Introduction:
I am on The Journey of life!
A journey with a faithful and saving companion – Jesus Christ. As a sojourner, I am merely passing through this temporary world to my eternal home. It is something quite extraordinary! Which for that very reason the Holy Spirit he has given to help me. As you’re journeying through this very moment with me – I seek to share with you as much as I can, as you seem to have taken keen interest in my life to reach this very point here at my website!
My life’s verse has been 1 Corinthians 15:58 – ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.’ With this at my forefront, it has kept the vision and values entrusted by Jesus – to give myself fully to His work! At times it has been as how Paul expresses it so well too, ‘Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible…To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.’ 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. That has given me purpose and significance!
The reality of Jesus’ love for me, has made such a meaningful imprint on my life that it has been my desire (to try) to live as how He did.
In simpler words:
While serving wholeheartedly within the capacity of my calling, roles and responsibilities of employment, appointment and engagements particularly from 2015 to 2021 with Glad Tidings Assembly Klang, Youth Alive Malaysia (National Youth Department of Assemblies of God Malaysia) and the larger body of Christ of churches, fellowships and groups – the Lord began to prompt and prepare me from 2017 all the way to 2019 for my next assignment. A good 3 years of patiently seeking clarity, direction and answers. It does seem like a rather long process, but it’s consistent with the way my journey with God has been so far! Always preparing me for the next step in advance, all while keeping focused and serving the need at my best. It may seem challenging to be in such a tension of 2 spectrums, but the grace of God was with effect!
I sought the counsel of my mentors, gleaned from the perspectives of my peers in ministry and had several prayer partners praying for me throughout this time. At every fasting and praying pocket along these years, the Lord released more – clarity, confidence and confirmation of what the next season would be. More importantly who I am in the sight of God – His child. I sought to honor the Main Pastor I served under, the young people ministry core team that I led, the Assemblies of God Malaysia national youth director and teammates (Youth Alive Malaysia) I served with and also those whom I mentor – to the best of my ability. Keeping them accountable since the later part of 2019 of this possible transition.
The Lord knew my desire to complete my current assignment with excellence and not leave abruptly or when it seemed convenient. Especially with the internal and external challenges the church at large was going through with COVID-19 and other matters. What the Lord impressed upon my heart pre-COVID19 (2019) was this transition may possibly happen within the next 3 to 5 years. However, as we all have lived through the life changing effects of COVID-19, it has made such a great impact not only on the world, but on the Kingdom and People of God too. Being led to fast and pray for another 100 days in Feb, May, Aug and Nov of 2021 – the goal of the fasting and praying season was to draw even closer to the Lord and to be further strengthened. There were only 2 requests I laid before the Lord for this transition. I was not seeking for promotion nor position. Rather to foremost transition well for everyone involved and secondly to experience the ‘Miracles of The Journey.’ That he would provide supernaturally all that was needed and I would not need to force my way through nor to act on my own. I am grateful that I have and am experiencing the Lord honoring my desire.
It has truly been my joy to serve his church, his people, the nation’s youth – all which I love dearly and am grateful for the privilege to be part of. Yet remembering I am just but his steward in all of my capacities. At this point of writing, I have the peace and clarity of God to know I have completed my season’s contribution and assignments at my local church Glad Tidings Assembly Klang (7 years a fulltime staff) and the national youth ministry of the Assemblies of God Malaysia – Youth Alive Malaysia (5 years a committee member) with effect 31st August 2021. This year also marks 20 years of serving in the young people/youth ministry since being a youth leader at 15. Officially taking on the lead coordinator role at 25 for another 10 years! Mind you, I had never thought it would lead to a fulltime pastoral vocation. I had never sought for the title, position nor promotion. I think its a role many Christian leaders function in, but without desiring the formal title and office desk. At least for me.
What’s next then:
By the grace of God, I desire to remain faithful to the life long calling as a ‘Pastor’ to any and all whom the Lord will entrust to me. As I do that, I seek to use God’s given talents, gifts and resources to ‘tent make’ as my vocation and vehicle to care for myself, my family and to support the next ministry’s assignment. This in present day known as being a bi-vocational pastor.
My next ministry assignments would be to pioneer 2 main ministries. ‘Common Ground’ and ‘Living Space.’
Common Ground is a house church planting movement being community focused, having kingdom mindedness and being discipleship driven that comprises of young, old and families. A Bible based Spirit filled church that desires to see every person a disciple of Christ, making disciples in every community. This according to Jesus’ Great Command and Commission.
Living Space is a personal development organization that applies – counselling, mentoring, coaching tools tailormade to advance the everyday – student, young professional, established executive and all the way to retirees to keep moving forward in life. ** For more on these 2 ministries, links will be available in days to come here on my website.**
God willing I may also be involved with the following few ministries the Lord has placed in my heart in serving the larger body – as an itinerant minister to churches, Christian groups and fellowships; diaspora ministry of migrants in Malaysia and missions work in East Malaysia.
To honor and appreciate:
I am eternally grateful to my council of advisors in whom I have received their Godly wisdom, reflections and shared experience. Ps Benny Ho, Professor Rebecca Chong, Coach Donald Lim, Ps Sam Yeoh and Bro Royce Tan.
I seek to honour the pastor of my home church, Ps Gideon Lee. I have learnt a distinguished example of Godly obedience from him. We have labored well together at Glad Tidings Klang since the time he was the youth pastor and till this moment as the main pastor. I value his friendship.
To the board members of present and past of Glad Tidings Klang – thank you for believing and sowing in me. For your labor of love for the Lord through his church. To the pastoral and ministry leaders of Glad Tidings Klang – I value our time serving together.
To the national youth ministry team Youth Alive Malaysia – I honor each of you valued teammates : Danny, Mike, Anne, Alex, Yu Li, Daryl (Theo and Jared)
To the leaders I have led of past and present in the young people ministry at Glad Tidings Klang – you were the Lord’s hands, feet and mouth piece to all whom we have served and made disciples of. Truly, the part we belong to is bigger than the part we ever played.
To my wife, son, family, very close friends, as well as to our couple mentor Uncle Loren and Aunty Siew Beng – thank you for loving and supporting me, Seaw Chin and Cayern. Would not have arrived this far without your unconditional – help, support, prayer and love.
To conclude here:
Thank you for making time to journey through this update with me. I hope not only have you been informed, more than that encouraged from what I’ve shared. In my next blog post, I share the 7 things I have learnt in the 7 years of fulltime ministry. I do invite you to continually pray for me as the Lord would enable you to. This poem helps express the journey of my life and brings this post to a deserving conclusion.
Poem – Time’s Paces by Henry Twells, 1901 (Readapted)
When as a child, I laughed and wept,
Time crept.
When, as a youth, I dreamed and talked,
Time walked.
When I became a full grown man,
Time ran.
And soon later, as I will grow older,
Time will fly.
Soon I too shall find, while travelling on,
Time gone.
All this while, for my Jesus, my soul I gave
Time to no ending with thee.
All glory, honor and praise to Jesus Christ my faithful and saving Companion.
“Where were we Jesus? Let’s continue on!”
David Yong
August 2021
