HOPE WAM MINISTRIES GLOBAL MISSION TRIP
A team of individuals from our Hope WAM (Worship, Arts, Media) Ministries headed to Hope Manila in the Philippines with a mission to conduct a WAM training seminar that would impact generations to come. The trip took place from August 21st to 24th 2014.
It was the first initiative of its kind; the team housed a mix of brothers and sisters from Brisbane, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and even Indonesia, led by Pastor Torch Leung from Hope Brisbane, and Steven Yeoh, the technical director behind Hope Singapore’s impressive sound and visual layout. The WAM workshop, that spread across 4 days included a series of sermons on the heart behind a true worshipper, along with practical workshops that focused on imparting technical expertise, experience, and heart behind serving God as a vocalists, as musicians, as the sound crew, as photographers and videographers.
It was an amazing time spent getting to know the members of Hope Manila, members from the other Hope churches in Philippines, and volunteers from AFJC (Ambassadors for Jesus Christ) that took the time and effort to join in on the seminar. Their desire to learn more about worship, and their passion to serve God and His church was humbling. It served as a great reminder of why we do missions – to empower other churches and communities with what God has gifted us with. On the other hand, watching our team go beyond their comfort zones, rising up to teach workshops, and even adapting their classes to the needs of the people and facility was incredibly heart-warming. God was definitely there with us, as we experienced wave after wave of His grace and love in worship.
We even had the privilege to be hosted by the CCF (Christ’s Commission Fellowship) team. The team graciously took us around their church building, explaining details of their physical and spiritual infrastructure along the way, and even closed with an FAQ session and complimentary lunch. To think that the core team from a mega church, of more than 10,000 members took the time to arrange a full-program of impartation for us; we could not be more grateful for their rooted-servant hood hearts. God blessed us with this learning experience and we have also been equipped and challenged to grow even more in our own areas of ministries.
Although the time we had in Manila was short, it was fruitful – new seeds were sown, and friendships were planted. As Jesus said in the bible, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 - NIV) May this mission trip spark many more others to come; a mission that brings together Christ-followers across nations with the same heart to impart their resources and gifting unto others.
