Extending A 'Lim' of the Body

On April 12, 57 people attended a meet-n-greet question and answer session with the Canonese pastoral candidate Felix Lim and his wife Sue Lim. From the meeting, ECBC was able to get to know the Lim family better. Felix met Sue 25 years ago, were married in 1989 and have one son. They celebrate their 20th anniversary this year. Since they have been together, they often see that school and work as a part time event, while service work for God as full time work.

Felix came to believe in Christ in grade 9. His younger brother had brought him to church in Hong Kong. In 1983 when he was in grade 12, he came to ECBC and to study in Edmonton. During that time, he went to choir, bible study, and any available fellowships and events at ECBC. He was also involved in the selection process to help bring Pastor Ng to ECBC as pastor. He went back to Hong Kong after being unemployed from his engineering role and went back to HK to work for 13 years. Due to issues and the distractions of life, he did go to church but wasn't very involved when he returned to Hong Kong. After some time, he returned to be more involved in church again and it led to his calling to study theology.

Fifty-seven members met with Felix and Sue Lim Sunday.

In a sermon in 2004, he felt God really spoke to him in serving the Chinese in some aspect or another. Photos were presented of a short-term mission to China, and he felt compelled to respond. He also sensed God's calling through Ephesians 5:16. In 2006, there was a hymn with the message to surrender to God. From His relationship with God and prayer with his wife, he decided to follow this calling and come back to Canada to study at Taylor seminary.

Although he knew that his calling was to serve Chinese people, he was unsure and reluctant about the capacity and the demographic he was to serve. Was it really to be a missionary? To serve mainland Chinese in Mandarin? To be a preacher? Felix avoided the thought of becoming a preacher at all cost, as was reflected by Chinese stigma of becoming a pastor and his family. His mother had told him to never be a pastor of all occupations. Because of this, he would take up any position that God opened up over preaching.

God continued to close doors and narrowed the path. He was a business man working in partnership with his father back in Hong Kong, but when he received God's calling, he know it was undoubtedly God who called him. Because he knew that ministry was a tough field, Felix at first bargained with God, reasoning that if God really called him to work for Him, then he would work harder to make more money. Because he has to love the light, he knew he had to work in the light to serve his Creator. He had never envisioned that he would be a pastor. He needed to be humble; he knelt down and prayed... until he said yes to God's calling. He had to tell his father that he would need to stop his business partnership. He followed his grandfather to go back to church. Even Sue thought, 'Is he having a mid-life crisis?' The family eventually accepted this fact.

In the past three years since Felix came to study at Taylor, many things happened: Felix's mother who was sick started to go to church; Sue's dad passed away. There were lots of other different events that God had led them through during the process of following God's calling for Felix to become a preacher. It was one step at a time as they adjusted to the difference in lifestyle from living comfortably to living practically.

In this the last three years of learning and reflection, Felix was able to determine his strengths and weeknesses. He sees himself having the strength in discernment and analysis, while public speaking and common colloquialisms as a weakness. When he prayed before the first time he had to speak, God took his fears away of preaching, and he has preached ever since. He explains, oftentimes in church, God works your weaknesses, and only your weaknesses, and brings them to fruition for His good purpose to serve Him.

Felix preaches during New Years' service 2009

Being able to be a fulltime student and to put all your life into studying is a blessing. To be able to read, study, and comtemplate is something that he would miss. One of the things Felix was able to think about during the time in seminary were of some techniques that God has communicated in the Bible and compared this with skills of the world. Social ties and networking is a way of communicating, especially when reaching out to certain demographic ages which are out of your peer group. He adds, "Of course, there are also a lot of secular skills and techniques that can be brought into the church setting, but does it work in God's kingdom and for the advancement of the Gospel? Not all gifts are spiritual gifts. We need to understand what our spiritual gifts are and to be able to use them to glorify his name and serve his people."

During the meet and greet, some tough questions were asked, and the family answered gracefully to the questions. One such question was that since he left ECBC before due to some issues he had, if the same issues arose at ECBC, how would he respond? He answered that it was God's grace that led him back onto the right path, and when you have a problem, there are two things you need to do: you need to pray to God; you need to ask your brethern to pray for you as well as offer spiritual support.

Another question Felix was asked was if ECBC was fitting for him. He answered with the John F. Kennedy approach, "It would take time to find out. But if God has called him to serve here, it wouldn't be the right question. Is it God's purpose for [Felix] to serve at ECBC? and not if ECBC would serve [Felix]."

In his understanding of ECBC, when asked what his role would be as an associate pastor, he said that ECBC definitely has a lot of love and able to serve in vaious capabilities, but he says that we would definitely need to work on our epistemology and apologetics in our congregations. Preaching, and teaching truths and doctrines would be his primary objectives when he steps in. In terms of a five year plan, he says that this is of course and act of the Holy Spirit, but like any shepherding pastor, he would love to see his flock grow. He envisions all three congregations moving in the same direction to advance the Gospel. Other goals would be to complete his three years as term pastor in order to become a permanent pastor, as well as to receive a designation of Doctorate of Ministry.

In terms of responsibility as a Cantonese pastor, although he understands ECBC as three congregations as one body, he will help those who have needs. But because of his expectations as a Cantonese associate pastor, he also has to learn and set boundaries, and simply learn to say no when the load from the other congregations overwhelms his responsibilities.

Felix wasn't the only one on the hot seat Sunday; Sue received an equal number of inquiries. In a summary of her comments, her theme was that service is a sacrifice. It is reflective of the sacrificial nature of Christ and she is reminded of this by the hymn At The Cross. Sometimes you don't see the fruits of your labour, but it's part of God's plan. When you look at the state of people and their lives today, she sees that there is no way that anyone could make a difference without the power of the Lord. When you trust and give what you can through your service or money, God will multiply it. Most of the time, it's not much that is asked of your to give, so what makes the difference is whether you choose to give or not. God has taught her this lesson: to sacrifice to see God work among the people they come in contact with.

Despite Sue's optimism, she also finds that the reality of becoming a pastor's wife is a frightening title. She was aware of her temperament and the responsibilities and expectations of the title did not fit with her personality. Her view of a godly woman were also like those who God had blessed with money and good health, but she realises that to follow God's calling as a pastor's wife, she has to be one of the least of them to serve God. There's a lot of pressure culturally, and they had to give up a lot to follow this path. At this moment, she would like to see herself as a spiritual friend to brothers and sisters.

In terms of her role a woman in traditional ministry roles for women, she likes to be able to be present in different ministries and not be stuck in a role in order for her to serve in other services when there is a need. She has not yet found a certain ministry she feels compelled to stick with at the moment, so serving as a Sunday school teacher, a woman's leader, among other possible positions is open for her to consider.