Ron is Back!

 

September 5 – 14, 2008.

 Ron Choong, our missionary to New York, USA, was back in CBC to do a series of talks on the following topics:- 1. Ancient Israel & the Modern Church. 2. The Triune God. 3. What about Other Faiths?

 

Ron also facilitated a session for CBC’s Project Timothy class on Sunday. He encouraged and informed the participants of new discoveries in the science world and updates of his ministry in New York. .

 

After a luncheon hosted by the Elders and leaders of the Full Gospel Assembly Elders, Ron was invited to deliver several talks over a 4-day period there. All the talks were well attended and have stimulated interest in the study of God’s Word and to ask more questions without fear in an atmosphere Ron coined as a ‘theological safe space.’ He enlightened the crowd with the background of how the Bible came about, the latest discoveries of brain activity, why the word “monotheistic” is not accurate to describe the Godhead. ‘Trinity’ or Ron’s preferred term, ‘triunity’ is the correct description.

 

 

1. During this trip, what did the Lord show you about Malaysia and CBC?

I think Malaysia is facing challenging but an exciting political coming of age. Looking at the glass half-full, I see great promise of positive changes. People are taking more personal responsibility for what sort of country they want to live in. By the same token, CBC itself seems to also be aware of its role as a witness to the community. I remain encouraged by the mercy ministries that mark the church as a caring beacon in the community when I saw the blood-drive in action – bravo and kudus all round. In the coming months and years, the church has to ask itself how it wishes to account for itself before the Lord – take stock of its accomplishments, and make decisive choices about the future direction of this gathering of the saints. Is it to grow bigger, be more influential, to grow more disciples or more disciplers, to increase its presence geographically or also to intensify its presence by equipping its people to be ready wherever the Lord sends them?

 

2. In March 2008, when you encouraged CBC members about Project Timothy at the First Congress, have you seen any fruit from that session?

Indeed, I have now met so many faces of people who made the commitment. However, several conversations with members at the Congress that I thought might lead them to rejoin PT did not transpire. Perhaps vagaries in seasons of life that makes it imprudent for them to do PT presently. I know it is far from easy. But I also know that PT serves the 5-10% of every church community who wishes to seek God’s face by setting aside time for this devotional exercise. It is of course quite possible to do just that on one’s own. PT is merely an offering to the Lord – an aid to study God’s Word in an Accountable Community of Faith. Although PT sounds like a technical, academic course, it is first and foremost, a devotional discipline of paying attention to God’s Word. The technical portion of it is incidental to the task. Just as all the years of grueling study to be a physician leads to the rewarding ability to help the Lord heal the suffering, the demanding part of PT helps us to help others meet God in a more sustainable and enriching manner. The final goal is to worship God also with our minds.

 

3. Can you update us on recent developments of Project Timothy around the world?

First of all, PT was not design to be a global ministry. I do not have any ambition to make it so. Each PT began as a response to request from local ministry leaders, my attempt to dissuade them, and if I do not succeed, then we start cautiously. I expect the Church leaders to participate directly and consider PT a serious undertaking. PT outside the U.S. is very expensive for ACT, not just in incidental costs but also because I alone, am ultimately responsible for the administration and financial health of the ministry. Our donors trust me to use my time and gifts wisely. Since PT is a highly labor-intensive project, its merits and blessings reflect the commitment of the people involved.

 

The program is reasonably demanding, but only because ever since the1970s, the Christian church has been distracted by numerical growth over qualitative growth. I do not want anyone to be burdened by God’s Word. It should be a joy and thrill to discover hidden gems, not something to be feared and worried about. That is why PT is not for everyone, but it is for everyone who wants to participate in this spiritual exercise of the mind – to be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2).

 

In New York, we are in our third round of PT. PT1 was from 2002-2004 and PT2 from 2005-2007. We have about 80 members and 8 tutors led by 2 senior tutors. San Diego in California, Chicago in Illinois, Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, Galveston and Houston in Texas, as well as Boston in Massachusetts have all requested PT programs. We are studying the possibility and doing a cost analysis of the logistical and technical support needed for such a venture. Melbourne and Brisbane in Australia, Paris in France and London in the UK are interested in PT and we continue the task of reviewing the possibilities.

 

4. Any last words to CBC members?

Remember to love the Lord. Not because He is beneficial to you, but because He loved you first. Not because He gave you what you wanted but because He gave you what you needed. And not because God is good - goodness is defined by what God is.