Is There Life After Being a Missionary?
A Biblical Reflection on Faithfulness and Seasons In missionary circles, there is something we rarely say out loud. We admire the ones who stay the longest.We honor the ones who suffer the most.And when someone dies on the field, we speak of them with a kind of sacred reverence. Without meaning to, we create a […]
Unhealthy Leadership in the Church
Disclaimer: This reflection is not written to attack the church or to label leaders as “good” or “bad,” but to thoughtfully examine unhealthy leadership in the church through a pastoral and personal lens. I love the church, and I remain deeply grateful for many faithful pastors and leaders who serve with integrity, humility, and care. […]
Obedience Over Effectiveness: Why I Chose Mission Life in Tanzania
“So, Cliff, tell me. After one year of living in Tanzania, tell me what you have accomplished?” When someone asks you a question like that, you know there are a lot of things coming behind it. I was having a coffee with an uncle (an older gentleman) at my previous church in Canada. This question […]
Coming Home to Canada: Letting Go of the Past and Learning to Live in the Present
Coming back to Canada, the place where I grew up, always stirs mixed emotions. I’m happy to be here, yet every visit reminds me how much life has changed. Friendships have faded over time, especially since I left in 2011, and each trip back feels like another reminder that some seasons never return. I see […]
Why We Moved to Tanzania: Prioritizing the Great Commission
What Happens When I Prioritise the Great Commission “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. […]
Whirlwind
A month ago, I developed a 6-day fever in Tanzania. I lost my appetite and had body aches. We tried one antibiotic, but it didn’t work. So, with some intuition and suggestions from other doctors, Wai Jia gave me another antibiotic to try. At the same time, we decided to come back to Singapore a […]
Ministry Is Not a Marathon—Unless You Run It Right
The title is a handful. I often hear preachers compare ministry to running a marathon, not a 200-meter sprint. You have to look at your spiritual life for the long run. You have to be persistent, disciplined and persevere. As someone who ran a few marathons, I often don’t get what the preachers are trying […]
Six months
This is a little celebration for Team Tam. We have been in Tanzania for six months. Truth be told, I never thought we would be able to stay here for this long. In my mind, there is always this lingering feeling that we must leave the country. Maybe they deny our work permits. Or one […]
2024 Reflections
My reflections on 2024.
Wrestling between being a father and a minister
My reflections of being a stay-at-home dad and a minister.