Just like most of us, when I was approached to have my name in the ballot for eldership, my first reaction was a strong NO….. Being an elder always seemed like you had to have good knowledge of the Bible, the church and also know how to pray. I had none of these attributes and hence I was very reluctant and hesitant. Being an elder would definitely show my inadequacies and vulnerabilities.
Looking back, I’m glad I became an elder. If not for anything else, but for my own growth in both maturity and spirituality, during this period. My past 6 years as an elder has been an eye opening experience. Being an elder provided opportunities for me to get to know others, especially other elders, that I would not have otherwise developed deep connections with. Through discussions with other elders and ministers, I got to understand the pulse of our congregation and what makes us unique. It allowed me to have a deeper appreciation of all the work that our ministers and others do, which makes this community so special. Also it provided me with opportunities to get to know KSM elders and congregation members. One thing for sure, being an elder has enabled me to interact with many different people within our St. Tim’s community.
Reflecting on the past 6 years, my memory focused more on laughter and joyous times rather than the difficult times. Maybe it was because we all came together to support each other and truthfully and humbly worked to serve this community. I really enjoyed elder bible studies, both at church or at someone’s house. We had great discussions and learned a lot about the bible and meaning of life from each others’ perspectives. Having a meal and/or drinks (even during 😊) after such a good discussion was also a great way to further connect with each other.
I would definitely recommend every member of our church to become an elder to better understand our community and its pulse, and to become closer with one another and develop better serving hearts for our family, friends, neighbours and world around us.
– Steve Lee
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