911: Evidence of God's faithfulness and prayers answered
The past 3 days have been a milestone for Auckland University of Technology's Christian Fellowship. Big name, big hearts, little numbers, but a seriously BIG GOD at work in and amongst us, and God-willing, through us in reaching our campus.
Let me take you 9 months back to my parents room in Jurong, in our flat in Singapore. There i was, sobbing like a spoilt child, so resistant to leaving even though i knew it would be a good thing. I refused to accept that God would be God, that He would provide for all our needs, exceed our expectations, and continue to grow us and use us as a family for His glory. I was worried about not finding any sound, Bible-centred teaching; i was worried about not finding any sound, Bible-centred friends; and i was worried about being swayed by the trends of the modern-day 'church', where i would learn to compromise on sound doctrine and give sway to watered-down, emotion-driven, light-flashing, self-centred horsepoo. None of that has really come true so far, and it has been an answer to my prayers, and the prayers of you faithful friends that I've heard the Word clearly and faithfully preached over the past few months, established strong friendships who have sharpened my faith and held me close in times of trial, and had the immense privilege of being in a group where week in, week out we sit down to investigate and pore over God's Word to us. Thank God, and thank you to all who have been involved in this wonderful Kiwi experience so far.
Which brings me to tell the tale of CF. Janice, a staffworker with Overseas Christian Fellowship over at Auckland Uni (the other uni across the road), encouraged Nancy, who's from my church and goes to AUT, to start a group on AUT as there wasn't one at that point in time. I happened to join Nancy's church by default (thanks to my Pa), and she got me on board. I met Christina and Andy, the Auckland staffworkers, with a somewhat hesitant and skeptical attitude, trying to suss out what kind of Christians they were (haha) and whether i should commit to the group or not. Well, the rest is history and is history in the making. Praise the Lord!
Fastforward 6 months, to Monday 11th Sept. 911. We can remember that - our first ever retreat! We met at our uni carpark, and drove off in 5 cars to Swanson, where we were staying in a little Christian campsite which was simple, but more than sufficient. Andy spoke on The Word, and why it's worth studying and poring over, and surrendering our lives and hope to. He taught us techniques on how to study it, how not to study it, and its purpose. Some hearts were in visible discomfort as they learnt how they had been mistaught and misguided through misinterpretations of the Word, but found comfort and solace in the truth that is found in Jesus Christ. Even in disagreement, teachable hearts were challenged to revere and treasure the Word that God has graciously given to us, His self-disclosure found in the Bible and ultimately in Christ. My prayer is that the 11-12 of us will really be the pioneers for Bible-centred fellowship and Bible-inspired living at AUT. There is such diversity among us, we talk different, we eat different, we look different and there is no other reason for us to be together, barring a love for Jesus and the Word of God. I pray that God will unite us in Christ, grow us in Christ, help us to love and support each other in Christ, and use us to reach AUT for His glory.
Just wanna end by paying tribute to 2 sisters who were at the camp, whose servantheartedness made a real impact on me as we were about to leave the camp. Kwame and I did a half-baked job on the boy's toilets, and Hannah came round to ask if we'd cleaned our toilets properly, interrogating me on whether each article and apparatus (i can't find the right word!) was cleaned up right. I fessed-up saying we'd only scrubbed the floors, and she said she'd do the rest. Ten minutes later and in need of a wee, I found her scrubbing our toilet bowls and Rebekah hard at work somewhere else in the loo. I was humbled, ashamed, and so encouraged at their selflessness. I know more girls who would sooner give me the finger if i'd even jokingly asked them to clean our toilets, but here were 2 girls going out of their way to do the dirtiest of tasks to serve a bunch of lazy, selfish blokes. Kudos to the female of the species, you have made a real impact in my life. Next camp, i'll clean the girls' toilets. You can call me Scrubbalot.
Let me take you 9 months back to my parents room in Jurong, in our flat in Singapore. There i was, sobbing like a spoilt child, so resistant to leaving even though i knew it would be a good thing. I refused to accept that God would be God, that He would provide for all our needs, exceed our expectations, and continue to grow us and use us as a family for His glory. I was worried about not finding any sound, Bible-centred teaching; i was worried about not finding any sound, Bible-centred friends; and i was worried about being swayed by the trends of the modern-day 'church', where i would learn to compromise on sound doctrine and give sway to watered-down, emotion-driven, light-flashing, self-centred horsepoo. None of that has really come true so far, and it has been an answer to my prayers, and the prayers of you faithful friends that I've heard the Word clearly and faithfully preached over the past few months, established strong friendships who have sharpened my faith and held me close in times of trial, and had the immense privilege of being in a group where week in, week out we sit down to investigate and pore over God's Word to us. Thank God, and thank you to all who have been involved in this wonderful Kiwi experience so far.
Which brings me to tell the tale of CF. Janice, a staffworker with Overseas Christian Fellowship over at Auckland Uni (the other uni across the road), encouraged Nancy, who's from my church and goes to AUT, to start a group on AUT as there wasn't one at that point in time. I happened to join Nancy's church by default (thanks to my Pa), and she got me on board. I met Christina and Andy, the Auckland staffworkers, with a somewhat hesitant and skeptical attitude, trying to suss out what kind of Christians they were (haha) and whether i should commit to the group or not. Well, the rest is history and is history in the making. Praise the Lord!
Fastforward 6 months, to Monday 11th Sept. 911. We can remember that - our first ever retreat! We met at our uni carpark, and drove off in 5 cars to Swanson, where we were staying in a little Christian campsite which was simple, but more than sufficient. Andy spoke on The Word, and why it's worth studying and poring over, and surrendering our lives and hope to. He taught us techniques on how to study it, how not to study it, and its purpose. Some hearts were in visible discomfort as they learnt how they had been mistaught and misguided through misinterpretations of the Word, but found comfort and solace in the truth that is found in Jesus Christ. Even in disagreement, teachable hearts were challenged to revere and treasure the Word that God has graciously given to us, His self-disclosure found in the Bible and ultimately in Christ. My prayer is that the 11-12 of us will really be the pioneers for Bible-centred fellowship and Bible-inspired living at AUT. There is such diversity among us, we talk different, we eat different, we look different and there is no other reason for us to be together, barring a love for Jesus and the Word of God. I pray that God will unite us in Christ, grow us in Christ, help us to love and support each other in Christ, and use us to reach AUT for His glory.
Just wanna end by paying tribute to 2 sisters who were at the camp, whose servantheartedness made a real impact on me as we were about to leave the camp. Kwame and I did a half-baked job on the boy's toilets, and Hannah came round to ask if we'd cleaned our toilets properly, interrogating me on whether each article and apparatus (i can't find the right word!) was cleaned up right. I fessed-up saying we'd only scrubbed the floors, and she said she'd do the rest. Ten minutes later and in need of a wee, I found her scrubbing our toilet bowls and Rebekah hard at work somewhere else in the loo. I was humbled, ashamed, and so encouraged at their selflessness. I know more girls who would sooner give me the finger if i'd even jokingly asked them to clean our toilets, but here were 2 girls going out of their way to do the dirtiest of tasks to serve a bunch of lazy, selfish blokes. Kudos to the female of the species, you have made a real impact in my life. Next camp, i'll clean the girls' toilets. You can call me Scrubbalot.
posted by elliot at 10:38 PM
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