The videos for the 2nd Round of the Young Preachers' Contest are out! Once again though, Cindy's video seems to be the only one they missed out! That's stranger than strange. I can't find hers and Lay Ching's from Round 1 either, so I guess you will have to invite them personally to preach at your cell meeting if you really want to hear them! :)
Overhead from one of my sisters-in-christ from another tribe, "My cell member was asking me, "Isn't that guy like 25 years old and isn't this supposed to be the Young Preachers' Contest?' Ha ha. *jab, jab..."
Errhrmm... (clears throat) For the record, I am 26. And it IS the Young Preachers Contest. And of course I qualify as young. Young in my experience as a preacher that is! Ha ha. You know, I actually asked a close brother of mine from another tribe (whose nickname is a kind of mammalian fish you find only in the ocean) why he did not take part as I was looking forward to hear him preach. And he told me, "No lah... this one is YOUNG Preachers' Contest. I am supporting my guy who is taking part."
Hmm... I couldn't help thinking,"But why not?! But why not participate even if you were 40 year old and were in Youthnet?" I believe the YPC was organised in the spirit of inspiring and encouraging a hunger and excitement for knowing the Word of God and for communicating the Word of God. In all seriousness, I would grab the chance to take part in it even if I was 60 and this was the YOUNG Preachers' Contest. I would do that because I AM excited about the Word of God and I WANT to be good at preaching it so that more people can enter the Kingdom of God when they here the conviction of the Holy Spirit through my preaching!
I was very encouraged when one of the younger contestants came up to me and said, "Wah!! How can I compete against the best??!" Of course, I replied him in all humility that I was in no way at all the best. Which brings me to the 2nd reason why I volunteered to be in this contest. To inspire others. My dear bro Evan, messaged me that I was very brave. I thought at first, "No lah. I quite thick skinned one. This kind of thing I ok one."
On reflection, I realised that it wasn't thick skin that gave me the peace, (though some of you might still maintain that it is true about my thick skin...) it was the desire to obey God and to inspire others to do likewise, that made me confident that I should do this. It was faith in God's direction for me, regardless of the outcome. So yes, I took part so that the rest of you might know that it isn't that difficult to be brave and to boldly go where no man has gone for Jesus. if you know your Lord and maker.
Well, enough said and done. I take my hats off to Cindy and Keng San who preached their hearts out and gave their best. Ah San, I applaud you for preaching with reckless abandonment and for not being afraid to be a fool for God. Cindy, your steadiness was like an anchor that could brave any storm. You are both winners in my eyes. May the videos inspire all of you to seek out greatness in God.
Here are the finalist of the Young Preachers' Contest. Click on their names to watch them.
1. Alvin Lim (Ps Lawrence's Tribe)
2. Joshua Choo (Ps Jeffrey's Tribe)
3. Teh Jen Lee (Ps Rachel's Tribe)
4. Lee Sing Ai (Ps Rachel's Tribe)
Joshua Teo
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