Logo
Pastor's Page
 
Letters of Reference:

 

One of the auxiliary duties of this pastor has been to write letters of recommendation, or referrals, for members of the congregation. In Hong Kong most of my referrals have been for children and youth whose parents are seeking to win admission for their offspring to prestigious schools.

I have written referrals on children as young as four and five years whose moms and dads think a letter from the pastor will help win placement in prestigious private and church-related elementary schools; there are more frequent letters requested for older grammar grade kids aiming for St. Paul's or HKIS, two of our more revered secondary schools in Hong Kong, or for private schools in the U.S.; and the most letters are done for high school students seeking placement in famous universities.

There is this happy coincidence that my referrals have ended up at Harvard, Yale, Cambridge. This success rate says little about my reference writing skills, but attests that our kids in Community Church are mighty talented and they are very privileged. I have never been asked to write a letter in support of a scholarship application!

In America, letters of reference are going out of style, and even where they are desired to affirm a good character, such referrals are probably given little credence. Bureaucrats are suspicious of the inflation inherent in personal letters as they also suspect grades; instad, they look for high test scores and practical evidence of talent and leadership. If a kid has organised a high school investment club which made a million bucks, it will count for a hundred letters affirming good character and moral outlook.

As I leave Community Church I do not seek and will not carry any letter of reference with me into a world which will surely be skeptical that I pastored with any degree of success the highest indoor congregation in the world! But who needs letters since I don't expect to ever be candidating for a job again.

Except! Except the Bible tells us that we shall each need some referrals when we stand before God at the last judgement. Regarding that interview, I am light-hearted because my letters of reference are living persons who demonstrate their faith in Christ and evidence their commitment through serving our church.

I have the references that truly count: Christian friends dearly held in my heart, who continue to serve our Christ at Community Church and through the dispersion of our members around the globe in many places. The time will come when we shall meet in heaven and our shared memories and affections will, I believe, serve as our letters of reference for admission to God's mercies and grace.

 

 

Pastor Gene Preston

Now you can access previous Pastor's Pages by clicking on the links below:
You can access previous sermons by clicking on the links below:

 

Pastor's card

The Rev. Gene R.Preston

14th Floor, Blk 36,
Lower Baguio Villa
Tel : 25516161
Fax: 25512114

E-mail : gpreston@netvigator.com
Top of page
TOP OF PAGE

Home

HOME

This page has been visited times since Jan 14, 2000.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Homepage

1