God Does Immeasurably More
Pastor Douglas Wong, Chairperson of the CIM Board of Directors
This year marks my 6th and final year on CIM Canada’s Board of Directors, with the last two serving as the chair. It has been such a privilege to serve my two consecutive terms on the board before taking a mandatory break. My wife (Jessica) and I went on our first short-term missions trip to Ghana in 2013 and I would have never imagined serving on the board six years later, less at this capacity.
Janice Wong, Pastor Doug Wong, Jessica On, Rev. Isaac Quan, Pastor Andrew Syyong,
Candace Chu, Daal Gbande - August STM Team Ghana 2013
CIM Canada has played such a significant role in my faith formation during these early years of ministry. When I started, I was six months into full time ministry. I am now entering into my 7th and sabbatical year. Jess and I became parents – twice. From never serving on a board to now having the privilege to serve in a few. I have enjoyed the times of prayer and fellowship, committee meetings and, yes, the AGM’s – times where we get to pray, discern and vision. After seeing ministry from both sides, serving on the board has given me a perspective and appreciation for my own church board. It seems life with God is never boring.
I had and still have a heart for missions but I knew nothing about serving on a board. Yet, God is not intimidated by “nothing” and can work with nothing. If God can create the universe out of nothing, using a human being that knows nothing to accomplish His will isn’t so farfetched. As the old saying goes, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”
So, with my limited strengths and many weaknesses, I followed God into this season. I have made mistakes. I have learned many lessons. I could’ve done more. Through it all, I feel I have gained so much more than what I have given. I have been blessed by fellow board members and a staff that’s multi-gifted, spanning generations, denominations and the country. Together, we are privileged to see the Gospel advance through new initiatives. We saw God provide and send our first international ministry worker. We have seen the goodness of God.
It has been such a spiritual journey these past six years, especially the last two as the chair. I remember the moments my heart sank as I heard the needs of the people we serve. People like pastors in Ghana and Togo who bike for hours to do visitations. Pastors in Ukraine who are serving without a salary or teachers in Ghana who teach without one either. I hear of their dedication and they inspire me. We often hear of another natural disaster, need for medical supplies or clean water. We would receive news of how we are running out of funds for the village school project or how there’s a community without a shepherd. Words like helplessness would describe how I often felt. After all, how do we continue these ministries? How do we find support? Where are the people going to come from? During these meetings, I sink deep into my seat and feel the weight of leadership, knowing the decision we’re about to make will impact real lives in real places. How God leaves such decisions in the hands of mere humans astounds me. Who am I that You are mindful of me? (Ps. 8:4)
Yet, God doesn’t just leave us be. The needs are numerous but God’s grace is more. God has not taken off His sovereign hand from the universe He created. Where there are gaps in my knowledge, I am learning to let faith reign instead of fear. Faith that God knows what He is doing when I do not. Faith that God is never wrong and always on time. Faith that no obstacle is too big for God and no situation too impossible. Faith that God is provider. Serving in a missions organization gave me the privilege to see miracles and provisions of God before most. Almost like how the disciples passed on the bread and fish they knew they did not start off with, I knew our shortcomings and how we did not have enough – but God provided.
I have learned if we only focus on what we can do, we will always have a problem. But when we focus on what God can do, we will have peace even within the problem. Ministry (all of life really) is not about what we can do but what an all-powerful God does through people. How from the beginning of the church, God chose ordinary people to do extraordinary things in His Name. God is still doing the same today.
My heart was constantly tuned as I served in this missions organization. It allowed me to focus on where God is working instead of focusing on what is limiting. This has been especially true in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Though in many ways it has been a year of tragedy, it has also been a year of God-given opportunity. Leadership is more about exercising faith and making decisions that allow for flourishing than it is about exercising authority. Leaders see problems as moments that create opportunities for innovation.
One of these opportunities is a Christmas fundraiser we are hosting called “Be a Blessing”. Our leadership thought, “What would it look like to encourage our faith communities?” and “How can we create opportunities for people to live out their faith?” With this, we were reminded though many ministries are put on hold, our faith is never meant to be. We know many of you share this conviction.
It has been a tough year for many of us but especially for those we serve in Ghana, Togo and Ukraine. In order to support 15 communities and 3 village schools across the three countries, we are seeking to raise $30,000. We are praying this will be provision for 3000+ people and 400+ students. We are praying you will also join us because every life matters, every dollar counts.
Imagine the testimony this gives when children receive the gift of education this Christmas, knowing they will have a school to go to next year. The encouragement to these communities how despite being in the middle of a pandemic we still give and care. How in a year with every reason to sit back, we actively push forward to advance the Kingdom. With such a focused mission, imagine the passion this stirs in your church community. I know it has in mine.
As my term comes to a close, I definitely cannot say I am better or wiser than I was when I first entered. What I can say is that God’s work in our ministries has led to my own spiritual transformation. Just like how there are seasons in many other aspects of life, I am arriving into another season. As I enter into my sabbatical year, I also enter into a season of rest from CIM Canada. With a revised vision, mission and values, along with a strong board and staff team, I am excited for the direction CIM Canada is heading.
I am confident that in Jesus Name, God who does immeasurably more than what we can ask for or even imagine will continue working and moving this organization towards His will. Amen.
October Financials
1. General Fund - for general and administrative purposes, such as staff salaries
2. Designated Fund - for specific ministries in different field locations as designated (cannot be transferred between funds)
*All financial figures are in Canadian dollars and rounded to the nearest dollar*
Pray with Us
Pray for the ministries of CIM, not only in Ghana, Togo, and to the Roma people group, but also for the ministries in South Africa, Brazil, and Cambodia through our CIM family in the USA, Australia, and Hong Kong.
Pray that there will be more prayer warriors and financial donors so that we can effectively do the ministries that God has called us to do. Pray for our Christmas fundraiser. Pray that we can raise the necessary funds to support the church planters and village school teachers in Ghana, Togo, and the Ukraine.
Praise God for our CIM Canada's board meeting. Because of the pandemic, it was our first virtual AGM and it ran fairly smoothly. Continue to pray for God’s guidance as we seek His direction in 2021.
Praise God that the borehole project in Bimbilla, Ghana is nearing completion. Pray that the rest of the project will go smoothly.
Pray for Pastor Vlad as he leads the Roma ministry in Ukraine. Please continue to pray for his family. Some members are feeling unwell. Pray for protection from the COVID-19 virus.
Pray for the healing of our BOD member, Siu Lui Ho who is recovering from radiation treatment for cancer.