What is NCF and how it came to be? Actually, NCF which stands for Nonthaburi Christian fellowship is now 3 years old since its inception; however since we don’t count the very year that it started it is now on its 2nd year.
When Ptr. Tonieth asked me to tell the story and recall of how NCF has started I was just thinking of presenting it through a slide show but as I went through all the pictures from our FB page and our group’s page as well as Jeje’s photo albums of NCF, I knew that it will take me weeks to compile and put it all together. Thus, I decided to write it and just tell it to you instead.
So, what is NCF? Nonthaburi Christian fellowship is a fellowship of Filipinos who has a personal relationship with Christ. However, not all of its current members may have the same belief than most of us but we are bonded with one common denominator. Our being Filipinos, some may come or attend NCF simply because they have friends here or simply would like to meet fellow Filipinos every Sunday. NCF was not meant to become just a venue for chikahan or any social gatherings where after attending a service all will just go his or her own way and just let the day pass by without gaining or learning anything at all.
NCF started with just a few members and most of them were families, this of course includes mine, and we held our very first worship service in this same place 2 years ago with several visitors from the Philippines and our very first speaker was from the Philippines as well.
Way back then, I asked myself… what was in the minds of Ptr. And Jeje and why did they decide to leave a fold where most of the members seems to be comfortable. Why do they have to start on their own and turn their backs on the fellowship of a stable church and venture on something on their own without any support from any Mother church way back in the Philippines?
What drives them to start a ministry on their own that is entirely on their own? But here is one thing that I am certain that they have the same kind of strong faith in God that I have when I joined them and came with them to this place. Pastor and I have the same prayer that time that God will not allow this fellowship to become a stagnant church and be content with a few members but become an instrument in opening doors not just for Filipinos but for Thais as well. Thus, in the span of two years, by the grace of God, NCF has been an instrument in so many ministries that some of them I may not be able to mention or remember anymore.
The fellowship had been shaken for so many times, many have come and go while most of them remained. There were struggles and challenges, there were trials not just physically but emotionally but with God’s grace NCF were able to withstand all of these for I believe that this fellowship is founded on the Solid Rock with is our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Pastor’s boldness and passion for the souls always moves him to go far beyond what a human mind could comprehend and venture on ministries without thinking of its cost. Thus, the ministry on the Construction site was started and today we are reaping what we have sown into the hearts of our kababayans. Every Sunday they look forward to that time where they will be able to hear God’s word which they know will fill them not just physically and emotionally but spiritually as well.
It is also through the burden of uniting Christians with the same belief and creed that the Inter-Church Fellowship came to be, it is our church that started such a big leap of faith to unite churches of the same faith in this land.
As I’ve mentioned there are still so many ministries that I may have forgotten but I know that God has a record in heaven to show to us what we have done while we are here in Thailand.
More than 2 years ago, NCF has only more than 20 members or church attendees but today it has more 30-40 listed and enlisted members and an outreach ministry that is continually growing and reaching out to our fellow Filipinos. There will come a time that this small but active and alive body of Christ will not only reach out but open its heart and door to Thais who are willing to listen to God’s word and follow the same Living and true God that we Filipinos worship.
As to what lies ahead to this small fellowship it is entirely between God and the man whom He has entrusted this growing ministry. As long as we as members and of one body continue to work and serve our Living God more blessings and more ministries are up ahead for us to minister, and as long as we continue to seek God’s kingdom first, ALL of the things that we NEED will definitely be given to us.
So, Happy 2nd Anniversary NCF and may we continue to grow numerically but spiritually as well.
nonthaburichristianfellowship 