CCH: Receive and Give as Jesus Gave

 

Dear Friends,

Just returning from a trip to Manila, I saw that their eager anticipation for Christmas began as early as September evidenced by huge, colourful beautiful Christmas trees all over the city and shopping malls. They heighten the joyful Christmas feeling urging shoppers to snag a bargain for a gift. Magically, they instil the feeling of joy through Christmas carols, delightful and catchy jingle.

Each year I eagerly wait for Christmas in our city. This year, our Orchard Road decorations for Christmas Season must be the most deplorable of all years. Apart from the bright lights, there is little hint of the Christmas spirit. It does not make me feel like Christmas is here again!

Anyway, throughout the world, for the most part, progressively the true meaning of Christmas is missed. Yes, Christmas is about giving. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in order to save man through the giving of His life at the Cross at Calvary for our sins. He gave His life that we may live.

My dear friend and church elder Dr Ernest Chew, in a recent message at Frankel Bethesda Church nailed our necessary response for the Christ of Christmas, “Come to Jesus, become His disciples, and go forth to make disciples everywhere in the power of His Holy Spirit. Always remember the little children!” (Matthew 28:18-20)

The message is for all receptive hearts. But It is poignant that Dr Chew included “little children”, for indeed, they remain the most receptive hearts to be touched before they are mired in the distractive and alluring fake messages in our world today. My primary school teacher, Rev Daniel Sundram did the right thing too for me as a child, introducing me to Christ albeit through a fun way… Christmas party at St Paul’s Church. That brief but positive introduction led me to search after Him until I made the decision to accept Christ as Saviour a few years later.

Today, Christ’s message remains the same. We are to accept Christ to follow Him fully as His disciples. The Apostle Paul explains the discipleship plan of God more clearly. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

It is a multiplication plan expecting us to lead others to Christ and disciple them to the fourth generation so that we may truly fulfill His command in Matthew 28:18-20, the Great Commission. This value of spiritual multiplication captures our hearts at EAST, as we seek to make deep impact on true disciples of Jesus Christ.

By the grace of God I have been so very privileged to be included in His plan, even so at EAST equipping and raising servant leaders who are scholarly ministry practitioners. Today at EAST, my dedicated team of lecturers, mostly seasoned missionaries, pour our lives to impact lives for eternity, both on site at 118 Joo Chiat Road, and in other nations, amongst our various EAST Extension Centres and ministry partnerships.

Many do not realise that EAST caters to more than equipping pastors and missionaries, but also to others who are marketplace ministry practitioners. In our latest endeavour to expand our reach to yet others, EAST has embarked on a new thing – Competency Based Theological Education, aptly named EAST IMPACT. This is to impact people on the move, seeking to make a difference as growing disciples where the Lord places them. What a privilege to touch lives for spiritual transformation.

Together with you our beloved ministry partners, we rejoice to be able to give to the Master as we remain true and faithful to His calling. Christmas is not just about bright lights and Christmas trees, it is renewal of our surrender to the Lord, rejoicing in the privilege to serve Him, and share the good news, that others may have His gift of eternal life. Please capture this season to give unto His work at EAST.

Together with my leadership teams, faculty and staff, let me wish you a Blessed Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Advent Greetings,
Rev Dr Chan Chong Hiok (CCH)