PELITA - The Methodist Church Newsletter
Listed below are articles abstracted from past issues of PELITA
July 2007 - Christian Careers with a Difference GCYC Youth Conference
25-27 May 2007
This was the theme of the conference held at the Methodist Centennial Park, Sibu. What is the theme about you may ask? What is the difference between Christian careers and other careers? The two main speakers were Bishop Hwa Yung and Ms Annette Arulrajah, the General Secretary of the Fellowship of Evangelical Students.
This conference was held to address the issue of the shortage of fulltime workers and pastors in the Methodist Church which is a matter of some concern in some of the Annual Conferences. However, it was not just about this issue. Christian careers do not refer only to work within the church or other Christian ministries. They refer, rather, to the perspective and attitude a Christian brings to his/her career that is shaped by the Christian commitment.
It was this perspective that Bishop Hwa Yung laid the groundwork for understanding the difference a Christian has towards his or her career. His three messages dwelt on (1) God’s Purposes for the World, (2) A Christian Understanding of Vocation, and (3) The Cost of Commitment.
The Christian’s work is always shaped by the calling to be the salt and light in the world. And as such his/her basic motivation is not for material gain or promotions but to seek to establish God’s purposes in society and the work place. So one should see one’s career as a way to serve Christ in the world and be committed to do the best in it. No doubt there will be a cost to pay because of the difference in priorities and
goals that the Christian seeks to achieve.
Nevertheless, the concern shared by both speakers was the lack of Christians willing to take up the work of the pastoral or fulltime Christian ministry. Ms Arulrajah took two workshops on (1) The Missing Generation and (2) Opening the Eyes of our Heart.
She shared the sobering fact that out of 1000 Christian graduates every year, only less than 20 will work in fulltime ministry.
Why is this so? Both speakers identified the same factors that were holding back young people to a fulltime ministry. One is the lure and attraction of what secular work offers in terms of monetary gain and security. But secondly, parents also encourage their children to take jobs that pay better and can sustain a certain kind of lifestyle. They consider fulltime ministry from the financial aspects, and often think of this career as the last option on the list.
The conference also addressed the practical questions on how to encourage more of our young people and graduates to take up fulltime ministry. One suggestion was to have some kind of mentorship programme in the church where school leavers after Form 5 & 6 can work in the church. They can then observe and gain some experience in the work of the pastor and the ministry of the church.
Rev. Christopher Rao, the TRAC Youth Director, also suggested that the GC Youth Council can play a part in bringing the youths from the Annual Conferences together and help to instill a heart for ministry and missions work. Mission trips can help expose youths to fulltime work in the church or in missions.
This article is based on reports by Edmund Hunt of Wesley Methodist Church, Teluk Intan.