A New Season

The theme of Glad Tiding's Gateway 4th Anniversary was 'A New Season'.

A new season brings about changes.
A new season poses new challenges.
A new season raises champions.

Change is the only constant thing in life. There's so many changes happening at the same time. Firstly at work, I was expecting a change in department but after going through a 6 months review, the managment decided that the change is not possible. This was a change that I was expecting but it didn't happen. So the change was it didn't change.. And the only thing I could change is how I look at it. Trust God in everything he has prepared for me!!
Secondly my youth ministry. Come to think of it, I've been serving the ministry for almost 2 years. Well it's still short compared to the rest of my youth leaders who started the ministry many many years ago. And I probably have a long way to go here.. Now there were changes that I've to deal with too. After much consideration, the pastors decided to spilt up the youth ministry into 2 - Young Adults & Youths. For me, this has always been what we wanted and finally it has been put into place but what I didn't expect was the plan to shift 6 youth leaders to focus on the young adults ministry. On one end it is good as this group of people can focus on the ministry but on the other end, I've lesser leaders for the youth ministry. From next year onwards, the 2 groups will work independently on a weekly basis but will come together in terms of outreaches and church events. Because of this, the entire youth ministry has to go through a reorganisation in terms of structure and also our weekly meetings. Well I'm keen to explore new things and ideas. Just hope the idea gets through our pastor..

With all these changes in place, the challenges doesn't get lesser too. In terms of work, I was tasked to manage a project which requires me to oversee a product which I will need to think about business development, training development, maketing, reviewing of programme, etc. It's really a mounting task ahead of me!!
In the ministry, there are so many things to deal with. There are youth leaders to coach and develop, leaders/youths that have issues to settle, young adults or youth that have strayed away from God, lukewarm youths, weekly meetings, DFD, ensuring spiritual needs and emotional needs are met, planning for outreaches & events, etc. I do get physically, emotionally and spiritually drained at times. The challenges are never ending and we're also in the midst of planning for next year with the new committee. I'm excited with this new committee and looking forward to more changes coming up!!

Having to deal with changes and challenges does bring out the champion in you. No matter how tired I am, I just need to press on to finish the race!! There are 2 verses that I have been claiming. Isaiah 43:18-19 says "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth." I trust God will lead and guide us but its always our human nature to think about past experiences and use it instead of relaying on God which I must learn to. Sometimes I can't really think of anything as I have not experience it before and thus have no prior knowledge on how to go about doing it. The other verse is actually in today's bulletin. Isaiah 40:31 says But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. This tells me to press on and wait on the Lord so I can be renewed and recharged!! and will not be weary in the ministry and always on fire for God!! Be a champion for Christ...

To God be the glory!!!