Cell group Journey: A Year of Thanksgiving

Meeting at the Mason's

Back in mid-Nov 2024, a thought came about starting a cell group. Shorly after, Hadassah asks Dinah if we are starting a cell group. Not long after Ruby encourages us to consider starting a cell group. 

Dinah and I feel this is the Holy Spirit. We get back to Hadassah and she introduces David and Joyce to us. They are local. In the same month Michael and Kerry arrive with their their girls from South Africa.   

Dinah and I spend time with David and Joyce. They're newly married and speak English. We also meet up with Michael and Kerry. Both couples are ready! We begin meeting weekly in Jan - stepping forward in faith and unity. 

Hello Daniel 

 The forming stage is fun. David and Joyce have us over to their home during the Lunar New Year. We try meeting weekly at the Mason's apartment. Our first highlight is Mar 21 when Joyce experiences inner healing in our weekly meeting, a beautiful testimony of His restoring love!

 Holy Spirit continues to move. On Apr 6, Joyce attends the Sower course and is baptised in the Spirit! She begins praying in tongues. We are all so excited for her, rejoicing in the work of the Holy Spirit. Now husband and wife pray in tongues together! 

Hello Pablo & Jos. Pastor Joshua drops by  

We rejoice with Michael and Kerry when Courtney gets water baptised - in May. Not long after, Daniel joins us. He's Korean and speaks English with a British twang. I'm thankful for each new heart God brings into our midst. 

In Aug, Pablo and Joselyn join! They're learning English being Spanish speakers from Costa Rica. Now we've Costa Ricans, Hong Kongers, Singaporeans, South Africans and a Korean. This expands our spiritual family and broadens our horizons.

Daniel baptised

 In Sep, we rejoice with Pablo and Jos and Michael and Kerry as Ian and Hayley are baptised in water. Daniel is baptised too. What a joy to witness their public declaration of faith! 

 It's a miracle to see Daniel taking this step. We've been encouraging him for 5 months. In this period he dropped out of church. But Holy Spirit led him back. Now his parents are present to witness his baptism. Stella and us are overjoyed for Daniel.  

Joyce welcomed as member!

There's a mini-miracle in Oct. Dinah and I were away in Amen 611 in Macau at end-Sep. And missed the membership application deadline for Joyce. It does not help that I missed the bulletin announcement which is in Chinese. After returning from Macau, I apologise to Joyce and act to expedite her application. Oct 19th comes and it's a joyous moment for Joyce, David, their family and all of us as she is warmly welcomed as a member! 

Round about this period, Daniel starts joining a church nearer to his new place. Three months earlier he moved much further away. We miss him but remain thankful for the season we shared together. We ourselves will relocate soon.

Transition continues in Nov. We speak with Pablo and Jos, and with David and Joyce about new groups. Then Pablo and Jos with their boys host the Masons then us for farewell meals.

The originals: 12-7

 On Dec 7, the Masons and us are commissioned to return to our home countries to plant churches. On the day we celebrate God’s calling and the fruit of discipleship among us. Two days later we fly off, stepping into new chapters. David and Joyce send us off at the airport with prayers, blessing, and thanksgiving for all that God has done through our cell group.

 With grateful hearts, we see God’s faithfulness in every step of our journey together. Through every beginning, every breakthrough, and every sending, we give thanks to God for His faithfulness in 2025.

Commissioning

 

Isaiah 61:1

 Dinah and I are so happy to welcome our twins to HK on Friday. They rest a little before there is rehearsal for this Sun. This is followed by dinner and Fortress Prayer. This starts off a very memorable weekend!

 Crystal and Eunice take the twins shopping on Sat as Dinah and I catch up with Michael and Kerry. Afterward the twins finalise their testimonies as we join the Sat service for the last time! Our family reunite at dinner in TKV. Later Dinah refines their testimonies as I firm up my sermon.

Starting from Punggol

Sunday morning starts with makeup. Then we rehearse and pray. The first service gets going when the Nkhoma's are being commissioned. In the second service, we get right into the re-enactment. This is the first time we serve together in HK! It's super enjoyable : )

This is immediately followed by Deborah sharing her testimony. Then Daniel shares his testimony. Their sharing touch me deeply. I am moved as I go to preach. Then I see my brother with his wife and their son on the second row. Now I'm choking as I start preaching.

Re-enactment

 I'm so excited to have my family and my brother's family present. I  speak from Isaiah 61. Our spiritual papa, Pastor Joshua comes up to wrap up the sermon segment. He then invites our entire family onto the platform. He addresses Deborah and Daniel. And we are invited to kneel. Each person from the leadership team prays for us one by one. I feel impartation upon impartation as pastor after pastor lay hands on me!

Pastor Deborah prophesies for us and our new church. It's so inspiring. Several areas are similar to the prophecy we received on 28th Sep in Macau.

Commissioning

Our spiritual mama C-Mo presents us gifts. Each one is meaningful. She addresses Dinah on her new role as C-Mo of Garden City. Pastor Joshua addresses me. The entire time is filled with joyful moments. There is much laughter : ) This commissioning is super unconventional.

A joyful affair

 We even take photos together with the congregation. This is our family in Hong Kong! Our commissioning service ends with a song and a benediction. I'm still so moved!

 The Eagles team rush up to take photos. Friends come with gifts. Our former cell group come to take photos. My brother's family join us. And the next service is starting!

Family celebration

We join the third service where the Masons will be commisioned. Afterward there's an official photoshoot. Then photos with various ones. Incuding our cell group.

Finally we bid goodbyes, gather gifts and go back in a taxi. We leave the suits and gifts at home. I breathe then go celebrate with my brother and his family. And later with our housemates. 127 is a special, special day!