24 Hours

There was a mini series by the name of 24 hours, one of my favourites series on TV. Now I am entering my final 24 hours as church pastor. I just received the order of service on tomorrow's Sunday service which will be my final act, preaching for one last time as the church pastor. There will be six people making speeches and a few special prayers. It will be good if we could finish by 11.30am, but if I preach one last long sermon I'd afraid that the finish time could be as late as 12 noon.

Followed by the drinks or lunch fellowship, I expect the whole affair will take at least 4 hours. In the evening they are also holding a farewell dinner for me at a steam boat restaurant. I told the leaders thrice not to do it, but they insisted for the sake of politeness. 

Last night I shared from John 10 about the good shepherd. I told them to not criticise each other and not to criticise their soon to be former pastor. I told them in my most recent church during the pandemic, right to the end I insisted on staying on, and not resigning as John 10 spoke to me loud and clear. Only hired hands run away when wolves attack the flock. 

Since I have been attacked since last April 2025, and no one coming to defend me, my going is for the sake of peace and unity among the leaders. As long as I am around, the attacks inside and outside will not stop as the devil does not stop to prowl and swallow those who are blind to his deceit and lies. 

It is so easy to believe in lies and slander and so many people are accustomed to deceit and betrayal, and they do not even know that they are doing it or committing wrongs and sinning against the Lord. So my going to relieve some people at the loss of the majority of members who have no voice and have no idea why their pastor is leaving them. But I have to remain silent for now. Maybe in my 2nd edition of Departure Points, I will have a whole chapter on my time here.

I have to survive for another 24 hours, then it will be over. By God's grace, I do not want to say the wrong things, not to aggravate the situation but leave with peace of Christ and prayers of all church members, me for them and they for me. 

It's been a roller coaster of 15 months. Not a single day I had not been burdened by some issues, either leadership, administration and overall conduct of the services. They want their pastor to keep quiet and do their bidding and they refuse to hear God's rebuke through His servant. Lord, have mercy on us. Kyrie Eleison!