Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6). That is exactly what happened during my first meeting with Pastor Paul Ang and Esther Chow on March 18, 2007.
Paul and Esther were invited to join us for that Sunday service by one of our church members. When they arrived, the Lord spoke to me and asked me to hand over the meeting to them so they can minister to the Congregation. I obeyed and handed over the meeting.
Paul asked us to let go of our reasoning, open our hearts completely to the Lord, and invite His presence to fill the room. Then he invited people to come forward to receive prayers for healing, deliverance, prophecy, and impartation.
Immediately, people in the congregation begun to be filled by the Holy Spirit - they started to speak in tongue, falling to the floor, trembling, weeping, and laughing - all under the power of God.
One sister found herself not being able to stand on her feet in the front area, that she tried to step to the back so she could avoid the strong presence of Holy Spirit. She later told me that, as much as she tried to move, she was still not able to stand up.
When Paul prayed for me for impartation, I felt the big current of fire gushing into my body (Matthew 3:11). I couldn't contain it; it seemed my body was going to explode. Later, I was eventually lifted up and fell to the floor.
God does not give Jesus the Spirit by measure. (John 3:34), and Jesus does not hold the anointing for Himself only. He is still pouring out the anointing to His Body (Church). Through His servant Paul and CKRM, God is releasing the fire of revival, activating the Gifts of Holy Spirit and equipping the Saints for His Kingdom.
Ever since that meeting on March 18th, brothers and sisters of our church have been on fire to preach and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In less than 2 months, we have baptized 13 people into the Lord.
To God be the glory!
Paul and Esther's visit was one of the greatest meetings we have ever had, even to a Pentecostal, Holy Spirit filled Church.
I believe God is using CKRM as a blessing to all the churches and ministries, to manifest and demonstrate the presence and power of the Holy Spirit God; And for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ.
May the kingdom of this world become the kingdom of our Lord
And of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever.
Pastor Isaac Jang,
Full Blessing Church of Christ,
Irvine, California
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Pastor's Footnote:
My most memorable visit was a Chinese Church in Irvine, California in March 2007. A college friend invited Ps Esther and me to attend their Sunday Church Service. He drove us to the Church, however along the freeway, the Lord spoke to us that he was sending both of us to minister to the Church. It this was the Lord's heartbeat, the Lord would speak to the pastor and He did for the pastor just told us that he would be handing the pulpit to us after he had made the announcement.
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神的大能带来救恩---张以撒牧师,全福基督教会(美国加利福尼亚州尔湾)
2007 年三月十八日是我第一次见到保罗牧师和以斯帖牧师,紧接着所发生的事让我见证什么叫着 不 是 倚 靠 势 力 , 不 是 倚 靠 才 能 , 乃 是 倚 靠 我 的 灵 , 方 能 成 事 的经历。(撒迦利亚书4:6)。
保罗和以斯帖是被我们教会的一会友邀请来参加我们的主日崇拜。当他们抵达时,主对我说话:要我把今天的讲台交给他们,好让他们可以来服侍会众,我服从了,并转交了讲台。
保罗对我们说: 把一切人为的推理,逻辑放在一边,把你们的心完全向神敞开,接着他邀请圣灵来充满整个圣殿。然后,他邀请会众前来接受医治祈祷,拯救,预言,和传递恩赐。
即刻我看到许多会众被圣灵充满,并开始说起方言来,有些被圣灵击倒在地上,颤抖,哭泣,喜笑等等圣灵同在的彰显 –都在神的大能下。
在前面的一位姐妹发现自己双脚无论如何都不能站立,原本她想向后退以避免圣灵强大的同在。她后来告诉我,尽可能她试图移动时,她仍然无法站起来。
当保罗为我祈祷以传递恩赐给我时,我觉得一股大电流的火喷涌进入我的身体(马太福音3:11),我无法包容它,这另我的身体似乎要爆炸了,最后我终于举起,摔在地上。
根据约翰福音 神赐圣灵是无限量的(约翰福音3:34)主耶稣也不会把恩膏保留给自己而以,祂乃是把恩膏浇灌流出给祂的身体(教会)。通过祂的仆人保罗和CKRM的服侍,神释放复兴之火把,激活开启圣灵的恩赐来装备圣徒以扩展祂的国度。
自从3月18日的主日崇拜经历后,我们教会的兄弟姐妹得到很大的复兴,都火热到处去宣讲和分享耶稣基督的福音。在不到2个月的时间里,我们已经带领了13个人信主并让他们受洗。一切荣耀归于上帝!
保罗和以斯帖的到访对我们是一很大的突破,虽然我们是一间五旬,圣灵充满的教会,但这样棒的聚会,这种经历还是头一次。
我相信上帝在使用CKRM来祝福许多的教会和基督的事工,以彰显体现和证明圣灵的同在和权能。及装备圣徒造就熏陶基督的身体以能做成祂的工。
愿这世界的国成为我们主基督的国,愿我们的主基督耶稣,祂要作王,直到永永远远!
张以撒牧师
全福基督教会
加州尔湾
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牧师留言: 2007 年3月在美国加利福尼亚州拜访这间华语教会的经历,给我留下最难忘的记忆,一开始是我们学院的一位同学邀请我和以斯帖参加他们的星期天教会的主日崇拜。当天他开车送我们到教会,然而,当车子沿高速公路行驶时,主忽然向我们说话:是祂差派我们到这教会服侍,若这是主的心跳,祂会启示教会的牧师。所以当我们低达那教会时,主任牧师对我们说等他做一些报告后会把讲台移交给我们。
Dear Ps Paul & Ps Esther,
Matthew 12:24 says people with a religious spirit accused Jesus of co-working with the demons. A religious spirit is a spirit of anti-Christ. Religious spirit cannot see, hear, receive and know Jesus. So CKRM glorifies Jesus, the religious spirit will accuse CKRM for co-working with demons. Apostle Paul said that this is called being persecuted for Jesus.
At CKRM, I witnessed the Holy Spirit bears witness to God’s Word with signs, wonders, miracles and healings. *The prophetic words that both of you released to me since 2006, 2007 and 2008 have been fulfilled in 2008. The prophetic fire I caught at CKRM has sustained me through the time of testing. Thank for your willingness to be a blessing to me.
The Star newspaper : Spotlight on Young CEOs
Former corporate banker now runs food outlet chains locally and abroad
Though running a restaurant is hard work, former corporate banker George Ang finds it a most satisfying switch in career. The managing director of Revenue Valley Sdn Bhd believes that if you do something you love, you will never go wrong.
Ang, who holds a bachelor of business in accounting and finance degree from the University of Western Australia, has always wanted to set up his own business. Upon graduation, he joined OCBC Bank (M) Bhd before being headhunted to join Paribas Labuan branch in 1996. Subsequently, he was transferred to Paribas Singapore as assistant vice-president of the corporate banking division.
Despite being a high flyer in the financial industry, Ang’s entrepreneurial spirit continued to lurk, waiting for a chance to surface. “I realised that I did not want to be a high flyer after all. So, I left the corporate world to set up my own business,” he told StarBiz. Full of enthusiasm, Ang, 36, and his partner, Dr Jeffrey Goh, a dentist-turned-politician, invested about RM60,000 in a food and beverage (F&B) business. “We wanted to operate a small business and decided to try our hand at F&B. We developed our own brand, the Manhattan Fish Market (MFM) restaurant chain, with our limited resources. We opened our first outlet in Mid Valley City, funded mostly via loans,” he said. Ang said there were a lot of fish and chips places, but they needed one with a “wow” factor, thus MFM was conceived.
MFM is a casual dining seafood restaurant found in various shopping malls. “MFM has been profitable since day one. With the small profit we made, we rolled over the money and opened the second outlet in Subang Parade and expanded from there,” Ang said.
Set up in 2002, Revenue Valley currently has 25 MFM outlets throughout Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
“Apart from increasing our presence in Malaysia, we are also trying to establish a presence overseas,” Ang said, adding that the group would be franchising the MFM brand in the Middle East, Indonesia and the Philippines.
He said MFM had reached a certain maturity in Malaysia and the way forward for the group was to expand into the Asia-Pacific region. “Our overseas sales have been increasing proportionately with our expansion. Currently, it contributes about RM15mil to revenue,” Ang said.
Apart from MFM, Revenue Valley also owns other food chains, including fast-food joint London Fish Tale and Hainan Kopitiam. It also operates Tony Roma’s restaurants in the Klang Valley via subsidiary Grandpolitan Sdn Bhd, the exclusive franchisee of the American restaurant chain owned by Texas-based Romacorp Inc.
In addition, it also runs two SushiGroove restaurants in the Klang Valley via SushiGroove (M) Sdn Bhd, a joint venture with SushiGroove Jakarta. Ang said apart from expanding MFM, the group would also be growing its other restaurant chains. “We are currently looking for suitable locations for our expansion plans. We will also be bringing in more new brands to the market,” he said, adding that its first London Fish Tale outlet opened its door in Kota Baru recently.
Ang said Revenue Valley was optimistic of achieving its revenue target of RM85mil for the financial year ending Dec 31, buoyed by organic growth and rapid expansion.
He said earnings have been growing steadily by about 25% year-on-year over the past four years. Revenue Valley is projecting RM100mil in revenue next year, of which 65% would be contributed by MFM.
Ang is a hands-on person. He plays an active role in the running of the restaurant, including cleaning up at times when the restaurant is short-handed. He also practices an open management style and coaches his employees. “I see myself as a football coach. I know I am not the best player on the field but I know how to maximise their best potential,” said Ang.
The energetic father of a year old enjoys cooking for his family, an activity he finds relaxing, creative and fun. He is also very meticulous about the quality of the food served in his restaurants.
Even though his job keeps him busy, Ang finds time to read. He loves cook books and is currently reading Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin.
“We will continue to expand our business overseas despite the anticipated slowdown in the global economy. We have not experienced any dip in our business. Our business continues as normal.
“We will stay focused and overcome the hurdles during bad times. Our philosophy is to provide great food and service. In the restaurant business, it is always about service and creating a whole dining experience,” Ang said. He added that Revenue Valley would try to maintain its food prices in the face of rising raw material costs by adhering to its cost, reduction, action and plan (CRAP) concept. “With CRAP, we can maintain costs despite inflation and there is no compromise on quality and service,” he said.
Revenue Valley was eyeing a stock exchange listing by 2010, Ang said. He has started discussions with some merchant bankers and was considering listing on Bursa Malaysia or the Singapore Stock Exchange. “We are still studying the market, hoping to choose a better time. The market is rather slow now. If we list, it will be within 24 months, so that we have a proven track record to show to our investors,” Ang said
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Footnote: Revenue Valley went on to acquire the franchise of Popeye in Singapore and bought over the the company that owes the franchise for Popeye in Malaysia. As at 1st quarter of 2011, the annual turnover for Revenue Valley has passed RM150 million and will be expanding into Mainland China.