St James' Church

It has been more than two years since the 2005 AGM passed a resolution on the project. It has not been an easy journey, but here we are and like the way we pull aside for a rest stop in our car journeys up country, it is good to pause to give thanks. 
We have just passed the 6.5 million. We have various groups taking initiative and actively pursuing the various projects: the Fund-raising committee, the Anniversary Dinner, Family A’fair and the Rebuilding Project itself (where Simon Ho is doing a lot to of admin and paper work). There are also various personal efforts that many members are making. There are also those who are praying faithfully for the project. All these efforts include both the English and Chinese congregations.
All these are motivated by love for Christ and His church. I remember a simple Negro Spiritual I used to sing, “Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart...” It will be the simple touches and little evidences along the way which will help us see our own heart (and identify them in each other) for what they are in Christ-likeness. The sum of 12 to 13 million is a huge sum of course but when seen as a collective project (of a community of 600 adults - and more - if we factor future growth and why we are rebuilding), it is by no means a huge sum. If each one of us make our own little sacrifices, it is possible.
I pause to give thanks for many of you who are supporting the work of the Lord and in obviously a season of change (and thus, stress), is doing your little bit to make it easier for everybody (especially me!). There are still many decisions to make along the way and I ask that we continue to pray and wait upon Him for wisdom that we may do what is right each step of the way. The work is certainly far more than what one man can do or imagine, and the collective leadership and serving as teams will help us not only to survive this season, but grow through it as well.
Meanwhile, the spiritual rebuilding (which is to happen all the time) continues as we help each other to follow the Lord and help others outside to come to know Him. Be faithful to prayer, the bible studies, the expressions of koinonia (especially cell meetings) and loving your friends/family for His kingdom. Alpha is starting again, and in the midst of varied responsibilities, I am thankful that we have a course which reminds us of our essential calling as a church.
I will be away in London from today till Saturday, supporting our Archbishop in some Communion work. Pray that I will be effective and diligent in the support work and to focus on Christ always as we deal with complex issues dividing the Anglican family. Some of these decisions may not have an impact immediately (especially for us here), but it could well change the course of our Anglican Church.
Meanwhile, let us continue to allow the message from the book of Joel to speak into our lives.