PASTOR SIMON ENG MESSAGE

[Photos: Global Conference in Chaing Mai, Thailand]

Hi dear HIM family. We are entering a new year; 2011 is upon us. Allow me to share my New Year message with you.

Building intimacy with Christ

Firstly, I want to encourage us to continue to carve out time to seek God. I think it is important for us to really develop a strong and deep relationship with God for 2011. God is our strength; God is our inspiration. Often times, we go about doing our work and we go about doing much of our administrative and pastoral work without spending enough time with God. For the January prayer focus, I have sent out a circular so that we can continue to pray for ourselves and pray our movement as well. I want to encourage us to be really able to carve out time, to spend that time with God. Do not forget; do not neglect our time with God.



Stepping out in faith

Secondly, I want to encourage us to also think about charting new waters. These are walks of faith as we build our churches and as we look at expanding God’s vision. We need to step out in faith because God honours faith. You know when we plan for our activities, when we plan for our churches, when we plan for our people, continue to carve out and chart new waters. This could be projects, this could be activities; but it requires us to step out in faith.



Creating momentum in our churches

The third area I like us to focus on is to think about creating momentum. Create momentum from our churches, bringing it right down to our care groups/life groups – all the way down. In order for our churches to continue to multiply, in order for our groups to continue to multiply, there needs to be momentum. Momentum comes through life activities. We need to ask the Lord, we need to plan with our people how to create activities that bring life, activities that bring excitement, activities that cause us to bring about a momentum in our churches and people. If you have been stuck and you are wondering where you can create life activities, where can I create life, I think you can do a few things. You could look into the Bible; you could communicate with some of our leaders in various centres around the world or you could look at some of our churches that have been successful in creating momentum. I am sure throughout our movement, there are many leaders that have great ideas. Create momentum that will help us continue to propel the church forward.

Equipping and extending the leadership team

The next thing I want to encourage us to do, fourthly, is to commission new leaders. In order for us to expand the work of God, new leaders are always required. They could be leaders of pastoral ministries, leaders of departments, leaders of the marketplace, leaders of people groups in our cities and nation. I think we sometimes forget about the people that God has prepared; I want to encourage us all of the need to continually raise new leaders. You know if we have our existing group of people – that is great! However, more than that, we need to continue to identify, train and equip and raise new leaders to bring a fresh touch and a fresh approach to all that we have been doing.



Supporting and caring for leaders

Finally, on the fifth aspect, I encourage us all to show care towards all our leaders, show care towards our department heads, show care towards people who have been shouldering loads of work with us. I want to encourage you to extend your pastoral heart and reach to them, encourage them throughout the year. It is so they can really experience and sense our appreciation and care for them.

I pray that as we embark on 2011, staring in January and right through the year, we will continue to believe for God’s favour and right through the year, we continue to believe that God will expand his work through each one of us who are committed with passion to expand the kingdom of God.

God bless you and a happy 2011.

Pastor Simon Eng
President of HIM
www.byhim.org

Global Conference - Passion
Chaing Mai, Thailand Jan 2011