Amplify In The City?

Amplify In The City is an idea I have for 2007.

I was thinking of holding our usual Amplify Friday Prayer Meet in a location in the City, maybe for about 4 weeks through the Season of Lent. (40) The idea is to give people a sampler of Fridays but many times bigger.

I was thinking of a location like Good shepherd or St. Peter & Paul where we can hold like a few hundred young people. Its a Lenten Thing so we challenge young people to fasting and penance. Maybe the sessions can center around reflections on the meanings of the Cross. Different perspective of one Act. Maybe invite different speakers from different the Religious Orders.

I was thinking of a Ancient-Modern Concept. Have it in a Church, light it up with candles and cool colored spot lights and fabrics. And like find the oldest Lenten Traditional para-liturgy the ancient Catholics used to use. We can bring it back but mix it with a modern feel and music. Sing Hymns but give it a modern mix. Its a kinda going back to our Catholic roots kinda thing, help us appreciate the inheritance of our Faith yet at the same time making it meaningful and relevant to people today.

We could challenge young people to fast but we coordinate the prayer requests for everyone to pray, for example - Pray for Vocations This week. Next week, Youth Ministries, the environment, terrorism, world peace etc. Issues that are relevant to young people.

This is keeping with the same excellence we keep at Prayer Meeting in terms of worship, sessions, media, Intercession and the all important hospitality and Food.

This gives us a chance to let young people have a 'Sampler' of Fridays at CSC, gives us a chance to mobilize young people to prayer and promote YISS

Its just an idea lah. See whether want to do or not. Leave a comment, tell me us what you think.

Leo

Why I am in Youth Ministry

If there is one statement that is often used about youths in church that I really dislike is this: "Youths are the future of the church". I know. I know. Those who say it probably mean well and its said to encourage (and sometime scare) us.

Maybe its just me. But it really erks me when I hear it. Because I find that it reveals a mindset that discounts the important and crucial contribution of the youths to the church TODAY - as they are as young people! Youth is not a disease that we one day outgrow and then we really and finally become "the Church."

I believe that our Youths are not just the future of the church, they are part of the Church today. I am driven to help the Church fill the present void with the only people that can fill it - young people. Only then can we present to Jesus 'a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless' to fulfill her Mission in this world. We need a Church that welcomes young people and challenge them to play their part.



In this entry, I would like to share my story of how I started to want to serve in youth ministry and why I have a passion for it.


My calling to youth ministry came in 1995 at the FIRE CONFERENCE organised by the New Evangelisation Team (NETS), FLAME Ministries and Youth Praise Ministry (YPM). I had been serving 8 years as an Altarserver and 2 years in the Charismatic Renewal. FIRE Conference was purposed to encourage greater competence in Youth Ministry to meet the needs of young people in a changing world. It was there I realised both the need for and the lack of effective youth ministries. My heart burnt as I listened through those two days.

I remember walking home from the Conference when I sensed the Holy Spirit speak in my heart, calling me to respond to the need. He showed me His heart for young people and the improvished spiritual state they are in. My heart burnt as He spoke. When I reached the landing outside my door, I prayed to God saying, 'If you call me, I will go. Just tell me what to do."


"Reach into your bag and pull out the Conference file. On it you will see my Commission to you.", I sensed Him say.


Curious, I reached in and pulled out my file and my eyes immediately fell upon a verse that was printed there:

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — 'fruit that will last." John 15:16


There and then, I felt the Holy Spirit call me into ministry and tasked me specifically to build for Him, not just a youth ministry but a LASTING youth ministry. Not the kind that come up big and strong and fizzle after a while, but a ministry that would impact young people and continue to do so from generation to generation.


That has been my goal ever since. It has never been my intention to build the biggest or the hippest youth ministry in town. Instead, it has always been my heart’s desire to build one that can pass the test of time and grow increasingly in impact through the years. This is what drives me to get into the trenches of youth ministry, read countless books, observe successful youth ministries internationally, push on despite the odds, attend conferences and recently, study Pastoral Leadership at the International Hillsong Leadership College in Sydney, Australia. I was finding and studying ways to make Youth Ministry bear lasting fruit.

Amplify Ministry

I felt my call 11 years ago and things have not changed. Today, I serve as Coordinator of the CSC-based Amplify Ministry. Along with my dedicated team of Leaders, we purpose to lay the foundations for a lasting and impactful ministry to meet the spiritual needs of young people and contribute as an positive example for other youth ministries in an increasingly changing world. We want to do whatever we can in the capacity that God has given us to champion youth ministries in Singapore and place value on young people.

This is my heart - A Church for young people.

Leo

Spiritual Warfare

St. Paul tells us that we 'wrestle not with flesh and blood but with princes, powers and principalities' in this world. The reality is that we live in a spiritual world. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the things we can see, that we forget that those things we can't are just as real if not more real. I am not talking about ghosts or so-called wandering spirits. I'm talking about the reality of the fight between the forces of good and evil that happens all around us every moment.

Remember the Salvation of the Isrealites from Egypt? Moses? Prince of Egypt? About the ten plagues? Do you know that they are actually meant to wack each of the gods of Egypt? As you read the story of the plagues, there is more than already meets the eye.

What really happened was that there was a Confrontation in the Heavenlies, between God and the demons. This still happens today in Spiritual Warfare, in the Prayer of Confrontation.
To confront someone or something means to face them in hostility or defiance, or to come with opposition.

This type of prayer not only outwits the devil but also humiliates him and his forces in the process. God also us to enter into this type of encounter to show His power over the evil spirit(s) to which a particular group of people has been in bondage. As God displays that His power is greater than that of a given demonic structure, that structure begins to crumble and those who were held captive are then free to follow Christ.


Moses' Great Confrontation
A wonderful biblical model for this type of prayer was Moses' confrontation with Pharaoh. As Moses declared God's will to Pharaoh in the earthly realm, he was also confronting in the spiritual realm the gods of Egypt - false deities (territorial spirits) linked with the oppression and captivity of God's covenant people. Through the plagues and destruction unleashed upon the nation of Egypt as a result of Moses' confrontation, God's plan was fulfilled, the power of oppression was broken, and His people were released.

Let's take a look at how each demonstration of God's power through Moses was actually a power encounter with a specific Egyptian god. Its quite interesting.


The Rod Becomes a Serpent (Exod. 7:8-12)
Two main Egyptian gods were linked with serpents. Apep was the Egyptian snake god, the personification of darkness and evil. Edjo, the serpent goddess of the Delta, was the protectress of Lower Egypt and was symbolized on the royal diadem (crown) as protection for the king. When Aaron's rod became a serpent and swallowed the magicians' serpents, there was an undeniable display of whose power was stronger.


The Nile Turns to Blood
In this first plague, god demonstrated His power over Khnum, the ram god whowas the supposed protector of the source of the Nile, and over Hapy, god of the Nile in inundation. Although the court magicians were able to imitate the phenomenon, they were unable to stop the effects of the plague. So the fish died and the water became putrid and undrinkable.


The Plague of Frogs (Exod. 8:1-15)
The second plague was directed against Heqet, the goddess of creation, birth and the germination of corn. Heqet was depicted as a frog, which was considered a sacred animal in Egypt. Once again, the magicians were able to imitate the plague but were unable to remove it. So Pharaoh had to summon Moses and Aaron to put a stop to it.


The Plague of Lice (Exod. 8:16-19)
The third plague came against Geb, the Egyptian earth god that was believed to play a role in fertility and vegetation. Geb was also supposed to imprison souls of the dead, and his laughter was said to cause earthquakes. The magicians were unable to reproduce the sign of the lice and conceded to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God" (v.19).


The Plague of Flies (Exod. 8:20-24)
"If you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand" (v.21). This plague was set against Dua, the Egyptian god of toiletry. This fourth plague made clear that God was the author of plagues and had authority in the land over the gods the Egyptians served.


The Cattle Die (Exod. 9:1-7)
Hathor, the Egyptian cow goddess, was next in line for humiliation at the hands of God's wrath. She was the suckler of the king ad the goddess of love, fertility and women. She was also said to cleanse the land of unbelievers. This plague was a judgment from God and a direct insult to the religious hierarchy, as calves, cows and bulls were all worshipped and considered sacred by Egyptians.


The Plague of Boils (Exod. 9:8-12)
The sixth plague came against Imhotep, venerated as the god of learning and medicine. The magicians appeared to try and protect the Pharaoh, probably through Imhotep's power, but were instead attacked themselves.


The Plague of Hail and Fire (Exod. 9:12-35)
The seventh plague challenged Horus the Elder, the powerful falconlike deity and originally the sky god, who was identified with the king during his lifetime. This was the first plague that apparently caused human death - enough so that Pharaoh even admitted he had sinned and begged for the plague to be stopped (see Exod. 9:27,28).


The Plague of Locusts (Exod. 10:12-15)
The eighth plague targeted Shu, god of the air, the atmosphere and dry winds. It was through an east wind that last for a day and a night that the Lord ushered in swarms of locusts that "covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. So there remained nothing green on the trees or on the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt" (v. 15).


The Plague of Darkness (Exod. 10:21-23)
The ninth plague demonstrated God's power over the light of the sun and one of Egypt's chief deities, the sun god Ra. Ra was thought to be the father of the gods, head of the great ennead (a group of the nine most powerful deities) and supreme judge. This plague dealt a heavy blow to the evil powers and principalities of the spirit world.


The Slaying of the First Born (Exod. 12:29-33)
The tenth and most devastating plague was directed against a family of three deities. The first was Isis, the most important of all Egyptian goddesses, who assumed all the attributes and functions of virtually every other important goddess at some point in Egyptian history. Her primary functions were motherhood, marital devotion, healing the sick and the working of magic spells and charms. The second deity was Osiris, the god of the dead and the ruler, protector and judge of the deceased. The third deity was the son of Isis and Osiris, Horus the Child, a suckling child represented as a young boy sucking his finger. This final plague so overwhelmed the Pharaoh and so thoroughly defeated the gods of Egypt that the Israelites were finally set free.

God's power has not diminished in the years since Moses! Power encounters through the prayer of confrontation that see people groups released from demonic structures are going to become more and more common as we enter the future war of the Church. We need to enter into an expectant mindset that believes God will display His power greatly over the earth and over demonic structures in order to see great throngs loosed from Satan's grip. And from that mindset, we must pray with unwavering faith prayers of confrontation according to His will.

In the words of my house downstairs the ah beng, 'you win lor'

Leo

NOT FIRE BUT AN EARTHQUAKE
Some thoughts on the Charismatic Renewal of Singapore


Two years ago at the SACCRE Core Team meeting held at the Major Seminary, Fr William Goh crowned his opening speech by a statement of vision and hope, "Let the Fire fall again".

When I think about it, I guess, perhaps, in his mind, he saw that the embers of zeal and spiritual revival dimming in the Charismatic Renewal. He hopes that once more the fires of Revival will fall from heaven and ignite a new move of the Spirit. I want to share some of my thoughts with you since that day about the state of the Charismatic Renewal in Singapore.

First of all, allow me to say that I felt perhaps what we need is not Fire to fall on the Renewal like it did 40 years ago. The Lord has poured out His anointing on SACCRE and He continues to pour out His power when we ask for it. I believe what SACCRE and all the Charismatic renewals in Singapore need now is not Fire but an Earthquake.

Let me explain -

In ACTS, after the Pentecost, the church of Jesus Christ in the power
of the Holy Spirit went out into the whole world preaching the gospel
with signs and wonders. The apostles caused such an upheaval in the
jewish religious system that when an opportunity presented itself, the
jewish priests arrested Peter and John, in an effort to quench the
movement. After being sternly warned, they were flogged and set free.
Read the actual account -

"As soon as Peter and John had been set free, they went back and told
the others everything that the chief priests and the leaders had said
to them. When the rest of the Lord's followers heard this, they prayed
together and said: Master, you created heaven and earth, the sea, and
everything in them. And by the Holy Spirit you spoke to our ancestor
David. He was your servant, and you told him to say: "Why are all the
Gentiles so furious? Why do people make foolish plans? The kings of
earth prepare for war, and the rulers join together against the Lord
and his Messiah." ........ Lord, listen to their threats! We are your
servants. So make us brave enough to speak your message. Show your
mighty power, as we heal people and work miracles and wonders in the
name of your holy Servant Jesus.

After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God's message. "


When the faithful people of God, stung by persecution and victimized by the establishment, their respond was to turn to God to ask for more boldness and power. At their supplication, the Lord bared His strong right arm and poured out His Holy Spirit with so much power and boldness that the gathering became an epicenter of an earthquake. The result of that outpouring was a renewed passion and courage to preach the Word.

I believe that in Saccre, what we need is an earthquake, not fire. We don't need ignition, we need a shake up in the Charismatic Renewal.

As I sat there two years ago at Major Sem, on a Sunday, what I percieved were not men and women of passion and boldness but people who may be feeling a bit worn out, jaded and scared. I saw in their eyes, the weight of being caught between the disapproval of the clergy, suspicion of the laity and the burden of their own people. They don't say it, but I sensed I was in the presence of battle worn veterans. Dedicated men and women of God who have experienced the same persecution of the Charismatic Renewal from Day 1 of Pentecost.

Perhaps, We need once more, like the Faithful in Acts, in the face of these persecutions , pray , " Lord, listen to their threats! We are your servants. So make us brave enough to speak your message. Show your mighty power, as we heal people and work miracles and wonders in the name of your holy Servant Jesus. "

I prayed since that day, that the Lord will pour out His Spirit with such great Power to cause a Shake Up, not in the enemy's camp, but in ours. That with this Shake up will come new Vital Leadership, Spirit-filled Structures, Renewed Vision, Boldness to preach the Word by all means necessary.

Today, I clearly see that happening in Saccre. Under the leadership of Gerald Franciso, his leaders and Chris ow with Saccreyouth, we are indeed making tremendous progress forward. My heart is glad and I know God will accomplish much over the next couple of years.

I love the CCR. It changed my life and continues to everyday through the Holy Spirit. In sincerity and humility, I allow me to propose 8 suggestions for the Renewal. 8 Shake-ups that if felt through out the nation in renewals all over Singapore will help make the Renewal the Unstoppable Force God intented us to be. These 8 suggestions will take some explanation so I will continue in the next email. I will just briefly mention them here -


1) Forge a strong Partnership with the Clergy

2) Develop a Vision for the Laity

3) Develop a strong Charismatic Theology and ministry philosophy aimed specifically for the Lay.

4) Develop and refine Ministry Methodology

5) Preach and administer to felt needs of people today

6) Emphasis on Character not just Charisma

7) Build Communities, not Prayer meetings

8) Aggressive Collaboration of the generations in the renewal



These are the 8 shake-ups I believe will bring renewal to the Renewal. I will try if I have time, to further elobrate on them in the following entry. But I believe that are pretty straight forward. Do drop any thoughts you might have and get a conversation going.

God Bless,
Leonard