Moving with Purpose, Rooted in Stillness

Leaders’ Party (LP) Part 2 took place on 9 August at Trinity Theological College with 57 student leaders present. While LP Part 1 held in May, had focused on how to analyse and build the CF community, LP Part 2 focused on how to engage the campus context, as well as made time for leaders to reflect on their journey thus far.

Attending LP was truly an experience. At first, I thought being a CF leader required me to communicate well with my peers, make good decisions and be able to adapt to sudden changes. However, after attending LP, I realised that being able to do all those is not the main point.

Every station ended with reflection and a keepsake

Sure, those skills are crucial for leaders. But I feel that having a good, stable relationship with God is what makes a good leader. The different stations reminded me to rely on Him in times of hardship. One of the things I struggle with as a leader is making good decisions. I would always be anxious about how the events I planned could go wrong and think that maybe I shouldn’t have made that decision. But one of the stations at LP really changed my mindset. What I should think about is not just whether this event would be a success, but also whether it is beneficial to our faith, or whether it can help deepen our relationship with God.

Being a leader is not an easy task, but it’s also a learning experience. LP reminded me that whatever I do and whatever happens, God is always by my side and he will help in the best way possible.

– Ding Yi Ken, SP CCF, Computer Engineering, Year 2

The theme and timing of LP Part 2 were very apt, as it was held during a time when school events and assignments were ramping up. Personally, I was also becoming increasingly occupied with work commitments, sometimes even having to take work home. The theme about being “Rooted in Stillness” was a good reminder to slow down amidst the busyness.

The weight of ministry in a bucket

All the stations were quite beneficial for both my individual growth and growth as a leader. But if I were to pick one station, it would be “The Weight of Ministry”. For that station, we jotted down our prayer requests and worries on a piece of paper, tied it to a stone, and put it in a bucket. We would then pick up from the bucket a stone with someone else’s prayer request and pray for them. As I began reading and praying for others, it dawned upon me that I was not alone in this journey. Everyone else had their own struggles when it came to ministry, and they, too, faced feelings of inadequacy. This gave me a deep sense of comfort, and I was reminded that despite our brokenness, God can still use us. Paradoxically, it is only through our brokenness that God’s light can shine through.

This seemingly simple activity turned out to be deeply profound. It reminded me that no one is perfect and that it’s okay not to be perfect. The weight of ministry and serving a perfect God should be shared among the community, where solace can be found in one another.

– Ezekiel Wong, SUSS ECF, Public Safety and Security, Year 3

Our decisions can cause a collapse, but we can rebuild

One of the most memorable experiences in my ministry journey so far has been LP, where many young leaders like me came together to learn how to lead under Christ. The camp taught me how to be grounded in Him and use that as a foundation to serve and spread His word. Through activities, such as the station on decisions that used the game Jenga, and the station on lament, which used sandpaper to embody emotions, I was able to reflect on the true purpose of leadership.

Like many other student leaders, I doubted myself when I first took on the Exco role in NUS ISCF. “Will I be able to do my role?”, “What if I do something wrong?”, “Do I really deserve this role?” These questions often clouded my mind and heart. Fortunately, through the encouragement of my peers, fellow Exco members, and the lessons I learned during LP, I slowly found my footing in this journey.

Overall, I’m very grateful for this opportunity and excited to apply the knowledge and experience I have learned during LP as a foundation for my ministry at NUS ISCF!

– Theresia, NUS ISCF, Computer Science, Year 2