live, not according to our flesh, but by the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit!” (Romans 8:4)

#3 A Righteous Quorum

Ps Lim Lip Yong There are a lot of amazing and constructive work that has been done to counter the LGBTQ+ activism, and we applaud and support these efforts. At the same time, I sense hope and faith in what God is doing in this season in Singapore. Should S377A be repealed, it does not in any way signal an end to God’s plans and purposes for our nation.

I have been sensing this thought of a righteous quorum that is needed in our nation. When Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord looked for a minimum quorum of 10 righteous persons so that judgment may be averted. In fact, Jesus alluded to this by saying the Sodom could have remained till the days of Christ through a demonstration of miracles. Unfortunately, this minimum quorum was not found.

In the same manner, it is our responsibility to ensure that there is a righteous quorum that prays, weeps and intercedes for our nation.

#4 Mobilised for more

Ps Lim Lip Yong There are a few things I see happening in the church in Singapore that augurs well for us: –

Firstly, a new generation of passionate pastors, Christian leaders speaking and working on justice issues that has not been seen before. Secondly, greater efforts to bring about unity and genuine fellowship among local pastors.

I believe these are indicators that show us that God is working and we are responding. As we contend for the retention of S377A, we must also be able to see beyond this. We must see the need to mobilize to evangelize, to disciple, to meet social needs, and to fight for justice issues.

The Scriptures in Judges 3:1-2 tells us that God left enemies in the land so that the next generation would learn to fight. This implies that things will never be perfect, and it is important that every generation learns to contend for righteousness and the issues of their days. Securing revival, hence, remains all the more urgent.

10 Takeaways on Revival (part 2)

@dm1n — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 11:28:39 +0000

Sustaining revival starts with preparation of people and resources, now.

There’s an interesting lesson we can draw from the Tabernacle of Moses about revival: the fire on the altar was ignited supernaturally by God, but it was the responsibility of the priests to keep the fire burning.

In a recent session speaking on revival, Rev Yang Tuck Yoong observed, “That tells me that every revival is supernaturally ignited by God, but every revival ended because of the failure of the leaders to keep the fire burning.”

In the early church, as the leaders worked out the logistics of handling an overnight increase from 120 people to over 3,000 people, Acts 2 records that they did four things daily – they broke bread, met from house to house, prayed, they had the apostles doctrine.

“The operational word is they met daily. In other words, they kept pouring oil into the fire,” said Rev Yang.

#1 To sustain revival, prepare now

Will God send revival to an unprepared company of people? That’s not likely, because without new wineskins to contain the new wine of a fresh outpouring from God, everything will be lost.

In other words, here’s a practical question to consider: If God sends your church 100 people next week, are you ready to receive them?

“Where are the people going to sit? Who is going to nurture the new believers? Do we have materials? Are the homes, are the leaders being prepared? All these things have to be done now so that we can be prepared for the harvest to come,” Rev Yang said.

#2 Get hungry, get on fire

Preparation is, first and foremost, the posture of a pastor’s heart.

“Are we hungry enough to set aside everything to be in the presence of that fire of God?” asked Rev Naomi Dowdy. It is that hunger that creates the fire of revival burning in our hearts.

People will be drawn to fresh bread in the church, which is the the fresh Word of God delivered from the life of a pastor on fire for God.

“The church is not built on programs. People are going to come because they hear there’s fresh bread in the house,” said Rev Yang.

#3 God has to enlarge our hearts

When we ask for God to move, God has to first enlarge our hearts. Rev Yang talked about how God gave King Solomon “largeness of heart” along with the wisdom and understanding he had asked for.

“God has to enlarge our hearts because that’s the only way we can carry that kind of intensity that comes with a move of God,” said Rev Yang.

An enlarged heart carries the vision of a spiritual awakening across Singapore, not just in siloed church circles.

Rev Naomi encouraged, “I’m praying for that same kind of visible, on-fire, nation-impacting unity to happen again in Singapore that will spark a hunger in the hearts of the people to lay aside their agendas, personalities. We want to want to see him move than anything else.”

#4 Preparation involves money and resources

The practical aspect of sustaining a revival entails preparing resources. It may look different from church to church, but the essentials could mean… discipleship materials, funds to secure space for people to meet, even a functioning database to record new believer names.

In a post-pandemic world where large gatherings may not be possible, homes may need to be prepared.

Rev Naomi shared her experience many years ago when she, as Senior Pastor of Trinity Christian Centre, oversaw the run of the drama Heaven’s Gates, Hell’s flames.

The team felt that God was ready to bring in a harvest of 5,000 salvations through the play.

“We had to put money in advance because we believed that God was going to do something,” she said. That entailed borrowing enough computers to record the decisions, designing and printing new believer packs, among other logistical expenditures.

While the initial response to the first few evenings of the drama seemed discouraging, the team sensed God moving after a breakthrough on the third or fourth evening and pushed ahead.

By the time the drama wrapped up after several weeks, close to 5,000 decisions for salvation had indeed been recorded. Trinity couldn’t handle all the new believers, and they were sent to other churches near their homes to be cared for and discipled.

#5 Preparation involves people

Revival will affect everybody when it comes, and things can get messy. As an example, Acts 6 records that during the time of the early church, there weren’t enough people to take care of the needs in the church as it grew.

Leaders are going to be key in sustaining the revival. “We need to train our people to lead when revival breaks. Is there a process in place in your church where they are being trained and equipped to lead others?” asked Rev Naomi.

And it’s not just leaders who have to be prepared.

Rev Naomi drew lessons from the illustration she gave earlier. When Trinity Christian Centre ran the drama for many weeks, volunteers had to give extra time to come in, from the sound crew supporting the drama to the ministry workers walking new believers through the first steps of salvation.

In other words, revival boiled down to a personal sacrifice in that season because they recognised God was moving.

“Are our people ready to pay the price, ready to pray, ready to have a truly Christ-hearted character? Are they ‘others’ centered in their time focus?” asked Rev Naomi.

10 Takeaways on Revival (part 1)

@dm1n — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 11:25:59 +0000

Revival is sparked by pockets of people hungry for God. Will you be one of them?

Reverends Naomi Dowdy and Yang Tuck Yoong recently spoke about contending for revival in this generation and the need for stewarding it.

Since the Charismatic Renewal and the Billy Graham crusades that wrapped up the 1970’s, Singapore hasn’t come quite close to tipping into revival. Now in the 2020s, how is revival going to look like for Singapore, and how should we prepare for it?

Asking the hard questions on behalf of a younger generation of pastors was Ps Pacer Tan. We summarise 5 takeaways in this article, and another 5 about sustaining revival in the next post.

#1 The purpose of revival is the harvest of souls

Revival is always on God’s agenda, because its purpose is the harvest of souls. “If pastors do not have a vision for the harvest, they will not be preparing for it, and they will miss out something that is of great, great value to God,” said Rev Yang.

Yet, revival is not just a church full of people, it is a people full of God.

Rev Naomi explained, “Revival, in my view, is God stirring up the church inside, so that we become firebrands in the marketplace and community. We take the repentance of the church outside.”

#2 God wants to do the same thing, but He wants to do a new thing

We can look at past moves of God for clues though we never want to copy the past.

Each outpouring seemed to have a certain identification, observed Rev Naomi as she cited recent outpourings like the Toronto Blessing and the Brownsville Revival as examples.

The Toronto Blessing was a time of refreshing when the church needed encouragement to run the race again, while the Brownsville revival was one of repentance and a return to holiness.

Interesting side note: these outpourings weren’t necessarily considered revivals, but rather, refreshings. The Azusa Street revival was a primary catalyst for Pentecostalism while the Welsh revival impacted every strata of society. In comparison, recent refreshings have tended to be limited to their location.

#3 Revival sparks in a place, and people come to catch the fire

Whether revival or refreshing, there were common elements across the outpourings.

“I try to look for key connectivities in them… and one of the common threads is that revival was in a place, not in a speaker who moved around,” said Rev Naomi.

“We find that people ran to locations to try to catch something, so that they could take a spark back, hopefully, to revive their church… God moves a place, then sparks it out,” she said.

#4 Another common thread: a hunger to seek God

The Charismatic Renewal in Singapore started with groups of people seeking God.

“The revival wasn’t hitting every church first. It started with people who weren’t just praying… but were really hungry for God. So when they heard something happening in this place – it could be a meeting just in the garden of a house… People went there and they would be touched by the power of God,” said Rev Naomi.

She recounted a time when people would stream in and out of an available person’s home in the Central Business District. People would grab their lunch (homecooked bee hoon in the host’s home) and sit to hear the Word of God preached.

Rev Naomi continued, “(Today), we are going through motions. We put a lot of effort into prayer, but we need that hunger that drives us, to say I want it (revival).”

#5 Revival is not spontaneous combustion; people had to a pay a price

“In every account of revival, whether biblical or historical, somebody or a group of people were willing to paid the price, press in… and then we see the fire spreading from one place to another,” said Rev Yang.

Just like a field of wheat doesn’t appear out of nowhere, revival is an outcome of someone or a group of people plowing and planting in prayer.

“To me, one of the misconceptions is that people think revival will happen to everybody at the same time,” said Rev Naomi. “There will be that spark that hits, then it’s going to roll over.” It will be the groups of people who are hungry for God that will catch the fire as it spreads.

Revival has to be sustained – keep reading in part 2.

4 Keys to a Consistent Devotional Life

@dm1n — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 03:53:45 +0000

Pastors, the strength of your ministry is going to be dependent on the strength of the secret place.

Everything in the Christian life is a by-product of prayer. Despite being the greatest preacher who ever walked on this earth, Jesus was never asked by his disciples to teach them to preach.

Neither did they ask Him to how perform miracles. But they did ask Him to teach them to pray because they saw Him prayer and they understood everything He did flowed out from His relationship with the Father.

If you think about it, everything in life stems from the agency of prayer – Faith is often conceived in prayer. Grace is received in prayer. God’s will is discerned in prayer. Courage is birthed in prayer.

#1 Establish a definite time to pray

Too many of us try to slot in some time during the day to pray; but that does not work. How do I know? I’ve been there! It just doesn’t work. You have to ring fence a certain part of the day and reserve it solely for God.

Rising up early is one of the most important disciplines that we must cultivate.

I made a commitment that I was going to get up at 4.45 am to pray each day and I have kept to this commitment every single day. It is one of the most important decisions I have ever made in my life. Once I got my prayer life right, everything started panning out in my life.

John Bunyan says “He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.” Martin Luther said, “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day.”

Many pastors complain they don’t have time to pray. But they have time for entertainment. They have time for Netflix. They have time for outings. Listen pastor, if you are too busy to pray, then you are busier than God intended for you to be. “But I can’t afford time to pray”. No, you can’t afford not to pray. Don’t try and find time to pray. You have got to make time.

Manna was rained from heaven and available to be gathered before the sun rose.

If you value the Word of the Lord, start the day by seeking something fresh from Him. Exodus 16:4 “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.”

The whole issue of the manna was a test. Would the people obey His instructions by getting up early and collecting the portion they needed? It is the same with us. Will we get up first thing each morning to gather something fresh from heaven for that day?

The biblical pattern of separating time for prayer in the morning.

Jesus must be the pattern for our prayer life. “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” (Mark 1:35) The Psalmist echoes the same thing. Psalms 5:3 says, “My voice you shall hear in the morning. In the morning I will direct it to you”.

#2 Keep your appointment even when you don’t feel like it

Often times, we think prayer is only effective if it rises from an eager heart. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The more you grow in prayer, the less dependent you will be on feelings and the more dependent you will be on faith. It is faith, not feelings, that is the measure of our effectiveness in prayer.

When Francis Frangipane first started his ministry, he would spend the first half of the morning in prayer, about 3 to 4 hours. Then, as the busyness of the ministry set in, he reduced prayer time to 2 hours and then to 1 hour.

One morning, a prophet in his Church called to say that he had a word for him. Francis waited with anticipation. The man dropped by his house and said, “Francis, the Lord says, He misses you.” I suspect God longs to meet us far more than we desire to meet Him.

Consistency is necessary if we want to come to a place of abiding.

The truth is most of us don’t live very consistent lifestyles. That’s where most of us struggle. The prophet Daniel set apart 3 different times in the day to pray. In other words, he didn’t just have one devotional period in the day. It says in Daniel 6:10 “… As was his custom since early days.”

Daniel had cultivated this intimate relationship with the Lord from his youth, and he developed such a keen prophetic sense because he paid the price.

King David was no different. In Psalm 55:16-21, David said, evening, morning and at noon I will pray. David cultivated this as a young man and right into his old age, he was still praising God all day long. (Read all the Psalms of his old age: Ps 71, Ps 37.)

#3 Find a suitable place to pray

There are some places where God is more present than others. I know God is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere at the same time, but there is something called the “manifest” presence of God where we begin to feel Him, hear His voice and perceive Him in a clear tangible way. There’s just something about a “meeting place” that is sacred to God.

Your closet is that place where you get to be alone with God in secret. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus said, “When you pray, go into your room (or your closet), and shut the door”. Find a suitable place where you won’t be disturbed. Once you find it, consecrate it and build an altar to the Lord.

#4 Don’t allow distractions into your prayer closet.

The moment you set your heart to seek God, it’s like all hell breaks loose. You will face opposition and distractions because it is the one thing the devil doesn’t want you to do.

He doesn’t mind how many committees you sit on, or how many meetings you attend, just as long as you don’t spend time in prayer. And he will do everything in his power to stop you.

Guard and protect your priestly life.

Your prayer time has to be the most important time in the day for you and it must be non-negotiable. Wesleyan minister, Samuel Chadwick said, “When alone with God, be alone with Him”. How we treat Him and how we honour Him is how He will treat and honour us.

The Anglican priest and author, William Inge says, “It is quite natural and inevitable that if we spend an average of 16 hours per day thinking about the affairs of the world and only 5 minutes in thinking about God, this world will seem 200 times more real to us than God”.

Everything that you are living for is to prepare you for that day when we eventually meet Him. We all want to see that smile on His Face and hear those words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”.

Content adapted from Rev Yang Tuck Yoong’s sermon and sharings.

8 tips for preaching online

@dm1n — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 15:51:33 +0000

Preaching to a camera takes some getting used to, but just as with other skills, it can be improved. Ps Trisha Khoo from Covenant Vision Christian Church shares a couple of points she has learned in her journey preaching online.

#1 Keep preaching points succinct

We definitely need to be more succinct and the flow of the message needs to be clear.

#2. Visuals help to anchor

Having visuals like slides help the online audience to focus on the preaching points, thus increasing engagement.

#3. Speed up (slightly)

Especially for an online audience, talking speed needs to increase to keep the listener engaged. Take note that some people may be listening while driving or watching on their phones on the MRT – they would lack the full visual context that your onsite audience has.

#4. Maintain eye contact

If I can keep eye contact with the camera (online audience), it helps retain attention.

#5. Movement on stage

We also have to be aware of how much we move on stage. The camera person who is on duty may need time to follow your movements and keep you within frame.

#6. Watch the rerun

We also have to be aware of how much we move on stage. The camera person who is on duty may need time to follow your movements and keep you within frame.

#7. Always do a sound check

Especially with the face shield, there can be feedback depending on what mic you use, and this means distractions for the online audience.

#8. Prep makes all the difference

I have had to set aside more time for preparation and practice. There are no real short cuts with regards to this… but the time invested into prep will make a world of difference for the online audience.

New Normal Pastoring: 3 Truths from Isaiah 41

@dm1n — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 11:11:52 +0000

The “New Normal” season is a call for pastors to minister from a place of being crucified with Christ, says Rev Edmund Chan. It is a Kairos season for a harvest of souls that requires not only a shift towards digital capabilities, but the wholly surrendered life of a minister.

The onset of the Covid pandemic in the first half of 2020 ushered in the rise of the digital church. In a matter of weeks, churches in Singapore and across the world made the hurried transition from in-person to online-only services.

For Rev Edmund Chan, this state of affairs highlights an interesting reality: although the media of the Gospel message needs to be tweaked towards the digital dimension, the medium has never changed.

Media vs Medium

“We are God’s delivery system… Men and women of God are still His method for reaching people. That’s why I emphasise the cross, the altar, the minister of God because that’s how we pastor during this new normal – to be crucified with Christ,” he says.

This season, in particular, is a call for pastors to experience the newness of life and the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon a sanctified, surrendered life.

Don’t drag the cross around

Rev Chan elaborates that pastors have not, in fact, neglected the cross. After all, which pastor would not make the cross central to church?

However, we have also stayed away from the call of Jesus to take up the cross. “We have instead dragged the cross around. It’s too painful and costs too much to take up our cross daily,” said Rev Chan.

But only through a crucified life will we be able to reach a God-appointed harvest and grow our churches healthily in a manner pleasing to the Lord.

The promise from Isaiah 41

Sharing from Isaiah 41:9-10 and applying the passage to leadership, Rev Chan laid out three things God has called pastors to anchor upon – I’ve chosen you, I am with you, I am your God.

He adds that “If your vision is from God, there are three things you will face.”

Firstly, the task is too big.

Secondly, the resources are too few.

Thirdly, the progress is too slow.

[The following section is an excerpt from Rev Edmund Chan’s sharing with APCCS pastors on 13 July 2020]

#1 When we say to God, God, the task is too big, God says, I’ve chosen you.

Remember that. When God gives you a holy vision upon your heart, a vision for the city, not just the local church that God has called you and I to, but a vision for the city, a vision for our world. Then when we say, “God, the task is too big, God says, I have chosen you.” Lay hold of that. We are chosen of God.

I did not become a pastor and then 25 years, a senior pastor, then give up and start this Global Alliance of Intentional Disciplemaking Churches because I wanted to do something big. No, it is simply because God has called. And if the going gets tough, I remember God has chosen.

#2 When we say, Oh Lord, the resources are too little, God says, I am with you.

It’s like feeding the 4000 or 5000 with only few loaves and a few fishes. The resources are too few. When we say, Oh Lord, the resources are too little, God says, I am with you. That’s enough.

#3 Lord, the progress is too slow, God says, I am your God.

Put me in the centre of your worship. Put me in the centre of your life. I will do what I’d called you to do.

That is why no man or no woman should have more influence or less influence than God intend for us. God has a specific assignment for specific individuals. God has His assignment for me. God has assignment for you.

We must be clear about assignment and answer with great faith and dependency upon God.

We don’t have to compare with others. We just have to come and say “God, You will help us. We would do what You call us to do.” Because You have chosen us. You are our God. You are with us. You will strengthen, You will help, You’ll uphold us with your righteousness.

At the end of the day, when we meet Jesus, He’s not going to ask how big our ministry is, what we have accomplished, what we have done.

He’s not going to be impressed by the superstructures of our life and ministry. He’s going to ask for the foundation. He’s going to ask for obedience. He’s going to ask for worship. He’s going to ask for holiness.