For the past week, I have been going through my guest list for my 30th anniversary in full-time service. By God's grace, I am still standing and serving the Lord full-time. It is no mean achievement, seeing in my denomination I am the most senior member holding a membership card no. 4. My former President had passed away 7 years ago (no. 1), the Vice-President (no.2 ) had left the denomination and started his own church, the third, Secretary-General (no. 3) after many years of service chose to stand as a candidate in the State's general election 4 years ago and no longer serves full-time. So I am only one standing from the old batch of veterans. For sure, they are those who have served 40 years and above but they are now fewer and fewer, perhaps only 20 or 30 pastors out of about 400 full-time workers.
Five years ago I celebrated my Silver Jubilee, on the 25th anniversary in full-time service. Five years ago I was also waiting for a new appointment, as I am now but on the 1st of next month, it will also be a welcoming service as I have accepted a call to pastor a SIB church in Kota Kinabalu. Further, I shall launch the 7th book, the 6th in the last five years. Indeed, the last five years have been tumultuous to say the least, but I have been fruitful and in fact very fruitful, although only 3 years out of five in active ministry but two years were given to writing books, as active a ministry as it can get. Often time, when people see me waiting for the next appointment or "unemployed" they somewhat feel sorry for me, but I laughed in my heart as I know God's will for my life. I can neither hurry or delay His purposes. His timing is perfect. I would not have written six books in five years if I rushed back to ministry every time I resigned or compelled to resign like in the Covid times. God is in charge of my life and I am certain "my times are in Your hands O Lord" (Psalm 31).
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