Think Nehemiah. What comes to mind? He rallies the Remnant of Israel and rebuilds the wall of Jerusalem in the face of incredible opposition. An amazing achievement of faith, unity, and perseverance! Relatively speaking, however, the wall of stone was the easier part. Nehemiah finished it in 52 days. Only then did his greatest work begin: the reformation of Israel postexile.

The new norm postexile was a pastor’s worst nightmare: biblical illiteracy, interfaith marriage, corruption of the next generation, neglect of the house of God, desecration of the Sabbath, termination of the tithes, defilement of the priesthood, and much more.

No church leader in his right mind would envy Nehemiah’s position. How many would have the character and faith — let alone the skills — to meet such a challenge? Nehemiah did. He spent the next 12 to 15 years of his life rebuilding the spiritual walls of Israel from the ground up. This was his great and lasting work. This is what he wanted to be remembered for. Not the physical wall. But his faithfulness to duty (13:29-31).

How will future generations remember us when the pandemic is history? Did we have the faith and character to rebuild what the plague destroyed? Did we confront the compromises that Covid-19 exposed and intensified? Did we close the ranks, fill the gaps, and mend the cracks? Did we do our duty?

“From the Ground Up” is the theme of this year’s 40.Day prayer and fasting season. As we envision the new norm post-Covid, it’s time to rethink Nehemiah — the man, the mandate, the message.

Ezra and Nehemiah are one book in the Hebrew Bible. So we start with Ezra. Together, in prayer and fasting, let us strengthen the walls of faith, hope, and love in the Singapore Church.

Think Nehemiah. What comes to mind? He rallies the Remnant of Israel and rebuilds the wall of Jerusalem in the face of incredible opposition. An amazing achievement of faith, unity, and perseverance! Relatively speaking, however, the wall of stone was the easier part. Nehemiah finished it in 52 days. Only then did his greatest work begin: the reformation of Israel postexile.

The new norm postexile was a pastor’s worst nightmare: biblical illiteracy, interfaith marriage, corruption of the next generation, neglect of the house of God, desecration of the Sabbath, termination of the tithes, defilement of the priesthood, and much more.

No church leader in his right mind would envy Nehemiah’s position. How many would have the character and faith — let alone the skills — to meet such a challenge? Nehemiah did. He spent the next 12 to 15 years of his life rebuilding the spiritual walls of Israel from the ground up. This was his great and lasting work. This is what he wanted to be remembered for. Not the physical wall. But his faithfulness to duty (13:29-31).

How will future generations remember us when the pandemic is history? Did we have the faith and character to rebuild what the plague destroyed? Did we confront the compromises that Covid-19 exposed and intensified? Did we close the ranks, fill the gaps, and mend the cracks? Did we do our duty?

“From the Ground Up” is the theme of this year’s 40.Day prayer and fasting season. As we envision the new norm post-Covid, it’s time to rethink Nehemiah — the man, the mandate, the message.

Ezra and Nehemiah are one book in the Hebrew Bible. So we start with Ezra. Together, in prayer and fasting, let us strengthen the walls of faith, hope, and love in the Singapore Church.