Hope B-P Church

Volume. XVIII, No. 28
Sunday, 11 January 2004

Thanksgiving for the Past Year

God has indeed poured His blessing on Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church, resulting in the Christmas concert on 6 December about one month ago. Many friends and relatives came to the concert to hear the good news that "the word was made flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14a). We praise and thank God for everyone who served God in one way or another last year in the various activities of the church.

They are:
1. The Young Adults Fellowship
2. The Ladies Fellowship
3. The Teen's Fellowship
4. The Choir
5. The Sunday School
6. The Missions Committee
7. The Stone Mansion Management committee
8. The Lively Hope Committee
9. The Worship Board
10. The Neighbourhood Bible Study Groups (Joy, Maranatha, and Bible Study Action Group)
11. The Christmas Concert Committee
We are at present streamlining the various fellowship committees and board so that they can be used more efficiently to serve God.

There are also those who serve God as ushers, welcomers and in the preparation of the food for Sunday's Fellowship lunch and those who clean. There are others who come for the Working Bee every month to help to clean up the Church and its surroundings. I must not forget to mention those who provide transport - not only through our official church van but who use their own vehicles to transport people to church activities. Last but not least, there are so many who serve God quietly through visitation, hospitality and just plain friendliness to new visitors and young Christians.

As can be seen, almost the whole church is involved in the various Church activities which glorify God. "Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ" (Col 3:24). ".if any man serve me, Him will my father honour" (John 12:26b).

Looking forward to the New Year

As Pastor Ki mentioned in last weeks article in the Lively Hope bulletin, the theme for our Church in the year 2004 is "SOULS FOR JESUS". The verse for this theme is taken from Luke 19:10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost". How appropriate it is to remind ourselves about the Great Commission given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. In my opinion, there are 2 main ways to fulfill this Great Commission- one is to support or do overseas missions - like the missions Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church is involved in Cambodia. The other is to do personal Evangelism at home here in Adelaide among our
friends, relatives and colleagues. There are 3 practical ways how we can tell others about Christ, His love for us and about His plan of Salvation for fallen man.

1. Let us equip ourselves - by attending group Bible Studies, by prayer , by our own Bible Studies and reading of good Christian books

2. Let us Support all the outreach efforts of our church e.g. Christmas concert, mission in Cambodia, Sunday School Activities, various Fellowships, talks and seminars. We can give our support through prayer, by ringing up people and bringing them to such outreach activities.

3. Let us also learn to encourage and nurture one another. This aspect is different as we are naturally inclined to want others to encourage and nurture us.

There may be disagreements with what I have mentioned above but there are so many ways we can think of to reach others for Christ. The most important thing to remember is that it is God's grace and mercy which saves souls and not we ourselves "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph 2:8).

Rev. Ed Paauwe and Sis Lehia Paauwe

Rev. Ed and Sis. Lehia Paauwe are known to most of us but there are some in the congregation who do not know them well. Rev. Ed Paauwe was the founding Pastor of Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church in 1986. It started in a Scout's Hall but when I joined in 1991, it was holding its service at a gym hall of a Kensington School - next to Pembroke School. In 1994 we moved to our present location at the Stone Mansion. A few years later in 1998, Rev. Ed Paauwe was appointed to lead The Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions in the United States.

We thank God for Rev Paauwe for coming to minister to us for the whole of January 2004 while Pastor Ki is away in Singapore and Cambodia. We also thank God for our Sister Lehia Paauwe for holding training seminars for the Sunday School teachers. We pray that God will continue to bless them greatly in their ministries both now and in the future.

Love in Christ,
Dn. Ngie Joo Gong

More Lively Hope

Announcements

Shorter Catechism Question No. 30: How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.

Please continue to pray for Sis. Myung Ki, Rev. Peter Clements, Bro. Brutus Balan, Rev. E Stone, Rev. George van Burren, Mrs Irene Turner, Sis. Aranka Rejtoe who is recovering from a major operation at the RAH, and Sis. Susan Varadi. "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul" (Ps 25:1).

Thank God for granting journey mercies to Sis. Su Sim Toh & Bro. Dillon Chang (Adelaide), Sis. Jasmin Chua (Singapore), Sis. Ayli Chong (Sydney).

Please pray for journey mercies for Bro. Leonard Teo, Bro. Edwin Oei and Family, Sis. Jasmin Chua (Adelaide), Bro. Raphael Ng (Singapore).

Please continue to pray for the Mission Team in Cambodia - Rev. and Mrs Ki, Daniel and Samuel.

Thank and Praise to God for Sis. Aranka's Successful operation, for a blessed Ladies' fellowship lunch and meeting led by Sis. Lehia Paauwe and for the Teen's Dinner yesterday.

Those who will be able to have Rev. Ed and Sis. Lehia Paauwe for meals please fill in your names on the sheet of paper kept on the table in the foyer.

Roster for next quarter is placed on the literature table. Please collect your copy.

Flower roster: Those willing to provide flowers for Worship Services in the sanctuary in 2004, please fill in the roster found on the literature table.

YAF - Please note: Please read the lists of activities to be carried out by the Evangelism and Welfare group this year and decide which group you would like to serve in by this Friday.

Membership/Baptism Service will be held in February. Those wishing to be baptised or become members, please write and send your testimonies to Pastor Ki.