Saying goodbye

There had been quite a few goodbyes lately. Just over this weekend, I attended two "farewells". There was a “farewell to politics” party for the previous Ryde Councillor Justin Li. The Chinese Australian Baptist Church in West Ryde (CABC-WR) and City Bible Forum said goodbye to the multitalented Grace Huang as she embarks her journey to become a student minister at another church. Both of these people are great role models: The community remembers Justin as a leader of high integrity who has been involved with helping the community most of his life. The church remembers Grace as a multitalented yet humble church leader who had a bright future in law at the Crown Solicitor’s Office and followed God’s calling to study at Moore Theological College, build up the youth ministry and worship team at the CABC-WR, and work in the City Bible Forum. On a personal level: Justin had helped me and some other members of the community on a community issue several years ago. Grace is an inspirational role model who helped me prepare for the task of playing the piano on Sunday service.

Today we looked at Acts 20:32-38 as we said goodbye to Grace. ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” “Giving Grace” to someone else: to another church/ministry; who is more blessed? The one who gave first. It’s natural to grieve as we say goodbye to someone. Reverend Fu couldn’t hold back her tears as she said goodbye to Grace on the pulpit today. While we grieve about saying goodbye, there is a time in eternity when we will all come together again.

As we look at the global situation these days, the coming of Jesus is getting closer and closer as the signs in Matthew 24 occur with increased intensity. More and more workers will be sent out to advance the kingdom of God’s, and there will be many more goodbyes still to come.

In “The Trellis and the Vine”, Marshall and Payne describe how we must accept people leaving our church to be sent out to other places to further the growth of the gospel. Another word, it is inevitable that many of the people whom we devoted our time to disciple/ build a relationship with will eventually leave our lives to be sent out to a place of need.