Tan Geok Seng works in sales operations for an American MNC and is involved in frequent meetings across different time zones.

He recounts that he has been involved in ministry since he was 16 in the 1980s. His ministry journey began primarily with youth evangelism and discipleship, and has evolved over the years. In church, he is actively serving in two CARE groups, facilitating parenting teens and pre-marital counselling courses, and teaching discipleship classes and in the EquipAsia training programme.

When asked why he does what he does, given the nature and schedule of his work, he simply says service to God has been an inherent part of his Christian journey. He believes serving God has been his privilege, and being involved in ministry is his response to experiencing God's love in his life. He is convinced that the call to be the "Salt and Light" goes beyond the sacred and secular divide, and that work, ministry or service at home, all of it, is part of God's calling. He further adds that being a child of God gives him the Father’s perspective and values that guide him as a Christian worker in the secular marketplace.

He expresses that ministry has its set of challenges in terms of feeling stagnant at times, and the need to constantly improve his skills and knowledge to grow and serve more effectively is ever-present. When overwhelmed, he will take a step back and rest in order to rejuvenate. He is motivated to persevere in ministry by the encouragement of those serving alongside him, the church community and the fruits of his labour. His one desire is to remain faithful for as long as he can with God’s help and to finish well in his faith journey.

While balancing ministry and secular work with family life can be challenging at times, Geok Seng is grateful that his children are independent young adults and his flexible working hours allow him to prepare the lessons for the classes he teaches. He acknowledges the blessings of fellowship, encouragement and learning opportunities including from those of different cultures that he has gained from being part of the work done in many countries through EquipAsia.

Asked how young people who are reluctant to serve God may be encouraged to do so, his reply is both empathetic and insightful. He does not think they are unwilling to serve God. Rather they need effective models of godly living and faithful service. The lack of influence, encouragement and inspiration like the Apostle Paul had over Timothy hinders young people from being involved in ministry these days. Perhaps a remarkable insight to continually ponder on! The need for champions undoing the secular–sacred divide, leaders and teachers reflecting Jesus in tangible ways is looming more than ever in the Now.

As the CEO of a law firm in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), Tsetsenbaatar (Baatar) oversees several lawyers in providing legal services to organizations. Besides his demanding work, he leads the Christian lawyers' fellowship where he shares the word of God, encouraging and training members to be effective witnesses of God in their workplaces. Baatar also serves on the board of several Christian organizations, including World Vision and the Vision Fund of Mongolia.

It is not uncommon for churches in Mongolia to face difficult legal issues such as registration-related matters, and persecution from local governors, particularly those in the more remote regions. Baatar often goes to court to advocate on their behalf. As a Christian, he is convinced that it is his "duty to help communities do their service well and make good governance."

Bataar’s involvement in ministry work began when he was a teenager, and he has been actively serving for the past 25 years. He started as a Sunday School teacher, and grew to be a youth leader, worship leader and pastor. He is motivated to minister to people because witnessing their growth and success gives him much joy and satisfaction.

Nevertheless, he candidly acknowledges the challenges he faces in his journey of faith and work. He says working with people requires perseverance because of the time it takes to see results. In the face of difficulty, his heart has wrestled with questions about his purpose of ministry when there are easier options to take. He remembers the times he isolated himself from people when feeling overwhelmed. When asked how he overcomes the rough times, he says he finds assurance in knowing each day has its load but he can always depend on God's grace to help him handle the challenges. His greatest encouragement comes from reading the word of God daily.

Baatar believes work and ministry are equally important, like the two hands of a person, and both are a Christian's responsibility in this life. Both his work and ministry enable him to grow spiritually as well as develop his skills. Although he has to juggle family life with the demands of his work and ministry responsibilities, he feels fulfilled.

When asked why he joined the EquipAsia training programme and what he expects in the future, he expresses how the subjects of Biblical Counselling, Biblical Ethics, and Biblical Leadership grabbed his interest. He is keen to learn more and hopes to influence more leaders in Mongolian society to serve the Lord.

As an established lawyer himself, he perceives young people are presented with various career choices leaving little room for ministry. His appeal to them is to serve God in every sphere of their life — beginning with family, spouse and friends. Bataar has an interesting approach to ministry; he sees ministry as a pleasure that would be fulfilling as opposed to the pleasures of the world that would most likely end in sorrow.