Texts: Job 19:23–27; Psalm 17:1–9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–5; Luke 20:29–38
Inauguration of Hosanna Anglican Church as a Missionary District & Licensing of the Priest-in-Charge
Introduction: A New Beginning in God’s Story
Today we celebrate a new chapter, the birth of Hosanna Anglican Church as a Missionary District, and the licensing of Rev Tan Meng Poo as your Priest-in-Charge. The Diocese recognizes your growth. Well done.
This is not just an administrative milestone; it is a spiritual moment of destiny. It is the church saying together, “Lord, we are ready to take the step of faith. We are ready to be your witness.”
The name Hosanna means “Save us, Lord!” — a cry of faith and hope. It reminds us that the Church exists because God has saved us, and He is still saving others through us. As we begin this new journey, our Scripture readings invite us to anchor our mission and ministry in one truth. Our God is the God of the living, and because He lives, we live and serve in hope.
1. To Know Jesus: Rooted in the Word (Psalm 17:1-9)
David, in Psalm 17 opens with a seeker’s cry: “Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry!” (v. 1). David’s prayer is an appeal to a God who listens, who judges righteously, and who guards the life of the one who trusts Him.
To know Jesus is primarily to know Him through His Word. The Psalmist prays to God passionately. Knowledge of Christ is not merely intellectual; it is relational — a daily hearing, meditating, and obeying of Scripture. That means:
- Reading your Bible regularly and personally.
- Gathering in small groups and Bible studies so Scripture can form us together.
- Bringing an open Bible to worship and listening to preaching as a means by which God speaks.
If Hosanna is to be a thriving missionary community, it must be a Bible-rooted church. The pattern of discipleship begins with knowing the Lord through Scripture and prayer. A people who know Jesus will be shaped by His truth and guided by His Spirit.
Hosanna Anglican Church will face challenges — differences in language, culture, worship styles, and opinions. But remember: our Redeemer lives. He is the same God who brings unity out of diversity, life out of loss, and hope out of hardship.
2. To Love Jesus: Faith that Perseveres (Job 19:23-27a)
Job, in the midst of deep suffering, proclaims one of the most courageous confessions in Scripture: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25).
To love Jesus is to cling to this Redeemer in every season — in joy and in sorrow. Love for Jesus is not sentimental; it is steadfast. It shows itself in worship, obedience, and trust when circumstances are unclear or painful.
As Hosanna steps forward, you will encounter both celebration and challenge. Differences in language, worship style, or background can be difficult. But love for Jesus will keep you faithful:
- Love makes us patient with one another.
- Love keeps mission before petty divisions.
- Love leads to obedience — because love obeys the one we adore.
In this multilingual, multicultural congregation (English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil) unity and harmony comes not from sameness, but from a shared focus on the living God. Make loving Jesus the first priority. Let it shape your decisions, your liturgy, your outreach, and the way you care for one another Let Hosanna Church be known as a people who listen, pray, and dwell in God’s presence together.
3. To Serve Jesus: The Call to Mutual Ministry (2 Thessalonians 2:1–5)
Paul writes to a church confused by rumors about the end times.
Some had become anxious; others had lost focus. Paul reminds them: Don’t be easily unsettled or alarmed. Stay grounded in the truth you have been taught. Paul encourages the Thessalonians by reminding them that their faith is a calling: they were chosen to be saved and to stand firm in the truth. From that calling flows service.
To serve Jesus means we serve one another and we reach out so others may know Him. Practical ways to serve include:
- Praying for one another and visiting those in need.
- Encouraging fellow members through words and deeds.
- Bringing friends, relatives, and neighbours to church — mission often begins with one introduction.
HAC belongs to all who call it home. I am heartened to hear many of you are already serving in different ministries. Keep doing so, and invite others to join. A special word about your three language ministries These are not a liability but a tremendous strength. They model the diversity of the kingdom. Unity will require humility, patience, clear communication, and mutual support. Unity is built by serving together, not by identical practice.
As Paul reminds us, let us hold firm to the Gospel; the death and resurrection of Christ, and proclaim it with both boldness and humility.
4. Living with Eternal Hope (Luke 20:27–38)
In Luke, Jesus confronts the Sadducees and declares that God is not the God of the dead but of the living. Our faith looks beyond the grave to a living hope.
This eternal perspective changes how we serve and how we live. Every act of kindness, every hour spent in teaching, every prayer and song has value that stretches into eternity. Your mission as a district is not measured only by attendance figures but by eternal souls touched, by lives transformed.
When weariness, disagreement, or doubt come, remember you serve a living Redeemer. Let hope be your compass. When we say “Hosanna,” we are declaring: The Living God is among us!
Let every ministry, every service, every language group of Hosanna Church echo this truth: We are one in Christ, alive in His mission, and sent by His Spirit.
5. A Living Call for the Priest and the People
Today we also celebrate the licensing of the Priest-in-Charge — a servant called to lead, not alone, but with the people of God. The priest is not the only one with a calling. Every baptized member shares in Christ’s mission. The priest’s role is to equip the saints — to help you discover and fan into flame the gifts God has placed in each one of you.
Rev. Meng Poo, your leadership will be most effective when it is pastoral, humble, and collaborative. Teach the Scriptures; model prayer; empower lay leaders, correct the wrong; and be patient as the church grows. Shepherd the diverse flock with wisdom and grace.
Let this new beginning be marked by partnership — priest and people walking together, praying together, serving together, forgiving one another, and bearing one another’s burdens.
Conclusion: Our Redeemer Lives — Let Hosanna Rise!
Dear brothers and sisters, you are now a Missionary District, which means you are sent people. Sent to bring life where there is despair, light where there is darkness, and hope where there is brokenness.
May this new season be filled with faith that endures, hope that shines, and love that unites, for our Redeemer lives, and He is at work in you. As you step into this new season:
- Know Jesus through His Word.
- Love Jesus with faithful hearts.
- Serve Jesus joyfully and together.
- Live with the hope of the living Redeemer.
Final Prayer
Living God, we thank You for calling Hosanna Anglican Church to be a beacon of Your light and love. Bless this congregation and their priest-in-charge. Unite them across languages and cultures.
Fill them with Your Spirit, that they may serve with joy and courage. May their cry of “Hosanna!” rise as a testimony, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Semon preached by Rt. Rev. Dr. D Steven Abbarow, Bishop of the Diocese of West Malaysia, 9th November, 2025
