The purpose of CF
What is the purpose of CF I ask myself. Of course there are many different viewpoints, different facets of the diamond as Dr. Loo put it. I was thinking of when I first came into KE7. What was going through my mind then is different of course from what is going on now. But yet one thing remains constant. Belonging. Everybody wants to belong, and I have found my belonging via the CF, and that is why I find it precious. Doubtless other people find their belonging somewhere else, in some other group. And so I guess, they gradually drop away from CF.
I guess there are two ways of looking at it. One is to stay at the level of this observation. To say that it's ok that people drop away from CF because they feel that they have found a better place to belong to.
Another way is to see belonging as a stepping stone for a greater purpose. That purpose actually being the purpose of the CF. Then by fulfilling this purpose, the sense of belonging is cultivated. Since, KECF is part of VCF, which is part of FES, which in turn is part of IFES, the three aims of IFES for students becomes our purposes as well: formacion(discipleship and spiritual formation), evangelism and mission.
I think the second viewpoint is a better one than the first. There are several examples that support this.
1) During the preparation for the Christmas party two years ago, we truly belonged because we were convinced that what we were doing was to provide a opportunity to invite our non-christian friends for christmas services.
2) CG sessions when the word of God is taught deeply, and not just a simple sharing session or a sort of vague unprepared-everybody-chips-in-and-give-your-viewpoint kind. After that, people are more likely to stay back an interact and even share deeply. This is the general observation in SHCF and KECF. My point is, there must be an authoritative voice that teaches God's word, and then followship comes naturally.
3) Corporate prayer. My close friends were forged by interacting with seniors, peers and juniors during and after prayer meetings. We worship together, hear a short devotion and pray for each other afterwards. It is true, those that come for prayer meeting often form the core of the fellowship.
4) In PGP CF after their MPM(ministry prayer meeting), fellowship almost comes naturally. And in fact, when I joined for the first time, I could easily connect even though I was an outsider. Why? Becuase we were all there for a common cause, that is to pray.
5) During the D2D evangelistic event, everybody was excited and the process of preparing for it and also in executing it, drew everybody together even those not affiliated with us. It was then that I got to know Dawn a little better.
6) In EXCO, the times when we are far apart from each other are the times when we are not actually praying together, but and neglecting it.
7) For those who participated in MEET, e.g. John, Jaime and Raj, there are also the ones who continued to serve and participate in CF. Their sense of belonging to each other and to God I think continued even though they were in their final years.
I'm sure those other people have their other stories to tell. But I guess that belonging is cultivated by doing something very specific together. Namely: learning God's word together, praying together, worshipping together, evangelism together, being involved in missions together. Belonging is cultivated I think from no other means. Once people belong, it is tough for them to leave.
I guess there are two ways of looking at it. One is to stay at the level of this observation. To say that it's ok that people drop away from CF because they feel that they have found a better place to belong to.
Another way is to see belonging as a stepping stone for a greater purpose. That purpose actually being the purpose of the CF. Then by fulfilling this purpose, the sense of belonging is cultivated. Since, KECF is part of VCF, which is part of FES, which in turn is part of IFES, the three aims of IFES for students becomes our purposes as well: formacion(discipleship and spiritual formation), evangelism and mission.
I think the second viewpoint is a better one than the first. There are several examples that support this.
1) During the preparation for the Christmas party two years ago, we truly belonged because we were convinced that what we were doing was to provide a opportunity to invite our non-christian friends for christmas services.
2) CG sessions when the word of God is taught deeply, and not just a simple sharing session or a sort of vague unprepared-everybody-chips-in-and-give-your-viewpoint kind. After that, people are more likely to stay back an interact and even share deeply. This is the general observation in SHCF and KECF. My point is, there must be an authoritative voice that teaches God's word, and then followship comes naturally.
3) Corporate prayer. My close friends were forged by interacting with seniors, peers and juniors during and after prayer meetings. We worship together, hear a short devotion and pray for each other afterwards. It is true, those that come for prayer meeting often form the core of the fellowship.
4) In PGP CF after their MPM(ministry prayer meeting), fellowship almost comes naturally. And in fact, when I joined for the first time, I could easily connect even though I was an outsider. Why? Becuase we were all there for a common cause, that is to pray.
5) During the D2D evangelistic event, everybody was excited and the process of preparing for it and also in executing it, drew everybody together even those not affiliated with us. It was then that I got to know Dawn a little better.
6) In EXCO, the times when we are far apart from each other are the times when we are not actually praying together, but and neglecting it.
7) For those who participated in MEET, e.g. John, Jaime and Raj, there are also the ones who continued to serve and participate in CF. Their sense of belonging to each other and to God I think continued even though they were in their final years.
I'm sure those other people have their other stories to tell. But I guess that belonging is cultivated by doing something very specific together. Namely: learning God's word together, praying together, worshipping together, evangelism together, being involved in missions together. Belonging is cultivated I think from no other means. Once people belong, it is tough for them to leave.
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on Monday, March 07, 2005 at 10:37 AM.
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