The Herald Weekly Vol XVII : 8

Celebration of Herald’s 15th Anniversary (Pt 2)

Herald Bible-Presbyterian Church is 15 years old. She is now in her mid-teens. We are no longer in our childhood, but neither are we in full adulthood. But, the worthiness of a church is not measured by its age, or size of its membership, but on its faithfulness towards the Lord Jesus, our Master.

The Session, with much prayer and consideration, desired to make this 15th Anniversary special and significant in our thanksgiving towards God. We had a Thanksgiving Dinner last Friday. We thank those who have been supporting the work in Herald, and we want to share with them about God’s grace and mercies towards us. We also wanted to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with our loved ones, friends and colleagues so that they too will come to know of God’s love for them. We also had a Mission Conference yesterday so that the missioners form mission stations which Herald is supporting can come and share about their work in their respective churches and countries – Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya and others. Though representatives from Malaysia and Kenya were not able to join us, we know that their hearts are with us regarding the gospel work of Christ.

Thanksgiving

1. The Committee for the 15th Anniversary, led by Dn Steven Yeo, has done much to ensure that the celebrations are well-coordinated and carried out properly. We may have been short-handed in many areas, but God still used us despite our shortcomings. We thank God for those who faithfully carried out their roles, sometimes only with a few hours of sleep at night. We pray that God will bless them as they give of their talents and time to Him.

2. The Committee for the 15th Anniversary Magazine led by Mrs Phee also worked many hours to put the Magazine together: the Session’s write ups, congratulatory messages from other churches, testimonies of members here and overseas, the photos (old and new). We thank God for Jodi who volunteered to do the lay-out and design. She too has testified of God’s grace and mercies on her and her husband. PA Ee Meng retrieved many photos from our archives and Dn Ken took countless new photos. Dness Vivian tried to delete as many typographical errors as possible. This Magazine, mostly done behind the scenes, took many hours, but it truly unfolds God’s grace and mercies towards Herald for the past one and a half decades.

3. We thank God that pastors/missioners and their wives, or representatives from their church/mission, have come to join us for our celebrations. The stations which Herald supports are all vibrant and growing, even in the midst of many trials. We thank God for their coming to share with us at the mission conference yesterday. We trust that they will be encouraged to know that we are with them in the gospel work, and that we will continue to support them in prayer and finance for as long as God enables us to do so.

4. We also thank God for members and friends who participated in the dinner and mission conference. We thank God for all who contributed generously to make this 15th Anniversary successful, and to enable our missioners to join us this year. We thank God for all those who worked tirelessly to ensure that everything went on smoothly, despite the hiccups along the way. Thank God for those involved as emcees, those in the music presentation, publicity, art work, booth displays, IT support, photographers, logistics, the Befrienders, giving testimonies, reception, ushers, and many behind the scenes. May God bless you and all your endeavours for His glory.

After the Celebration… what’s next?

I am reminded of the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. Jesus told about a Master who, before he went on his journey, gave his goods to his servants. To one, he gave 5 talents, and another 2 talents; and to another, 1 talent, each according to his several abilities. The servants who received the 5 and 2 talents went and traded with the same, and made 5 or 2 talents more, respectively. But the one with 1 talent, dug in the earth, and buried it. When the Master returned from his journey, he asked them to give account of their talents. He was pleased with the ones who multiplied their talents, and commended and rewarded them. But the one with 1 talent hidden in the ground, the Master cast him into outer darkness.

God indeed has given us many talents. At Friday night’s dinner, we witnessed our younger people taking on the role as emcees. They probably did not realize that they had the talent to speak confidently in front of a big crowd. Perhaps, one day, God may use them to address an even larger group of people.

We also had a 5-year-old who asked to sing with the adults. Nobody asked her to sing, but she volunteered because she loves to sing praises to the Lord. I pray that she will be used of God more when she grows up. We also thank God for the elderly ones who joined the Mandarin choir to sing praises to God.

Beloved, the main point of this parable is to remind us that we are to make full use of what our Master has given us, and to obey His commands. As Christ’s followers, we are to obey His teaching and not deviate from His truth. The parable also tells us about what unfaithfulness is. This is typified in the servant who buried his one talent in the ground. He refused to work for the Master, and preferred to do things in his own way, and later was condemned. The Prodigal son who left his father’s home to enjoy the pleasures of this world is also another example of rejecting the father’s plan and purpose for his life. He too suffered in the end, but was saved because he realized he did wrong and returned to ask for his father’s forgiveness.

Faithfulness is putting God’s purpose as our priority, and to love the Master enough to serve Him consistently with what He has given us to do.

To the church at Sardis, Jesus says, “I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” (Rev 3:1). He also knew some who are spiritually dead. His advice to these was “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” (vs 2) Jesus knew that there were some who served Him, and whose works are not perfect; as well as those who were in church, but spiritually dead. Yet, there is hope even for such a church as Sardis. Jesus said: “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (vs 3)

Verse 4 also encourages those who remain pure and faithful towards Christ. “Thou has a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” God will reward them who love Him, and live holy lives before Him. And He will reward “he that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not bolt out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels.”

In these 15 years, those who stayed with us have seen how God has been good to us. God has seen many of us through the ups and downs of life. He gives strength to cope with trials. He has brought many families together, and will continue to do His mighty work for those who persevere in Him. May we continue to herald the Good News of Christ to family and friends. May we continue to support our missioners in their labour for the gospel work in their respective countries. May God enable each one of us to grow deeper in His Word and Spirit, and bear fruit for Him.

To God Be The Glory.

Pastor Bob Phee

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