T-Connections at AAA Seminar 2017

“Thunderstorm!” Two whatsapp messages came at almost the same time.

When thunder roared on the eve of the AAA Seminar to be held at Living Waters Methodist Church on 1 April 2017, both Ps Henson and Reuben had dropped me the same message. You see, I had planned to rally for contributions from the participants on what I had called ‘thunderstorm moments’ – Aha! moments when we are hit with the thought, ‘I have never seen it this way before!’ I had not expected heaven to resonate a loud roar with this idea.

Here’s a compilation of the T-Connections – thunderstorm moments, takeaways, thoughts and thanksgivings – from AAA Seminar 2017:

1. Thunder!

Ps Henson asked, “What’s in a name?” and thunder roared. I mean, thunder roared, again. In the beautiful sanctuary of Living Waters Methodist Church, the participants at the AAA Seminar responded with a spontaneous unison of ‘Woah!’ David Demian once shared that God and he had agreed on this communication mode – that thunder is God clapping His Hands. God was certainly clapping His hands as many thunderstorm moments hit us throughout the five teaching sessions of His anointed servant as well as powerful testimonies given by Albert Liang and Shing Tay.

2. Trust!

So, what’s in a name? Ps Henson explains, “The name Archippus is made up of two Greek words. The first, archos, means ‘chief’, ‘principal’, or ‘master’; as in architect (archos + tekton), meaning ‘chief builder’. The second, hippos, means ‘horse’, as in its extended usage ‘hippopotamus’, which literally means ‘river horse’. Put archos and hippos together and we get ‘chief horse’ or ‘master of horses’. Quite obviously, Archippus has something to do with horses. The question is, “What about horses?””

Ps Henson went on to explain that one of the biblical aspects of horses is the issue of trust and reliance. God tells us to always remember to trust in Him and never in the strength of horses.

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7 

On this note, Jerome Sim’s (Toa Payoh Methodist Church) thunderstorm moment is a strong encouragement for us to wholly trust in God : “I read Say to Archippus in Feb 17 and since then, I had been looking forward to the Seminar. I appreciate the clarity in Bro Henson’s message and I agree with the urgency to get this message out to all the ‘Archippus’ in our churches today. For me personally, it was a literal ‘wake-up call’ to stir me out of my complacency and comfort zone.

The thunderstorm moment for me came as we considered Acts 20:24 in Session 5. From Oswald Chambers’ reflections on this passage (see below), I question myself if I had been taking the easy way out and feeling contented, even pride, in my service and ministry in church. I had been challenged to ask God to reveal what is His vision for me, even as I have some apprehension on what it could be.

“It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment. You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God.”     

In the days ahead, I want to be more attune to His Spirit’s prompting, abide in Him and trust in His leading.” Amen!
Joy Ng (Grace Assembly of God) puts it this way, “I resonate with many of Ps Henson’s teachings, and one of them is not to focus on our human wisdom, or our talents and preferences when serving God; but on God’s instructions and His will. Ultimately it is about obeying God and laying down our rights and own wisdom.” Joy also shared that she had come to the AAA Seminar having a runny nose, a sore throat and heaviness in her body. But by the end of the seminar, she was feeling light, refreshed and cleared of her runny nose and sore throat! What a mighty God we serve!
Have you been receiving or dreaming images of horses? Perhaps you should seriously consider attending the next Awakening Event! During lunch break, Edward Tan (Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church) could not contain his excitement when he shared with me how he has been dreaming of horses and asking God what He is saying. At his friend’s (Sophia Tan of Cornerstone Community Church) invitation, he had come for the seminar and Ps Henson’s message has deeply encouraged him to get himself ready to be sent out to fulfil his assignment in this season of an awakening of horses of an Archippian breed.

One war-horse of Archippian breed, Albert, shared in his testimony that he was once ‘lost’. Having read Say to Archippus, he was excited that a God-given vision of the knight on a chessboard resonated with Ps Henson’s message on the meaning of the name Archippus. He connected with Ps Henson, and ever since, Architect Albert has established ‘ArKIDecture’, an educational programme that seeks to help children learn about the beauty of God’s creation, and the built environment around them, so that they can be responsible users and designers of our shared future. He has found his assignment in the Lord.

“Truly, this is no longer the time to be horsing around anymore. Let’s get serious, dear Archippus. Awake and arise to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfil it. 马到功成!” Henson Lim, Say to Archippus, Pg 47 .

3. Take-Me-Out!

So, enough horsing around. In her testimony, Shing said it as it is, “You see, He had to take the ‘ME’ out of the picture. We will not be effective in our assignments if we think at all it is about us. Because if we do, our EGO will get in the way of our assignment. If at all we think it’s about us, we will get upset if we don’t feel valued. If we don’t get the praise. If we don’t get the appreciation. We will begin to want some glory for ourselves. We will sulk and pout if things don’t go our way. We will get disappointed when people don’t seem to ‘grow’ despite our efforts. When they don’t respond to our work. We will get upset if we are not tasked to do something that we’re naturally good at. We truly need to get over ourselves. It’s not about us, It’s all about Him.”

Kian Hwee (Grace Assembly of God) offers this perspective, “If we forget the coming of the LORD, we go back to slumber/sleep. When Ps Henson spoke these words, there was that ‘light-up’ moment within me. I resolve to live each day with the mindset and attitude that our LORD Jesus may come back anytime. “

4. Twice Hit!

Did you get that? If you must be hit twice, Delshe will tell you it’s worth it. She writes, “We think we know and understand, and we have been doing the ‘right thing’, until we are awakened and a new slice of truth comes to us. Even though this is my second time hearing the Archippus Awakening messages, I always receive new insights. Aligning is a purposeful journey and a lifelong process.”

Speaking of alignment, in fact, more than twice, I have been hit by this punchline: “Focus on the aligning. Let God do the assigning.” Like how Dawn Chan (Cornerstone Community Church) puts it, “I have been very encouraged to learn that we don’t have to be overly worried or anxious in finding the assignment. As we get to know Him and rest in Him, He will align, empower and reveal the assignment.”

Ivan Tan (Faith Community Baptist Church) and his wife have lived out this principle. They had been to three Awakening Events in a short span of four months and each time they listened to Ps Henson speak, they strongly felt the Spirit of God speaking directly to them. He shared that they felt restored, rejuvenated and refreshed each time they listened to the message. He has these words of encouragement for us, “Throughout the past four months, our assignments and sub-assignments became clearer to us, as we sought our personal alignment towards the heartbeat of our King. It has been an exciting and rewarding journey.” 

5. Touched!

In this exciting and rewarding journey, we do get discouraged and weary at times. Khoo Seok Lin (Grace Assembly of God) exhorts us, “I have been touched and it was indeed a timely call for me to rededicate myself to my Kingdom Assignment – not to grow weary, not to grow discouraged, but to see it as an honour and privilege to share in my Lord’s Kingdom work on earth, even if it is a small contribution.” So well said.

Personally, I have been touched by God’s servant Ps Henson who never fails to give his utmost for His Highest. On a cheeky note, I think he makes a good catwalk candidate, often illustrating his teaching points with funny gestures. As the master of horses, he makes himself a willing ‘fool’ for our LORD. May our LORD honour him greatly.
So, fellow Archippuses, let us run this amazing race together, by the amazing grace of God, and finish strong, echoing Jesus’ words in John 17: 4, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work You have given me to do.” Amen.

Contributed by Tan Lay Leng

Lay Leng is an expressive introvert (whatever that means) who loves to eat prawn noodles and was in the teaching profession for over 15 years in three countries. She enjoys cycling and spending time with her nieces and nephews. She worships at Grace Assembly of God. At an Awakening Event, she kept smelling a sweet fragrance before the Holy Spirit whispered, “Lay Leng, pay attention to the Truth that will be spoken.” Ps Henson Lim took over the microphone and as he was sharing how God called him out of pastoral-full-time ministry to start Archippus Awakening, Lay Leng found that her ears were pricked, her heart was leaping and her tears kept rolling. She was resonating with every word from Ps Henson’s mouth. She started connecting with Archippus Awakening and at a second Awakening Event she attended, on the commissioning night of AWE2016, she received this prayer, “You shall spread the sweet fragrance of Christ wherever you go.”
Lay Leng is also author of ‘Precious Moments of a Teacher’ and ‘Precious Moments in the Wilderness’. She received the National Caring Teacher Award in 2006 and the Outstanding Contribution Award in 2009 and 2010. Should you be keen to enjoy the fragrance from these two books, do contact her at sunsetspurple@yahoo.com.sg. Her current goal is to co-author a book with her ex-pupils.