HOGC Assembled 2023 just happened last Saturday.
If I can summarise it in one word for myself, it’s ‘calling’.
It was a significant day because we installed four new pastors and promoted three senior pastors. This brings our leadership to another level as we now have five senior pastors and nine pastors in total! 🤯
If you want to know why this is important, make sure to read this article. 🔍
This has great impact on our church as a whole. But it also means a whole lot to me. Because it shows that dreams do come true. It reminds me that if I stick to my God-given calling, I will find it.
I’ve also come to realise that…
Purpose is not a position, but a process.
Destiny is not a destination, but a direction.
Dreams are not just about what we do, but what we decide.
Growing up in Heart of God Church for over 10 years, I’ve seen how my pastors live their lives. They love God and people with passion. They aren’t pastors because they’ve been given the official “position”. They are pastors because they already lead, love and live like one. They were already going through the daily process of making godly decisions. They constantly headed in God’s direction, not theirs.
Of course, this doesn’t mean they are perfect. None of us are!
But just like what Pastor How shared during Assembled, they’ve committed to grow in their character. And that commitment has brought them along their journey to where they are now. Their official installation and promotion as pastors are a celebration and recognition of their character and convictions. Pastors, if you’re reading this, we are celebrating with you! 🥳
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:23 (NLT)
I used to think that God calls us once, and we fulfill His calling when we finally reach that “ideal” state that we imagined.
But God calls us daily.
No matter what we think our purpose looks like, we can live it out every single day.
What we envision is important but only a milestone. It’s not the endgame.
HOGC Assembled 2023 in itself was a huge milestone. But it’s also only a beginning and a reminder.
It’s a personal reminder for me to stay committed to God, to keep developing Christ-like character. It’s a reminder to continue dreaming, believing, loving, praying…
God calls us daily to “carry our cross”. And if we decide to obey Him, to grow in our character, to put Him and others above ourselves, we can trust that this adventure will lead us closer to our “canon” story and its Author.
My pastors are proof of that.
Who knows? Some of us here might become pastors too one day. 😉
Note to self: Live the dream daily. Put yourself through the process. Seek and heed His direction. Make godly decisions.
It’s so easy to hit ‘Publish’ and continue living the same way. It’s so easy to say “Amen” and not do anything different. It’s so easy to go for a big faith-filled event and not actually grow afterwards.
But let me remember my calling every day. And let me live it.
Thank you Pastors (all nine of you). You remind me how rewarding it is to live for God.
Seeing all of you fulfilling your calling in a big way puts such faith and hope in my heart. It keeps the dreamer in me believing.
You know, what one of my friends said recently have stuck with me.
Our church started with nine youths and a group of adults. Now, we have nine pastors and thousands of young people, members and volunteers.
Truly, all things are possible with God.
Can’t wait for everything He will do in and through us in the months and years to come.
Ending this post with lyrics from one of my favourite worship songs:
“If You’re calling, we’re coming.
We’re not walking; we’re running.”
Comma 