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The morning of Day Three once again saw ELC 2009 participants going to various locations to attend different seminars.

During his talk in Hall 601, Rev Dr David Wang got up close and personal with his crowd as he talked about Strategy and God Dependency: Are They Compatible?

Rev Dr David was like an expert storyteller weaving a beautiful story to the crowd. As he told stories of God’s goodness and graciousness, there was a deep silence amongst the listeners as everyone was mesmerized into becoming a part of the story. Truly the Holy Spirit’s presence was strongly there! “We’re in a joint venture with God,” emphasized Rev Dr David. And to support this fact, he pointed out that the Bible says God created the world, and He gave us stewardship over this world.

“Very inspiring,” said Pastor Harun, based in Singapore. “The way he speaks, the way he brings the Word of God into our lives, teaching us to apply it into our daily lives.”

On the second floor, Dr Low Guat Tin got this reporter and the audience roaring with laughter as she recounted her funny personal stories during her seminar Transforming Self, Loving People. Despite being born in the pre “tech-boom” days, her use of video clips, pictures, and slides to illustrate her message is amazing.

An educator and consultant for many years, Dr Low led the way in declaring the need for leadership by transforming ourselves first. She gives one instance of this in real-life: “Our mind-sets guide us. For instance, what you think of your domestic helper will guide you in relating to her.”

Said participant Yohun Muangta from Thailand, “Her last word was that it’s not about doing, it’s about being. I absolutely agree that we need to take care of ourselves first before we take care of others.”

Two doors away, Mrs Ding-Khoo Seok Lin, was giving a presentation on Coaching Underperformers, Changing Lives to a packed room.

It was a topic close to her heart because of her own “underperforming” experiences. During her time at the Singapore Economic Development Board, there was a period where she faced burn-out. But thanks to understanding bosses who treated her with dignity and respect during this episode, she managed to get back on her feet. And now she is blessing us with what she has learned.

An excellent and personable teacher, Seok Lin helped the audience to apply the lessons into their own lives – on how they themselves could help underperformers: “Jesus didn’t see people as they were. He saw people as they can be.”

Mrs Fang Ai Lian, Chairwoman of Great Eastern Holdings Ltd and also the Charity Council, shared with us her expertise on Corporate Governance and Accountability For Non-profit Organizations. This is a much needed topic, especially for the participants in this sector.

Despite her vast corporate experience, Ai Lian has a humble disposition and aimed to help the audience know as much as possible about what funds were available to them, as well as best practices that should be put in place. Giving real-life cases also helped. For example, a local non-profit organization emphasizes succession planning on its Board. It also systematically develops its Board members, and there is orientation for new members. All this serves to make the Board not stagnate, but instead be constantly refreshed by new faces and ideas.

In the seminar on Personal Lessons From Financial Tsunami: A Christian Perspective, Datuk Tony Tiah emphasized that the economic system is modeled after the world system and that God was not in the picture. But Tony stated that “Knowledge is not wisdom” and when we keep God out of the equation, evil will rear its ugly head.

He claims that God is the one who gives us the ability to make money, not ourselves. For people with a Christian heritage, their fortune will last for many generations if it is built on the Word of God. Money must be used for the right purpose and not to cater to our own pleasures – we must sow into the Kingdom of God and give to the poor and needy.

He ended off by saying that if we have not been following God’s way, we have to repent and pattern our lives on God’s Word so that we can truly enjoy success!

Even though the topics covered varied from seminar to seminar, this reporter was left with an awe-inspiring impression of God’s grandeur – of how our Infinite God can and should be Lord over each and every aspect of our lives!