By Agnes Chai
Aug 3 2021
KOTA KINABALU – Members of the Light of Jesus Christ Covenant Community (LJCCC) witnessed the intake of 38 new members via Zoom as the community marked its 38th Anniversary Aug 1.
In congratulating and welcoming the new members from three categories, namely: Associates, Underway and Full Member, presiding elder Anthony Lim marvelled at the concrete sign of God’s faithfulness and presence in the community even in a virtual situation.
“Your decision to sign up as new associate, as well as to take underway and full covenant, is a blessing to the community. In you we see that God is indeed alive, even in virtual situation. You show us that life in community is worth going on, in the midst of all our struggles, difficulties, unfaithfulness and failures,” said Lim to the newest members in the fold.
“At a time like the pandemic, when we have not been gathering physically except through Zoom, how is it that there are those who want to sign up as new members,” he asked in wonderment.
Twelve signed up as associate members, seven took underway commitment while 19 decided for full covenant membership. They were a mixture of singles and marrieds, who have been journeying with the community and have taken a look at its lifestyle and now have decided to take the major step of commitment.
Thirty-eight years ago, God came down on a people who gathered in “an upper room” located in the parish of Sacred Heart Cathedral and who desired to live a life for Him in service and in faithful love to His Church. Today, 38 years on, at an emotionally-charged Zoom session, the community once again implored God to fill them with the same power that visited them over three decades ago in such a tangible way.
Fr Paul Lo, parish priest of Sacred Heart Cathedral, who presided at the Thanksgiving Mass after the signing-in ceremony, exhorted the community members to give thanks to God for his faithfulness for their “almost 40 years of faith journey”.
He alluded that “38 is not short, but long formative years” for the community. Just as it was for the Israelites wandering for 40 years in the desert, who encountered numerous difficulties where there was no one to help except to learn to put their faith and trust in God, Fr Paul said “God today, particularly in the pandemic, is putting your faith to the test.”
Using words of Scriptures, he reminded the community to “fix your eyes on heaven, on the promised land, and to know that all the material wealth which you accumulate will not be able to save you; but only God has the power to save you, especially in these uncertain times”.
He spoke of his confidence that the community, with years of Christian formation, undergoes continual renewal and transformation which empowers them to live a life for God, and not like people who do not know God and live only for material possessions.
He urged his listeners “After seeing all the signs of God, and his miracles (in all these years), do not doubt that God is with you, that He continues walking with you, and that He will never abandon you; but instead live life to be like Christ, to have a renewed life, to trust God, guided by the Holy Spirit whom God sends to renew our faith.” Fr Paul concluded the Mass by invoking God’s blessing on the community.
Also present for the online occasion were invitees comprising leaders from the Cathedral parish and Fellowship of Malaysian Covenant Communities.
