Dear COA family,

Have you ever wondered how you might be able to cope with all the weight of responsibilities that you face each day?

I have often wondered in this way as well when I consider the weight of the ministry that I have to bear in our church and beyond.

Yet God in his grace assures us of his good promise towards us: “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

So, a most important response I have learnt to God’s promise is simply to turn up!

Each day, whether it is a teaching, sharing or service that I have to conduct, I am simply present in faith in God’s power to both keep me and grant me wisdom to minister to those whom I meet.

Last week, I had to conduct four Holy Communion services in St Andrew’s Nursing Home (Aljunied). The reason for the high number is simply because of the revival that is taking place in the Home – more and more residents are clamouring to participate and we simply do not have enough space in the multi-purpose hall to accommodate all of them!

However, such a frequency of ministry does take a toll on us. I ended up praying for more than a hundred residents individually and felt tired and drained. Yet amazingly, the Lord had a personal word for each of these elderly residents and we saw at least four professing their faith in Jesus for the first time.

This only served to remind me that, ultimately, it is God the Holy Spirit who blesses the work of the ministry in his grace and power, no matter what we do or say. We may feel tired or weary or weak or insignificant. But as we turn up, speak forth and reach out in faith, God does his miraculous work through our lives.

May the Lord similarly empower you for all that he has prepared for you to do this week.

Revd Ian