Cell group leaders and members of CHC’s JS zone head to Johor for a Bible study seminar.
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| PHOTO: Jeremiah Sy |
Fifty-two members from JS zone (led by one of City Harvest Church’s assistant pastors Jimmy Sng), comprising cell group leaders, connect group leaders and members, made their way to Pulai Springs Resort in Johor, Malaysia, for back-to-back sessions on the Gifts Of The Holy Spirit—a Bible study program offered by CHC as part of its Christian education curriculum for members. The Bible study camp was held from Sep. 9 to 11.
Realizing the importance of developing sensitivity toward the Holy Spirit especially at a cell group level, Sng commented, “We want to raise up members who will help minister to others by using the gifts God has given to them.”
As an exercise, playing cards were distributed to each person and everyone had to remember the card he or she was holding before returning it to the main deck. After the Bible study was over, the cards were re-distributed and the person who picked up the new card had to write a note of encouragement to the person who had first selected the corresponding card in the first round. Without knowing whom he or she was encouraging, the second person would have to pray and ask God for a special word of encouragement and in faith, write it out, believing that God would use him or her to bless someone else. The note was then clipped together with the card and placed at the front of the seminar room for the first person to retrieve.
This exercise was repeated throughout the following sessions and the words of encouragement that were written got more accurate and specific to the individuals involved. To create a positive environment throughout the camp, individuals were also asked to rate the encouragement that they received according to accuracy. From a scale of one to 10, the group’s average hovered in the seven-point range.
In another exercise, the group was split into two teams. One team had to be blindfolded while giving a word of prophecy and encouragement to a person standing in front of them. Those who were blindfolded had no idea whom they were praying for but many were blessed and edified after hearing what the Lord had to say to them through the blindfolded individuals.
Lew Wei Liang who was standing blindfolded in front of Sng, confessed that he was nervous. However, Sng affirmed that the prophesy blessed him tremendously and confirmed what he had been praying for in recent times.
Lin Jun Qiang, a cell group leader and graduate of the School Of Theology remarked, “At this camp, we had to practice with people we don’t know very well. As such, I learned how to focus and trust God completely instead of leaning on my physical senses.”
Sherry Tan, a Christian for more than a decade, added, “This experience has rekindled my passion for God. It more than confirmed that God is really present [in my life].”
The camp ended on a high on the third day as Sng shared his heart and burden for the ministry and prayed for people with the laying on of hands. He exhorted the group, “God wants to empower us to move in the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit. When you come to the end of your ability, you step into a realm of faith where God moves and that makes all the difference.”
