牧者心聲  Pastor's Message

08/09/2009


      Discipling Eaglets


      Last Sunday, the baptismal candidates were interviewed and everyone was accepted to be baptized on the 16th of August. This is wonderful news! We have 3 young men from the English congregation and 3 older ladies from the Chinese congregation who will be re-born!

      There will be celebration in heaven, indeed! And as we rejoice, we are also called to consider what it means to be baptized. This means that we have 6 birthdays to celebrate, possibly with cream in their faces if they come to The Gathering that week. But what does baptism also mean? As Christ sacrificed his life on the cross, so too, we are to sacrifice our old self that was of this world. It means that we are to rid ourselves of our old body—our old ways—and celebrate and live in the new life that we have with Christ.

      A new life. The image that this brings to my mind is an infant that has just been born. A baby that has no concept of what the world has to offer. Of course, these 6 that will be baptized are not completely helpless. And yet, in some ways, their spiritual life is just beginning. While these 6 chose to accept Christ into their lives at an earlier point in their life, the baptism signifies their dedication and membership into the church family, which is also the bride of Christ.

      But, just as the mother eagle must teach her eaglets how to fly, by spreading her wings, jumping and releasing herself to the air, it is also our responsibility as the church to encourage and support the upbringing of these fellow Christians. This is a call of discipleship. A call for mentors. This is a call to those who can help teach and lead these new followers in Christ into a deeper understanding and relationship with Christ.

      While this is no easy task, we are called to make sure that these future eagles can emerge from their nest and learn to soar with the rest of us. This is the responsibility that we have been blessed with. Are you ready for the challenge? Are you willing to teach these new lives in Christ how to fly with the Wind?



      Brother Benjamin Chung