Well matched
The Community of Women and Men in Mission team visit to Wales in February challenged my resistance to a calling to expand in ministry and nurture the gifts of others, writes Singaporean elder Sue Kim Lee.
I have always cherished a longing to inspire other women. God's calling
came to me some years back at two prayer retreats.
In one, he nudged my heart to journey with women who are hurting, to encourage them to draw near to Christ and experience his healing touch for themselves and to tell others about what he has done.
Creative: Sue Kim Lee (fourth from right) with her church's evangelism through quilting class. © Carol Ng
In another he laid on my heart the role of a "treasure hunter". I was looking at an open field from afar. It was just a plain, boring patch of green, monotonous and somewhat uninspiring. However, my perspective changed when I moved closer.
Hidden among the blades of green were tiny flowers with colours of pink and purple - delicate and beautiful.
My role, as God unfolded his thoughts to me, was to give attention to these tiny flowers or unnoticed people and help them reveal their hidden beauty, their gifts and abilities, so that they will know that no matter how insignificant they feel they are, they can make a difference to the world around them.
Resistance
At the time of those callings my heart was not ready to respond to how God
wanted to use me.
I served as an elder, Sunday school superintendent and teacher in my church - Living Praise Presbyterian in Singapore.
But I resisted taking on more responsibilities and being exposed to bigger challenges.
I was at one time serving with a women's group and was asked to take the lead but was not prepared to do it. I was also asked to consider taking the lead role in my church but again declined. I also declined some invitations to serve in other committees. I felt that God should call other people to do it, not me.
But after visiting Wales the door of my heart opened much wider.
We will never know our own potential and gifts until we dare to allow God to stretch us
Words alone cannot describe my joy when I received my first letter from CWM confirming my participation in a Community of Women and Men in Mission team visit to Wales from February to March this year. I had quietly asked the Lord to send me to Wales because I had heard about the challenges confronting the churches there and I felt that I could learn many precious lessons from the experience.
In Wales I was inspired by women and the role they play as part of the body of the church. Age posed no barrier or limit.
The women ministers and leaders I met were serving their call with passion and purpose. It stirred afresh in my heart the desire to be used by God in expanded territories.
Now as God leads me to work with women I want consciously to be more affirming and encouraging towards them, challenging them to move out of their comfort zone. How else can we experience abundant life unless we have a spirit of adventure to break new grounds?
Team: Living Praise Presbyterian Church Sunday School helpers. Sue Kim Lee feels called to bring out church members' talents. © Living Praise Sunday School
We will never know our own potential and gifts until we dare to allow God to stretch us.
I see my role as a catalyst to challenge women into active participation in the life of the church. I am more than delighted to do whatever I can to help build women into leaders, women with passion and purpose. I find tremendous joy in building teams.
In the Sunday school ministry efforts at teambuilding have borne fruit.
Teachers and worship leaders have had opportunities to discover their gifts as they work on projects in small groups. They have also got to know each other better and are passionate about what they undertake. It's a joy to watch them use their gifts to bless the children and each of them is dedicated in serving God in the ministry.