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Volume. XXII, No. 48 22nd Anniversary ThanksgivingTHE HIGH CALLING OF GOD “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13,14. Dear Pastor Dr Okman Ki, Eld Dr Michael Lee, Session and Hopefuls, I greet you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and soon coming King. On behalf of the Session and members of Ebenezer Bible Presbyterian Church, I congratulate you on your 22nd Anniversary. Hope BP Church has matured spiritually and through the years has been a help and encouragement to younger BP Churches. We are especially grateful for your prayers and love gifts towards our building fund. Several young hopefuls have come to Melbourne and visited us and some are helping in our ministry. Indeed your pastor will be our Winter Camp speaker. The theme is CONSECRATION. Writing to the church in Philippi the apostle Paul assessed that he had not yet “attained” or achieved his final goal or finished his race. His ministry was yet to be completed. He talked about the Lord’s work for him as a Grecian foot race. He had begun to run and was still running but was yet to capture the floral crown of a winner and the joy of completing the race. Paul was certainly a marathon runner. He had to overcome many obstacles and only by the grace of God was he still running. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect (completed)” he told the church. He then gave three principles for running the Christian race. His advice is primarily for the ministry of the local church, but it is also applicable for our individual race in our life. Every Christian is involved in a spiritual ministry and life. We must endeavour to remain focused in our objective. I write of the ministry of the church in particular but also of the life that every Christian must live in general FOCUSSING OF GOD’S WORK Forgetting the past As a missionary and church planter Paul certainly had a lot of baggage to carry. He was not one of the apostles that Jesus had chosen. On the contrary he was a persecutor of the church of Jesus Christ. “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” 1 Cor 15:9. Initially that baggage hampered his work but Paul pressed on. Many church leaders bring with them their biases, idiosyncrasies and habits. Many have secular training and experiences and would attempt to influence the church to their way of thinking. When we serve the Lord as a member of a team, it becomes necessary to “forget the past” so that we may co-labour with the brethren in the Session, in committees and other situations. The apostle could not have easily forgotten how he disagreed with Barnabas before the start of the second missionary journey. Paul was not to take too lightly the leaving of John Mark in the middle of the first missionary journey. Barnabas was of a different disposition. John Mark was related to him. But again he took the position of giving failures a second chance. The contention was so sharp that two missionary teams resulted. Acts 15:39, 40. John Mark after some years made the grade and Paul commended him and took him back. 2 Tim 4:11. Reaching to the future While the apostle Peter was the apostle to the Jews, Paul was designated the apostle to the Gentiles. Yet Paul’s strategy was always to look for a synagogue during his travels. He found opportunity to read the scriptures and preached Christ the fulfilment of the scriptures. Some Jews believed and followed the missionaries but others opposed the gospel. Unbelieving Jews persecuted the missionaries. Paul still loved his countrymen and desired their salvation. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Rom 10:1. What a loving and forgiving apostle! So he reached to the future to win the Jews for Christ. When churches were established Paul would plan to visit them again to confirm their faith. He appointed elders to oversee the congregation. He spent time and made every effort to ground the believers in the faith. He knew that the evil one would attempt to tempt and stumble the believers. To the Ephesian elders Paul said, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:29. If he could not make a return visit, then he would write epistles to teach them the whole counsel of God and to warn them of dangers to their faith. This Paul calls “the care of all the churches”. 2 Cor 11:28. Our church today needs holistic ministry to strengthen the body of Christ. Pressing forward and upward In the Olympic race there is always a line drawn for the runners to follow. This is called the mark or the scope. Runners follow the line to the finishing point. Heb 12:1 establishes for us the scope of the Christian race. “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” There is an objective to aim for. Certainly we must fixed our eyes on the finishing line. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Heb 12:2. Many of us run with uncertainty. We race and we rest. God help us for being so inconsistent. Finally there is the prize to be won. For the Christian race it is THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. Paul exercised much discipline. For him the Christian race was all consuming. He was prepared to suffer and to go hungry. No man ever had the stamina that the apostle demonstrated. “But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection (discipline): lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Cor 9:27. Paul alone can finally say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Tim 4:7. Brethren, beloved, while the apostle Paul is certainly Christian Worker Extraordinary, he has given us the principles of Christian service to follow. Even the least of us can learn from the apostle and live for Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Every blessing and prayer together Pastor Patrick Tan Ebenezer BP Church, Melbourne, VIC *********************************************** Dear Ps Ki and the Session, Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church Congregation, Warmest Greetings in the precious Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Praise and thank God for Hope B-P Church’s 22nd Anniversary! We rejoice with you and remember you all in our prayers that “The blessing of the LORD be upon you” Psalm 129:8. May God continue to guide you and use you mightily for His glory and His Kingdom. With love in Christ, Rev Edward and Mrs Lehia Paauwe Perth, WA *********************************************** Dear Rev Ki, Eld Lee & Session, Congratulations & every blessings from our Lord Jesus Christ on your 22nd Anniversary of Hope B-P Church. We rejoice with you as you minister & extend the Kingdom of God. The Lord has increased the fruits of your labour of love. With Brotherly Love, Rev Dr Patrick Tan Session Ebenezer B-P Church, Melbourne, VIC *********************************************** Dearest Hopefuls, Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Happy 22nd Anniversary! I hope you all are well. Thank God for His goodness and mercy in sustaining Hope BP Church for another year. So many wonderful memories have been created in Hope Church, not only for myself but I am sure also for the other Hopefuls in different parts of the world. Let us strive together as brothers and sisters in Christ in our service towards the Lord, knowing that our work will not be in vain. Lamentations 3:22b-23 “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.” Praise God for another year of His faithfulness and seeing us through trials and testing. God bless. Agape, Juanita Tong (now in Perth) *********************************************** Dear Hopefuls, Congratulations on your 22nd anniversary on the 25th May. Praise the Lord for all He has done in the last year and pray that the work will continue to grow. May Hope Church continue to seek God\'s wisdom, and may each member recognises his or her gifts and their role in building up the body of Christ, and to encourage one another as they serve God in their different ways. I am indeed very blessed to be part of this family who have taught me many things in Christ and have also shown me God\'s love. Hope church and its people will always have an important place in my heart wherever I go. Your brother in Christ - (with a joyful tear in my eye) Jonathan Liao (Now in Melbourne, Vic) ~ Hope Church is more valuable than diamonds rare. It’s a priceless gift from above; with purest gold it can’t compare because it’s filled with God\'s truth and love. *********************************************** A big hello from Perth! It has been about a year to a year and a half since we moved to Perth. We thank God for the solid teaching and opportunity to serve at the Bible-Presbyterian Church of Western Australia. However, Hope B-P Church will always hold a special place in our hearts. It is with great joy that we celebrate with you another year of blessings and protection. Thank God for raising up Hope B-P and for the perseverance of the church family in the spiritual race. "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18 God bless you. We will continue to remember you in our prayers.
Gabriel & Grace Lee and Wendy Gong, Perth, WA *********************************************** May God continue to bless Hope BPC to be a \'Beacon of Light\' in Adelaide and many other parts of the world! Thank you. God bless! In His service, Preacher David, Sis Susan and Elizabeth Weng Email: dasuweng@gmail.com Singapore *********************************************** "Happy 22nd Anniversary Hope Church! I thank God I found you and am now part of you! Pray that God will continue to use you mightily to touch the lost ones, to build the weak ones and to uphold the faithful ones." Minyen Chia (Now in Melbourne, VIC) *********************************************** Dear Hopefuls, Warmest greetings and congratulation to you on your 22nd anniversary! We thank God for you and for all your labour in Him, especially in mission works from which we have also benefited. May the Lord continue to bless and prosper you till He returns. All praise and glory be to His Name. Teo family (Jeremy & Nikki, & Lip Kah), Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia |
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