My Induction

My Induction

Blog 5 Entry 11/03/11

I was officially inducted as English Congregation Pastor of the C.A.C.V. on 20 February 2011. It seemed strange after 2 previous inductions, but then it is an induction to a particular church, of course.

This morning, more out of curiosity, I checked on the meaning of the word “induction” and got this from the Collins Dictionary – “A formal introduction to a new job or new way of life”. Strange again I thought, as I have never thought of the pastoral ministry as a ‘job’, but rather as a ‘calling’. While I appreciate that a pastor needed to be ‘gifted’ as it is biblical, not many see it as other than an employer-employee relationship. Secondly, what new way of life can there be, other than “a life with Jesus”, I thought. Oh well, let’s not be pedantic…as the Bee Gees once sang, “Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, whisper words of wisdom, let it be…”

I appreciate that my immediate and close family members were there to lend support. So were some of my friends and relatives. It’s been a long journey since I first met the Chairman and Cantonese Pastor of the C.A.C.V. at a Pastors’ seminar organized by the RBC, on 21 May 2010 ( 9 months to be exact!.)

Since then I had gone through two “getting to know you dinners”, 2 formal interviews with the Board (including one with Kim) and 1 interview with a few deacons to discuss the contract. As though that wasn’t enough, there was 1 interview with 2 Reverends from the C&MA, a very comprehensive application form from C&MA Canberra with loads of questions to answer, a doctrinal questionnaire to fill, a personal testimony statement and a 100 questions biblical knowledge test to top it all. Phew!

All in all I had to present 4 references (specifically, one from the Board of my previous church and another an ordinary member) to the C.A.C.V. Board and 7 more (including the earlier 4) to C&MA HQ, Canberra. My, what a host of requirements, I thought to myself and to think that it was only a phone call each that brought me to my 2 previous churches! Thank God, for all the effort, I finally received my pastoral license in mid-February 2011.

Don’t get me wrong - this is not meant to be a ‘slight’ to my present church but rather a compliment. As the saying goes “Easy come, easy go!” So my prayer my hope indeed is this - that it will be quite a while before “I ride into the sunset!” Meanwhile, I have this to say, “Here I am Lord, use even me!”

Nkoh 11/03/11