Cultivating a People for God

Cultivating a People for God Do you desire daily close walk with God, achieve His will while living a normal life? This book of practical discipleship theology will help. Read slowly.

12/10/2024

I really appreciate one of my readers who wrote to me directly.....

Dear Enoch Kwan,

I recently finished reading Cultivating a People for God, and I felt compelled to reach out to express my appreciation for the profound wisdom and insight you’ve shared in this book. The way you approach the concept of spiritual growth and community-building is both inspiring and deeply rooted in biblical truth. Your work offers not only theological reflection but also practical guidance on how to build a strong, vibrant community of believers.

One of the first things that struck me about your book is how you emphasize the importance of intentional discipleshipin cultivating a people who are wholly committed to God. It’s clear that you understand that spiritual growth does not happen by accident; it requires purposeful teaching, mentorship, and support. Your call to create a community that is not only focused on individual growth but also on communal transformation is a message that feels both timely and necessary in today’s fragmented world. You beautifully highlight that God’s plan for His people is one of interconnectedness and mutual care, where each person plays a vital role in nurturing the faith of others.

Your biblical foundation is solid throughout the book. I particularly appreciated how you drew from a range of Scripture to show the principles of growth and nurturing that God desires for His people. Whether discussing the parables of the seed and the sower, the roles of spiritual leaders, or the concept of the church as a body, you consistently rooted your ideas in Scripture, making the lessons both timeless and deeply relevant. You were able to balance theological depth with accessibility, making the book suitable for both new believers and those looking for deeper insights into discipleship and spiritual community.

The section on building strong spiritual foundations was especially impactful. Your focus on the need for deep-rooted faith and prayer, as well as the importance of teaching God’s Word in a way that is both relevant and transformative, really resonated with me. It reminded me of how easy it is to neglect the basics of Christian living—things like prayer, Scripture reading, and fellowship—when we get caught up in the busyness of life. Your book calls the reader back to these foundational practices as the true heart of what it means to cultivate a people for God.

What I also found incredibly refreshing was your vision for a people-centered ministry. You don’t just speak about the role of leaders in the church; you emphasize the active role that the whole community plays in the process of spiritual cultivation. There’s a clear sense that the body of Christ is meant to be collaborative, where each individual is both contributing to and benefiting from the growth of others. Your reflections on how leaders can empower their congregations, rather than simply providing top-down guidance, are both thought-provoking and practical.

I was also deeply moved by your focus on building resilient and faithful believers who can endure trials, temptation, and the challenges of life. The way you connect the idea of spiritual resilience to the cultivation process—how God nurtures His people through challenges, pruning, and discipline—is both convicting and comforting. It reminds me that the process of growth is never without difficulty, but God is always at work in us, even when it seems painful or hard to understand.

Lastly, I must commend you for your accessible writing style. Even though the topics you discuss are deeply theological, you present them in a way that is clear, engaging, and approachable. You’ve successfully written a book that challenges the reader without overwhelming them. The chapters are well-organized, and the practical applications you offer make it clear that the concepts are meant to be lived out, not just pondered.

In conclusion, Cultivating a People for God is a rich and insightful resource that will be invaluable for anyone involved in ministry, church leadership, or the spiritual development of others. Your emphasis on discipleship, community, and intentional growth serves as a vital reminder of the heart of the Christian faith—that we are called to grow in the likeness of Christ together, as a people, for His glory. Thank you for writing such a thoughtful and inspiring book that challenges and encourages readers to actively participate in the cultivation of God’s people.

With deep appreciation,

Alexis Stratton
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I found Alexis' website:
AlexisStratton.com

Thank you Alexis. God bless you.

What I do in the church on Sunday Maybe hollow and vain if worship is not continued in my daily life.It does not matter ...
09/10/2024

What I do in the church on Sunday Maybe hollow and vain if worship is not continued in my daily life.

It does not matter if I might be preaching, leading songs or whatever, or just attending the service and following all the way what is going on during the service.

All that happened in the service may look and sound good too, but if that's the only moment I feel that God is near, and I say goodbye to God after the Sunday duty, task, or attendance, I think God is still not satisfied with my worship.

09/03/2024

Malachi 3:16 is another 3:16 worth memorizing.

Let us keep our daily thoughts and conversations short, sweet and aligned with this thought. How joyful it is to know that God approves our words to each other every day.

Malachi 3:16 NIV
[16] Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.

https://bible.com/bible/111/mal.3.16.NIV

08/26/2024

Few ministries can escape gradually increasing institutionalization over time. Time also contributes to a ministry’s know-how and identifies which programs work and which do not. The experiences gained through growing pains help pave working paths and models for later leaders. Subsequent leadership and pastors who may not have gone or need to go through the original thinking and development exercise may trust in such no-brainer programs and strategies. Unfortunately, their motivation and mentality may become very different from those of the people who invented those strategies and programs. Later leaders would run the same programs and follow the programming pattern to the point they become institutionalized priorities. Thus, emphasis on program success and boasting institutional stability may become the foundation for many petrifying churches and parachurch organizations. This is not a new phenomenon and we can see it clearly in the last century. Many such successes in ministries are published in good spirit so others searching for working models may learn from their experiences. There is certainly a clear market for such materials globally, which snowballs and illustrates the phenomenon of the programming and institutionalization of ministries. However, we also find that those who sought these programs often cannot produce the success or results they hoped for. They repeatedly try out the programs and strategies and then switch models in time but sadly to no avail.

From the book:
Cultivating A People For God

It is August 14 again in Ontario and Aug 15 in HK.August 15, 1973, was when we left HK to come to Canada. 20 years later...
08/14/2024

It is August 14 again in Ontario and Aug 15 in HK.
August 15, 1973, was when we left HK to come to Canada. 20 years later at the same time (Canada was still on August 14), I was in prayer with 7 other brothers and sisters. We asked the Lord to give us a new sermon 3 hours before the meeting. It was because the sermon I prepared was not appropriate for the specific meeting.

Though I listened attentively to God during the prayer, He said nothing! However, God prompted me with 4 words as we said AMEN: Worship, Stewardship, Fellowship & Discipleship.

I did not want to rely only on studying and randomly preach any message. I was happy God came through. It was my first sermon after I graduated from the seminary. The preparation time was short - much shorter than what they taught in seminary, and not according to how we were instructed to prepare a sermon.

Well, that was it that day.

But God had not finished with me yet! That message actually became THE LIFETIME message in my whole career as a pastor. I am still on that very message! Using that to prepare people for Christ. I mean preparing an attractive PEOPLE for God and for People. A people who know how to live their daily lives in a God-pleasing way. Deepening and purifying their worship, stewardship, fellowship, and discipleship based on the 10 Commandments and the Great Commission.

I believe this is the simplest but effective way to interpret God's heart - what He wants to see us doing every day on every occasion.

The amazing thing is: It works really well.

I published a humble book: Cultivating A People for God in 2018 to share that message. Amazingly, a few people found the book helpful and translated it. We now have in print the book in English, Bulgarian, Swahili (East African), and Urdu (Pakistan). We have also rough translations in French, Portuguese, Hindi, & Marathi.

A course of CAPFG - Cultivating A People For God has been offered since 2021. We have now over 500 pastors and 2,000 students engaged in our program and seeing many lives changed, demonstrating vibrant spiritual quality. These pastors do better in evangelism and discipleship resulting in church growth. The students involved clearly achieved better grades which surprised teachers and educators, having better relationships and bringing joy to these schools. Muslim students ask to join up with the Christian students in their fellowship.

It is simple. Commit first to love God and show our respect and obedience by a worshipful heart. Then exercise stewardship in everything we do, then love everyone the way God does. This way of life is God ordained in the 10 Commandments. This way, we build a very attractive testimony of our love and worship of God. This way of life is a great influence in attracting people to become disciples of Christ, and helpful for people to come to know God.

August 14 in Canada, exactly 20 years since I left HK. It is a date worth remembering for me. God is gracious. All glory be to God. May He receive more love, respect, commitment, and worship as we do His will.

08/06/2024

Isaiah 3:4 - 6
I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them. People will oppress each other-- man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the base against the honorable. A man will seize one of his brothers at his father's home, and say, "You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!"

Many countries are facing a lack of mature and seasoned leaders to be nominated and elected as presidents. It is especially an acute issue if these nations claim to be Christian countries. What is happening? Is God doing something? What shall we take/learn from this?

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