On 10th January 2021, I was tasked to give the sermon at Wilson Street Baptist Church. Since it’s a few days from Wisemen Day (or Three Kings Day), I spoke on the theme “visitation.”
My sermon has three parts. First, I shared about my visit to the Philippines last January 2020. Second, I revisited our multicultural response ministry. Third, I shared my reflection on the visit of the Magi.
In my sermon on 10th January, I took the opportunity to share about the Multicultural Response Ministry that we did in 2020.
I’m aware that not everyone reads our website or gets a copy of our newsletter. This is the second part of my sermon.
For those who don’t know, I’m a bi-vocational pastor. Pursuing my pastoral calling, we started the Multicultural Response ministry in 2013, while working on another job to support the ministry.
Presently, I am working as a consultant at an infrastructure asset management consulting company in Timaru.
The Covid-19 lockdowns posed a great challenge, but it did not deter us from continuing with the ministry that the Lord God has called us to do.
Here are the ministry programs that we have implemented in 2020.
Promoting the Ministry Appreciation and Participation Toolkit
As mentioned in my previous post, I presented the MAP Toolkit with the students, faculty and staff of the College of Theology, Central Philippine University on 13th January 2020.
In July 2020, following my presentation with Steve Davis, former national leader of the Multicultural Inclusion Ministries (MIM) in November 2019 (Baptist Hui) and subsequent communications, the MAP Toolkit was added in the MIM’s Ministry Toolbox.
Later, in September 2020, I presented the MAP Toolkit to the MIM team members via a zoom meeting.
Initial talks have been done with the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches regarding sharing the MAP Toolkit among pastors and ministry leaders.
Conducting Theological Education by Extension (TEE) Bible Studies
After the TEE facilitators training in November 2019, we were able to organise two groups. The lockdowns disrupted some of our meetings, but we were able to resume.
We hope to start another group this year. We are also planning to organise another facilitators training this year.
In addition to Biblical learning, the TEE groups enabled us to minister and fellowship with our co-learners.
Working with the Multicultural Inclusion Ministry Team of the NZ Baptist Union
After my presentation in September 2020, the MIM Team leadership had invited me in their subsequent meetings via online.
During the December 2020 meeting, I am thankful for being included in the Ethnic Advisory Group of the Baptist Union’s National Leader, Charles Hewlett.
This is such a wonderful blessing and a great opportunity to be part of the on-going conversations on the national organisation’s multicultural ministry thrust.
Pastoral Care for migrant and non-migrant families
I grew up with parents who are both pastors. They always emphasize the importance of pastoral care. One time, my mum scolded me for playing with the coloured pins on her visitation map.
I also graduated from a seminary that teaches the importance of pastoral care, and I have applied it through my years in the ministry.
Pastoral care enables us to take the time to call in, listen to His people’s struggles, give encouragement, and pray for them.
In 2020, in addition to the people we prayed for in Timaru, we had visited people in Fairlie, Twizel, Kurow, Geraldine, Rolleston, Kakanui, Oamaru, Christchurch, Ashburton, and Oxford.
COVID-19 Hope and Inspiration
When the lockdowns started here in New Zealand and all over the world, particularly, in our home country, the Philippines, we intensified our publishing inspirational articles on our two websites:
My wife and I recorded some songs to inspire, encourage, and give our friends and family hope.
WSBC Men’s Ministry
I am part of the Men’s Ministry leadership team that regularly meets to plan and pray for the men and the Men’s Breakfast activity.
Coordinating Hopevale Trust COVID-19 Philippine Response 2020
The Hopevale Trust project started in September 2020. Multicultural Response helps in coordinating the sending of financial help to the Philippines:
- Birthright Educators Foundation, Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Creekside Baptist Church, Iloilo City, Philippines
- His Hands and Feet, Ajuy Baptist Church, Iloilo, Philippines
- Kidapawan relief operations, Philippines
We are thankful for the opportunity to serve God and His people through the multicultural response ministry.
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