Cindy Koh (back row, middle, seen here with her fellow MAPpers)
It was a normal Sunday evening and I was having my normal family dinner at home when I heard a familiar voice. He said, “Cindy, you know that I am coming back again soon right? What are you going to do about it?” Silence.
Another day, I heard the voice again. “You know what a follower does right? A follower, follows.” Ouch.
I was doing a pretty good job as a church member. I tithed; served in the church executive board for many years in different capacities; went on overseas mission trips, etc. I was so busy in church that some thought I was a “full time” church worker.
When I heard those seemingly “out of the nowhere” statements, I knew that the Lord was calling into question my declaration that I am a disciple, a follower of Christ. In the kingdom, there is a king. Who is my king?
With this increasing holy discontent in my heart, I sought for answers and yes, I googled. I could not remember what I keyed in. Perhaps “there must be more to a Christian life” or “hope for a double-minded believer”? All I remembered was I ended up on Archippus Awakening website. It did not matter that I was not too sure how to pronounce “Archippus” but I placed an order for the book “Say to Archippus” by Henson.
The book arrived and I devoured it. I had to tell myself, take it slow, Cindy Koh, digest. Holy Spirit is the best SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Someone once said, Google informs but the Holy Spirit reveals. How true.
Having been awakened, I was hungry to find out more and told my small group leader about it. We ordered a copy of “Alignment Check” by Henson for all the cell members and as a group, we kicked off the circuit breaker in April 2020 by focusing on aligning to the King.
As if I needed more than the circuit breaker to have me grounded at home, in July last year, I went for an ankle surgery to fix a fracture. I attended Archippus Awakening Alignment WeekEnd (AWE2020) with a cast. I was immobilized, by the grace of God.
God hit the pause button and got my attention. As part of the journey to stay awake, I participated in MAP which stands for Mentoring Aligning Process. Looking back, I recognized that it was the Father’s invitation for me to know so much more of Him, of His kingdom and my role in His plan. There were days when I was perplexed as the truth clashed with my old perceptions and past understanding. Knowingly or unknowingly, I have brought the world with its focus on strength, know-how, wealth and connections to the kingdom; instead of bringing the kingdom to the world.
Through MAP, I was reminded that weakness is the way of the kingdom. There is no such thing as a self-made Christian. I align to Him and not He to me and my retirement plans. He offers a different kind of rest. And I work from the position of rest.
The wonderful and fun part was I got to go through the process in the company of like-minded Christians who are getting awakened, aligned and assigned. From “nappers” to MAPpers. Together we learn more about the kingdom’s way of seeing, thinking, serving and loving.
MAP is almost like a six-month boot camp that is perfect for spiritually flabby, overweight Christians or even the trimmed, muscular ones who want to build endurance. As you go through the process, it will work on all your major muscle groups, especially your core. It will also engage your other muscle groups that you did not know you have. More than a programme, MAP is a process; a movement.
We all know that the Lord is coming back again soon. So, what are we going to do about it?
Dear Archippus…
We are told that knowledge is power. But knowledge also puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). It is the same with talents, wealth or influence. We can start out acknowledging and appreciating God for what He has bestowed upon us. But ever so subtly, pride creeps in and before we knew it, we tout these power symbols as if these were what brought us success. May we be promptly reminded that it is God who brings the success (1 Corinthians 3:7).
Henson writes in Alignment Check, “Instead of calling attention to his accomplishments, Paul would rather speak of his weakness. He recognised that God allows weaknesses “lest [he] be exalted above measure” (2 Corinthians 12:7). For in and through that, he experiences God’s power. The kingdom’s way of weakness enables us to remain humble and rightly focus on loving and serving others.”
About Cindy
Cindy manages her own company The Write Stuff Pte Ltd and is in the midst of setting up WalknTalk, an alternative approach to counselling. She is ‘godma’ to many, loves travelling and eating satay and sashimi.