City News outlines the reasons and benefits for serving.
Contributed By Annabelle Low
PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY HARVEST CHURCH.
In 1 Corinthians 12, the body of Christ is likened to different parts of the human body where each part plays a specific role to keep it functioning. Similarly, there are different ministries in the church to keep it functioning, so while they serve a different purpose, they are all part of the same body and serve the same God.
Just as Jesus came on earth not to be served but to serve others, Christians likewise can follow His example. This is especially after he or she has experienced the love of God and out of that overflow of love; want to bless others around them. In City Harvest Church, every member is encouraged to serve and be part of a ministry.
Here are three reasons why every Christian should serve:
1. Ministry blesses.
Ministry blesses God. God is pleased when His children worship Him with their time and talent.
Ministry blesses others. The more an individual serves others, the more he or she is able to impart into their lives. After all, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Ministry blesses the person who is serving. In fact, it stretches the person’s capacity and faith. This is because when people serve, they will be put in all sorts of situations where they have to depend on God.
2. To develop an interest.
Ever wanted to take up a skill but didn’t know how to start? Always wanted to perform but never felt good enough? Serving in a ministry is the perfect way to explore and develop these interests further.
Like the Kingdom of God, ministries do not only reward talent, but willingness and faithfulness. As long as one is willing to serve and commit, there will be opportunities to grow and rise up in a ministry.
Members can also develop their talents in a ministry before crossing over to the marketplace to achieve success, fulfilling the cultural mandate.
“Ministry is not just an area you serve in church; it is a lifestyle,” says JimOrca, 37, a photo artist (see profile).
3. To meet more people and gain new friends.
Joining a ministry means being with a group of people who are working toward a common goal. It allows people to meet and interact with others from different cell groups in the church. Ministry also helps to integrate a person in the church, especially for foreigners or new believers.
Christina Chong, 41, is full-time homemaker who has been serving in the Choir Ministry since the birth of her first son in 2001. Chong moved to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur in 2001 after her husband was relocated. As a foreigner, serving in a ministry gave her many friends and quickly got her rooted in church. “It helps me to get out of the house and gives me an avenue to channel my energy,” laughs Chong. “This allows me to live a more balanced life.”
Today, Chong serves as a backup vocalist in CHC’s Chinese Church and serves as a sectional I/C for the Millenia Choir.
How to choose a ministry
If you want to choose a ministry but don’t know where to start, ask yourself the following questions:
- What am I good at?
- What do I have interest in, or what do I like?
- What do I have?
If you like working with young children, sign up for Children’s Church or Nursery. If you’ve always had an interest in the technical aspects of the media, join the Television Ministry or Audio Ministry.
If you don’t know what you like, then look at what you have. God always looks at what we already have instead of what we don’t have. And one thing everybody has is time. If there is a ministry that is requesting for more members, then sign up and be a blessing in that ministry.
It is not uncommon for members to serve in more than one ministry before they find one where they can grow in. God will always place someone in a ministry where he or she is happy serving Him.
1 Corinthians 12 also says that God has given every one different giftings and talents to be used for common good. Every one has a unique, God-given talent that is unique to himself or herself and ministry provides this platform on which one serves God and discover his or her calling.
With over 37 ministries in CHC available, there is definitely a place where you belong in the church. Sign up and join a ministry today
PHOTO: Jere Nostradamus
PROFILE
Name: JimOrca
Age: 37, married
Occupation: Photo artist and photography lecturer at Nanyang Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, City College and School of Photography Singapore
Been in CHC since 1997, joined the TV and Photography Ministry in 1998.
Why did you start serving?
I just wanted to do something for God. As I am a very visual person and I use photography language to express myself best, God opened doors for me to use my talent to serve Him.
You have been serving for a long time now. What keeps you going?
The ministry was very small when it began, so we all worked very closely together. We all shared ideas, encouraged each other, and kept each other going. I always remember the miracles that God has done in my life, the situations where I can only trust God. It’s not about me; it’s all about God.
How has serving in ministry impacted your life?
I decided to take the leap of faith and left overseas to pursue a degree in Photography at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. When I came back, I was blessed with many opportunities to travel around the world for work or for missions, and was able to use my passion to serve God.
I’ve also realized that the more I impart my knowledge and skills, the more ability I have to impact the lives of the students I teach and I attribute this to what God has done in my life over the years. It is really no longer I, but Christ who lives in me.
