A message from Joan, our former Children Pastor

April 2023
Joan Fong 

Walking in the Grace of God

After 22 years as the Children Pastor at BAC, I sadly made my exit at the end of March 2023. Although my role might be over, the call to serve the King is still very much present. I have learned from a very godly woman that Christians can only retire when they go to heaven. I was called to serve in children’s ministry in my early twenties and after 40 plus years, God has now called me to something entirely different. A title certainly does not define what I do in His name.

I am not highly qualified or adequate in my role as a children’s pastor, but I have experienced that God empowers those He called. It is not about being confident in my abilities or experience, but my confidence is in Him. For He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness….” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB) God’s power does manifest beautifully in our areas of needs.

From the beginning till now, the last 22 years has been a walk in the grace of God. It started in 2001 when God called me to lead BAC children’s ministry. It was a surprise considering it was my late husband who was the one waiting for the call after he had graduated from Regent Bible College with a Master’s degree in divinity. You can only imagine the irony of this, He called the most unexpected and unqualified one! That is undeniably Grace!!

I have learned so much about who I am during these years as I served in this ministry--about who God is, His character, His heart…. and still there is much to discover. The journey as a children’s pastor has been one full of valleys and mountain tops. There were moments of triumphs and times of tears of disappointment and discouragement, and through it all there were always two sets of footsteps along the way. He has never left me nor abandoned me.

I have been blessed with many faithful children’s workers who understand the importance of impacting children for Kingdom living. I am thankful for them, for their hearts and their commitment towards the cause for Christ. I am also thankful for the leadership in supporting me all these years even though sometimes it meant making changes which were not conventional. I am also grateful for the parents who entrusted their precious ones to us, and their diligence in bringing their children to our programs.

There are so many things in my heart that I want to share, and it will take more than one blog post. However, I want to depart some wisdom to my fellow workers: Children are important to Jesus. "… Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 19:14). It's made so evident throughout the whole bible that children are important to Jesus which means they should be important to us too! Children's ministry may be the only time a kid truly gets to experience God's unconditional love. It's so important to raise up a generation of children who know their worth in Christ and know that they are loved. As we serve, we do make an impact on the children and ourselves. It is an incredible blessing to see the children grow and to get to love them and lead them in this season of their life. So, push on and stay faithful my dear friends.

I heartily share Apostle John’s sentiment when he said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (3 John 1:4). I always have this “proud mom” moment when I see my former BAC kids dedicate their lives to walking with Jesus; some became counsellors, teachers, elders, and pastors. It is true that it takes a village to raise a child. To raise godly youths requires the partnership of church and home. Children ministry allows us to teach the core values to these young lives while they are growing, and they need to see these values being lived out at home in order to be impacted. Throughout the years I have witnessed parents arduously involved in the spiritual formation of their children. They would sacrifice their precious time to bring their children to AWANA and Sunday school and serve in these ministries. These godly young disciples are certainly fruits of this strong partnership. Dear parents, it is my prayer that you will grow in your relationship with Christ and receive wisdom and guidance from His Spirit as you seek to be the spiritual leaders at home.

As I close this chapter on my journey and begin a new one, I want to give thanks to my God for His grace and mercy and pray that He will continue to pour His abundant blessings on you all.

In His Service,

Joan Fong