Strike while the Iron is Hot ( A Summary of my Pastoral Work)

I may not have the opportunity again like what I have now - peace and quiet at home. I can get up when I want, eat when I want and sleep whenever I feel sleepy. No more active ministry, no more cell group meetings, no more prayer meetings and no more church council meetings. Only occasionally I receive texts from church members or pastors asking for advice and prayers like I did in the past couple of days.

I am writing a new book while my previous book has not reached Sabah's shore and I am not sure whether my printers have shipped the rest of 480 copies. I received 20 copies by two courier services on Tuesday and Wednesday and this morning I finished reading my commentary on John 13-21 from beginning to end. After an early lunch I started again on writing resuming on my commentary on the book of Ecclesiastes, just finishing the prologue up to verse 11 of ch.1 before I had early dinner today. Strike while the iron is hot.

The book of Ecclesiastes has occupied me for the past 5 years or so. I reflected on it, acted upon it and I did not want to become like the person mentioned in the biblical book, having money and wealth but cannot enjoy the fruits of his hands. I may not have wealth, but I have worked hard in every thing I did and I felt it is only right as the book of Ecclesiastes says to rejoice, eat and drink and be merry over the fruits of one's labours. Even my short 15 months' stint as pastor just concluded last Feb, I am very proud of the work of the Lord. I had completed almost everything I wanted to do. 

Conducted two Seminars, two Retreats, guiding the church in its election year, election of deacons and office bearers. We launched a membership drive in Jan-Feb 2025 and got the latest membership list by March for the April's AGM. Got the accounts audited by speaking with the former Treasurer while pastoring the church. 

In February 2025 we started the drinks fellowship after Sunday service that saw half the church members stayed on to chat and fellowship.

I conducted twice dedication services of infants and young children. About 10 parents took part and 15 children or more were prayed for. I conducted water baptism services twice and baptised 5 adults, evangelized and reached out to new members, conducted a mission trip about 30kms away in a Penampang hills with walking for an hour up several hills or mountains. My wife went back twice times to visit and minister to the family and I donated a small table to the youngest child of 3 years old. 

I preached a series of sermons from 1 Cor 1-10, ending at chapter 10 before my final sermon on 22nd February 2026. I had counseled 10 or more people, prayed for them, visited a few families and those who were sick in the hospital, led prayer meetings or midnight prayer meetings, and twice held the end of the year meetings for 2025 when I first came in and welcoming of 2026 on 31st Dec. 2025. 

I conducted an engagement ceremony from beginning to end according to Murut and Lundayeh cultures, counselled the couple twice and solemnised the wedding 6 months later in the groom's village 5 hours' drive from Kota Kinabalu where my wife and I had to stop overnight in Tambunan and on our way back we slept in Tenom, the nearest town and I preached in the SIB Tenom church on the Sunday.

I had admonished the unruly and took my stance on the word of God when one leader wanted to marry a divorced woman whose husband is still alive. I made sure the young people do not mingle too freely, and men and women do not sleep in the same room over night. So I made the rule that the ladies are given priority of the church rooms in the 2nd floor and if the men wanted to stay overnight on Saturday they could use the church hall on the 3rd floor. 

Lord, I have done all these for your Name's sake, and at the end, it is the just one who had to leave and those less righteous remains. Rise up, O Lord to my cause for You are a just and righteous God!