Wednesday, 26 October 2011 17:12

Vision Changes the World

Written by  Rev. Sam Chan
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Vision Changes the World

Rev. Dr. Sam Chan
Senior Pastor of Richmond Hill Christian Community Church

What have changed our world and lives in the past twenty-five years? God has given us many lessons, trainings, tests and teachings through His guidance by visions. Among these, God’s supreme will is for us to live like Christ, instilling in us a Christ-likeness. To be like Christ is the paramount purpose of following Christ. Only by obeying this requirement can we realize His revealed vision. This is exactly what we have been trying to do to build up the RHCCC in the last twenty-five years.


The Bible points out Christ-like living at three different levels:

  • from: ‘…He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…’ (Romans 8:29)

  • through: ‘… are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.’ (2 Corinthians 3:18)

  • to: ‘…when He appears, we shall be like Him…’ (1 John 3:2).

These verses referring to His eternal purpose, to today’s life transformation, and  finally to the day when Jesus appears again and we shall be like Him are all actually pointing to the same direction and process, that is, to become like Christ. Therefore, ‘whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did’ (1 John 2:6). If our lives are Christ-like, how are they being shown at the church? How does a church look Christ-like in three ways: with Jesus’ gentleness and humility, with His generosity and graciousness, and with His mission-centered living.


The Gentle and Humble Church


‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others’ (Philippians 2:3-5).


It is very important for us to build up our spiritual lives so that we can serve in humility. We have been growing in the areas of worship, Bible studies, prayers, fellowships, evangelism, caring, management, moving from ‘believing in’ the truth, to  ‘comprehending’ the truth and to ‘practicing’ the truth. By doing this, we hope, all brothers and sisters will enjoy opportunities to use their gifts to serve. We need to be united as one without compromise in the critical matters of faith and creed. In non-essential matters, though, we have to learn to be mutually respectful despite differences, treating one another with love so that many servant-leaders can be raised up in an encouraging environment.


The Generous and Gracious Church

‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich’ (2 Corinthians: 8:9).


Graciousness means being generous. If we are like Christ, we must be generous and gracious. In this light, we have been actively encouraging members of the congregation to take up various ministries and responsibilities and to carry them out with an attitude of giving and appreciation, leaving out any unnecessary criticism and negativity. As our God is generous, we are willing to help other churches and open our church facilities to be used by other para-church organizations, schools and social agencies to bless the community.


In the same vein, we always treat our brothers and sisters with grace and encouragement, regardless whether they are actively involved in ministries or temporarily waiting. We are ready to share our fruit and joy with all because we know every born-again Christian is a part of the body. One day, we trust, with the work of the Holy Spirit, we will be blessed by a congregation-wide revival because we have already seen God’s work here.


The Missional Church

‘Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you, as the Father has sent me, I am sending you’’ (John 20:21).


God wants us to be a missional Church. This does not only refer to Jesus’ Great Commission, instead, it also demands that every Christian will live like Christ, to be sent into the world and living among us, although not belonging to it. It means all Christ-followers are being called to live among their neighbors in an ‘incarnation’ way to proclaim the Gospel. From 1985 onwards, God has guided us to be a ‘Church for the unchurched’. We have been using the base-ball spiritual growth model to lead our members systematically and progressively through the four bases (of membership, maturity, ministry and missions), equipping them to lead ‘one more to Christ’. Since 2005, we have been given the vision of ‘blessed to be a blessing’, leading to the vision of today – the P.E.A.C.E. Plan, which aims at mobilizing the whole church to be engaged in the local and global evangelistic movements. All these have taken place according to God’s plan and under His guidance. Let us love and think like Jesus in allowing visions to change lives and the world.


May all praises and thanksgivings be given to God, who has granted us immeasurable grace and mercy throughout the past twenty-five years!


* translated by R.C.


Last modified on Tuesday, 14 April 2020 11:28
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