The Week that Was and Still Is

I thought I could not beat the month of May. But June started with a bang. I preached one of my best sermons on Sunday 1st June, being my half year anniversary in my current ministry. On Monday, 2nd June I gave an webinar on "faith and sacrifice in the context of leadership" at 8pm and took 7 questions in less than 25 minutes. I was tired after the hour long session and I did not sleep well Monday night. At 7.30am the next day I turned on my WhatsApp after getting up before 6am. My friend asked me whether I would be attending the SIB College's 60th anniversary events. I asked him whether we should go up together.

When he replied at 8am he was already in Ranau, two hours' drive away. So I quickly packed up thinking I might spend a night or two in Ranau so I rushed off to Ranau at 8.20am and reached the Campus at 10.50am. The main event already finished at 10.30am and the government minister, the guest of honour already left. I was ushered into the dining hall and lo and behold there were only about 12 men seated around the table and another 6 or 7 women at another table. I only greeted the men and I was seated next to our HQ's leader in charge of the College. All present were senior leaders and Board members. But the chairman of the Board and the Principal were absent. I found it strange that less than 30 minutes after the opening service and event, some of the main leaders were already not around to greet guests. But there were hardly any guests except a former principal and myself as a former Acting Principal. 

So we spoke about 30 minutes and it was really engaging and my senior leaders conversed with me, probably for the first time in 18 months. How time flies. But it was good to make connection with them, so that they know what I am doing, pastoring a small church. When they asked me about doctoral study and qualifications I was glad I could give my opinions. So many institutions just want to have this or that programme, Masters or DTh/PhD without fully understanding what is involved. 

At 11.30am I went to walk around the Campus where I lived for 3 years and taught several times intensive courses (2020, 2022) or part time in 2015. After taking some photos and short videos I made my way out of the Campus and reached Ranau town in 12.20pm and had lunch. No one had asked me to stay for lunch at Campus or I might be attending the anniversary events at night (there were two nights' services with a guest preached from Indonesia). 

So at 1 pm I started my journey back to Kota Kinabalu and reached KK at 3.30pm and had afternoon tea before reaching home just after 4pm. It must be the first time I made a day trip either from Namaus-Ranau-KK or KK-Ranau-Namaus. I rested whole day on Wednesday and on Thursday I shared God's Word at a home group and later I shall be attending our weekly Friday prayer meeting. And tomorrow morning I shall be conducting a half-day family seminar (focusing on husbands-wives' relationships) and I should be finish by 1.30pm, God willing.