I touched on Marketplace Ministry in my last message as strategic in end-time evangelism. I believe it is God’s calling for me at this time after 12 years of church planting in the UK.
In Feb 2010, God opened a door for me to return to Hong Kong to work for one of the top consultants AECOM on the prestigious West Kowloon Terminus of the Express Rail Link to China. I was Project Manager for the iconic Station Entrance Building, project managing a multi-disciplinary team comprising Aedas (Architect), Buro Happold (Structural Engineer, Environmental Engineer), Meinhardt (M&E Engineer), MVA (Traffic & Transportation Engineer), EDAW (Landscape Architect), Quantity Surveyor (Widnell), ALT (Cladding Specialist), BMT (Wind Engineering), AECOM (Civil Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Construction Planner, Fire Engineer). The client was MTRC. It was a great opportunity to meet many senior professionals in the Marketplace and an excellent start to the Marketplace Ministry.
I thought it was God’s will for me to continue with AECOM when I learnt that its CEO is a committed Christian leading the Engineering and Construction Fellowship (ECF) in Hong Kong. I became a member of ECF, but so far there was hardly any activity. Also after my 6-month contract with AECOM expired, it was not renewed.
I spent the following 4 months job hunting, and God used that time to help me set up the BBC School.
In January 2011, God opened a different door, allowing me to join a smaller consultant as a Director. The work nature is very different, working on a large number of much smaller building projects.
Somehow I sense that God is showing me a principle that our desire may not be what He has in mind. My idea of Marketplace Ministry in a big company proved to be not what God had in mind.
Indeed His ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. His will may not be the same as ours. The key is to submit to His will and willingly to do what He calls us to do.
So far, I have a lot of opportunities to incorporate God’s principles in management:
1) I started monthly meeting for the staff and I used that opportunity to teach
2) Besides teaching some topics on structural engineering, I have taught best practices in project management
3) I introduced some management tools in making resource planning more effective
Going forward, I will incorporate more teachings that directly apply God’s principles. In fact, I gave a talk on The Principles of Good (Biblical) Leadership yesterday. :)
A few weeks ago, I witnessed to the big boss over dinner on the essence of the Gospel. Soon after that, he asked me to accompany him in a lunch time meeting organized by the church where his wife attends. I believe he is interested to know more. It would be great if he accepts Jesus as his Lord and Saviour one day!
Living in a world with a “can’t wait” mentality, waiting is unacceptable to most people. Yet, God’s timing is different from ours. Very often, He expects us to be patient.
“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no-one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare…….Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.” [Ps 40:1-17 NIV]
Soon after I joined Hope some 18 years, God gave me the gifts of prophesy and intercession. I saw the importance of intercession soon after I went to Europe for church planting. God has made me a watchman during the time in Europe, a bit like God’s calling for Ezekiel.
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself [Ezek 3:17-27 NIV]. Some 2 years ago, I warned a church pastor in obedience to God’s Word so that God would not hold me accountable. Sadly, he did not heed my warning and, today, he ended up getting his marriage and his family in a mess!
I count myself privileged to be given the opportunity to serve the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords. God has blessed me as tentmaker all this time and as one who gave up the right of support from the churches I planted. “If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible…….To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” [1 Cor 9:1-12,19-23 NIV]
A Psalmist has put these questions to us. “Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know! "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” [Prov 30:4-6,32-33 NIV] Thank you Lord for your eternal Word!
Amen and amen!
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