Growing Church Missions SEA Sunday Surabaya Mission Team Dedication Matthew 11:16-19; 25-30 Gen 37:1-4;12-28 Romans 10:5-15
SEA SUNDAY Annually we hold SEA SUNDAY In many countries 2 nd Sunday in July It s a day set aside to remember their contribution and pray for seafarers, their lives and their families 1856 Rev John Ashley was in Bristol started this ministry Today over 260 ports around the world & some 1.5 million seafarers
History & Heritage The Gospel arrived in Singapore and this region via the sea. The Goods of our Consumption arrived largely by sea The Governance of the Sea has & is & will always be vital to Singapore s future
The Gospel 1819: Arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles led to the founding of modern Singapore as free port. 1836: St Gregory (Armenian) Church was consecrated The missionaries arrived by sea!!!
The Goods Our early economy depended on sea trade to grow our city state Much of what we need today has to be imported from food, flour to cement, construction use as we work on a certain level of sufficiency
The Governance
Seafarers Harsh working conditions Long hours, only the rough seas Sometimes no pay at the end of the journey Isolation from family and friends 3 or 4 G Phones don t work, no internet Absence Tensions between crew members Different nationalities Cultural differences
Bearing One Another s Burden 28 Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Life Can Be Tough Labourers need rest Burdens are part of life When burdens become overbearing, God is with us even when we do not discern his presence Footprint story
A Yoke A yoke we think of as a heavy piece of wood laid on the shoulders of an ox. Because of the yoke, the ox can pull the weight of the cart behind it more easily. It is both a burden & also a help. Take my yoke is shoulder my yoke
A Yoke A yoke can be heavy but it makes it easier for the ox to pull the cart or the plough. On the one hand, it restricts us from acting in certain ways but at the same time it points us in the right direction. Jesus yoke is the yoke of love. In the long run, it has a liberating effect.
A Yoke Jesus then is saying that he carries the yoke together with us. Jesus never promises to take away pain. What Jesus does is to help us go through the pain. A life without any pain, without any failure or disappointment, a life without difficulty or challenge is no life.
Bearing Burden Regular burdens are :- financial difficulties, strained relationships, ill health, unemployment, loneliness We bear one another s burdens when we learn to listen to each other We bear one another s burdens when we give space for expression We bear one another s burdens when we share in the struggles
Bearing Burdens (Mission) Mission to Seafarers Our Diocese provides 2 physical places for them to rest, catch up with family via skype and to build friendships We put them in touch with professional support and legal advice when they have pay difficulties. In cases where of pirate attack, shipwreck, bereavement, trauma of all nature etc. opportunities for prayer and spiritual support are rendered.
Bearing Burdens (Mission) Burden of Reaching further afield (starts with Jerusalem to Judea and to the ends of the world) Beyond our Oikos (Serangoon Garden) to the Deanery of Indonesia Most populous Muslim country of the region Base chosen is Surabaya Similarities to our home
Statistics Surabaya 2.8 million population Seaport 3.12 million teus 10% Population Christians Singapore 4 million population Seaport 30.92 million teus 18 % Population Christians
Surabaya Short Term Mission Trip Universiti Ciputra (Christian University) Teach English English Club Influencing the Decision Makers of Tomorrow today Friendship building & Testimonial sharing 12 th 16 th Sept 2017
University Ciputra s Psychology Students Visit to St Andrew s Mission Hospital
Bearing Burdens (Mission) We will encounter God s heart We will expand our limited perspective We will be more grateful for what we have We will build lasting partnerships We will expand the kingdom of God
Bearing One Another s Burden Bearing the Burden of the Seafarers. Bearing the Burden of Being God s Messenger of Good News Gal 6:2 Bear One Another s Burden and so fulfill the law of Christ
Dedication of Surabaya Team Tan Boon Tye Jason Chang Christine Ang Florence Yap Dawn Defoe Constance Kwee Ong Chooi Seng