Disclaimer: The entire content of this blog post is the expression of things went through, his experience, life, and perspective of Embacy. I pray that you will see the picture as a whole and see the good that needs polishing and the bad to be sawed off. I hope that we will see the same road and purpose as a part of Embacy. I, Anders, truly say my deepest sorry if anything offended or hurts as we know truth sometimes hurt. But I pray that it will only make us stronger and be not the cause of downfall.
Let's backtrack about 10 years ago, shall we? Ever since, I was a little primary school kid I would always see the youth, Embacy, as a fun and spiritually strong group. I still remember the kokos and jiejies as they very much often play for Sunday service and perform many entertaining skits, dramas, mime, dance performance and sign language. I remember feeling very thrilled whenever they come to Sunday school. It was fun. The time I first heard Embacy truly changed lives was when I heard of Aunty Cynthia's testimony back in 2001 during the youth night or something, where she shared on how Ian's attitude changed from naughty to good. Well, he's still a living testimony today!
Time flew and my first Embacy meeting was when I tagged my brother along in 2001 to Uncle Mervyn's house. It was packed. I don't remember I was at the historical “70+ over people stuffed in one room " but I remembered the prayer room was always needed to be open. That time I saw with my own eyes the power of God and his work. People saw visions, some said word of knowledge, and others were on the ground on fire laughing or crying. Being still young I didn't know what was happening but I was laughing and scared at that time. NO, I wasn't touched by God but it was my own physical laughter as it was funny seeing them behave that way and I was scared as some were delivered. Anyhow, time flew and before long I was about to enter my first youth camp and the first time Josh Beh started to attack me. [Oh the trauma! ha-ha] To us, 4days and 3 nights of camp was uber cool. It was an extra day of fun with my friends. However, I was serious with God. It was also the first time I cried in the presence of God. I was young but somehow I understood the importance of God and his presence.
Looking back at time, the 7 last youth camps or so, many things have happened. Friends made, friends lost, some grew stronger in the lord , some to say, sadly backslidden, some changed, some stayed the same way, some matured, some still young at heart, some stayed, some migrated. Well, you catch my drift. Thankfully, God is forever the same (and maybe Uncle Mervyn, lol). He never changes, Amen? Hopefully, the past 7 years of being a part of Embacy will give a collection of my thoughts, encouragement, disappointment, fears, and correction. I've always wanted to tell fellow friends about this but I never had the guts to do so. But well, it's time.
Phew~ Now let's get started.
Just last Sunday, Pastor Albert shared a timely message we resonated with my heart; a long time need, encouragement, and problems we have to address even for myself at times. I strongly encourage you guys/gals to hear the message. The message strongly reminded me of the vision I receive in one of the Embacy prayer meetings one Saturday night. I saw firstly cold dark waters and the storm was rising. I saw drowning people all around were crying for help and in distressed. Further up, I saw a beautiful cruise ship and we were in it worshipping the Lord. I saw some "drowning" people manage to get hold of the ship and climbed up to safety. They were embraced in warmness and practically, were saved. But wait a minute; the ship wasn't moving at all. Deeply, it was anchored to the bottom of the sea. Spreading across the seas, were drowning people yet to be saved although the boat has to the capacity to help many others. I could say after receiving the vision I was greatly disturb. I didn't know what to do or really what it meant.
I asked God for the answer and this was the impression left in my heart: For a long long time, Embacy has been worshipping the Lord and experiencing his presence and are SAVED. Some "lost" ones are managed to be saved usually by their own curiosity, effort, or closed ones and is a part of Embacy now. But sadly, they are still many others out there to be saved. For a long time, we have the mentality that presence of God draws people.
I retaliated. Isn't it true that your presence will indeed draw people? Suddenly, I felt that God was saying it is true up to a certain degree ( I may be wrong). He showed me the vision again. This time the boat was really far a way, however, the people were stil drowning and "lost" at sea. How are they gonna know or draw themselves to the boat if it was not seen? Then I understood. It was high time that Embacy should instead being retaining and individualistic, carry the presence out to the people. If the boat continues to move towards the lost, wouldn't more people get save?
That, my friends, is the very heart of the post. Let's think, are we really doing what God has called us to do? Do we have a vision and mission? Are we reaching out? Yes I know that our vision is for to be a different youth group than the rest, radical for God, and being in his presence. But is that it? Are we carrying that presence to schools, colleges or uni? Do we have a plan for the next 5 years? Are we seeing the fruits? I'm not saying that the vision is wrong. By all means, yes I would like Embacy to a radical youth group for God but are involve in other ministries as well? If you have finally come to the epiphany, our youth seems like it is only operating in the gifts and ministry of music (maybe a little of this and that) and it is entirely made up of majority of ex-children church members. True?
I Quote:
Worship to God should not only bring down the presence of God but also to stir up missions. If not, it is just will be just a form and is dead. ~Pastor Albert
Has Embacy's worship have become a form(predictable) ? I think yes and no.
That's the number one warning for us today as Pentecostal and charismatic churches. Pastor Albert also told about his life story in FGA church whereby during their earlier days they focused too much on worship that it became dead. No ministries were birth and they became righteous and they started comparing level of "righteousness" . Often they are judged on how many services or prayer meetings they attend. Not only that, many new believers were often left to fend for themselves and maybe, hopefully ,grow to be matured Christians.
Have we been there or is still there? Spend some time to think. But on my part, I have felt these impressions in my heart many times before. Firstly, I do feel that at times we tend to focus too much on worship that we forget about the people in the world. I don’t' see any ministries birthing from Embacy itself out or into missions [maybe as they venture out to older stage of life but non from Embacy itself]. I think we tend to be judgemental in our own way and maybe secretly criticise others for their "lack in the Christian faith”. I heard of comments before that we are deemed bad or "unfaithful” if we do not attend certain meetings such as the Morning Prayer on a Saturday. Truthfully, I did feel a little hurt, as in my own time I do pray for Embacy. I know sometimes as leaders we meant well; still I felt "labelled”. But we need to get our motives and thinking right. Is the prayer meeting to really pray or it's our own human demonstration and pride? Is the prayer meeting individualistic or really from the heart of Abba father? I believe that God is more than happy if we spent time with him in corporate prayer any time of the day. It really got me thinking from a wider perspective. The prayer meeting organized weekly has the biggest potential of revival. What's the point if we pray weekly just for Embacy night meetings and for God's breakthrough? I'm not saying that we shouldn't pray at all for the night meetings but we could pray for other things as well for each other, families, schools, colleges/uni, and even for the nation. If we don’t' have the heart for the nation and the society, how do we expect for the souls to come to church? We've been too individualistic and confined to the four walls of church and also maybe even to the point of being in the comfort zone.
Sensitivity:
We should not only be sensitive to the God but to one another. We should not be like the Pharisee in the temple with his judgemental prayer but rather encouraged them in the right way of praying. We have the capability of choosing the right words and said in an edifying way. I believe God doesn't scrutinize every single detail of your words to Him but rather the heart. Instead of criticizing strongly, encourage and edify them in the right way instead. This applies in other things too. Correct with love and with a right heart be it in areas of worshipping, service, and hospitality. If someone didn’t serve well, encourage him to do better rather than to cut him off. No one is higher than the other but rather we work as a team! We’re a body of Christ and each one is important. We shouldn’t be the limiting factor to any person from growing in Christ.
Hospitality and Support:
I can’t tell you how much more that this is important to every church. I guess you have to experience it to catch the vision. Yes I know in this area the issues were harped upon every meeting that we have to be more hospitable and supportive of one another. And I couldn’t agree more! Times have indeed change and the needs are changing too. If we remain the way we are (hopefully not) , the church won’t grow. Touching on the younger generation, more and more youths today are seeking for something more than just God to fill that empty hole in their hearts. They are also searching for friendship, acceptance, network, and peers alike. If the church or rather Embacy do not provide these they will find friendships somewhere else. When a newcomer comes to church, I believe first impression always last. One good example is when I went to Blessed Church in Tabuan Laru. You could see genuine love for people among them. When I entered, immediately the members began to greet me and offered me a seat. It wasn’t only the ushers that greeted first but rather every single leaders and neighbouring church members. This went on for a few minutes. Gosh, I felt such a lasting impression and never felt so welcomed! They even offered me a bottled water and went to get my details. After the worship ended, the newcomers names were mentioned and then a throng of people went on to greet me AGAIN! After the service, many came to talk to me and really find out who I was. The reason why I still remember was because of the impression they left me. I think our weakness is in this too. We tend to clique to our constant friends and the newcomers “comfort” are left to the ushers to do. I think we have to change in this area.
I also know of a few churches in KL that really cares for their people. As a result, the number of new-believers steadily grew over the past few years. Usually it starts from the leaders first. Slowly more and more began to follow and catch that “loving the people kind-of” vision! Their church of 100 grew to 600-700. That’s speaks of something. It’s simple as calling them weekly to find out how they are, praying for them, being hospitable, giving them transport and etc. All these builds up and makes them feel really belong. These things are practical but biblical. That’s what the disciples did! They went about doing bodily ministries too. It’s no wonder why they have mega-churches that time. I guess we have to learn something from the bible too.
Leadership plan & Mentality:
I think this one speaks for itself. For example if Mr.Mole or Uncle M were to be away , would there be people (other than college group or older ones) capable enough to lead the group on its own? Yes, I know we had leadership camps and meeting but these are not enough. What I mean is that we need more practical applications. There should be like a mentor-mentee relationship so that in case of any problems, Embacy would be able to be independent and stand on its own. Everyone should have responsibilities and excel in it [not only during camps]. Though there are many of us which can multitask (thank goodness!), it should be avoided so that each one can concentrate on maybe one or two God has called us. This way, doors would be open for others to handle task and learn to lead. Wilson(sorry!) seems to be like almost everything from overseer, worship leader, bible study leader, transport manager, etc....My point is that these task can be delegated and get the whole youth to be a part . Some I have heard that they feel as if they are doing nothing. We also need to be careful of often wrong ideas and mentality that has handicapped Embacy from its through potential. Eg: Why does the youth leader must be always worship leader? Why must we always sing the same songs? There are things that may have settled into a form. If it is of God, than yeah I won’t mind. But I see other strong and faithful youths before not given any chance of leadership? Why is this so? These are questions we need to ask ourselves. It is also time to avoid looking at the past because God is the God of present. God says that “he is and is to come” not “he was and was to come. God is the I AM not the I WAS. Hence thereof, it’s time that we look forward. Yes the past was glorious with the wonder working power of God but if we keep on living up to the standard of the past, we’re not moving forward. We may miss out what God wanted to do in the NOW. Another is the issue of revival. We’re always waiting for revival but if you look into the bible there is no mention of the disciples waiting for a revival. If you look in the past history of revivals, revivals are MADE not waited upon. We have to start to do something (often reaching out) and when the power of God moves, revival starts. Amen??
Cell group/Bible Study:
I was particularly disheartened when I heard there won’t be a constant bible study because of the lack of people. I think that is not justice to the faithful ones. I believe times have indeed changed. During the past, the youths were grounded in the word but never experienced the power of God. It’s no wonder when God worked many things to happen because they are in tuned with the word and they know how discern. However now with such busyness and distraction now I can say that the youth lacks the word. Why do we have to experience how hard life is without the word of God when we can train from young to be grounded in it? I feel that the absence of bible study only cuts off the “primary source of word “weekly in our situation now. When new converts come in how are they gonna learn to read the bible? Only through bible study and cell group is the answer. It should be not another teacher-student kind of session but rather a lively discussion. You may say : It’s Boring! Well, there are many different kind of materials out there. A cell group shouldn’t me mundane but can be transform into an avenue for not only being grounded in the word but also fun. Object lessons, video clips, games, stories, music, etc can all be used in a bible study. If you wanna make it exciting, it can be done! Use the tools God have given us- The BRAIN! If we as leaders are not excited and passionate for the word of God, how can u expect the others to be the same? If we are serious about cell group, than the rest would. We need a plan to make sure each individual grows in the Lord wherever he/she is at now. Often, we leave others behind to find their way in and perhaps they will grow. No, we have to reach out and train them instead and then they will learn how to be independent for their own spiritual life.
Creativity, Tools and Cooperation
I really feel blessed to be also a part of Embacy’s music team. We have something here. It can be a tool to reach out to the lost. Whenever there is a Christian concert, many pre-believers expect church music to be that way. Often, they will feel deceived if they go to Sunday service or to the traditional churches if they feel like knowing Christ. But hey! We have these “happening” music every Saturday night! But how come we’re not seeing them come in? It is because we haven’t move out. A person is able to invite some friends if he/she wants to but it takes cooperation of whole Embacy if we want to impact Kuching youths. I know it seems that Embacy is small but which other mega-youth services started big? Hillsong and Planetshakers started small as well. It just takes willing hearts, cooperativeness, and using our tools God have given us. Be creative! If God has given you sport talents, start organising games for outsiders and share Christ with them! If God has given you a talent in music, sing and compose Christian Songs! Touching a bit on music I feel that it’s high time we started composing and singing our own music. Hillsongs or Planetshakers have their songs because it’s what God gave to them in their time of need. We are different. We should be writing and singing songs for our Land and Malaysia. If God has given you talent in dance, start evangelising through Christian dances! Be it in writing, preaching, sharing, hospitality or etc...It’s time we find our synch and launch in it but also not forgetting our ultimate vision of the presence of God. Start using our gifts and talents to reach the souls. We’re all in this together as a team and not solely relying on one.
I Hope you see the same way i have seen things. I feel that God has many things in store for Embacy but firstly we have to change our heart and minds from the comfort zone we’re in. It’s time that we stop being to ourselves and begin discovering his word, purpose, and saving souls along the way!
Do you feel the wind? It’s the wind of change....
Let’s impact Kuching and let it begin with us!
