Elder David Saw (ASPC)
- Aug 7
- 9 min read

EP Missions Fest 2024 (Unstoppable: Collaboration ● Catalyst ● Calling)

After a hiatus of many years, the English Presbytery (EP) Missions Fest was finally held again this year, on 25-27 July, at True Way Presbyterian church. This joint effort by the EP Missions Committee was attended by a wide range of representatives from 14 out of 15 EP churches.

The keynote speaker was Asiri Fernando, who serves with Youth For Christ (YFC) Sri Lanka, leading the work in the mountain regions. He is also the author of Unstoppable: Total Devotion to the Gospel (A Study of Philippians), and the son of Ajith Fernando.

The plenary talk of each day was on these 3 themes: Collaboration (Day 1), Catalyst (Day 2) and Calling (Day 3). The first day was for pastors and church leaders, the second for youths and young adults, and the third was for all, with different workshops on several aspects of missions.

For Day 1, Rev Eric Ang from Sembawang Presbyterian Church shared about missions work in Cambodia, and Steven Neo from Covenant Presbyterian Church shared about missions work with Sri Lankans. For Day 2, Pr Li Wencong shared that God used various people in the Bible as catalysts, e.g. Abraham, Moses, David. Likewise, He can still use people today for His kingdom work, even young people. For Day 3, Rev Rodney Hui from Operation Mobilisation (OM) spoke in the first workshop about “Call Waiting”, debunking some misconceptions about calling. There were 4 more workshops on the same day, on “Digital Missions”, “Community Development & Transformation”, “Why Plant Churches in Cities?” and “The Biblical Basis for the Arts in Missions.”

For Day 1, worship was led by Pr Li Wencong from Ang Mo Kio Presbyterian Church (AMKPC). For Day 2, worship was led by a team from AMKPC. They introduced the song Psalm 90 (Satisfy Us With Your Love) by Shane & Shane, which was in line with the speaker’s message on Psalm 90. For Day 3, a team from All Saints Presbyterian Church (ASPC) led worship, and the final song sung was Alabaster Jar by Gateway Worship, which challenges us to worship God extravagantly.

Across the 3 days, there were interesting ice-breakers and other activities, such visiting country booths for a presentation (on Day 3), as well as fellowship and prayer between participants from various churches.

Day 1: Collaboration - 4 Keys To Moving Forward In Perfect Unity

Regarding collaboration in missions, Asiri Fernando spoke on 4 Keys To Moving Forward In Perfect Unity, based on Php 1:15-18, 27.

1 Embracing a spirit of dependence: The world thinks dependence is weakness and values independence and self-sufficiency highly. However, Christianity is a religion of dependence, and sin is prideful independence from God. Our salvation is through total dependence on Christ’s work on the cross and His resurrection. Our sanctification is through dependence on the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us through God’s Word.

Also, it is nearly impossible to be holy without others, as we need accountability with others. Dependence is a part of Christian maturity, and opens the door to collaboration. Friendship is so important and good friends can more easily collaborate.

2 Removing a great obstacle to collaboration: selfish ambition: In Php 1:15-17, Paul identified some people who preached out of envy and rivalry, with selfish ambition.

In Sri Lanka, there was a bitter civil war that went on for 26 years between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. In YFC Sri Lanka, there are both Sinhalese and Tamils and they are willing to work together and help one another. To remove the obstacle of selfish ambition, one way to start is to pray for one another. Churches can pray for other churches, and then more easily collaborate for the sake of missions.

3 Standing firm in one spirit: In Php 1:27, Paul exhorted the Philippian church to stand firm in one spirit. The word “stand” is often associated with spiritual warfare, and occurs 4 times in Eph 6:10-14.

One way to stand together is by persevering prayer. Paul wanted the Philippians to strive side by side for the faith of the gospel with one mind - this is a shared struggle. In Php 2:1-2, Paul spoke of the Philippians completing his joy by their being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

4 Moving forward as one person: To move forward as one person, we need to hold lightly some of the identities that may seem so important to us. In Gal 3:26-28, Paul wrote that there is neither Jew nor Greek, which means unity in oneness, for we are all clothed in Christ.

Asiri concluded by teaching the song Make Us One, and the lyrics are:

Make us one O Lord, make us one O Lord

That the world may know that You have sent Your Son

Make us one O Lord

Day 2: Catalyst – Psalm 90: Teach Us To Number Our Days

Asiri Fernando spoke on Psalm 90: Teach Us To Number Our Days. He was happy to see the faces of young people, but also nervous, because he knows the impact a young person can make for the kingdom of God. Psalm 90 is the only psalm by Moses, and in it, he speaks of 3 realities about life and 4 ways to respond.

3 Realities about Life:

1 God is eternal (vv.1-2): Since God is our home (v.1), our home is an eternal, secure and unchanging place.

2 Life is short (vv.3-6): Sometimes, we can become proud of our flesh, e.g. our achievements, etc. We take care of our bodies, which will eventually decay (v.3). Moses is telling us that we can just die anytime, even today. If the respect and admiration of the world is what you are after, that is all we will get, and miss out on the eternal things.

3 Sin has consequences (vv.7-11): Moses saw an entire generation not make it to the Promised Land except Joshua and Caleb (v.7). It was just an 11-day journey from Horeb to the Promised Land, but it took them 40 years.

In the Bible, there are more references to the wrath of God than the love of God. Because God is holy, we have to talk about the seriousness of sin, especially because life is short.

4 ways we can respond to these 3 realities:

1 Seek a heart of wisdom (v.12): When Asiri was 35, he asked God for 50 more years to live wholly for Him. When he just got married, he would sometimes watch Netflix, but eventually he thought it could be a waste of time. Eph 5:15-16 teaches us that those who are wise are those who make the best use of time.

2 Prayerful dependence (v.13): We should earnestly talk to God every day (v.13). Acknowledge God and talk to Him. When bad things happen, instead of getting angry, or feeling self-pity, we can choose to look to God with dependence.

3 Receive the steadfast love of God (vv.14-15): Many young people know God loves them only in their heads, not in their hearts. Ps 103:15-17 contrasts the brevity of life with God’s everlasting love.

It is good to spend time with God in the morning (v.14). Asiri Fernando once had dinner with John Piper, who said that if he did not spend time with God in the morning, he would feel naked. Asiri has a list of people he regularly prays for. The list is helpful and as he prays, he can feel God’s love flow through him to reach out to the people he prays for.

4 Total surrender to God and His mission to reach the nations (vv.16-17): Whatever we do, we do it for the Lord. There are some things we do that will echo into eternity—things that we do out of obedience to God. Regardless of our vocation, we must be obedient to God, to go to the nations and proclaim the good news. Some of the great revivals of the past resulted when young people were obedient to God.

Day 3: Calling – The Suffering Servant: Preparing For Missions

Asiri Fernando spoke on The Suffering Servant: Preparing For Missions, from Php 2:5-11.

Henry Martyn said, “The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.” We could say Jesus was the first missionary, since He left the splendour of heaven to suffer on earth. He left an example for us to follow in His steps.

There are 5 things we can learn from Jesus’ example to prepare for missions:

1 Hold lightly to privilege (v.6): Jesus held lightly to the rights and privileges He had. Though equal to God, He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.

2 Emptying ourselves and taking the posture of a servant (v.7): Jesus emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. His mission could be summed up by Mk 10:45, where He declared, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

The question is: “Whom am I going to give my life to in servanthood?” Asiri Fernando’s greatest ambition is to serve people. First, his own family, e.g. wash the dishes at home, play with the children. Next, the people of his church, e.g. visiting them, etc. How much are we willing to let go and serve, to be like Jesus?

3 Embracing the frustration of steadfast commitment to people (v.7): Asiri’s friend Shehan and his wife have a ministry to feed the poor. It is easier to feed them from a distance, but when they get close, the poor could sometimes demand things. Nevertheless, Paul was willing to get close to people (e.g. Gal 4:19). In some places, discipleship has been reduced to programs and events, instead of the close relationships and authenticity seen in the Bible.

4 Embracing obedience (v.8): Humility and obedience always go hand in hand. In the Bible, we see many people who said, “Here I am.” This includes Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Isaiah, Samuel and David. Until we are ready to embrace servanthood, we are not ready to go for missions. That includes saying “Here I am” to our family members, when they ask for help.

5 The future glory of the Servant (v.9): Php 2:9 begins with “Therefore”, which means it was because Jesus was willing the previous 4 things, therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name. The Bible does not talk about earning glory, but suffering is a path to eternal glory (2 Cor 4:17), provided we suffer with Christ (Rom 8:17).

When we humbly serve people, it may look like we are going down the ladder, but we are actually going up the ladder. One way to combat the prosperity gospel is to show how much better eternal things are. In Lk 13:29-30, many people will take their places at a banquet in the kingdom of God, and some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.

So let us fix our eyes on Christ, and wear our slave clothes until we reach heaven. Until that day, expect a great life of missions.

Closing Message – Beautiful Feet

For the closing message, Asiri Fernando spoke on Beautiful Feet from Rom 10:11-17.

Isa 52:7 says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’”

Paul quotes this in Rom 10:15, “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”

Asiri Fernando shared some examples of Bible verses that indicate that the wrath of God is very real, e.g. Rom 2:5, Eph 5:6, Col 3:5-6, 1 Th 1:10, Eph 2:3.

The coming shame is a terrible reality. It must happen because God is just.

There was a great revival in England that impacted even Sri Lanka through John Wesley and other servants of God.

In Wesley’s journal, day after day he would write: “I offered Christ to people today.” What faithfulness Wesley had to preach the good news every day to people!

In Lk 24:45-48, Jesus opened the minds of the His disciples to understand the Scriptures, and said, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

These are some of the last words Jesus said before He ascended to heaven. The last words of Christ must be our great concern.

Don’t be ashamed of the gospel (Rom 1:16). The good news of Jesus Christ is the wisdom and power of God (1 Cor 1:24).

In the Old Testament, there are 65 prophecies about the first coming of Christ and they all came true.

In the Old and New Testaments, there are 300 prophecies about the second coming of Christ, and we can likewise expect them to all come true one day.

It is interesting that the Bible calls the feet beautiful, and not the mouth that speaks the good news. The feet walk in obedience to God’s command to go, and are beautiful because it takes a humble heart of submission to God, before the person is willing to leave his comfort zone and move out to see others receive salvation through local and overseas missions.

Rom 10:17 tells us that faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

You may never see in the local news about how children of God from all nations are obeying Him and moving out with beautiful feet to proclaim the good news, but persevere in proclaiming the gospel, because the last words of Christ must be our first concern.

Some other photos are shown below:

Day 1