A community of Christ's disciples

In the last couple of years, the LORD has faithfully led us as a church in the journey of being an intentional disciplemaking church. We praise Him for granting us so clearly the mission to “live the gospel and make disciples to reach the world for Christ”.

     Living the gospel involves the state of being. It is about who we are. It is about the work of the gospel in our lives. It is about the power of the gospel to transform our inner man so that our life displays the joyful outcome of trusting and obeying Christ.

     Making disciples involves action. It is about what we do. It is about the passion of wanting others to experience the saving power of the gospel too. It is about bringing the gospel to the lost, and engaging in life-to-life discipling.

     We praise God that He did not call us to be isolated believers. It is His intention that we express our discipleship in a community – the body of Christ. All that happens in the church is to help us fulfil this mission of living the gospel and making disciples. Our pulpit series, mid-size groups, small groups and other platforms, all exist to serve our mission. 

Nevertheless, these platforms can become mere activities in the church calendar if members have no ownership to grow as disciples of Christ together. To be a child of God is to become Christ’s disciple. As Pastor David once mentioned in his sermon: “Being a Christian means becoming a disciple of Christ; there is no difference between the two”. Will you seek to grow as a disciple of Christ in the year 2013? Let us take ownership of our walk with the Lord.

     In the coming weeks, we will be using the pulpit to share with you the main thrusts that the church will be having in 2013. They shouldn’t surprise you. Since the Lord has so clearly given us our vision and mission, we will do well to excel and deepen in these specific areas.

     We have also prepared an exciting handbook to articulate our desire to grow as an authentic community of Christ’s disciples. A companion guide that goes along with this handbook points us to the platforms available in the church to support us in the areas we desire to grow in. The handbook and its companion guide will be made available next week during our corporate worship gatherings. Remember to collect them!

     Finally, we must not be mistaken to think that the center of our existence is Intentional Disciplemaking, or our Mission and Vision Statements. Rather, all these serve the Center of our existence. Jesus Christ is the Center of existence! He is our all in all. May Jesus Christ always be the center of our lives, and this church.  Amen?

  By Rick Toh, Lead Pastor

Baptism Service on Sun, 4 Nov

We praise God for the 10 brothers and sisters in Christ who went through the waters of baptism on Sunday 4 November 2012, along with two who transferred membership.


The next Baptism Service will be held in May 2013.

Our vision: Planted. Professing. Purposeful.

Our vision expressed in three words: Planted. Professing. Purposeful.

Thank You, Lord! Celebrating YCKC's 58th Anniversary

Yio Chu Kang Chapel celebrated its 58^th Anniversary on Sunday, 7 October 2012. In a special combined service, we had a time of thanksgiving, prayer and praise for God’s goodness in our lives and the life of the church, and sharing of the vision for our church.

Inaugural 'Living' and 'Making' Conference

 Learning what it means to live the gospel and make disciples...

We thank and praise God for the good response to the “Living” and “Making” Conference held last Sunday, 22 July. At the morning worship service, guest speaker Ps Jason Lim delivered a simple and powerful message on disciplemaking, entitled ‘A Few Good Men’. After the service, 110 people stayed back for lunch and a time of prayer for the lost, followed by afternoon workshops. At the separate workshops, missionary John Oo shared about world missions in ‘Preaching Christ across the Seas’. Florence Yeow from YCK Gospel Hall shared about ‘Preaching Christ to the seniors and elderly’ and Lau Ying Kheng from Campus Crusade for Christ shared about a lifestyle of evangelism in ‘Preaching Christ with and without words’.

 

Passing the Baton

The time has come for Pastor David Yap to pass the pastoral leadership baton to Pastor Rick Toh. We are very thankful to the Lord for His guidance. Over the past four years, following Ps David’s expressed desire to complete his term serving on the pastoral staff team, the elders of the church sought the Lord for His choice of a successor. It is with great joy that all the elders were led of the Lord to invite Rick to serve in the pastoral team. Rick was also similarly guided by the Lord. We praise the Lord that He has clearly affirmed to us His choice. Rick has had the opportunity of working closely with David over the past two years. With effect from 1 July 2012, Rick assumes responsibility as Pastor-in-Charge. The elders have asked David to serve as Advisory Pastor. He will be serving in an honorary capacity. David continues serving on the Board of Elders.

Shi Pau Soon, Chairman

Board of Elders  

 

Still Building, Still Growing

"For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building." – 1 Corinthians 3:9

More than a year ago, one of our under-shepherds shared 1 Corinthians 3:9 with the others. It was a reminder that our Lord is always working to accomplish His purposes in the church. We are simultaneously God’s field and God’s building and God’s fellow workers. This precious word from the Lord eventually become the theme verse for this year’s church camp, which took place earlier this week.

This camp is an important milestone in YCKC’s “intentional disciple-making church” process. Our journey thus far has already brought about a new mission statement and core values, new ministries and outreach platforms, and new partners in kingdom work. We are as a church conscious that our Chief Shepherd is in the renovation business (Rev 21:5)!

A faithful servant of God and a friend of YCKC, Pastor Daniel Foo, ministered powerfully to nearly 150 of us at the camp.

We worshipped God in Spirit and in truth, with greater fervency than ever before.

Our leaders prayed for the church, and the members in turn prayed for the leaders. Hearts were stirred and challenged, tears were shed, and minds were provoked. Many have returned with joyful testimonies of having encountered the Lord, receiving healing, affirmation or a personal message from Him. In the weeks ahead we will share individual testimonies with the church.

Praise God! What we are seeing is new life being infused into YCKC. It cannot but cause change, growth, transformation – call it what you like. Awe and anticipation are appropriate responses to what God is doing. We know that He already has the blueprint and He is doing the work. In His good time and by His good pleasure, we will become a church befitting the term “bride of Christ”. Each of us should arise to be ready, diligent and faithful partners of God in this adventure. To Him alone be all glory, honour and praise!

- Elder Aaron Lee