Ever wonder what a pastor does? If you ask me, I’ll be hard press for words. Some times I feel like I am an event organizer, a counselor, an administrator, a bible teacher… all rolled into one. But there are moments in my busy schedule when I experience something more, something profound; moments when I find myself a channel of God’s grace.
It was one of those moments one Sunday evening in Feb. I had a very full work week, had to preach a sermon, chair a meeting, lead training and bible study... then my senior pastor asked me to preach a funeral sermon on Sunday evening. I’m a fairly new preacher (2 and ½ years) and this was my second funeral sermon. I don’t know the family at all, so that makes it very tricky. Moreover there wasn’t any time to prepare. Nevertheless I started praying about it, asking God to reveal to me which bible passage to preach from. I sensed God wanting me to preach on the resurrection of Lazarus. Now to me, that is a very strange passage to choose for a funeral sermon, because although the passage began as a funeral, the deceased end up coming alive and walking out of his tomb! I wonder, what could God possibly want me to say to a grieving family from this passage? So I tried looking up the bible for more ‘appropriate’ passages for funeral sermon amid my hectic work week, but to no avail.
By Sunday late afternoon, I finally had a chance to talk to a sister who knew the family. It was then that I understood why God wanted me to preach on Lazarus’ resurrection. Martha and Mary thought if only Jesus were there earlier, their brother Lazarus would not die. They knew Jesus loved them. They fully believed Jesus is able to heal. They trusted Jesus. But they could not understand why Jesus did not heal their brother. Such was the struggle of this family too. They had a dramatic experience of Jesus’ healing. But this time round, though they prayed, God did not heal. Although they were able to accept their lost and rest in God, a nagging ‘why’ remained in their hearts.
That evening, standing before the family, I had the privilege to be God’s vessel, to bring God’s message of comfort to this family. I saw how they were touched by God. When I sat down after delivering the sermon, I knew in my heart, those were not my words, but God’s.
It is in these moments that I am reminded; being a pastor means I am a servant of the Almighty
Pr. Neo Lai Kein
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
Bible Tools
Bible Tools: A great place for biblical definitions and resources...a little like a Christian wiki library.
Adventure Camp Reflections: No walls too high…
So glad that at least for a day, I could join my youths and friends from the other Presbyterian churches for the recent Synod Youth Leader’s Adventure Camp (Yah lah… this kind of thing how can miss out?). Besides, when it comes to our Synod Youth’s events, our track record has been pretty good… All thanks to our faithful God and the folks who have been most supportive!Trust me, I was pretty knocked out by the flu bug earlier on. Even on the day when I joined them, I was still a little under the weather and started doubting my own wisdom in wanting to rough it out together with my team who attempted the Low-Element obstacles. But I just couldn’t bear to leave my 16-17 year olds to be on their own. I mean, this was the first time they attended a Synod Youth Event and as their pastor I should at least be there to give moral support right?
In the end, it was my own spirit which was lifted up. You see, for my own youths, I think my short “absence” helped them to be a bit more independent and forthcoming in rallying together as well as learning to come out of their comfort zone. I was thankful that they enjoyed themselves and more importantly, caught a glimpse of the bigger Body of Christ found in the bonds we share as fellow Presbyterians.
The Lord also laid an impression upon my heart when I saw the camp participants taking leadership and showing determination in their quest to get everybody over the final Low Wall obstacle. What I envisioned was the future of our denomination. Young lives yielded to the hands of our Almighty God, with all the purposefulness, potential, passion and perseverance. Who can imagine how great an impact they can make for Christ in our churches, marketplace, nation and the lands beyond when they so go forth with the abundant resources God has blessed them with in their lives?
You know, you could sense the youth’s triumphant joy and relief each time they managed to get someone over the wall. Everybody pitched in, lend a hand or two and I noticed some sacrificially offering their backs time and time again as a “launching pad” so that others could reach the hands that were stretched out to them from above. The task at hand was more important and it was no longer just the business of Jubilee, or Covenant or Glory, etc. Indeed it was just amazing how things came together even though the youths hardly knew each other before this and there was no clear designation of roles assigned to them. As the Psalmist says “... with my God I can scale a wall” (Ps 18:29). Imagine how much further we can go, when our brothers and sisters are there to lift us up and look beyond the horizons…
Pr. Edwin Wong
Monday, February 20, 2006
Bono on Grace
With their haul at the recent Grammys, grandpa band U2 proved they were rocking more than their chairs.
Bono, their lead vocals, is one rock star whose actions in fighting poverty in the world are expressly motivated by his trust in God and God's view of the world.
And he had this to say about his faith in his not-so-new biography:
Assayas: I think I am beginning to understand religion because I have started acting and thinking like a father. What do you make of that?
Bono: Yes, I think that's normal. It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.
Assayas: I haven't heard you talk about that.
Bono: I really believe we've moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace.
Assayas: Well, that doesn't make it clearer for me.
Bono: You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It's clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I'm absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that "as you reap, so you will sow" stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff.
Assayas: I'd be interested to hear that.
Bono: That's between me and God. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I'd be in deep s---. It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity.
Assayas: The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that.
Bono: But I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb. I love the idea that God says: Look, you cretins, there are certain results to the way we are, to selfishness, and there's a mortality as part of your very sinful nature, and, let's face it, you're not living a very good life, are you? There are consequences to actions. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That's the point. It should keep us humbled… . It's not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.
Assayas: That's a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it's close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has his rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that farfetched?
Bono: No, it's not farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says: No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: "I'm the Messiah." I'm saying: "I am God incarnate." And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet, we can take. You're a bit eccentric. We've had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don't mention the "M" word! Because, you know, we're gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you're expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he's gonna keep saying this. So what you're left with is: either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. I mean, we're talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson. This man was like some of the people we've been talking about earlier. This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had "King of the Jews" on his head, and, as they were putting him up on the Cross, was going: OK, martyrdom, here we go. Bring on the pain! I can take it. I'm not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that's farfetched …
Aging rocker or not, salty language or none, the actions and words of high profile people are ready-made opportunities to start conversations about the gospel with our unbelieving friends and family. Let's make the most of them! :-)
*image from amazon.com
Bono, their lead vocals, is one rock star whose actions in fighting poverty in the world are expressly motivated by his trust in God and God's view of the world.
And he had this to say about his faith in his not-so-new biography:
Assayas: I think I am beginning to understand religion because I have started acting and thinking like a father. What do you make of that?Bono: Yes, I think that's normal. It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.
Assayas: I haven't heard you talk about that.
Bono: I really believe we've moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace.
Assayas: Well, that doesn't make it clearer for me.
Bono: You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It's clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I'm absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that "as you reap, so you will sow" stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff.
Assayas: I'd be interested to hear that.
Bono: That's between me and God. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I'd be in deep s---. It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity.
Assayas: The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that.
Bono: But I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb. I love the idea that God says: Look, you cretins, there are certain results to the way we are, to selfishness, and there's a mortality as part of your very sinful nature, and, let's face it, you're not living a very good life, are you? There are consequences to actions. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That's the point. It should keep us humbled… . It's not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.
Assayas: That's a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it's close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has his rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that farfetched?
Bono: No, it's not farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says: No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: "I'm the Messiah." I'm saying: "I am God incarnate." And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet, we can take. You're a bit eccentric. We've had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don't mention the "M" word! Because, you know, we're gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you're expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he's gonna keep saying this. So what you're left with is: either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. I mean, we're talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson. This man was like some of the people we've been talking about earlier. This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had "King of the Jews" on his head, and, as they were putting him up on the Cross, was going: OK, martyrdom, here we go. Bring on the pain! I can take it. I'm not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that's farfetched …
Aging rocker or not, salty language or none, the actions and words of high profile people are ready-made opportunities to start conversations about the gospel with our unbelieving friends and family. Let's make the most of them! :-)
*image from amazon.com
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Introducing Me... (one "humble" contributor)
Hi guys, just like to introduce myself before I do some serious posting.I'm the youth pastor of Katong Presbyterian Church, I'm married to one wife, and I'm a father of 3 kids - 1 girl 2 boys.
Other then my work (which I enjoyed more than my hobbies), my other interests are jogging, swimming, camping, reading (Bible and serious Christian books - cool?), sleeping, idling, eating, talking rubbish, holidaying and playing with my kids!
I used to worship at Orchard Road Presbyterian Church. That's where I came to know Christ and decided to become a pastor. After graduating from Trinity Theological College, I started serving at Sion Presbyterian Church and then Sembawang Presbyterian Church. Last month, I just transfered to Katong Presbyterian Church. (OK, OK, I sounded pretty much like a church-hopper! But heh, God leads me in all these "hops", alright?)
Anyway, I'm looking forward to sharing with you, whoever you are, all the wonderful things God has done in my life and in the churches around me. I'm sure there'll be interesting stories from Katong too as time unfolds.
God bless you! (for more of my rantings... click here!)
Are we guilty as charged?
Straits Times, d. 6 Aug 2005:
What should our Christian's response be to such a claim? Do you think it's true in your school? Is it really a casue for concern?
Please comment.
3D Carcassonne by Dustin Miller! Modeled in 3ds Max 7, Textures Created in Photoshop
Check out BGG for more information about this wonderful game, Carcassonne, designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede! There is also a Christian-Jewish theme version of this game, The Ark of Covenant. Some say it's even better than the original.Wilson's comments on Carcassonne:
"imo the best introductory game for new comers! i love it so much, it has been travelling with me to various places, "preaching" its gospels everytime, and winning many believers! the river expansion adds a whole new dimension to the game. i love it when the big cities are completed!"
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
the infamous hula hoop game!
super fun...much harder than it looks. As a team, we need to lower the hula hoop together. Very, very hard...but some teams cheated! Hee! Hee!
Friday, February 10, 2006
The awesome Worship Team from Jubilee Youth Ministry...
Some comments from the feedback forms:Great! Can see people really worshiping, very good! Well-coordinated, suitable songs, good powerpoint slide, impressive musicians, cool! esp. the drummer, smooth transition, mix of sound was generally great, could see the effort put into preparation of this worship session…
Our friendly volunteers...
from Jubilee Youth Ministry helping with the registration...Thanks guys and gals!
Freebies!!!
Pastor Siow Hwee: Come! Come! Collect your freebies here! ...you, dun run away, take this and this and this! : )a "possible" re-enactment?
Many thanks to Pastor Siow Hwee and his Jubilee gang for helping with the registration and distribution of materials.
The early birds from Covenant PC...
Welcome to Jubilee Church, our dear "sisters" and "daughters" of Jubilee!P.S.: Covenant PC was branched off from Jubilee Church in 1989
Synod Youth Leaders' Adevnture Camp 2006
Finally, the photos of the Adventure Camp is up!! Well, at least some of them are. Thanks for your understanding. Here, Pastor Wesley leading his "troops" from Glory Presbyterian Church for Registration. We have 100+ youth leaders from about 10 churches attend our very first leadership camp. Way beynd our expectation in numbers! Praise God for He was good, real good to us. It was held at Jubilee Church on 20-21 Jan 2006.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Kien Seng: Hamsterology
In my kid’s talk last month, I shared about the death of my hamster, Snowflake. Some people came up to me afterwards to ask how he had escaped from the cage and how he had found his way to the gully. So I will take this opportunity to complete my story and reflections on Snowflake’s death. Ai Tin, my wife, has given me much input with regards to the lessons learnt. For the sake of those who had missed the kid’s talk, I am going to briefly repeat my earlier sharing.
Snowflake was given to my children by their uncle. My children loved him very much. I was a little apprehensive initially to allow my children to have pets in the house because I foresaw that once they grew tired of the pets, the latter would become my ‘baby’. After much persuasion from Gaius and Gracia, promising that they would be committed to take care of Snowflake, I acceded to their request. Well, they did show much enthusiasm in looking after the hamster, ensuring that he had enough food and water for the day, and cleaning the cage (with the parents’ help) once a week. After school everyday, Gaius would take Snowflake out of the cage and allow him to run around a certain corner of the living room. He had also built some obstacles using his Lego set for Snowflake to manoeuvre. After returning Snowflake to the cage, the children would usually not put back the cover. I did not object to it since I felt that if I were in the shoes of the hamster, I would like the cage to be as open as possible. However, I was always afraid that the hamster would climb out of the cage since he definitely had that capability. So as long as there was someone who could keep an eye on the cage, we left it open. I guess you can sense that disaster was looming ahead.
One Saturday night, we all went to bed without putting back the cover! I only noticed our neglectfulness the following morning when I woke up to find Snowflake missing. I looked all around the house for him but other than some hamster’s droppings in Gracia’s room, there was really no trace of Snowflake. I eventually had to wake everyone up to join in the search. There is an opening below our kitchen cabinet which allows water to flow down to the gully if we were to wash the kitchen floor. However, the opening does not lead directly to the gully. There is some distance between the opening and the gully, like a narrow tunnel that runs beneath the cabinet. We suspected that Snowflake might be hiding in that tunnel so we put his favourite sunflower seeds outside the opening, hoping to lure him out. I then made my way to church (recall it was a Sunday morning). Ai Tin called me later when she realised that the sunflower seeds had been shelled. Who else could have done it except for our dear Snowflake yet he was still no where in sight! By now, Ai Tin and the kids had to leave for church and so we thought we would try to lure him out again when we returned home in the afternoon…Well, you know the end of the story. Snowflake must have ventured too far into the tunnel, at the end of which was the fateful drop into the dark and damp gully.
Lesson 1: Boundaries are important. They were important for Snowflake because they served as a hedge, a protection to keep him safe and secure. He might think that the cage was a nuisance and that he was a captive, but he did not realise that outside those boundaries laid dangers that he knew not of. I was told that hamsters like to burrow and it’s their natural inclination to crawl into holes or tunnels. In the house, we know where those holes or tunnels lead to, that was why we could not afford to let Snowflake run around the house unsupervised. Only if he had faith in us that we were doing everything for his sake. Likewise, boundaries are important for us. In Deuteronomy, we know that the law was given to protect
Lesson 2: The God who watches over us neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4). We did not cover the cage in the day because we could keep watch over the hamster. If Snowflake tried to climb out of the cage, we could always gently put him back. However, in the night when the whole family went to bed, in our slumber, we had no chance to put Snowflake back into the cage when he attempted to climb out of it. So his escape and eventual death was really part of our fault because we did not fulfill our responsibility in making sure that the cage was secure. Aren’t we glad that we are under the ever watchful eyes of God who neither slumbers nor sleeps? The psalmist says, “You know when I sit and when I rise…You discern my going out and my lying down, You are familiar with all my ways…You hem me in – behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me…Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” (Psalm 139:2-6) With such a God watching over us, we can be sure that if we allow Him to rebuke and correct us, and often He does so through His Word and the Holy Spirit, we can have the confidence that we will never fall away.
Lesson 3: We may not be harmed the first time but that does not mean that the dangers are not there. The hamster went into the hole and thought that he had found his freedom and he was very likely feeling comfortable in that cool tunnel beneath the kitchen cabinet. When he saw the food, he came out to get it and he went back to the seemingly safe refuge that he had discovered. Little known to him that if he continued to stay in that tunnel and if he were to venture beyond a certain point, dangers were awaiting him. Sometimes we find ourselves in similar situations. We may engage in something that is not right but it is exciting and we enjoy it. We think it is safe because we haven’t experienced any ill consequences. Yet we may not understand the dangers that lie ahead. Satan is a deceiver. He would like to lure us slowly into the trap so that before we know it, we are on our way to destruction. We may not get burnt when we play with fire the first few times. But subsequently, the fire can become a furnace that will destroy our whole life. Is there something that you are doing which is not right? You know that it is not right but you are not too concerned because there doesn’t seem to be any repercussions. Repent before it is too late!
Lesson 4: I wonder whether for a moment Snowflake knew that he was lost and as much as he wanted to get back to his comfortable cage, he was not able to. Was he really so contented with the tunnel he was hiding in? Just assuming that he wanted to get back to the cage but he did not know how to, what should he have done? Staying put may be a good idea until help comes. The more we try the messier things may get. I am not advocating passivism here. But I am thinking of people who are trying to get their lives straighten out but the more they strive, the more they spiral downwards. They try to fill the vacuum in their hearts with all sorts of things and activities but their hearts remain restless. If you are in such a situation, allow God to come to your aid. You may want to consider letting go and letting God take control. We believe in a God who is the good Shepherd. He will go all his way out to look for the one lost sheep, even it means leaving behind the other ninety-nine sheep. (Matt. 18:12-14) Such a Shepherd will definitely be able to seek us out.
It was indeed our carelessness that had led Snowflake to his dreadful fall and we ask God for forgiveness for not being good stewards of something that was entrusted to our care. Snowflake will always remain in our fond memories, for the good times we had with him when he was alive, but also for the precious lessons he had taught us through his death.
Pastor Kien Seng
20th November 2005
Jasmine: Karyn with her pants on her head
Hi! My name is Jasmine. I'm serving the Lord as a pastor of the Children and Youth Ministry in Bethel Presbyterian Church. I'm married to Boon Lee and we've a little baby girl named Karyn Kua (left)! She brought lots of joy and laughter into our home! Her Chinese name is Ke Fangting, "Fang" is for fragrance and "Ting" for family. It's our prayer that she will bring the fragrance of Christ to our family and our extended family!
The unofficial launch of the Synod Youth Ministry blog
Greetings in the name of our Lord, on behalf of the Synod Youth Council, I welcome you to our Synod Youth Ministry blog! We have 16 contributors, mostly in pastoral (youth) ministry, some as lay-leaders, and a youth from my home church, Jubilee Church. We are all amatuers here in the blog world. We are no Mr Brown here! So, we do beg your pardon if things are not as professional. I will leave each contributor to introduce themselves.
This is a blog about events and life in the Synod Youth Ministry. The Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore (PCS) is the collective body of about 35-40 Presbyterian congregations in Singapore (not counting the Bible Presbyterians churches nor independent Presbyterian chuches). We hope to use this opportunity to share about the news and updates in the Synod Youth Ministry, provide a platform for healthy discussions on youth (or non-youth) related issues.
The Synod is the head-quarter of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore. We have only 4 full-time stuff here at the Synod. Elder Richard Chong (Prinsep Street PC) is the Executive Secretary of PCS, Deacon Goh Huey Huey (Chen-Li PC) is the administration assistant to Eld Chong, Sister Bao Hui is the administrative assistant of the Chinese Presbytery, and I am the Synod Youth Executive.
Technically, the Synod is not a church in the common sense of the word (even though we have an Elder, a Deacon, a young Preacher, and one lay- member). The Synod does not have a congregation, although Maranatha Presbyterian Church uses our compound for their service on Sunday regularly.
For my "first" post, I would like to share the good news that the Synod Ex-Co has just recently accepted Jubilee Church's (my home church) nomination for me to be confirmed as preacher of the Chinese Presbytery. Usually, new preachers begin their pastoral ministry at a local church for a year as preacher-on-trial, or probational preacher before they are confirmed as official preachers, but as i was serving at the Synod, the current constitution does not provide for this adjustment. So i had to wait for a year for the Synod committees to sort out this matter. My was a special case, and they back-dated my preacher-on-trial status to the day i started work at the Synod, on 1 Feb 2005. I will need to say my preacher vows in Mandarin at the next CP meeting in April. And so, in Rev. May Tan's words, "I was a probational preacher for a year without knowing it!" :)
This is a blog about events and life in the Synod Youth Ministry. The Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore (PCS) is the collective body of about 35-40 Presbyterian congregations in Singapore (not counting the Bible Presbyterians churches nor independent Presbyterian chuches). We hope to use this opportunity to share about the news and updates in the Synod Youth Ministry, provide a platform for healthy discussions on youth (or non-youth) related issues.
The Synod is the head-quarter of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore. We have only 4 full-time stuff here at the Synod. Elder Richard Chong (Prinsep Street PC) is the Executive Secretary of PCS, Deacon Goh Huey Huey (Chen-Li PC) is the administration assistant to Eld Chong, Sister Bao Hui is the administrative assistant of the Chinese Presbytery, and I am the Synod Youth Executive.
Technically, the Synod is not a church in the common sense of the word (even though we have an Elder, a Deacon, a young Preacher, and one lay- member). The Synod does not have a congregation, although Maranatha Presbyterian Church uses our compound for their service on Sunday regularly.
For my "first" post, I would like to share the good news that the Synod Ex-Co has just recently accepted Jubilee Church's (my home church) nomination for me to be confirmed as preacher of the Chinese Presbytery. Usually, new preachers begin their pastoral ministry at a local church for a year as preacher-on-trial, or probational preacher before they are confirmed as official preachers, but as i was serving at the Synod, the current constitution does not provide for this adjustment. So i had to wait for a year for the Synod committees to sort out this matter. My was a special case, and they back-dated my preacher-on-trial status to the day i started work at the Synod, on 1 Feb 2005. I will need to say my preacher vows in Mandarin at the next CP meeting in April. And so, in Rev. May Tan's words, "I was a probational preacher for a year without knowing it!" :)
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