As a church plant, New Life Vineyard is quite different from the experience that one gets from a more established church. That’s why we thought to share with you, in the previous posting, the challenges that church planting pastors face. (The Vineyard is a young and dynamic church planting movement, under 30 years old, and there is much resources and counsel to draw on, to help us move ahead).

We think that it is also useful to highlight the 2 “priorities” which are very important to us at this stage of our growth: and that’s WORSHIP and GATHERING. We hope to create a “culture” of worship and gathering by being worshippers and gatherers.

As worshippers, we realize that although we have our “private and devotional life” we have to model it whenever we meet “publicly”, such as in the Sunday Service and in our small groups. It’s hard to teach about worship without showing it. But what a challenge it is for us when it comcerns something so private and intimate. Nonetheless, we have to be comfortable and “practiced” in demonstrating intimacy with God. This way, we not only tell but show to visitors and people who do not yet have a relationship with God, that God is real. He is there for us, and is a person whom we can love and shower our praise and offer worship to. We value worship also because it is a key way to invite God’s manifest (or felt) presence when we meet. And that helps to minister to us and increase our faith to engage in praying for healing and prayer ministry!

Accordingly, the “worship” time in our service is in and of itself a critical element, and not just a prelude to the preaching. Much as Lye Heng, who does most of our preaching may be the beneficiary. But the truth is that we have a more important person to serve during our worship: Our God who is worthy to receive all our praise and adoration! And when he comes, his presence itself will do and accomplish so much more than what any human including the preacher can do!

New Life Vineyard’s vision is simply “Saving lives and making disciples”. And as gatherers, we are simply expressing the Father’s heart to get people saved. It starts with getting people to “Come and see’. And so we hope to start soon to arrange a number of activities (that will be fun and not at all “”churchy”) for people to chill out and bring friends. Sunday Service has started, and that’s another opportunity to bring friends to hear about Jesus.