Counting God's Blessings
In Retrospect and
Looking Ahead

Devotionals -- Recalling the Past

Week 1 (1984-89) - English / 中文
Week 2 (1989-94) - English / 中文
Week 3 (1994-99) - English / 中文
Week 4 (1999-04) - English / 中文
Week 5 (2004-09) - English / 中文

^{Rev. Wing Yip}

“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained. But happy is he who keeps the law.” Prov. 29:18

The manifesto of the Raleigh Chinese Christian Church is: To reach the Chinese Community for Christ: To transform them into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ by becoming a reverent, Christ-centered, caring community that glorifies God.

This is the objective for our church’s existence. In order to make this manifesto into reality, we must have a clear and specific plan and rely on the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit before this goal can take effect. Proverbs 29:18 gives us a very important reminder—we must have ‘vision’. It has been said that vision is like a guiding lamp or a red target that an arrow aims at: that is to say, a clear and specific goal. In the same way, the ministry of a church needs ‘vision’. In other words, a church must be “purpose driven”.

During the five-year period of 1999 to 2004 in the development process of RCCC, our church gradually adopted a “purpose-driven” structure. Thanks be to God, when the church grew from a 200 strong adult congregation to a point when our space was maxed out, He prepared our present building for us. Not only did we have much more space, all language congregations (Mandarin, English and Cantonese) also increased in size. The administrative structure of the church also changed from that of a small church to the operation model of a middle-sized church. In order to meet the needs of the church’s leadership direction, the Board of Elders took over the overall leadership of the church. Every ministry places emphasis on strategies related to its “purpose or goal” and how it can work together with other ministries. All this is part of the operation model of a purpose driven church and facilitates the overall development of RCCC.

Our Christian life should also be purpose driven. This is the beginning of an abundant life and the basis of a meaningful existence.

1. Do you know what ‘vision’ is? (Prov. 29:18)
2. How do you define ‘vision’? (Prov. 29:18)
3. Do you know what the ‘vision and mission manifesto’ of RCCC is? (I Tim. 3:15b)
4. Are you taking part in implementing the ministries of the church? (I Cor. 12:12-26)
5. What ‘goal’ have you set for your life? (Matt. 4:19)
6. What is driving your whole life? (Phil. 1:21, 3:8-12)
7. Are you living a meaningful life now? (II Cor. 5:9-10)