How Can Members Participate?
Over the past two weeks, we considered the motivation behind planting a church, as well as some of the alternatives to planting. But what does this mean for us now? What can members do at this point?
As members of this local body, GBC, we have been constantly encouraged and exhorted from Scripture to live out the “one-another” commands. This permeates all aspects of our life together — from the way we interact with another member, to the way we gather for corporate worship and Members’ Meetings etc. These are all ways that we continue to seek to be a member of, and build up this body.
As we consider plans for a church plant, there are many ways that we as members can participate and prepare ourselves for the future.
Pray, pray, pray
This is the most important thing that we can all do. We understand that some GBC members may be excited for these plans to be realised while others may be concerned instead. No matter what you feel and think, let us come together to pray and seek the Lord’s will, and obey Him by faith.
And there can be many ways this can be done.
Join our Prayer Meetings and special Prayer and Sharing sessions. The first Prayer and Sharing session regarding the church plant was held this past Sunday on 19 January with about 70 members participating. For about an hour, members spent time in small groups, each facilitated by an elder, listening to each other and prayerfully committed the matter to the Lord as we interceded for unity, direction, provision according to the will of God. It was heartening to hear the lively discussion and the voices of members articulating their prayers to God.
The following prayer items were shared, and we encourage members to also take these items to pray on their own.
GBC to have one united heart and mind in the Lord as we explore church planting
Our elders to have the wisdom, courage and humility to follow the Lord’s leading in this effort
The Lord to supply us with the right people, including a candidate for church planting and missions who will lead this effort
The Lord to move in the hearts of those who may be led to join the church plant
God to provide for the many practical needs that GBC and the church plant will have, many of which remain unknown
We will also be holding our next Prayer Meeting on 9 February. Time will be set aside at this Prayer Meeting and subsequent ones to consistently pray for these plans, so we encourage all members to join us.
We have also been encouraged to hear of Care Groups and small groups coming together to pray for this. This is wonderful to hear and see the church seeking God’s will together. We hope that more CGs, small groups, families, groups of friends can also do so together.
Speak with the elders
Members have been speaking to the elders and pastors since the various announcements and information have been released. They have been bringing their questions and concerns and seeking clarification on what has been shared. We continue to encourage members to speak with the elders, either in person, or through writing via plant@gracebaptistchurch.sg.
Stay updated
We are also in the early stages of making and carrying out plans. Members, stay informed by attending our Members’ Meetings which will be held on alternate months, beginning January. Recaps and summaries will also be written after these meetings, so do read them if you are unable to attend.
Notices of these meetings and the recaps, as well as special announcements will also be emailed to members. Please update your email addresses with the church office by writing to info@gracebaptistchurch.sg.
Keep walking in the truth
One way we can prepare for the future is to be faithful with what we have now. The days ahead could be filled with changes and it is certainly both exciting and scary. In some sense, no matter what happens in the future – whether we are members of this local church or a new plant – our focus remains the same – to be a faithful follower of Jesus. The Great Commission continues to be our command and we are to be walking in the truth, as our recent series in 2-3 John has exhorted us to.
As faithful disciples now, we are to continue to make disciples as we baptise and teach and walk alongside fellow believers in this church (Matt 28:19-20). We are to continue to stir one another to love and good deeds and not neglect to meet together (Heb 10:24-25). Our ministries continue to need members’ help to care for members in the church and also to reach out to those outside the church. Consider who you can help — by helping to meet practical needs or reading together to grow in the gospel etc. Consider also who you can ask to help you to grow in the gospel. As we humbly love and serve each other in the present, may God also use this to prepare our hearts for whatever He leads us through in the future.
Ephesians 3:10 reminds us of God’s ultimate design for the church, GBC included – “so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places”. Let us continue to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel we have received, and in faithful obedience, live out the gospel to show the world around us.
To this end, we pray with Paul in Ephesians 3:17-21: “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”