Ministerial Association Secretaries Visit Beijing Church

We began our program on Wednesday August 19, 2009 with worship and devotional time presented by James Cress.  The messages focused on examples of expository preaching that stresses the mission and contextualization as well as on Jesus as the only way for salvation and eternal life, a devotional message presented by Miguel Luna on August 20.

There were opportunities for questions and answers among church leaders who participated in a dynamic dialogue with a positive attitude on open to comments and views.  Most of the attendants were women who also came with good attitude to learn and to continue being committed to the gospel. 

One interesting feature of this training was the participation of Raquel Arrais, General Conference Associate director of Women Ministries department who gave a presentation on the ministry according to Jesus.  She emphasized the incarnation motive, presence, relation, and devotional and sacrificial for a successful witnessing and mission that women may be able to accomplish.  She made an emotional appeal for a renewal commitment to follow the great commission entrusted by Jesus around their homes.

Pastor Cress shared of how Biblical principles and teachings might be presented to the general public without raising prejudice such as communion service, Spirit of prophecy, Stewardship, temperance, Sabbath day, prophetic interpretation, church organization, prophetic interpretation, true church.  These topics could be elaborated in such way that it reaches the general public.

As we concluded our meetings Pastor Cress made an appeal to Beijing leaders to follow three steps of love and fellowship.  First, you must love your Lord and in that context, to make a sacrifice to love Jesus.  Second, love your family, your spouse, your children your parents and your wider family that is your neighbors.  Third, love God’s people your fellow church members, your spiritual leaders, work for the lost so you can bring them to the church.  He mentioned, if church leaders love these three categories of people, they will be amazed with the results.

It was a great historical event coming to Beijing church on Sabbath August 22, 2009.  Being authorized by the Protestant Church, Beijing Church gracefully invited the ministerial association leaders to preach and teach on Sabbath.  Pastor Cress preach sermon on “Living by Faith.”  He preached a sermon on the six dimensions of a living by faith such as believing even if you do not see it, obeying even if you don’t understand, giving even if you don’t have, persisting even if you don’t want it, thanking before receiving, and trusting even if you don’t get it.

After the sermon a baptismal ceremony was performed in which 113 new church members read the baptismal vow previous of their baptism.  After they were baptized, the church pastors gave to each one of them a Bible with the name of the church as a sign of commitment and acceptance in the Beijing community of believers.

During Sabbath afternoon, Pastor Arrais gave a presentation on the discovery of spiritual gifts and Raquel Arrais show a presentation of the ministries that women could do in the church to help those who are abuse, illiterate, poor, lack of training and education, the sick, and the working women.  Pastor Miguel Luna closed the afternoon meetings with sermon on the meaning of baptism and its relevance for church members.  He made an appeal inviting those who would like to be baptized in the future to make a decision on that direction, it was a blessing seeing around 50 people standing up and praying for future baptismal commitment.  As we departed from Beijing Ministerial Association secretaries were encouraged of God is guiding the church in Beijing.