Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
... He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him…
... When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example; that you also should do just as I have done to you...
Derived partially from John chapter 13: 1-20

This was the message that was shared by my pastor during our most recent Leadership Empowerment Meeting.

I knew something was up when we were invited for dinner and my pastors and head of each ministry team were dressed in black; with beautiful tea lamps floating in glass bowls and tables were decorated so beautifully.

The last time I ever noticed that the pastors were so in line with the same dress code was years ago when they too, pulled an amazing act of kindness surprise and wowed the congregation.

I knew something was up but it when our usual get-to-gather with volunteers and leaders were D.I.Y buffet with a bit of pot luck dishes added into the mix or packed food was not found around the hall, although we do smell the distance fragrance of cooked food.

(on the table it was this, after my table won the kit-kat during ice-breaker)

Then we were asked to be seated because we were having ice-breakers games along the way.

Until we heard...

Be, Our, Guest; Be our guest, put our service to the test!

 
I can assure you, the leaders and volunteers’ eyes and mouth were wide and everyone started laughing with excitement.

... Tie your napkin 'round your neck, Cherie; And we'll provide the rest

 

At this moment our beloved pastors all came out with red aprons and their biggest smiles as they walked in two files before started serving us food that has ordered for us.

Half of the time the volunteers were either screaming in delight or taking out their cell phones snapping as much as they could; especially the Youth and Young Adults as they have never seen their own pastors (and some their parents who are pastors or leaders) serving in this manner.

Some even tried to help the pastors as they worried if the dish was too hot but they insisted us to sit tight and let them serve us, some with professionalism and some, just with fatherly and motherly love.

There was a moment in awe and gratitude came when their heads were making sure they had enough.

I thought the portion were just rice, mutton (thank God for that as it was raining and mutton will warm us up!) and some veg...

Then the dishes kept coming...

We even had coffee and fruits served as dessert.

This reminded me when I was first welcomed into the leadership group in my own zone when my zone pastor decided to wash all our feet.

He was much elderly and almost the same age as my mom, but he never hesitated when he actively swooped down with the small basin and washed our feet.

As a young struggling believer and learning to follow Jesus’ footsteps at the time reminded me back to the time of Jesus in the book of John. I remembered when I reached home at the time after the meeting I cried as I felt the love of God acted out with no expectations in return.

How unworthy I felt to have my feet washed by my pastor; and how much I understood how Peter felt when Jesus was about to wash his feet.

But yet, this is what God does when He shows His love for us.

 
He doesn’t just kept saying, “I love you, and I will be with you until the end”

God shows love with actions.

Actions that reflected through Jesus, imparted to His disciples, and till today, shined through the children of God who’s faith brought adoption into His kingdom through Jesus Christ (see Eph 1:5)

Although that night my main pastor shared they couldn’t wash everyone’s feet (it could take the whole night!) but their set by examples attitude (just as Jesus has done) by serving instead of being served has shown us more about what Jesus wants for His church to be.

In closing, to my brothers and sisters of Christ, with encouragement:

Don’t do good in order to get your way to His Kingdom, do good because you are movers and shakers of light on a darkening world; because, you are already there.

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