By Eugene Loh
I recently attended the PJEFC board retreat as an observer*. Held from September 12-14 and attended by the church’s board members, deacons, elders, and pastors, the retreat was a significant time of reflection, planning, and prayer.
While I’ve had the privilege of being involved in a few ministries in PJEFC over the years—first with Impact and now with CUG—there’s always been a certain mystery surrounding what goes on behind the scenes at the board level. Much of what I knew about the church’s inner workings came from conversations with pastors I worked with. But the retreat gave me an opportunity to witness firsthand the depth of thought, prayer, and dedication that go into leading PJEFC.
It started with a comprehensive report on the church’s ministries, projects, and congregations. While I’ve heard about these initiatives through ministry highlights, seeing the process behind them was eye-opening. The amount of thought, planning, and effort that goes into running these ministries was much more extensive than I had realised. So much goes on behind the scenes that the congregation does not always see, and yet, it’s all towards glorifying God and serving God’s people.
The second day of the retreat was centered on planning for the year ahead. Many initiatives were discussed—some already in motion, others still in their early stages. The board wrestled with the next steps to take for the church, carefully considering how they could best meet the needs of the congregation and the community.
The final day saw the usual monthly board meeting, where operational details were discussed and decisions made. But what stood out to me weren’t just the meetings themselves, but the moments in between—the prayer times, worship sessions, and biblical reflections that punctuated each day. While I had expected the retreat to focus mainly on operations, it was these moments of spiritual reflection that revealed the true heart of the board.
Praying together with the pastors and board members allowed me to see their deep, heartfelt commitment to God’s mission through PJEFC. The passion they have for serving the congregation and seeking God’s will was evident in every prayer, every word of encouragement, and every reflection. There’s a genuine desire to not just lead a church, but to nurture and shepherd a community that truly loves God and loves people.
I also had the opportunity to get to know the board members better during the informal times—meal breaks, team-building activities, and downtime between meetings. These moments of casual conversation allowed me to see them as more than just leaders. They are deeply convicted individuals, each one uniquely passionate about serving in the ways that God has called them. I saw the heart behind their decisions and actions—a heart committed to doing the work of God with integrity, humility, and love.
One particularly memorable moment for me was watching a few board members engage in a passionate discussion over a large-scale initiative that the church is undertaking. Tensions ran high, and the conversation was intense. But amidst the intensity, what I saw most was the heart of these leaders to protect the church, its mission, and ultimately, the people it serves. Their commitment to finding solutions, no matter how difficult, was truly inspiring.
Looking back, attending the board retreat was an eye-opening experience. I entered with a sense of indifference—perhaps even a bit of ignorance—about what went on in the decision-making processes of PJEFC. But by the end of the retreat, my perspective had completely changed. I not only gained a clearer understanding of how the church is run, but I also caught a glimpse of the passion and conviction that fuel our leaders.
Through this experience, I hope that the same passion, conviction, and heart that I witnessed in the pastors and board members spread throughout the entire congregation. My prayer is that we, as a church, can all embrace the heart to love God and love people, and that we will continue to grow together as a community of believers who are not just committed to the work of the church, but to the heart of the church.
*It‘s a new tradition to invite non-board members to the board’s yearly retreat, to show them how the leaders work and to get their feedback.
Get Involved
🙏 Remember the church leadership in our prayers.
🤝 Get to know our pastors here.