Pastor Glordia Goh is an associate pastor at City Harvest’s Harvest Kidz. Since early February, Harvest Kidz has stopped its outreaches and in-person weekend services. Pastor Glordia shares what she is doing during this unscheduled season of rest.
Before COVID-19: Pastor Glordia preaching on a mission trip to Indonesia
“When I came back from a mission trip to Indonesia and heard that service and visitation had to be suspended, I was shocked and saddened. We thought that the arrangement would only last about two weeks, but that two weeks turned into a month and now, it’s ongoing. For years, I had been busy serving every weekend but now I suddenly had ‘nothing’ to do.
“I miss being with the kids now that we have stopped visitations. Visiting kids makes my day it’s different when we get to come together for worship services and interact with them.
“My concern for our members and volunteers is that they may lose their momentum of attending and serving in church. Every Saturday now, I would meet them via Google Hangout to touch base and discuss the online services, and also listen to them share how we can meet their needs.
“I’ve been watching a lot of YouTube videos on how to study the Bible, and create morning routines. I’ve learned how to use the Bible app and the Logos app, and ways to study the Bible and do Bible journaling. The videos also talk about how various people do their devotion time and I’m putting together lessons to teach my members how to study the Bible.
“I feel that this season is not for us to idle, but we need to spend our time wisely to deepen our intimacy with God. One vision for HarvestKidz this year is to read. To date, I have read eight books so far this year, and I’m reading two books at the moment.
“Besides reading, I am also learning new skills and brushing up on my Bahasa Indonesia. I also took online classes on productivity, such as creating a morning routine, managing attention and mastering habits. I’m also taking online classes on data analysis and basic coding.
“At the same time, I’m preparing training notes for our HarvestKidz volunteers, to sharpen their skills for ministry.
Before COVID-19: Pastor Glordia and Teacher Alicia Lim visiting two HarvestKidz members
“On a personal note, I find it challenging to not be distracted while I join in the weekend online service. That’s why I feel that our daily devotion and walk with God is more important now than ever, because we can no longer depend on the worship service or cell group meetings to give us all the spiritual strength—we have to depend on our daily walk with God.
“In this season, it’s important to continue seeking God’s presence. For me, I create a routine for what to do every day. I wasn’t a morning person but habits can be changed. I am still trying to wake up early to spend time with God. I like going for solo walks with praise and worship music, praying in the spirit and conversing with God, meditating on Him. Repeating and reflecting on a poignant Scripture that is striking a chord in your soul helps you to think and pray your heart and make a deep personal connection with the Lord.
“I would like to encourage everyone not to let this time of rest slip by, there are many ways and methods we can develop intimacy with God, but most importantly, we need to spend time with Him and practice spiritual discipline such as praying, reading the Bible, reading Christian books, listening to or watching teaching series online. Or simply enjoy being in His presence and enjoy Him, knowing that Jesus delights in you and you delight in your Lord.
“My prayer is for all of us to be protected. I am declaring Psalms 91 over the members and their families. I also pray that they will slow down to wait upon the Lord, and in 2020 we would abide and grow deeper in love with the Lord and receive revelation as we study his Word.”
Pastor Glordia (first from left, second row) conducting an online meeting with her cell group
