How many more ten years will we have? God willing, Tree of Life Christian Church will continue to preach the gospel for the Lord, train disciples until the Lord returns. Have you ever wondered what Tree of Life Christian church would be in 2029, or even 2039?
During the Extra ordinary Congregatron Meeting on 20 January, we briefly explored the church direction in a few years’ time. It was not some ambitious 10 or 20-year plan but just considering if we should move to the Woodlands region. This decision, however, will have a bearing on the direction our church’s future growth. We are grateful to God that all brothers and sisters of this church are concerned about this matter. Not only did they attend the meeting, they participated actively in the discussion. This greatly encouraged the church committee. Re-locating the church location is an arduous task that will result in much inconvenience. Everyone also needs to give or lend to the church. That which was beyond our expectation was brothers and sisters voted almost unanimously to re-locate. We believe that it was God who gave us such unity. This allows us to see clearly that God is leading us. The result of fundraising in the following month once again affirmed that our decision in this matter is God-led. The total gifts and loans that brothers and sisters made to the church in this month has exceeded $500,000. This is beyond our expectation.
When we start a new ministry, God never promised us that we would not meet difficulties or obstacles. Just as how God led the Israelites to the Promised Land, this land also brims with strong enemies. God, however, promised the Israelites that He would go before them to fight for them. “The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes” (Deuteronomy 1:30). Re-locating the church would lay before us many difficulties. One of these difficulties is to sell our current properties to purchase new properties. With the current economic downturn, we would most likely have to bear some if we would hope to sell the properties in a short period of time. We really must ask God to “fight” for us to prepare for us a buyer at the most appropriate time and at a reasonable price. Please often keep this matter in your prayers, brothers and sisters. At the same time, we also need to note the number of units sold at our potential future church site. We need also to explore the property’s renovation design and logistics arrangements in the relocation.
From here on, we still have much work to do. This would be a challenging yet exciting period. Not only are we moving into a new premise, but more so because we would be located in a completely new community. I look forward to doing more work for God in this new premise.
After today’s service, we will hold the Annual Congregation Meeting. We shall discuss the church ministry plan. Re-locating the church premise and the new gospel outreach are very important topics. We must also, however, continue to focus on other ministries of the church, such as fellowship and cell group ministry, Sunday School ministry, et cetera. These along with the gospel outreach are important ministries of the church that would help brothers and sisters maintain a healthy and holistic spiritual growth. I urge brothers and sisters to participate actively in the discussions. Through this congregation meeting, let the whole church continue to maintain unity, to create new frontiers for God and enlarge the Lord’s kingdom. Press on! “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord” (Rom 12:11).