was
enthusiastically received when it was first experimented at the Church
Bible Camp in Port Dickson in June this year. Within a short period of a
few days at camp, many new friends were made through the exchange of
WARM name-cards among 350 brothers and sisters. Upon our return from
camp, it was felt that the majority of brothers and sisters who were not
at the camp may also find the programme useful to enhance their bonding
with each other, to get to know each other better and to foster warmer
fellowship among members. The programme was eventually launched at the
church level 3 months ago and we now take this opportunity for some
reflection.
On the use of the WARM Programme name-cards, some
have testified that they found them to be a useful means to break the
ice, start a conversation or to remember names (please read the
testimony below). Others have expressed that they prefer to rely on
other means for their outreach such as a warm handshake, taking the
effort and time to strike a conversation, an invitation to a fellowship
meeting, or even an invitation to lunch.
To the saints in the church, the WARM Programme is
more than the use of WARM name-cards although they have proven to be a
very effective means for some to facilitate the beginning of bonding
among the saints. More importantly, the WARM Programme is not a project
that has a closing date but a life-long living programme of Christian
outreach for the building up of the church in Christ.
The goal is that each and every member in the whole
body is "fitly joined together and compacted by that which every
joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of
every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in
love" (Ephesians 4:16)
We are still far from this goal. Our church has over
a thousand members. But the brothers and sisters who are committed to
the bonding and building of one another in Christ in the various
fellowships, in our prayer meetings, in evangelistic outreach,
missionary outreach and in other areas of church work number only a few
hundred. Many are yet to be knitted together into the various
fellowships and we pray that the Lord will be gracious to Life Church to
create a constant awareness that the WARM Programme is here to stay
until every brother and sister is brought into the fellowship of Christ
and for the building up of His Body in love. – by Lim Chin
Testimony on Using the WARM Cards
Even though I have been in Life Church for more than
30 years, I still find difficulty in remembering some of the names of
Lifers, especially the Chinese names. As my memory is not getting
better, I need the WARM Programme Cards to help me remember names. I can
now freely ask for Lifers’ names to be written with their contact number
or email address. I would personally like to keep in touch with them,
especially the new members and the WARM cards have assisted me in this.
Now, I have WARM Programme cards with me always, ready to be exchanged.
Just pray that this programme will help Lifers and visitors to know each
other better, beyond the usual ‘Hi’ and ‘Bye’ greetings. May our Lord
bless this effort. – by Annie Heng
From Pastor Wong’s Pen:
I thank God for the testimonies of campers published
in the recent Weekly concerning the WARM Programme. They are very
edifying and uplifting to the soul. I hope all of you are still keeping
in touch with the brethren you got to know in the camp….
The WARM Programme was launched on 17 September 2006.
Members and visitors were encouraged to exchange cards with one another.
By exchanging cards, it is hoped that a meaningful conversation can be
struck up that may lead to a lifelong friendship, fellowship and
partnership in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:5).
Dear fellow-saint, may I encourage you to be the
first to reach out to other church members and visitors on the
Lord’s Day. The WARM Programme is only a means to enhance the fellowship
of the church. We need to pray fervently for it that God will be pleased
to bless it and use it for the edification of the saints.
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love
and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24, 25). Let us
pray for the WARM Programme. Let us do something to strengthen the
fellowship of saints. Will you do it for Jesus’ sake? Amen.
(The above is an excerpt from Rev Colin Wong’s e-mail
on 29th September to those who had attended the Church Camp at Port
Dickson in June 2006.)
Reminder – How to Use the WARM Name-cards
1. Take a name-card from the pew.
2. Fill in your name.
3. Get to know someone near you.
4. Exchange name-cards, record information.
5. Collect as many cards as you can.
6. And make it a point to remember the people that
you have got to know.
The WARM name-cards are useful in many ways:
1. The cards help us to remember who we have met so
that we might be able to greet them by name the next time.
2. By using the cards, we encourage others to do the
same. One may not "need" the cards to talk to people, and even feel
unnatural using the cards. However if we are willing to "be unnatural",
we never know that our actions will encourage others to use the cards,
because they then realise that they are not the "only ones" using the
cards.
3. The party receiving the card will appreciate that
you have given him a means to remember you.
4. Recording what we learn about the person minimises
the times we ask a person the same questions about himself!
5. The cards can conveniently be referred to, to pray
for the people we have met.
6. The cards help us in following-up or enquiring
about something we have learnt about the person the next time we meet
him (and so deepen our relationship).
Note: If you would like to share your comments on
the use of the WARM name cards, or share ideas that can help our church
members to get to know one another and to interact, kindly contact Dn
John Ching at jching@lifebpc.com or brother Lim Chin at bizlimc@nus.edu.sg.
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