The Big Picture

Sunday, 22nd July 2007

It's been a week since the news officially broke that Pastor B would be moving on to become a pastor at Cairnhill Methodist Church.

Many of us are saddened by the rather abrupt and unexpected departure. My mom, for one, and some of my ex-cell members were clearly very upset about this.

Of course, Pastor B will be fondly remembered for his great contributions to PLMC, especially in the areas of youth and music and worship. I blogged about how I personally felt about the situation last Sunday, after the announcement was made to the congregation.

However, instead of getting emotionally carried away, let us remember what Pastor Peter Koh said about the itinerant system adopted by TRAC, which is the English-speaking section of the Methodist Church. This system works because pastors can preach boldly without fear or favour. Like Pastor Peter said last week, he can "scold" us without being beholden to us.

The TRAC President has the prerogative to assign pastors to churches according to the needs of each of the congregations under his charge, as the LORD has impressed upon him to do so.

Cairnhill needs Pastor B more than we do, so let us send him off without any feelings of animosity towards that church (or even our President). I for one, will visit Cairnhill (like I have done so for the past 3 years already) when a Thanksgiving Service is held there sometime in mid-November 2007 to give praise to God for seeing the ACSJ boys through the year.

I also know for a fact that the President, being an "old boy" of our church, would have sentimental feelings towards his own home church. The last thing he would do is to harm our church, right?

With all the hoo-ha about Pastor B leaving, we have neglected the fact that a new pastor, Pastor Reuben Ng will be joining us on 1 August 2007.

From what sources tell me, he is also very good with the youth and a fantastic preacher. He is a father of 2 young girls.

Before graduating from Trinity Theological College, he attended Rhema Bible Training Centre, together with our cluster leader Yeok Ming and our church staff Andy Toh. I found the following testimony of his on Rhema's website.

So let us see the bigger picture here. Come 1 August, let us extend our warmest hospitality to Pastor Ng and his family to make them feel at home. Maybe invite themm to our cell meeting, and even take them out of lunch or dinner. Amen?