New Beginning

The church is still getting used to their new pastor. As much as it is a new beginning for me, starting my 31st year in full time ministry as a pastor for the 4th time, it is also a new beginning for the church as they never had a full time pastor in the past 9 years. We must adapt quickly and I was touched yesterday as not only the MC welcomed me once more but a deaconess who prayed before the collection mentioned that a number of her friends had told her that their churches also wanted me as pastor but how blessed the church was for me to accept the call. It seems a good start sweetened by what happened yesterday.

As I was walking up the stairs on the 2nd floor I heard a distinct voice in my spirit “I will bring new people to the church”. As I opened the church doors on the 3rd floor I was greeted by the sight of 15 visitors who were construction workers from Indonesia. The project site is nearby and they chose to come to our place to worship. That really confirmed my first message as pastor from Amos 9:11 that as we rebuild the fallen tabernacle of David, the Lord will bring many nations who are called by His Name. 

I welcomed them again as the MC asked me to say the closing prayers as the person tasked was not present. I did not do a thing but waited on the Lord for the right time. From the pulpit I gave my new book to one of our Indonesian friends and all of them were so thrilled that they were welcomed in such a manner and many stayed back to take photos with me and my books. 

Last Sunday I told the church not to call or address me as a “dr” just pastor will do and they duly complied. But the MC made a pitch for my books and said our pastor holds a PhD and is an author of several books but she did not mention the title “dr” which was very wise of her. But I told them there would be one exception to be called a “dr” if a government minister was present. Indeed to my surprise my good friend the former Mayor of Kota Kinabalu and now an Assistant Minister in the State government and his wife showed up 20 minutes before the service started and they bought three of my books and I found out another church member also bought a copy and banked into my account. After much time chatting with our Indonesian visitors and church members, my politician friend and his wife invited me for lunch and we conversed for another hour over noodles and vegetable dishes.