Committing oneself to the transformation of the marketplace is the calling of every genuine believer who wants to be salt of the earth and light of the city.
By Esther Yap
CN PHOTOS: Brian Neo.
A group of young adults under the leadership of Wu Yuzhuang, a pastor at City Harvest Church, held the zone’s first Marketplace Dinner on Aug 17 at Swissotel, Merchant Court.
Over a sumptuous seven-course dinner, managing director of event management company Corporate-i, Rick Quek, shared his testimony as one who overcame near-bankruptcy to become a successful businessman after knowing Jesus. The dinner saw a turnout of 400 working adults.
“Everything big starts from small; and it all starts from a dream and vision,” Wu said, and proceeded to share on the “Four-Prong Approach of the Marketplace Ministry”.
The Marketplace Ministry seeks to educate aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals by organizing talks by experienced members who would share their experiences. At the same time, the Ministry encourages employers to exchange business insights and start devotional meetings at their own office premises.
“You are the church of God in the marketplace,” said Wu to the attendees.
He taught from the Parables of the Talents in Luke 19, in which a servant greatly displeased his master by not doing anything with the talents he had been given.
Wu then summed up his message by sharing the four levels Christian mindsets in the marketplace. Firstly, there are the Christians in the marketplace who earn money just to survive; 99 percent of Christians fall into this category. Then, there are the Christians who apply Biblical principles at the workplace but do not influence their workplace; neither are they influenced by the workplace.
Next come the Christians who primarily witness in the workplace, but are not wholly committed to their jobs. Finally, there are the Christians totally committed to the total transformation of the marketplace—those who truly live out their calling as salt of the earth and light of the city.
Fionette Yeow, 25, a fashion merchandiser, said, “It was a very inspiring session which reminded us that we need to be an influence at our workplace.”
“I find this dinner setting very meaningful,” employment agency business owner Bryan Leong, 32, remarked. “Such dinners help us to mingle with other professionals—we can come together to transform our marketplace. Moving forward, I am inspired to find ways to serve the people whom God has placed in my life.”
The dinner ended with the participants renewing their faith as they lifted up their aspirations and dreams to God in a closing prayer.
To find out more about the Marketplace Ministry, log on to http://www.chc.org.sg/_eng/members/cm_marketplace.php
