Healthy church must stand on evangelism, discipleship, says church leader

Borneo Post

4 days ago

Lau (front, seventh left) joins the participants in a group photo, taken after the opening ceremony.
SIBU (July 20): A healthy church must grow on two pillars, namely evangelism and discipleship, said Methodist Church Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference (SCAC) president Reverend Lau Hui Ming.
When speaking at the opening ceremony of the 11th Youth Leadership Conference of the World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches here on Friday night, he reminded the young participants that discipleship was not solely about attending church events or learning doctrines but also about walking closely with others on their journey to become more like Jesus Christ.
'We often hear about the importance of preaching the Gospel, but the Bible also calls us to discipleship and not the easy kind – it is disciplined, intentional and requires sacrifice,' he said.
Lau said only a spiritually mature community shaped by love, sacrifice and a deep relationship with God could build a strong and thriving church.
He thus encouraged the young people to reflect deeply on what it meant to be part of a healthy church over the course of the conference.
'Jesus said if anyone wanted to follow Him, they must deny themselves and take up their cross daily – not when it's convenient, not only during big events, but every single day no matter how you feel.'
He said that many often mistook discipleship as just attending Bible studies or church programmes.
'Discipleship is more than knowledge, it's about people. It's about relationships.
'You have to know someone to walk alongside them in their faith.
'That's where true discipleship begins.
'There are four Gospels in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
'But many of your non-believing friends, neighbours, and relatives may never read those. Instead, they read you.
'You are the 'Fifth Gospel'. How you live your life, how you know Jesus, how you treat others – that is the Gospel people see every day. If people can see our lives and be inspired to glorify God, then we become a bridge that leads others to Christ.'