Toughest Message

It was one of the toughest messages that I preached in my 30 years in full-time ministry. In a welcoming service of the church pastor and my own 30th anniversary in full-time service coupled with the launch of my 7th book, I faced one of the most critical junctures of my ministry to date. My new church was three-quarters full with about 50 church members and 25 of my guests being present in our little one shop-lot church hall. The church leaders told me that they were prepared for 30 of my guests but by the time that I went down to the fellowship hall after 20 minutes engaging with buyers of my books and autographing them (20 books were sold on that night), the food was almost gone until I sat at the table reserved for guests but the table only had 18 chairs and all of them were taken. I felt sorry for a few of my guests who left early as they could not find a comfortable place to sit and dine. But it was part of the celebration of a small little church at the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, about 13 kms from my home. One guest told me how much "Kampung" (Village) atmosphere she felt. 

But crucially I managed to speak for 35 minutes, 10 minutes longer than I intended because I needed to encourage my friends and supporters and update them with the latest in my ministry. My message was preceded by a video, a montage of photos of 3.25 minutes a clip showing my ministry from Feb to mid-November 2014, when I preached at a convocation ceremony in Miri, Sarawak. About a few pleasantries, I told them that the past 12 months have been a breakthrough year for me. I preached in three new churches of three different denominations for the first time and received positive feedback. One person told me two months ago how his wife was blessed by my preaching after 11 months of the sermon. For the first time, I was invited to speak in Sarawak, which was a breakthrough especially in a big event like the convocation of our sister denomination's Seminary. 

There I was greatly honoured, whereas in Sabah I suffered dishonour, but yet celebrated by those who love and support God's servant. The women's folks about 16 of them put on one of the best Dusun traditional dances I have ever witnessed in honour of their new pastor. My long time friend whom I asked to speak for 5 minutes before which I told him to speak freely including admonition or rebuke as I welcomed correction even in public when it is necessary. He spoke about his admiration for my perseverance, tenacity and love for the indigenous peoples which greatly encouraged me and his short sharing encouraged those who were present. 

But without context, many people would not know what he was talking about, but many of my friends understood well. In my message I said that for 18 months when I was out of full-time ministry (gainfully employed) before I joined STS, my former College, no leaders contacted me except a few elders and fellow pastors of local churches including the chairman of my present church and he was the only one who cared enough for me even to the extent of giving me love gifts three times when we met over coffee. O Lord, You judge righteously! 

Then I shared three short passages from the Bible, two from NT and one from the Psalms. I shared how I gave up everything to follow Christ (Luke 18:28-20) when I could have bought a house in cash way back at the end of 1992 but I used the money instead for my theological education, learning Hebrew and Greek for two years. How true Jesus' words are - now in this life I have received multiple times in return and in the world to come, eternal life. 

Secondly, I shared how I maximised my talents that the Lord gave (Luke 19 and Matt 25) including how after 14 years of my first book I began writing again on the encouragement of my former MTheol student from Indonesia. "Dr Tony you are a good writer. Why don't you write books and publish?"- that was in 2019 and now I have in total 7 books to my name. Third, I shared from Psalm 45 that in the past 30 years of my ministry my motto has been to fight for (warrior riding on a horse) truth, meekness and justice (Ps 45:3-4) and I told the church gathered that if the Lord allowed me to live and serve Him for another 30 years I will do the same with greater tenacity and perseverance.