The 2nd Year of the Lord’s Abundance “Be
Fruitful and Multiply”
At CBC’s First Congress organized for all our five centres recently, I had the priviledge of announcing CBC’s New Vision. As 40% of members did not attend, I would like to reiterate the vision here.
Prior to the Congress, CBC pastors met and together with
the church elders, we crafted and fine-tuned the vision as follows: “A
Passionate Community of Christ’s disciples, Committed to the Greatest
Commandment, fulfilling the Great Commission.”
This statement combines CBC’s original vision 1, 2 and 3 and yet contains 4 main ideas.
A Passionate Community of Christ’s disciples
The community comprises all our
centers doing community work. Each center has some form of community work and
this work is carried out by disciples of Jesus Christ, who serve
wholeheartedly and passionately.
Committed
This is not a light word but it is biblically sound and
important. Without commitment nothing can be carried out. One management guru
said “There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you are
interested in doing something, you do only when it is convenient. When you are
committed to something, you accept no excuses; only results.” Jesus said those
who have put their hands to the plough and looked back are not fit for the
Kingdom of God. Dr Compolo states: “What you commit to be will change what you
are. Show me a man who is not committed and I will show you a man without
personality, identity and no direction.” A reporter was interested in the
deceptive ways of the devil and asked: “what is your favourite tactic?
Jealousy, lust, dishonesty?” “No, No!” the devil said, “It is ‘apathy.’ It’s
the ‘I don’t care attitude’.”
The Greatest Commandment
In Matthew 22, when Jesus was confronted by the lawyer who
asked Him what is the greatest commandment, Jesus replied that loving God with
all your heart, mind, soul and strength and then loving your neigbor as
yourself. Jesus said this summed up all the the laws and what the prophets
have said in the Old Testament. This speaks to us of having intimacy with God.
That connection becomes the motivation for us to accomplish the works of God.
Great Commission When we are a community of
believers, committed to the greatest commandment, then, it is imperative that
we go into all the world to proclaim Jesus. This is the reason why we are put
on this earth.
A Picture
A picture speaks a thousand words. One member saw the CBC Vision as trees, each representing one center, and all these trees are connected by a fantastic root system. What does this mean? It means that we have the same source of food and life. Yes, we can produce different expressions but we are connected. I believe the impression comes from God and even though we have the picture of the tree for this year’s theme, it did not occur to me that the trees are connected by a single root system. The common root system is our source and that is our lives in Christ. But our lives in Christ are also intricately wound around one another. The health of one tree affects the other and so it is our duty to ensure that all the centers are healthy. A healthy tree will produce healthy fruits.
Conclusion
It has been said that Vision without action is only a dream, perhaps, a daydream; and action without vision is chaos. But vision with action brings about change. At CBC, we want to bring about change to the church, the community, the nation and beyond. Let us arise while it is still day, for night is coming when no one can work. On May 19, 2008, all the pastors will be presenting the expression of the vision with strategies for their centers. You are all invited to attend. The venue is SS2 center and it starts at 9.30 a.m.
Keep winning for the Lord.
Richard Toh
Senior Pastor
