Towards Prudent Stewardship of Resources

Towards prudent stewardship of resources, recognizing and seizing the opportunity came along during one of my visit to Vietnam.

In the year 2013, in the month of June, this opportunity arises when we were visiting Vietnam. Our purpose for this trip to Vietnam was to bring over the church collection of mission fund.

For this trip, it was just a 3-days short visit. Together with me on this trip was another brother-in-Christ from the same church.

During this trip, it so happened that there was a couple-developer who have just completed building two units side-by-side. The two side-by-side unit consists of two linked 4-storey houses with roof terraces.

Godly Desire for Ministry House

This couple-developer had approached our Vietnamese pastor-friend to market their two units side-by-side building. This couple-developer knew that our pastor-friend has wide contacts in Vietnam as well as overseas. Our pastor-friend indeed knew many local Vietnamese church leaders through his missionary and ministry work. He also travelled regularly to Singapore for ad-hoc preaching and has many Christian supporters in Singapore.

So the couple-developer were pitching hard to market the unit through our pastor-friend. Because of the couple-developer’s marketing, we get to hear about this two units side-by side building during our short 3-days visit. 

Our pastor-friend has always have this godly desire for his own building for Ministry and Mission purposes. To him, the two units side-by-side looks like a God-send blessings to him. The only obstacles to his desire is the financial means to fulfill it.

Below is a photo of the completed building of two new units side-by-side.

2 units side-by-side Ministry House

Attractiveness As Ministry House Towards Prudent Stewardship of Resources

It so happens that these units were build on land that are just at the back of our pastor-friend’s house. Since it was so close to his house, he has been looking around during the construction of these buildings. While the construction was on-going, he was checking out on the quality of the construction work out of curiosity. His curiosity arises out of plain interest on this neighbor’s building sitting at the back of his house.

At that time, the market for properties in this city was very quiet and down in the doldrum. It was so for quite some time and prices were quite deflated. But because of the fact that there is a new highway construction development running pass this development, these two units side-by-side seems quite attractive as investment.

Decisiveness helps Towards Prudent Stewardship of Resources

Within the three days, apart from our duties and plans for some visitation to the local churches, we had to survey, negotiate with the couple-developer. We also had to pray over it and commit the decision-making to God. All these were too tight a timing for us to close the deal for both houses. The developer would only sell on the condition that both units side-by-side are taken together. Their reason was because he already has a taker for one of the unit.

Then we seriously considered this 2 units side-by-side that would be used as some form of ministry house in the future as prudent stewardship of resources.

After thinking through, we also considered this a good entry point price for two units side-by-side (Achieving Success In Financial Stewardship).

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Timing helps Towards Prudent Stewardship of Resources

Being there on the ground for couple of days and visiting the unit physically, I decided to go ahead with one unit on my part fairly quickly. That happened after I took some discussion with my brother-in-Christ from Singapore and committing to God in prayers. Seeking clarifications on major issues regarding local laws, did my calculation before finally making the decision on the spot.

Whereas for the second unit, another brother-in-Christ from the same church would partner me for the acquisition. He however needed more time seeking the Lord before deciding on his commitment. Two weeks later, this brother also decided on his part, having gotten his confirmation from the Lord to proceed.

Follow Through as Ministry House Project Towards Prudent Stewardship of Resources

Sharing a meal together with students in 2015

Soon after the highway construction project passing through the area was completed. 

Ever since after the highway project was completed, houses in that area slowly is becoming more expensive to own or to rent.

Through this, a community of residents started building up through staying in the units. Many lives were bless through this community.

It is indeed blessings from the Lord that was provided to the ministry work in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. This was a prudent stewardship of resources in partnership with our Vietnamese Pastor-friend. 

Simple music recording studio set-up

Today one of the units is being used as a hostel to bless poor students from far-away province coming to the city. Some are poor tribal people who are in HCM city for higher studies. Some are fresh graduates starting work in the city.

Here the residents of this community comes together for bible study. They will also organize mission trips back to their tribal villages to share the gospel.

The second unit was used as a training center for gospel-related work and a music studio for recording and music ministry.

As there were many talented musicians amongst them, they conduct music lessons to train many for the music ministry.

The musically talented ones would record songs that they would used to reach out to other youths.

Update edition on 10th April 2021