Elder’s Message: Small Groups Enriching Generations

Hi dear folks, we are sharing about pastoral care and in particular, it is in a small group setting where in pastoral care we are actually practicing our HIM core values of enriching life in the community. We are a life enriching community. Can we say amen to that? We are a caring community, a loving community. The principle of this is, of course, biblical. Jesus loved us so much that He gave Himself for us. Not only that, He cares for us, He protects us, and He even has a bright future for us. He tells us in John 10:10, He has come so that we may have life and have life to the fullest. I am so blessed because of that.

You know, as I look back over, say, 50 years, even before I joined Hope. I was in Melbourne, I was in an incredible Australian church and, you know, we were enriched through the church, through the fellowship with the people. And you know what? Because they enrich my generation. Now I’m able to enrich many other generations and in many other nations as well. So I’m encouraging us to enrich others around us because by enriching one generation, we have the potential to continue to enrich many other generations. It’s so powerful.

You know, when we care, when we love, when we impact and touch someone else’s life, they can take this impact upon their lives. Just like what has happened to me, I have learned it, I have received it, impacted from Australia, impacted from the input from our Hope movement for over 30 years. And because of that, I am now taking this to many, many places. Many, many generations to be able to impact them. So one generation being enriched can in turn enrich many other generations in many nations. Start with our small groups. Start with the people we are able to care for right around us. And I believe by doing that, we will be able to continue to multiply this life enriching community.

Lai Eng and I try to apply this in the following manner. There are three areas that we try to really enrich people’s lives around us, both in the people we fellowship with and in the places that we travel to, people we’re able to impact in our HIM family. The first area we try to impact is what I call Kingdom Focus. That means we spiritually upgrade the people that we relate with. When we relate with the people by this life enriching, we are building them up spiritually. Well, on a big scale, for example, we tried to build churches in Nepal and we upgrade the pastors and the leaders there, to help them spiritually. So they have a kingdom focus themselves and they bring that kingdom focus to their people in Nepal. We help to train them. We help to equip them. So they actually are able to multiply churches in Nepal. That’s upgrading them spiritually. The people that you relate with, perhaps you can think about how can I add a spiritual focus, a kingdom focus? How can I help upgrade each other spiritually?

Second area that we build life enriching is what I call life enrichment. That means to upgrade the person and to upgrade their livelihood. So in Nepal, likewise, we help them with skills and trade and business skills. You know, like in Nepal, we tried noodle making. They’re successful. In Africa, we help together to upgrade Billy, for example, in the Bible school, kingdom focus. And there’s another young man called Joe Garlee, which we’re helping him through an agricultural degree. Uplifting the person and upgrading, uplifting their livelihood. By upgrading one generation to help them with their livelihood, with helping them as a person, they in turn are able to upgrade their generations and the generations below them. That’s the second area.

The third area is what we call a word in season. That means by the relationship, we also give them a word of God in season. That means we also enrich their life by ministering, helping, telling about what God can do in their lives and in their season as well. So Lai Eng and I try to bring the principle of the Bible into a life focus. We help to upgrade them with a kingdom focus. We help to enrich them in their life, in their livelihood and as a person, and we help to give them a word in season. Through these areas, we are therefore able to actually build that person and that person to build the community. Together, I believe we can all become a life-enriching person and a life-enriching community.

Praise the Lord. God bless you as you continue to attempt this and apply it in your small group. Amen.

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Ps Brendan Kirby

Brendan and Helen Kirby are the founding pastors of Hope Church in Adelaide. Brendan became a Christian in 1984, and joined Hope Melbourne in 1991. In the 80’s Brendan trained in physics at The University Of Melbourne, and graduated with a PhD in 1989. Since then he has worked as a post doctoral fellow and research scientist for about 23 years in various government research organizations. He married Helen in 1994, and in early 1998 they moved to Adelaide plant the Hope Church together while they both were working. He resigned his job as a research scientist for the Australian Defence in 2012 to work full time as a pastor.  Brendan is passionate about building and planting churches, and oversees churches in Perth, West Africa, Central Africa and India.

Ps Lance Wolter

Ps Lance & Belle were married in 2006 while pioneering Hope Church Gold Coast. As time went on they began to also become more and more involved helping with other churches in Australia and missional work (especially in Africa). In late 2018, they both took a leap of faith and relocated to Southern Africa to help churches in that region to become more fruitful in discipleship and the multiplication of churches. They are currently serving over 180 churches in Southern and Eastern Africa as well as churches in Gold Coast, New South Wales and ACT (Australia). Lance and Belle are passionate about pioneering community empowerment and social justice projects for the poorest of the poor. The family is also blessed with two beautiful children, Michael and Hadessah.

Ps Chaiyapruck Pewruangnont

Pastor Chaiyapruck Pewruangnont came to know Jesus Christ in 1988 at Hope of Bangkok church when he was a high school student. After he graduated with a Bachelor Degree of Architechure from KMITL Bangkok, he was trained and sent out to be the pastor of Hope of Hatyai church in 1996. He then moved to be a regional pastor at Hope Nakornrachasima and oversaw the North East region of Thailand. In 2000, he moved to Hope Bangkok church to join the pastoral team and oversaw the North region of Bangkok. In 2002, he moved back to Hatyai again and oversaw the Southern and North East of Thailand. He is currently the Vice President of HIM Thailand. Pastor Chaiyapruck is married to Pastor Patcharee. They have 2 daughters.

Ps Chuchat Chaisombat

Pastor Chuchat Chaisombat grew up in Payao, Northern Thailand.  After graduating in Economics, he started to serve God as a full-time pastoral staff.  He now lives with his wife Siriphorn in Chiangmai. He graduated in Master of Ministry from Bangkok Bible Seminary (BBS). He is currently the President of HIM Thailand, and leads the HIM churches in Thailand. Chuchat enjoys pioneering churches and discipleship.  He has a deep desire to inspire and help Christ-followers to be passionate for God and to serve Him until their last breath.

Ps James Loke

James Loke graduated in economics and worked in the central bank in Singapore. He then received a sovereign call to serve God in the mission field whence he travelled widely to preach and teach the Word of God. He is based in Singapore, where he serves God with his wife Christine. He oversees HIM churches in Thailand and the Philippines.  James believes that God wants His people to know Him well and to have a close relationship with Him and with fellow believers.  James desires Christ-followers to be passionate for God, mature in Christ and live pragmatic lives honouring Him.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Ps Prakich Treetasayuth

Pastor Prakich Treetasayuth received a Bachelor’s Degree of Science, majoring in Biochemistry, from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. He was awarded a Master’s Degree of Philosophy in Theology from the Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society. After receiving Christ in Hope of Bangkok Church in 1988, he was committed to the church and its ministry in many areas including biblical studies. In 1995, he became a regional pastor and the Head of Publication, in charge of the church’s teaching materials. He was appointed as the Pastor over Student Ministry in 1999 until he relocated to Europe in 2004 in his new role as the Regional Pastor over Hope Europe. God called him back to Thailand in 2021 for an additional role as the General Secretary for Thailand Bible Society. Pastor Prakich is gifted in leadership, word of encouragement and as a shepherd and a teacher.

Ps Kwong Lie Ong

Pastor Ong Kwong Lie pioneered Hope Johor Bahru (in Malaysia) in the year 1993. With a humble beginning of 1 person, today the church consists of more than 200 members and is still growing. Besides pastoring Hope Johor Bahru, he also oversees daughter churches in the state of Johor and Malacca. God has also entrusted him to oversee churches in Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and India. Pastor Kwong Lie graduated from Harvest Bible College in Melbourne with Diploma in Christian Ministry in 1991. He is married to Pastor Swee Min and they have 2 sons. Pastor Swee Min supports him in his pastoral role locally and internationally.

Ps Denis Lu

Pastor Denis Lu was one of the pioneering members of Hope Kuching with Pastor Simon, in 1992. He is currently the Senior Pastor of Hope Kuching. He oversees HIM churches in Malaysia. Denis graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1991 from University Newcastle, Australia in 1991. He returned to Kuching, lectured at Stamford College and later became the College’s principal in 1995. He moved on to be an education counselor for Taylor’s College before entering full-time ministry in September 2001. Denis is married to Pastor Chong Hai Eng, who is also the Senior Manager in the HIM Elders’ Office. They have a son.

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Ps Simon Eng

Pastor Simon Eng is a Civil Engineer by training. He has been ministering for over 30 years. His experiences include pioneering Hope Kuching, mentoring leaders and pastors, and ministering in cross-cultural Regional Conferences. Pastor Simon is married to Pastor Lai Eng and they have 3 wonderful children, who are active in their faith as well. Pastor Simon is currently serving as the Senior Pastor of Hope Kuala Lumpur and an Elder in Hope International Ministries. He loves to build God’s people and travels extensively to minister and care for God’s churches.

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Ps Wilson Lim

Wilson and Lai Ling are founding pastors of Hope Church, a thriving multi-site church with its headquarters in Brisbane. Wilson is currently serving as President of HIM and oversees Hope churches in Oceania and North America.  Wilson is known for his lively, engaging expositional preaching, theological and leadership insights as well as apostolic father’s heart.  His passion is teaching, equipping leaders and building the church.  Wilson holds a PhD in Civil Engineering (Monash University) and a MTh (The University of Manchester). He was a research scientist with CSIRO. He also formerly served as a Bible College director and is currently the chairman of Australian Care & Trauma Services.  Lai Ling complements him in ministry with her passion in the areas of prophetic, intercession, pastoral care and counselling.  Together, they minister widely around the world today and founded a ministry equipping website wilsonlailing.com.  They have three adult children and 1 daughter-in-law.

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