Illuminate Working Adult's Camp

Over the Hari Raya weekend, the MORE working adults braved the balik kampung traffic heading north for fun, food and fellowship at the Illuminate working adult’s camp. Working adults from Puchong, Damansara and Penang came together in Ipoh, home to the famous bean sprouts chicken, excited to see, hear and taste what’s in store.

The anchoring verse for the Illuminate camp was Proverbs 4:18 – The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Indeed every working adult God placed in the marketplace was destined to shine, not momentarily, but ceaselessly.

Guest speaker, Rachel Ong is a perfect role model who has live up to Proverbs 4:18 and shines for God in all that she does. From her serving in ministry to the founding of the youth development organization, Trybe, and start up of Rohei Corporations, we could see how God was glorified every step of her way as she chose to love God with all her heart, soul and might and to be an obedient child.

In one the sessions, the working adults were reminded of the importance to excel and give our best in the things that we do, so people could see the great God that we worship. The 4 areas of excellence that was talked about are moral excellence, operational excellence, spiritual excellence and character excellence. We were encouraged to not just to be a mere survivors or appliers Christians at work, but strive to be a warriors and transformers of marketplace.

Rachel also addressed the causes of stress amongst working adults and a common workplace issue – gossip.

In the 3 days camp, the working adults were fed not only with the endless list of food Ipoh has to offer, but were truly blessed by Rachel’s sharing and wisdom. Many of us made new friends and bonded over supper, board games, and team-building exercises. It was indeed a time of discovering God, a life with purpose and a life with others! The organizing committee who worked hard putting the camp together deserve a pat on the back for job well done.

We look forward to the next working adult’s camp!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eaglepoint Pillars

This is indeed a special weekend. Sharon, (which is me actually), decided to move on from working with the church office into her own business. The church prepared a video and a gift to honor her for serving in the church for the past ten years. In the course of her time here, she started as the administrator and then as the office manager and finally as the event manager.

Pastor Tim also took time to introduce all the church staffs. Pr Steven is the Executive Pastor that executes all the administrative and events and the human resources. Pr Cathryn is the other Executive Pastor that runs all the creative administrative together with Kelvin. They are assisted by Kareem, the Creative Director that overseas all the communicative medias. Tham is the Graphic Designer. Chrystin used to be the Multimedia Executive but she'd also decided to move to part-time to help her husband's business. Her place is being taken over by Leong. Khoo is the Admin Officer in the office. Tymi is the Kidzone head and Chris Leong is going to move on to further his studies and is now a part time at Community at Heart. Lastly, Pr Tim himself is a volunteer at the church that happens to the be Senior Pastor.

When you see these people, do try to appreciate them with a thank you or just a "well done"! They are giving the best part of their life to build the house of God instead of climbing a corporate ladder. =)

Marvelous Mothers Celebration

Last May, at Teresa's request, I helped rally some friends and threw a mothers day celebration for her discipleship group which include some of the leaders in the church. 

Everything was kept a surprise. The unsuspecting mothers thought they were coming for a discipleship time and were surprised by the change of the decorated hall. To top it off, I secretly asked their children to be the waiters and waitresses of the event. Imagine the surprise they had when they walk in to see the place and their children serving them drinks and munchies.

the team that made things happen.

 it's really fun to see the mothers play purse scavenger hunt! they can literally litter the whole table with the knick knacks in their handbag! there can be anything and everything! Always prepared!

 David was the chef! He managed to impress the mothers with his culinary skills! And that you know speaks volume!

 Fine dining takes a lot of serving!

the first thing every mom gets when they enter is a "ï'm a marvelous mother" tag! 

did i mention that the first thing each mother did when they arrived was to check out the kitchen? i'm still not sure why but it's like the natural thing for them to go straight to the kitchen! hahah..

 halfway through lunch, the teens started singing. they changed some of the lyrics of the song "you don't know you are beautiful" and i can see the mothers immediately stop eating and start recording their children singing. They of course enjoyed the presentation! The teens were really nervous!

 Another surprise came when each mother gets a special dessert - a hand written card from their husband - on a platter. And also the lunch was sponsored by the husbands!

Happy Marvelous Mothers Day to all of you! 

Disclaimer: although the husbands paid for the "event", there was no profit taken from it. All the funds went into the decoration and the food. =)

Jokes that became memory words

Over the years, there were many jokes that Pastor Tim made that were unforgettable! Here are some and if u remember others, feel free to add on!

Doreen reminded me on this - Once (in the midst of preaching on stage during a church service) when reciting on the verse of Jesus walking on water to the disciples, they (Pastor Tim also) shrieked, "HANTU!!!" and Jesus shouted back, "No! TUHAN!!" In a crisis, if you don't see TUHAN, u will see HANTU! Take your pick. Lol.

Just last week, when Pastor Tim was sharing about King Herod being so evil that he killed his wife, his siblings, his mother in law .. Then he slot in this, "...many ppl thought of doing it but King Herod actually did it." !!!???!!?

Years ago in the midst of a serious bible teaching at a ENLI class, he was sharing about disciples being called lamb and sheep in the Bible and then he posted us with this serious question, "If sheep goes astray, what will they be?" We were going to give answers like "be lost". With a serious face, Pastor Tim said, "Lamb chop lah! If the sheep got lost, they will be devoured as lamb chop. If u don't want to be lamb chop, stay with the shepherd!"

I can still laugh now as I remember the incident! But  I guess it's not just me that kept those words to heart but even Ching n Jess! As that was the first question that we asked each other when we visited the sheep shearing show! Three of us burst out laughing as we answered "lamp chop!". So we took the following photo as sheep!

Reflections

Two weeks  ago, we had an album launch - "REFLECTIONS". It's worship album by our very own Worship Director, Kelvin Lim! This album was really a product birthed from his years of testimonies with God. At various point in his life, he shared a testimony of God's working in him and every step in this journey of faith has also birth a song.

He shared one song with a talented violinist, Petrina Phua. 

Kel also invited Nina to join him in one of the songs.

Of course, Kelvin also sang a duet with his wife, Pr Cathryn. This is the song of grace that they wrote and sang at their wedding. 

The hall was packed and many walked away blessed and thank him for sharing his life stories.

 

RELENT jammed with Kel in one of the songs too. 

 

No event can happen without many volunteers chipping in their time and effort and energy. BIG THX! to all the volunteers again!

 

1a.m. even came out with their new line of "I am.." line of products and buttons as well. 

If you have a story of God's goodness in your life, share it. Don't keep it! 

Recently, the news and radio has been playing this new song ( Selina's 谢谢你们 爱我的每个人 - 任家萱 ) so often that it's hard that I do not catch it at least once or twice or more times. If you did not know, on October 22, 2010, Selina (a Taiwanese artist) was injured in an explosive accident while filming the series “I have a date with Spring” (我和春天有个约会) along with co-star Yu Haoming. Selina suffered third degree burns over 54% of her body and needed to undergo skin grafting treatment/operation where her hands, legs and back were injured.

As I listen to this song, I can't help but feel overwhelmed and moved to tears because I remember. I remember seeing the news and the photos of the explosion. I remember seeing her first press release and how red her skin and face was. I remember reading how she cried whenever the pain was so overwhelming yet she still had to get up and move so that her skin will grow back normal. I remember the tears I saw in the press. I can almost feel it myself. I can imagine the pain. Even a small burn after touching something hot can be unbearable for me, what more being burnt half the body and having to bear through it even if I/she don't wish to yet no way out of it.

But today, as I listen to this song she sang thanking the people that had loved her and walked with her and accept her back into the industry now, I am moved. Today as I see her recovered and come back stronger, I am encouraged. I am writing this not so I can show support to her in a church blog but this song brings me to VICTORY WEEKEND that is happening right this weekend at Genting Highlands.

If I am already touched by the testimony of someone I do not know and she will not even know me personally, what more our own spiritual family? The song talks about the kind of pain that bring tears to our eyes and nothing can bring comfort. Makes me break down and makes me find someone to blame. How many times we have to come this placement in our lives? Where we felt we have no way out and living in tears and heaviness and bound, not knowing how to live a better life? ... and times we thought of ending our lives is the only solution?

But boldly and in faith, I see thirty over of our church members taking a step of faith to go to Victory Weekend. Crying they open up their lives and share their past hurts, offenses, grudges and bitterness. In faith, they want to want to see a change in their lives, they want victory over the past bondage and set on the path that God has for them! I am more touched. I am more than happy but ecstatically celebrating for them and with them! They CHOOSE to walk with God. REJOICE! ENCOURAGE THEM!

If your friend or someone you know is at Victory Weekend now, send them a prayer, a sms of encouragement. When you see them come back, celebrate with them, tell them "WELL DONE"!

A life without freedom to choose is as the song say, living in a nightmare but because of the LOVE (of God), we can be born again and live a blessed life.

God, we thank you for your grace that we can always have the way to turn around and rewalk this is difficult journey call life. We thank you that we can know that when we reach a place where we can't help ourselves, you are there to lift us up, set us free and restore joy in our hearts. Thank you. Thank you and thank you. We thank you that YOU are our God. All glory and praise belongs to you! Because of you love that we can live freely again. In Jesus' precious and powerful name we pray. Amen. 
 

THX!

Two weeks ago, we threw a huge THX! combined service to thank all the volunteers for serving last year. They all played a part in making it a great 2011 year for Eaglepoint!

First up, the pastorals practiced a song and did a surprise opening! It's normal seeing Kel at the keyboards, PC singing. But it's been a long time since we've heard Pr Shawn and Pr Steven singing at the mic and not only that, we are talking about Mark at the drums, Pr Tim at bass, Joseph playing the guitar! woo hooo... Our Pastorals would really like to thank ALL OF YOU!

See all the mugs? They each have a personalised name. We painstakingly wiped each one and stick it on more than 300 mugs! I, myself, came back after a wedding to finish up on Saturday night so that we do not miss out anyone on Sunday service. I hope everyone is truly blessed and happy in receiving their gift!

TIP: If you serve more than one ministry or is a ministry leader, please do OPEN THE MUG and check the insides! =P

Few of our regular copywriters came out with all the award titles!

The winners of the PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS from the voting, gets these plaques and also extra special gift! These are the volunteers that'd serve outstandingly!

The Kidzone teachers group was one of the largest group of volunteers. They serve weekly from the two junior classes to intermediate to senior class!

The 1a.m. volunteers even gathered to practice for a flash mob to surprise all the guests!

The Damansara strong team of volunteers! They were also helping to distribute the mugs and they ran up for their photo shoot and came back down to continue arranging the mugs! Thx guys!

The After-Party service with Pastor Victor Wong! If you've missed out on the preaching, it's such a big loss! His insight to the Word of God is simple and ministering! Not to mention his illustrations were hilarious! hahaha...

The THX! Awards was a great success because everyone was blessed and THAT is the goal!
Thank you for volunteering, helping, chipping in, and building together!

I don’t know how…

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No I worked harder than all of them- yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” 1 Cor 15:10

I have finished two years of my postgraduate studies, a full time program and I thought just before I step into the working world, I would take some time to share how God has been, for the lack of a better word, so kind towards me this past two years.

In brief, the masters program was a tough program. I have only now vague memories of how tough it was because I don’t have a very good memory of past events in my life haha. Nevertheless, I can remember from Day 1 we had plenty of work, reading, assignments to do. Often I hear my classmates complaining and being all stressed out with the amount of work required of us- moaning, groaning, asking for less work from the lecturers. But I clearly don’t remember doing so. I also don’t know why. I think it was because of a mindset drilled into my mind about,

“Do everything without complaining and arguing…” Philppians 2:14.

I remember my mother always telling me not to complain and just challenges in life as life’s way of building my character. Facing hard work and challenges with the right attitudes produces joy and peace. A lot of my friends comment that they never seen me stress about work or complaining. Not that I have anything to boast, but that I suppose mom’s advice is always right.

In the program, time is all you’ve got. Majority of my friends would spend days and nights working on assignments, studying, they don’t sleep, forgo their leisure just to complete their work. Everyone was busy trying to perform well in class. I also don’t know why, but I found myself having enough time on my hands to do a lot of things: from politics to campus ministry to teens to having enough sleep and leisure. My friends always wonder how come I am still so active in this and that. I also don’t know how that happened.

I remember vaguely that I worked hard in school. I got quite a bit of As and when I got the Bs, I took it as God’s way to keep me humble hehe. But I also had time to spend on editing my classmates’ grammar, checking their assignment, doing extra group work to lighten other people’s work, helping them with their assignments. Where did all those time on my hands come from? Must have been God, because he said,

“ There is time for everything…” Ecc 3:1

When I entered the program, I purposed that I will not be selfish with my knowledge, my time and I will always attempt to help others in need. When I do that, I trust that God will handle the rest of my needs and he has. He has been so faithful to see me through. Now looking back, I don’t think I did anything extraordinary. I don’t think it’s my brain (it will get an average score on the intelligence test, trust me) or my own effort. Maybe some good time management skills and being able to work fast, but I think that only accounted for 30% of the job. I actually believe it was really God’s favor and kindness.

He was very kind to allow me to have a good father who took care of household stuff i.e. cooking especially so I could do my work, there wasn’t so much stress in the home as my father was supportive of my going in and out for ministry and all.

He was also very kind to have supportive leaders and pastors to guide, cheer and help me out with my life. So thank you very much.

It’s it soon the next chapter of my life as a working adult, lecturing in academia. The principles remain the same: do everything without complaining or arguing, consider others first and there is time for everything!

Last but not least, like Paul says though he may have worked harder than the rest, yet not him, but the grace of God that was with him. I am no where near Paul’s position, I don’t know how, but where I am, God’s grace WAS and is with me. Thank goodness!

May you be encouraged in where you are serving God as a student, working adult, pastoral staff, stay home mom etc. God’s grace is with you.

Jocelyn Tan, March 2012

1a.m. Retreat

Last weekend, while everyone on long holiday, fifty plus of us went away to seek God! ahem... i mean we retreated to Peacehaven to spend time worshipping God and also plan for 2012.

Waking up to mornings of worshipping and just walking along hallways that were filled with the sound of worship is really beyond nice. Is heaven gonna be like this?! I want to be there. In the Presence of God and yet worshipping the Presence of God.

The team building session. We were blindfolded and asked to build a octagon with seven people in a group.

At night, each group presented an idea on "How to engage worship to save lives"

Every group did oustandingly and the presentation time was hilarious as usual! Tham was in my group and he freehand drew our "presentation" chart board. So we didn't use the powerpoint but power-charted it ourselves!

The retreat was really good for the worshippers' soul. Spending time in God's presence, listening to God's words and worshipping brings us alignment to be in one accord. During one of the night session, they played the "HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD" preaching video by Louie Giglio. I've watched couple of times before and I know what he was gonna show in the photos yet I still cried like a baby. The awesomeness of God. The bigness of God. The unfathomable God. It just reminded me once again on how I've belittled God in my day in day out routine and aligned myself once again to rcorgnise that HE is the one in charge and HE is more than able to do it.

Indeed. How great is our God!

This is a little side tracked. I joined the working adults for lunch at Gohtong Jaya and guess what! We found this thing that look like a baby scorpion in the tea! Everyone at our table were trying to figure out whether is it real or not. But we continued to drink the tea. So far nobody complained yet. So I guess what did not kill us were ok kwa..

Eaglepoint Annual Dinner

When it comes to food in the office, I will definitely blog about it.. especially on the dinner that has been dubbed as the "Eaglepoint Annual Dinner"! Every year, usually at the end of the year, Frank and Cecilia will generously invite all the church staffs to their place for THE sumptious-ness-ess dinner of the year. =P

All the staffs do try NOT to miss the dinner and we tried so hard for everyone to make it that it was pushed to Feb. But still Chrystin had to miss it cos she's still holiday-ing at Australia and also there was a last minute event that some of the Relent did not come in the end. Of course they took the tah pau. I took some tah pau myself. hehehe...

And to tease you, here's the spread for the evening...

lamb shanks! oooo... i love...

pork ribs... i guess they remember pc mentioning it last year and it appeared at this year's menu!

there's the chef...relating the cooking experience.. the meat had to be stewed for 2 hours the day before and then only grilled today for hours again.

and.. and.. and THAT PASTA! love it!

Salad. salad. There were two kinds. One with dressing and another without salad!

The delicious mushroom soup! They cook the soup, ladle into each bowl, add the pastry on top of each bowl and baked it with the oven again for this!

and this I love too! the mashed potato! I usually take two servings even though it's absolutely fattening! opss...

fried fish fillet. looks normal but the texture is really GOOD! YUMM!

Grilled chicken thigh!

Setting the kids table!

The dessert!

All the desserts!

NOW, you understand why none of the staffs will miss it? ahahha... but if your family would like to invite the church staffs to your feasts, please feel free to come out with a simpler menu. We will be equally as grateful! =)

But once again, a HUGE THANK YOU TO THE LIEW's for feeding the ever-hungry staffs!

*side note to self: i am terrible at taking food photo! ok. I'm just terrible with taking photos! I think I need lessons from 1a.m. Click! hahaha..