It was with some trepidation that I finally decided to accept an invitation from Lee Tuck Wai to facilitate a guided meditation on Luke 2 for an early Christmas carol lunch fellowship for a marketplace ministry that meets at “The Penny Black”. Ministering in a new environment and to new people has always been a challenge for me. However, God usually invites me to take the step of faith. Therefore, I said “Yes” to the opportunity to grow.
As I stepped out of the Raffles Place Station, I immediately saw the contrast: the grand, shiny facades of skyscrapers that defined the skyline and reflected the prosperity and financial might of Singapore’s CBD, and the ancient, impoverished and shabby world of tiny Bethlehem that I would guide the seventy guests of this lunch event to imagine.
I was surprised when I entered the space where the luncheon would be held. I was thrown out of balance. I had expected a kind of office-like space with a classroom arrangement. I found myself in an L-shaped second-floor extension of a pub. Posters and empty bottles tastefully decorated the walls. An assortment of chairs and tables of different heights were arranged in intimate and larger groups. Christmas décor was everywhere, including Santa hats dangling from the ceiling. I was puzzled where to position myself!
The atmosphere was vibrant. Many seemed to know several others, and newly invited guests were being introduced to others. They looked comfortable and friendly. Tuck Wai seemed to know most of the guests. Many worked with UOB Bank. Many were Christians, some of whom were unchurched, and others were pre-believers.
This was my first time ministering in a pub. The program began with a delicious lunch and announcements about the marketplace ministry and the upcoming meetings. Then several ladies shared their stories of how God intervened in their illnesses, delivering and healing them. One lady shared how God used her to pray for others to be healed and the miracles she witnessed. Another shared a moving story of God’s salvation and transforming power in her family.
Finally, it was my turn to guide them in a meditation of Luke 2, the story of Jesus’ birth and the shepherds’ response. The guided meditation comprised three cycles of scripture reading, commentary, application, individual prayer in silence and a relevant Christmas carol. I was pleasantly surprised to see a video after the event that showed the people in a meditative mood. These very busy people in the banking industry could slow down, pause, be still, and pray. I had been praying for them whenever I prepared the session, that the Holy Spirit would meet them at the point of their needs. I trust that many sensed His presence and movements. We drank the “new wine” in God’s presence in the pub.
The three main truths I decided to unfold were: First, when life is uncertain, remember that God is at work even when we cannot see the whole picture. Second, when fear weighs upon us, lift our eyes towards Jesus, our Saviour who comes close to us. Lastly, when we receive the grace of God, let that grace flow through us into the lives of others.
It was an “intoxicating” experience leading this guided meditation in such a special place that the co-owner graciously let the marketplace fellowship use it for the occasion. I left with a broadened understanding of marketplace ministry.