Volume. XXII, No. 48
Sunday, 25 May 2008


22nd Anniversary Thanksgiving


THE 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

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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

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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

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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)

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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.

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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

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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

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"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)

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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


More Lively Hope

 

Announcements

Announcements

Special Warm welcome to Rev Dr & Mrs Patrick Tan. Rev Dr Tan, the Lord’s Messenger, is Pastor of Ebenezer BPC, Melbourne.

No BBK Class today. BBK attendants are to attend Bible Class.

Warm Greetings from Pastor Okman & Sis Myung Ki (S’pore/Kathmandu).

Pr David & Sis Susan Weng thank all Hopefuls for their hospitality and warm fellowship when they were here. Phil 1:3-5. (Thank you card on Notice Board)

New Edition Church Directory now available. Please get your copy from Sis Josephine Wong. One copy per family or household.

Thank you: Session thanks brothers & sisters in Christ who had invited the Weng family for meals & fellowship.

Farewell to Sis Serene Wong, leaving us for Singapore for a few years. May God guide you as you serve Him there.

 

Looking Ahead

Vacation Bible School - July 14-18. Speaker: Bro Hai Seng Lim. Please note amended dates.

 

Praise & Thanksgiving

Journey mercies: Rev Dr & Mrs Patrick Tan (Adl); Ps Okman & Sis Myung Ki (S’pore & Kathmandu); Pr David & Sis Susan (& Elizabeth) Weng (S’pore); Gillian Ong, Mary Ting, Juanita Tong & Serene Wong (Adl).

Church activities: AFG Meeting, BBK & Sunday Bible Study Classes; Ladies’ Fellowship, Men’s Fellowship, Wed Prayer Meeting & Bible Study, YAF Seminar & Working Bees.

Our 22nd Anniversary Thanksgiving today. Ministry of Rev Dr & Mrs Patrick Tan here.

God’s daily blessings & provisions. Praise God for rain over last few days.

2nd Anniversary Thanksgiving of Ebenezer BPC’s City Gospel Fellowship in Melbourne today.

 

Prayer Items

Health & God’s healing - Rev George & Sis Nan van Buuren, Rev Peter Chua, Rev Peter Clements, Rev Timothy Tow, Dr S H Tow, Preacher Zhang, Dn Yaw Chiew Tan; Bros Tommy Brooks, Colin Creaser, S Dhamarlingam, Makoto Kobayashi, Raphael Ng’s father, Richard Pearson, Winston Selvanayagam, Hans Ziegelmann; Grandpa Ki; Sisters Myung Ki, Alice Lee’s father, Margaret, Dianne, & Sarah Pearson, Aranka Rejtoe, Susan Veradi, Irena, Sylvia White & Giok Yeo’s sister-in-law; Auntie Oei & others in affliction.

Cambodia Missions - Rev & Mrs David Koo (Sihanoukville); Pastors & believers in villages.

Post-back surgery - healing for Rev Edward Paauwe.

Laos Missions - Believers in Laos.

India/Pakistan Missions - Pastors & Believers.

Kuching Missions - Teo family.

Sketch n’ Tell Ministry - Bro H S Lim.

Journey Mercies - Rev Dr & Mrs Patrick Tan (Melb), Ps Okman & Sis Myung Ki (Nepal), Bro Charles & Sis Peng Ha Yeo (SEA); Sisters Gillian Ong (Melb), Juanita Tong (Perth) & Serene Wong (S’pore).

Job - Bro Cong Pham

Pr David & Sis Susan Weng as they seek God’s will for their future ministry in S’pore & elsewhere.

Provision of a Pastor for our Church.

Session members - wisdom as they take care of our Church.

Believers under persecution in Islamic countries.

Victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar & Sichuan (China) earthquake.

 

 

© Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
14 Bedford Square, Colonel Light Gardens, South Australia 5041