Welcome 2012! This is going to be a very challenging yet exciting year for the nation, for the world as well as for the church. Perhaps many of us are already preparing ourselves for a year of uncertainty and testing. Deep in our hearts many are looking for a breakthrough in our personal lives and spiritual walk with the Lord. I believe this year’s theme, “Breaking New Grounds, Building Strong Lives” is a timely exhortation to us to press toward the goal in the midst of adversity.

The theme is inspired by Jeremiah 1:9-12, especially verse 10, “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." This verse speaks of both negative (to uproot, tear down, destroy, overthrow) and positive (to build and to plant) actions. This conveys the idea that for building up is to take place, there must first be the tearing down. For a field ready for planting, the hard ground must first be broken. Similarly, for breakthrough to take place in our lives, there must first be the “breaking,” then we will come “through” with victory!

The church theme comprises a three-fold emphasis:

1. Remove
   We must first remove the debris and hard stones from the ground before we can plant. These represent the dark side of our lives: sin issues, dark secrets of the heart, negative spirit and attitudes, limitations and temptations we face. As individuals, we have to first deal with our lives before we can build the church because we make up the church. When we are immature, the church will be an immature church. In the same way, when we grow, the church will grow. When we are Christ like, the church will represent Christ well in the world.
2. Renew
   We need the Holy Spirit to do the work in our lives as we prepare to build. Our minds need to be renewed, our spirit needs to be refreshed, our passion needs to be rejuvenated and we need to have a new understanding of the things of God. The foundation must first be made right before any building can take place.
3. Rebuild
   This calls for commitment and sacrifice. We must be committed to change. We must be prepared for the pain, and we must be ready for the gain! There will be no harvest if we are not willing to plant; there will be no building up if we are unwilling to put our hands to work. But SJAG folks, I have faith in you that you will build together with the pastoral and leadership team of the church.

As we usher in the New Year, ask yourself what are those things that need to be removed in your lives? Even as you get rid of those “extra weights,” may you find yourselves riding on the waves of God’s Spirit and make progress in your spiritual life. As to the church, the old phase is over. We will take on a new paradigm in ministry approach. We would want to set the church on tracks in building strong lives for God’s Kingdom.

MAY I WISH ALL OF YOU TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD
AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER IN YEAR 2012!