Calvary Church has been in a boxing match for last few years. We are all wondering who will win. This fight is just like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s fight in Manila in 70s. It was so great that HBO made a documentary of it called Thrilla in Manila. The fight was so close that no one knew who would win. If Eddie Futch, Joe’s trainer, did not stop the fight after round 14, who knows what would have happened? It was a real tough one. Everytime I think of that fight, I think of us today because that’s what Calvary Church is going through now! We just don’t know who is going to win. There are two sides in two corners of this boxing ring, and the boxers look like they are going to fall if someone doesn’t stop the fight. This is Thrilla in Damansara!
We members are praying for somebody to just stop this. What law case, now injuntion, etc etc, I fight you, you fight me goings-on are draining the church dry! When we read about our church in the newspapers, we don’t know what to think anymore. When our friends and families ask us what is going on, we don’t know how to answer anymore. Can someone please help us?
We are not against our leaders. But we wish they would talk to us more and tell us what on earth is happening? Can or not? Can you guys tells us what is going on? We don’t want to see in the papers, then only you come and make some announcement. That is not right. We would love to pray for our deacons and pastors more. We can see that you are going through tough times. Please can you let us in??
We also have friends in the ttg. They have been members for many years. Only in last few years we hear so much grumbling from them. Before that, we can remember some of them and Pastor G. were good friends. What happened? They tell us long stories about this and that...but we are thinking how come they took so long to find out...and what happened to the friendship? KO. (KO is not kopi-o... we are not starting a new group to challenge teh tarik. KO means knockout.)
Now they are going to resolve problems...you know how? Boxing match. More KOs coming.
Is that right? Before this year, we got shouting match in EGM. Terrible. But that was just the beginning! Last year, AGM went on for TWO days—more than TEN hours! (This year, I want to go home and sleep after 9pm. Some of my friends want to bring coffee and supper with them...they ta pao early, then come to church. Like this, I bring pillow) Worse, now take boxing match to law court, so everybody can see. Can Christians behave like this? Not that we like to suffer, but Jesus also suffered. He never pointed His fingers at anybody. His Body should be the same. We cannot act like the world. We must be different. If not, how can the world see that God is with us? How can they tell that we love one another as Christ loves us? We are like the body’s finger pinching the leg and saying “I hate you!” Or the body’s hand slapping its own face and saying “You are a liar!” We are crazy! We are blue black already! How much can we stand some more?
Look at our church. So many people have gone! Really, they have left and joined other churches. Now they serve there and God is blessing them. But then when we announce our AGM, they want to come back and vote! Crazy! But so many people have gone because of tears and bitter words...this is so, so sad...
I think we are already near Round 14 of our boxing match. I don’t know who will stop the fight if we keep going like this...maybe if God sees that we are going to drop dead, He will do something to save us. Maybe we should ask the church to do what the brother or sister wrote about praying all together. I heard one or two people talking about this, but nothing happened after that. Maybe we can ask for that. Let’s all come together to pray. We should seek God’s face first of all. We should go to Him and cry out to Him. If we don’t have Eddie Futch to help us, God will always help us because He promised He will not leave us or abandon us! LET’S ALL PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED CALVARY CHURCH!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Let Us Pray
There were way too many “qualified” people making remarks such as “we should have …. “, “they should have….” or, “they should not have…..”
At coffee shops, online chats, MSN, or Skype, or at Murni SS2, or any other mamak stall, you see and hear people giving their opinions of what has happened to Calvary Church recently.
There were way too many people giving too many versions of what actually happened, but too few people who really want to go shake hands with one another and unite everybody together. Too many people think they know better, and too few people wanna do what is right.
One party shouting “they do not want to reconcile!!!” and the other party whispering, “we can’t make it to the appointment yet, but they do not want to wait for us to give them another date”.
To be frank we do not know what happened behind closed doors, but we do know that some facts are exaggerated by some parties, while other facts are hidden by some parties.
There were too much anger shared and spread, and too much unforgiveness and bitterness dividing the body of Christ. This caused many of us to think, “what happen to the message of the cross? Has it really been effective??” And this is an insult because our God is greater than all the problems faced by Calvary Church or anyone else at the moment!!
By now, there isn’t anymore who’s right and who’s wrong. Everyone who has passed some form of judgmental remarks at least once is guilty of spreading division to the church in one way or another. Is this truly God’s will??
Christ died for His church – which is His bride – and His body - and He does not need to do it again and again. Are we doing God a favour by passing some unkind remarks on some anonymous blogs? Do we really think that God approve our actions of pointing fingers at one another, screaming and shouting, “you’re wrong!!”
The silent majority – which we represent accurately – would want to see this whole saga comes to an end NOW, if not sooner. We do not need anymore Christian cowards (an obvious oxymoron) hiding behind some anonymous moniker and passing some ghostly divisive remarks for the whole world to read.
So, we appeal to members of the Body of Christ, to pray for healing for Calvary Church – on both sides of the divide. Neither should we see each other as “that side” or “this side”, or “support or oppose”, or “against or for” and etc etc!! We should all go down on our knees and plead God for His forgiveness because we have been unkind to one another.
You in the SCG department, you have moved out and moved on, do not teach others to backbite against Calvary Church and do not encourage anyone to leave the church!! That’s NOT your call!!
You who were once in the CW department! You have moved out and move on, so do not send out anymore emails stating how badly you have been used by the leaders! You were a blessing once, so be a blessing now, and do not build up bitterness in your heart anymore. Move on and smile! It’s NOT worth it!
You, who used to sing in the choir of God’s goodness, now don’t you dare sing of how you were a second class citizen in Calvary Church! God saw you and you had a first class citizenship in heaven, so rejoice for that fact!!!
And you who once served as a lifegroup leader, repent and do not mislead your (ex) lifegroup members by your divisive actions!
You in the communications department, DO NOT communicate negative remarks about Calvary Church to those in other churches. Calvary Church belongs to God and not to you. Why are you criticizing God’s work in Calvary Church? Can you do a better job than God? If not then shut up!!
You who were once a ministry leader and now serving as a leader in another church, stop and pause and have a good closure to your past. Do NOT bring your bitterness over to your new church! They are innocent! Repent.
To you who are reading this, please please pray for Calvary Church.
If you are a leader of Calvary Church and you are reading this, come on, organize a prayer meeting and plead heaven for forgiveness. There is no breakthrough in your causes because you have not prayed enough and you have not done enough. You have not mobilize your intercessors enough, and you have not seek God enough. Your members are not too well informed to pray enough for you.
Your members love you and they are united with you. Leverage on that! They will be more than happy to intercede and pray for you, but let them know what is happening. They may be sheep, but you are also a sheep yourself. So, let’s ask the Great Shepherd to help us. We need to get out from this mess. It is damaging us for far too long.
So, we ask you who are reading this, please pray. Either you support those who oppose the church, or you support the leadership of Calvary Church, it does not matter because you belong to the Body of Christ and it is your duty to pray for healing for Calvary Church.
Here are some prayer points to assist you. May you be led by the Holy Spirit to pray accordingly.
- Leadership of Calvary Church
- (ex)members and regular worshippers who have moved on
- existing members of Calvary Church
- brothers and sisters who have been genuinely hurt for carelessness on “both sides”
May God bless His church and may the church heal fast enough for a great major revival breakthrough in Malaysia!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Calvary One: Unity In One
Were you there at Calvary Church Easter sunrise service at the national stadium at Bukit Jalil? Did you see their performances? Their happy faces? Reflected their happy hearts?
If you are looking for some juicy news, we have some for you.
The Calvarites who served in the Good Friday and Sunday morning Easter sunrise services are very happy people!! No, they are not sad, neither were they angry at their Senior Pastor!
We have heard many people passing such remarks:-
“Mr Chan is still worshipping at Calvary Church. Poor dumb sheep, he doesn’t know what he is doing. He must be a pro-SP supporter. I pity him.”
“Ms Tan is not leaving Calvary Church. She is very blind. Those Calvarites do not know the truth and they are blinded to the truth.”
“Hey, I pity our friends who are still there. When are they ever going to grow spiritually and learn to see that SP is a wicked man?”
“I am disappointed with Mr Lim! He is such a disgrace! When I talk to him about the necessity to leave Calvary Church, he defended SP! How can??”
“We have left the music and creative arts department and the church altogether! We are waiting to see how it is going to collapse under the son-in-law’s leadership!!”
Guess what, they DO NOT need your pities and sympathies. This past weekend’s services said it all – they are happy people with very happy attitude and a very happy reason to celebrate a happy season!
They have chosen to suffer alongside their senior pastors and their church. Ask any members who were involved in the production, ask those who served breakfast, ask those who helped ushered guest, visitors and members, ask the car park attendant – you can see a great spirit of unity among them.
See the smiles on their faces! And hear them exchanging testimonies with one another! That is a true feeling of belonging, and certainly, they have chosen to stay with their church through tough times! They have God’s joy in them, and God’s joy has given them strength to go through times like these when their senior pastors have been badly bashed on the Internet.
They are certainly not blind nor sad people, and they are certainly sheep who are trusting the Jesus the Good Shepherd to lead them to the Promised Land. They are not perfect and they do not require our sympathy. They reflected a trusting heart in Jesus. God Himself will lead Calvary Church out from this storm!
Oh, some TTG supporters who signed the memorandum have confirmed with us that there are LESS THAN 100 signatures on the memorandum!! And you know, there are less than 80 people who turned up on that day to hand the memorandum to SP! What you see in the newspaper, is more or less, that’s about it!
No wonder the bible says in 1 Peter 5:8, “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
Yeah, he roared like a roaring lion, but he is not a lion at all!
God bless you all and may we reflect the power of the resurrection in our lives!
(And stop all those babbling online! It reflects a dead cross!!!)
If you are looking for some juicy news, we have some for you.
The Calvarites who served in the Good Friday and Sunday morning Easter sunrise services are very happy people!! No, they are not sad, neither were they angry at their Senior Pastor!
We have heard many people passing such remarks:-
“Mr Chan is still worshipping at Calvary Church. Poor dumb sheep, he doesn’t know what he is doing. He must be a pro-SP supporter. I pity him.”
“Ms Tan is not leaving Calvary Church. She is very blind. Those Calvarites do not know the truth and they are blinded to the truth.”
“Hey, I pity our friends who are still there. When are they ever going to grow spiritually and learn to see that SP is a wicked man?”
“I am disappointed with Mr Lim! He is such a disgrace! When I talk to him about the necessity to leave Calvary Church, he defended SP! How can??”
“We have left the music and creative arts department and the church altogether! We are waiting to see how it is going to collapse under the son-in-law’s leadership!!”
Guess what, they DO NOT need your pities and sympathies. This past weekend’s services said it all – they are happy people with very happy attitude and a very happy reason to celebrate a happy season!
They have chosen to suffer alongside their senior pastors and their church. Ask any members who were involved in the production, ask those who served breakfast, ask those who helped ushered guest, visitors and members, ask the car park attendant – you can see a great spirit of unity among them.
See the smiles on their faces! And hear them exchanging testimonies with one another! That is a true feeling of belonging, and certainly, they have chosen to stay with their church through tough times! They have God’s joy in them, and God’s joy has given them strength to go through times like these when their senior pastors have been badly bashed on the Internet.
They are certainly not blind nor sad people, and they are certainly sheep who are trusting the Jesus the Good Shepherd to lead them to the Promised Land. They are not perfect and they do not require our sympathy. They reflected a trusting heart in Jesus. God Himself will lead Calvary Church out from this storm!
Oh, some TTG supporters who signed the memorandum have confirmed with us that there are LESS THAN 100 signatures on the memorandum!! And you know, there are less than 80 people who turned up on that day to hand the memorandum to SP! What you see in the newspaper, is more or less, that’s about it!
No wonder the bible says in 1 Peter 5:8, “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
Yeah, he roared like a roaring lion, but he is not a lion at all!
God bless you all and may we reflect the power of the resurrection in our lives!
(And stop all those babbling online! It reflects a dead cross!!!)
“IF”
A little girl kneels beside her bed at night to say her goodnight prayers, “dear Lord Jesus, if I have offended mummy today for not waking up on time, please forgive me. If I have made daddy upset for refusing to brush my teeth, please forgive me also.”
Jesus’ respond to this little girl’s goodnight prayer, “IF? IF? Nahh little girl. You’re not sincere. I can’t forgive you”. (don’t you thank God that this is just fictional???!!)
A young teenage boy romanticizing his girlfriend, “dear, I will love you with all my life. Can’t wait to spend my life with you. If I have said anything, or may do anything that may make you unhappy, please forgive me?” Unfortunately, his girlfriend’s reply, “IF? What do you mean “IF”? You’re not sincere!! No, I am not going to forgive you! Let’s break up!!”
A secretary thanking her boss for a bonus she just received, “Boss, thank you for this blessing. The money will come in handy. If I have done anything that wasn’t right in the past year, please forgive me. I meant to do well.” Her boss’ reply, “IF? What do you mean “IF”? You’re not sincere enough! No, I am not going to forgive you. Hey, someone, please advertise for the position of a new secretary! This one is not sincere enough despite a bonus!!”
A businessman, waiting anxiously to clinch a deal that will bring a new breakthrough to his business, was asked to wait for the decision from one of his big time customer. The wait was agonizing. So, he prayed, “Father God, bless the business. It is Yours Oh Lord! If I have sin in my life, please forgive me. I do not know why I have to wait so long for their decision, but if I have done anything that is not right in their eyes and in Your eyes, please forgive me”. God’s respond, “IF? That’s not sincere enough! No I can’t forgive you”.
Let’s reverse the role a little bit.
A member of a church walking up to his priest and say, “father, thanks for praying for me last week. I just want to say sorry if I have done anything that may have offend you in the past few months. Please forgive me”. The father’s respond, “IF? You must show sincerity whenever you apologise. Because you did not show sincerity, I can’t forgive you”.
We thank God that all the above scenarios are just mere fictional! But this is the exact measure that Rev Prince Guneratnam had been judged last year when he made a public apology in their Sunday morning Easter service. His “IF… I have offended anyone” was discussed and analyzed at great length by some. And these people have judged the “no, we shall not forgive him” sentence on him. Worst, we read things like, “let’s youtube him!” and etc with regards to this. Isn’t this a very childish and un-Christlike act?
Didn’t Jesus forgive Peter prior to his three times denial?
Didn’t Jesus forgive Judas before the great betrayal took place?
Didn’t Jesus plead with the Father for forgiveness on the Roman soldiers even though the Roman soldiers did not say, “I am sorry”?
Didn’t Jesus forgive us all, even before we confess our sins and accept Him to be our Saviour, and saving us from eternal damnation?
So, what right do we have to say to Prince Guneratnam, “You used the word “IF” in your apology. So we cannot forgive you!”.
With the measure we judge others, with the same measure we will be judged also.
Here is what the Bible says about this, in a very serious tone.
1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God "will give to each person according to what he has done."[a] 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
Anyone who does not accept the public apology made by Rev Prince Guneratnam, but instead teaches others to do the same, is in a grave danger of facing God’s wrath.
So dear readers, IF we have written anything that may prick your hearts and arouse your anger, we are sorry, please forgive us.
The scripture above is taken from Romans 2:1-8.
Jesus’ respond to this little girl’s goodnight prayer, “IF? IF? Nahh little girl. You’re not sincere. I can’t forgive you”. (don’t you thank God that this is just fictional???!!)
A young teenage boy romanticizing his girlfriend, “dear, I will love you with all my life. Can’t wait to spend my life with you. If I have said anything, or may do anything that may make you unhappy, please forgive me?” Unfortunately, his girlfriend’s reply, “IF? What do you mean “IF”? You’re not sincere!! No, I am not going to forgive you! Let’s break up!!”
A secretary thanking her boss for a bonus she just received, “Boss, thank you for this blessing. The money will come in handy. If I have done anything that wasn’t right in the past year, please forgive me. I meant to do well.” Her boss’ reply, “IF? What do you mean “IF”? You’re not sincere enough! No, I am not going to forgive you. Hey, someone, please advertise for the position of a new secretary! This one is not sincere enough despite a bonus!!”
A businessman, waiting anxiously to clinch a deal that will bring a new breakthrough to his business, was asked to wait for the decision from one of his big time customer. The wait was agonizing. So, he prayed, “Father God, bless the business. It is Yours Oh Lord! If I have sin in my life, please forgive me. I do not know why I have to wait so long for their decision, but if I have done anything that is not right in their eyes and in Your eyes, please forgive me”. God’s respond, “IF? That’s not sincere enough! No I can’t forgive you”.
Let’s reverse the role a little bit.
A member of a church walking up to his priest and say, “father, thanks for praying for me last week. I just want to say sorry if I have done anything that may have offend you in the past few months. Please forgive me”. The father’s respond, “IF? You must show sincerity whenever you apologise. Because you did not show sincerity, I can’t forgive you”.
We thank God that all the above scenarios are just mere fictional! But this is the exact measure that Rev Prince Guneratnam had been judged last year when he made a public apology in their Sunday morning Easter service. His “IF… I have offended anyone” was discussed and analyzed at great length by some. And these people have judged the “no, we shall not forgive him” sentence on him. Worst, we read things like, “let’s youtube him!” and etc with regards to this. Isn’t this a very childish and un-Christlike act?
Didn’t Jesus forgive Peter prior to his three times denial?
Didn’t Jesus forgive Judas before the great betrayal took place?
Didn’t Jesus plead with the Father for forgiveness on the Roman soldiers even though the Roman soldiers did not say, “I am sorry”?
Didn’t Jesus forgive us all, even before we confess our sins and accept Him to be our Saviour, and saving us from eternal damnation?
So, what right do we have to say to Prince Guneratnam, “You used the word “IF” in your apology. So we cannot forgive you!”.
With the measure we judge others, with the same measure we will be judged also.
Here is what the Bible says about this, in a very serious tone.
1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God "will give to each person according to what he has done."[a] 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
Anyone who does not accept the public apology made by Rev Prince Guneratnam, but instead teaches others to do the same, is in a grave danger of facing God’s wrath.
So dear readers, IF we have written anything that may prick your hearts and arouse your anger, we are sorry, please forgive us.
The scripture above is taken from Romans 2:1-8.
Friday, April 2, 2010
LET’S CLOSE THIS!
This weekend is Easter. Christians will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave. We will praise God for giving us new life and making us new creations in Him through His Spirit (2 Corinthians 5: 17). It’s going to be wonderful. God reminds us that the power that raised Jesus from death also lives in us—that’s the ‘dynamite’ power of the Spirit of God. I am so looking forward to the Easter Sunrise Service at 6.30am on Sunday morning!
But then what happens after that? We will rejoice that Jesus came to save sinners and wash us clean from sin...then when we get home, we will switch on our computers and start reading blogs that tell us our pastors are horrible, our deacons are horrible...and Calvary Church is dying. We will call our friends to gossip about the latest rumour... “Wahh, you know, so-and-so has been called to the witness stand la...”, “Aiyoh...you don’t know how they hide things from us lah”, “Ai say, you got hear about the $$$$ in the bank account ahh??”
I think we got to be consistent here, ok? Either Jesus has really die for us, been resurrected and now cleanse us from all sin...or He is not! Either we all are brothers and sisters in Christ...or we are not! Either we forgive other people who injure and hurt us...or we do not! Cannot be sometimes yes, sometimes no. If we are so double-minded, then who is Jesus Christ to us? How can God answer our prayers then?
I don’t like what is happening to Calvary Church. When I read this blog and that blog, I am sad that our church problems cannot seem to end. We are a quarrelling family. That is not what God wants for us as His children. We cannot behave like we have so many ‘rights’. If someone does not give us our ‘rights’, then we start shouting and screaming like little children throwing tantrums. We cannot behave like we own everything also. If people don’t like it, then too bad, they can go somewhere else. You know, both attitudes are no good.
Jesus never behaved like that. He was firm but kind. He was outspoken, but knew when to keep His peace. He always knew what to do and how to do it. I wish we were more like Him. He prayed to God, looked to God and focused on God to answer Him. He never looked to man or asked the Romans to give Him a helping hand! How come we do these things today? We cannot handle an AGM (only once a year!), then we go and rent a lawyer... we don’t like the debit and credit columns that we see, then we start shouting, “CBT! CBT!” Worse, we didn’t see our names on some list, we call reporters to take pictures, man! What are we coming to?
I think I am fed-up already. I think many of you are too. Sure, there are hurts...on all sides. Sure, sometimes, we want things to be done better and clearer...sure, sure, sure! But can we try to settle these things as Christians, and not “worse than the unbelievers”? People are looking at us. Some feel sorry for us. Some are laughing away. What have we done to Jesus’ reputation? I don’t know how Calvary Church is going to stand on Judgement Day before God. What are we going to tell God? How come as brothers and sisters—closer even than flesh and blood relatives in Jesus’ Name!—we cannot settle things with sacrifice and humility? How come must go to police and court? I don’t understand how this glorifies God.
No, no and no! Let’s stop this. Let’s close this. Ok? Why not we ordinary Calvarites who love our church call up and sms our leaders and tell them this: LET’S CLOSE THIS! I think we are the majority. Correct? For the sake of Jesus’ glory, let’s call everyone we know and tell them that it is time to stand united! We don’t want anymore nonsense quarrelling! We don’t want anymore shouting, police report, court case and what have you! Stop all this!
We want reconciliation.
We want to see the quarrelling sides shake hands and restore fellowship.
We want Wong Hong Meng and Senior Pastor to say to each other: “I love you and forgive you.” In public!
We want our church back again!
Leaders and ttg, are you listening? Don’t let this Easter go by without something good being done in Jesus’ Name.
Swallow your pride! Humble yourselves! Be reconciled!
ARE YOU LISTENING??
But then what happens after that? We will rejoice that Jesus came to save sinners and wash us clean from sin...then when we get home, we will switch on our computers and start reading blogs that tell us our pastors are horrible, our deacons are horrible...and Calvary Church is dying. We will call our friends to gossip about the latest rumour... “Wahh, you know, so-and-so has been called to the witness stand la...”, “Aiyoh...you don’t know how they hide things from us lah”, “Ai say, you got hear about the $$$$ in the bank account ahh??”
I think we got to be consistent here, ok? Either Jesus has really die for us, been resurrected and now cleanse us from all sin...or He is not! Either we all are brothers and sisters in Christ...or we are not! Either we forgive other people who injure and hurt us...or we do not! Cannot be sometimes yes, sometimes no. If we are so double-minded, then who is Jesus Christ to us? How can God answer our prayers then?
I don’t like what is happening to Calvary Church. When I read this blog and that blog, I am sad that our church problems cannot seem to end. We are a quarrelling family. That is not what God wants for us as His children. We cannot behave like we have so many ‘rights’. If someone does not give us our ‘rights’, then we start shouting and screaming like little children throwing tantrums. We cannot behave like we own everything also. If people don’t like it, then too bad, they can go somewhere else. You know, both attitudes are no good.
Jesus never behaved like that. He was firm but kind. He was outspoken, but knew when to keep His peace. He always knew what to do and how to do it. I wish we were more like Him. He prayed to God, looked to God and focused on God to answer Him. He never looked to man or asked the Romans to give Him a helping hand! How come we do these things today? We cannot handle an AGM (only once a year!), then we go and rent a lawyer... we don’t like the debit and credit columns that we see, then we start shouting, “CBT! CBT!” Worse, we didn’t see our names on some list, we call reporters to take pictures, man! What are we coming to?
I think I am fed-up already. I think many of you are too. Sure, there are hurts...on all sides. Sure, sometimes, we want things to be done better and clearer...sure, sure, sure! But can we try to settle these things as Christians, and not “worse than the unbelievers”? People are looking at us. Some feel sorry for us. Some are laughing away. What have we done to Jesus’ reputation? I don’t know how Calvary Church is going to stand on Judgement Day before God. What are we going to tell God? How come as brothers and sisters—closer even than flesh and blood relatives in Jesus’ Name!—we cannot settle things with sacrifice and humility? How come must go to police and court? I don’t understand how this glorifies God.
No, no and no! Let’s stop this. Let’s close this. Ok? Why not we ordinary Calvarites who love our church call up and sms our leaders and tell them this: LET’S CLOSE THIS! I think we are the majority. Correct? For the sake of Jesus’ glory, let’s call everyone we know and tell them that it is time to stand united! We don’t want anymore nonsense quarrelling! We don’t want anymore shouting, police report, court case and what have you! Stop all this!
We want reconciliation.
We want to see the quarrelling sides shake hands and restore fellowship.
We want Wong Hong Meng and Senior Pastor to say to each other: “I love you and forgive you.” In public!
We want our church back again!
Leaders and ttg, are you listening? Don’t let this Easter go by without something good being done in Jesus’ Name.
Swallow your pride! Humble yourselves! Be reconciled!
ARE YOU LISTENING??
Why I'm Still in Calvary
The past year plus, we have seen a big exodus of Calvarites leaving the church and going to other churches. The recent membership update shows that many who left asked for transfer of membership elsewhere. Other churches in KL and PJ are recording increase of members! This is so uncool because it’s not an actual increase of people coming to the Lord...
What about Calvary Church? From the membership update, it is just so clear to me that the sheep have been scattered. The bible says that happens when the shepherd has been struck (Matthew 26: 31). The update is not about a witch hunt like some people say...it’s a factual description of the sad things that have been going on in our church for too long.
Last Sunday, we noticed how empty the pews were during service. Some people said it was because many families had gone home for Ching Ming. Well...is it only this year that people go back to hometown for Ching Ming? How come it’s this year that we noted the empty seats?
People have asked me: “Why are you still in this terrible church? When are you going to leave?” I get so mad when they do this! If they want to leave, they should leave, but please, don’t go round encouraging others as well! I tell them that this church may be going through tough times, but it is still the Body of Christ! And as members of the church, I am not going to desert anyone by running off elsewhere! When Calvary Church was doing well, I was part of the Body. Now that it is not doing so well, I am still part of the Body. Now I’m not judging anyone for their actions...all I’m saying is this: through thick or thin, I’m here to stay! The only way I’ll leave is when I hear God telling me straight that I have to go...and not when people ask me annoying questions, not when people tell me nasty things about the leaders...I’m in Calvary Church because it is important for me, ordinary member, to show that I can be faithful like Jesus was faithful. I don’t want to be a fair weather friend, and I don’t want to give up on my leaders just because they aren’t perfect.
Now we come to this perfect-imperfect part. I know for a fact that the pastors in Calvary Church are totally imperfect. That’s because they are human. Sometimes, they really annoy me you know...but sometimes, I annoy them too! But just because they are human, I’m not going to accuse them of all kinds of rotten things. No way. I want to remember that when I was sick, they prayed for me, visited me. When I didn’t go for life group, they asked me how come. (Ok, they bugged me about it...) When I stayed away from prayer meeting, they reminded me about prayer. And when my family members passed away, they turned up in full force to see me through bereavement. I know they only have two hands and one head each. They can’t do everything for me. But I guess I understand that, and I’m grateful for what they can do for me. They got a high model to live up to: Jesus is the One and Only Perfect Shepherd. When my pastors disappoint me, I pray that God will remind them of Jesus, the Great Shepherd. That’s all. I won’t write nasty things about them on some blog, and I won’t be talking to any newspaper reporter about them...I will just pray for them...
Perfect-imperfect also applies to the BOD. Hey, these guys aren’t anywhere near perfect. Sometimes, I don’t understand them...I may not always agree with their decisions...but I know some of them, and I can tell you, NO WAY are they liars or vindictive! I pray for them because I sympathise with them. Before one problem is solved, Bang! another problem comes their way. Hey, they have work and family commitments too. You think it’s easy for them to just sit and take all the things thrown at them and not reply in anger? Then walk in their shoes for one day...you will change your mind real quick, friend.
Now...perfect-imperfect members. The silent majority have not spoken for a long time...that’s because we got this silly resolution that says no blogging about church. But I can’t take it anymore. Somebody has to say something to put the picture straight! Hey, there are many of us that want the church to move on and just stop fighting! So very sorry to church resolution...but this imperfect member got to say something on the blog, ok?
Next time, I will write something else. Today, I just want to say why I am still in Calvary Church. I want the leaders to know that I will walk with them. I will not desert them (even when I don’t understand them). I will not badmouth them to anyone. Most of all, I want God to look down from heaven to see that even a small-time, unimportant, imperfect, very ordinary member like me, can show the same faithfulness to my hurting church that Jesus showed to me. This is my service to Him!
What about Calvary Church? From the membership update, it is just so clear to me that the sheep have been scattered. The bible says that happens when the shepherd has been struck (Matthew 26: 31). The update is not about a witch hunt like some people say...it’s a factual description of the sad things that have been going on in our church for too long.
Last Sunday, we noticed how empty the pews were during service. Some people said it was because many families had gone home for Ching Ming. Well...is it only this year that people go back to hometown for Ching Ming? How come it’s this year that we noted the empty seats?
People have asked me: “Why are you still in this terrible church? When are you going to leave?” I get so mad when they do this! If they want to leave, they should leave, but please, don’t go round encouraging others as well! I tell them that this church may be going through tough times, but it is still the Body of Christ! And as members of the church, I am not going to desert anyone by running off elsewhere! When Calvary Church was doing well, I was part of the Body. Now that it is not doing so well, I am still part of the Body. Now I’m not judging anyone for their actions...all I’m saying is this: through thick or thin, I’m here to stay! The only way I’ll leave is when I hear God telling me straight that I have to go...and not when people ask me annoying questions, not when people tell me nasty things about the leaders...I’m in Calvary Church because it is important for me, ordinary member, to show that I can be faithful like Jesus was faithful. I don’t want to be a fair weather friend, and I don’t want to give up on my leaders just because they aren’t perfect.
Now we come to this perfect-imperfect part. I know for a fact that the pastors in Calvary Church are totally imperfect. That’s because they are human. Sometimes, they really annoy me you know...but sometimes, I annoy them too! But just because they are human, I’m not going to accuse them of all kinds of rotten things. No way. I want to remember that when I was sick, they prayed for me, visited me. When I didn’t go for life group, they asked me how come. (Ok, they bugged me about it...) When I stayed away from prayer meeting, they reminded me about prayer. And when my family members passed away, they turned up in full force to see me through bereavement. I know they only have two hands and one head each. They can’t do everything for me. But I guess I understand that, and I’m grateful for what they can do for me. They got a high model to live up to: Jesus is the One and Only Perfect Shepherd. When my pastors disappoint me, I pray that God will remind them of Jesus, the Great Shepherd. That’s all. I won’t write nasty things about them on some blog, and I won’t be talking to any newspaper reporter about them...I will just pray for them...
Perfect-imperfect also applies to the BOD. Hey, these guys aren’t anywhere near perfect. Sometimes, I don’t understand them...I may not always agree with their decisions...but I know some of them, and I can tell you, NO WAY are they liars or vindictive! I pray for them because I sympathise with them. Before one problem is solved, Bang! another problem comes their way. Hey, they have work and family commitments too. You think it’s easy for them to just sit and take all the things thrown at them and not reply in anger? Then walk in their shoes for one day...you will change your mind real quick, friend.
Now...perfect-imperfect members. The silent majority have not spoken for a long time...that’s because we got this silly resolution that says no blogging about church. But I can’t take it anymore. Somebody has to say something to put the picture straight! Hey, there are many of us that want the church to move on and just stop fighting! So very sorry to church resolution...but this imperfect member got to say something on the blog, ok?
Next time, I will write something else. Today, I just want to say why I am still in Calvary Church. I want the leaders to know that I will walk with them. I will not desert them (even when I don’t understand them). I will not badmouth them to anyone. Most of all, I want God to look down from heaven to see that even a small-time, unimportant, imperfect, very ordinary member like me, can show the same faithfulness to my hurting church that Jesus showed to me. This is my service to Him!
Our Beloved Sister Petrina Guneratnam
She is the lady behind the man. Sweet, gentle, caring and loving. Affectionately known as Sister, we tried envisioning her scolding and screaming on top of her lungs, but that just don’t seem to fit. She is badly affected by all the accusations from the cyber zone. Hear it in her voice, read it in between her lines, you know she is affected.
But there is a group of us who is of the opinion that she is also one approved and anointed by the Lord to lead the ladies of the church. We have spoken to a few ladies who attend Tuesday Ladies Worship Services regularly and they have very good things to say about her. You can be sure some of these ladies do not know how to go online and cannot differentiate a UBS from a UPS!
When she was first accused of a CBT, she does not even know what CBT means! As far as we know, she would probably have drafted a sermon that looks like this..
Cross
Bears all my
Trangressions
Or
Confess your sins to Him
Bow before Him
Turn your eyes upon Him
That is her heart - a heart for Jesus. She preaches Jesus. She prays in the name of Jesus. She lives a Jesus-led life and is blessed with a family who loves her and cherishes her.
She has a group of ladies who are interceding for her, and a group of intercessors who are regularly praying for her to be strong. We could not ask for anyone else to be our Senior Pastors other than Sister Petrina at times like these. God sees it fit to use her and Rev Prince Guneratnam to lead Calvary Church into greater realms for Jesus.
A lady went up to her after Friday prayer meeting and asked for prayer. Her husband was going through some tough times in his business. Sister prayed for her. The lady felt blessed. But what surprised her was a phone call from Sister Petrina the next day to see if there is any development to his business situation!! And did we mention that it happened when the attacks from people who oppose her got worst? How did she get that strength to follow her on the sheep of Calvary Church? Definitely Jesus! Her source of strength and joy.
A lawyer has been absent from the church because she was often traveling due to her business commitments. She had no idea what was happening to Calvary Church and had no idea Sister noticed her absence from the church! She called her and that was just a perfect timing because the lawyer was fighting a case for a client whose integrity was questionable! Only the wisdom of Jesus would have given Sister to speak the right word at the right time. Wisdom comes from the Lord and it does not come unless one has a relationship with the Lord!
At one Sunday services back in the late 1990s, two young girls went to church with heavy hearts. They have walked to church from their homes which were located at about an hour’s walk away. Public transportation to Calvary church at that time was scarce and infrequent. After the sermon, the two girls responded to the altar call. Sister walked up to one of the girl and prayed. As she was praying for one of them, one of the girl received the baptism of the Holy Spirit that very day!! Moments after that, Sister Petrina walked up the stage, took the microphone and gave a word from the Lord. It pricked the heart of the second girl! God spoke an accurate message – a message the girl was dying to hear from the Lord!
How can one be such a beautiful blessing unless one is of the Lord? Does she still have that gifting today? Another loud YESSSSSSS!!
We know leading the church out of the miry clay into the promised land is a tough job. But none is tougher and fitter to lead Calvary Church other than Rev Prince and Petrina Guneratnam for now, until God says otherwise. For now, they are both in our prayers and our hearts.
But there is a group of us who is of the opinion that she is also one approved and anointed by the Lord to lead the ladies of the church. We have spoken to a few ladies who attend Tuesday Ladies Worship Services regularly and they have very good things to say about her. You can be sure some of these ladies do not know how to go online and cannot differentiate a UBS from a UPS!
When she was first accused of a CBT, she does not even know what CBT means! As far as we know, she would probably have drafted a sermon that looks like this..
Cross
Bears all my
Trangressions
Or
Confess your sins to Him
Bow before Him
Turn your eyes upon Him
That is her heart - a heart for Jesus. She preaches Jesus. She prays in the name of Jesus. She lives a Jesus-led life and is blessed with a family who loves her and cherishes her.
She has a group of ladies who are interceding for her, and a group of intercessors who are regularly praying for her to be strong. We could not ask for anyone else to be our Senior Pastors other than Sister Petrina at times like these. God sees it fit to use her and Rev Prince Guneratnam to lead Calvary Church into greater realms for Jesus.
A lady went up to her after Friday prayer meeting and asked for prayer. Her husband was going through some tough times in his business. Sister prayed for her. The lady felt blessed. But what surprised her was a phone call from Sister Petrina the next day to see if there is any development to his business situation!! And did we mention that it happened when the attacks from people who oppose her got worst? How did she get that strength to follow her on the sheep of Calvary Church? Definitely Jesus! Her source of strength and joy.
A lawyer has been absent from the church because she was often traveling due to her business commitments. She had no idea what was happening to Calvary Church and had no idea Sister noticed her absence from the church! She called her and that was just a perfect timing because the lawyer was fighting a case for a client whose integrity was questionable! Only the wisdom of Jesus would have given Sister to speak the right word at the right time. Wisdom comes from the Lord and it does not come unless one has a relationship with the Lord!
At one Sunday services back in the late 1990s, two young girls went to church with heavy hearts. They have walked to church from their homes which were located at about an hour’s walk away. Public transportation to Calvary church at that time was scarce and infrequent. After the sermon, the two girls responded to the altar call. Sister walked up to one of the girl and prayed. As she was praying for one of them, one of the girl received the baptism of the Holy Spirit that very day!! Moments after that, Sister Petrina walked up the stage, took the microphone and gave a word from the Lord. It pricked the heart of the second girl! God spoke an accurate message – a message the girl was dying to hear from the Lord!
How can one be such a beautiful blessing unless one is of the Lord? Does she still have that gifting today? Another loud YESSSSSSS!!
We know leading the church out of the miry clay into the promised land is a tough job. But none is tougher and fitter to lead Calvary Church other than Rev Prince and Petrina Guneratnam for now, until God says otherwise. For now, they are both in our prayers and our hearts.
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