Good day, dear readers! I’m Jonathan, lead coordinator for Coffee Morning.
Firstly, I am honoured to have been given the chance to attend CDM’s Leaders’ Retreat. When I first heard that the retreat was being held in Genting, my immediate thought was, “Woo hoo, Genting!” However, after three long and intense days, I returned home with a completely renewed mindset and purpose.
It has been a week since the retreat, but the lessons I learned remain fresh within me. We were blessed to have Father Xavier Andrew and Sister Margarete journey with us these three days. As leaders, we are already actively serving in the church, yet we were gently reminded to serve with genuine humility, and to never forget why we serve and whom we serve.
We should not only serve when we are given the position we desire or when our work is recognised by others. Instead, we are called to serve with meekness regardless of the situation. Ultimately, we are not serving to please people, but to serve the Lord. This is beautifully captured in Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ.”
As human beings, we sometimes like to think that our own ministry is the most “important.” In reality, there is no one ministry that is greater than another, nor is there a ministry that is insignificant. We are all one body in Christ, made up of many parts, each playing a vital role in building up God’s church. We span many ministries, but we share one common goal, to serve and glorify the Lord. Just as a physical body cannot be built with only the head, nor can it be built with only the hands, we need the Head, Heart & Hands to operate as a whole.
One of the most notable moments for me was the Pilgrim Walk, especially at Station 9, “Called to Serve, Use Your Gift.” I always struggled to answer whenever anyone asked what gift do I have, as I tend to associate those gifts with talents such as playing musical instruments, singing or even speaking in tongues. But through this station, I learned that even Faith itself is a powerful gift, seen in how I have trusted God in my life and how I encourage others to do the same. It was at this moment that I truly felt God’s presence, reassuring me that He has always been with me. Each of us is blessed with different gifts, and how we choose to use those gifts is up to us.
I’ll wrap up my testimony by reflecting on the theme of the retreat, “In the One, We are One”, though the church is made up of many individuals, we are all united in the one Lord, Jesus Christ. So, let all that we do be for God and His Church.
Last but not least, a heartfelt thank you to the BECCOT Committee for the countless hours and sleepless nights spent in planning this meaningful retreat. Deepest gratitude also to Fr. George and Fr. Philip for their blessings and support, without which this retreat would not have been possible.
God bless and have an awesome week ahead!