blogpastor – Page 110

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Serving men from the marketplace

5 February 2018 blogpastor 2 Comments

The pastors initiated some pastoral care when we found that a number of men were between jobs. They were mainly professionals in manufacturing, retail, finance and service industries. We formed a WhatsApp chat group with Wai Tuck as a co-ordinator. We called it Men In Transition. We met them for prayer and meditation (lectio divina), sharing, and meals periodically.

Reflection, lectio divina, sharing and prayer

Last week Tom Cannon and I met them for a few hours of reflection on their vocational history. We got them to draw a timeline and reflect on the high and low points of their years of working life. We asked them to ponder how God was present in their careers, using Old Testament Joseph’s timeline as an example. It opened their eyes. Then Tom led them in a lectio divina on the passage Isaiah 43:1-7. This was followed with a time of sharing their reflections. We listened to their stories of pain, victories, struggles, weaknesses and wrapped up everything by bring these to the Lord in prayer. The Lord was present to impart peace and comfort.

Men in Transition having lunch at The Ranch

Then we proceeded to The Ranch for a $10 set meal. Lovely morning; wonderful fellowship! To do work that encourages, enlightens and give hope to people you care about is such a satisfying thing.

Young parents discipling children

1 February 2018 blogpastor 2 Comments

Young parents sharing their thoughts about discipling children

It was a significant meeting: pastoral team, children’s ministry core leaders, and the young parents. We wanted to share our thoughts about discipling children, the respective roles of the different partners, and our modest hopes and aspirations, and especially to gather feedback from them.

There were a few things I picked up from the feedback they gave:

Young parents are deeply appreciative of the dedication, care and sacrifices of children’s ministry lay volunteers.
Young parents are eager to disciple their children and give them what’s best for them spiritually and developmentally.
Young parents know the importance of their role in discipling parents and want to be better than what their parents were with them.
Young parents want to disciple their children but are short on time, energy and know-how to actually do it.
Young parents prefer informal learning to formal classroom learning. They rather have a picnic or informal meal with other young parents and be able to exchange ideas, share problems and solutions, and get to know one another and let children grow up together.
Young parents want to connect with other young parents at the same stage of parenting as they can identify with and comfort and encourage each other along a similar journey.
Young parents find little edification in being part of a cell (which has nothing planned for children) as they would be too occupied with minding their child.

Interesting information and feedback for the pastoral team to ponder over. Wonder what you think of their feedback?

Early train to Busan

28 January 2018 blogpastor Leave a comment

I was not keen on visiting the DMZ. Boring, I thought. My wife and I were attracted to an alternative proposal to go to Busan on the 29^th October 2017. (Yes this is a belated post of a last year’s travel experience). So off we went on an early train from Seoul to Busan. We were relieved that there were no zombies on the train. We got off there and hopped onto a bus that would bring us to the famous and popular tourist spot Gamcheon Cultural Village. This village is an example of the power of the arts upon living spaces. Artists moved into a depressed area to take advantage of cheaper rent and their creativity and art uplifted the surrounding physical environment and gave a community in decline, some progress and hope. It is now a “must-go” place for tourists. The village is a mobile phone photographer’s paradise.

At the entrance of Gamcheon Cultural Village: Yenny, Joy Lian, Eunice Lian, Jenny, Y.K., Kenny

The must have shot that’s evidence you were there

I’m climbing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day

Lots of lovely colourful spots for photography

Having a coffee break at a cafe with a nice view

After a whole morning exploring the village we made our way to the local market for seafood lunch. After all, Busan is a seaport. Seafood for sure is the must-eat food of Busan. After asking around several restaurants and weighing the pros and cons we settled on a restaurant along the main entrance into the local fish market. It was a satisfying meal, especially the crab. Oh, the crab which has legs that has more meat than the body. Sweet meat, from the fresh, sea waters of the eastern sea.