This year we are celebrating our church’s 45-year anniversary.  Like a person, each church has its own distinct quality that sets it apart from others, quality that’s usually imprinted early on by its founder.  I am sure we can come up with a lot of qualities, but I’d say that the main characteristic of our church is welcoming.  It’s a quality that’s best described the person and the ministry of the late pastor John Lim who, with Tante Barbara, started this church from the scratch. 

I felt welcome when I first set foot on this church 47 years ago, and I felt welcome when I asked Pastor John Lim for a favor to use the church’s sanctuary for our wedding ceremony.  Because we had no building of our own and were using the First Baptist Church, Temple City, Pastor John had to make the call to the pastor of the church to ask for permission for Santy and me to use it as our wedding venue. At the time we were not even attending this church; we’re already serving in another church!  That’s how welcoming Pastor John was!  Thank God, that welcoming spirit is still well and alive to this day.

To be welcoming, even to the point of going out of our way, is only possible if we have love, not the kind of love where we only love somebody if and when she is good or useful to us, but the kind of love that comes out of “a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).  That’s what I see in you; I see love that comes out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. You are always ready to roll up your sleeves and help; you are always happy to share what you have without expecting anything in return; you’re ready to reach out and make somebody feel at home. 

As your pastor I cannot ask for more; I can only say, thank you for making this church look like Jesus Our Lord.  Thank you for showing the face of Jesus to everyone who walks in here. Happy anniversary!

Pastor Paul