December 2010
NAV ALUMNI LUNCH NOV 13TH SAT 2010 HILTON HOTEL
lunch amidst a great ambience.
What was also unique was that there was a book given away free, featuring the stories of More than 500 people descended upon Hilton 20 alumni who are currently ‘labouring’ (Nav Hotel along Orchard Rd for a grand NavAlum- lingo to mean that they are still involved with ni reunion on Nov 13th Sat 2010. They were helping others to grow in their faith). Ranging from a taxi driver to a senior civil servant, along with three ladies, they all told unique stories of their past with the Navs and how they are still at it today, in some small way, trying to practice what they had learned when they were younger. There were two of those stories presented that day, one on a slide show and another delivered in person. Both had an impact on the people. The term Alongsider
served a sumptuous 7 course Chinese lunch and had a great time catching up with many whom they have not seen for ages. Doug Erdmann, NavSing National Director welcomed everyone and teased them with a typical Singaporean joke – that nobody believed it when told that it was a free lunch. After all, we are told often enough that there were no free lunches. There must be a catch some where. There wasn’t. 20 friends of the Navs and alumni covered the lunch so that all could come and enjoyed the time of meeting fellow alumni over a nice
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was fleshed out as one told of how a dear friend came along and travelled with him on a year long journey to learn to listen to God again, praying together over the Psalms. Kim Meng rounded off the session with a challenge on A.I.M. - being an Alongsider, Imparter, and Multiplier. In each instance he cited the story of a friend, a neighbor, an exneighbor helping another move along in the
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process of discipling and disciplemaking. The din of moving cutlery and conversation gradually came to a pin-drop silence as the crowd began to realize that this was not just a talk on having a great time at a restaurant but the heartfelt verbalization of the strong impetus for each one to return to what they knew was a divine call to restore their obedience to make disciples of all nations. The responses that were collected were overwhelming endorsement from those present to serious business with committing them to A:I.M, to become a Link Person, to join an Adventure Of Discipling Others (AODO) Study Group, Missions Exposure Trips… Many made appointments to catch up again with their friends and comrades of yesteryears. There was a sense of wanting to make up for lost time and to get back to disciplemaking. Many could recall how they were helped and had helped others but had stalled along the way when life became busier and gradually their priorities shifted. The legacy of the book they took away with them will be a lingering reminder that others have taken steps to continue with the task of disciplemaking and they need to respond in faith to God again.
Click here to watch a video of the NavAlumni Lunch.
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A.I.M. (Alongsider. Imparter, Multiplier) There is no change to Discipling and Disciple-Making. The Great Commission as laid down in Matthew 28:19,20 remains the clarion call for all followers of Jesus Christ. But over time, the same terms have come to mean different things to various ones. Some associate it with the rigors of their younger days and their initial reactions when reminded to continue ‘laboring’ – ‘can’t’. In walking with my friends, especially now that we are all older, I discovered that it can still be done, but in a way that they can relate it to where they are now. In fact, it is still scripturally mandated and applied without any compromise. Let me introduce you to A.I.M. as a simple way to digest it today. Alongsider The Holy Spirit was given to believers to walk alongside with us. That is his role – the ‘paraclete’. He comforts, guides and brings to remembrance all that Jesus has taught. Hence, He shes light on the Scriptures and convicts us of sin (John 14:16,17,26; 16:7-11,13-15). Philip played that role to the Ethopian eunuch on the Gaza road when he came alongside the chariot and starting from the same Scripture that the eunuch was reading, explained Christ to him, saw him convicted of the need for Christ, and baptized him (Acts 8: 26-40). Mary when told by the angel Gabriel that she was going to give birth to the Messiah, went to the hill country to visit with her older cousin Elizabeth who also had a similar miraculous conception. Someone else who had gone through the same that we are going through is of great comfort and encouragement (Luke 1:35-45).
On the road to Emmaus, as the two disciples were talking, a man appeared and walked alongside with them and engaged them in conversation. Later on, they realized that it was the risen Lord (Luke 24:13-35). Many of us understood the Great Commission in Mt 28:19, 20 as ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations’ to be expanded as ‘Therefore as you go, make disciples of all nations’. Let be me as bold to suggest that it can also be ‘Therefore as you go and walk alongside others, make disciples of all nations…’ Story of Mok My good friend Mok had experienced God working in his life through ministry experiences in the Military Navs, discipling men, and in a special answer to prayers as he saw his aged mother responding to the Gospel. He saw the favour of the Lord in granting him a beloved wife and daughter. However with the pressure of work, he gradually lost his priorities and found it difficult to hear God speaking to him. The Lord allowed for us to connect again and we journeyed for a year praying together through the Psalms. I walk alongside my friend as the Lord began to speak to my friend such that he can hear again. He came to the conclusion that he needed to quit his job which was robbing him of his life. He then started afresh to be trained as a teacher. After 5 years, he graduated with an Honurs degree in Education and started teaching in a primary school. He found much joy in helping his young students achieved athletic competence and some venture on to Sports School. With an accountability group of 4 couples meeting monthly, studying ‘The Adventure Of Discipling Others’ he was convicted to help men once again. He is discipling a neighbor the same way he saw Kim Meng walked alongside him and also helping three converts, together with his wife.
Imparter But of course discipling does not stop with being an Alongsider. Having got started there is a need to go on to deepening and growing roots so that there will be signs of life and growth when leaves sprout and fruit blossom. Paul taught it well in his last book, Second Timothy where he reminded his protégé how the Word was taught by lips and life. He drew attention to Timothy that he learned the Word from his mom, his grandmother as well as by closely watching Paul as he journeyed and travelled with him. He caught, as well as received, good teaching so much so that he was able to transmit to others what he was taught. (2 Tim1:5; 2:2,15; 3:10-14). To be competent to teach the Word, it must be lived out with conviction and be based on following Christ and transformed to be like Him in all areas of life. Story of James My neighbor, James, lost his wife suddenly and was left with 3 young children, the youngest being 10 months old. For five years he was in a daze. He had became a Christian a few months just before this tsunami-sized blow hit him. He was given plenty of advice. Too much. I could only watch and pray for him. Listening to him pour out his grief was what I did whenever I bumped into him. He became a taxi-driver so that he could have time to check on his kids. There was an opportunity for me to start a Bible Study for taxi drivers and I invited him. He was ready. He responded like a sponge. I taught him the basics, devotions, assurances, wheel, word hand, scripture memory (new topical memory system). He lapped it all up and practiced it intensely. He placed a Bible on his dashboard and that prompted several interesting queries. He quoted verses he memorized and that stunned his taxi passengers. In the evening he would teach his kids what he had learned from life lessons we
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discussed. His kids would asked, ‘What have you learned from Uncle Kim Meng today?’ He has stopped driving a taxi and is now a manager of a logistics company. He practices his faith, placing a Bible on his desk. When he runs into tough spots, he prays. His subordinates notice that and see him solve tough situations as he prays. He says, ‘I can only hang on to Jesus and the Bible to live my life and to teach my kids.’ In spite of the many challenges he faced as a single dad, he feels that he has the best resources available: Jesus and the Bible.
bless almost her entire family with the Gospel. During one such visit, we found that she had taken a golden handshake from her employer and wanted to serve the Lord overseas. She had been current in discipling others and had a good command of Mandarin. Through a series of events, she ended up representing us in East Asia. Initially her pastor was apprehensive but after two years, concluded that she was a great model for the church and supported her needs wholeheartedly. She turned out to be good team model and enhanced the ministry of those she was working with. Whenever she returns, especially at Chinese Multiplier New Year, she will report of stories of lives changed and transformed by the Gospel and In 2 Tim 2:2, Paul tells Timothy that he is to how this is being repeated through lives over practice all that he has seen in Paul’s life and and over again. relay them to others who can in turn tell others also. The Great Commission mandates AIM – Seed, Grow, Blossom that the disciples have to obey all that Jesus has taught them and to pass it on. Many labourers, especially from the Nav Alumni, can start again. The DNA, the seeds Abraham was promised in Gen 12:3 that he are already planted. Through being an Alongwould be a blessing to all nations because of sider, we can help various ones resume their his faith in God. His descendants would be as pilgrimage in discipleship. Walking alongside many as the stars in the skies and the sand on others as well, they in turn can seed many oththe seashore (Gen 15:5,6; 22:17). In Gal 3:29 ers to resume their labouring. But they must we are told that being in Christ, we are seeds go on to grow and impact others through their of Abraham and heirs of the same promise lives and the lips. They must grow strong in that God has given him. the Word and be competent and teach others by their convictions, their practices so that I believe that God will bless my life being in others are taught well and catch these same Christ and as I believe, God will want to bless convictions too. Eventually, by faith, they many more both for generations and nations need to believe that God will use them to multhrough my faith in Christ. He will bless my tiply others both in nations and generations. It physical descendants and my spiritual lineage must spread. too. Yap Kim Meng Story of BE Alumni Ministry My previous neighbour, BE’s family is one that we would visit every Chinese New Year because of the good friendship we developed over the years, even after we have moved out of that neighborhood. She has seen the Lord
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