U Matters - 22 July 2021 | U Matters

U Matters - 22 July 2021

by Rev Dr Michele Bland on July 22, 2021

U MATTERS

I have been so encouraged this week! In the last 6 days our youth have found ways to love our neighbours in Wan Chai. Last Friday, I watched a group of 4 youth and their leader (Kathy Foley) return having been on their regular Kindness Walk and yesterday a group of 12 met to bake cookies. After baking and bagging, the youth wrote notes and then delivered all 60 bags to Sons and Daughters - just in time for the S&D evening outreach. It has been so encouraging to see the youth self-organise and find ways to reach out to the neighbourhood.

Ministering to our neighbours in Wan Chai has been something that our leaders have been praying about. We must keep at the forefront of our ministries the words of John - “the word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood.” John 1:14, The Message

As believers we live and work in neighbourhoods - our church is placed in a neighbourhood. As believers we carry the light of Christ - the hope for the nations - the transformational power within us.

“The church in each place is to be the sign, instrument and foretaste of the reign of God present in Christ for that place; a sign, planted in the midst of the present realities of the place but pointing beyond them to the future which God has promised; an instrument available for God’s use in the doing of his will for that place…” Lesslie Newbigin

Oh Lord, give us eyes to see the abundant possibility all around us. Foster within us a hunger to grow together as a loving and caring expression of Christ’s body and to reflect that love in our neighbourhoods.

Blessings, Pastor Michele

About the Author

Rev Dr Michele Bland

Pastor Michele came to Hong Kong in 1996 with her husband Glenn. Pastor Michele holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, a Masters of Divinity, a Masters in Theology and a Masters in Psychology. Michele was ordained with the Canadian Baptist Convention, has advance standing in CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), and before coming to Asia she was a youth pastor.

Pastor Michele was appointed Associate Pastor at Union Church in 2012 and became Senior Pastor in 2020. She is a trained Stephen Leader and has trained over 20 members of our congregation to become Stephen Ministers. During her time in Hong Kong, Pastor Michele served on the pastoral staff at another international church for over a decade and has worked in private practice. She has taught in hospitals in China, as well as seminaries in Hong Kong and Indonesia.

Pastor Michele has two university-aged children. Highlights have included working on a kibbutz in Israel, traveling to far off destinations and hanging out with her family. She loves good coffee and conversation.