Pastor's Corner
September, 2001
I planned to write you from Jonesboro last month, but the schedule didn’t allow me to do that. So I skipped last month’s newsletter and resume it this month. As usual, August was a busy month for most. A few families took the opportunity to go on vacation; some went on Short-term Mission, while others kicked back and relaxed during the warm summer days. The church was busy too. The JV and the Youth had their annual three days two nights camping.
Amidst of all these summer activities, the church officers had to scramble and find time to meet and plan for the next fiscal year so that they could come up with a new budget for the upcoming year. By now, most of the planning that needed to be done are behind us. We look forward to the new changes and challenges. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made substantial sacrifices for the Lord’s ministries last year. Your labor in the Lord is never in vain, though at times you don’t see immediate or favorable results. Many of you continue with the same ministries and some move on to different ministries, while others will take a sabbatical. May God continue to provide you with strength and passion. At the same time, I would also like to welcome the new people on board. The fact that you’re willing to get involved in the Lord’s ministry shows that you’re in a progress of growing. I thank God for your willingness and dedication. So, let’s not forget to intercede for one another because Satan will always find ways to destroy our unity and steal our joy.
In order to maintain the unity and sustain our joy in ministry, we will need to appreciate each other’s gift(s). The Bible constantly reminds us of the “Body” concept. There are many members in a Body: each member is important in contributing to the normal function of a body. Romans 12:3-8 reminds us that God, with His grace, equips us with different gifts, and therefore, we are to exercise them in order to complement each other. Let us also realize that the purpose of utilizing God’s grace of gifts is to meet the needs of the different members of the body. There is no need to be modest about using God’s gift on the one hand, but on the other hand, there is no need to “showboat”. It is important to accept God’s grace with gratitude and to use them with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given us. Therefore, let us serve one another towards this goal—Christ (His Body—the Church) must increase and I must decrease!
Pastor Larry
