samedi, janvier 22, 2022
♥ 22 Jan 22
Happy New Year. 2022.
I am not coming up with any new year resolutions, cos i know i cannot fulfill them. instead of being disappointed at the end of the year, might as well don't have them. :p
I was excited for this week because, on Tuesday morning, we all get to gather in Tampines for the All-Staff Prayer meeting and Friday morning, our teams gathered for a combined Prayer meeting too. I do not mind praying, really, just not too many pointers!!! HAHA. Since CPTP2 started, i don't think I attended a physical Sunday service in Tampines. Partly is due to the restriction cos of Covid, and then in July, we started out our VFC Japan online service. So on Tuesday morning, to be gathered in the main hall with real groups of people (hahaha), it felt good. There is really a different dynamic when we gather in groups! When we worship God, when we pray, when we learn of the Word. That's why it is so important for everyone to be in a Connect Group and also be in a physical service for worship!
Yesterday (Friday morning), our 6 Japan teams + 1 Philippines team gathered in Tampines for prayer. It was led by a few pastors and SCs. Bro John Tan started off with sharing from the bible a few verses that were relevant to the Year 2022.
Receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Recognising that prayer is a prophecy of the future.
Signs, wonders and miracles will follow.
John 20:22
Acts 20:22
Acts 2:22
Isaiah 8:18
Meditate on the word of God; speak to one another in psalms and hymns
Phil 4:18
The doors shall be open and not be shut.
Isaiah 22:22
Micah 2:13
God, you need to continue to overflow me with your Holy Spirit!!
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The last time the 5 teams gathered was in July during our CPTP2 training. Ideally we should meet again in Japan Tokyo or in our CPTP4 transition, but we met again 5 months later in VFC Tampines.
It felt like a reunion, so much catching up with one another from various team. The encouragement, the tips, the fulfilment that some of us shared. There will never be another time like this when missionary teams are still waiting in Sg for their deployment to Japan / Philippines, doing missions work online. This combined prayer was timely because it serves me as a reminder again, and i just needed some more ministering hahaha.
Talked to a few people, about their CGs, contacts, intention for extension, how they run their programs, what we do on our free days etc.. maybe just for me, but I really felt happy and encouraged because I know that I am not alone! I always dwell and wallow in self-pity HAHA, but when i saw them, i was reminded that 'hey, we are ALL in this together!'. and somebody else can relate to me! Is really a different kind of missions for VFC.
I was looking at the Salt & Light article last Thursday, that was published because of LoveSingapore Summit 2022.
"
“It’s been very challenging. Just as we were starting, everything was locked down,” said Pastor Jeremy.
But digital evangelism to Japan has been “happening with phenomenal results”, he shared. Churches are running language-learning classes and cultural exchanges and one church even ran a virtual tour of Singapore to try and connect with the Japanese.
Four church planting teams from VFC, who had been ready to move to Japan since March last year, were forced to pivot online and have since seen 48 salvations, started 10 cell groups, and connected with over 2,000 people through their online efforts.
“It’s the cheapest evangelism you’ve ever done in your life,” he quipped.
LoveJapan is concentrating efforts at reaching the next generation of youth and young adults in 20 key cities over seven regions, believing God for signs and wonders, shared Pastor Jeremy. “We need a miracle for breakthrough in Japan. Japan needs churches, they do not have enough churches and not enough believers.”
"
The results are really phenomenal, and God is definitely doing a great work in Japan, even by doing it ONLINE! Who will ever expect?! But you know, it is the waiting that is tiring.
waiting - to get into Japan. and then i have to sing this song to remind myself - "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord", God's timing is good and perfect.
So actually, maybe all these can be God's way of protection for us too.
Just last night, there was an earthquake that happened in Kyushu Island (Oita, Beppu, Miyazaki, Kumamoto). We could have been there and experience it too, so in a way, we can thank God that we are not there physically.
Yet again, we still desire to go into Japan! serious, 1 month, i also dun mind!!
12:58 PM
