Inspiration Week,2010 (2)

Choong shared a message on Wednesday evening about Disciples of Jesus. Jesus’ twelve disciples were all very unique. They had completely different personalities and backgrounds. But all of them walked with Jesus and worked for Him. Today, we all are different and unique as the twelve disciples were. We have different appearance, personalities, and abilities. Now, what can we give to our friends? How can we work for Jesus? Our diversity is a blessing from God. Let us use whatever we have and work for Him as His disciples.

On Thursday, the last meeting for this Inspiration Week at the Fellowship Hall, Robin Ramroop was the speaker in which he presented Spiritual Gifts through the title “Can He Trust You?”

There are types of people in the church—members, believers, and disciples. Members and believers never miss the church but they do nothing for the church. However, disciples run up mission of the church using their spiritual gifts. Every one of us is blessed with spiritual gift. It can be any kinds – giving, helping, or even carrying heavy stuff is a gift that you have to serve for God! Each gift is valued and significant. Jesus said in Matthew 28, “Go to the people and make them my disciples.” God is expecting us to use our gifts to spread the gospel and to make people prepare for the Second Coming. Devil is happy when we are angry or frustrated because our spiritual gifts are not used and the gospel is not spread. The church’s function is less and crippled in one area when we are not using our gifts. We all need each other. “I need you and you need me. You have something to help me to be saved.” When we used our gifts and did something for God, the church will keep being alive. Also, when we use our gifts, God will multiply them.

Why did God give you the gift? Why only you are the SDA in your family? It is because God trusts you to use it for His work—to make disciples of Jesus in the neighborhood and around the world. God trust you with that gift. Let us respond to His trust with our service.

Inspiration Week,2010

From Sunday, August 22, 2010, Theology Club is holding an inspiration week at the Robin Riches Fellowship Hall at 7:45pm. Every night, we start with song service led by inspiring song leaders. The theme song is Hymn number 348, “The Church Has One Foundation.” After a prayer, our student shares an interesting message in the theme "Mangoes or Bananas?" To close the meeting, we gather in small groups to pray for each other.

On Sunday, our senior student, James Jalin shared a message about the Creation for us. Why are there mangoes or bananas? If there were only mangoes, it will be boring. Because there is a beauty of difference, it is good to take bananas as well. In the creation, God made everything perfect—"It is good." So, dare to be different because God made us differently on purpose; that is a beauty of God. When we dare to take different way from doing bad, God will color our world.

On Monday, Vanny Leng, our senior student, shared a message about the Covenant. At the Mount Sainai, God promised holiness to His people. If we listen to the voice of God which is the words of God, the Ten Commandments, we will be God’s very own people. We are lucky because God has brought us out of darkness into His light. “Because of His promise, we can smile and have hope.”

On Tuesday, Keophetsamom Somphou, also our graduating senior student, shared a message about Levites. God chose Levites to serve Him as priests because they were faithful to Him. They had the privilege to settle their tent near the Tabernacle, the house of God. God did not give them any land, but something much greater thing than any other tribes—the promise that God will be with them forever. We should remember that we are the Levites. When we focus on our work, we often lost relationship with God. But we should always face God and walk the same direction with Him. As we work in His house, we should be more close to God.

Friday Vespers & Youth Worship

[This article has been adapted from AIU Newsbyte, Volume10, Issue4, page3]

The Theology club organized vesper’s program titled “Betrayal” on Friday, June 25, 2010 at the Auditorium. Through Bible reading, a short skit, and messages from two students, the message of God’s love was presented. The skit was about a boy who betrayed his friend who didn’t have enough money to register for school. Because of his betrayal, she had to leave the school. However, after he realized what he had done, she showed mercy on him and forgave him as her friend. That is same as how Jesus showed his love to us.

The Youth worship used the theme of “Lost! Can Find?” on Saturday, June 26, 2010. It was a blessed Sabbath worship with four short video clips which were introduced by short narrations. They were related to God’s amazing grace which we can still find near us when we turn to Him no matter how much we had run away from Him. Even if we had wounded hearts as a violin which was treated badly until it was broken, the touch of the Master’s hand can make everything right and well again. If we give God a chance, He can produce beautiful music from our lives.

2010, Welcome New Students Potluck Party

[This article has been adapted from AIU Newsbyte, Volume10, Issue3, page3]

Theology club held a potluck party to welcome new students at the Fellowship Hall on the evening of Friday, June 18,^, 2010. About 40 students, faculty members, and their family members came and enjoyed spending time together.

First, we sang songs together as usual. Since we have many nationalities in our department, we like to sing “Hallelujah” in different languages. This time, we sang in 9 languages! After we sang some songs, Dr. Wann Fanwar, our Dean, had a message for the worship. Then before we ate, we introduced the new members of the officers of Theology Club for this year and we welcomed the new students of our department. There are 8 new students for this year. Pr. Gerard Bernard served small welcome gift of chocolate to each of the new students.

The food was prepared by the teachers and married students. We enjoyed many kinds of homemade food. And it was the best time to know each other when we eat together.

Our potluck party became a very good time to meet each other in our department.

Youth Worship: Walk Your Blessings

[This article has been adapted from AIU Newsbyte, Issue 19, page 2]

For about an hour and a half on January 30, 2010, the Asia-Pacific International University Church experienced its first Youth Worship for the Year 2010. This time the worhsip was organized by the class of RELP 386 Principles of Youth Ministry with Practicum. The students in the class brought their friends along to be participants in the worship service that found a large group consisting of the choir, praise leaders, musicians and offering collectors. For some of them, this was the first time they took part in Youth worship. For me, it was really a joy to see young people willingly letting God use them in His service.

Themed 'Walk Your Blessings,' the worship began with Scripture recitation and the song 'You Laid Aside Your Majesty.' This song became the theme song for the Festival of Faith. Many other inspiring worship songs in both English and Thai were sung, which really made it a 'praise-moment' for the church. In addition, many children were excited when the story of David and Goliath was acted out during the children's story time.

Some have expressed that they enjoyed the program. But more than just enjoying the program, the focus had been the preaching of the Word. Wann Fanwar preached a sermon on the theme based on Joshua 1:1-9. I personally have waited for several months to hear this sermon. The sermon hit at the heart of those who considered themselves as recipients of God's blessings, not just on non-material things, but perhaps more fully on the material blessings. God has blessed us so that through us others will also be blessed. Reflecting on the sermon, one person commented at the end of the service, 'I nearly shed tears... .' For what reason, I do not know. Only the Spirit knows how his heart had been touched.

As part of their practicum, the class will organize three more Youth Worship this semester.

Theology Camp 2010: Off the Beaten Track

Students and teachers of the Faculty of Religious Studies, AIU, went off campus during the weekend of January 22-24, 2010, for a camp at Muak Lek Forest Resort. The theme of the camp was 'Off the Beaten Track'. I think this is the best camp we have organized for the theology students--best in terms of its venue (resort) and the participation.

The pictures above were taken during Sabbath service.

The following pictures feature Sabbath afternoon activity. These are some snapshots of groups involved in Bible Games 2.

For more coverage of the camp, please check AIU Newsbyte, Issue 18 (page 2), an article written by Christie.

Weddings of Alumni

Three of our alumni celebrated their wedding in December 2009 and January 2010. The pictures below are snapped from AIU Newsbyte, Issue 16 (page 3) and Issue 17 (page 3).

Here's another picture of Ben's wedding...