38 minute read
Family Communion
FAMILY COMMUNION
OVERFLOWING FROM ON-SITE TO ONLINE
BY EDMUND TAN GHIM MENG
UTILIZING EVERY NOOK AND CORNER OF TRINITY@PAYA LEBAR, FAMILY COMMUNION DREW HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SEEKING TO PARTAKE OF HOLY COMMUNION AND REMEMBER CHRIST'S FAITHFULNESS. The year-end Family Communion is a much-cherished tradition in our church. It’s a reflective time where families – both biological and spiritual – gather to thank God for His goodness over the year and prepare ourselves to cross over into the new year.
On-site partaking of communion was not permitted in 2020 due to the pandemic; thus we are even more thankful for the green light to resume in 2021, albeit with safe distancing measures.
Held on December 26 and 31, I found the on-site atmosphere nostalgically familiar. Yet there were distinct differences brought about by the safe-distancing measures – adherence to time slots booked, minimized waiting, many decentralized sites within the church compound for communion proper, and less groups (and people) at each site.
Words can never adequately describe the on-site vibe; hence we will visually present the highlights of those two days.
1 Tradition
The packaging for the emblems of communion may be different, but the worship, intent, and Spirit stay the same
2 Days of Ministry
A special “thank you” to the many Trinitarians (clergy and laity) who came forth to serve.
Online communion was also conducted on December 31 to specially cater to those who could not book an on-site slot or could not come on-site for other reasons.
3 Generations
…of Trinitarians partaking Communion under the same roof on those two days – the young ones, the younger ones, and the young at heart. Some groups spanned these three generations.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. PSALMS 100:5
4 Heartfelt Responses
…to the question, “How do you feel about partaking Family Communion on-site this year?”
Sheryl, Rosyth CG It’s a wonderful feeling. Though we’ve been meeting as a Connect Group (CG) over Zoom, there was a feeling of closeness as we get connected as a (spiritual) family to give thanks and praises together. There’s been lots of challenges over these two years, but God has made this possible. Though the Communion time was short, it meant a lot to us. Two of my CG members present could meet in person for the first time!
Keok Choon,
Crossover CG Feels special in spite of the various safeguards (safe distancing measures). Having been in Trinity for so long, Family Communion is like a family tradition to thank God for the year together, despite everything that’s going on. Would also like to encourage those who can come back on-site to do so.
See Yeong and Samie, Refiner’s Fire CG Nothing beats meeting face-to-face and being prayed for in person; the atmosphere is not something that can be replicated online. Also, to paraphrase a verse from Hebrews 10, we think it’s important to encourage one another and never give up meeting together. What started as safety measures should not become a route of convenience.
Ryan, Soar CG, IGNYTE It feels great to be able to partake in Communion physically again. For me, Family Communion has always been a reflection on the past year, and coming together faceto-face to pray is an experience that I have always cherished. I thank God that we are able to meet up for this, even after everything that has happened over the past year.
WATCHNIGHT 2021
RESTORED TO BETTER THAN BEFORE IN 2022
BY LYE HUI XIAN
UNABLE TO ATTEND WATCHNIGHT SERVICE ON-SITE IN 2020, TRINITARIANS WERE ABUZZ WITH EXCITEMENT FOR 2021’S SERVICE AND THE PROPHETIC WORD OF THE YEAR.
The snaking queues in church on New Year’s Eve, Trinity@Paya Lebar The anticipation for Trinity’s yearly Watchnight service began as early as 8pm on December 10, when online booking was first available. Within a minute, all seats were fully booked!
On New Year’s Eve, Trinitarians made their way to the Sanctuary with excitement, eager to cross over into 2022 with God and His people.
Others tuned in online across Singapore, Trinity’s three regional centers, and various continents around the world.
Those who arrived early for the special pre-event program were greeted by Pastor Melvin Lim (Area Three) and Sister Hannah Lee (Trinity Broadcast) who drummed up the atmosphere with a fun, challenging quiz on 2021 church happenings.
Roving cameras also captured the emotions of Trinitarians both on-site and at their homes as gifts lovingly crafted by various pastoral staff were given away as surprises, stirring cheers from the audience.
After a time of exuberant worship, eight Trinitarians – five from our local ministries and one from each of our regional centers – shared their personal stories of God’s provision, healing, transformation, and breakthrough in their lives despite the uncertainties of the global pandemic.
Ivan Cheong was visibly moved by the testimonies. “Eugene’s testimony especially spoke to me. I also have the same reoccurring back issue as he did. The healing of his back proves that our God can heal! My faith has been built up. I want to continue declaring God’s healing and restoration over my body.”
Our God will repay
With the global pandemic operating like “swarming” locusts that have eaten away much in the past two years, Lead Pastor Dominic Yeo felt God impressing on him Joel 2:25-26:
I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten — the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm — my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed.
On this note, God gave Pastor Dom the prophetic word of the year:
Restoration for His Mandate
(full-sermon available on the Trinity App).
“The years the locust has eaten represents content, time, possibilities, and potentials you have lost. Scammers may have robbed you, investments went wrong, or relationships soured. Perhaps you’ve been robbed of your joy and are feeling indifferent and filled with apathy.
”Beyond our human understanding of restoration, which is limited to the broken returning to its original state, biblical restoration will bring something to a state even better than the original,” encouraged Pastor Dom.
God’s restoration will renew our joy, expand our influence, remove our shame, and defeat our enemies. How? God will first restore our vision and direction in Him. From there, He will accelerate us into His great plans for our lives.
On top of restoring our personal well-being, God desires to rebuild the spiritual walls of our nation by restoring His House and strengthening families.
- Pastor Dominic Yeo
Hope for 2022
Desmond Koh and Angie Ong, who were led by their daughter and son-in-law to receive Christ in October 2021, shared: “This is the first time we prayed through the new year instead of counting down. It was a very meaningful experience.
“The testimonies shared were very touching and showed that God works in amazing ways. Pastor Dom’s message on restoration gives us hope for the new year. We are excited to learn more, grow, and understand what God’s plan is for our lives.”
Koh Hwee Cheng, from Area Five, was excited to hear the prophetic message: “It was a clear affirmation from God that 2022 is going to be a year of the fulfilment of His plans and promises for me, even with the uncertainties and impossibilities.
“The message encouraged me to stand firm and stay focused on what He has promised. I am looking forward to how He is going to unfold and direct the fulfilment of His mandate.”
- Pastor Dominic Yeo
Herchelle Valentina Felix, who testified of God’s miraculous provision for her family at Watchnight, was inspired by the message: “In the new year, I believe that God will restore the lost years of my career and bring me to an even better position than where I started. I also believe that this year, my relationship with God will strengthen as my communion with Christ deepens.”
Teo Miao Chin, who tried for weeks to book a seat for Watchnight service, was thrilled to be on-site: “The testimonies, especially that of Joel and Eugene trusting God for healing, encouraged me tremendously. My faith is strengthened when I see the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness working in the lives of fellow Trinitarians.
“Pastor Dom’s message greatly encouraged me too. In the past two years, the ‘locusts’ have indeed eaten some of my relationships, brought some health concerns, and caused me some lost opportunities.
“In 2022, I claim what the Lord said in Joel 2:25-26, that He will restore, give back, and repay everything that the locusts have eaten, and more!”
envision
RESTORE REDEEM
BY LEAD PASTOR DOMINIC YEO
envision RESTORE REDEEM REPAY RECOMPENSE
The global church and the world have been experiencing many waves of the coronavirus, most recently the omicron wave following the delta variant. As we experience these waves, the desire for restoration is at the heart of every individual and government.
Restoration is at the heart of every person. We desire for life to return to what it was before. But restoration can only be accessed through the revelation and understanding of God and His promises. Each one of us has a restorative heritage.
T
he dictionary’s definition of restoration is “to bring back something that is old, or to refurnish something that is worn out, to cause something that is broken to come back to its former state.”
However, the biblical definition of restoration or godly restoration means bringing something into a state where it would be even better than the original.
RESTORATION - BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL STATE
When God first created humanity – Adam and Eve, they fell into sin. God had to send the perfect man, Jesus Christ to restore humanity back to its better glory. When God restores, He restore us to something better than the original state.
When we read Joel 2:25 across three different versions, central is the Hebrew word םלשׁ shâlam which means to restore, repay, and make-up. If we look into the root word, it also means to recompense, to redeem and to reward. I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten… – Joel 2:25 (NIV 1984)
I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,… – Joel 2:25 (ESV)
Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten,… – Joel 2:25 (NASB)
The locusts had stripped Israel of its grain, RESTORE REDEEM every plant and tree was laid bare, eaten by the locusts. It created great destruction, and God is saying "Enough is enough. Now I am going to restore, to give you something better." ISSUE 1 2022 REPAY RECOMPENSE
Some of us have experienced the work of locusts in our lives, the enemy of our soul, stripping us bare as we go through personal storms. 30 2022
WHAT THE LOCUSTS HAVE EATEN
“The years the locusts have eaten…” represents
1. Content you have lost
Some of you may have lost material content, as the locusts came into your life, they take away things that are dear to you.
2. Time you have lost
The time you have invested into your endeavors is lost. You started life with a purpose, and the enemy of your soul came, and you detoured from your purpose and lost precious time put into it. some of us may have been eaten by the enemies of our soul. The money that you have saved over the years have been stripped away by the scammers that have robbed you.
6. Investments that have gone wrong
You may have undertaken investments that have turned sour and you had a loss.
7. Relationships that have soured
Different ones of us have experience broken relationships that the locusts have stripped us of.
3. Possibilities and potentials of what you have lost
The possibilities of God in your life have just been taken by the locusts of life.
4. Indifference and apathy
These have crept into your lives and caused what you used to care about to be lost. You may have served faithfully in the past but now you don’t want to serve anymore. The locusts have eaten away your zeal and passion. We are now stripped naked by the locusts of our lives. We are not able to go forward in the Decade of Expansion, and the plans and purposes God has for us may seem to have come to a halt. But in Joel 2:25 – God says to His church “Enough! I will restore! I will repay! I will make-up what was lost!”
It is not what you and I can do. But it is what God WILL do. We can’t restore what has been stripped away by the locusts with our own abilities. But God can and He says, “I will!” This is the promise of God for our lives. He will do it!
But what could have caused the degeneration and the locusts?RESTORE REDEEM 5. Scammers that have robbed you We read about the various scams taking place – internet scams, bitcoin scam, ISSUE 1 REPAY RECOMPENSE 31 2022
DEGENERATION IN OUR LIVES THAT BROUGHT ON THE LOCUSTS
1. Sin
Idolatry in our lives. We veered away from God and did not follow the ways and commandment of God. The swarms of locusts are the judgement of God.
Be careful that we don’t sin against God and bring forth degeneration.
2. Neglect
We need to be mindful that we don’t neglect the worship, practice of worship of God, and public proclamation of the Word.
That’s why it is important to come back for corporate worship, which is central to the theology of the church. May we not succumb to convenient worship and remain online when we are able to gather physically in church.
3. Loss of focus
Once you start neglecting prayer, reading of the word, and coming to church, you slip away from God very fast. You lose your focus for God, and this allows the devil to give you another focal point by bringing someone or something else in your life that you end up focusing on.
4. Lack of attention
Distraction sets in and you are pulled away from the things of God. Instead of listening to the Word, you respond to the latest update on Facebook and Instagram.
Instead of holiness, you pursue the latest trends and successes of the world. 5. Lack of development
Maintenance of your spiritual life is important. If you don’t maintain your spiritual life, you will no longer be sharp.
When you stop serving, your spiritual gift starts declining. If we don’t develop and exercise our spiritual gifts, we lose them because the locusts of our soul come in and dull us.
If we fail to grow, we are stuck at a certain place, which run counter to what God has in store for us.
We may be into recycling, but God is into upcycling! God wants to restore us – He wants to make something in us BETTER than what it was before.
We need to stay in alignment with God and stay sharpened so that we will not be robbed by the locusts. He’s going to shake us and move us, because He wants to restore us into His mandate.
The Hebrew word shâlam, is also to fulfil, to make whole, to finish. This restoration isn’t just for our enjoyment. It’s to fulfil His mandate, His original intent, His purposes for us, for the church and the World!
REDEEM RESTORE
RECOMPENSEGod is going to renew your joy, 10 AREAS OF RESTORATION 1. The Restoration of Vision and Direction Joseph the Dreamer was left in prison and forgotten but God restored his vision and direction. God did not forget the vision REPAY REDEEM RESTORE expand your influence, remove your shame and set the enemies back. He gave to Joseph when he was a young boy. Joseph may have felt like years were wasting away in the dungeons. But when GOD’S RESTORATION WILL God’s restoration came, it propelled Joseph right into prominence, into his destiny. Likewise, God will restore vision for your life. We all need vision in our lives. We need God’s vision, God’s plan, God’s purpose. When there is no vision, there is no direction. When there is no direction, there is no movement, and consequently, no acceleration. God is about to grant you a vision that will become so big in your life and move you forward. However, destruction will come if there is no vision and direction. 2. The Restoration of Work Represented by the axe head in 2 Kings 6, it speaks of the restoration of anointing to do the works of the ministry. Some of us have lost our axe head. We’ve allowed the axe head to go under. We’ve stopped serving. But God will restore your service unto Him. There is the service of God that we need to come back to, especially for leaders who have stepped away. There’s a godly work
1. Renew our joy
When God comes, He will restore, He renews our joy. Joy is not dependent of external stimulus. It is a disposition on the inside that determines the external stimulus.
When God restores, He will turn your pain into joy.
2. Expand your influence
In the marketplace, in school, in institution.
When God restores, He makes up the difference for you. You become an influence.
3. Remove your shame
Restoration takes away the shame. There is the removal of shame and embarrassment, and no longer will that reproach be upon you under His restorative power.
4. Set the enemies back
When God restores, He will put you forward,
He caused the enemy to take a step back.
It is about pushing us forward so that the locusts, the enemy of our soul will withdraw and be beaten from us.
envision
RESTORE REDEEM REPAY RECOMPENSE
awaiting you. Jesus is returning and we need to go about the Father’s business. Now is not a time for a break. It’s time to pick up our axe heads. And get back into the Father’s business.
3. The Restoration of The House of God
As depicted in Haggai 1 and 2, it is time we build the spiritual walls of our nation and build strong families. Let the Word of the
Lord in Haggai 1:4 remind us to build God’s house. Let us not be “living in [our] paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin”.
When safe distancing measures and lockdowns across the world were eased, people were quick to dine out, and return to the shopping malls, and even making plans for travel. Even as church doors have reopened in various parts of the world, believers have not been passionate about returning to the house of the Lord.
How eager are we in building God a house of worship, devotion and prayer? Don’t let the backdrop of omicron or whatever future virus variant, prevent us, the people of God, from returning to and gathering in His house.
4. The Restoration of The Walls of Jerusalem
The walls of Jerusalem represent the walls of our nation. The book of Nehemiah spoke about rebuilding the walls of the city so that the worship of God can be restored. God will rebuild the spiritual walls of our nation. Our role is to stand in the gap, to pray, and to rebuild the city. We need to rebuild the foundations and ensure that the ancient landmarks are not lost.
There is an onslaught of the enemy to destroy families and the institution of marriage. Strong families build strong societies. Likewise, dysfunctional families build dysfunctional societies. So, we need to guard against the locusts that come and ravage our nation. We need to build strong families and guide our children in understanding how God has created them.
RESTORE REDEEM envision
REPAY RECOMPENSE
5. The Restoration of Well-being
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah the man of God is burnt out. We see the parallel in what is happening around the world, where lockdowns and restrictions have resulted in mental health issues. Elijah was so depressed that he prayed for God to kill him. Emotionally he was distraught, he stayed away even from his servant, his aide and went into the desert alone. He had lost his sense of judgement and spiraled into negativity because of mental health issues. But God began to restore Elijah’s mental health.
God wants to restore us especially in the area of our mental health. He invites us into to be still in His presence, the same way He met with Elijah. He invites us to hear His voice. He invites us to restoration. If we read in 1 Kings 19:15, God told Elijah to “go back the way [he] came” and finish what he was doing. The difference was the revelation that Elijah was not in this journey alone! He found Elisha!
God’s hand of restoration is upon us. He desires for us to have wholesome minds, healthy emotions, and strong relationships.
6. The Restoration of Spiritual Being
We see this highlighted to us in the life of King David and the life of Peter.
David sinned against God for lusting and scheming so that he could have Bathsheba. Simon Peter also sinned against God with the ultimate betrayal of denying Him three times. Yet God restored them both.
Yet we read of David’s repentance and restoration in Psalms 51 where God creates in him a pure heart, to renew a steadfast spirit, to return into His presence and restore the joy of salvation. For Peter, God reached out to him and restored him as the rock on which the church was built.
God will restore those who have gone cold, and we will see the prodigals come back to church. The Spirit of God will stir hearts and those who betray Him will come back on fire. God will use us as vessels of restoration to restore the Spiritual Being of those around us.
7. The Restoration of Calling
This can be seen in the lives of Moses,
Jonah, and Peter. Moses was in the backside of the desert when God confronted him to restore him. He was no longer the prince of
Egypt; he was now simply tending sheep for his father-in-law. But the harsh desert place is the perfect condition for the fire of God.
It was the place where God re-fired Moses back into his calling. If you have lost your calling, God wants to restore the call of God back into your life.
Similarly, Peter lost his calling when he denied the Lord three times, yet on the day of Pentecost, there was such an outpouring of the Spirit that restored him to his calling. In Acts 2, Peter preached and 3000 were added to the church that day! Jonah, the prophet of God was called to Nineveh, but he ran away because he didn’t like the assignment. But God orchestrated a fish and a worm to help Jonah rediscover his calling. God will orchestrate events, situations, and opportunities so that He can redeem and restore you to your call.
8. The Restoration of Relationships
When we look at Joseph and his brothers, after all that his brothers had done to him, Joseph forgave them. God is restoring families and marriages. It doesn’t matter how deep and grave the wrongs were.
If you come from a broken family,
God wants to restore and make those relationships better. If you are struggling with strained relationships, God is going to work in them and bring a restoration.
The greatest restoration is between God and humanity. When Adam sinned against God, there was a breach in the relationship. But God sent His son Jesus Christ so that there can be the restoration of relationship between God and man. Those who do not know Jesus will come into relationship with Him.
9. The Restoration of Life
In 2 Kings 4, there was a Shunamite woman who had a son, who died yet God restored her son to life through Elisha. We read of how the Shunamite woman laid her dead boy on Elisha’s bed, and how she set out to seek Elisha at Mount Carmel. The restoration of life happens when we surrender our dead situations to God and seek His face.
God will restore life in you! God will restore life into your situations. Whatever that has been robbed from you will be restored. The medical reports may be a death sentence. The doctors may say “will die.” But God says “will NOT die!”
10. The Restoration of Livelihood
There was no ability for livelihood or a future for the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7.
But as soon as she served the prophet, the restoration kicked in. God provided the oil for her to sell as a means of livelihood. Similarly, in the book of Job,
Job was a man who love and feared God.
The devil caused the enemy of his soul to take away, livestock, wealth, and children.
However, Job said “even if I die, I will not curse God.” He chose to remain faithful till the end and God restored him, not to former glory but even better glory.
Both the widow and Job show us, that we need to hold on, trust God till the end. Put God first. And watch the miracle of divine provision happen.
REDEEM RESTORE RECOMPENSE REPAY REDEEM RESTORE
envision WHY IS GOD RESTORING THE CHURCH?
God is about to do something in the world. And He’s positioning the church for His mandate. God is restoring us so that we can step in, and be part of a strong church, not weak or wounded. God is restoring us so that the church of Jesus Christ will be stronger than ever before. Jesus is coming for a glorious bride. God is restoring us for His mandate. Trinity’s Decade of Expansion is now culminating with the World Assemblies of God Fellowship’s (WAGF) global initiative MM33. MM33 represents the collaborative effort of WAGF to engage in the greatest work of evangelism, discipleship, and church planting the world has ever seen. With full reliance on the Holy Spirit, the fellowship will collectively foster a growing revival, leading to Kingdom expansion as more people encounter the Gospel! The Great Commission is His mandate and our mission.
RECOMPENSE
REPAY
REDEEM
RESTORE We need to position ourselves for this restorative work of God, first in our lives, RECOMPENSE and then the restorative work in lives around the world. Let’s arise, lay hold, and move forward with this prophetic REPAY message of Restoration for His Mandate REDEEM ! PASTOR DOMINIC YEO is the Lead Pastor RESTORE of Trinity Christian Centre. Follow him on social media at PDomYeo Hear this message and others at www.trinity.sg (Watch > Sermons) or on the Trinity app.
Reflecting and Responding to the Word
Take time to interact with the Word of God. Together with your family or spiritual family, discuss these questions and pray God’s restoration into the various areas. 1. What areas of degeneration do we see in our lives, family, and society? (e.g., complacency, self-centeredness, neglecting God, sin and idolatry)
2. Among the 10 areas of restoration. Which one(s) are you believing God for and why?
3. What are some things you will do differently as you press onward to seek God’s restoration in the area(s) you’ve identified?
TOWARD ONE MILLION AG CHURCHES IN 2033
HIS MANDATE, OUR MISSION
2033 marks the second millennium of the ascension of Jesus Christ and the beginning of Pentecost.
It’s a significant milestone worth celebrating. By then, the world’s population is forecast to surpass eight billion.
The years preceding 2033 are just as important. There’s a need to heighten awareness of Jesus’ Commission in Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The name of this global initiative is MM33. MM is the roman numeral for 2,000 years while 33 is the year Jesus gave us the Great Commission. MM also means Mandate and Mission that were given to believers in AD33.
MM33 represents the collaborative effort of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF) to engage in the greatest work of evangelism, discipleship, and church planting the world has ever seen. With full reliance on the Holy Spirit, the fellowship will collectively foster a growing revival, leading to Kingdom expansion as more people encounter the Gospel.
The collective body of WAGF is seeking the Lord and taking steps to grow to one million churches by the 2000th anniversary of Jesus Christ’s resurrection and the Day of Pentecost in 2033 and continuing the mission.
The 11-year lead time aims to give all Assemblies of God (AG) churches around the world sufficient time to align their plans with this global initiative. It will also enable momentum to be built and to stir congregations to greater urgency to pray, reach out and make disciples. In 2033, a slew of events will be organized to celebrate the Jubilee of Jubilees and the revival as one global family in Christ.
PROPHETIC WORD RELEASED IN 2017
Since it was founded, WAGF has always participated in world evangelism. An unprecedented period of growth happened during the Decade of Harvest from1990-2000, and by God’s grace, has since continued to expand with approximately 370,0000 churches and almost 70 million adherents. A prophetic exhortation shared at the 2017 World Assemblies of God Congress asked the Lord of the Harvest to help, grow WAGF to one million churches in 2033.
Now, more than ever, AG churches are globally connected, with more than 160 national councils from over 140 countries. It has more people and more resources than it ever had in its history. This has ignited evangelism efforts, with full reliance on the Holy Spirit, believing that it can expand the footprint of the Church around the world.
LEFT The late Dr George O. Wood
The Azusa Street Revival had such enduring fruitfulness precisely because Christ was exalted, the Word of God was the plumb line, and people responded to the gospel with repentance and baptism in water and in the Spirit. And, like the early Church, they were full of the Holy Spirit and went everywhere to share the good news!
The late Dr George O. Wood in AG Statement on Revival (2008)
There’s never been a better time to usher in a period of revival than now. Churches are growing in many parts of the world. The perfect combination of increased spiritual awareness and the desire to do the Will of God creates the ideal window to press in for revival.
If ever there was an appointed time in history for revival, it’s now and in the coming decade.
TAKING THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD
Many people have yet to hear the Good News. The world is crying out for a source of true hope, and Jesus is the answer! The Great Commission was given to take the Gospel to the whole world, and there is much work to be done.
MM33 is a covenant of brothers and sisters in Christ in a collective pursuit of building the Kingdom by fostering revival and expanding to one million churches. The pace of church planting and evangelism needs to exponentially grow to reach this goal in 2033.
The Lord has equipped believers for such a time as this. With a globally connected Movement of God spanning more than 140 countries; resources, churches, and members around the world have grown.
MM33 represents the effort to engage in the greatest work of evangelism, discipleship, and church planting the world has ever seen – to make known the name of Jesus and His offer of salvation and eternal life to every person on planet Earth.
Together, believers can impact the globe as the Gospel is shared, and to usher in global revitalization and revival!
Will you make it your mission to foster renewal in your heart and see revival happen in your family and community?
COVENANTING FOR KINGDOM EXPANSION
The world is evolving into a new normal following the pandemic. While new challenges have arisen, there’s also an acceleration in the move of the Spirit. Christ is coming back for a great rapture of the church. Jesus tarries for He desires none to perish. Churches and ministries need to spring into action to reap the greatest harvest of our time!
February 9, 2022 was a defining moment for us as the Assemblies of God. The Executive Council of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF) gathered both in Florida and online, covenanting to Kingdom Expansion.
“The signing of the MM33 (His Mandate, Our Mission) covenant signifies our united declaration, commitment and ownership toward evangelism, revival, discipleship, and global expansion,” says Dominic Yeo, Chairman of the MM33 Taskforce and Secretary of WAGF.
The seed for the initiative began in 2017 at the 8th World Assemblies of God Congress in Singapore. God released through the late Dr George Wood, a prophetic word – where churches around the world, working together with a mighty outpouring of the Spirit see the greatest evangelism and revival in our generation, to present to the Lord one million churches in the year 2033.
“As the Spirit of God enabled Dr George Wood to release the prophesy in 2017, we have gathered here, in person and online, by the Spirit of God. We aren’t just putting a mere signature. We put our signature on this covenant for the glory of God. The Lord is with us and we are going to see a great revival,” says David Mohan, acting chairman of WAGF.
Would you be a part of MM33 to work toward a shared common vision, fulfill the Great Commission, and participate in the greatest evangelism that the world has ever seen?
More information on MM33 is available at www.mm33.global.
God has given us the opportunity to relaunch the AG in all the world. MM33 is an opportunity for every AG church to be on the same page. MM33 will be our main priority and agenda for the next 11 years leading up to 2033. We are committed to see our fraternity coming together to make this the greatest move of God.
Ricardo Castillo, Executive council member of WAGF and General Superintendent of AG in Costa Rica.
There is no such thing as a junior Holy Spirit. All over the world, boys and girls as young as eight and nine are listening to the whisper of God. They will not only dream about what the kingdom of God will look like in 2033, they will be the ones planting and leading churches. We can’t wait to see what God will do as we raise the next generation.
Heath Adamson, Next Gen Commission, WAGF
107 countries are now sending out missionaries. Just a few years ago, there were fewer than 50. There’s incredible potential for growth and new missionaries to be sent. Part of this will take place among the 10/40 window and unreached people groups. We are so excited to see 40,000 missionaries sent around the world to participate and contribute to that vision of seeing a million churches.
Brad Walz, Missions Commission Chair, WAGF The Assemblies of God USA is so excited to be in partnership with WAGF for MM33. I can’t think of a more unifying vision to position us as this great Pentecostal body to see the Great Commission fulfilled.
Doug Clay, General Superintendent, AG USA
MM33 is a vision that invites us to be intentional with Church growth in south of Europe and all over the world. The south Europe region of the world was the crater of the expansion of the church. From now to 2033, I believe we need to reawaken the expansion of the church like never before in history.
Pastor Juan Carlos, General Superintendent, AG Spain
We believe that a spirit-empowered, healthy thriving church is the hope of the world. Lost vision is the reason churches plateau and decline. We are going to do everything we can to reverse that, getting people to change the way they think, so that their vision is to win the world and complete the Great Commission.
Alton Garrison, Church Health Commission Chair, WAGF
I believe this platform is going to propel the church forward. It is not an impossible dream but it is a reality that is going to happen by the year 2033 – where we are going to see over a million Assemblies of God churches around the world!
Rob Hoskins, Senior Advisor, Church Planting Commission, WAGF
REAL LIFE MIRACLES
FROM 4,000 PAINKILLERS TO COMPLETE BACK RESTORATION
BY EUGENE PHUA
EUGENE PHUA FROM AREA FIVE DID NOT BELIEVE GOD COULD HEAL HIM AFTER 20 YEARS OF EXTREME BACK PAIN. TODAY, HE HAS A BRAND NEW BACK AND HEART.
I suffered from a degenerative back for more than 20 years.
The only way out was surgery, but I wanted to avoid that as far as possible. I wished and hoped I would magically recover. The pain never went away. To dull the pain, I have taken more than 4,000 tablets of painkillers over the last two decades. The pain in the initial years was unbearable.
I had no choice but to live with it.
In April 2020, the pain returned with a vengeance. Due to long hours of sitting and working from home, I found myself back in the state of unimaginable discomfort. Shooting aches ran up and down my right leg with frequent episodes of numbness. My spine was visibly skewed to the right.
What would be a relaxing journey for a normal person to the supermarket was a torment for me. I couldn't walk for long and had to sit after walking no farther than 100 meters.
I wasn’t even able to carry my young daughter.
I spent considerable time and money looking for alternative treatments, but nothing helped. Throughout this period, however, my wife and sisters-in-law prayed for God’s healing upon me.
I knew who Jesus was and attended church with my wife occasionally at Trinity, but I found it very difficult to have faith, especially when prayers for healing were not answered immediately. Though I found it hard for me to believe that God would heal me, my wife and our Connect Group leader Kok Wai continued to intercede for me, and even called our CG members to pray for my restoration.
As they prayed, God worked in my heart. Beyond my physical pain, I struggled with many other condemning thoughts. For example, I believed that healing was transactional and in order to receive it, I needed to earn favor with God first.
God opened the door for me to begin attending DEW (Divine Exchange and Wholeness) Ministry counseling sessions at Trinity, which demolished wrong belief systems holding me back from a personal relationship with God.
Something shifted within me and I began to see that God loved me and had a purpose for my life.
When on-site services resumed, I decided to attend church every Sunday with my wife, and not just attend absent-mindedly like I did in the past. I listened attentively and intentionally prepared my heart to meet God every week. I truly experienced a breakthrough in my heart – I could finally believe.
Physically, I was still struggling with my back pain and finally decided to opt for surgery. At the same time, I prayed: “God, if there is a better plan for me than surgery, please give me the clearest sign.”
A week before my scheduled surgery, the Tan Tock Seng Hospital cluster took place and all elective and non-urgent procedures were deferred indefinitely.
I wondered to myself if this was the sign that I asked for.
Come August, the surgery was rescheduled a second time. I had begun to see signs of improvement without any treatment. It was then my wife asked me this milliondollar question: “Do you believe God has healed you?”
I was afraid to answer because I was not sure if the back pain would return later. Suddenly, fresh faith welled up inside of me.
X-ray of Eugene's curved spine
I picked up the phone, called my doctor, and canceled the surgery.
Canceling the surgery meant a complete nullification of almost four months’ worth of polyclinic visits, specialist referrals, MRI tests, x-rays, blood tests, and other pre-admission tests.
But it was worth it.
Ever since I took that leap of faith, it has been breakthrough after breakthrough. My scoliosis is gone. My back is now as straight as any normal adult’s. Even though I still work from home with prolonged hours sitting at my desk, I experience zero pain without painkillers. I can even contort my back in every way imaginable and not feel an ounce of the pain that used to be triggered in the past.
The best part is I get to carry my daughter in my arms again.
My colleagues who see me now say that they can tell something is visibly different about me. I’m standing taller, straighter, and taking longer walks without needing to stop for breaks. They’ve asked me, “Which TCM do you go to? Who’s your chiropractor?”
For the first time, I am courageous enough to tell them, “None of that worked for me. It was God who healed me.”
Today, I can no longer deny that God is real. After twenty years of back pain, I am completely healed by God’s grace. Beyond a brand-new back, the bigger miracle is that He has also given a brand-new heart. He has changed my heart of stone – cold and skeptical – to a heart of flesh that is receptive to Him.
I believe Jesus can heal all who call upon Him and is our prayer answering God!
Watch Eugene's Real Life Miracle by scanning here
