Its been a while since I last wrote. As a follow-up to the Ministry Leaders & Cell Leaders’ Meeting last Sunday (7 March), let me update you on our deliberations.

The basic purpose of the meeting was to help the wider group of leaders get a sharper focus on what the church is doing, including why and how we are doing it, and to bring everyone into alignment. This is necessary because it involves a common Process which we want all the ministries to incorporate into their programmes.

There is no change in the fundamental vision and philosophy of ministry that we shared with you about two years ago. Just that we have simplified some of the terms we are using. The Vision is simplified into Empowering Generations for Global Reach. This is simpler, clearer, easier to remember and to pass on to others.

Simpler words are also used to capture the Process: Exalt, Connect, Grow, Serve, Go. I think they are simple enough even for the children to use. And that’s the whole idea—we want the whole church and every ministry to employ the same process to fulfil the Great Commission: to reach the lost and to make disciples of the nations. That’s what we call “focus and alignment”..

The hard part is developing concrete steps, structures and programmes in each ministry to capture this common Process. The last hour of the meeting was given over to this purpose; to let the ministries work out the details in their respective groups. We didn’t complete the exercise, but it was a good beginning. The pastoral team will now take it further with the respective Ministries and Cell Groups to work on it until the Process is crystal clear. So, Ministry and Cell Leaders, please expect one of the pastors to contact you to make arrangements for a meeting with your group leaders.

One of the key elements which I have not yet pointed out here is the whole idea of Movement. The reason for a Process is because we want to help members of PJEFC (ie. you!) to move progressively to higher levels of maturity and commitment. We want people in the church to move from Connect to Grow to Serve to Go. It’s no use having a head-full of Bible knowledge if we are not using it in service and evangelism. It is selfish just to have a good time of fellowship with one another but to be totally oblivious to the new people in the church who need your help to connect them to the church and to set them on track for spiritual growth.

I’ve been in the church long enough to know that it takes time for concepts like this to be internalised. And it takes repeated sharing in different ways for it to sink in. Towards this end we will be using the inaugural Super Sundae to do this. It’s going to be a wonderful time. I want to encourage you to set aside that day to join the whole church from 9am to 3pm for a super Sunday. Don’t make any other plans for 11th April.

PrSH