English Ministry
Annual Report – 09/2023-08/2024
When I was studying at Theological College, the Principal at the time had a quote on his desk. The quote? “The main thing is that the main thing remain the main thing.” He had this quote on his desk as a reminder to keep his focus on what was most important. To focus on what was most important was the ultimate measure of effectiveness. Distraction from what is most important leads to ineffectiveness – even (or possibly, especially) if the distraction is potentially worthwhile.
What is the “main thing” when it comes to ministry? The “main thing” of ministry is a focus on people. God is at work in the lives of people, in order to build a community from among the nations that will submit to Jesus as King, and become more like Him each day. The activities, events, and structures of ministry are there to achieve the purpose of building people up in this purpose.
As I reflect on the past year of ministry at North Side Chinese Alliance Church (and, indeed, on my eight years serving as the English Pastor), I am thankful that God has been working in and among us to continue to grow His kingdom and glorify His Name. I have been blessed to serve here at North Side, and am deeply thankful for the journey on which God has led me.
I am thankful that God has brought Rev Andrew Choy as Senior Pastor at NSCAC, and for the blessing that he, his wife Zoe, and his daughters Verity and Karis, have been to our church over the past 1 ¾ years. I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to serve alongside Andrew Choy, and have been thankful for his support, encouragement and brotherly care, especially with the external challenges related to caring for aged relatives over the past 12 months. I know that God will continue to bless NSCAC under his servant leadership.
I am thankful that Pastor Eric Lai has continued to settle in well as Youth Pastor, and I enjoyed the opportunity of serving with Eric over the past 19 months. It has been encouraging to see Eric developing effective relationships amongst the Youth Ministry, as well as with key leaders in the wider English-language Ministry. I have also appreciated Eric’s vision for ministry, as well as his willingness to preach regularly in MES over the past year. I am sure that Eric, his wife Ruth, and his children Jax and Lexie, will continue to be a blessing to our church community as they continue to settle in and grow deeper relationships with the various members of the wider church community.
It has been a privilege to serve on the Board of Elders over the past eight years. I am thankful that God has raised up many godly leaders at NSCAC over the years – not just as Elders, but those who have served as true servant-hearted leaders across a wide variety of ministry areas and levels in all three language groups in NSCAC over the past 36 years. I appreciated the opportunity to work closely with several Elders, Deacons and Ministry leaders over the years, and have valued the partnership we have had in the gospel.
I am thankful that God has been working in the lives of various individuals in North Side. It has been a great encouragement to see individuals growing in spiritual maturity, and willing to allow God’s Spirit to change them as they listen to God’s Word.
It has been great to see new people attending MES, and it has been encouraging to see people making an effort to make newcomers feel welcomed into the community at North Side. It is also exciting to see young people taking ownership of MES, including by actively serving in various roles (including in the MES Youth Service in July).
Our English-language Growth Group ministry is a place where people are able to meet together to support one another, pray with and for one another, and to develop deeper relationships with God and one another. I am thankful for the Growth Group leaders who give of their time to serve their respective groups. Please pray that God will continue to raise up additional Growth Group leaders, especially as several leaders will be stepping down at the end of 2024.
I am also thankful for the English-language Ladies’ Fellowship and Men’s Ministry, and for the leaders of both ministries. I pray that men and women continue to build healthy relationships with people across generations, in order to encourage one another to remain faithful in their walk with God over the years to come.
I want to thank everyone that has volunteered to serve over the past twelve months, across all areas of ministry. The English Ministry (and the church) is unable to grow effectively without people generously giving of their time and energy to serve others within the church. To avoid the possibility of leaving out anyone, I will mention the areas of service here (in alphabetical order, as there is no favouritism):
- EM Committee/Vine Project team
- EM Growth Group Bible Study writing team
- EM Growth Group leaders
- EM Ladies group team
- EM Men’s Ministry team
- MES Bible readers
- MES bulletin team
- MES IT/AV/Livestream team
- MES Morning Tea team
- MES Music team
- MES Outreach planning team
- MES Service leaders
- MES Welcoming team/ushers
- NSY leaders
I also want to thank those who have served “behind the scenes”, either in a voluntary capacity, or to support those on the front line.
I depart my time at North Side with a mixture of sadness, contentment and peace. I am sad that I am saying goodbye after eight years of investing in this community. However, I am content with what God has been doing in me, through me, and despite me over the past eight years. I have always had the aim to finish any ministry role in a better position than where it was when I started in the role. By God’s grace, I believe that He is continuing to draw people to maturity in their relationship with Himself, and is continuing to equip people to serve one another in love. I am also at peace that God will continue to use all circumstances to work for what is best for His people here at North Side, and throughout the world – drawing a people to Himself who are growing more like Jesus each day (Romans 8:28-29).
As North Side enters your 37th year, I will continue to pray that God will continue His work in you all. I continue to echo Paul’s prayer for the Philippian church (as recorded in Philippians 1:9-11) for each individual in the English Ministry, and each individual in NSCAC:
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
In Him
Rev Andrew Tibbs