There is no Respite

I think I have to work till the last day, even on my official holidays till the end of March. I have worked on most public holidays last year without any extra pay or reward, but God is my reward. Now I am asked to join the church’s group to visit our Bible College at the end of the month, a week after I am supposed to cease work officially. Then, the church in Tuaran that we visited last July will be making a return visit to our church, and again I was asked to be present on the 3rd week of March well into my official annual leave.

And now I am counselling a person who wants to be baptised and if he follows the baptismal class for a few weeks, he may be baptised late March, again by then I should be gone officially. I used the word, officially as I know as a servant of God, one can’t officially go on leave unless one is overseas. 

If one is reachable or contactable, it is almost impossible to say no. But the end is the end. One leader even asked me what kind of pastor the church should get after me? My first church did not get another pastor until 10 years later after I left as it is not easy to find someone with my experience and qualifications. 

But this time it should not be too difficult because the majority of the congregation comes from a lower socio economic as well as lower educational background. They would do well to get a pastor with just a Bachelor degree or even a diploma provided the pastor knows how to preach and teach. 

I know it seems incredible to leave just after 15 months. When things look brighter in recent weeks, as on average every Sunday the worshippers fill the one unit shoplot church hall and the giving has increased, though overall we might still be in deficit. If there were more capable leadership and administration, no church should experience deficit especially they have someone with me as pastor. In my former three churches, the finances increased pretty quickly, even in Ranau town, a semi rural town two hours’ drive from Kota Kinabalu, with the increase of membership and people fired up for God, giving increased as a result.