A NEW FEATURE
We add a new feature starting this week. "Dare to Run" is the title of a song that was popular among those who attended the Youth Conference (11-15 Dec 2000).
This new column will be serviced by all who made decisions to "walk worthy of the calling with which they were called" (Eph. 4:2). There were a number of conferees who made some very definite decisions to walk with the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Teacher. They have expressed great keenness in learning how to be Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A number of testimonies were written by the Conferees. These will be published in this new column that we have just begun. God willing, these testimonies will prove to be a source of encouragement and blessing to all who read.
Testimonies provide insight into the Christian life and faith. They can be very touching because they are personal and written from the heart. Testimonies written by the Conferees can be that much more meaningful, especially to those who attended the Youth Conference. There is a special sense of camaraderie simply because of the fact that they spent a week together in the study of God's Word.
You are invited to write to any of the Church Pastors. We would like to hear from you. This is a special opportunity for you to practise sharing your faith over the internet. You can introduce your friends to our Church website. Who knows whether hearts will be touched and blessed. Get involved. Plan to write and share your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
AN INTERACTIVE PASTORAL APPROACH
In addition to the publishing of these testimonies, the Church Pastors will interact with those who have written. Hopefully, the testimonies will become even more sharply defined in theological worth through this interactive approach.
It is good to be able to share a testimony. It could be even more significant if there is an additional pastoral input. Together, the testimony you write can provide an even more meaningful impact on readers.
Let's work together on this matter of sharing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord help us to sustain this effort. Let us remember to pray for this new feature our Internet Edition of the Bethany Bulletin.
"I
WILL WALK WORTHY"
Christopher
Lai, (IPC Vic. Park, Perth, W.A.)
Last year's camp impacted me in a very special way. I had been a Christian for 2 years, but I knew that I was not worthy to be called a Christian for those 2 years. I only attended the Morning Worship, but most of the time I spent it battling to keep awake.
I bore no fruit. I hear the Name of Jesus every Sunday, but did I really know Him? I knew the basics. There was a God. He sent Jesus to die for me. I am saved from hell.
I look back two years and I now see how gracious God has been to me. I had selfishly shut Him out of my life. I wanted His salvation but also the pleasures of the world!
At the Youth Conference in 1999, I was introduced to the idea of studying God's Word. I was truly moved and I sought to become a Disciple of Christ. That sounded nice. Little did I realize that it would change my entire life.
A verse in Luke's Gospel struck me one day. "Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
I wept as these words stuck in my mind. I had been so ungrateful. "O wretched man that I am!"
At that moment, I cried out to God to forgive me. I remember the words that I used to cry out to God. "Lord, please mould me into the person You want me to be."
I began to serve in the YPG, Junior Worship. I also began to search the Scriptures for answers, comfort, strength, guidance etc.
I found myself loving the Lord so much more. I started to pray naturally, as a response to the reading of the Word of God.
The Lord has been working in my life throughout this year. At this year's Youth Conference I presented myself as a "living sacrifice" to the Lord. I now seek to be a soldier of God. I want to walk worthy of God's calling. I have much to learn for I want to be rooted in the Word of God. I also want to help weaker Christians. I would like to learn how to proclaim the Word of God.
At the consecration night of the Youth Conference, I committed myself to being a soldier of the Lord. I am weak, but He is strong. I will endure and fight this war to the end. I will seek to walk worthy of the name, "Christian".
PASTORAL RESPONSE
Take time to read Christopher's challenging testimony carefully. Many have not grown as much in their faith in the Lord because they want to have both Christ and the world. Chris discovered that one cannot have both. There must come a time when an important decision must be made. Chris chose wisely. He chose to walk worthy of the Lord's calling.
We rejoice with the new-found joy in Christopher's life. This kind of joy comes with good growth. Anyone can have this kind of growth in life, if only one would be serious about growing one's faith.
Take time to read the example of the Thessalonian Church. The members turned from the world of idolatry to Christ. Remarkable changes took place. Soon they became an example of the believers to people far and wide.
May the Lord help us to take our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ seriously. We would make far better progress in our life.
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie
