Behold, I am doing a new thing - Isaiah 43:19

Being an ardent student of church history, I am always encouraged by the way the Lord renews His Church. No matter how difficult the challenges may be— and the long list includes violent persecution and political oppression—the Church does not disappear. Doomsayers in every century have predicted that the Church has become irrelevant, a relic of the past.

Yet the Church lives on and is renewed again and again, “mid toil and tribulation and tumult of her war,” as the hymn goes.

I was listening recently to a podcast describing a surprising development in recent years: a spike in young people attending churches in places like the UK and France. We often assume that modern culture, with all its attractions and distractions, leaves little room for young people to be interested in spiritual things. Yet the hunger for meaning and truth remains.

Will we seek the Lord together and discern the new things He may be doing amid the changing tides and times in Singapore? Will we continue to desire to see younger people rising up to serve and lead? One obvious change in this generation is that many people are now living longer. How should we respond to such shifts? And how can the seniors among us continue to grow and serve faithfully?

Praying and seeking the Lord is about our desire to align ourselves with what He is seeking to do. More than just prayer meetings—important as they are—it involves cultivating a posture of yielding to the work of the Spirit and trusting that He will build His Church.

In all the churches I have been a part of (six in total), I have been deeply engaged with the issues of church growth and discipleship. We have held “world cafés” and many rounds of discussions on vision and direction. And here is an important point I want to convey: at no point were there disunity, deep frustration, or an excessive focus on what human leaders could or could not do.

If there is a deep and authentic faith that the Church belongs to the Lord, we will approach church growth with a sense of being led by His Spirit. And this cannot be merely words. Our hearts must truly be submitted to Him.

Right attitudes are also crucial. The church is not just about numbers; it is about becoming a real and authentic community.

And I have seen—again and again—new life sprouting forth. Sometimes it happens quickly; at other times it takes years. Sometimes it unfolds just as we planned, but often in ways we did not expect. Yet it is a joyful process of being carried by His Spirit.

And the journey, my friends, can be a very delightful one.

So as we look to the future, we remind ourselves: He is doing a new thing. We yearn for His presence amongst us. We will learn to wait on Him. We will have agency and responsibility in this but may our strength be undergirded by Him.

And inspired by what Moses said in Exodus 33:5: ‘If your presence will not go with us, do not bring us up from here.’

Brothers and sisters, let’s journey together for His Kingdom purposes