What We do for Friends

In the past few years, especially during the Pandemic and post-pandemic, one gets to realise who remain one's true friends. I have been doing things mainly for friends. If he or she is a friend, I tend to accept invitations to preach or to minister. A stranger or not-sure friends, I am less inclined. Even now and right now, I am in a dilemma. I have to travel outstation to visit a friend whom I said many years back (7 or 8 years ago) that he would reach 80 years old and I will celebrate with him his 80th anniversary. I am not sure whether I could really go up to Ranau but I will do my utmost to fulfil my good friend's wish to have me as his former pastor celebrate his 80th birthday.

This elder-friend is exceptional, because he has my back for every time towards the end of the month he would call me several times to ask whether I had received my salary or not. He was one of the signatories of the church's account but it was not his responsibility to bank into my account. But he did his part and he showed genuine care for my well-being, especially my material needs. He was also the only elder who came all the way down to Kota Kinabalu to pray for my sick father before he passed away two months on. All these gestures and actions tell me he was indeed a friend and there is little that I could repay him except to be present on his grand birthday tonight. May the Lord grant God-speed and travelling mercies. 

I was asked to preach tomorrow by the senior pastor of the church, and when the chairman called me this morning it was hard to say no since he is also a friend because he is one of the few leaders who kept in contact with me throughout the pandemic and post-pandemic and the months and years I had to wait for the next appointment. At least this time I won't be going up in uncertainty as I had just completed my 3 months' ministry at my local church. Another elder was displeased when I went up to preach on Christmas 2022 for at that time I had waited a full year for my next appointment with no news of my future whatsoever. He was very indignant and I think he meant well when he said, "How long is Pst Tony remaining unemployed?". But I never thought of being unemployed when one is called of God. I was busy writing my books for by end of 2022, I published my Galatians' commentary and by November 2023 published a collection of essays, both volumes selling well, at least the costs of printing are covered with more copies selling every other week, by God's grace.