Recently, we chatted with Rev Michael Tan, GTPJ’s most recent Main Pastor, about <\/span>his hopes for the church and his thoughts on the leadership role of a pastor. One of <\/span>the most affable and hospitable pastors I have had the honour to meet, Pr Michael <\/span>Tan had just then passed his 100th day in office. Part of our conversation centered <\/span>on the immense responsibility of leading a church with such a long history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pr Michael inherits his position as Main Pastor of GTPJ from a long line of <\/span>distinguished Main Pastors. His predecessor, Rev Dr Vincent Leoh, had been the <\/span>Main Pastor for 30 years – more than a quarter of a century.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sharing his thoughts on Pr Vincent’s legacy, Pr Michael expressed, ‘Standing on the <\/span>shoulders of a man of God who has led the church in growth, and who has made <\/span>such an impact both locally and abroad through effective ministry for 30 years, the <\/span>responsibility is both an awe-inspiring and intimidating one at the same time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ‘Pr Vincent Leoh and his amazing Glad Tidings team have led the church to where it <\/span>is today. Every pastor has a unique vision, and there can only be one Pr Vincent. I <\/span>cannot be like him – every pastor is unique – but I can only build on his legacy. There <\/span>will be big and challenging tasks ahead. However, I will serve as the new Main <\/span>Pastor according to how the Lord has shaped and prepared me and according to His <\/span>Word and His Holy Spirit with the united collaboration of the Glad Tidings Team.’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the guiding principles of GTPJ is its clear vision of Loving God and Touching <\/span>Lives which is expressed in its mission statement to Win Souls, Build People, Impact <\/span>Communities, and Reach Nations.<\/span><\/p>\n Pr Michael conveyed, ‘As a pastor, I sense a shift and new season for Glad Tidings, <\/span>even as the church – alongside other churches – have to adapt, change, and re-<\/span>strategize on how we do church and stay relevant for our members, community, and <\/span>nation. God always has His reasons, plan, and purposes for a new leadership <\/span>change. My passion for GT is that we be a Family Church that ministers to every <\/span>generation without neglecting anyone.’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ‘I believe everyone matters to God. It has been a core value for me. This core is <\/span>based on our shared identity, dignity, and value of being made in God’s image. The <\/span>fact that He made us in His image means that each person is of great worth and <\/span>significance. This is the reason for evangelism, missions, discipleship and <\/span>proclaiming the heart of God the Father.’\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ‘God’s extravagant love for His lost children is consistent and eternal,’ Pr Michael shared. ‘It <\/span>is the driving force of the Great Commission. Only by knowing God do we discover <\/span>our true identity, value, and purpose. The church should therefore be a home, <\/span>hospital, refuge, and safe space for anyone and everyone to find God, reconcile with <\/span>Him, and find a family community.’<\/span><\/p>\n Coming from a broken home himself, the good news of the Gospel resonates <\/span>strongly with Pr Michael, and it has led him even to where and who he is today. ‘<\/span>Experiencing it personally, my dream is to see every soul returning to God, <\/span>encountering Him, and being set free in Christ Jesus.’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We asked Pr Michael for his thoughts on what constitutes the most crucial role of a <\/span>pastor. ‘The most vital responsibility of a pastor is to be a spiritual father, teacher, <\/span>and under-shepherd to the flock our Lord, Jesus Christ, has entrusted under our <\/span>care. Glad Tidings is so blessed to have multi-ethnic groups of people, multi-<\/span>language speaking groups, and intergenerational groups in our congregation. As a <\/span>church, we intentionally strive for unity, community, and diversity as one family <\/span>growing in faith, service, and loving one another.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ‘As a Main Pastor, my responsibility is to ensure that every member of GTPJ is cared <\/span>for, discipled and equipped to make a positive impact everywhere. Wherever it may <\/span>be that God has positioned and planted them, they can touch lives for the Lord. <\/span>Ultimately, the end goal is to reproduce ourselves by making disciples who will <\/span>themselves go on to make more disciples. Raising up and mentoring a new\/now <\/span>generation of leaders becomes a core culture and a shared value. We will not be <\/span>successful as a community of believers unless we have raised the next-generation <\/span>line of leaders to succeed us. I have already started my succession plan right from <\/span>the beginning.’<\/span><\/p>\n Taking on the senior leadership position of a church with years of history is never <\/span>easy. This is especially so if it involves the tremendous responsibility of caring for the <\/span>spiritual lives of the people under one’s leadership. For Pr Michael, it is all the more <\/span>awe-inspiring as the previous Main Pastor, Pr Vincent Leoh, had led the church for <\/span>half its lifetime.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ‘Change is never easy and will always have resistance and ‘slow buy in’ from those <\/span>comfortable and used to the previous leadership style, practices, emphasis and <\/span>structure,’ Pr Michael expressed. ‘We are by nature creatures of habit. I, for one, <\/span>have to step up into the new and unfamiliar role of being the Main Pastor of a big <\/span>church – that is a major change and the natural response is to doubt, question, and<\/span> ‘One thing I keep in mind is that the church is much bigger than any one person or <\/span>group of pastors and leaders. Many in the church and even among the Assemblies <\/span>of God churches were surprised when Pr Vincent announced that he was stepping <\/span>down as our Main Pastor. Pr Vincent had helmed the church for 30 years – the <\/span>longest-serving Main Pastor in Glad Tidings PJ’s history.’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ‘One challenging factor is the church adjusting to a new Main Pastor and leadership <\/span>after so many years,’ Pr Michael shared. ‘The challenge is definitely there, and it is crucial to earn the <\/span>trust and confidence of the board, pastors, staff, leadership and members of the <\/span>congregation so that we can step into the new era and season God has prepared for <\/span>us. I am intentionally building relationships with various and diverse groups of people <\/span>and sharing my vision, core values, and emphasis with them through different <\/span>platforms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ‘I have just passed my 100th day in office not long ago. Throughout the past 100 <\/span>days, people have asked me with care and concern how I am coping and taking on <\/span>this new steep challenge. My reply is to take it one day at a time by the grace, <\/span>strength, and guidance of the Lord. It is easy to focus on the challenge and be <\/span>burdened and stressed by the needs and expectations placed upon my leadership. I <\/span>am truly thankful to the Lord for GTPJ and the supportive and prayerful leadership <\/span>and congregation of the church. My wife and my son have been fully behind me and <\/span>encouraging me in my new journey. Knowing and seeing that there is support from <\/span>my family and mentor and in the effective prayers of the congregation gives me <\/span>encouragement and strength. My prayer is that Christ will be my guiding light and <\/span>strength so that I will care for, nourish, and protect the sheep of Jesus Christ under <\/span>GTPJ and that we as a church will please and glorify Christ alone.’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Christianity Malaysia would like to thank Pr Michael Tan for his immense hospitality and support towards Christianity Malaysia throughout the production of this article. All photos kindly contributed by Pr Michael and Glad Tidings PJ.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0|Share The Good News|<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"http:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GT-Church-External.jpg\")
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\nresist. At least until we realise that God has His plans and is behind everything He <\/span>allows to happen. He has ordained our paths, even though we may not fully <\/span>understand His wise and providential plan and purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Worship-Team.jpg\")