29 July 2018 Speaker Rev Allan Webb

Transcription

1 29 July 2018 Speaker Rev Allan Webb For internal circulation only 1

2 In October 2017, I surprised myself with my quick yes to Pastor Peter s question of whether I was interested in Kalimantan missions. My sharing the same dialect group with many Chinese Indonesians in Kalimantan and having spent my childhood in Indonesia have certainly drawn my thoughts more to this place than other missions. The surprise came only because I felt I was not yet ready to go and commit myself. Upon further reflection and discussion, it was decided that I would go with the team in June Pastor Peter, Titus, and I met in Changi Airport at 6 a.m. on Monday, 18 June. We only reached our hotel in Sambas at around midnight local time (about 1 a.m. in Singapore). Pastoral Conference and Ordination of Pastor Palmanto, Sambas, June 2018 The first item on our programme was a Pastoral Conference where Pastor Peter gave a series of talks on Christian Spirituality for Ministry. This conference was attended by about seventy people: pastors and leaders from various churches around Sambas, as well as students from Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Bukit Zaitun, a local theological school. Many were keen learners who made time to read their notes before the start of the talk. The talk was divided into twenty-two sessions. At the end of each session, participants were invited to go to the front and share their personal responses to the reflection questions provided in their handout. Many were quick to go forward and share their testimonies. Their sharing enabled us to learn about the local culture and the struggles they face. We followed up on some of these testimonies in our conversations with them during the break. One participant shared how she managed to overcome many challenges by praying and fasting. Her first challenge was how she always felt sleepy when she was about to study the Bible or listen to God s Word. She tried many different methods, including asking her friends to wake her up whenever she felt sleepy, but all these efforts failed. Finally, she tried prayer and fasting for three days. The first two days were hard, but the third day was more bearable. At the end of the third day, her 2 battle with sleepiness was overcome. She managed to do her Bible Study without feeling sleepy. Her second challenge was when she joined a team to minister in Lombok. The team started the ministry with a three-day prayer and fasting session. She was excused from fasting because of her gastric problem. In spite of this, she insisted on joining the team in prayer and fasting. The first day was very hard, but she persevered; on the third day, she felt much better, her gastric problem was somehow healed. Another participant shared in private about the hostility she and her husband faced when they were about to start their local church: how things in the house went missing or were damaged; how they were ridiculed because of the condition of the church ground at that time. Still they persisted, and now they have a small congregation of fewer than fifty people. In fact, many churches around Sambas seem to have congregations of no larger than fifty. One seminar participant had been faithfully but quietly attending Pastor Peter s talk. During this time, she did not once utter a single word about the plight of her eighteen-year-old granddaughter. Only in our last evening, was there a prayer request for her grand-daughter, who had been serving faithfully in the local congregation and is suffering from kidney failure. This teenager had been hospitalized for four months, waiting for a kidney transplant opportunity. As it happened, Titus works as a renal physician specializing in kidney disorders, amongst others. This expertise enabled him to discuss important issues with the local doctors, provide good medical advice, and be an encouragement especially to the girl and her family when we visited them at the hospital in Singkawang. Pastor Palmanto was ordained during the conference, together with the graduation ceremony of three seminary students. Many people from Mount Carmel Singkawang congregation made a special trip to Sambas in order to witness and to celebrate this special occasion. Going Against Tradition Much of the hostilities faced by new Christians and local churches seem to

3 stem from the fact that the new Christians and the local churches refuse to participate in certain traditional festivals like Chap Go Meh and Naik Dango. Chap Go Meh takes a peculiar form in Singkawang. During this annual festival, all the spirits, gods and demons of Taoism and many others gather at this special place. The Tatung are the shamans, the vehicles through which the spirits manifest themselves, possessing and guiding them through other states of consciousness. These shamans would then perform the most extreme corporal mortifications without shedding a drop of blood and without any scar remaining on their faces or bodies. This event is also seen as a symbol of the brotherhood that now binds the Chinese Hakka and the Dayak tribes, after decades of civil wars and assassinations. The spirits of Kaharingan, the ancestral religion of Borneo, invade the streets along with the Taoist colleagues, joining, in fact, two metaphysical universes. (extracted and adapted from -meh-festival-singkawang-borneoindonesia) Naik Dango is an annual Dayak Harvest Festival which centers on giving thanks and praying to a deity called Jubata. While the local churches need to make a stand against these traditions that are not in accordance with biblical principles, they also need to make sure that they do not alienate the locals and that they themselves are not alienated by the local tribes. Mount Carmel Singkawang and Mount Carmel Pontianak: Dwindling Young Adult Population Many young people in their late teens or early twenties tend to move out to a bigger city or overseas in search of better lives. Hence the congregation comprises mainly of young children and older people. When this happens, the church loses potential leaders who can help nurture the young and help with church growth. Some of their young adults were lured by higher wages to work overseas in jobs that are uncertain and may not be legal. We had a hard time persuading one barely eighteen-year-old from returning to her overseas assignments. While these jobs may seem lucrative in the short-term, they may do more harm in the long-term. Upon speaking to some other members, we learned that this may be a common trend amongst the local young adults. Others seem to lose motivation to continue their studies for financial reasons or otherwise: one left school at the end of secondary school, two others left at the end of their pre-university studies, one left half-way through her university studies. We spoke to a few young people in both churches: some were in their final year at the local universities, others were in the final year of their pre-university studies. Both groups were at the crossroads as to what they should do at the end of their academic year. We hope many of these young people, especially the youth leaders, will make the decision to stay in Singkawang and in Pontianak to help contribute to the growth of the local churches. Talk to the youths on Choices and Decision-Making I was asked to give a short talk to the youths in both Singkawang and Pontianak. The topic was chosen simply because of its universality. My challenge was in choosing the right context and in the language of delivery. By God s grace, a context pertinent to the local youth, exam cheating, stood out during my preparation. Meanwhile, I was still not confident in giving the talk in Indonesian; I feared my Indonesian was not fluent enough for such talk due to disuse. However, since the talks were held towards the end of the week, I actually had enough time and opportunity to brush up my Indonesian. I thank God that, when the day came, with the help of youth leaders from Mount Carmel Pontianak who vetted my slides, I was able to deliver both talks mostly in Indonesian. Conclusion Overall, the trip has been fruitful not just to the people in Kalimantan but also to my personal growth. Rumi Sastro 3

4 MISSONS FESTIVAL (27 JULY TO 5 AUGUST) Thanksgiving for Rev Allan and Val Webb s presence and ministry during the Missions Festival. Pray for a good time of fellowship with Carmelites and friends. Pray for strength and stamina to be upon Rev Allan as he delivers sermons today and next weekend, speaks at prayer meeting, and meets with our pastoral team, mission board and committee. Pray for empowerment of our triune God upon each of our missionaries and missions partners as they continue to persevere for the sake of the Gospel, and to minister to the needs of the people in the churches and mission fields. Pray for our church members and worshippers (children to seniors) to catch the heartbeat for missions and to respond through pro-active involvement in various ways. Thailand: Pray for outreach ministries including music lessons and home visitations to non-believers. Pray for activities with the community including Christmas party, Children s day and Sports ministry. Pray for Sanpatong Community Church to be united in serving God. Pray for Good Kids Preschool that it will stand as the light of God to the community. Pray for our vision 2018 which is to proclaim the name of the Lord and disciple the nation. Myanmar: Pray for believers to stand firm in their Christian faith and walk, amidst persecution. Pray for the SEEDS program to continue to bear fruits. Philippines: Pray that church members will hunger for His righteousness and be compelled to share His love to others. Pray for more members to be involved in reaching out and making disciples from the harvest. Pray for the success of the partnership program of Mt Carmel-Novaliches and Barangay San Agustin. May we use the resources of the church purposefully to proclaim Christ in this community. Pray that after the first round of the program, it may become a continuous ministry of the church. Pray for the harvest of souls in our community and the training of more leaders in the church. Pray for Flor to have a meaningful sabbatical leave - rest, travel, study and family time. Pray for God s guidance upon her as to where to start a new ministry and disciple-making church, to be in a community where she can share the love of Christ and transform their lives, and for her to continue to discern God s will in her life. Pray for Ps Fitz and May as they serve Christ, the church and the community. May God renew, refresh and empower them in the ministry. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! (Romans 10:14-15) Come, join our prayer warriors in Joy Chapel on Friday, 7.45pm! Next Friday (3 August) Chairperson: Sim Tiong Beng 4

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPDATES We warmly welcome Rev Allan Webb to the pulpit this morning. Rev Allan Webb was the Senior Pastor of Swanston Street Church of Christ (today it is called Cross Culture Church of Christ) from 1970 to During his 25 years of pastoral leadership, the Church sent out 70 missionaries into the world. Over the last 20 years, he has been involved with OMF Australia and OMF International. Rev Allan and Val Webb have 3 children and 6 grandchildren. Mt Carmel invited Rev Allan Webb to preach at our 2nd Missions Conference ( as it was called then) in After 31 years, we welcome Rev Allan and Val Webb back to minister to us. Calling for volunteers to assist with the 2nd service refreshments. contact Henry Koh if you are available to serve in the above area. Please The Chinese Service is in need of a pianist. Please contact Henry Church office ( ) if you are interested to serve in this area. Date Speakers Topic Text 5 Aug Rev Allan Webb The Great Commission - Revisited 12 Aug Ps Asst Marianne Wong 7 Deadly Sins: Lust Matthew 28:1-10; Samuel 11:1-17; Matthew 5: Aug Rev Oh Boon Leong 26 Aug Rev Oh Boon Leong Studies in Romans: The Gospel that Changed the World The Most Unpopular Doctrine of God Romans 1:1-17 Romans 1:

6 NEXT SUNDAY 5 August 2018 MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT 1ST SERVICE MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT 2ND SERVICE Ushers Susannah Siew & Team Grace CG Refreshment Worship Leaders Congregational Prayer Musicians No Refreshment (Mission Food Festival) Ho Khee Chang/Lau Hoong Chuin Rev Peter Teo Week 1 Band Welcome Corner Tan Mun Kiat/David Lee Sim Chui Hoong/Joyce Lin Scripture Readers Karen Er Goh Swee Hong AVA Crew Yu Ta Wen/Lee Sin Yee Chan Wen Hui/Christie Phua Please make all cheques, including those for the Development Fund, payable to Mount Carmel BP Church Ltd (payee name must be stated on the cheque). Please note that NO receipts will be issued for cheques received by the Church below $5,000 except upon request. All Offerings and Pledges to Mount Carmel BP Church Ltd are not tax-deductible. 6

7 Acts 11:19-30 Introduction The Church at Antioch was a great church for 4 reasons: 1. THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH WAS A MULTI-RACIAL CHURCH 2. THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH WAS A BIBLE-BASED CHURCH 3. THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH WAS A GENEROUS, BENEVOLENT CHURCH 4. THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH WAS A MISSIONARY-MINDED CHURCH Conclusion 2 Choices : A JERUSALEM CHURCH - INWARD FOCUS DIE AN ANTIOCH CHURCH - OUTWARD FOCUS Live Maintenance or Missional Parochial or Global 7

8 Welcome! A warm welcome to all newcomers and visitors with us today. We hope that you will have a meaningful time of worship this morning. Do join us for tea at the fellowship hall after the service. Worship Leaders Ho Khee Chang Lau Hoong Chuin Speaker Rev Allan Webb Prayer Rev Peter Teo Scripture Readers Joyce Go Rina Lai Ushers Suyen & Friends West Bay CG Refreshment Clementi Woods CG AVA Peh Chee Siong Peter Go Sam Kong Choy John Tan Francis Tay Restore my Soul/Jesus All Glorious Gloria Patri Romans 10:1-5 Share Your Faith Our Heart Let Your Kingdom Come Jesus Shall Reign Doxology Thanksgiving Flowers Verlyn & Vince Tan Madeline Tan For a digital copy of this bulletin: Acts 11:19-30 Think Local - Act Global wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ Weekly pdf For recordings of past sermons, visit Here I am Wholly Available Three-Fold Amen Worshippers are invited to come forward to the front pew for personal prayer with our elders/pastors. 8