Sent by Hong Le On • May 7, 2023

I began serving in the ushering ministry in DUMC as a 15-year-old, a year after we made the move from Sea Park to Dream Centre. I was eager to play my part in welcoming people to God’s house, but I soon realized that serving others was not as easy as it seemed.

I used to struggle serving as an usher. I was very conscious of my choice of words, body language, and whether my appearance was neat, tidy, and proper. I would make frequent trips to the restroom in the middle of service just to make sure that my hair or my clothes were all in order. At the same time, I was very concerned to ensure the safety and security of worshippers, overseeing the security of offering-bag logistics till they reached the vault, and checking that, at the end of the service, nothing was left behind in the auditorium. If things didn’t go according to plan, I would get frustrated.

It wasn’t until I heard one of Pr Chris Kam’s sermons that I realised the true meaning of DUMC’s tagline – ‘Love God, Serve People, and Make Disciples.’ Serving others, which included my team members, was an essential part of my spiritual growth. I couldn’t grow without serving, and I couldn’t serve without growing.

As I began to understand this, I found comfort in the words of Matthew 20:28 – “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus had come to serve and not to be served, and as His follower, I needed to adopt this same attitude.

Colossians 3:23 also spoke to me – “Whatever you do, work at it with your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” I realized that even if people didn’t appreciate my efforts, God saw everything I did. He saw every greeting, every seat filled with worshippers, and even the way I answered questions.

Through serving, God transformed me and helped me deal with my self-centeredness. I learned to place Christ at the centre of my ministry and serve as He would serve. I also became less judgmental and more humble.

As I reflect on my 15 years of service as an usher, I give all the glory to God. He has been with me every step of the way, and I am grateful for my spiritual growth and lessons learned. I hope to leave a legacy, led by the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.