308. Blessed to be a Blessing

I set a personal policy a few years ago that I won’t accept regular church speaking requests. (though there might be some exceptions) The reason was to be able to say yes to requests from churches that do house church ministry. I respectfully declined a few invitations last year. Not that I am trying to be picky or ungrateful for the invitation, but I have concluded that I would be a better help to churches in the same ministry context. Also, I felt uneasy challenging Christians to live like Jesus when they often don’t have a place to practice, such as house church, as that would only make them feel guilty later.

I was recently invited by two churches that do house church ministry. I was asked to give relationship (dating) seminar at a retreat hosted by a church in Waterloo (2/18) and sermon on New Testament church at a Korean church in Toronto (2/25), as they are planning to start a house church with their English-speaking members too. I would’ve felt a bit burdensome as both happen on Saturdays, but I was glad that pastor Anthony is scheduled to preach on Sundays for both weeks.

I feel deeply indebted to house church ministry. I can’t imagine myself doing ministry in any other ways. It challenged me to be a better leader and communicator, and gave me clear direction our ministry needs to go. I cringe sometimes thinking about how I did ministry before I learned house church ministry. But I am thankful for even those mistakes, as they helped me to earnestly seek an alternative.

Because of this, I feel a sense of obligation when I am invited to serve churches in need if they are doing house church ministry or wanting to do it. I am humbled and glad for this opportunity to serve. Please pray that I will be useful and be a blessing to these two churches.