[Summer Retreat] [BTC graduation ceremony]
Dear friends,
This is my first newsletter for the year 2008! If you didn’t already know, I have been back in Perth for a month after a wonderful summer holiday back home.
Summer activities
As I was in KL for most of the summer, it was a time of relaxation and spending time with family and friends. I did attempt to read up some books in preparation for my college assignments this semester, but alas to no avail! I was severely infected by the holiday bug! Oh, I also had one of my wisdom tooth extracted and it was really NO fun!
In terms of OCF related activities, I was mostly reading up books and preparing for workshops and talks I am hoping to conduct this year.
I also had the opportunity to meet up with a girl from OCF Curtin to go through the “Just For Starters” course –7 studies covering some foundations of the Christian life, e.g. salvation, faith, living in God’s way, reading the Bible, prayer, fellowship and evangelism. It was very rewarding for myself too as I also grew in deeper understanding of these basic truths as I attempted to explain it to her.
I attended the Curtin Uni pre-departure talk in KL to meet students anxious to study in Perth for the first time. Otherwise, I was not too productive and successful with my networking with the local colleges, only managing to get in touch with the Christian Fellowship in Kolej Damansara Utama, and then referring one student to OCF Tasmania.
Overseas Christian Fellowship
Upon arrival in Perth, it’s been a straight bang into business! The first few weeks of the year are usually the busiest times. All 3 OCF centres set up stalls at their Universities during Orientation Week to promote OCF and to make contact with new students. This is usually followed by a Freshies[1] Welcome lunch/dinner. I was primarily involved with OCF Murdoch, while also present at some of OCF Curtin’s events.
Summer Retreat was next where we spent the weekend at a nearby campsite. This year’s Retreat was very relaxing and primarily a time to catch up after the long break and prepare ourselves for the year ahead. I had a good time chatting with OCFers from the other centres (Curtin & UWA, I’m usually with Murdoch). I found myself playing different roles – Bible teacher (explained some Scripture to a girl), advisor (advice and praying with some students), and networking agent (encouraged a girl to follow up on another non-Christian girl).
One of my biggest desires is to see students mature in Christ through their knowledge of God’s word. In order to facilitate that, we need Bible study leaders who would take up the challenge and responsibility of nurturing others in His word! So it was a tremendous blessing to be able to conduct a Bible Study Leaders’ Workshop with the help of my mentor, Angel. More than 20 leaders turned up for the 3-hour workshop (even 2 new freshies!) which covered topics like Christian leadership, studying the Bible (using the OIA[2] method) and group dynamics. Many thanks to my good friends in Canberra who supplied me with their workshop materials! That’s what partnership is about hey? J
I have also been meeting up with a non-Christian Cambodian girl I recently met. Thank God for the opportunity to share the gospel (using the “2 ways to live” tract) and now going through “Christianity Explored” with her. She is keen on meeting regularly to read the Bible and learn more about Jesus (thank God!), so please pray for that!
Other things that have been occupying my time include reviewing Bible studies and attending Bible study leaders’ preparation meetings.
Baptist Theological College
One of the interesting subjects I am doing this semester is Ministry Formation, a unit designed to help me understand myself as a person, pastoral roles and how the two go together. It has been particularly helpful and relevant as it allows me to reflect on my ministry experiences and evaluate them in the light of the theology I learn. And I will be getting a DISC[3] profile of myself done too! Would be interesting to see what the results are, so stay tuned!
I am also increasingly enjoying the one-hour slot on Wednesday mornings with my support group. Also, as part of our “supervised experience based learning” curriculum, I signed up for the “Preaching to Postmoderns” class. I reckon that is a very relevant issue to consider – how do we preach in a way that is captivating (and true) to a generation that does not like to be preached at, that is suspicious of institutionalised religion, and that considers truth to be relative and not absolute? Challenging…
On a side note, I recently attended the college’s graduation ceremony and received a prize – a book voucher! Yay! J More importantly, one of the students gave a very thought-provoking speech. Many times the stuff we learn at Bible College can seem to challenge the views of God that we have grown up with and it can be nerve-wrecking. But as she puts it, in those times, it is God’s gentle and loving process of guiding and leading us to a better understanding of himself.
God won’t let us wallow in clichés.
It is better for us to be “doubting Thomas-es than smiling Judas-es”.
Food for thought…
Other thoughts
The theme of radical discipleship keeps cropping up lately. Jesus promises suffering for those who will follow him. Have I (you) counted the cost (Luke 14:25-33)?
I have been struggling with wanting to read the Bible for my personal devotion when I am already reading so much of it for my classes, preparing for Bible studies etc. May I not grow weary of God’s word!
Thanksgiving and Prayer points
- Thank God for the experiences I have had so far, whether delightful or painful. His mercies are new every morning!
- Thank God for friends who are available to listen and pray with me as I grapple with this whole ministry thing!
- Pray for the salvation of my Cambodian friend; that I may be faithful in sowing the seed of God’s word and trusting Him to bring the harvest.
- Pray for the balance between OCF, studies and life. There is always a great need in the ministry and it is tempting (and may seem very noble too!) to put in lots of effort and take on more than I can.
- My mentor, Angel will be away for 6 months in Cambodia for a mission trip. So please pray for me to find someone else whom I can talk to and pray with during this time.
I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come?
[1] A term used to describe new students.
[2] Observation, Interpretation, Application – It is a systematic method of reading the Bible and interpreting the passages within its appropriate contexts.
[3] A model that examines one’s behavioural style.
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