U Matters - 3 February 2022 | U Matters

U Matters - 3 February 2022

by Rev Dr Michele Bland on February 03, 2022

U MATTERS

As you know we have been in a series “What’s New in 22”. And this week we learned that there are new things happening in the lives of Brian Woo, Carrine Wong and their daughter, Hannah. Brian has accepted a call to pastoral ministry as Ministry Director discipling men at Saddleback Church. In addition to his role, he will also attend seminary. We are excited for them, although sad for us. We have appreciated Brian’s servant heart over many years of ministry at Union Church - Deacon, Alpha leader, Family in Need member, photographer and Christmas card/banner designer, to name a few roles. Brian has always been willing to lend a hand - we will miss him.

Over the years it has been exciting to see how God has been working in the lives of our Deacons. Many graduated from seminary and are engaged in various aspects of ministry. Catriona Woodrow - a Stephen Minister and teacher - will teach two sessions on the life of Robert Morrison in February. Alexander Mak who has been working at Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS), is actively engaged in small group ministry and plays a key role in the Faith in the Marketplace team, and Yan Yu who teaches at LTS is in pastoral ministry at the Hong Kong Mandarin Bible Church. Additionally, Deacons have been very engaged in various aspects of ministry in the workplace, in their neighbourhoods and with NGOs.

This week, thanks to Charles Caldwell who posts daily in our prayer chain Whatsapp group, we celebrated the four-year anniversary of praying the prayer “Lord, change me and use me. Lord, change Union Church and use Union Church. Amen!” Much has happened in the past four years and many took up the challenge to pray this prayer. If you have not prayed this prayer I encourage you to start. You never know how God can use it - in your own life, in the life of the church and the life of the city. Together let’s continue to be open to seeing what God is doing in our city - in our neighbourhoods, and in the lives of our brothers and sisters.

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him… fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.” Romans 12:1-2

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year - God’s blessings to you -

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.