Year 2017 is winding down to a close and a New Year is just around the corner. At times like this, it is good to take a step back and do some spiritual reflections on the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord to our church for this year.
For Etab, year 2017 is the year when we witnessed the torrential restoration of the Lord upon our Church. In 2015, the church went through the “Negev” season where “dryness” was the test for the finance of our church. In the midst of that “Negev” trial, God led me to pray this prayer from Psalm 126:4 (amp) – Restore our captivity, O LORD, As the stream-beds in the South (the Negev) [are restored by torrents of rain].” God heard my prayer and He used 2017 as the year to rain down His restorative blessing torrentially.
FINANCIALLY, God ensured that Etab has more than enough to sustain the ministries and our commitment to the communities. RELATIONALLY, the DJ cell groups have bonded very well with one another and have taken up ownership in the four essentials of SDC (Simple Discipleship Church). MISSIONALLY, year 2017 is the year when we sent our first missionary couple – Pastors Edgar and Rowena on 10 October 2017 to plant a church at Kampong Speu, Cambodia. God is good as to stir our congregation to participate in the Mission Faith Pledge so that we do not have to solicit foreign funding for our first foreign mission work. SPIRITUALLY, there were few powerful encounters with the Holy Spirit like the powerful prophetic touch of the Holy Spirit upon key leaders during the Kingdom Invasion at Singapore; the Spiritual Emphasis week with Pastor-Prophet James Singh and the Leaders’ Retreat at Damires with Pastor Peter Chng, not to mention the Youth Encounter with God during their summer camp and lock-in nite last month.
Year 2017 is also the year when we started releasing lay leaders into key positions like preaching on the Sunday service to the main congregation; directing the Youth Church and the Kiddie Church. This year is the start of nurturing the next generation to be the successors of Etab in the near future. It is time to let the younger ones lead with the older ones taking a step back and functioning as mentors and advisors.
After all the tears, heartache and pain for the last four years, 2017 marks the 5th year and it is indeed a year when God binds up all our wounds.
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“He has torn that he may heal us;
He has stricken, and he will bind us up:
After two days he will revive us;
On the third day he will raise us up,
That we may live before him.” (Hosea 6:1-2)
Truly, year 2017 is the year that we see the Lord healing us, binding us, reviving us and above all – raising us up so that we at Etab may live before Him.
Glory be to our good and faithful Yahweh for such a great year!!!!
