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Choosing to be Engaged

Being engaged, in the church context, can mean anything from talking to people after the worship service to serving in one or more ministries. Either way, it implies that we get involved and interact with each other with a view to encouraging each other’s spiritual growth and supporting the work of the church. Below, three of our members share why they choose to be engaged, and encourage us with testimonies of their resulting increased spiritual growth and more meaningful connections with fellow believers.

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” - Deuteronomy 10:12-14

Victor Tay - From Disengaged to Engaged

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Victor took the plunge to go to Pua and saw how God is working among His people.

Getting involved in the Pua mission trip was one of the highlights of my walk with Christ last year, as it showed me how being engaged in a church ministry can enrich one’s spiritual life and open one’s heart to God’s work.

Until last year, ever since I started attending GBC in 2000 I had not been involved in any ministry, despite attending church and Care Group regularly. It was a comfort zone of sorts. Not being engaged in any ministry for such a long time can be compared to not doing anything meaningful in our own personal walk with God and not growing and reaching out to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and to a larger extent the community outside of our church.

So when Sze Gar first approached me to consider volunteering for the Cambodian mission trip last year, I was apprehensive. The Cambodian trip came and went. She approached me again, suggesting the Pua mission trip that was coming up and sharing with me her own joyful experience at Pua. I prayed earnestly about it and decided to take the plunge even though teaching children in a foreign country was a first for me. It was a leap of faith. It turned out to be a wonderful trip as the children, my fellow team-members, and the people there showed me how God is working in their midst. I learnt so much from the core team consisting of Beh, Kim Song, William and Yah Wu. I subsequently went for two more trips, one of which was to witness the baptism of some of the Hmong children from Kathy’s Home; and I believe these trips will not be my last.

The experience taught me that being engaged in a ministry is a form of discipleship that allows God to open our eyes and hearts to people around us. The Pua trip is also a small way of helping the children at Kathy’s Home in their walk with Christ, an extension of our outreach to the community outside of church.

 

Mok Chuan-Xin - Encouraged by Being Engaged

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As Chuan-Xin serves in the Children’s Ministry, he is constantly reminded of the faithfulness of God. In the photo, Chuan-Xin is teaching the children about God’s faithfulness during a Sunday School class.

As a leader and teacher in the Children’s Ministry, I often walk around the classrooms to ask my fellow teachers if they need materials and to check in on the kids. When I look at the teachers’ dedication to the children and the effort they put in to prepare for the classes, I see their love for God and the children, and this becomes a strong motivation for me to continue my service. It is such an encouragement that it helps me get through a tough week and reminds me how I can always strive to be a better Christian. It is a special privilege to witness this living breathing testimony every week.

I’m actually not very good at engaging people to help serve in the ministry. But somehow, time and time again God provides people who are willing to serve. In the two years that I have had the privilege to serve, I don’t think there has ever been a time when we were short of teachers. There were plenty of times when I thought we would be short-handed, but each time people just stood up and asked me if I needed help. Maybe God carved it on my forehead or something, but each time people just seemed to pop up saying, “Hey, I would like to serve.” Each time this happens I am reminded that no matter how bleak the situation, God always comes through for His own..

 

Tan Sze Gar – Call to Be Engaged

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Sze Gar shares the joys and rewards of being engaged in service and encourages readers to serve the Lord and each other as one family.

I first came to GBC with two very close friends, but after some time they left for another church and I was coming to GBC alone. As a result, there were times when I felt like ‘skipping’ church, but thankfully because of my ushering duty I could not. This may not sound like a great reason to be involved in ministry, but looking back, I am grateful that God used ushering duty to keep this young Christian then from staying away from church, and perhaps straying from Him.

Over the years, serving in Grace News and more recently going for mission trips have helped me integrate into the GBC family as I get to know more church members and build deeper relationships. Often I am humbled by the people with whom I work, and am amazed by how God uses such diverse individuals to accomplish His purposes – it never ceases to amaze me how each issue of Grace News falls into place!

I have also come to appreciate how being engaged in ministry can help to nurture the fruit of the Spirit: as we interact more with imperfect people like ourselves, we learn to depend on God to love one another. It is a very humbling experience. We tend to view service as a sacrifice or duty, but as we serve, we will find that the joys and rewards from serving far outweigh our time and effort. It is thus a privilege to be able to serve.

If you feel isolated from church consider serving in a ministry. Ask around or look out for opportunities highlighted in the bulletin, and keep in mind that the most important qualification is a willing heart rather than specific talents or gifts. God Himself will enable.