"If you’re not taking any risks in your ministry, then no faith is required to do it. And if your ministry doesn’t require any faith, then you are being unfaithful." - Rick Warren
Three years of adventure is coming to an end. In less than one month, I'll end one phase of my life and move into a new, albeit uncertain new stage of life.
I've learned much, grown in understanding and character and have been deeply blessed by the days that I spent in living springs fellowship. How interesting it is that I entered with a target time of six months to assist, yet it prolonged itself into another six months, then one year and before I know it, three years have been clocked. For every extension that I agreed upon, I did so with a clear divine instruction and found the days ahead to be of a newer purpose and purposefully laid out.
The initial days spent teaching the majority of indoor-based, introverted teens were daunting and some days exasperating. Didn't help that it was also intertwined with one of my worst phases that I had in my career and my personal life on weekends went into a major transition because I no longer had the regular schedule that I enjoyed before. Change is indeed an awful feeling and I recall the lonely days that I walked home, reasoning with myself if I was going to live such a lonely, pathetic life the rest of my days. Yet, because I knew I was meant to be there, so every Saturday I went to serve with enthusiasm and a sanguine nature because I wanted to be in faithful obedience. In my worst days, there were individuals called Joseph, YongEn and Amanda who crossed my paths and were a blessing to me because of their energy, eagerness or faithfulness in coming weekly.
As with every season of life, the rough season of work passed and the ministry began to reach the next phase of growth. With more ERs, there were more interpersonal issues. Did not help that I was just a helper who was figuring my way out on how much I could assist and intervene. The wake up call came when Joseph left and stopped attending church. Many months later I got to touch base with him to find him doing well in another church. It was time for me to do what I felt was right, in-spite of the uncertainties of my boundaries in the church.
This last year has been memorable because when it was clearly communicated to me of the need to stop by the end of the year and move on, the feeling of leaving a ministry and lives that I've devoted myself suddenly felt as if I told that I had 1 year left to live. Even though I was frequently exhausted and stretched thin, I told myself of the need to accelerate my pace and dedicate more time than ever to spend with whoever I could and to do whatever I had. As time ticked, I'm now left with less than a month before the new year starts. Soon, I'll say goodbye to everyone of the ERs that I've grown to love and cherish, in-spite of their annoying quirks and character flaws.
Rick warren is right to say, when we take risks in ministry, faith to trust God for each step is needed. I've spent 3 of my best adult years and it has brought me more meaning that I've had imagined.
What's up in 2011? It's all quite uncertain. I'm approaching the new year with trepidation because once again I'm moving into the unknown and wondering what I'm doing with my soon-to-be free Saturday weekends. I've some inkling of what to do in the latter half of the year, but the first half of the year is a real blur. Knowing that I won't want to enjoy too much aimless time at home on Saturdays, I know I'm placed at this juncture because I know God wants to do something in me and get me to realign my new purpose and life's journey.
For His honour and glory. May it be achieved in me and everything I choose to do.
M.
I've learned much, grown in understanding and character and have been deeply blessed by the days that I spent in living springs fellowship. How interesting it is that I entered with a target time of six months to assist, yet it prolonged itself into another six months, then one year and before I know it, three years have been clocked. For every extension that I agreed upon, I did so with a clear divine instruction and found the days ahead to be of a newer purpose and purposefully laid out.
The initial days spent teaching the majority of indoor-based, introverted teens were daunting and some days exasperating. Didn't help that it was also intertwined with one of my worst phases that I had in my career and my personal life on weekends went into a major transition because I no longer had the regular schedule that I enjoyed before. Change is indeed an awful feeling and I recall the lonely days that I walked home, reasoning with myself if I was going to live such a lonely, pathetic life the rest of my days. Yet, because I knew I was meant to be there, so every Saturday I went to serve with enthusiasm and a sanguine nature because I wanted to be in faithful obedience. In my worst days, there were individuals called Joseph, YongEn and Amanda who crossed my paths and were a blessing to me because of their energy, eagerness or faithfulness in coming weekly.
As with every season of life, the rough season of work passed and the ministry began to reach the next phase of growth. With more ERs, there were more interpersonal issues. Did not help that I was just a helper who was figuring my way out on how much I could assist and intervene. The wake up call came when Joseph left and stopped attending church. Many months later I got to touch base with him to find him doing well in another church. It was time for me to do what I felt was right, in-spite of the uncertainties of my boundaries in the church.
This last year has been memorable because when it was clearly communicated to me of the need to stop by the end of the year and move on, the feeling of leaving a ministry and lives that I've devoted myself suddenly felt as if I told that I had 1 year left to live. Even though I was frequently exhausted and stretched thin, I told myself of the need to accelerate my pace and dedicate more time than ever to spend with whoever I could and to do whatever I had. As time ticked, I'm now left with less than a month before the new year starts. Soon, I'll say goodbye to everyone of the ERs that I've grown to love and cherish, in-spite of their annoying quirks and character flaws.
Rick warren is right to say, when we take risks in ministry, faith to trust God for each step is needed. I've spent 3 of my best adult years and it has brought me more meaning that I've had imagined.
What's up in 2011? It's all quite uncertain. I'm approaching the new year with trepidation because once again I'm moving into the unknown and wondering what I'm doing with my soon-to-be free Saturday weekends. I've some inkling of what to do in the latter half of the year, but the first half of the year is a real blur. Knowing that I won't want to enjoy too much aimless time at home on Saturdays, I know I'm placed at this juncture because I know God wants to do something in me and get me to realign my new purpose and life's journey.
For His honour and glory. May it be achieved in me and everything I choose to do.
M.
