At la dolce vita cafe, Milton.
Q. What was your ‘isaac’ that you had to give up to obey the calling of church planting?
A. When I was 18, I had 2 recording contracts as a singer. When I was offered to go to Taiwan for the tour of my album, I was a pioneering team of hope KL, and had to make a decision whether I will go for the tour which means I will be absent from the church for at least 6 months, or give up the dream of my life. Many suggested me not to give up on my dream as it was the only opportunity that I could be successful as a singer. However after talking to my pastor and to God, I decided to give up on my dream, and choose God’s dream. Ever since then I never look back, and now I can see how God has blessed me and the church tremendously because of the ‘obedience’
Q. Why would God have given you such talent and gifting if God didn’t want you to be a singer?
A. If God has given Isaac to Abraham in such a age and asked him to kill the Isaac, why can’t he give anything to me to teach me how to submit to him and letting go? God allowed Moses to spend 40 years in the wildness, and allowed Joseph so many years before being ready to serve him. It was my decision to submit everything to God because my career as a singer or even my album would be forgotten within few years, but God’s kingdom will last forever. I’d rather invest my life on something that will last forever.
Q. Are you saying our ‘calling’ can be different with our ‘gifting’ or ‘talent’?
A. I am not generalising it is always different, but it can be. Many gospel singers told me why not using your gifting to serve God, then you can do both. However I was in the middle of planting and growing the Hope KL and they needed me, my sheep and the whole church suffered while I was distracted by the singing career. I could not do both building up the church and establishing my singing career. It was about the timing, i was called in such a time as that and I decided to obey God’s calling. To obey is better than sacrifice.
Q. When was the hardest time that you wanted to give up?
A. When I became a UL, i wanted to give up three times. Each time my shepherd prayed together with me, and the third time even allowed me to have few days away, so that I could be refreshed. Finally I overcame the tough year and ever since I didn’t think of giving up again.
Q. what is the benefit, challanges of being a celibate minister?
A. I am not a ‘natural celibate’, but the urgency of gospel / great commission kept me from being committed to the married life. I can’t afford to spend so much time for growing of the family and for the commitment to the family life, when I have to travel so much and has so much things to do. I can be finacially more flexible, and I can spend all my time for the Lord. of course I don’t have an advantages other married couple has, but I submit my marriage life to God, so I am contented.
Q. How do you manage financially, as a full time minister and travel extensively?
A. I never dreamt of buying a property, however God always provides for his servants. I even have a retirement plan. God blessed me with a property few years back. God does take care of his people so take your worries unto God and trust that he is the provider.
Q. What’s the most prominent strength of the hope church?
A. Young and vibrant people. They are energetic, free and not bound by many responsibilities. We must invest on these young people as much as we can, so that they can catch the vision of God in early age. And they will do an amazing and great things for the Lord.
Q. What’s something you want to speak to the young people?
A. In your 20s, explore as many things as possible. Don’t just easily settle with simply your majoy because you have studied it. Experience many things, only then you will begin to discover where God’s calling for you is. In your 30s, start streamline and think what you will do for the rest of your life. In your 40s, be successful in what you decided to do. If you are not focused or not knowing what you would do in this age, you will be very restless and be anxious about your life. and in your 50s, impart your inspiration and share the experience and knowledge to the next generation.
Thank you ps willie.. I pray that may God’s hand of protection be with you wherever you go. May God use you even more mightly that many people will be inspired and motivated to follow God at any cost. Thank you for being a great role model to us by living a life of sacrifice..
Written/edit by Chris_Esther Lee.
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