New Beginnings

Six months have passed since my first blog entry. No, I've not been 'hibernating', simply waiting. Indeed, a lot of water has since 'flowed under the bridge'.

New Beginnings are almost always exciting as a fresh start or starting on a new slate invariably involves adapting to changes and new responsibilities. Just ask any new mother and you'll better understand what I mean.

I actually embraced my new beginning with the Chinese Alliance Church of Victoria (C.A.C.V.). Who wouldn't?...especially when it involved attending a week long Council Conference from 31 Jan., in Brisbane. It was a great opportunity to meet the larger Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) fraternity. How best to familiarize oneself with the inner workings, history, culture and ethos of the C&MA than to start off with a week-long series of lectures, seminars, worship, prayer, business meetings and fellowship?

It was interesting to note that the C&MA has been in Australia for 40 years and has since grown to 48 churches with a combined force of 5000 people. It has perhaps the most multi-cultural network of churches working in 11 languages with 8 full-time current missionaries. I have always been impressed with her emphasis on the centrality of Christ as in her four-fold gospel and it's focus on missions (the C&MA started off in the U.S. as a missionary organization in the late 1800s).

Dr Ron Walborn, principal of the Alliance Theological Seminary, Nyack, N.Y., was the keynote speaker. Notably, in a series of very interesting lectures, he spoke on the need for a greater emphasis and reliance on the work of the Holy Spirit in ministry besides continuing the Alliance's traditional focus on healing. In one of his closing sermon, Dr Walborn spoke about a shift in the Alliance's stance on "speaking in tongues" from a traditional "seek not forbid not" position to a more accomodating position of "expectation without agenda". It seemed to me from Dr Walborn's papers and in a speech by the C&MA Australia Presidet, Rev. Rod Russel Brown that the C&MA is open to and moving towards a greater and freer Spirit-filled and Spirit-led expression in her  ministries.

All told, it has been a great beginning. I thought it would be great if it had only continued...only to be brought down to earth to begin my second week in what I have always considered "A City on a Hill" since some 12 years ago. It was then as an invited speaker to this church in Burwood that I first sensed a call to the C&MA, aided no doubt through my association with Rev. Spencer Sutherland, a colleague at my previous church and former principal of the Alliance College of Theology, Canberra.

It was by no accident then that I should meet with the Chairman and the Cantonese Pastor at a seminar. One thing then led to another until the call was finally confirmed by the church body at an EGM at end November last year. So, here I am now...I guess I've come a long way - from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria and now "to the Ends of the Earth".

That my dear is the story of a new chapter in my life. Your questions, comments, reflections, advice would be most welcome. God Bless.