A Singaporean Christian's Concept of Gospel - Liddat oso can

By Sharon Mah

Last night I felt called out… Not in a bad way… A familiar sensation of the Divine eyebrow being raised in my direction with an affectionate smile. "I see ya and no worries you're still My gal."

Hearing faith friends drop truth bombs like…

Our lack of margin could actually be repeated attempts to validate ourselves…

We fall into busyness maybe because we believe Jesus will love us a little more for being productive…

There's a story in the Bible about a father with 2 sons, who couldn't be more different. The younger son demands his share of the inheritance and runs off to squander it in decadence, only to return back in poverty, tail between his legs. Dad is ecstatic at his choice to return and throws him a huge homecoming party, no recriminations. It's the elder son's reaction that hits me every time.

‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here (working for you, being productive, bringing in results) never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’

Look what I did. See what I’ve done. I did the job. I was the one.

See me.

Notice me.

The corporate clamor. The professional push. 

Even the religious rush… I read that faith without works is dead, but when does faith in action start to become slavish striving? Ouch…

But it’s a good ouch. A reminder to me that my own faith journey is a perennial onion-peeling of masks (productive and otherwise) accumulated over years of validating myself through what I do. 

"The way of the Christian leader is not the way of upward mobility in which our world has invested so much, but the way of downward mobility ending on the cross,” according to Henri Nouwen. The cross where there’s no hiding from all the ways in which I am broken.

But I need this, for here is where I begin to grasp why Christians call the gospel ‘good news’.

Tim Keller explains it so well. "The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

And God knows I need this, so that I can hear dad’s reply to the elder son… “My boy, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours.” 

You have everything already. Not because of what you do.

I see you. Broken pieces and all. And I love it all enough to still give you everything. Gospel. Good news.

In Singlish (Singaporean English), we have a local phrase, “Liddat oso can!?” (English - Like that also can?) It is usually in “response to feats of achievement or actions which are almost impossible, or unexpected. Usually with a tinge of awe, sarcasm or scepticism.”

Gospel. Good News. Liddat oso can!? Can.  :)

Sharon Mah is a Senior Consultant at ROHEI Learning & Consulting in Singapore. She is a part of our Resource Global Family as staff, teacher, and mentor.

Changing Lenses

By Jacquie Njoroge

In 2019, I started a new tradition. I decided that before the end of every year, I would begin to ponder about the theme for the incoming year. That theme would set the tone for many of the things God and I would do throughout the year. 2020 was the year of expansion, and I can tell you that had I known what 2020 had in store for me personally, I am 80% sure I wouldn’t have chosen such a theme or made such a proclamation. 

Despite the chaos that came with the realisation of the theme of expansion, I embarked on a journey of understanding. As 2020 came to a close, one thing was certain; many things were about to change in my life. I didn’t know the what or the how, but I did know that change was coming, and it would be massive, and one of them revolves around writing.

2021 became my year of confidence. I remember struggling with this proclamation for some time, and for two major reasons. The first is that for the longest time, I struggled with having confidence in myself. The second is that I wasn't sure I was ready to have confidence in myself as bold as the proclamation sounded. 

Proverbs 19:21 says “that many are the plans of a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” I sat there with a proclamation I didn’t believe in or understand, but then something interesting began to happen.

God started to show up in the unlikeliest of places.
He began showing up in my dreams.
He began showing up in the way I plan my routine.
He even began showing up in my menu for the week, and that started to work something in me.

You see, for the longest time, confidence in me meant confidence in my ability. Confidence in me was captured through the lens of what I could and could not do. Confidence in me meant I was as good enough as I saw myself, and this was dangerous, especially when I failed at something. Failure coloured my lenses in certain areas and I had declared myself a second class citizen in many things, simply because I felt I was not good enough. I had labelled myself based on an imperfect analysis of who I was, and that had influenced a lot of the decisions I had made. This went on for a long time but it was time to change the lenses through which I saw myself. It was time to see myself through the lenses of the one who made me; my Creator.

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?

For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honour. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen — even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas”

— Psalm 8:3-8

I don’t know about you, but when I read this scripture this year, something shifted inside of me. I began to understand one thing I have missed for the last twenty-six years and ten months of my life. My confidence cannot be pegged on how I see myself, no; it must be pegged on who my Creator says I am. After all, He took time and made me. When He thought about creating the world, somewhere in His mind was a little girl called Jacquie born in a family of two children and with a mother and father of two Bantu tribes. He knew I would have one brother and that although we would be friends, we would be very different, and that was okay. 

I needed to change the way I see myself. Actually, He needed to change the way I see myself and change He did. In the last 3 months, I have learnt to see myself through three new lenses.

One lens says I am enough. God's creation of me was not a cosmic happenstance or a mindless accident. It was intentional and by design. And because it was by design, I cannot live as though I need to prove myself. 

The second lens says that I matter. Anyone who has struggled with self-worth will tell you they have felt like they do not matter. Like their presence or lack thereof would not make a difference, but guess what, it does. My existence makes a difference. In my family, in my workplace and even in my community. My existence does something somewhere, even when sometimes I don't feel it. Someone somewhere says they have a best friend because I exist. Someone somewhere thinks they have a great sister because I exist. Someone somewhere may have fallen in love and said they would want to spend the rest of their life with me. Who knows? To all these people I matter.

The last lens says that I am loved. This may not make a difference to you, but for me, it means everything. When I look back over the years and see the prayer requests I made, I know I am loved because the specificity to which God answered those prayers is too meticulous to call it a coincidence. My being here today is evidence of God's love for me because even where I am in all spheres of my life is an answered prayer and that in itself is a reason to rejoice.

These three lenses have taught me that I am here for a reason, and whether sometimes I know it or not, God is in the business of making sure I know what that reason is, whether in part or in whole. Ephesians 2:10 reminds me that I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that I should walk in them.

What this tells me is that God has a plan for me. That plan definitely involves other people because otherwise, there would be no need to exist in a family, a class or even a community. As I think about what to do and where to go, I must think about those who are around me and dare to dream. I must dare to dream because if God has prepared it, it means it can be done, and that gives me confidence enough.

I wonder what lenses colour your life that you are unable to see yourself as God sees you. Truth be told, even as I have three new lenses to see myself through, sometimes I still struggle, but each time I doubt, God is there to reassure me. I am on a journey and God doesn’t expect me to be perfect, only obedient. In the words of J. C. Ryle, “even the best of men, are men at best, and I think I can live with that.”

As we go through the seasons of life, one thing is evident, everything we go through and choose to do impacts someone. It could impact us solely as individuals, but oftentimes it affects more than just us. For this reason, we exist. To worship God in various forms of expression. By drawing, painting, acting, singing, defending the accused, treating the sick and even creating financial models for institutions that help them be better and do better. All of it needs each one of us because one person can't do it all. We need each other. I need you and you need me. And to do all these things, we all need confidence, I need confidence. Confidence in the One who made me, and confidence in who He says I am.

And so, as I write this today, I can boldly say that this is my year of confidence. Confidence in the One who gives me identity, and confidence in who I am in Him. And I look forward to seeing what that looks like for those He has placed and will place in my life both near and far. Until next time, adieu!

Jacquie Njoroge is part of 2021 Nariobi Cohort and is an Associate at a Law Firm in Nairobi. She is passionate about justice and reforming the legal industry.

The Hope in the Breaking and in the Making

By Tamara Dewi Gondo

During one Alumni zoom gathering, I listened attentively as other entrepreneurs from the previous cohort shared what God is teaching them. One alumni shared a story how his business was hit badly by the pandemic and he only had less than 6 months of runway. Drastic measures were taken, as well as budget cuts. I didn’t get it. Firstly, “For these Christian entrepreneurs who take God’s will seriously, how could their business be in peril?” I questioned God. Secondly, his face exuded peace and trust in God as He shared his story.

What others shared that day was foreign to me. 

Isn’t it that following Jesus and doing His will meant that He will bless our business so others can see how good He is?

Not long after, my business destabilized quicker than I could wrap my head around. Half the team left and we were a mess operationally. To make things worse, I was bed-rested with Covid. I was ready to close the business. These 2 weeks, God used to reveal my wrong way of doing God’s will.

___

I prided myself on doing my very best in the work God has gifted me. Upon a deeper heart check, it was this selfish desire to portray a ‘successful’ image with a Christian twist--”Look at me for what you can get from following Jesus!” (But that is not what the Gospel is about).

As a result, I often craft plans apart from Jesus. It made for being constantly overworked, with an underwhelmed soul. Each sick morning...

When I had little energy, I was forced to prioritize in the Giver of strength first.

When my body would remind me I needed rest, I rested.

When the cough held me from speaking, I learned only to speak words that build up.

Those whose flesh is not dealt with can only trust in their own planning; they cannot trust in God or believe in him. They can only fear and worry. Those who plan most, worry most.

When we do not trust in God and when we are satisfied by ourselves, we have to admit that God cannot prevail over us. When our minds are too active, and our heads are too big, we may be capable of doing many things, but we are useless in God's hand. Eventually, God has to touch our minds before His purpose in us can be fulfilled because we would never rest unless He makes us.

The isolated time was a space God allowed me to reset the way I am to live out His call. His hand is kind to stop me from running frantically--constantly burned out--as I was so used to. God made me tender. That I am no longer able to do things on my own accord nor boast in my own ‘craftiness’. I was taught to be malleable. To be fearful to keep in step with His. To desperately seek for His face, His will, and His strength daily. Surely, ‘His yoke is easy, His burden is light.’

He expanded my theology too. Following God’s will was not a sure proof that we will be successful entrepreneurs. For God cares more for the condition of our heart and who we are becoming, more than what our hands find to do. 

No longer am I daunted by the fear of failure. The size of the company was not the main focus for God anyway. Whether the Lord made us big or small, what matters is the purpose for which the Lord has through our venture, is accomplished.

“When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man,
And skill a man
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;

When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;”

God uses the breaking to mold us. And I leave it to Him, as jars of clay, for us to be broken to bless. To be blessed, in being broken.

“If ever I lift my head in price, may He humble me to the ground knowing no good things come apart from Him. If He sees fit to bless me with much success, I pray more that my depth of joy is found firstly in the Lord. And If He sees fit to deny me of my vision of success, I will remain in deep abiding peace in Him, my Creator”

The work is the means. The end is always, Jesus. 

Tamara was in the Jakarta Cohort in 2020 and is the CEO of Liberty Society is a transparent, ethical and sustainable fashion manufacturer & brand that empowers artisan mothers in Java Island, Indonesia.

A Season of Molding

By Sonia Wirya

Covid has been real for all of us. There is much to reflect on how God has been using this time to mold His children. Here is my take on how Covid had changed my life and my view of work.

Covid hit our family bad. We had to close down our family business of 20 years. This was a business which I gave my all to - restructuring after restructuring and many more. “Where did this add up to? What is the fruit of all those years? Have all that I’ve put in goes down the drain? What am I to do now?” Those were some questions haunting me shortly after the business closure.

But God is faithful, and God is good. The decision brought a certain lightness and relief to us as a family. We felt satisfied and God’s hand was truly evident. Not that everything was easy, but things simply flowed. We were grateful for the chance to steward this business along with the people, for this many years. We were able to pay what is due and see our employees “graduate”. And to help them also set foot on their next ventures.

I saw our employees give their all, to our very last days, as we “pack up”. And it was a feeling I can’t explain. Their dedication and spoken gratitude were a deep reward to us. Shortly after, there was also a social media thread of people (customers, employees and business partners) posting their fondest memories with us. To us, these were all evidence that what we poured into, has not gone to vain. An affirmation that we have done well and to our best ability. God was kind to answer my questions and doubts.

Through this process I have learned that everything will pass, and we must keep moving forward. When God moves us, no matter how uncertain it may be, follow. Because when we do, things work out for themselves - because God moves ahead. There was no extra lengthy analytical planning to our decision process this time. We simply prayed and waited and waited some more. And when we finally got the confirmation, we simply obeyed, and we proceeded. As simple as that.

We, as a family also experienced the value of corporate prayer, praying in unison and what it truly means to trust without overthinking. To leave the details to Him, and trust that He will reveal each step when we need to. I believe this was what made the process almost “effortless” and simple.

I also learned what it means to not hold things too tightly. God gives and God takes away. How we steward is of more concern to Him, because it is through that very process, He molds us. At the end of it all, God is more concerned about where we are with our journey and our character, rather than the physical fruits of the works He entrusted us with.

“At the end of it all, God is more concerned about where we are with our journey and our character, rather than the physical fruits of the works He entrusted us with. ”

Third, I began to really know, and see that everything is from God. This brought me a new perspective about how I see work. It brings a certain weight of responsibility in how I steward my existing ventures. As well as a certain lightness, and ease - because work becomes less of a burden and more of a journey. Work becomes a vehicle to mold me into a more Christ-like character. It shifts my perspective on how I see my relationship with work. It’s no longer about how much I achieve at work, and rather about where I am, character wise. How much I have changed and allowed the frictions and challenges at work to mold me to better character. I am now able to freely thrive rather than strive.

There is more to say, and I have surely learned a lot from this particular experience.

Today, I run two small scale businesses, with a much smaller team. We pivoted and took what we could from our previous business. In addition, God had also given me an opportunity to revisit some long-buried passion, and to start a new venture, in that new industry.

Where am I right now? I could have not been happier, more joyful and at ease. I am enjoying this new work-life balance. And I finally have the time to discover myself, to live and to bask in all that God has and is giving me. Honestly, I first feared that I would greatly struggle with my sense of identity. Because I used to put a lot of my identity in work - in who I am at work, how big my team is, how big our projects were, who my business networks are. But turns out, there is more to me than that. And God values me for who I am. It has been a humbling experience, a lot of internal refining, It hurts sometimes but it is also freeing at the same time. God has been good to me.

 So now, my prayer for you is, that whatever or wherever God may be calling you, trust the process and yield fully to the process and into Him. Things would be less painful when there is less restraint from our side. Take your time, wrestle it out before God. And when you’re ready, surrender and yield. Take heart friend, for the journey and the process is worth the reward!

Sonia Wirya is a Jakarta Cohort Alumni who continues to support the work of Resource Global by being a Triad Leader for the 2021 Cohort.

The Weight of Identities

By Cathy Njeru

From the moment we're born, we're given a label: An identity.

For me, it was female and African. We're also given what doctors call an Apgar score, which tells us how well a baby is breathing and how well their heart is beating. I like to think that I got a good score on what was essentially my first task in life.

I was then given a name, 3 names actually. One was a symbol of what my parents hoped I would be, the second was to honour my grandmother and the third was to state that I belonged to my father. I became a daughter, sister, cousin, niece and grand-daughter.

I went to school and there too, I was labelled. I was a good student. Unfortunately, I was also what you might call a 'goody two shoes' and a teacher's pet. As you might guess, it paid off academically, not so much socially.

Fast forward to high school, that's when I received Christ at a church camp. I got a new label- Christian- and I dutifully but it in my identity box. I figured that now, whenever appropriate, I had to throw in 'born-again Christian' as part of my introductions.

Fast forward again and now, I'm done with medical school. I liked school so much I went back for my post-graduate and now I had two more labels. Doctor and Paediatrician to be specific. Those are nice shiny labels, and relatives will proudly introduce me as 'daktari'. It's also very handy for acquaintances who I suspect don't actually remember my name, they too just address me as 'daktari'.

As I've grown older, my identity box has only grown heavier. Society has thrown in its labels too. You're single, married, widowed or divorced. You're a mother or childless. You are successful or a failure. Talented or ordinary. Beautiful or average. Simple words, but each carrying a connotation of worth and how society sees you and treats you.

So where does this label- Christian- fit? Is it one among the many or is it the one thing that needs to be a foundation for all the rest? And how does that even happen when the world is always loudly reminding us that these other labels matter too?

Where the world tells me that I must chase success and money, and that the most important thing is to be happy, I try to remember that I am part of a royal priesthood. God doesn't owe me anything, including happiness. It is I who owes a debt of gratitude, it is I who must serve Him with my life. I try to hold what I have with an open hand and offer it back to God. To quote Jim Elliot,

“ ‘He is no fool who gives what he can’t keep, to gain what he can never lose.’”

When I am tempted to define myself by how well I perform, God reminds me that I am His child and well loved. Not loved less when I fail, and not treasured more when I perform. So, I don't have to live in pursuit of the world's accolades. I don't live in fear that I'll be overtaken by someone younger, more beautiful or more talented. I am free to pursue my unique calling and to do the good works He appointed for me, before the world began.

I realize, as I conclude, that there are a lot of 'Is' in this story. In my defense, it's hard to use another pronoun as I talk about identity. However, to end the story, circling around myself, is to have missed the point entirely. I am a part of 'we'. A small part in a much bigger story, a thread in a beautifully designed tapestry. I am part of a chosen people, the body of Christ, that I have been called to love and serve, even as I allow them close enough to encourage, love, and even rebuke me. I am also part of a broken world and culture that is hurting and hurtling towards self-destruction. I am called and chosen to interrupt that narrative and bring a glimpse of God's kingdom on earth. 

One of the featured articles this month, reminded me of the many labels that Christ has given me. A saint, a servant, a steward, a soldier, a witness, victorious and a citizen of heaven. This is who I am, but so many times, I forget it. I am like a man under water, drowning beneath other labels and expectations. I must remember to come up, breathe deep from the truth in God's word, then keep swimming.

Cathy Njeru is a Paediatrician Doctor at Gertrude's Children Hospital. She has a passion for supporting families of children cancer patients. She is the Nairobi Cohort 2021.

Journeying with Jesus

By Wangu Joy

When Jesus turned water into wine, He beautifully crafted a symbolic invitation to us, it was His first miracle, setting the scene of what it means to journey with Him.

John 2:1-11 (TPT)

On the third day, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so, they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink, but you have saved the best till now.”

As I exercise my faith in the marketplace, this miracle setting is a grounding source. The whole parable reads like a series of unfortunate events: a wedding with no more wine, mama-son drama, Jesus clearly stating that His time had not yet arrived, Mary ignoring his comment, and giving an instruction of “do whatever He tells you”. Jesus instructing the servants to use six (6) jars – six, the number of imperfection – six ceremonial cleansing jars used to store purification water. Wait, what? Honestly, if I were one of the servants – I would respectfully decline, “no thanks – I’ll pass on that instruction sir, let us go buy some wine the conventional way… like normal people”.

Over time, I have come to see my life represented all over this parable. I am the feast; many seasons of my life have felt ‘out of it’ – empty with nothing more to offer. I have been called to act and I have dramatically responded to God with many PowerPoint presentations and analyses as to why the timing is not right. I am the six stone jars, imperfect, drained by culture and life’s rituals. I am the servant experiencing the unconventional path that Jesus often walks on. 

Then, there was “do whatever He tells you” and “fill the jars with water”. Two commands that called the servants to listen and act in obedience. Let us take a moment to visualize the filling to the brim of a large stone jar of 20-30 gallons approximately 76-114 liters, now visualize the filling of six of these jars which is over 600 liters! This process would take some time, require patience, I am picturing multiple visits to the well (or the source of water), and this whole process is confusing! Wasn’t the point to get more wine? Why are we wasting time filling jars with water instead of going to the market to get more wine?

There seems to be no sense of urgency here. 

Yet, this is me – every day in my journey with Christ. When I accept the command, actively surrender in obedience to His instruction, and I will myself to accept to be filled by His Spirit – nothing is the same. This filling requires waiting by abiding, the need to be constantly connected to the only Source that can fill me to the brim, and the painful acceptance that this process is often not on my time. It can be a waiting game, full of confusion, and it requires a daily act of surrender to His unconventional plan. It sometimes is a minute-by-minute choice to surrender and accept His will – and wait. Believing that when an imperfect situation meets Jesus, there is transformation.  

I think the hardest part of it all is this test of faith: “now, draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet”. So, the servants did not even taste the outcome before giving it to the master of the banquet? What if it turned out to be water from a stone jar? Trusting Jesus is scary – letting go of MY outcome is scary. This is surrender, in a world where carefully controlled environments and outcomes are the preferred option – surrender is unconventional. Despite this, the beauty and romance of journeying with Christ lie in this process and the promise that is at the end of the parable “but you have saved the best till now”.

Ephesians 2:7-10 (MSG)

Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all His idea and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join Him in the work He does, the good work He has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. 

...So, let’s get to it! Doing the work as we journey with Jesus. 

Wangu Joy is in our Nairobi Cohort for 2021. She is a Strategy Consultant with Dalberg Advisors.

Living a Steadfast Life Today

As a highly respected authority on the equities markets, often when Bob Doll joins us we have the opportunity to hear about the world’s financial markets and how he integrates faith and work. But at this year’s Global Cohort Gathering, we had the privilege of hearing Bob’s thoughts on living a life centered on the Gospel and how he has exemplified a life steadfast to the Lord. As we’ve journeyed with Bob, we’ve watched him navigate the ordinary, as well as through numerous triumphs, health scares, economic crises, and more. Throughout it all, we’ve seen someone who is immovable in his character and consistent in his journey with God.

Beyond all his myriad accomplishments, we asked Bob to share with our cohort members how he has cultivated a life that is consistent and committed to God and His mission. In true Bob Doll fashion, he shared seven simple yet profound principles to chew on.

1. Be reminded that our work is a holy calling. God has created an intersection of our abilities, our interests and the people around us. We need to recognize the redemptive nature of our work and as Christians in the marketplace, realize we  aren’t just the people who finance God’s work. For Christians in the marketplace, Bob reminded us this means “we have a phenomenal opportunity and responsibility.” He went on to quote Billy Graham, who famously said "I believe one of the next great moves of God is going to be through the believers in the workplace.”

2. Remember our standard for work because God, whether in creation, sustaining, salvation or sanctification, is a worker. We are made in His image and have “the ability, the responsibility, the goal of being excellent at our work as He is.” Our God cares deeply about what we do with our waking hours, and the majority of that time is spent at work.

3. Be a hearer and a doer of the Word. It is simple. Love God. Love God’s Word. Love God’s people. We can’t work for our salvation but once we are made righteous before the Lord, it is good deeds that naturally come if our faith is genuine.”

4. Prioritize the eternal. We are all on this planet for a short time, but in eternity forever. Like David Platt reminds us in his book Radical, the key is believing that the world is not our home. If our lives are going to count on Earth, we must start by focusing on heaven. To keep this at the top of his mind, Bob keeps three questions on his bathroom mirror that he asks himself daily - Am I going to have a Christ-like attitude today? Am I maintaining a “passing-through” mentality, because this is not my home? Am I going to have an “own nothing” perspective?

5. Be purposeful about longevity. Determine early-on what your priorities are, and develop the daily disciplines to set yourself up for a lifetime of faithfulness. This includes spending time daily in the Word and surrender to God, developing a deep dependence and interdependence on other believers, demonstrating faithfulness in giving, and determining as Romans 12:2 puts it, to be transformed by the renewing of your mind to ensure you aren’t conformed to the image of the world.

6. Pursue music. Martin Luther reminds us that while a sermon appeals to the intellect, music appeals to the intellect, the senses and the memory bank. Music transports us, and as it runs through your mind over and over. Perhaps one of the most poignant lessons we can learn from Bob is this “I have memorized more scripture through music….I commend music to you in some way, shape or form, but make sure it's good [theological] music.”

7. Ponder the lessons learned from COVID. How have you used this season, ordained by God, to honor Him? What unexpected joys have you found in this season of church at home? And how have you intentionally stewarded your resources to serve the poor - poor in spirit and physically poor? “Life is short. This episode has impressed upon me the importance of each day. Use it well.

Bob was asked how he remains humble in the midst of so much success. His reply? “Well I don’t know that I’m always humble, but I guess the center is to understand that it’s not of me. It’s of God...I think humility starts from recognizing who God is and therefore who we belong to.”

“Bob Doll is no stranger to Resource Global. He has walked alongside us, me, for years as we fought to establish this ministry and launch our cohorts. He epitomizes what I want all of us to be - he is a God-fearing man who loves the Lord and walks in humility.”

— Tommy Lee, Resource Global President

Leadership During Crisis: Guiding the Ship through the Storm

By Wayne Pederson

“The Lord has made everything for His own purpose, even the wicked for a day of disaster.” ”

— Proverbs 16:4

I’ve been asked to assemble a gathering (virtually) of a dozen or so global ministry leaders to address the issues and adjustments they’re forced to make out to the COVID pandemic.  No one could have imagined as we began the new year the challenges we would be facing in our ministries, in our relationships, our finances and our personal lives caused by the “invisible enemy” COVID-19.

However, we’re finding that all the news is not bad news.  This ad hoc group of think-tank ministry leaders is discovering there’s a silver lining in the midst of all of the confusion and anxiety in our culture.

Passion and Vision

One of the leaders in our group who’s based in Africa works collaboratively with a large number of indigenous partner ministries.  According to his report, partner ministries that have a clearly defined mission along with a fervent passion for their calling are thriving.  Ministries without a clear mission and vision see COVID as a disaster and they are struggling.

David Willis of National Christian Foundation and chair of ECFA stated in a podcast recently those ministries built on a solid foundation of strategic funding, carefully laid-out strategy and solid board governance and staff management will not only survive, but thrive.  Those ministries that have not built a solid financial, strategy, leadership base will not survive the crisis.  Recent case studies are bearing this out.

Audience Response

Almost every ministry represented in the group reported greater response to the Gospel.  Sheila Leech of FEBA in the UK said listenership has increased.  And her team is working on ways to be sure that growth is sustained long-term.

Jan-Eric Nauman of IBRA reported more people are coming to Christ.  Numbers are growing by the week. More listeners are responding with questions about knowing Christ.  International ministries are receiving more inquiries via text or email from listeners who are anxious, confused, fearful and needy.  He reported 40% of inquiries result in that person accepting Christ as Savior for the first time. 

Focus on the Gospel

Given the above information, ministry leaders are re-doubling their focus on presenting the Gospel, keeping the Gospel front and center in their content.  Lauren Libby, CEO of TWR is challenging staff to stay on the Gospel core.  Provide eternally rich content.  Doug Hastings of Moody Radio said they’re presenting the plan of salvation on the air every hour.  And Moody postponed their on-air fundraiser feeling it was more important to focus on ministry than raising funds.

Core Calling

This is not the time to delve into projects outside of our core mission.  Ed Cannon, CEO of Far East Broadcasting stated: Stay on your singular focus.  Stop doing things that are not core to the mission.  In the process of adjusting to the “new normal”, ministries are finding the need to abandon projects and strategies that have become obsolete or are peripheral in order to refocus on their basic, foundational calling.

More Virtual, Less Face-to-Face

Various opinions on the dependence on Zoom and GoToMeeting.  For Chuck Bentley of Crown Financial, they had already adopted the work from home model, which required almost no adjustment with the pandemic. They are now 100% remote.  Productivity and creativity is up.  However, they’re finding staff are working longer hours, because work is at home.

Others have discovered that virtual meetings have actually increased connection with staff, partners, volunteers, and donors.  One leader noted increased creativity and efficiency from partners and staff working from home away from distractions in the office. One coalition member has been out of the office for 3 month, but is actually doing more team care from home that he did at the office.  And his management style has become more pastoral, less management.  This from a leader who previously tended to be more managerial, less people-oriented.

Another reported that he wasn’t missing the 45 minute commute every morning and every night.  Another found that without those15 hours flights on a plane, his “think time” has decreased, because of handling one Zoom call after another.

Fund Raising

Covid has forever changed the way we raise funds.  The era of the “chicken dinner circuit” is over.  One global ministry CEO stated that getting on a plane, staying in a hotel, eating at restaurants, to meet with donors can take a whole weekend or the better part of a week.  Now, he can Skype, Zoom or Facetime a half dozens donors in a day at no cost and in a fraction of the time.  And most donors have expressed preference for this method.

In fact, Crown Financial has enjoyed their annual Fall dinner with hundreds of ministry partners, meeting with them face to face, telling stories and casting vision for the ministry.  This year they surveyed their donors asking whether they preferred an in-person banquet or instead a virtual fund-raising event.  A surprising 89% of their donors indicated a preference for visual.  So in October Crown Financial will have their very first virtual fund raising event, with greater attendance, videos from staff all over the world, and at practically zero cost!

An urban Chicago ministry called By The Hand cancelled their expensive annual gala.  In it’s place they held an all-day Saturday funding event that included an morning prayer time, videos from staff, and the children and families impacted by their outreach in the community.  it was an astounding success in storytelling, vision-casting and fund raising

One of our participants said this: Donors are not interested in responding to the “Help.  We’re in trouble” type of appeals.  His bottom take-away line: “People want plans, not pleas!”  If we can truly describe how our ministries are focused on their core mission during this time of crisis, they WILL respond.  In fact, a number of our think-tank team indicated even in the crisis, with limited personal contact, donations are up 12%!  

Isn’t it just like God to turn turmoil and tragedy into opportunity and triumph!

Allocation of Resources

Ministries are saving tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars because of cancelled flights and travel restrictions. The result is incredible opportunity to re-allocate spending towards more ministry.  One global ministry cancelled plans for a gather ing in the Philippines for 200 ministry partners  By cancelling airfares, accommodations, meals and other meeting expenses, they achieved a six-figure saving.  They have re-allocated those funds to help hurting partner ministries in Indonesia, Philippines, India, Bangladesh who are suffering because of the pandemic. And donors have responded enthusiastically to that reallocation from expensive travel to expanded ministry.

Tim Whitehead, executive director of Galcom is using funds normally spent on global travel and doing more advertising buys on Facebook and Google.  Because of the cutbacks by many companies on advertising, ad rates on social media sites are cheap.  It’s a good time to be buying.

Shorter, More Frequent Communication

Chuck Bentley is using input from his under 35 staff to help reshape the way they communicate.  They’re telling him we need 10X more content and 1/10 the length.  Crown is now editing their 50 minute daily program to 10 five-minute features.  That allows them to have more frequent contact with listeners and constituents.  

In fact, a number of our team stressed shorter, more frequent connection.  And that applied to print as well.  Supporters are more prone to read a concise one-page report than an extensive 8 page newsletter, which they may put aside with “maybe later”. 

Greg Thornton, VP of Media for Moody has turned his creative staff loose to create shorter content and even free e-books.

Greg told an amazing story.  Gary Chapman is Moody’s top selling author.  Every weekend Gary is out on the road presenting his 8 hour seminar on 5 Love Languages to married couples in cities across the nation.  Now, Gary and Moody have produced a 2-hour virtual Strengthen Your Marriage seminar. That 2 hour virtual seminar is attended by more couples attended the previous on-site model in a whole year!

“The church has left the building.” Somewhere along history, “church” has come to mean a building.  But Jesus made it clear, so did Paul, that the church is not a buildling.  Church is the people, the ecclesia, the “called out ones.”  A church in Cary North Carolina with a normal weekend attendance of 8,000 now has 25,000 weekly virtual attendees.  Many churches are now going to “huddles” or smaller groups of believers meeting together.  

Real Estate vs. At Home

A number of ministries are finding that having a large corporate office is no longer necessary.  Staff are finding greater flexibility, higher efficiency, greater creativity, higher job satisfaction working from home.  Yes, many miss the chats, the coffee breaks, the personal connection afforded by being physically together.  One manager expressed concern that some employees had adopted a kind of “vacation” mentality and needed to tighten up expectations and policies related to remote work.  Zoom actually did a study which showed efficiency actually increased 40% when people were working remotely.  The study also indicated greater job satisfaction, less stress, greater longevity without the daily time spent commuting to an office.  

One of our members is seriously questioning the need for a large corporate office.  Rather looking at ways to segment staff into smaller work groups, while maintaining a much smaller office for financial and development functions.  Selling the building and re-allocating those funds for reserves or expansion seemed to make a lot of sense.

In home, remote or at the office?  What will it be?  I’m guessing it will be some new kind of hybrid of the the best of both worlds.

Dr. Alan Cureton, president of University of Northwestern-St. Paul said: Stay true to your mission. But adjust applications to your mission. Will we stay with on-line learning, or will students return to the classroom?  More likely it will be some sort of hybrid. 

Alan continued: The virus is not going away.  How do we anticipate a COVID resurgence: How do we live with it long term.  In budgeting we must define a new paradigm to live on 1 year’s revenue for 2 years expenses. 

Take-away Bottom Line

Are we making decisions outside our comfort zone?  Yes!  Leaders are finding it increasingly challenging to make decisions in uncertain, ambiguous times.  One leader said: We’re learning from our mistakes.  That’s why the book of Proverbs says: “The prudent carefully consider their steps.  The wise are cautious and avoid danger.”  Proverbs 14:15,16

How much of these adjustments are temporary?  How many will be permanent.  Someone mentioned their staff is growing in their desire to be physically together.    Others have said we will never to back to how we did things a year ago.

Leaders must lead with calmness, clarity, speed, and steadiness in crisis times.

Leaders must acknowledge the uncertain, the ambiguous, the “I don’t know”..

Leaders cannot be territorial. We must collaborate and coordinate.

Leaders have to work with resources that we have, not what we don’t have.

Leaders have to be creative, flexible, transparent, decisive.

Leaders have to prioritize what’s crisis and what’s not.

Leaders have to keep in plan for the immediate AND the long-term.

And we do know this:

We will continue to meet more frequently using virtual meetings.

We will make greater use of digital, interactive, virtual tools for communication.

We will reallocate spending vast amounts on travel.

We will examine the benefits of owning or leasing a large corporate office.

We will adopt shorter, more concise, more frequent communication models.

We will stay focused on our core mission.

We will stop doing things NOT core to the mission.

We will keep the Gospel front and center in our content.

We will make use of virtual tools to connect with more donors more frequently.

We will not measure activity or hours. only measure results.

We will allow our younger creative staff more input into ministry leadership.

We will view this season as opportunity to create long-term contingency plans.

I’m finding the book of Proverbs exceptionally relevant to ministry leadership these days.  In an ambiguous, uncertain culture, we need to seek God’s combination of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, insight, discernment. God promises in James 1 that when we humbly ask for God’s wisdom He will give it.  

“The prudent understand where they are going.”  Proverbs 14:8  

For sure, that’s where we go from here! “

_

Wayne Pederson was the former President of Reach Beyond and NRB and now sits as the Chair Board member of Resource Global. Prior to Reach Beyond and his work with NRB, Wayne served as vice president for Radio at Moody in Chicago, with 35 owned and operated stations, reaching 1 Million listeners each week, plus 800 radio outlets nationwide. He’s a writer, speaker and air personality for a number of organizations. Wayne graduated from the University of Minnesota and the Free Lutheran Theological Seminary in Minneapolis. He has two daughters, Christy and Michelle and 9 grandchildren, all in Minnesota.

Adopt-A-Dorm: Singapore Testimony

By Jillian Goh

Our Church Adopted a Dorm

When the foreign workers situation started to blow up in a Singapore, I didn’t know what to make of it. Pictures of foreign workers cramped in small rooms started surfacing in the media (again) as allegations of errant employers not providing food and protective equipment became more rampant.

And it made me uncomfortable. It made me uncomfortable because it made me confront the sheer amount of privilege I enjoyed as a Singaporean who never had to worry about the shelter over my head or where and when my next paycheck would come. It made me uncomfortable because there was injustice and gaps in our society that needed attention and action. More importantly, I felt uncomfortable because I knew God’s heart was broken by what was happening to them.

As I delved deeper into this issue, reading commentaries from local Christians, I was surprised to find that the Bible actually repeatedly calls on us to care for the foreigners living among us. Not in a vague and theoretical sense, but in very practical and actionable ways. Among them this verse struck a chord with me…

“Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.” Deut. 24-:14

It opened my eyes to our country’s insatiable demand for cheap labour, the cheaper the better. And I was recently challenged to rethink my stance during a sermon where the pastor challenged the congregation - will we collectively as a people agree to pay more for our houses and other infrastructure so that our migrant friends could earn a better living for themselves and their families? It is a difficult question to give a resounding “YES” to, because it potentially means taking away significant resources from ourselves and passing it on to the foreign worker community. But my prayer is that even as I struggle with these thoughts and challenges, God would continue to convict me of what He is true and right. 

Open the eyes of my heart

Before COVID-19 happened and threw Singapore’s migrant worker issue into the spotlight, there were two incidents that changed my perception and attitude towards our migrant worker community in Singapore.

One was a JC friend who despite her apathy for most things, shared with me that the one group of people she felt most deserving of help were the migrant workers in Singapore. It was probably the stark contrast in how she viewed most things rather nonchalantly versus her heartfelt “lobbying” for the migrant worker community that made me curious. We had many conversations in school about (i) why in particular did she care so much for the migrant worker community and (ii) what could be done to alleviate their situation. Those conversations sparked off an intellectual curiosity but there was still work that needed to be done in me.

My second encounter was a much more personal experience and has been etched in my memory ever since. On my way to school one day, I was approached by a group of young secondary school children who were doing fundraising at Little India MRT Station. As usual, I was in a rush and felt too lazy to do anything, so unsurprisingly I ignored them with a swift raise of the hand. Then, walking right behind me were 2 migrant workers who were NOT actively approached by the students, yet they walked towards the students and started to fumble in their pockets. 

As I saw them dig deep into their pockets, I realized they were looking for money to donate to the fundraiser. They happily dropped their 50-cent coins into the tin, smiled and walked away. Both the students who received the donation and myself were not only surprised but exceedingly humbled by their generosity. Honestly, after witnessing that incident, I remembered feeling so ashamed by my lack of empathy and so moved by their compassion. God opened my eyes and took the huge planks out of them as I recalled the story of the widow with her 2 copper coins. 

That incident really upended the stereotypes I had of migrant workers and softened my heart towards them. It made me realize that God does not see people as we see them, because He knows them for the entire being, while we on the other hand are limited by our prejudices, the stories we hear from others around us and the media. I would like to add that the unforgettable incident though impactful, is only a stepping stone to a longer, ongoing journey.

These two experiences were catalysts that I believe God allowed me to go through so that my eyes would be opened and it was no longer possible for me to sweep the problems I seem them face under a rug.

Adopt-A-Dorm Initiative: Why am I doing this? Why did I volunteer?

I am volunteering because I felt God place a burden for them in my heart and I wanted to respond to it without overthinking it, which I tend to do before serving. I felt challenged and honestly was quite worried, but with God’s faithful providence with each step I took, I was motivated to continue. 

After delivering food to the dorm, what are my impressions? What did I see? How do I feel?

I was pretty overwhelmed the first time I went to deliver food to the dormitories as I  visited multiple small dorms in the West of Singapore. I still remember at one particular dorm, I saw more than 10 curious workers in masks peering outside of a grilled window to see what we were doing at their dorm. When I saw how many of them were housed or rather squeezed in one place, it made me realize the plight that they were in and how difficult it must be for them to socially distance and quarantine themselves for such a long period. At the same time, I also caught my human self falling prey to stereotypes as I felt uncomfortable when they started staring at me. It made me reflect and realize that even though I have a burden for them, I still had a long way to go to correct my own attitudes and the deep-seated stereotypes I held while learning from the way God loves.

It also made me realize even though they might have very little at the moment, they still had a very positive disposition. One of them I interacted with told me that they didn’t need all 46 packets of food we brought them, he repeated that he only needed 45 packets and wanted me to know that that was enough for them. The fact that they were contented, and not just preserving their own well being was really humbling to witness.

The work of serving and loving migrant workers is continuing in Singapore through Adopt-A-Dorm and other Initiatives. Check out another story of a church serving with Adopt-A-Dorm here.

Jillian Goh is part of our first Singapore Cohort.

She was born in Singapore and is currently working in a Dutch fintech firm as a marketer. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and dancing.

The Unwelcome Regression of Globalization

By Tommy Lee and Sarah Lee

Jun Du and Angelos Delis, professors from Aston University, recently published an article in the World Economic Forum about the inevitable change COVID will bring to globalization. But let’s be honest - unless you run a company that provides a product, or your long awaited new fillintheblank is delayed yet again due to the coronavirus, you likely aren’t thinking about global supply chains on the regular. But maybe you should be. The times are changing, and these changes have very real material and spiritual implications on how we run our businesses, our ministries and our lives.

How So?

A quick primer on globalization: It relies on a worldwide network of manufacturers, resources and information (a supply chain) to allow businesses to produce goods and services in the most cost-effective way. For example, the computer you just ordered - those manufacturers often use highly specialized pieces that are created by only one or two overseas suppliers. If one of those suppliers is shut down due to, let’s say, a pandemic, they can’t complete the production of your computer. Their efficient and cost-effective chain of supplies has been disrupted and you can’t get your computer until they find a new supplier or their existing supplier is able to get back into their factory again, create a product and ship that product. The implication? You can’t get your work done, make money, provide for your family. This concept applies to an unbelievable amount of goods and services we use today. 

Globalization really began to advance in the 1800s, with the First and Second Industrial Revolutions. As shipping, air travel and the internet has been made exponentially more efficient, international trade has become deeply embedded into the fabric of almost every country.

Why is Resource Global so concerned about globalization?

Every person reading this is affected by globalization and the supply chain. And every person reading this is affected by the way COVID-19 has severely deconstructed the “norms” we have come to rely on. Many in the Resource Global family run businesses and organizations in Africa and Asia and the factories you run have been brought to a standstill due to this pandemic. The economic impact on your businesses and the people you employ is astronomical. How do you lead in a way that honors God in perhaps the most difficult season of your lives, especially when leading will most likely result in cutting jobs and wages?

And for the rest of the Resource Global family who depend on these goods and services to run your ministries and families, you may not be a direct part of a supply chain but you are most certainly a consumer. The ease at which you obtained supplies to run your daily lives is disrupted. Let’s just talk toilet paper for a second. What was once just a grocery store afterthought has now become a scavenger hunt prize subject to price gouging. So much time and energy has been wasted on finding what was once taken for granted. And the same goes for prescription medications, medical supplies and even simple things like eggs and flip flops!

And don’t forget that as globalization is disrupted and the economy is in a freefall, those running or working for nonprofit ministries are watching their donations dry up overnight.

So What Are We to Do With All This?

• Be Prayerful - Thy kingdom come Lord! Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!

• Be Mindful -  Remember our cohorts, indeed all of our churches, are filled with young marketplace leaders who deeply desire to run their companies in a way that honors God. 

• Be an Intercessor - There are believers around the world who are weathering historic, and often life-altering, change due to this unexpected de-globalization.

• Be Flexible - God is not a “that’s the way we’ve always done it” kind of God. His heart is to conform us into His image and He rarely accomplishes that without trial and change.

• Be Humble - The glory is God’s alone, and that may mean your way of life changes indefinitely.

• Be Ready - How is God asking you to be ready for change, to be a bridge-builder, to stand in the gap for those on the other side of the chain?

Some of the hardest work is still before us. Businesses, many led by fellow believers, will have to rebuild or reinvent their supply chains. Jobs will be lost. The economy will continue to take a hit for the foreseeable future. Donors will stop donating and consumers will stop consuming while we travel the long road to a new stability.

According to Du and Delis, “Nobody can predict the next crisis. But the most reliable and efficient insurance by far is to build a strong international cooperation network.” While this is true for the efficiency of future global trade, it is undoubtedly true for the global Church as well.

To view the World Economic Forum article, click here.

Building Lives & Transforming Communities

An Interview with Rudy & Bao Yan on using their marketplace skills for Kingdom Work

Resource Global Singapore Cohort 2020: Husband and wife Rudy and Bao Yan are leveraging their professional architectural training and entrepreneurial strengths to accomplish amazing Kingdom works. In this interview, they share their journey on being missional with their business – and their goal to transform marginal communities.    

What led your thinking towards integrating faith and work, and being missional with your business?

After graduating, I (Rudy) worked in large architectural companies. After 7 years, I started asking God if there was anything more to my profession and my faith. In 2014, at the peak of my career, I resigned to pursue God in a mission school. I bought a one-way ticket to Africa where I was part of Heidi Baker’s Iris Global Ministry. We lived among the poor community – HIV stricken, lepers, widows, orphans, child soldiers and child brides. This proved to be life changing.

My eyes and heart were opened to poverty of epic proportions. It was no longer statistics to me. Poverty has a face. Poverty has a name. It has smell, and it has context. This brought about a paradigm shift to how I would later intersect my life, my profession and my faith. I became cognizant of my skills as tools of transformation.

After 3 months in Africa, I returned to Singapore and was determined not to live life the same way and thus Genesis Architects was born in 2014 and based in Singapore.

How did you envision that Genesis Architects would be different?

I wanted Genesis Architects to be used by God as a vehicle for purpose-driven design. The practice would strive for design excellence commercially, but it would also be equally focused on working on mission-aligned architectural projects that would transform lives and communities in developing countries. Architecture, in a simple expression, is humanitarian. It provides roofs over families, classrooms for children to secure a better future. Thus, we established our branch office for Genesis Architects in Rwanda.

Share with us some of your pro-bono projects?

In Rwanda, I teach at the University as a Visiting Lecturer and we started to hire and train some of these architectural graduates. The missional purpose was to empower them to transform their own nation - and we firmly believe that Rwanda shall be built by her people. In the recent Resource Global Online Class, Michael Ramsden shared that true leaders build capabilities, not create dependencies. This really resonated with us.

Our current projects in Rwanda include a blind school for 300 children - providing them with a safe environment for learning; and a vocational school for tribal communities to be equipped with literacy and practical skills - providing them with opportunities for modernisation. Telling them that God loves them is not enough, we should also give them practical ways of coming out of poverty.

In Mozambique, we are involved in designing a full-fledge university under Heidi Baker’s Iris Global Ministry. Our contribution is cross-disciplinary - from the masterplanning, to the architectural and interior design, landscaping, as well as fund-raising. The aim is to empower and equip the next generation of Africans, by offering a comprehensive range of courses from medicine, law, engineering, business administration, marine biology, maritime studies, and a theological school.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, we are partnering with a non-government organizations, including Justice Rising, to design prototypes and build 40 primary schools in rural areas. These schools are supporting child soldiers, child brides, and refugee children. Our works also include raising awareness. So far, 18 schools have been completed.

We also have works in Southeast Asia. The Living Waters Village in Kalimantan is home for about 700 children who were orphaned or abused/ abandoned by their parents. We are helping them design several facilities - from an air strip, to a 1200-seat auditorium, and elderly care facility for the older family members of the children to be cared for in the Village. Pastor Ronny Heyboer ,who founded the Village, wants the children to honour their parents as it’s commanded in the Bible.

I also lecture at the Singapore Polytechnic and, in 2017, started accepting interns, and focuses on students at risk. We expose them to our pro-bono humanitarian projects and we have seen how interns respond positively to the entire experience. Realizing how their skills can be used to make a difference in people’s lives have given them added meaning and purpose.

What have you learnt or how have you been changed through all these experiences that you have?

One thing we have learnt is that we must stay true to our call and our core beliefs. It’s easy to focus only on economic gains. We want our practice to glorify God, and build projects that will really transform lives.

We see God’s hand in the fruits of our work. In DR Congo, children used to be trained as soldiers to kill in exchange for food. The vulnerable get sold off as child brides; the defenseless coerced against their wills. In our schools, things are different. We provide the children with meals, love, and education for a better future.

We also see how God provides for us in our businesses. Once, when we were presented with a pro-bono University project, we weren’t sure how our involvement would look like – as a pro-bono project of this scale would require a lot of time and resources without the revenue.

We prayed, and felt God’s peace and leading to take this up. And when we did, God really surprised us - within the same month, we landed our biggest commercial project yet - a resort island project in The Maldives.

On another occasion, when we felt led by the Holy Spirit to hire and train genocide survivors who were architecture students from Rwanda. We knew it would also cost us a big sum of money. And praise God that when we obeyed Him, He provided. Soon afterward, we were awarded a very unique project - to design a production studio for a singer-songwriter in Taiwan and, through that, the funding for our African interns was secured.

Whenever we say yes to a missional project, God would never fail to provide. When we step into His vision, His provision always comes. It shows that we serve such a great, generous, and faithful God. Abba God wants us to serve our brothers and sisters without being short-changed ourselves.

For Christian business owners, I would say the most important thing is to sincerely seek God. Don’t embark on your own ideas, but seek God and listen for His assignment and leading. Do not despise what is in your hands, these are clues to the assignments God may have for you. And do not despise humble beginnings, it could be as simple as feeding one person and this is already delighting God’s heart. Remember that God’s economy is different from man’s economy. God is a God of abundance and can open heaven above for our businesses. God’s laws and economy work differently. The Bible says He measures the entire universe by the span of his fingers. That’s how big God is, and He can provide - just not always in the form and manner and timing that man can think of.

How can people contribute to the pro-bono projects that you are involved in?

We have various pro-bono projects in Africa and Southeast Asia. Perhaps God will put on people’s hearts how they can play a part to be used by God to impact lives and transform communities. It could be lending their direct expertise to help the schools, or contributing financially to help with the construction or operations (running the programmes and providing meals for the students), or any way that the Holy Spirit would inspire and lead. We would love to welcome like-minded individuals and corporations to come partner us in these Kingdom projects and experience what God is doing through and for His children and glorify Him.

Please visit www.genesis-architects.com if you are interested to learn more about our practice, or are looking to develop/ design your new space!

Learning to Be Still

Sleep. It’s one of the simple pleasures that are lost to new mothers. While my wife and I await our second child in a month, we know sleep will inevitably (and joyfully) be sacrificed. With less sleep, we know we’ll be more tired, more grouchy, and probably more unhealthy (I gained like 10 pounds during our first). Not until I experienced such a lack of sleep, did I realize how important sleep is to our bodies. It doesn’t just give us energy for the next day, it heals you. Sleep heals your brain, your bones, your skin, your heart, your immune system, and even makes you more fertile. SLEEP IS AMAZING!

Today, there is not a single person who hasn’t been affected by COVID-19. Stadiums and restaurants are empty. Offices and schools have shut down. Chaos and uncertainty cloud families and the economy. And for some odd reason, toilet paper is flying off the shelves. Today, there are over 350,000 cases and over 15,000 deaths from the virus; and the numbers seem to only be increasing exponentially. This is a pandemic we have never seen nor experienced.

But as I reflect amidst our current season, I cannot help but ask the question: What are you doing here God? Why are you stopping our economy, our work, our lives across the world? Why are you allowing suffering caused by all the stoppage and sickness?

Then it hit me: What if God wants us to stop, so that we can all sleep? So that we can all finally stop and rest.

Globalization has built up a global culture of being overworked. Employees are being overworked with too many hours and expectations. Companies are being overworked to maximize the never-ending goal of productivity and profitability. Families are being overworked to maintain the balance of school, work, and extracurricular activities. Churches are being overworked with always trying to produce better sermons, better worship services, and better programs. Even creation is being overworked with the constant farming, drilling, and draining of its resources… 

But now, as the world has paused, many of us are forced to stop, wait, and maybe, sleep. 

In Scripture, when we look at the Law given to the Israelites after their release from Egypt, the command to stop and rest on the Sabbath is included in the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:8-11). God took this command so seriously that if you even lifted sticks for firewood, you would be put to death (Ex. 31:15; Num. 15:32-36). And to take the idea of Sabbath further, God established a Sabbath Year, which gave the land rest on every seventh year (Lev. 25:1-7). And then God established the Year of Jubilee, where the land would have rest, debt would be forgiven, property would be restored, and slaves would be freed (Lev. 25:8-55). God didn’t mess around when it came to stopping and resting. 

Because when creation stops and rests, God can begin to heal. 

Now in no way is this pandemic a “good virus”. Sickness, death, and suffering are all consequences of sin. Everything done to protect society and help those in need should be made a priority all across the world.

But, perhaps God is allowing COVID-19 to get the world’s attention. Perhaps He is using this time of quarantine to work on our hearts, our marriages, and our relationship with our Creator? Perhaps He is using our uncertainty and hardships, to bring us back into a deeper trust and obedience to our King? Perhaps He wants to eliminate our distractions and overfilled schedules to rest and sleep. Perhaps He is calling us to pause, so that he can begin to heal his children, his church, and his creation from being overworked? Perhaps...

One of the unintended consequences of the COVID-19 has been that our earth has already begun to produce cleaner water and cleaner air. With the lack of human activity, creation has already begun to heal. The question for us is have we slowed down, rested, and even slept for God to begin healing us too? Or have we let the fears, worries, and sheer amount of information overwhelm and debilitate us? 

Yet, no matter how high the raging storms or thunderous quakes that exist around us, God quietly reminds us in Psalm 46:10...

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

Being still is probably the most difficult posture to be in during this time. Many of us (including myself) are tempted to keep work even more, scroll through our feeds, or binge that new show. But what I strongly feel is God calling us to STOP. REST. And SLEEP.

Because even though we aren’t working, God is working in us and around us. He is sustaining creation, he is healing bodies and hearts, he is calling lost sheep back to him, and he working all things for good (Rom. 8:28). So that when the pandemic becomes a distant memory, He will be the only one receiving all glory, all honor, and all praise. Amen. 

Noah is the Director of Impact and Strategy at Resource Global and an Associate Pastor at Park Community Church in Chicago.

3 Steps to Avoid the Spiritual Danger of Doing Good

As a Christian activist, I meet people in need all the time. At the end of the day, the hardest part is after listening and solving people’s problems, I have no energy left to solve my own. Many times, coming home means instantly shutting down--unable to care for those closest to me. 

The scary part is that I am often unaware of how fast my lamp was burning. Most times, my lamp is already huffed out and burnet out when I realize that I actually need a fresh infilling. My giving became a drudgery, not a delight. The call of doing good, simply becomes a burden, devoid of love.

————-

It was a Sunday. I was expected to be at Church to welcome a friend coming for the first time. The moment I saw Husi, I grinned widely. His coming was long-awaited; He came to church after meeting me at my NGO’s healthcare day. 

Post church, as soon as we sat down for coffee, Husi poured the weight of his WHOLE world to me. His eyes glistened passionately as he shared. I knew how important it was for him, but in my tiredness, I treated him as another "social consultation session”. Poor guy! His biggest smile was met by my blank stares and snappy words. I ended the meeting abruptly, lying I had to be elsewhere. I was in no rush, but I just didn’t have the energy to listen to him nor to sympathize with him. 

My friend Andrew, observing what was going on, though he didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to. I knew I was being unkind. That night, I was apologetic. “Why was I so snappy?” I talked as if God was in the passenger seat. In my justification, I reasoned, “Isn’t Sundays supposed to be a time when you let ME rest!?” I complained to God for what was my lack of discipline of Sabbath rest.

Then, the Holy Spirit brought to mind what happened last Thursday at my Bible Study. I received a text from a colleague. It read “Can you help me? Someone has been abused.” Instantly I left the Bible Study and all I remembered was that I was so heartbroken. Not realizing that because of that my tank was leaking. No wonder my tank was so empty on Sunday.

It wasn’t the lashing out that was the sin. The lashing out only gave way to what was happening inside of me. This was the danger of doing good...

—————

You see, we can do good works on autopilot mode. It is easy to separate the act of loving with loving itself. It’s easy to make work our idol---weaning our dependency from God. Our activism may blind us from our own need of the Gospel-- either we turn to our own strength to replace the need for the Savior, or we begin to be unfaithful in our stewardship. Giving might be a mask of serving God, when actually it is a means of self-glorification.  

But Samuel reminds us,

“What is more pleasing to the LORD:? Your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. - 1 Samuel 15:22

More than our hands, God desires our hearts. Doing JUST good is a good gift, but a terrible God. If we’re not careful, we can be the Pharisees Jesus spoke to in Matthew 23:26,

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”

Gleaning lessons from Jesus’s words, here are 3 ways to avoid the spiritual danger of doing good:

1. Abide in the Vine

Just like the branch cannot bear fruit without being connected to the vine (John 15:4-6), We cannot witness what we do not have.  Jesus said “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you...I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in Him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.”  Jesus’ compassion is from the beginning, the means, and the end because He rested through abiding in the Father.

2. Rest in His Sovereignty

Understanding the Creator-Creature distinction helps put perspective on the limitations of being humans. Unlike how the world encourages endless hustling, a character of a Christian activist is to be restful! We CAN work restfully. “Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:1–2). 

John Piper says, “The spiritual leader knows that ultimately the productivity of his labors rests in God and that God can do more while he is asleep than he could do while awake without God”. He knows what Jesus said to his busy disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31). He is not so addicted to work that he is unable to rest. He is a good steward of his life and health. He maximizes the totality of his labor by measuring the possible strains under which he can work without diminishing his efficiency of unduly shortening his life.

3. Commune with His People

The writer of Hebrews encouraged us (10:24-26), “And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Encourage, meaning to give courage, is the duty and delight of a community. As fellow redeemed sinners in the body of Christ, we are free to be vulnerable and be built up to grow towards the Head Christ Jesus Himself. 

So we pray,

Father in Heaven, lover of the broken and hurting, keep us abiding in You.  Thank you for creating me with a high purpose in my life. Move our hearts to consider how we might share Your love tangibly with so many around the world. Give us the power and wisdom to love, as we draw upon the deep well of Your compassion. Enable us to trust in Your Sovereignty over the good works you have given us to do. Jesus be so central that we realize the work comes from you, by you, and for you alone. 

May justice roll down like a river and righteousness like a never-failing stream, 
Tamara Wu

Tamara Wu writes and speaks on self-love, social justice, and theology. Currently, her work immerses her deep in the startup world; she runs Simona APAC Women Founders accelerator program, a non-profit called Second Chance Initiative, and an ethical fashion social enterprise called Liberty Society. When off work, she thrives on catch-ups over coffees, AM breakfasts after a HIIT workout, or a sunny day at the beach. 

Transforming Work in Nairobi

By Sunru Yong & Anne Chen

Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is the center of social enterprise and impact investing in East Africa. It has become the regional hub for up-and-coming business leaders who recognize the significant needs, but seek new ways to renew this city. For many people, this means shifting away from reliance on NGOs and charity towards innovative business models that can combine social impact with commercial sustainability. Social enterprises have positive impact by providing critical goods and services to the underserved. There are many possibilities: the manufacture of clean cookstoves that reduce hazardous smoke and environmental impact, providing clean public toilet services for the slums, developing a network of affordable maternity clinics, or using mobile technology to link farmers to buyers. This is not to say that every impactful business needs a catchy “story” or innovation; even conventional businesses can have tremendous impact. Indeed, in a city plagued by unemployment and corruption – any business that creates jobs and is led with integrity can be said to have positive social impact.

The Nairobi entrepreneurial ecosystem also includes “impact” investors, who deploy seed, early-stage, and venture capital while applying a social impact lens to potential investments. Often, the investment funds are provided on more patient, less onerous terms than conventional venture capital; this gives entrepreneurs more space and time to refine their business models, and – hopefully – achieve profitability and scale. In a business environment like Kenya, such investor flexibility is essential. Would-be marketplace leaders do not have an easy road. High costs, poor infrastructure, and corruption all conspire against the entrepreneur. Furthermore, any business trying to introduce an innovation must convince a skeptical market to try something untested. Figuring out how to learn quickly enough and build a sustainable business with limited capital – this is a tall task for anyone, much less one who seeks to do so with integrity and faith-based values.

It is in serving these up-and-coming leaders – those who aspire to change Nairobi through social enterprise and impact investing – where Resource Global has an opportunity to add value. By the numbers, Kenya is a very Christian nation. Approximately 80% of the population identifies as Protestant or Catholic. However, it is clear there is still much to do in effectively bringing faith and work together. At a recent Nairobi conference sponsored by Resource Global and Hesabika, one speaker after another lamented the reality: Kenya is an ostensibly “Christian” nation, yet corruption and exploitation are pervasive. How, they all asked, can we be a country that is over 80% Christian, and yet we allow – or worse, participate in – such injustice?

The church must face the fact that for too many people, being “Christian” is merely a cultural signifier, rather than an identity, and that the message heard on Sunday may have little bearing on the actions taken on Monday.

In Nairobi, there are many places in which faith can – and indeed, must – transform work. Christ-centered leaders are needed everywhere: government, corporations, NGOs, non-profits, schools, development institutions, and beyond. Resource Global has a part to play too. In 2020, we will focus on providing practical support and mentorship to the social entrepreneurs and impact investors looking for daring, innovative ways to change the city. The stresses of entrepreneurship are high and there are important issues facing those who want to honor Jesus as they navigate this. Resource Global can help by leveraging and adapting the model it has rolled out in other cities. We believe that there can be tremendous benefits in fostering a community of like-minded leaders. We are eager to bring together fellow believers to encourage each other through the trials of entrepreneurship, the excitement of changing their city, and the joy of honoring God in their work. 

Anne and Sunru have been living and working in Nairobi, Kenya for over eight years. They are currently helping our Resource Global Team invest in local Nairobi Christian leaders who can make an impact in their workplace and city for the Gospel.

We can All be Mentors and Mentees

By Jennifer Manabat

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another

- Proverbs 27:17

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

- Titus 2:3-5

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

- 1 Peter 5:1-5

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

- Colossians 3:16

The bible is full of verses on mentoring and how elders (mentors!) can guide and build up those who have not traveled as far or as long on their journeys. When I first became a Christ follower, I had the opportunity to be mentored by an older woman at my church, and it was such a wonderful and life-changing experience. I was astounded that a woman wanted to come alongside me, teach me, and help me to grow in my faith. Seeing the benefit, it instilled in me a deep desire to do the same for other women that God would bring along my path.  

Having been both a mentee and a mentor, I’ve experienced both sides and I’m of the belief that anyone and everyone can be a mentor or mentee. Being a mentor has helped me to realize that I have authentic life experience that I can share with mentees to help them on their journeys. There is always the opportunity to grow and learn more about ourselves at any phase of our lives. And God calls us to share that life knowledge and experience with others in return. He can speak and work through us if we will let Him.

Mentoring also helped me to realize that mentees can benefit so much just from having someone to listen to them - to really listen and be a sounding board. And who doesn’t need that? There are so many voices talking at us and telling us to do this or be that to be happier or more successful, and it can be overwhelming. To find someone you trust that will come alongside of you and listen to you, and to provide wisdom, truth, and grace is a real gift. So don’t worry if you don’t know what to say or what specific advice to give to a mentee – just be present with them, ask questions, and listen.

If you have never mentored anyone, I encourage you to do so. It is such a rich and rewarding experience. One of the greatest things I’ve learned about mentoring, and why I continue to do so, is that the experience always grows me in the process. In seeking to guide others and provide insight, I have found that the women I’ve mentored always have something to teach me too. I’ve learned that I may not always get it right, that I may have imposed a thought or piece of advice, but I give myself grace and remind myself that I am a work in progress too. I have also realized you don’t have to have all the answers, and you probably won’t! Remember that mentoring is about relationship, and when you start there, you can’t go wrong.

Jennifer has been one of the mentors for Resource Global. She is currently a Pediatric Occupational Therapist at Kids In Sync and lives in the Chicagoland area.

Wrestling with Failure at Work

“More than other idols, personal success and achievement leads to a sense that we ourselves are god, that our security and value rests in our own wisdom, strength, and performance. To be the very best at what you do, to be at the top of the heap, means no one is like you. You are supreme.”

— Tim Keller in Counterfeit Gods

A month before attending the 2019 Global Cohort Gathering, in Saddleback, CA, (where Christian global leaders all over the world are gathered to learn, connect, and be challenged to make impact in their global cities) I was drafting the most painful document I have ever had to write; I was writing an incident report at work. The incident involved one of our most strategic clients; and I was on the hook for a mistake that I did not catch (picture an infielder missing a pop-fly). It is difficult to overestimate the toll this had on my spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing. To me, writing that report meant that I was forced to admit that I had failed, that I was incompetent and that I was worthless. I had worked hard to be the best performer on my team, to be the guy you could rely on and I was proud of my “exceptional performance” evaluation. This failure stood in direct contrast of who I thought myself to be and, more importantly, whom I wanted others to think I was.

While at the gathering, I heard several speakers talk candidly about dealing with failure at work and I was convicted by their anecdotes. Bob Doll gave a lecture entitled “Failure- The Stepping Stone to Success” that provided me with much needed guidance. To provide context, Bob was the Chief Equity Strategist of a large asset management firm and has used his God given gifts to attain what many would consider a highly successful career. In his lecture, Bob discussed a time in recent history where he was asked by his previous firm to retire early and the impact it made on his life. It is difficult to imagine attaining Bob’s level of success only to be let go at what would be his “prime career years”. But his response was not to wallow in failure or to blame God for misfortune or engage in destructive self-loathing. No, instead he used his situation as an opportunity to further engage with Christ, his community and his family- what an amazingly faithful response! Ultimately, God blessed him with the opportunity to continue using his financial expertise, but his initial response represents the posture we, as Christ followers, should model in the midst of failure and success in work.

Upon reflection, I’ve come to realize how much my sense of identity was based on success in work. This realization came as a surprise to me (shocking I know). I didn’t think I was idolizing my work, yet it wasn’t until failure at work sent me into a spiral of self-degradation that I realized my priorities were grossly out of order. This, I think, is at the heart of Bob’s lecture; it is difficult to know we’re idolizing success until it is ripped away from us, which then forcibly creates the stepping-stone to success. Success in this context is not about promotions, bonuses or societal praise; it is the stepping-stone to further reliance on God for our joy and worth. We are free from performance evaluations because we can never be “exceptional” before God. We are all hopeless and complete failures when it comes to our worthiness of God’s love yet He gives it anyways. This is the radical promise God makes to His people that is the source of our joy, that God looks at us and sees his Son.

Hunter Daniels works in the finance industry and was part of our Chicago Cohort in 2019.

Complexities Living in a Digital Generation

It is more complicated to live as a Christian in this generation. The life stages and challenges we face as humans are the same but the context has changed.

This generation is bombarded with so much information. Gen Z and Millenials will mature (in terms of knowledge) a lot faster than Baby Boomers, due to the rapid advancing of technology and the amount of information that is readily available.

There is a shift away from the importance of understanding who you are and spiritual maturity; there a shift towards accomplishments, financial independence, individualism and finding purpose within yourself (your personal passions). The Bible teaches us that purpose is found when we look outwards (upwards towards our Creator) and realize that we are part of something bigger; we are created to do more than satisfying our personal ambitions. Millennials are very experiential, self-aware and in-tune with their feelings. This is a good thing, however there is a tendency for millennials to be driven by their emotions; thus, causing them to float from company to company to find a place that will “keep them happy”. This heart attitude will influence their commitments to ministry, marriages, friendships, goals and other aspects of life.

Surveys comparing Millenials and Gen Z (from Barna)

Millenials and Gen Z have a rapid absorption rate towards knowledge, and it has created skepticism toward authority and structure. They are taught to speak up and develop their own thoughts, which raises more questions toward just ‘accepting faith’. This makes it challenging to build up resilient disciples of Christ within the young emerging generation. A position of authority is no longer good enough to “make them listen”; they value realness and authenticity in a leader in order to follow respect and follow after an authority figure.

Millennials want to belong before they believe. Millenials are experiential and want to be engaged, accepted and involved. They want to take an active role in experiencing how faith can play out into their everyday life (work, social life, ministry).

As spiritual leaders, we need to develop cultural discernment in how God is moving and shaping this generation of young adults. We need to stop complaining about what is wrong about this generation (entitled, flakey, emotional), instead let us figure out how to empower, support and build up this generation to navigate through this digital culture.

Grace Liu is our Jakarta City Director and has a heart for building community and empowering the next generation of leaders.

Familiar and Unfamiliar Territory

I was part of the second Resource Global Chicago Cohort (2017-2018). And recently, I had the opportunity to participate as a speaker in one of the workshops at the LEAD conference in Jakarta. The vision for the LEAD Conference is creating better companies, lead to better cities, and ultimately a better world. This was an initiative that the Jakarta Cohort Alumni had proposed to help their own employees in Jakarta.

Therefore, I had the privilege to talk about how to improve finance processes with technology. Preparing for the presentation was challenging because I realized that although I identify myself as an Indonesian, I have never worked in Indonesia and have limited knowledge about what the marketplace in Jakarta is like. 

Fast forward to the day of my workshop. My presentation went smoothly, but I quickly became aware that the business environment in Indonesia is so different. My audience consisted of mainly mid-management workers and below. And not till after my workshop did I realize that most of them only really used Microsoft Excel as their main technology tool and even some others who worked in family owned businesses still just used paper documentation. 

Although my main goal of participating in the conference was to give back to the people in Indonesia, I felt like I was the one who gained valuable perspectives. I started to understand what work life is like outside of the United States and learned about the roadblocks that are preventing businesses in Indonesia from advancing, ranging from financial to cultural reasons. Last but not least, I gained an appreciation for the values that we so often take for granted in the States, whether that be values of equality, fair pay or even general business ethics. 

In contrast, during the conference, I was also able to meet some of my amazing peer presenters who were working for corporations in Indonesia. These were young leaders (all from previous Jakarta cohorts) who were just a couple of years older than me, but many were leading billion dollar companies and affecting the lives of thousands of employees. I am amazed at the things that God is doing through these young leaders, and amazed to see their heart for the city of Jakarta. They were a real life example of Jeremiah 29:7 where God asked us to seek the prosperity of the city where we are sent exile, for its welfare will determine our welfare. Not to mention their incredible humility, courage and faith while taking up such challenging roles in a difficult business environment and climate. 

I am coming back to the US with an encouraged and excited heart; knowing that God has given me the strength to make a change that God has given my peers in Indonesia. My battlefield and challenges here may look different, but my heart for the people of the city where I live in remains the same. I am blessed to have been able to participate in the LEAD conference, my physical body is exhausted but my heart is so full!

Michelle Tan was part of our Chicago Cohort in 2017-2018. She is originally from Indonesia, but currently resides in Chicago with her husband Sean. She currently works for an consulting firm specifically in the finance and accounting area.

The Laborer and the Harvest

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Matthew 9:35-38, NKJV

When discussing the measure of a kingdom, Pastor Calisto explained that the Kingdom of God and God’s influence is not limited to demography or geography. As we see in the Bible, Jesus proclaimed the Good News and healed diseases and infirmity in all the cities, villages and synagogues. His work was not limited to the synagogues. Similarly, as co-laborers with God, we should proclaim the Good News and minister healing not just within church buildings, but in our cities, villages, and workplaces.

A Professional in the Marketplace

Whenever I used to read this verse in Matthew, I dutifully asked God to send laborers. I prayed and gave generously towards ministries that increased the number of believers because in my mind, the solution was in numbers: the church and those in ministry are to lead people to Christ so we can have more people preaching the Good News. As a professional in the marketplace, I – myself, did not actively participate in the harvest. To me, my work was secular and my involvement in the church was spiritual. I worked to make a salary in order to support spiritual work.

Another way to put it is that I had adopted a dualistic view of Christianity; I was a part time Christian practicing my faith on the weekends. However, as ambassadors of Christ, Christians are always on duty. What does this look like? From Matthew 9:35-38, we learn that Jesus was moved with compassion for the throngs of people he met because they were weary, confused, aimless, harassed, distressed, dejected, helpless and scattered abroad like sheep without a shepherd. These adjectives are not limited to the people of Jesus’ day; they also describe the status of people at our workplaces.

Compassion and Action

I cannot help but recount the number of times I turned a blind eye to the plight of my colleagues. My mistake was that I did not see my job as my calling and my workplace as God’s field. This was also evident in my attitude towards my work: One day I was asked to give a five-minute exhortation in church. I remember spending hours praying and studying the Word of God. I prayed that the congregants would be ministered to. However, when it came to my job, I only managed a short one-minute prayer before going to work. I rarely prayed for my colleagues and never asked for a harvest of souls in my workplace. However, I can only imagine the kind of transformation that will occur if I approach work in the same manner as a church speaking engagement.

Convicted by the passage in Matthew 9:35-38, I conducted a heart check, reviewed my priorities, repented for my hardened heart, and prayed for realignment to God’s heart. An effective follower of Christ must be moved with compassion and as such, I prayed that He would give me compassion for my colleagues. This compassion is not just about the heart; it also demands actions. As such, my priority has shifted from working to finance ministries executed by others to me being the one to actively minister to my colleagues, pointing people to Christ.  

Jesus asked his disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into the field. God has answered this prayer! He has sent you and me into a myriad of sectors: into the fields of economics, education, politics, transportation, hospitality, media, entertainment, the arts, sciences, in the home, into church ministry, and so on... ALL these fields belong to Him! Out of compassion for those in our sphere of influence, He has specifically and intentionally placed you where you are to preach the good news and minister freedom.

So what do we do?

As professionals, we need to realize that we are full time Christians and co-laborers with Christ. – that our work is a calling and our workplace is a field with plentiful harvest. We need to understand that we are part of God’s Kingdom and we must submit to his agenda. When we consider our jobs, it should not only be about earning a good salary to live a comfortable lifestyle. Romans 14:15 states that the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit! Wherever we are, people should be set free and walk in right standing with God. However, this can only be made manifest if we change our attitudes towards work by praying and being led by the Holy Spirit. In doing so, we will become effective and fruitful laborers implementing Kingdom agenda.

 Would you take a minute to consider the state of your heart? The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few.

Veronica is part of our first Nairobi Cohort. She works in administration at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She studied Literature and Linguistics at the University of Nairobi Kikuyu campus and serves at her church in youth ministry, evangelism and discipleship. Veronica promotes marketplace ministries and shares the Gospel, particularly among women and the youth.

Redefining Beauty

By Reina Ang

On May 31 st , I had the opportunity to sit and listen to Jessica Rey in her session about “Faith, Hollywood, and Fashion” for Global Cohort Gathering 2019. I was personally incredibly excited to be in her session as I’m also working in both of the creative industries she’s involved in: entertainment and fashion industry.

Jessica Rey is an actress, mostly known from her work as White Wild Force Ranger in the TV Series Power Rangers Wild Force. She is also currently the Founder, CEO, and designer for her modest swimwear brand called Rey Swimwear. During the session, Jessica told her story about how while doing her MBA program, she got offered to do castings for commercials and TV series that ultimately led her to a main role in Power Rangers Wild Force. Her experiences in Hollywood and its lifestyle led her to see the need of different and wider perspectives on what is the definition of beautiful for modern women. After much struggle and rejections, she successfully launched Rey Swimwear, a modest swimwear based in Los Angeles.

The fashion and entertainment industry are two very unique industries that have so much influence on dictating what is deemed beautiful in society. But at the same time, within these industries themselves, diversity and inclusion comes especially slower. As I was listening through her session, I was very convicted on how much influence the people in these industries can bring in term of redefining what is beautiful and how much I could’ve done as the part of it. Two of Jessica’s statement stood out to me the most.

““Only 4% of women feel beautiful. My goal is simple, how do I help make it 100%?””

As heartbreaking as it sounds, it’s true. Beautiful is a big scary word for most women. We find ourselves constantly trying to conform to certain set standard unconsciously, never fully satisfied on how we look. The pursuit of improving oneself is good, as long as it doesn’t come from self-hatred. As someone in fashion and entertainment industries, am I doing my best to help this cause or am I actually further enforcing this habit of placing our identity in this unrealistic beauty standard through my work? Am I forcing my own perception of beauty onto others, rather than God’s perspective of it? That brought me to her other statement.

“Your mission is not to make others know who you are, but to make others know that they are made in the image of God.” My goal and mission shouldn’t be centered around me and who I am. It should be about God and according to God’s Word. And what is God’s Word about body image?

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” - Ephesians 2:10 God’s message is loud and clear. We are made according to His image and we are His masterpiece. God sees us that way and that’s the goal, to help men and women to see not only their true beauty, but also their God-given dignity.

Reina Ang is part our Jakarta Team. She is also a professional model in Jakarta.