
Monday, August 06, 2007

Dear NLYM members,
It has been long since my last post on pebbles.
I think it is time for me to write something. PLEASE READ EVERY WORD and tell others in NLYM to read this post.. thank you..
Recently, we (youth workers) noticed that something is wrong in the Youth Fellowship. I am sure some of you felt it too. One of you told me that it is not like the past anymore, “Why like that? What happened? last time not like dat leh! There is no love in fellowship”. Is he/she right?
As the shepherd of NLYM, I should be able to look at the big picture of the whole NLYM and tell you the currently condition of NLYM. And the purpose of this letter is to tell you the heart condition of NLYM according to my observation.
Please NOTE!
What I am going to say may sound like I am talking about an individual.. I hope you understand why I need to use some of you as an example in this letter.
This is because I want you to learn an important truth! YOU ARE A BODY OF CHRIST! ALL OF YOU PLAY A PART IN THIS BODY! If one of you is not doing well, it is very natural that the whole body will be affected! So! if I sounded like I am talking about you, don’t take it too hard ok? It is also for all of us to learn how to walk TOGETHER as FELLOWSHIP.
1) Tired
Singapore is celebrating her 42th birthday soon! It is sad that some of our students cannot really celebrate this big day peacefully. This is because their mind is filled with WORK! Homework! You really need to pray for those having BIG EXAMs this year... I talked to one of them yesterday, I can tell that she is really stressed and tired too. Are you tired?
YW and SL, thanks for your service in NLYM! I can sense that some of you are tired of this ministry. Some may want to give up when they see so many “problems” in NLYM. You see people not coming to SG, people don’t appreciate your care, people don’t listen to you and don’t apply what you have taught them.
Some of you felt that there is a lot of changes these days.. why can’t we have a perfect model for NLYM? Why can’t we stay as it was said? I got no answer for that... Maybe the reason is.. we are serving a fast changing generation..
Thanks for your perseverance in this Ministry. If one day you feel like quitting, just let me know. It is OK! But don’t ever quit following Christ! The most important is your relationship with God and people.
In my hang out time with God today, He reminded me that if the leader is not right, truth will not be able to stand firm in the church anymore. NLYM! have you ever prayed for your leaders before? pray for them.. they need your support too! The best support that you can give them is... Respect them. Respect your leaders.
Youth workers and student leaders, are you tired of serving in NLYM? If you are.. I encourage you to slow down and pray... Ask God to give you strength! Renew you again.. Vincent asked of God’s strength almost everyday, I think you should too!
I don’t know about you, every prayer means a lot to me, is not just about asking God for strength and wisdom.. but it is also for me to connect with God, so that I can do His Work with Him effectively.
YW and SL.. I am sorry that I may have neglected you. I may have hurt you. Forgive me if I did not give you enough training and care before putting you into ministry. I am guilty of that... But I will not give up on any of you... I will continue to lead YW and SL...
I know some of you are tired, but just don’t give up on loving God and the youths...
2) Hurts
Recently, I guess you have seen people crying almost every week. Why they cried? because they are hurt? or because they just feel like crying? What is your first reaction when you see someone cry? Someone must have broke his/her heart? Or God’s Word from Vincent’s preaching caused he/she to cry? OR I must give him/her a tissue? OR “What? Cry again? Don’t Care!”
I think our first reaction should be “How to help this person to move on?”
I thank God for the tears in NLYM.. if NLYM is a happy happy place like those tourist you find in Disneyland, then I think something is wrong with my leadership and preaching.
I AM NOT AN ENTERTAINER! I repeat! I am not called to be an Entertainer! Nor I am an organizer of GAMES, SPORTS OR FUN EVENTS! I am not a refresh camp organizer too!
But I am called to preach the Word of God and lead His sheep! The Word of God is suppose to pierce through your heart and make you cry and think about - “DO I REALLY LOVE GOD? AND HIS PEOPLE?”
There are two reasons why people cry.. Pierce by the Word of God OR Hurt by someone.
It is OK to cry in NLYM. I don’t expect everyone to be happy happy all the time!
When someone is sad, you should be glad too! because God is giving all of us a chance to express love and care to that person and it is also a chance for us to grow into a deeper relationship with God!
3) Reconciliation
Yesterday, God gave me a chance to talk to a small group for almost 2 hours. There are lots of misunderstanding in this group that needed the PIT to reconcile all of them, but the reconciliation of these people is still done by God in the end. I have limited wisdom. God is the one who touched their heart to reconcile with one another! I am touched by their firmness to continue to stay as a small group.. This shows that they really love one another and they want to grow spiritually together.
It is my prayer that this group will grow up to be WOMAN of God.. useful for God’s Kingdom and make Jesus famous!
What if in the near future, misunderstanding happen within small group again? What should we do? Sad about it? Run away from the problem? Let the problem grow bigger? NO!
I want you all to reconcile as soon as possible.. Don’t wait till sunset!
Christianity is a faith about RECONCILIATION between God and Man.
Let me give you a picture to visualize. Imaging a cone.. The base of the cone represent all of us.. We are all connected with one another, in one Church. The one and only sharp tip of the cone is God, we are all connected to God. We are all pointing people to God above.
Christianity is about reconciliation between Man and Man too!
Always remember to settle dispute asap in a wise way! this is one of the way to stop gossips too! If you don’t know how to settle dispute.. please come to me or your leader... We want to help you!
4) Boy Girl Relationship
I am leading a group of male and female sheep.. surely you will be attracted to each other. I can’t stop it too! Because opposite attracts! I thank God you are not attracted to the same sex, you know what I mean. But I also want you all to be wise in handling BGR in church or outside church.
I want to set this rule in NLYM... if you like someone in NLYM or outside of church..
First thing you need to do is - COME AND TELL ME! Don’t worry, I won’t scold you OR ask you to erase that person from your memory! I will guide you through this. Indeed some of you have already experienced my guidance, not perfect though, but at least not so hurting.
Secondly, do not tell everyone in NLYM except your small group members, and the small group should keep it confidential within the group too.
Thirdly, i want the small group to pray for this person, ask God to show him/her clearly whether is it “PUPPY LOVE” (most of time is like dat lah!)
Fourthly, do not tease that person if you know about it!
Lastly, be opened to advices given by your leader.. take their advice.. they are wise in this issue.. hehe
Four issues: Tiredness, Hurts, Reconciliation and BGR..
I don’t want to call these issues as crisis for NLYM..
It sounded TOO NEGATIVE! Rather, I see it as a means that God used to build up warriors for Christ! If you know how to handle all these, I am sure our Father in Heaven will be pleased too! because you are obeying His command.. He want us to serve Him no matter what happen, He wants us to help others, He wants us to love one another, He wants us to take every relationship seriously, He wants us to reconcile with Him and people..
Hope you have the perseverance to read the whole letter... Praise God you did it!
Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love - Ephesians 6:24
Your PIT
Vincent Lim

12:04 PM
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