OUR VISION To be the Bride of Christ ready at His return OUR MISSION We spur one another to grow as disciples of Christ living out fully God’s purposes for our lives OUR CORE FAITH VALUES Rooted in the Living Word; Empowered by the Holy Spirit; Abiding in Christ only; Daring to Hope and to Love; Yielding Fruit to God’s Glory
Editor Jimmy Tan Editorial Team Diana Chin, May Wong, Lim Seow Cheng, Jeanne Nah, Hwang Ching Yun Design and Layout Abigail Ng Printer Regent Printing (S) Pte Ltd
Views expressed in published articles are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Team or the Church Council. Your contributions to READY are welcome and should be submitted to editor@bfec.org.sg. The Editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit any articles submitted for publication. We make no claim of ownership over any images, trademarks, designs, logos, campaigns and other copyrighted materials not originally created by us. They are shown on this publication under the doctrine of fair use and belong to the entities that own them.
Wedding of Mr & Mrs Lim Mah Tat at BFEC (1975)
OUR VISION To be the Bride of Christ ready at His return OUR MISSION We spur one another to grow as disciples of Christ living out fully God’s purposes for our lives OUR CORE FAITH VALUES Rooted in the Living Word; Empowered by the Holy Spirit; Abiding in Christ only; Daring to Hope and to Love; Yielding Fruit to God’s Glory
Editor Jimmy Tan Editorial Team Diana Chin, May Wong, Lim Seow Cheng, Jeanne Nah, Hwang Ching Yun Design and Layout Abigail Ng Printer Regent Printing (S) Pte Ltd
Views expressed in published articles are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Team or the Church Council. Your contributions to READY are welcome and should be submitted to editor@bfec.org.sg. The Editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit any articles submitted for publication. We make no claim of ownership over any images, trademarks, designs, logos, campaigns and other copyrighted materials not originally created by us. They are shown on this publication under the doctrine of fair use and belong to the entities that own them.
Wedding of Mr & Mrs Lim Mah Tat at BFEC (1975)
CONTENTS Foreword
1
We Bless You Now
2
TWO
ONE 咏颂主恩 Ode to God’s Grace
4
Thanks for the Memories! 5 Coming Home
7
感谢神同在 God is Truly With Me
9
Spurring and Growing Me 11 God Comes to my Rescue 12 Dementia Diaries
14
Heavenly Witnesses
17
He Carries the Weight of the World
23
Reflections from the Void 26 Thank You, BFEC
29
THREE
Seeds Sown
32
常青感恩之旅 Ever thankful for the Evergreen Ministry
33
Coming Home Away From Home
37
Do Everything in Love
39
The Joy when we Sing
41
Were it not for the Boys’ Brigade
43
我们都是祭司 We are a Priesthood
44
Continue to Study, Teach, 46 Preach and Live Out The Word Why are you here at BFEC?
47
Answers to my Questions 67
Building the Tabernacle
49
It’s Not Too Late!
69
Better than Sacrifice
50
What Money Cannot Buy
71
The Joy of Giving and Receiving Bibles
53
And God Shows Up
74
God is Trustworthy
55
永生的盼望 Eternal Hope
76
Journey On
57
Sakura
78
Blessings, Commitment, Kinship and Love
58
From Daughter Church to Mother Church, Thank You!
60
FOUR
FIVE Five Haikus For My Father
82
Remembering God’s Daily Grace
83
Entering His Rest
62
Journey of a “MiddleOld-Timer” Frankelite
85
The End of My Search
63
What are the Odds?
88
How God Saved Grandma
66
This is Where I Learned to Walk
93
Give of your Best to the Master
94
Half Time, Full Faith
96
A Passion for Souls
98
His Grace Makes Each Day Count
101
The Invitation of a Friend 104 From Him to Me... What an Adventure!
105
From Us to You – We Love Our Playground
107
A Letter From Margate, UK
109
SIX Unending Songs
111
From a Teacher to his Ex-JSS Students
112
From Daddy to Daughter, 113 From Generation to Generation Press On in Sowing and Planting
115
BFEC - A Special Church 116 Bride of Christ Ready at His Return
117
Having Arrows that Shoot Well
119
Voices of Our Youth
121
Nations and Generations, and Right Next to Us
125
CONTENTS Foreword
1
We Bless You Now
2
TWO
ONE 咏颂主恩 Ode to God’s Grace
4
Thanks for the Memories! 5 Coming Home
7
感谢神同在 God is Truly With Me
9
Spurring and Growing Me 11 God Comes to my Rescue 12 Dementia Diaries
14
Heavenly Witnesses
17
He Carries the Weight of the World
23
Reflections from the Void 26 Thank You, BFEC
29
THREE
Seeds Sown
32
常青感恩之旅 Ever thankful for the Evergreen Ministry
33
Coming Home Away From Home
37
Do Everything in Love
39
The Joy when we Sing
41
Were it not for the Boys’ Brigade
43
我们都是祭司 We are a Priesthood
44
Continue to Study, Teach, 46 Preach and Live Out The Word Why are you here at BFEC?
47
Answers to my Questions 67
Building the Tabernacle
49
It’s Not Too Late!
69
Better than Sacrifice
50
What Money Cannot Buy
71
The Joy of Giving and Receiving Bibles
53
And God Shows Up
74
God is Trustworthy
55
永生的盼望 Eternal Hope
76
Journey On
57
Sakura
78
Blessings, Commitment, Kinship and Love
58
From Daughter Church to Mother Church, Thank You!
60
FOUR
FIVE Five Haikus For My Father
82
Remembering God’s Daily Grace
83
Entering His Rest
62
Journey of a “MiddleOld-Timer” Frankelite
85
The End of My Search
63
What are the Odds?
88
How God Saved Grandma
66
This is Where I Learned to Walk
93
Give of your Best to the Master
94
Half Time, Full Faith
96
A Passion for Souls
98
His Grace Makes Each Day Count
101
The Invitation of a Friend 104 From Him to Me... What an Adventure!
105
From Us to You – We Love Our Playground
107
A Letter From Margate, UK
109
SIX Unending Songs
111
From a Teacher to his Ex-JSS Students
112
From Daddy to Daughter, 113 From Generation to Generation Press On in Sowing and Planting
115
BFEC - A Special Church 116 Bride of Christ Ready at His Return
117
Having Arrows that Shoot Well
119
Voices of Our Youth
121
Nations and Generations, and Right Next to Us
125
FROM ME TO YOU WE BLESS YOU NOW But all the stories actually begin on that last Sunday of July 1958 (It was 27 July), when a group of faith-filled brothers, who came to be known as the Frankel Committee, purposed to officially launch the work at BFEC. They then called for the very first Lord’s Supper service on Sunday 3 August the following week. Such a simple, ordinary start. The rest, as we say, is His-story.
As you may know, 60 marks the diamond anniversary in a marriage and the year of completeness for some traditional-minded Chinese. But for a church at 60, how do you mark her spiritual milestone meaningfully? Well, we decided, why not, one by one, tell the stories of God at work? So we prayed that 60 members of Bethesda Frankel Estate Church (a.k.a. Frankelites) and some friends would come forward to share something from the heart. Their response is this special READY commemorative – their personal gift, a heartfelt “from me to you”.
And so to each of them who came together to eat and drink from that first loaf and cup on that first Lord’s Supper service and others who have joined in since, may these stories, beyond anything you could have imagined, be our way of honoring your obedience and treasuring your fellowship.
These writings, pieces of art and poetry are poignant snapshots from our church family scrapbook, honest reflections from faith-diaries and prayer-lists for the years ahead.
To each of you we say, “thank you”… from me to you. Jimmy Tan Editor
What comes through is that unmistakable three-fold cord of faith, hope and love weaving a unifying thread through the diverse reflections. Like the Psalms of old, they are set against a backdrop of pleasant and painful memories, trials and triumphs, challenges and changes. We’ve organized the contributions under six movements.
As the Psalmist says, “One generation will commend your works to another” (Psalm 145:4). The fullness of who God is and what He is doing will take more than just one generation to bear witness to. He is writing a Grand Narrative that goes beyond the lifetime of one generation, one Church or one Nation; the story doesn’t just end with ‘us’. Jonathan Cho and Sharon Ngoo wrote this song in time for our 60th anniversary. They add, “As we celebrate what God has done through BFEC over the years, this song expresses our heart’s desire for the Church to see God’s ‘big picture’ and to commit to partnering Him in what He is doing and will do in the days to come, until Jesus returns.”
One generation is not enough To tell of who You are Each of us carrying the battle-stories Of victories and the scars You empower us by Your Holy Spirit To dare for hope and love You’re writing a story involving us in ways we don’t deserve
We are moving forward with hearts ablaze We testify of You Staying rooted in the Living Word Whose testament is true Jesus keep us faithful and make us One As we abide in You Bearing fruit for Your glory, we honor You In everything we do
Lord we await Your return And we ready ourselves as we yearn
Let the favour of God rest upon us Establish the work of our hands We pray God that You go before us Lord, let us be part of Your plan
We bless You now Crown You with praise Mighty King Ancient of Days
We bless You now Crown You with praise Mighty King Ancient of Days
We will come drawn by Your grace We’re your people, the Bride You’ve redeemed
We will sing Of Your glorious reign We’re your people, the Bride You’ve redeemed Into eternity
L-R: Elder Seet Poon Soo, Henry Philips, Elder Chia Hong Hoe, Hooi Cheng Soon, Elder Fred Sabapathy. They are the original members of the Frankel Committee
1
2
FROM ME TO YOU WE BLESS YOU NOW But all the stories actually begin on that last Sunday of July 1958 (It was 27 July), when a group of faith-filled brothers, who came to be known as the Frankel Committee, purposed to officially launch the work at BFEC. They then called for the very first Lord’s Supper service on Sunday 3 August the following week. Such a simple, ordinary start. The rest, as we say, is His-story.
As you may know, 60 marks the diamond anniversary in a marriage and the year of completeness for some traditional-minded Chinese. But for a church at 60, how do you mark her spiritual milestone meaningfully? Well, we decided, why not, one by one, tell the stories of God at work? So we prayed that 60 members of Bethesda Frankel Estate Church (a.k.a. Frankelites) and some friends would come forward to share something from the heart. Their response is this special READY commemorative – their personal gift, a heartfelt “from me to you”.
And so to each of them who came together to eat and drink from that first loaf and cup on that first Lord’s Supper service and others who have joined in since, may these stories, beyond anything you could have imagined, be our way of honoring your obedience and treasuring your fellowship.
These writings, pieces of art and poetry are poignant snapshots from our church family scrapbook, honest reflections from faith-diaries and prayer-lists for the years ahead.
To each of you we say, “thank you”… from me to you. Jimmy Tan Editor
What comes through is that unmistakable three-fold cord of faith, hope and love weaving a unifying thread through the diverse reflections. Like the Psalms of old, they are set against a backdrop of pleasant and painful memories, trials and triumphs, challenges and changes. We’ve organized the contributions under six movements.
As the Psalmist says, “One generation will commend your works to another” (Psalm 145:4). The fullness of who God is and what He is doing will take more than just one generation to bear witness to. He is writing a Grand Narrative that goes beyond the lifetime of one generation, one Church or one Nation; the story doesn’t just end with ‘us’. Jonathan Cho and Sharon Ngoo wrote this song in time for our 60th anniversary. They add, “As we celebrate what God has done through BFEC over the years, this song expresses our heart’s desire for the Church to see God’s ‘big picture’ and to commit to partnering Him in what He is doing and will do in the days to come, until Jesus returns.”
One generation is not enough To tell of who You are Each of us carrying the battle-stories Of victories and the scars You empower us by Your Holy Spirit To dare for hope and love You’re writing a story involving us in ways we don’t deserve
We are moving forward with hearts ablaze We testify of You Staying rooted in the Living Word Whose testament is true Jesus keep us faithful and make us One As we abide in You Bearing fruit for Your glory, we honor You In everything we do
Lord we await Your return And we ready ourselves as we yearn
Let the favour of God rest upon us Establish the work of our hands We pray God that You go before us Lord, let us be part of Your plan
We bless You now Crown You with praise Mighty King Ancient of Days
We bless You now Crown You with praise Mighty King Ancient of Days
We will come drawn by Your grace We’re your people, the Bride You’ve redeemed
We will sing Of Your glorious reign We’re your people, the Bride You’ve redeemed Into eternity
L-R: Elder Seet Poon Soo, Henry Philips, Elder Chia Hong Hoe, Hooi Cheng Soon, Elder Fred Sabapathy. They are the original members of the Frankel Committee
1
2
咏颂主恩 ODE TO GOD’S GRACE
by 杜建华 Du Jian Hua and 张月征 Zhang Yue Zheng English Summary by Kuah Leck Ping
ONE All people will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him! (Psalms 64:9,10)
风雨飘摇六十载 父居宝座掌权柄 道路崎岖祂引领 历经沧桑祂同在。
Our Heavenly Father is and has been in control. He has led us through our journey for the last 60 years. Both young shoots and evergreens, strong and weak, we joyfully bear fruit for Jesus. We pray that the Holy Spirit will lead His disciples and send out gospel soldiers
叶儿青青枝儿茂 壮弱童叟齐向主 心中喜乐恩满溢 多结果子感耶稣。
to the ends of the earth. Facing the unknown and challenges of the journey ahead with faith, let’s praise with one voice, giving the highest glory to our God. Soli Deo Gloria.
祈求圣灵常引领 门徒造就硕果结 差遣勇士传真道 世界各地有脚踪 前路漫漫凭信心， 不畏艰难和险阻， 口唱心和齐赞美， 荣耀归于至高神。 Du Jian Hua(left), wife Yue Zheng & daughter Jie Yi (right)
4
咏颂主恩 ODE TO GOD’S GRACE
by 杜建华 Du Jian Hua and 张月征 Zhang Yue Zheng English Summary by Kuah Leck Ping
ONE All people will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him! (Psalms 64:9,10)
风雨飘摇六十载 父居宝座掌权柄 道路崎岖祂引领 历经沧桑祂同在。
Our Heavenly Father is and has been in control. He has led us through our journey for the last 60 years. Both young shoots and evergreens, strong and weak, we joyfully bear fruit for Jesus. We pray that the Holy Spirit will lead His disciples and send out gospel soldiers
叶儿青青枝儿茂 壮弱童叟齐向主 心中喜乐恩满溢 多结果子感耶稣。
to the ends of the earth. Facing the unknown and challenges of the journey ahead with faith, let’s praise with one voice, giving the highest glory to our God. Soli Deo Gloria.
祈求圣灵常引领 门徒造就硕果结 差遣勇士传真道 世界各地有脚踪 前路漫漫凭信心， 不畏艰难和险阻， 口唱心和齐赞美， 荣耀归于至高神。 Du Jian Hua(left), wife Yue Zheng & daughter Jie Yi (right)
4
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
by Alex Lo, Chairman and Elder
(Mark 8:36 - 37)
I thank God for sending Jesus into my life because knowing Him is the best memory in my life! Everything else pales in comparison. Jesus is God and He existed before eternity and lives for eternity. He is the Word of the Lord that stands forever. He gives meaning to life and eternity. Before I was born I never knew if the world existed. Of course, I could not have known because I did not exist. But since I came into this world, I could observe and have learnt that many things do exist, even things I cannot see, feel or touch.
long enough to be remembered by friends, family and loved ones.
I now realise that the only thing I can do that will impact my life for eternity is to believe in Jesus. Before I accepted Jesus into my life, I was doomed to be in hell for eternity. But now that I have Jesus in my heart, I am alive in God and will be with Him in heaven forever. What a change of destiny! A change that lasts an eternity!
The life I lived will one day become a memory in someone else’s mind. But even so, their memory of me will not be eternal because they too will one day become memories themselves. Only the best, or the worst, among us human beings will make history. Sadly, even history itself is simply but a memory. Save for the few who knew us, no one will say, “Thanks for the memories.”
Life has been an amazing journey for me. Discovering science and engineering and later, art, poetry and deep questions of life, like philosophy and religion - all these discoveries or knowledge reside in my brain. Everything that has happened to me since birth and up to a moment ago is embedded in my brain as memories.
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (Hebrews 6:10)
Alex with campers at the 2017 Church Camp
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:24 to 25) So what if I were to become a great man or acquire riches one day? All my achievements or wealth will still come to an end one day. All my riches cannot be enjoyed by me after I am gone. So what if I have great knowledge and am able to lead large armies into great battles? I will not be around
But should I despair over such meaninglessness? Should I give up on life altogether or is there hope? Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Is there some way to grapple with this meaninglessness?
God never forgets and He will remember me for eternity. In heaven, I will no longer be a memory but very much alive and loved by God. When I get there one day, I will say to Him, “Thank you, Lord, for the memories.” Not only for myself but also for those whom He has ushered in; those lives whom He allowed me to have a part in at BFEC.
Before I existed, there was eternity. After I cease to exist, there will be eternity. Is there anything I can do during my short existence that can last an eternity so that my life will not be so meaningless and will count for something?
BFEC is 60 years old and holds many memories for those who came to know Jesus here. I pray for you, as I do for myself, that these memories - past and future - are the sort that will endure when He returns to bring us home. Alex with other elders
5
6
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
by Alex Lo, Chairman and Elder
(Mark 8:36 - 37)
I thank God for sending Jesus into my life because knowing Him is the best memory in my life! Everything else pales in comparison. Jesus is God and He existed before eternity and lives for eternity. He is the Word of the Lord that stands forever. He gives meaning to life and eternity. Before I was born I never knew if the world existed. Of course, I could not have known because I did not exist. But since I came into this world, I could observe and have learnt that many things do exist, even things I cannot see, feel or touch.
long enough to be remembered by friends, family and loved ones.
I now realise that the only thing I can do that will impact my life for eternity is to believe in Jesus. Before I accepted Jesus into my life, I was doomed to be in hell for eternity. But now that I have Jesus in my heart, I am alive in God and will be with Him in heaven forever. What a change of destiny! A change that lasts an eternity!
The life I lived will one day become a memory in someone else’s mind. But even so, their memory of me will not be eternal because they too will one day become memories themselves. Only the best, or the worst, among us human beings will make history. Sadly, even history itself is simply but a memory. Save for the few who knew us, no one will say, “Thanks for the memories.”
Life has been an amazing journey for me. Discovering science and engineering and later, art, poetry and deep questions of life, like philosophy and religion - all these discoveries or knowledge reside in my brain. Everything that has happened to me since birth and up to a moment ago is embedded in my brain as memories.
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (Hebrews 6:10)
Alex with campers at the 2017 Church Camp
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:24 to 25) So what if I were to become a great man or acquire riches one day? All my achievements or wealth will still come to an end one day. All my riches cannot be enjoyed by me after I am gone. So what if I have great knowledge and am able to lead large armies into great battles? I will not be around
But should I despair over such meaninglessness? Should I give up on life altogether or is there hope? Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Is there some way to grapple with this meaninglessness?
God never forgets and He will remember me for eternity. In heaven, I will no longer be a memory but very much alive and loved by God. When I get there one day, I will say to Him, “Thank you, Lord, for the memories.” Not only for myself but also for those whom He has ushered in; those lives whom He allowed me to have a part in at BFEC.
Before I existed, there was eternity. After I cease to exist, there will be eternity. Is there anything I can do during my short existence that can last an eternity so that my life will not be so meaningless and will count for something?
BFEC is 60 years old and holds many memories for those who came to know Jesus here. I pray for you, as I do for myself, that these memories - past and future - are the sort that will endure when He returns to bring us home. Alex with other elders
5
6
COMING HOME
So, for those of you who think that your invitations for church events are not important, think again.
by Daren Tan
The rest, as they say, is history and Michelle and I got married in BFEC in October 2015. I never thought I would choose my wife from the BFEC ‘catalogue’ (a term I coined after seeing so many of our old friends married to fellow Frankelites e.g. Joylyn and Chee Seng, Sharon and Chih Yuan, Tim and Darlene) but I am so blessed that I did. Without God orchestrating TGBCG, would Michelle and I have come together? Members of “Just Us” at TGBCG
I went through a really dark period during the 13 years when I didn’t come to church. I even thought of ending my life at one point and on hindsight, I can definitely say that the lack of spiritual nourishment from the Word, worship, sermons and the lack of support from brothers and sisters in Christ from the cell group really played a big part in me feeling lost and not doing things with God in mind. Mr & Mrs Seet Poon Soo with daughter, Ethel.
Some of you know me as the husband of Michelle Kuek but many of you also know me as one of the grandsons of Mr and Mrs Seet Poon Soo, one of our church’s founding Elders and his wife.
Turning Point Then a few months before December 2012, I was asked to sing again with ‘Just Us’, an acapella group consisting of homegrown (overgrown?) BFEC boys. I had once been a part of this group. I decided to sing with them one last time at The Great Big Christmas Giveaway (TGBCG) musical. I was a hair’s breadth from opting out of the musical as I felt uncomfortable coming back to BFEC and hearing questions like “Where have you been all these years?” and “Wah! Put on so much weight, ah?”.
My story is very simple. I backslided after I entered the army in 1999 as there would be weekends when I wanted to sleep in due to the “exciting team building activities at Tekong Resort”. Worse, when I did attend church, I would find some people asking me, “Why didn’t you come to church last week?” and “Went out drinking the night before, ah?” This annoyed me, as I felt I was being judged harshly if I didn’t come to church every week. Moreover, I felt no one could truly understand all the struggles and temptations I was going through. Most people would say “Trust God” but could not offer any concrete solutions. I was young and naïve and I was expecting too much.
But I decided to take the plunge and it turned out to be the best decision of my life as I would meet my future wife, Michelle, at the musical. I knew Michelle from Senior Sunday School since we were kids but we didn’t speak to each other much, mainly because she was super quiet. She had also stopped attending BFEC since her teens and Michelle later revealed to me that she too was a hair’s breadth away from NOT attending the musical due to other commitments and that if Sharon Ngoo had not invited her, she would not have come. (Thank you, Sharon. I owe you one!)
So, I did not go to church for about 13 years. In that time, countless prayers were uttered for me by my parents, grandparents and concerned friends.
7
Home with God at BFEC I think what made Michelle and I come back to BFEC is that it has always felt like home for us. For me personally, seeing all the familiar faces around me makes me feel like I’m coming back to my second family. Everywhere I walk in church brings back fond memories from my childhood of playing Pepsi Cola 123 and using the microphone stands as machine guns as we ran around the kindergarten classrooms, now known as the Upper Room.
Daren and Michelle and son Isaiah, with Daren’s mum, Ethel
I would like to thank my best friend Aaron Tan for constantly reaching out to me during those 13 years and asking me to come back. If he did not do so, I would probably have never come back to BFEC. I also never thought I was good enough to get married, let alone have a child, but God blessed me abundantly with a beautiful wife and a wonderful baby boy, Isaiah. So, I would like to encourage you if you are feeling worthless, or maybe feel you don’t deserve any of God’s blessings, to take heart. God loves us more than we can ever know. I am such a wretched sinner to God and yet He has blessed me so abundantly. I thank God everyday for this undeserving grace that he has given me and what has happened to me in my life is proof that these blessings can happen to you too. My brothers and sisters, He’s waiting, He never fails. Would you return to Him?
I am such a wretched sinner to God and yet He has blessed me so abundantly.
COMING HOME
So, for those of you who think that your invitations for church events are not important, think again.
by Daren Tan
The rest, as they say, is history and Michelle and I got married in BFEC in October 2015. I never thought I would choose my wife from the BFEC ‘catalogue’ (a term I coined after seeing so many of our old friends married to fellow Frankelites e.g. Joylyn and Chee Seng, Sharon and Chih Yuan, Tim and Darlene) but I am so blessed that I did. Without God orchestrating TGBCG, would Michelle and I have come together? Members of “Just Us” at TGBCG
I went through a really dark period during the 13 years when I didn’t come to church. I even thought of ending my life at one point and on hindsight, I can definitely say that the lack of spiritual nourishment from the Word, worship, sermons and the lack of support from brothers and sisters in Christ from the cell group really played a big part in me feeling lost and not doing things with God in mind. Mr & Mrs Seet Poon Soo with daughter, Ethel.
Some of you know me as the husband of Michelle Kuek but many of you also know me as one of the grandsons of Mr and Mrs Seet Poon Soo, one of our church’s founding Elders and his wife.
Turning Point Then a few months before December 2012, I was asked to sing again with ‘Just Us’, an acapella group consisting of homegrown (overgrown?) BFEC boys. I had once been a part of this group. I decided to sing with them one last time at The Great Big Christmas Giveaway (TGBCG) musical. I was a hair’s breadth from opting out of the musical as I felt uncomfortable coming back to BFEC and hearing questions like “Where have you been all these years?” and “Wah! Put on so much weight, ah?”.
My story is very simple. I backslided after I entered the army in 1999 as there would be weekends when I wanted to sleep in due to the “exciting team building activities at Tekong Resort”. Worse, when I did attend church, I would find some people asking me, “Why didn’t you come to church last week?” and “Went out drinking the night before, ah?” This annoyed me, as I felt I was being judged harshly if I didn’t come to church every week. Moreover, I felt no one could truly understand all the struggles and temptations I was going through. Most people would say “Trust God” but could not offer any concrete solutions. I was young and naïve and I was expecting too much.
But I decided to take the plunge and it turned out to be the best decision of my life as I would meet my future wife, Michelle, at the musical. I knew Michelle from Senior Sunday School since we were kids but we didn’t speak to each other much, mainly because she was super quiet. She had also stopped attending BFEC since her teens and Michelle later revealed to me that she too was a hair’s breadth away from NOT attending the musical due to other commitments and that if Sharon Ngoo had not invited her, she would not have come. (Thank you, Sharon. I owe you one!)
So, I did not go to church for about 13 years. In that time, countless prayers were uttered for me by my parents, grandparents and concerned friends.
7
Home with God at BFEC I think what made Michelle and I come back to BFEC is that it has always felt like home for us. For me personally, seeing all the familiar faces around me makes me feel like I’m coming back to my second family. Everywhere I walk in church brings back fond memories from my childhood of playing Pepsi Cola 123 and using the microphone stands as machine guns as we ran around the kindergarten classrooms, now known as the Upper Room.
Daren and Michelle and son Isaiah, with Daren’s mum, Ethel
I would like to thank my best friend Aaron Tan for constantly reaching out to me during those 13 years and asking me to come back. If he did not do so, I would probably have never come back to BFEC. I also never thought I was good enough to get married, let alone have a child, but God blessed me abundantly with a beautiful wife and a wonderful baby boy, Isaiah. So, I would like to encourage you if you are feeling worthless, or maybe feel you don’t deserve any of God’s blessings, to take heart. God loves us more than we can ever know. I am such a wretched sinner to God and yet He has blessed me so abundantly. I thank God everyday for this undeserving grace that he has given me and what has happened to me in my life is proof that these blessings can happen to you too. My brothers and sisters, He’s waiting, He never fails. Would you return to Him?
I am such a wretched sinner to God and yet He has blessed me so abundantly.
感谢神同在 GOD IS TRULY WITH ME
by 王楷琳 Wang Kai Lin Translated by Kuah Leck Ping
I want to praise God with this simple sharing, to encourage you to continue trusting our Lord and to discover His Abundance in your life. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 I was baptised on 19 December 2004 by the Chinese Ministry 13 years ago. I feel my words are inadequate to capture my 13-year journey as a believer but I will try my best.
赞美神不需要多少华丽的辞藻，所以分享自己 的感受鼓励大家专心的依靠与仰望神，你会发 现上帝会为你预备丰盛的人生。
筹划想要放下现在的工作去进修，当我选择比较 容易的A校路线时，上帝阻拦了！祂为我安排了 比较难走的B校路线。
约翰福音10章10节:“我来了是叫羊得生命， 并且得的更丰盛。”
B校距离我家很远，上课时间长，课业多。但是 我想上帝必有祂的美意，我选择顺服。感谢神 在那两年里虽然路途远，但认识了几个很好的朋 友，也看到了很多基督徒的导师他们对上帝的 衷心服事，B校的学习让我对以后的工作了解得 更多。
我在2004年12月19日在中文部受洗，信主 有13年了。在这13年里主陪我走过的日子是 什么滋味呢? 我用我有限的语言实在没有办 法说出来，但有一个实例可能你们能感受到。
两年的学习结束时，我开始找工作。想要应聘我 家附近的教会幼儿园，但是没有成功。神给我安 排了另外一间，虽然与我想要的有差别，工作压 力也非常大，但是我向神祷告，既然是您安排 的，想必我定然可以应付。
每当我翻开家庭的相册，看到我结婚，生养孩 子，然后又看到孩子成长的点滴，那些所有的 艰苦与美好都同时涌上并呈现在我的眼前，仿 佛一切就在昨天，我感慨时间好快，眼泪有时 会情不自禁的在眼里打转。其他人可能会说： 所有人的日子不都是这样过来的吗？但感恩上 帝让我在认识祂的年月里得到心里的平安。无 论生活中任何的变故我都可以处事不惊，无论 遇到何事我学习尝试听神的声音，顺从神的旨 意，无论做什么或遇到了什么艰难，我会给神 这样祷告。
现在我已经工作了两年有足够的信心处理各种 繁琐的工作。 就这样神无声无息的在我身边看 顾。当我的小的女儿要上小学时，我又祷告神可 以换去最初想进的教会幼稚园，求神给我预备， 感谢神垂听我的祷告，让我在40岁的第一天走 进我神为我预备的地方，这是何等的恩典,上帝 竟眷顾我, 我流着眼泪感恩。
“天上的父，我是您手里正在制作的器皿，没 有到安息的那一天我永远不知道自己能做些什 么，或者还能做错些什么，请求掌管时间的神 让我一直在你为我预备的时空里不偏行己路。 奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们！”
It seems like it was just yesterday whenever I browse through my family photo album - pictures of my wedding day, the birth of my children, then of them growing up day by day. The memories fill me with overwhelming joy and also sorrow. “How time flies!” I lament, fighting back my tears. Most people may say, “That’s life, isn’t it?” But I thank God for giving me peace and for walking with me through thick and thin. Through it all, I have faced life’s challenges and learnt to listen to His voice and follow Him. Whenever I am troubled, I will pray, “Dear Heavenly Father, I am just a vessel being moulded in your hand, and until the day of my eternal rest, I will not know what I may do, the wrongs I am still capable of committing. May You guide me in Your path, You who are in control all the time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” In 2013, I was considering a career switch to be a kindergarten teacher. I wanted to have more time with my children as they were growing up. I prayed that the Lord would prepare a way for me. As I was about to resign and start my teaching preparatory course, I initially chose school A because
its curriculum was less demanding and the school was nearer my home. Instead, I ended up in school B, which had a more difficult program and was also further from my home. But I trusted the Lord‘s purpose and I chose to obey. Thank God, throughout those two years of commuting long distances to school B, I met many good friends and saw many Christian mentors serving faithfully, which paved my way to my present posting. I had to look for a permanent school after the two-year course and again, I failed to secure a teaching position in the church kindergarten near my home but the Lord provided another kindergarten instead. It was very different from what I had expected and it was rather stressful but I prayed, “Lord, you have arranged this so I think I should be able to manage.” Two years have passed and now, I feel I have gained the confidence to manage all types of work. This is how the Lord has been watching over me quietly. When my younger daughter started primary school, I continued to petition the Lord to transfer me to the first kindergarten I had set my heart on. Praise God for answering my prayer! I walked into the place the Lord had prepared for me on the day I turned 40. How wonderful is the grace of God! I cannot hold back my tears of joy. Our God is truly alive and real. Lastly, I want to encourage you with Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
我要赞美神，这位又真又活的神！ 最后，我要用箴言3章5-6节鼓励大家: “你要专 心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明，在你一切 所行的事上，都要认定他，他必指引你的路。”
你要专心仰赖耶和华，不可 倚靠自己的聪明，在你一切 所行的事上，都要认定他， 他必指引你的路。
有个近期发生的小故事可以跟大家分 享。2013年我开始考虑是否要换到幼稚园工 作，这样可以有更多的时间和假期陪伴孩子的 成长。我向神祷告请祂为我预备当行的路。我 L-R Matthew, Grace, Gloria, Kai Lin & her mum
9
感谢神同在 GOD IS TRULY WITH ME
by 王楷琳 Wang Kai Lin Translated by Kuah Leck Ping
I want to praise God with this simple sharing, to encourage you to continue trusting our Lord and to discover His Abundance in your life. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 I was baptised on 19 December 2004 by the Chinese Ministry 13 years ago. I feel my words are inadequate to capture my 13-year journey as a believer but I will try my best.
赞美神不需要多少华丽的辞藻，所以分享自己 的感受鼓励大家专心的依靠与仰望神，你会发 现上帝会为你预备丰盛的人生。
筹划想要放下现在的工作去进修，当我选择比较 容易的A校路线时，上帝阻拦了！祂为我安排了 比较难走的B校路线。
约翰福音10章10节:“我来了是叫羊得生命， 并且得的更丰盛。”
B校距离我家很远，上课时间长，课业多。但是 我想上帝必有祂的美意，我选择顺服。感谢神 在那两年里虽然路途远，但认识了几个很好的朋 友，也看到了很多基督徒的导师他们对上帝的 衷心服事，B校的学习让我对以后的工作了解得 更多。
我在2004年12月19日在中文部受洗，信主 有13年了。在这13年里主陪我走过的日子是 什么滋味呢? 我用我有限的语言实在没有办 法说出来，但有一个实例可能你们能感受到。
两年的学习结束时，我开始找工作。想要应聘我 家附近的教会幼儿园，但是没有成功。神给我安 排了另外一间，虽然与我想要的有差别，工作压 力也非常大，但是我向神祷告，既然是您安排 的，想必我定然可以应付。
每当我翻开家庭的相册，看到我结婚，生养孩 子，然后又看到孩子成长的点滴，那些所有的 艰苦与美好都同时涌上并呈现在我的眼前，仿 佛一切就在昨天，我感慨时间好快，眼泪有时 会情不自禁的在眼里打转。其他人可能会说： 所有人的日子不都是这样过来的吗？但感恩上 帝让我在认识祂的年月里得到心里的平安。无 论生活中任何的变故我都可以处事不惊，无论 遇到何事我学习尝试听神的声音，顺从神的旨 意，无论做什么或遇到了什么艰难，我会给神 这样祷告。
现在我已经工作了两年有足够的信心处理各种 繁琐的工作。 就这样神无声无息的在我身边看 顾。当我的小的女儿要上小学时，我又祷告神可 以换去最初想进的教会幼稚园，求神给我预备， 感谢神垂听我的祷告，让我在40岁的第一天走 进我神为我预备的地方，这是何等的恩典,上帝 竟眷顾我, 我流着眼泪感恩。
“天上的父，我是您手里正在制作的器皿，没 有到安息的那一天我永远不知道自己能做些什 么，或者还能做错些什么，请求掌管时间的神 让我一直在你为我预备的时空里不偏行己路。 奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们！”
It seems like it was just yesterday whenever I browse through my family photo album - pictures of my wedding day, the birth of my children, then of them growing up day by day. The memories fill me with overwhelming joy and also sorrow. “How time flies!” I lament, fighting back my tears. Most people may say, “That’s life, isn’t it?” But I thank God for giving me peace and for walking with me through thick and thin. Through it all, I have faced life’s challenges and learnt to listen to His voice and follow Him. Whenever I am troubled, I will pray, “Dear Heavenly Father, I am just a vessel being moulded in your hand, and until the day of my eternal rest, I will not know what I may do, the wrongs I am still capable of committing. May You guide me in Your path, You who are in control all the time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” In 2013, I was considering a career switch to be a kindergarten teacher. I wanted to have more time with my children as they were growing up. I prayed that the Lord would prepare a way for me. As I was about to resign and start my teaching preparatory course, I initially chose school A because
its curriculum was less demanding and the school was nearer my home. Instead, I ended up in school B, which had a more difficult program and was also further from my home. But I trusted the Lord‘s purpose and I chose to obey. Thank God, throughout those two years of commuting long distances to school B, I met many good friends and saw many Christian mentors serving faithfully, which paved my way to my present posting. I had to look for a permanent school after the two-year course and again, I failed to secure a teaching position in the church kindergarten near my home but the Lord provided another kindergarten instead. It was very different from what I had expected and it was rather stressful but I prayed, “Lord, you have arranged this so I think I should be able to manage.” Two years have passed and now, I feel I have gained the confidence to manage all types of work. This is how the Lord has been watching over me quietly. When my younger daughter started primary school, I continued to petition the Lord to transfer me to the first kindergarten I had set my heart on. Praise God for answering my prayer! I walked into the place the Lord had prepared for me on the day I turned 40. How wonderful is the grace of God! I cannot hold back my tears of joy. Our God is truly alive and real. Lastly, I want to encourage you with Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
我要赞美神，这位又真又活的神！ 最后，我要用箴言3章5-6节鼓励大家: “你要专 心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明，在你一切 所行的事上，都要认定他，他必指引你的路。”
你要专心仰赖耶和华，不可 倚靠自己的聪明，在你一切 所行的事上，都要认定他， 他必指引你的路。
有个近期发生的小故事可以跟大家分 享。2013年我开始考虑是否要换到幼稚园工 作，这样可以有更多的时间和假期陪伴孩子的 成长。我向神祷告请祂为我预备当行的路。我 L-R Matthew, Grace, Gloria, Kai Lin & her mum
9
GOD COMES TO MY RESCUE SPURRING AND GROWING ME
Have you ever felt you walked right into a bad decision, or were in the wrong place at the wrong time? Sister Ng Tjoh Dju, currently serving in the Leadership Development and HR Department of Cru Singapore, shares how when we do His will, and even in times of the unexpected, our God faithfully provides.
by Brandon Raeburn
Little Brandon with his parents Shane and Chey Hoong
I felt the earth literally move under my feet. Someone shouted, “Run to the open field!” In my heels and tight skirt, I joined the crowd and ran to the field. A killer earthquake had struck Baguio on 16 July 1990. Later, we found out that it registered 7.7 on the Richter scale. The massive tremor wrecked havoc across a sizeable portion of Luzon, Philippines’ largest island, with Baguio City suffering the most devastating effects. More than 1,000 were killed. Another 1,000 suffered serious injuries. Sitting on seven fault lines, an earthquake was not unexpected. But this was the most deadly. It was the first time I found myself in an earthquake.
Teaching in Baguio Brandon (Standing, last row, third from the right) with his Young Adults cell group
I realised that God had not forsaken me and that He still cared deeply about me.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in the 22 years that I’ve been in BFEC, it is that we have a faithful God who is never far from us.
To ensure that I’ll never cease to grow as a follower of Christ, the Lord has also placed wise and knowledgeable spiritual leaders in my midst to guide me in my walk with Him. I feel very blessed to have had teachers like Elder Roland and Deacon Jason during my time in Senior Sunday School (Grow@ Noon today). They have taught me invaluable lessons that I still apply in my life today.
He has surrounded me with His spiritual mentors and prayer warriors since the day my parents first brought me to this church. The same aunties and uncles from my parents’ cell group (Haggai) who carried me when I was a baby were the ones who prayed relentlessly for me when I was sitting for my ‘O’ Level exams. They were also there to spur me on and pray for me before and during the Basic Military Training (BMT) phase of my army life. I’ll never forget how the late Aunty Bee Horng encouraged and comforted me over the phone during the three-week confinement period. It was at that very moment that
Words cannot express how grateful I am for God’s guidance and faithfulness over the years. He has given me a wonderful family at BFEC and I pray that He will continue to shower His blessings upon it.
11
Aftermath of Baguio Earthquake. (Photo used with permission from Art Tibaldo Newseum)
This was my first overseas assignment since I joined Cru Singapore in 1980. I had arrived in Baguio four years earlier, in 1986. I taught at the International School of Theology-Asia (ISOT*) - a seminary started by Campus Crusade for Christ in Baguio, Philippines on 5 October 1981. I served at ISOT, working among international students.
My apartment was situated on the slopes with apartments above and below one another, so it was too dangerous to stay there after the quake. For a week, my housemates and I took refuge in a Chinese church in town. We were blessed as most of the 100,000 residents slept outdoors on the street, too frightened by the threat of aftershocks. 12
GOD COMES TO MY RESCUE SPURRING AND GROWING ME
Have you ever felt you walked right into a bad decision, or were in the wrong place at the wrong time? Sister Ng Tjoh Dju, currently serving in the Leadership Development and HR Department of Cru Singapore, shares how when we do His will, and even in times of the unexpected, our God faithfully provides.
by Brandon Raeburn
Little Brandon with his parents Shane and Chey Hoong
I felt the earth literally move under my feet. Someone shouted, “Run to the open field!” In my heels and tight skirt, I joined the crowd and ran to the field. A killer earthquake had struck Baguio on 16 July 1990. Later, we found out that it registered 7.7 on the Richter scale. The massive tremor wrecked havoc across a sizeable portion of Luzon, Philippines’ largest island, with Baguio City suffering the most devastating effects. More than 1,000 were killed. Another 1,000 suffered serious injuries. Sitting on seven fault lines, an earthquake was not unexpected. But this was the most deadly. It was the first time I found myself in an earthquake.
Teaching in Baguio Brandon (Standing, last row, third from the right) with his Young Adults cell group
I realised that God had not forsaken me and that He still cared deeply about me.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in the 22 years that I’ve been in BFEC, it is that we have a faithful God who is never far from us.
To ensure that I’ll never cease to grow as a follower of Christ, the Lord has also placed wise and knowledgeable spiritual leaders in my midst to guide me in my walk with Him. I feel very blessed to have had teachers like Elder Roland and Deacon Jason during my time in Senior Sunday School (Grow@ Noon today). They have taught me invaluable lessons that I still apply in my life today.
He has surrounded me with His spiritual mentors and prayer warriors since the day my parents first brought me to this church. The same aunties and uncles from my parents’ cell group (Haggai) who carried me when I was a baby were the ones who prayed relentlessly for me when I was sitting for my ‘O’ Level exams. They were also there to spur me on and pray for me before and during the Basic Military Training (BMT) phase of my army life. I’ll never forget how the late Aunty Bee Horng encouraged and comforted me over the phone during the three-week confinement period. It was at that very moment that
Words cannot express how grateful I am for God’s guidance and faithfulness over the years. He has given me a wonderful family at BFEC and I pray that He will continue to shower His blessings upon it.
11
Aftermath of Baguio Earthquake. (Photo used with permission from Art Tibaldo Newseum)
This was my first overseas assignment since I joined Cru Singapore in 1980. I had arrived in Baguio four years earlier, in 1986. I taught at the International School of Theology-Asia (ISOT*) - a seminary started by Campus Crusade for Christ in Baguio, Philippines on 5 October 1981. I served at ISOT, working among international students.
My apartment was situated on the slopes with apartments above and below one another, so it was too dangerous to stay there after the quake. For a week, my housemates and I took refuge in a Chinese church in town. We were blessed as most of the 100,000 residents slept outdoors on the street, too frightened by the threat of aftershocks. 12
The school, ISOT, had moved to Manila two weeks before the earthquake, by God’s grace and sovereignty. I, however, had stayed back in Baguio to do research on my thesis. How could I move to Manila from Baguio? The three main roads linking Baguio to the outside world were blocked by massive landslides. And the highway leading to Manila was damaged by the quake as well, making road travel impossible.
cargo helicopter. God not only protected me in the earthquake, He also provided a creative solution to move me from Baguio to Manila. Praise God for His thoughts are higher than my thoughts and His ways are higher than my ways! I stayed on in this assignment till 2001. Whether overseas or here in Singapore, I have observed that in dramatic or ordinary ways, we can count on His unmistakable and gracious protection... till we complete His assignments.
But God provided a way I could not imagine. The Philippine government offered to fly foreigners to Manila! So my housemates and friends from Malaysia helped me move house -14 boxes of personal effects, including a gas burner and cylinder! I found myself in a helicopter heading to Manila - free of charge! We were packed like sardines, together with hundreds of other foreigners, in that
DEMENTIA DIARIES The journey of faith leads us to situations we sometimes least expect, which we think only happen to others. Woon Chin Chang writes about his 88 year-old mum who has been journeying through the debilitating condition of dementia for about a decade. Though no one really knows what goes on in the mind of someone with dementia, yet having seen how she, now in an advanced stage of dementia, has endeavored to cope, he would like to offer the following imagined ruminations.
*ISOT-Asia has been renamed International Graduate School of Leadership, IGSL.
Chin Chang with mother, Madam Young Chi Seng
When did it even begin – 10 years ago? 15 years? “Where did I leave my keys?” ... “What was it that I was just about to do?” Just little memory lapses that didn’t seem to mean much at the time. I was otherwise perfectly normal and continued to do everything else that I used to do. I did my daily walk, (my son commented that I had more energy than he did!), cooked for the family, went out with my hubby of 50 years for our myriad medical appointments. Yes I was getting old, but that’s just about all it was. I was enjoying my retirement years in Vancouver, almost living the dream that most people of my generation dreamt of having. I’m most joyful when my children and their families come visiting – we’d have awesome times, making precious and lasting memories together.
Tjoh Dju (first row, second from left) at Restoration Healing Retreat with interns.
But God provided a way I could not imagine.
13
But before you knew it, people around me seemed to be noticing more and more of such memory lapses, especially after we returned to Singapore permanently. Several times, I commented to my the family about how new apartment buildings seemed nowadays to be made of paper: one day they’re not around, the next they seem to have magically appeared, all fully-built. My third son would then ask me why I keep saying this when he had already told me before that the site took more than three years to be fully built. Whatever – I still think they’re made of paper!
And then it happened: I started to catch myself forgetting more and more things. What was going on with me?! Why am I becoming so forgetful? My anxiety built up to the point that my husband decided to bring me to have it checked medically. Phew! The doctor said that it is nothing to worry about at the moment, but just to keep watch on how things progress. With that assurance, the family continued going about their own business as usual.
14
The school, ISOT, had moved to Manila two weeks before the earthquake, by God’s grace and sovereignty. I, however, had stayed back in Baguio to do research on my thesis. How could I move to Manila from Baguio? The three main roads linking Baguio to the outside world were blocked by massive landslides. And the highway leading to Manila was damaged by the quake as well, making road travel impossible.
cargo helicopter. God not only protected me in the earthquake, He also provided a creative solution to move me from Baguio to Manila. Praise God for His thoughts are higher than my thoughts and His ways are higher than my ways! I stayed on in this assignment till 2001. Whether overseas or here in Singapore, I have observed that in dramatic or ordinary ways, we can count on His unmistakable and gracious protection... till we complete His assignments.
But God provided a way I could not imagine. The Philippine government offered to fly foreigners to Manila! So my housemates and friends from Malaysia helped me move house -14 boxes of personal effects, including a gas burner and cylinder! I found myself in a helicopter heading to Manila - free of charge! We were packed like sardines, together with hundreds of other foreigners, in that
DEMENTIA DIARIES The journey of faith leads us to situations we sometimes least expect, which we think only happen to others. Woon Chin Chang writes about his 88 year-old mum who has been journeying through the debilitating condition of dementia for about a decade. Though no one really knows what goes on in the mind of someone with dementia, yet having seen how she, now in an advanced stage of dementia, has endeavored to cope, he would like to offer the following imagined ruminations.
*ISOT-Asia has been renamed International Graduate School of Leadership, IGSL.
Chin Chang with mother, Madam Young Chi Seng
When did it even begin – 10 years ago? 15 years? “Where did I leave my keys?” ... “What was it that I was just about to do?” Just little memory lapses that didn’t seem to mean much at the time. I was otherwise perfectly normal and continued to do everything else that I used to do. I did my daily walk, (my son commented that I had more energy than he did!), cooked for the family, went out with my hubby of 50 years for our myriad medical appointments. Yes I was getting old, but that’s just about all it was. I was enjoying my retirement years in Vancouver, almost living the dream that most people of my generation dreamt of having. I’m most joyful when my children and their families come visiting – we’d have awesome times, making precious and lasting memories together.
Tjoh Dju (first row, second from left) at Restoration Healing Retreat with interns.
But God provided a way I could not imagine.
13
But before you knew it, people around me seemed to be noticing more and more of such memory lapses, especially after we returned to Singapore permanently. Several times, I commented to my the family about how new apartment buildings seemed nowadays to be made of paper: one day they’re not around, the next they seem to have magically appeared, all fully-built. My third son would then ask me why I keep saying this when he had already told me before that the site took more than three years to be fully built. Whatever – I still think they’re made of paper!
And then it happened: I started to catch myself forgetting more and more things. What was going on with me?! Why am I becoming so forgetful? My anxiety built up to the point that my husband decided to bring me to have it checked medically. Phew! The doctor said that it is nothing to worry about at the moment, but just to keep watch on how things progress. With that assurance, the family continued going about their own business as usual.
14
Nowadays I see portraits of my children on my family wall. It’s strange: I recognise the faces, but I keep getting the names mixed up or even momentarily forgetting their names. And that youngest daughter of mine – she went and studied in Vancouver after junior college (in the late 1980s); ever since then she seems to have just simply forgotten about me and never even bothered to keep in contact! Yet I see screenshots that my son showed me, of my daughter and myself having a Facetime chat (both our faces were on the screen!) – but I don’t remember when that happened.
My third son used to work out of one of my bedrooms in our family home. This is his “official business address”. Being a caring and doting mother, I would constantly worry about his well-being, whether he’s missed any meals. So I would go into his room/office and ask him if he wanted anything to eat…. My goodness! Why did he start raising his voice at me, telling me to stop disturbing him? Am I not being a good and loving mother, trying to make sure that my son is well-fed and healthy? I was shocked, dismayed, disappointed, despondent, confused …. so many negative feelings just overwhelmed me there and then. What did he mean that I had been in there just five minutes ago and a few more times before that? I don’t remember having stepped into his room at all until then! Didn’t I raise him to be better than this? What’s happened between myself and this precious son of mine - to make him dislike me so much that he’d chase me out of his workplace?
And where is that husband of mine? Has he gone away somewhere?
I don’t know what’s going on much nowadays. Everything seems to be nothing but a blur. I often start to say something; but when I’m asked to clarify what I meant, I can’t even remember what I was saying just before that. I don’t like this at all! My children sometimes ask me to name them, and I have a hard time trying to even bring their names up to my lips. This one is … but wait! These are not my children, they’re my younger brothers! And have you eaten? I don’t think I have. Why is my helper so slow in preparing lunch?! It’s a hot day – I better go and turn on the air conditioning in my room.
Oh no! Where’s my husband and my helper? They were just beside me as we did our usual weekly marketing at Chai Chee. Have they abandoned me? Why did they sneak away and just disappear, leaving me all alone?! I don’t really know where I am – can’t quite recognise the neighbourhood! I’d better call my son and ask him to come get me. What’s going on?!
What were we talking about?
Later, they told me that I had walked away on my own. Thinking I was looking at something around the corner, my husband and helper just stayed at the same spot to wait for me. When I didn’t come back, they went searching for me, as well as called my son to see if I had contacted him. This is so confusing! I’m just glad that we found each other finally and went home safe and sound. I really pray that I won’t ever have to go through this again!
You want to dress me up? Because we are going to church now? I love those songs! Makes me so happy! Fa-la-la! Who’s in the car – my son? Why do I need to go into the car? He’s bringing me to his place? Oh ok. Who are you? Oh, you are my daughter-in-law? … Where am I? Your home? Oh ok.
I went to visit my eldest sister the other day … Oh no, what happened?! When did she become bedridden and almost unresponsive?! Didn’t we just go out together for a sisters’ day out not so long ago? Why are her children saying that she’s suffering from cancer and has been this way for a couple of years already? And for some strange reason, I seem to be having a harder time remembering their names! Must be old age catching up! 15
What do you do for someone who is suffering from dementia – who can barely string a sentence together or who apparently has a shorter attention span than a 2-yearold toddler? - who takes us minutes of continuous coaxing before she will get off her favourite chair at home and get into the car? - who can get pretty upset and shows it when you make her do things she does not want to; yet she is someone who will spontaneously laugh ever so heartily when you trigger her funny-bone? How do you handle your own reactions and emotions, when you remember her as highly resilient, independent, the lady with the always perfectly coiffed hairdo - even when there is no occasion for it? Yes, that same woman I call: “MUMMY”, who continued to look out for all her children and was ever ready to step in to help her children in any practical way, even though they already have families of their own. Mum did not turn out to be a “grumpy old lady”. In fact, she enjoys playful activities and will still engage if you catch her attention sufficiently.
My personal journey with Mummy has taught me a few precious lessons: Don’t focus on her waning abilities; instead, continue to cherish and relish every ability that she still possesses.
I love that mum can still laugh! On this note, I – being the “clown” of the family – will make funny faces at her or sing with her whenever circumstances permit. (My wife does this well too!) The reward: my mum’s silent but deep mirthful laughter that signals a simple, happy joy within!
Do things that will help keep negative feelings and emotions at bay (she may not say it, but you will know when she is feeling down or even depressed!); make her laugh – because there is much truth in the phrase “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Joy is indeed good medicine, because it goes right into the human spirit!
I have wonderful siblings! We all proactively take turns being with my mum every day of the week, be it for a few hours or the whole day. Even my sister (who lives overseas) now makes it a point to visit twice a year and be with my mum for at least 2 weeks each time. This is yet another major blessing in my view; it is exceptionally draining to be a caregiver and God knows we all don’t quite have the temperament to be full-time caregivers. Thank You Lord!
The best part of this journey? God continues to remind my family that He has not forgotten, that she is His dearly beloved child, that He will never leave nor forsake us. Recounting all these blessings, I am especially grateful to our Abba Father that :
Mum is a child of God. As such, we are spared the burden of concern of where she will spend her life in eternity.
He has provided for good helpers all these years. Our current helper is especially dedicated and gentle, and has gained our full trust in taking care of my mum with minimal supervision.
Love you, Mummy.
16
Nowadays I see portraits of my children on my family wall. It’s strange: I recognise the faces, but I keep getting the names mixed up or even momentarily forgetting their names. And that youngest daughter of mine – she went and studied in Vancouver after junior college (in the late 1980s); ever since then she seems to have just simply forgotten about me and never even bothered to keep in contact! Yet I see screenshots that my son showed me, of my daughter and myself having a Facetime chat (both our faces were on the screen!) – but I don’t remember when that happened.
My third son used to work out of one of my bedrooms in our family home. This is his “official business address”. Being a caring and doting mother, I would constantly worry about his well-being, whether he’s missed any meals. So I would go into his room/office and ask him if he wanted anything to eat…. My goodness! Why did he start raising his voice at me, telling me to stop disturbing him? Am I not being a good and loving mother, trying to make sure that my son is well-fed and healthy? I was shocked, dismayed, disappointed, despondent, confused …. so many negative feelings just overwhelmed me there and then. What did he mean that I had been in there just five minutes ago and a few more times before that? I don’t remember having stepped into his room at all until then! Didn’t I raise him to be better than this? What’s happened between myself and this precious son of mine - to make him dislike me so much that he’d chase me out of his workplace?
And where is that husband of mine? Has he gone away somewhere?
I don’t know what’s going on much nowadays. Everything seems to be nothing but a blur. I often start to say something; but when I’m asked to clarify what I meant, I can’t even remember what I was saying just before that. I don’t like this at all! My children sometimes ask me to name them, and I have a hard time trying to even bring their names up to my lips. This one is … but wait! These are not my children, they’re my younger brothers! And have you eaten? I don’t think I have. Why is my helper so slow in preparing lunch?! It’s a hot day – I better go and turn on the air conditioning in my room.
Oh no! Where’s my husband and my helper? They were just beside me as we did our usual weekly marketing at Chai Chee. Have they abandoned me? Why did they sneak away and just disappear, leaving me all alone?! I don’t really know where I am – can’t quite recognise the neighbourhood! I’d better call my son and ask him to come get me. What’s going on?!
What were we talking about?
Later, they told me that I had walked away on my own. Thinking I was looking at something around the corner, my husband and helper just stayed at the same spot to wait for me. When I didn’t come back, they went searching for me, as well as called my son to see if I had contacted him. This is so confusing! I’m just glad that we found each other finally and went home safe and sound. I really pray that I won’t ever have to go through this again!
You want to dress me up? Because we are going to church now? I love those songs! Makes me so happy! Fa-la-la! Who’s in the car – my son? Why do I need to go into the car? He’s bringing me to his place? Oh ok. Who are you? Oh, you are my daughter-in-law? … Where am I? Your home? Oh ok.
I went to visit my eldest sister the other day … Oh no, what happened?! When did she become bedridden and almost unresponsive?! Didn’t we just go out together for a sisters’ day out not so long ago? Why are her children saying that she’s suffering from cancer and has been this way for a couple of years already? And for some strange reason, I seem to be having a harder time remembering their names! Must be old age catching up! 15
What do you do for someone who is suffering from dementia – who can barely string a sentence together or who apparently has a shorter attention span than a 2-yearold toddler? - who takes us minutes of continuous coaxing before she will get off her favourite chair at home and get into the car? - who can get pretty upset and shows it when you make her do things she does not want to; yet she is someone who will spontaneously laugh ever so heartily when you trigger her funny-bone? How do you handle your own reactions and emotions, when you remember her as highly resilient, independent, the lady with the always perfectly coiffed hairdo - even when there is no occasion for it? Yes, that same woman I call: “MUMMY”, who continued to look out for all her children and was ever ready to step in to help her children in any practical way, even though they already have families of their own. Mum did not turn out to be a “grumpy old lady”. In fact, she enjoys playful activities and will still engage if you catch her attention sufficiently.
My personal journey with Mummy has taught me a few precious lessons: Don’t focus on her waning abilities; instead, continue to cherish and relish every ability that she still possesses.
I love that mum can still laugh! On this note, I – being the “clown” of the family – will make funny faces at her or sing with her whenever circumstances permit. (My wife does this well too!) The reward: my mum’s silent but deep mirthful laughter that signals a simple, happy joy within!
Do things that will help keep negative feelings and emotions at bay (she may not say it, but you will know when she is feeling down or even depressed!); make her laugh – because there is much truth in the phrase “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Joy is indeed good medicine, because it goes right into the human spirit!
I have wonderful siblings! We all proactively take turns being with my mum every day of the week, be it for a few hours or the whole day. Even my sister (who lives overseas) now makes it a point to visit twice a year and be with my mum for at least 2 weeks each time. This is yet another major blessing in my view; it is exceptionally draining to be a caregiver and God knows we all don’t quite have the temperament to be full-time caregivers. Thank You Lord!
The best part of this journey? God continues to remind my family that He has not forgotten, that she is His dearly beloved child, that He will never leave nor forsake us. Recounting all these blessings, I am especially grateful to our Abba Father that :
Mum is a child of God. As such, we are spared the burden of concern of where she will spend her life in eternity.
He has provided for good helpers all these years. Our current helper is especially dedicated and gentle, and has gained our full trust in taking care of my mum with minimal supervision.
Love you, Mummy.
16
HEAVENLY WITNESSES
Through the years, many Frankelites have joined the heavenly cloud of witnesses. Even as they continue to be dearly missed, here are some of their life stories Elder Jimmy Tan would like to share with present and future Frankelites.
Matron Patricia Sabapathy
And somehow, his anger dissipated, and he returned to his senses, to God. And to church. He said, “I realised God had led me each step of the way.” And while he thought he had good plans for his life, God had a better one. “He will never ask you to be what you are NOT!” he emphatically concluded... before switching topics to talk about other things.
Warrior and Child
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” ( John 14:27) Whenever I read this verse, I can’t help but think of Matron Patricia Sabapathy, who was called home on 12 March 2015. Her trademark greeting, you may recall, was “Peng An”, Hokkien for peace. The word “peace” is “shalom” in Hebrew – indicating wholeness. For the disciple of Christ, wholeness comes by first being convicted of our sin, of our need for our Saviour. And then working out our faith convictions in service unto His glory. Conviction and distinction are two words I associate with dear Matron when I recall her legacy.
Appointments with God
“...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
He spoke about how, when he was first warded, God had immediately answered his desperate prayer to breathe easier. He spoke about how it dawned on him what being a church community was as members visited and prayed for him - people he would often only say “hi” and “bye” to on Sundays. And, finally, he spoke about really looking forward to joining in the Sunday worship service again once he had gotten his stent inserted.
This verse leapt at me as I sat listening to the sermon on Philippians 1:1-11 by Elder Chua Soon Boon on Sunday 1 March, 2015. Earlier, I had learnt that a fellow church member, Uncle Dennis Koh Khek Cheow, had slipped quietly into glory that very morning in his ICU hospital bed, after spending the evening before with his wife and family.
Well, God had a different venue for his worship service that Sunday. And I’m sure uncle Dennis Koh must be holding court swapping stories with all the other saints there. And one story would be that though he “missed” the three opportunities, his three children grew to become, would you know it, doctor, pilot and engineer!
Dennis Koh
When our Disappointments are His Appointments
Mr and Mrs Koh on their wedding day.
Just a week earlier, on 22 February, Uncle Dennis had celebrated his 85th birthday. In fact, he was expecting to be discharged once he was deemed stable enough. He had needed a stent operation but His Heavenly Father had other plans.
grudging to me?” he said. Not long after, he went into teaching. And after training, he was posted to Raffles Institution (RI) for many years. One of his students included a certain student named Goh Chok Tong, who he says remembers him!
I had visited him four days earlier. Strapped down by tubes to machines at his ICU bed, he could still chat with me, holding court rather energetically for a good 45 minutes. To my surprise, this rather soft spoken man (at least, it seemed to me) related how he was once very angry with God. He told me how, one by one, he had missed securing three precious scholarship opportunities - opportunities that would have made him either a pilot, engineer or doctor.
But RI wasn’t his last stop. As Singapore developed, so our educational needs became varied. He was handpicked to be part in the pioneering group of teachers at VITB (Vocational and Industrial Training Board), the precursor to ITE (Institute of Technical Education), a stint he didn’t think he could hack but, guess what, he did! That’s not all. Somewhere along the way, he said he was also posted to a ‘notorious’ school in Geylang and another which was Chinese-medium (though he does not speak Mandarin!). He taught academic and technical subjects, sport (avid sportsman that he is) and was often discipline master. He said he really enjoyed his career in education, saying he accumulated experiences he wouldn’t have traded for anything else.
An Appointed Career in Education It was with this unresolved, simmering anger that he drifted away from church as a youth on the threshold of young adulthood. “Why was God so
Living with Conviction First, her conviction. Whether you totally agreed with her, she never did anything unless she believed in it wholeheartedly. A few times, when I was serving as Chairman, she had asked me about certain matters. I called to share with her my viewpoint. And in classic matron response, instead of saying “Yes” immediately, she’d say, seemingly with a pout, “Let me pray about it.” Looking back, I believed she did for she wanted to be sure. And I’m glad, in those times that I’m aware, she encouraged me by her godly conviction. Her convictions are sometimes expressed with wit, and, certainly, often when you least expect it. This is a trait she shares with her husband, late Elder Fred, who would often, when “led by the Spirit”, say or do things which were rather spontaneous at worship services, much to the trepidation of the unaccustomed worship leader.
And here’s another story - that it was in the teaching profession that he met his wife of 58 years, Doris Khoo. They were married 8 December 1956, five years after his baptism on 6 August 1950. Till we meet again, my dear brother (uncle) in Christ. And thanks for blessing us with stories from your journey with Christ that afternoon.
Those of you attending our 8am service may recall how she would sometimes raise her hand, and from the back of the sanctuary, with or without microphone, suggest a hymn in response. Often, I noticed her choice was spot-on. Her last such “interruption” (if I can call it that) was to ask Noel Lean, who was chairing the service that day, why our intergenerational worship service was only confined to the 10am service and did not seem to include the 8am congregants. She followed up with a call to me later, asking for clarification she didn’t receive that morning. Hers was a most godly concern to
Mr and Mrs Koh with their grandchildren.
17
18
HEAVENLY WITNESSES
Through the years, many Frankelites have joined the heavenly cloud of witnesses. Even as they continue to be dearly missed, here are some of their life stories Elder Jimmy Tan would like to share with present and future Frankelites.
Matron Patricia Sabapathy
And somehow, his anger dissipated, and he returned to his senses, to God. And to church. He said, “I realised God had led me each step of the way.” And while he thought he had good plans for his life, God had a better one. “He will never ask you to be what you are NOT!” he emphatically concluded... before switching topics to talk about other things.
Warrior and Child
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” ( John 14:27) Whenever I read this verse, I can’t help but think of Matron Patricia Sabapathy, who was called home on 12 March 2015. Her trademark greeting, you may recall, was “Peng An”, Hokkien for peace. The word “peace” is “shalom” in Hebrew – indicating wholeness. For the disciple of Christ, wholeness comes by first being convicted of our sin, of our need for our Saviour. And then working out our faith convictions in service unto His glory. Conviction and distinction are two words I associate with dear Matron when I recall her legacy.
Appointments with God
“...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
He spoke about how, when he was first warded, God had immediately answered his desperate prayer to breathe easier. He spoke about how it dawned on him what being a church community was as members visited and prayed for him - people he would often only say “hi” and “bye” to on Sundays. And, finally, he spoke about really looking forward to joining in the Sunday worship service again once he had gotten his stent inserted.
This verse leapt at me as I sat listening to the sermon on Philippians 1:1-11 by Elder Chua Soon Boon on Sunday 1 March, 2015. Earlier, I had learnt that a fellow church member, Uncle Dennis Koh Khek Cheow, had slipped quietly into glory that very morning in his ICU hospital bed, after spending the evening before with his wife and family.
Well, God had a different venue for his worship service that Sunday. And I’m sure uncle Dennis Koh must be holding court swapping stories with all the other saints there. And one story would be that though he “missed” the three opportunities, his three children grew to become, would you know it, doctor, pilot and engineer!
Dennis Koh
When our Disappointments are His Appointments
Mr and Mrs Koh on their wedding day.
Just a week earlier, on 22 February, Uncle Dennis had celebrated his 85th birthday. In fact, he was expecting to be discharged once he was deemed stable enough. He had needed a stent operation but His Heavenly Father had other plans.
grudging to me?” he said. Not long after, he went into teaching. And after training, he was posted to Raffles Institution (RI) for many years. One of his students included a certain student named Goh Chok Tong, who he says remembers him!
I had visited him four days earlier. Strapped down by tubes to machines at his ICU bed, he could still chat with me, holding court rather energetically for a good 45 minutes. To my surprise, this rather soft spoken man (at least, it seemed to me) related how he was once very angry with God. He told me how, one by one, he had missed securing three precious scholarship opportunities - opportunities that would have made him either a pilot, engineer or doctor.
But RI wasn’t his last stop. As Singapore developed, so our educational needs became varied. He was handpicked to be part in the pioneering group of teachers at VITB (Vocational and Industrial Training Board), the precursor to ITE (Institute of Technical Education), a stint he didn’t think he could hack but, guess what, he did! That’s not all. Somewhere along the way, he said he was also posted to a ‘notorious’ school in Geylang and another which was Chinese-medium (though he does not speak Mandarin!). He taught academic and technical subjects, sport (avid sportsman that he is) and was often discipline master. He said he really enjoyed his career in education, saying he accumulated experiences he wouldn’t have traded for anything else.
An Appointed Career in Education It was with this unresolved, simmering anger that he drifted away from church as a youth on the threshold of young adulthood. “Why was God so
Living with Conviction First, her conviction. Whether you totally agreed with her, she never did anything unless she believed in it wholeheartedly. A few times, when I was serving as Chairman, she had asked me about certain matters. I called to share with her my viewpoint. And in classic matron response, instead of saying “Yes” immediately, she’d say, seemingly with a pout, “Let me pray about it.” Looking back, I believed she did for she wanted to be sure. And I’m glad, in those times that I’m aware, she encouraged me by her godly conviction. Her convictions are sometimes expressed with wit, and, certainly, often when you least expect it. This is a trait she shares with her husband, late Elder Fred, who would often, when “led by the Spirit”, say or do things which were rather spontaneous at worship services, much to the trepidation of the unaccustomed worship leader.
And here’s another story - that it was in the teaching profession that he met his wife of 58 years, Doris Khoo. They were married 8 December 1956, five years after his baptism on 6 August 1950. Till we meet again, my dear brother (uncle) in Christ. And thanks for blessing us with stories from your journey with Christ that afternoon.
Those of you attending our 8am service may recall how she would sometimes raise her hand, and from the back of the sanctuary, with or without microphone, suggest a hymn in response. Often, I noticed her choice was spot-on. Her last such “interruption” (if I can call it that) was to ask Noel Lean, who was chairing the service that day, why our intergenerational worship service was only confined to the 10am service and did not seem to include the 8am congregants. She followed up with a call to me later, asking for clarification she didn’t receive that morning. Hers was a most godly concern to
Mr and Mrs Koh with their grandchildren.
17
18
maintain the unity of the spirit of the entire church - in the bond of “peace”. She wanted no part of the Body to be left out in the expediency of logistical consideration. She did, in fairness to her, also apologise for possibly being disruptive too.
Marilene Seow
Peace, My Child
What if Jesus Came to Visit
Looking back, underneath those remarks was a certain vulnerability and woundedness I have seen in servants of God, especially those who’ve served long and hard. It was certainly not unique to her and not unknown to those most passionate for the things of God.
But she wasn’t just a woman of conviction. Serving with Distinction
I’m reminded of the lyric of the song by Christian songwriter Twila Paris, called, “The warrior is a child”. It goes:
She served with distinction – in both big and small ways. She was pioneer or ardent champion of ministries that were often ahead of their time. Christian Outreach to the Handicapped. The School for the Blind. Ladies Group. Flower Arrangement ministry. In smaller acts of service, she will be remembered for her charming smile, her gusto in singing hymns, yes, her trademark “Peng An” greeting, her handmade “Thank you” cards (of which I received quite a few), phone-calls to pray with you or inquire of you or apologise to you. And most dear to her, I’m sure, her distinctive roles on the home front as wife, mother, and grandma.
Lately I’ve been winning battles left and right But even winners can get wounded in the fight People say that I’m amazing (I’m) strong beyond my years But they don’t see, inside of me I’m hiding all these tears They don’t know that I come running home when I fall down They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around I drop my sword and cry for just a while ‘Coz deep inside this armor The warrior is a child.
Yet beneath her passion, and some will say “tenacious, strong will”, were two other things, a heart of gold - something I’m sure many have personally experienced, and secondly, a tender, almost fragile spirit.
Unafraid because His armor is the best But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest People say that I’m amazing I never face retreat But they don’t see the enemies That drive me to His feet
I recall once, in a whisper, she would tell me of those who were stumbled that she used the Hokkien words “Peng An”, saying it was not really Biblical. And of the time she caused a stir when she first initiated flower arrangements for our sanctuary. “They said it was a waste of money, you know?” she sighed softly.
“Why do bad things happen to good people?” we often ask, don’t we? Indeed, this talk was the most popular one at our first run of Life’s Big Questions recently. But during that “Friday the 13th” night in April when Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon shared, my mind could not help but go back to sister Marilene Seow, a church member who went home to the Lord nine years earlier, in September 2009.
The Sabapathys and the Seets
Matron, and others, may be “feisty warriors” for Christ but beneath the tough armour of God is still a child. And like any child who runs to daddy when wounded, she too has received much comfort and grace from her heavenly Father - in her transitions, frustrations, disappointments and sadness. Not surprisingly, she often declared that her favourite psalm was Psalm 23 – which reminds her often that her Lord Jesus Christ is indeed her strong yet tender-hearted Shepherd.
How could anyone forget Marilene? A member of our church and the Peranakan Ministry for many years, she would faithfully accompany her mum, the cheerful and spritely Bibik Seow (aka Madam Tan Suan Jeong or Aunty Mina, as many knew her), to church each week. If mum decided to make some Peranakan kueh to bless others, as she often did, it was Marilene who would assist her. They were inseparable. So when mum became frail and homebound, it was Marilene who quit her day job at the factory to look after her in their three-room HDB flat. (Marilene had two married brothers who provided for them. As she was single and had no other family responsibilities, I imagine it made natural sense for her to nurse mum. Not that she minded at all.)
During one of my last visits, she thought I had deliberately skipped her bed to visit another in the next ward. She had seen me approach the ward from afar yet seem to pass her by. And she was so glad I had actually missed her bed by mistake. When I came to her side, she honestly admitted her near-disappointment, which on reflection now is most poignant, “Oh, and I thought you were going to visit somebody else!”
Fervently Active Remarkably, taking care of her mum didn’t deter her from coming to church or being active in her cell. She told me she’d get some breakfast done for mum, then hop on bus 32 to get to BFEC. And as the 8am service neared the end, she would quickly slip out the side door of the sanctuary and head on back to the bus stop.
The warrior is indeed a child. But now, she is recipient of His “Peng An”, His Shalom. On her behalf, may I encourage you, whatever your trouble, sorrow, sin or regret, take her advice: “Peng An!” for you too can know and experience God’s peace. You too can know and experience peace with God (John 14:27).
Whenever one of her brothers could spare an evening to take her place, the first thing she’d do was to join her cell, the “Hagar” cell group led by brother Laurie Chan. She was committed to stay plugged into the koinonia she had gotten used to and wasn’t about to take her membership for granted, whatever her circumstance.
Then you too will be His warrior and Child.
But taking care of mum did take a toll on Marilene’s health. In the midst of doing all this good, Marilene was afflicted with cancer. Advanced
1998 Mrs Sabapathy at a birthday dinner
19
20
maintain the unity of the spirit of the entire church - in the bond of “peace”. She wanted no part of the Body to be left out in the expediency of logistical consideration. She did, in fairness to her, also apologise for possibly being disruptive too.
Marilene Seow
Peace, My Child
What if Jesus Came to Visit
Looking back, underneath those remarks was a certain vulnerability and woundedness I have seen in servants of God, especially those who’ve served long and hard. It was certainly not unique to her and not unknown to those most passionate for the things of God.
But she wasn’t just a woman of conviction. Serving with Distinction
I’m reminded of the lyric of the song by Christian songwriter Twila Paris, called, “The warrior is a child”. It goes:
She served with distinction – in both big and small ways. She was pioneer or ardent champion of ministries that were often ahead of their time. Christian Outreach to the Handicapped. The School for the Blind. Ladies Group. Flower Arrangement ministry. In smaller acts of service, she will be remembered for her charming smile, her gusto in singing hymns, yes, her trademark “Peng An” greeting, her handmade “Thank you” cards (of which I received quite a few), phone-calls to pray with you or inquire of you or apologise to you. And most dear to her, I’m sure, her distinctive roles on the home front as wife, mother, and grandma.
Lately I’ve been winning battles left and right But even winners can get wounded in the fight People say that I’m amazing (I’m) strong beyond my years But they don’t see, inside of me I’m hiding all these tears They don’t know that I come running home when I fall down They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around I drop my sword and cry for just a while ‘Coz deep inside this armor The warrior is a child.
Yet beneath her passion, and some will say “tenacious, strong will”, were two other things, a heart of gold - something I’m sure many have personally experienced, and secondly, a tender, almost fragile spirit.
Unafraid because His armor is the best But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest People say that I’m amazing I never face retreat But they don’t see the enemies That drive me to His feet
I recall once, in a whisper, she would tell me of those who were stumbled that she used the Hokkien words “Peng An”, saying it was not really Biblical. And of the time she caused a stir when she first initiated flower arrangements for our sanctuary. “They said it was a waste of money, you know?” she sighed softly.
“Why do bad things happen to good people?” we often ask, don’t we? Indeed, this talk was the most popular one at our first run of Life’s Big Questions recently. But during that “Friday the 13th” night in April when Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon shared, my mind could not help but go back to sister Marilene Seow, a church member who went home to the Lord nine years earlier, in September 2009.
The Sabapathys and the Seets
Matron, and others, may be “feisty warriors” for Christ but beneath the tough armour of God is still a child. And like any child who runs to daddy when wounded, she too has received much comfort and grace from her heavenly Father - in her transitions, frustrations, disappointments and sadness. Not surprisingly, she often declared that her favourite psalm was Psalm 23 – which reminds her often that her Lord Jesus Christ is indeed her strong yet tender-hearted Shepherd.
How could anyone forget Marilene? A member of our church and the Peranakan Ministry for many years, she would faithfully accompany her mum, the cheerful and spritely Bibik Seow (aka Madam Tan Suan Jeong or Aunty Mina, as many knew her), to church each week. If mum decided to make some Peranakan kueh to bless others, as she often did, it was Marilene who would assist her. They were inseparable. So when mum became frail and homebound, it was Marilene who quit her day job at the factory to look after her in their three-room HDB flat. (Marilene had two married brothers who provided for them. As she was single and had no other family responsibilities, I imagine it made natural sense for her to nurse mum. Not that she minded at all.)
During one of my last visits, she thought I had deliberately skipped her bed to visit another in the next ward. She had seen me approach the ward from afar yet seem to pass her by. And she was so glad I had actually missed her bed by mistake. When I came to her side, she honestly admitted her near-disappointment, which on reflection now is most poignant, “Oh, and I thought you were going to visit somebody else!”
Fervently Active Remarkably, taking care of her mum didn’t deter her from coming to church or being active in her cell. She told me she’d get some breakfast done for mum, then hop on bus 32 to get to BFEC. And as the 8am service neared the end, she would quickly slip out the side door of the sanctuary and head on back to the bus stop.
The warrior is indeed a child. But now, she is recipient of His “Peng An”, His Shalom. On her behalf, may I encourage you, whatever your trouble, sorrow, sin or regret, take her advice: “Peng An!” for you too can know and experience God’s peace. You too can know and experience peace with God (John 14:27).
Whenever one of her brothers could spare an evening to take her place, the first thing she’d do was to join her cell, the “Hagar” cell group led by brother Laurie Chan. She was committed to stay plugged into the koinonia she had gotten used to and wasn’t about to take her membership for granted, whatever her circumstance.
Then you too will be His warrior and Child.
But taking care of mum did take a toll on Marilene’s health. In the midst of doing all this good, Marilene was afflicted with cancer. Advanced
1998 Mrs Sabapathy at a birthday dinner
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The moment I asked, I bit my lip in regret. What if Jesus didn’t?
stage cancer. One Sunday a few months after the diagnosis, as I stood behind during the end of the 8am service, I saw her as she slipped out, as she always did, using the same side door. She had clearly lost more weight. I called out to her and asked how she was, and she smiled, “Ok!”.
“Yes!” she nicely interrupted, her eyes staring right up. To overcome my incredulity, I went into my old journalist mode and decided to ask a followup question, again a rather parochial one, if one thought about it.
“Going back to mum?” “Yes. Goodbye!”
“Marilene, and what did Jesus look like?”
Fervent Faith
Without so much as a pause, she mumbled something. I drew closer, and told her I missed it. She took a difficult deep breath and said, syllable by syllable, “A-ra-bic.” “But of course!” I thought. Jesus wasn’t the white man in the picture adorning many Christian homes in the 60’s. Jesus was born in the Middle-East, in Bethlehem and would certainly look “Arabic”.
Doctors had treated her but the cancer just raged on in her body with a vengeance. Her cell group prayed fervently as did the rest of us who knew. If there was anyone who deserved to be healed, it was Marilene. She was only in her 50’s. Touchingly, the other members of her cell group rostered themselves to keep her company when she became too ill to care for her mum, let alone for herself. She soon underwent palliative care at home. Marilene was in one room while her frail mum was in the other, unaware of what was happening to the daughter who cared deeply for her.
I was emboldened. Seeing the excitement in her eyes, I just had to proceed. Gingerly, I asked the next question. “Marilene, and may I ask, just what did Jesus say to you?”
When I visited her on what was to be the week she was to be called home, the cell ladies keeping watch that afternoon told me she had kept asking about how her mum was doing, even as her mum was wondering why her daughter was nowhere within sight.
There was a pause. Then she slowly said just one word, “Pre…cious!”
Fervent for Him
Shortly, I said goodbye after praying with her, asking God to have mercy on His suffering child. In another visit soon after by Elder Joshua, she told him she was worried not for herself but for her mum. Who would look after her after she left? He wisely told her to trust God to handle that. She went home to her Jesus a few days later.
She told me she asked her dear Jesus this: “Teach me to pray?” I could not believe my ears. If this was her lifeline chance, she sure blew it. Why would she ask Jesus to teach her to pray? I mean, she didn’t have that many days left on earth.
You Are Precious
I probed further, trying to hide my bewilderment. Marilene spoke slowly but with conviction. In not so many words, I understood her simple explanation. Though she was Peranakan, she wasn’t quite satisfied with her limited repertoire of Biblical words in her native language to convey what she truly wanted to express to her Lord.
My friend, what do you really need of our Lord? Health and wealth? Inner healing or physical healing? One day in that HDB flat, our Lord proved resoundingly to His dear child, Marilene, that His grace was indeed sufficient for her, that her strength was made perfect in her weakness.
“Marilene, oh Marilene,” I caught myself thinking, “here you are lying at the edge of eternity, in the shadow of certain death and yet your one question to Jesus when He manifested His presence to you was focussed not on you but on Him?”
This same Jesus assures you and me, in whatever situation we may find ourselves in, that, “You are precious.” If that is so, what would your response be? Remembering that God is not some genie that would only grant three wishes, what shortlist of things would you train your prayer on?
Yes, incredibly, Marilene’s obsession even near death was not inward but God-ward. Not on “earthly things”, but “on things above”, as per Colossians 3:2. What faith! What astonishingly pure and child-like faith!
What four words would you say to Him? I’m thinking that a good one would be, “I’m coming home, Jesus.” Then see what He’d do next.
“He said you are precious?” I was now trying to hold back my tears. “Yes!” she whispered, rebuking my disbelieving ears.
I steeled myself trying not to be shocked as I entered her bedroom alone, hoping to be of some cheer. She was gaunt, no, emaciated, but her eyes were wide open and alert to my presence.
There was need for one more obvious question. I drew nearer and whispered, “Marilene, and what did you say to Jesus?”
“Hello, Marilene!” I chimed. She turned slightly. After brief small talk, I spied her CD player nearby and asked what her favorite song was. “As the Deer,” she said slowly, each word a breathless whisper. As I sang along to the CD, she mouthed the words too. I sensed the presence of the Lord very strongly as we worshipped amidst the gloom I saw around me. Suddenly, I found myself asking her a question. Looking around her bare but neat bedroom, the words tumbled out, “Hey Marilene, so…did Jesus come to visit you?”
I half expected to hear what many of us would have asked. “Jesus, please heal me!” Or…“Why did this happen?” But dear Marilene saved the four words for something she’d been wanting to ask her Saviour. Marilene (fifth from left) with her mother (3rd from left) with some members of the Peranakan Ministry
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22
The moment I asked, I bit my lip in regret. What if Jesus didn’t?
stage cancer. One Sunday a few months after the diagnosis, as I stood behind during the end of the 8am service, I saw her as she slipped out, as she always did, using the same side door. She had clearly lost more weight. I called out to her and asked how she was, and she smiled, “Ok!”.
“Yes!” she nicely interrupted, her eyes staring right up. To overcome my incredulity, I went into my old journalist mode and decided to ask a followup question, again a rather parochial one, if one thought about it.
“Going back to mum?” “Yes. Goodbye!”
“Marilene, and what did Jesus look like?”
Fervent Faith
Without so much as a pause, she mumbled something. I drew closer, and told her I missed it. She took a difficult deep breath and said, syllable by syllable, “A-ra-bic.” “But of course!” I thought. Jesus wasn’t the white man in the picture adorning many Christian homes in the 60’s. Jesus was born in the Middle-East, in Bethlehem and would certainly look “Arabic”.
Doctors had treated her but the cancer just raged on in her body with a vengeance. Her cell group prayed fervently as did the rest of us who knew. If there was anyone who deserved to be healed, it was Marilene. She was only in her 50’s. Touchingly, the other members of her cell group rostered themselves to keep her company when she became too ill to care for her mum, let alone for herself. She soon underwent palliative care at home. Marilene was in one room while her frail mum was in the other, unaware of what was happening to the daughter who cared deeply for her.
I was emboldened. Seeing the excitement in her eyes, I just had to proceed. Gingerly, I asked the next question. “Marilene, and may I ask, just what did Jesus say to you?”
When I visited her on what was to be the week she was to be called home, the cell ladies keeping watch that afternoon told me she had kept asking about how her mum was doing, even as her mum was wondering why her daughter was nowhere within sight.
There was a pause. Then she slowly said just one word, “Pre…cious!”
Fervent for Him
Shortly, I said goodbye after praying with her, asking God to have mercy on His suffering child. In another visit soon after by Elder Joshua, she told him she was worried not for herself but for her mum. Who would look after her after she left? He wisely told her to trust God to handle that. She went home to her Jesus a few days later.
She told me she asked her dear Jesus this: “Teach me to pray?” I could not believe my ears. If this was her lifeline chance, she sure blew it. Why would she ask Jesus to teach her to pray? I mean, she didn’t have that many days left on earth.
You Are Precious
I probed further, trying to hide my bewilderment. Marilene spoke slowly but with conviction. In not so many words, I understood her simple explanation. Though she was Peranakan, she wasn’t quite satisfied with her limited repertoire of Biblical words in her native language to convey what she truly wanted to express to her Lord.
My friend, what do you really need of our Lord? Health and wealth? Inner healing or physical healing? One day in that HDB flat, our Lord proved resoundingly to His dear child, Marilene, that His grace was indeed sufficient for her, that her strength was made perfect in her weakness.
“Marilene, oh Marilene,” I caught myself thinking, “here you are lying at the edge of eternity, in the shadow of certain death and yet your one question to Jesus when He manifested His presence to you was focussed not on you but on Him?”
This same Jesus assures you and me, in whatever situation we may find ourselves in, that, “You are precious.” If that is so, what would your response be? Remembering that God is not some genie that would only grant three wishes, what shortlist of things would you train your prayer on?
Yes, incredibly, Marilene’s obsession even near death was not inward but God-ward. Not on “earthly things”, but “on things above”, as per Colossians 3:2. What faith! What astonishingly pure and child-like faith!
What four words would you say to Him? I’m thinking that a good one would be, “I’m coming home, Jesus.” Then see what He’d do next.
“He said you are precious?” I was now trying to hold back my tears. “Yes!” she whispered, rebuking my disbelieving ears.
I steeled myself trying not to be shocked as I entered her bedroom alone, hoping to be of some cheer. She was gaunt, no, emaciated, but her eyes were wide open and alert to my presence.
There was need for one more obvious question. I drew nearer and whispered, “Marilene, and what did you say to Jesus?”
“Hello, Marilene!” I chimed. She turned slightly. After brief small talk, I spied her CD player nearby and asked what her favorite song was. “As the Deer,” she said slowly, each word a breathless whisper. As I sang along to the CD, she mouthed the words too. I sensed the presence of the Lord very strongly as we worshipped amidst the gloom I saw around me. Suddenly, I found myself asking her a question. Looking around her bare but neat bedroom, the words tumbled out, “Hey Marilene, so…did Jesus come to visit you?”
I half expected to hear what many of us would have asked. “Jesus, please heal me!” Or…“Why did this happen?” But dear Marilene saved the four words for something she’d been wanting to ask her Saviour. Marilene (fifth from left) with her mother (3rd from left) with some members of the Peranakan Ministry
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HE CARRIES THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD
by Questal Tay
I’m a wife (married to Kairen Lin) and an artist living in Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City. I came to know Christ when I was 11 and was a member of another church until I attended a few services at BFEC and the Alpha course in 2012. I’ve been worshipping in BFEC ever since, with my sister, Fann.
the medium of embroidery over chiffon and newspaper.
Through my work, I’ve come to learn that God desires for us all to experience the joy of collaborating with Him, of finding transcendent meaning of our lives in Him. Compared to ‘real’ events reportedly happening around the world, art, in its embodiment of beauty and creativity, seems frivolous.
‘The Weight of the World’ is borrowed from a poem by Allen Ginsberg, called “Song”. Here is an excerpt...
However, when I look at Jesus, I find my meaning as being His artist. Jesus’ work on the cross is ugly - the torture, the shame and the pain. Yet, it was through the cross that Jesus shows us a higher beauty, the beauty of salvation in Him. In the brokenness and despair of this world, beauty can be revealed, and beauty comforts. Our God is the great Artist, a beautiful Creator, and beauty is a gift that He has given us all to discover, receive and steward. Thank you for letting me share my artwork “The Weight of the World”created in 2018 using
It is an ongoing narrative; I continue to work on different newspaper articles using different fabrics and colours of threads. They all form the story that I’m telling under “The Weight of the World”.
The weight of the world is love. Under the burden of solitude, under the burden of dissatisfaction the weight, the weight we carry is love. Who can deny? In dreams it touches the body, in thought constructs a miracle, in imagination anguishes till born in human-looks out of the heart burning with purity-for the burden of life is love, 23
but we carry the weight wearily, and so must rest in the arms of love at last, must rest in the arms of love. Though not written from a Christian perspective (and neither did I read it from that perspective when I was 17), as I revisit the poem time and time again, I come to understand that all humans have spiritual depth, and therefore, all of us definitely have spiritual longings, which I think the author was unknowingly addressing. And being Christian is truly a privilege because I get to know WHO meets spiritual longings and HOW they are met, and it’s something we will struggle to keep re-finding, in Christ, because we live in a fallen world. As I know where to “re-find” my answer, I think about the weight of the world on individuals who haven’t, who’ve yet to, and who didn’t (perhaps the author himself ). And I feel altogether empathetic, burdened and hopeful that as God found me, they will all allow God to also find them. Clinton supporters for “The Weight of the World”
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HE CARRIES THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD
by Questal Tay
I’m a wife (married to Kairen Lin) and an artist living in Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City. I came to know Christ when I was 11 and was a member of another church until I attended a few services at BFEC and the Alpha course in 2012. I’ve been worshipping in BFEC ever since, with my sister, Fann.
the medium of embroidery over chiffon and newspaper.
Through my work, I’ve come to learn that God desires for us all to experience the joy of collaborating with Him, of finding transcendent meaning of our lives in Him. Compared to ‘real’ events reportedly happening around the world, art, in its embodiment of beauty and creativity, seems frivolous.
‘The Weight of the World’ is borrowed from a poem by Allen Ginsberg, called “Song”. Here is an excerpt...
However, when I look at Jesus, I find my meaning as being His artist. Jesus’ work on the cross is ugly - the torture, the shame and the pain. Yet, it was through the cross that Jesus shows us a higher beauty, the beauty of salvation in Him. In the brokenness and despair of this world, beauty can be revealed, and beauty comforts. Our God is the great Artist, a beautiful Creator, and beauty is a gift that He has given us all to discover, receive and steward. Thank you for letting me share my artwork “The Weight of the World”created in 2018 using
It is an ongoing narrative; I continue to work on different newspaper articles using different fabrics and colours of threads. They all form the story that I’m telling under “The Weight of the World”.
The weight of the world is love. Under the burden of solitude, under the burden of dissatisfaction the weight, the weight we carry is love. Who can deny? In dreams it touches the body, in thought constructs a miracle, in imagination anguishes till born in human-looks out of the heart burning with purity-for the burden of life is love, 23
but we carry the weight wearily, and so must rest in the arms of love at last, must rest in the arms of love. Though not written from a Christian perspective (and neither did I read it from that perspective when I was 17), as I revisit the poem time and time again, I come to understand that all humans have spiritual depth, and therefore, all of us definitely have spiritual longings, which I think the author was unknowingly addressing. And being Christian is truly a privilege because I get to know WHO meets spiritual longings and HOW they are met, and it’s something we will struggle to keep re-finding, in Christ, because we live in a fallen world. As I know where to “re-find” my answer, I think about the weight of the world on individuals who haven’t, who’ve yet to, and who didn’t (perhaps the author himself ). And I feel altogether empathetic, burdened and hopeful that as God found me, they will all allow God to also find them. Clinton supporters for “The Weight of the World”
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REFLECTIONS FROM THE VOID
by Evyn Woon
me behind. When you are going through this, it is very, very hard to stay logical and reasonable. I tried to stay “normal” yet my wanting to be left alone unknowingly pushed them away. They thought I needed space and time to myself. I became all the more withdrawn from cell and even contemplated leaving entirely. I didn’t know how to express how I felt. My mental state was so fractured; it was like thin ice. All they had to do was ask, I imagined. And if only they’d pry a little, I would be on the floor crying. But they never asked and I resented them more for it.
Many people including Frankelites have gone through the rite of passage called National Service. It has infamously challenged many. Each has a unique story, I’m sure. What was Basic Military Training (BMT) like for me? Well, in a nutshell, to be brutally honest, it was hell. It wasn’t the training or the physical parts I found bad. They were tiring to be sure yes, but the real agony was the isolation. I was in the black sheep Platoon AND the black sheep section. Somehow I had problems with the people in the 16-strong section; four to five had attitudes and mannerisms I didn’t take to; one of them was my buddy. This friction between us for most of the 20 weeks of BMT made me dread my time there.
Then there was the dread of book-ins. I hated feeling this way and would often cry out to God but His replies seemed far and few between.
I made a few friends in my platoon but only two were in my section. The others were just acquaintances. This led to constant feelings of loneliness, and I dare say, borderline depression. I felt alone and isolated. It felt like a conspiracy. Calling home every night was one lifeline that kept me afloat in this dark void.
The thing I was soon to realise and would like others, especially those entering NS soon, to know is this: All the negative emotions, thinking Tekong is hell, is a choice. If you make Tekong out to be your own personal hellhole, it will be. If you keep giving in to your bitterness and spite, you will feel miserable.
You’d expect me to have felt fine or, at the very least, better after book-outs every Friday. In many ways I did, but for some reason, Sundays just weren’t the same anymore. At first, I was still chirpy and smiling as always. Over time, I began to be more withdrawn. I had hoped some in my cell group would notice and ask about BMT in more detail. I gave some answers, hoping deeper questions would follow. I never got a chance to really pour out what was inside me and even when I wanted to, it never came out right and the topic would soon be changed.
Where was God in all this?
Increasing isolation
“If You could hold the stars in place, You could hold my heart the same. Whenever I fall away, whenever I start to break. So here I am, lifting up my heart. If You could calm the raging sea, You could calm the storm in me. You’re never too far away. You never show up too late. So here I am,
One day, a giant rainbow stretched from one end of Tekong to the other and I felt God saying, “I’m still here. Even on this island that you call hell, I am still here.” At 6 a.m. on another morning, while it was still dark, I looked up and saw the stars. They were few in number but unmistakably clear in the open sky. Suddenly the lyric of a song from a Christian rock band popped into my head.
The thing is, I didn’t just feel more alone. I felt abandoned by the very people I trusted to keep me sane. It was as though the one constant group of friends in my life had moved on and left
Trump for “The Weight of the World”
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REFLECTIONS FROM THE VOID
by Evyn Woon
me behind. When you are going through this, it is very, very hard to stay logical and reasonable. I tried to stay “normal” yet my wanting to be left alone unknowingly pushed them away. They thought I needed space and time to myself. I became all the more withdrawn from cell and even contemplated leaving entirely. I didn’t know how to express how I felt. My mental state was so fractured; it was like thin ice. All they had to do was ask, I imagined. And if only they’d pry a little, I would be on the floor crying. But they never asked and I resented them more for it.
Many people including Frankelites have gone through the rite of passage called National Service. It has infamously challenged many. Each has a unique story, I’m sure. What was Basic Military Training (BMT) like for me? Well, in a nutshell, to be brutally honest, it was hell. It wasn’t the training or the physical parts I found bad. They were tiring to be sure yes, but the real agony was the isolation. I was in the black sheep Platoon AND the black sheep section. Somehow I had problems with the people in the 16-strong section; four to five had attitudes and mannerisms I didn’t take to; one of them was my buddy. This friction between us for most of the 20 weeks of BMT made me dread my time there.
Then there was the dread of book-ins. I hated feeling this way and would often cry out to God but His replies seemed far and few between.
I made a few friends in my platoon but only two were in my section. The others were just acquaintances. This led to constant feelings of loneliness, and I dare say, borderline depression. I felt alone and isolated. It felt like a conspiracy. Calling home every night was one lifeline that kept me afloat in this dark void.
The thing I was soon to realise and would like others, especially those entering NS soon, to know is this: All the negative emotions, thinking Tekong is hell, is a choice. If you make Tekong out to be your own personal hellhole, it will be. If you keep giving in to your bitterness and spite, you will feel miserable.
You’d expect me to have felt fine or, at the very least, better after book-outs every Friday. In many ways I did, but for some reason, Sundays just weren’t the same anymore. At first, I was still chirpy and smiling as always. Over time, I began to be more withdrawn. I had hoped some in my cell group would notice and ask about BMT in more detail. I gave some answers, hoping deeper questions would follow. I never got a chance to really pour out what was inside me and even when I wanted to, it never came out right and the topic would soon be changed.
Where was God in all this?
Increasing isolation
“If You could hold the stars in place, You could hold my heart the same. Whenever I fall away, whenever I start to break. So here I am, lifting up my heart. If You could calm the raging sea, You could calm the storm in me. You’re never too far away. You never show up too late. So here I am,
One day, a giant rainbow stretched from one end of Tekong to the other and I felt God saying, “I’m still here. Even on this island that you call hell, I am still here.” At 6 a.m. on another morning, while it was still dark, I looked up and saw the stars. They were few in number but unmistakably clear in the open sky. Suddenly the lyric of a song from a Christian rock band popped into my head.
The thing is, I didn’t just feel more alone. I felt abandoned by the very people I trusted to keep me sane. It was as though the one constant group of friends in my life had moved on and left
Trump for “The Weight of the World”
25
26
I’m a doubter who believes. And I try to hide the failures that I don’t want You to see. But You tell me that You love me, more than I could understand. You still call me, to come as I am. You want my faith, You want my doubt, the things I don’t wanna talk about. All that’s broken, healed and somewhere in between. I will lay it at your feet, and I won’t hold back anything. Cause what You want is all, what You want is all of me.” (Ashes Remain. All of me)
lifting up my heart, to the one who holds the stars. You’re the one who holds the stars.” (Skillet. Stars) I wanted to cry. Every time from then on, when I saw the stars, especially when I could see dozens of them clearly lighting up the sky, I would tear up, sometimes even cry. Thankfully, it was still dark outside. Later, when I was again going through hard times mentally and spiritually, I found another song. As I was surfing Youtube in my bunk, the bridge of “Break the World”, another Christian song, made me do a double take. This song is by the band “Nine Lashes” and the lyrics are (Chorus to bridge):
I was tempted to do a lot of things, like when I felt abandoned and wanted to give in. When I wanted to be selfish like everyone else and only care for myself. When I questioned why I was suffering, my mind fragmenting and my soul shattering. I contemplated suicide but that was too easy. I was tempted to join the smokers…but that was just committing suicide - only slower and costlier. I wanted to give up and give in to the void surrounding me.
“Break the world I know, I fear I’ll never see the light of day. I need You here and now. Take the pain I hold, it’s crying out to be the end of me, but I can’t hear the sound. These voices choke away the light. And they infect me with their lies. They try to take away my life. They give their one way out. BUT I FOUND THE CHRIST. The light in the sky. You’ve washed them away and now You’ve given me life. You’ve shown me the reason, the star in the night. So undeserving, now I don’t have to hide.”
Then came another affirming song soaked in scriptural truth (First verse and chorus): “You’re not forgotten, you’re not alone. You think you’re worthless, but you’re worth it. And He calls you His own. Made in His image, you were made for more. You think there is no plan, that it’s all by chance, but don’t believe that anymore. Every time that you wake up breathing, every night when you close your eyes, every day that your heart keeps beating. There is purpose for your life. So don’t give up, don’t lay down. Just hold on, don’t quit now. Every breath
God speaks again and again to me God came through again and again when I thought I was at my lowest. The songs kept coming. (Verse 1 to chorus) “I’m a mess of contradictions,
Even on this island that you call hell, I am still here.
27
It was when I was brought to my lowest point, mired in darkness, that His light shone the brightest. Overcoming
that you take has meaning. You are here for a reason.” (Ashes Remain. Here for a Reason)
Dread and despair were, for me, easier to recover from. With hate, I feared that if I succumbed to it, everything would shatter because hate is the hardest to let go.
Being Instructed What is the difference between an error and a mistake? Anyone can make an error. It only becomes a mistake when the error goes uncorrected. Failure is an important teacher because when we fail, we learn why we failed and what our errors were. Likewise, trials and tribulations teach us what we would not have learnt otherwise. Head knowledge is one thing, like knowing the laws of physics. Applying them is another, like knowing how to use the laws to build something. The same can be said for trials and hardships. People make the error of thinking it would be better if we never faced hardships. Their mistake is in blaming God and others for causing these hardships to happen.
Dread can be overcome by remaining positive. I should have let a friend cheer me up. Having hope that the situation will get better did a lot for me. Despair is trickier. I remembered, “Listen to what you know, not what you fear.” Thinking about what I fear can make me despair more, which in turn makes me dread my current situation more. Applying logical thinking and reviewing the facts is a great way to overcome despair as it shows us if we could be overreacting. Lastly, hate. I needed to forgive. Forgive and stop blaming others for what they may or may not have done. Hate and anger would not solve my problems but only make things worse. By forgiving, I will calm down and can see things more clearly.
Why did God let me go through a season of darkness at Tekong? Wrong question. The right question, “What am I supposed to learn or do?”
Second, Light shines brightest in the dark. Dark places do exist. I would never have really seen God and what He does as I did on a personal level during BMT. It was when I was brought to my lowest point, mired in darkness, that His light shone the brightest.
When we are facing trials and in darkness, it is easy to become prey to the enemy. Like an arrow shot in the darkness, the enemy shot me with Dread. Then he stabbed Despair like a dagger through my heart. Thoughts of dread and despair consumed me. Then he brought the Scythe of Hate down on me. I festered with Hate. I hated others. I was angry at my predicament and with how unfair things were. I began blaming others and even God.
Let me end with a favourite phrase of mine: Accende Tenebris. It means “Ignite the Darkness.” You don’t ignite something and watch the fire curl at its borders; you get in the middle of it, light it up and then watch the fire spread outwards. 28
I’m a doubter who believes. And I try to hide the failures that I don’t want You to see. But You tell me that You love me, more than I could understand. You still call me, to come as I am. You want my faith, You want my doubt, the things I don’t wanna talk about. All that’s broken, healed and somewhere in between. I will lay it at your feet, and I won’t hold back anything. Cause what You want is all, what You want is all of me.” (Ashes Remain. All of me)
lifting up my heart, to the one who holds the stars. You’re the one who holds the stars.” (Skillet. Stars) I wanted to cry. Every time from then on, when I saw the stars, especially when I could see dozens of them clearly lighting up the sky, I would tear up, sometimes even cry. Thankfully, it was still dark outside. Later, when I was again going through hard times mentally and spiritually, I found another song. As I was surfing Youtube in my bunk, the bridge of “Break the World”, another Christian song, made me do a double take. This song is by the band “Nine Lashes” and the lyrics are (Chorus to bridge):
I was tempted to do a lot of things, like when I felt abandoned and wanted to give in. When I wanted to be selfish like everyone else and only care for myself. When I questioned why I was suffering, my mind fragmenting and my soul shattering. I contemplated suicide but that was too easy. I was tempted to join the smokers…but that was just committing suicide - only slower and costlier. I wanted to give up and give in to the void surrounding me.
“Break the world I know, I fear I’ll never see the light of day. I need You here and now. Take the pain I hold, it’s crying out to be the end of me, but I can’t hear the sound. These voices choke away the light. And they infect me with their lies. They try to take away my life. They give their one way out. BUT I FOUND THE CHRIST. The light in the sky. You’ve washed them away and now You’ve given me life. You’ve shown me the reason, the star in the night. So undeserving, now I don’t have to hide.”
Then came another affirming song soaked in scriptural truth (First verse and chorus): “You’re not forgotten, you’re not alone. You think you’re worthless, but you’re worth it. And He calls you His own. Made in His image, you were made for more. You think there is no plan, that it’s all by chance, but don’t believe that anymore. Every time that you wake up breathing, every night when you close your eyes, every day that your heart keeps beating. There is purpose for your life. So don’t give up, don’t lay down. Just hold on, don’t quit now. Every breath
God speaks again and again to me God came through again and again when I thought I was at my lowest. The songs kept coming. (Verse 1 to chorus) “I’m a mess of contradictions,
Even on this island that you call hell, I am still here.
27
It was when I was brought to my lowest point, mired in darkness, that His light shone the brightest. Overcoming
that you take has meaning. You are here for a reason.” (Ashes Remain. Here for a Reason)
Dread and despair were, for me, easier to recover from. With hate, I feared that if I succumbed to it, everything would shatter because hate is the hardest to let go.
Being Instructed What is the difference between an error and a mistake? Anyone can make an error. It only becomes a mistake when the error goes uncorrected. Failure is an important teacher because when we fail, we learn why we failed and what our errors were. Likewise, trials and tribulations teach us what we would not have learnt otherwise. Head knowledge is one thing, like knowing the laws of physics. Applying them is another, like knowing how to use the laws to build something. The same can be said for trials and hardships. People make the error of thinking it would be better if we never faced hardships. Their mistake is in blaming God and others for causing these hardships to happen.
Dread can be overcome by remaining positive. I should have let a friend cheer me up. Having hope that the situation will get better did a lot for me. Despair is trickier. I remembered, “Listen to what you know, not what you fear.” Thinking about what I fear can make me despair more, which in turn makes me dread my current situation more. Applying logical thinking and reviewing the facts is a great way to overcome despair as it shows us if we could be overreacting. Lastly, hate. I needed to forgive. Forgive and stop blaming others for what they may or may not have done. Hate and anger would not solve my problems but only make things worse. By forgiving, I will calm down and can see things more clearly.
Why did God let me go through a season of darkness at Tekong? Wrong question. The right question, “What am I supposed to learn or do?”
Second, Light shines brightest in the dark. Dark places do exist. I would never have really seen God and what He does as I did on a personal level during BMT. It was when I was brought to my lowest point, mired in darkness, that His light shone the brightest.
When we are facing trials and in darkness, it is easy to become prey to the enemy. Like an arrow shot in the darkness, the enemy shot me with Dread. Then he stabbed Despair like a dagger through my heart. Thoughts of dread and despair consumed me. Then he brought the Scythe of Hate down on me. I festered with Hate. I hated others. I was angry at my predicament and with how unfair things were. I began blaming others and even God.
Let me end with a favourite phrase of mine: Accende Tenebris. It means “Ignite the Darkness.” You don’t ignite something and watch the fire curl at its borders; you get in the middle of it, light it up and then watch the fire spread outwards. 28
THANK YOU, BFEC
by Ng Geok Chye
BFEC is the only church I know.
I also remembered fondly learning under the leadership of Elder Lionel Ong and late Elder Yeo Oon Sek as I served as a deacon and church treasurer. Our late Elder Seet Poon Soo also showed me how to love, as I accompanied him during his prison visits.
I was invited to Frankel by a friend and prayed to receive Christ when I joined the Adults Training Class (ATC) in 1977. At that time, ATC was held in an open shed (where the Chapel and extended kindergarten block are currently situated).
BFEC introduced me to church community. I thank God for my first cell group, which stayed together for more than 10 years. The members were there when our children were born; we watched each other’s children grow up, get married and start their own families. Looking back, I am full of gratitude for God’s faithfulness in our lives.
In 1978, I was baptised by our late elder, Dr Tan Ban Cheng, and my baptism verse, Psalm 119:11- “I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you” has been a constant reminder to me even to this day. I remembered being taught by our Elders, like Ernest Chew and the late Seet Poon Soo during Discipleship Training Class and had fond memories of the many ATC Camps and Christmas carolling. Those were times when God brought brothers and sisters to encourage me in my faith journey.
Geok Chye (standing extreme left) at SSS Camp (1996)
As you can see, Frankel is very much a part of my life, my second home. I am reminded of the lyrics of the National Day song, “Home” – This is home, surely As my senses tell me This is where I won’t be alone For this is where I know it’s home
I got to know my wife, Nancy, from church. She was serving in the Girls’ Brigade then and was also a member of ATC. The late Elder Fred Sabapathy was not only the officiating minister at our wedding, but he and his wife (Mr and Mrs Fred, as we fondly called them) had also been a constant source of encouragement to us. They never failed to call us every year on our wedding anniversary, even when we were overseas.
And so, on this 60th anniversary, as I look back and reflect on God’s goodness, I am thankful for BFEC. If I could go back in time and start over again, I would still choose growing up in BFEC. Thank you, BFEC, for nurturing me and giving me many faithful brothers and sisters who have walked alongside me through the ups and downs of my faith journey. It is God who has built BFEC so that people like me can find our “home” on this side of heaven.
My children were dedicated in church when they were little and they grew up, grounded in the teaching of God through their dedicated Sunday School teachers, like Gail, Ai Ling, Guat Ha and Adrian Ng.
To God be the Glory!
29
Geok Chye’s cell group birthday celebration in 2000
30
THANK YOU, BFEC
by Ng Geok Chye
BFEC is the only church I know.
I also remembered fondly learning under the leadership of Elder Lionel Ong and late Elder Yeo Oon Sek as I served as a deacon and church treasurer. Our late Elder Seet Poon Soo also showed me how to love, as I accompanied him during his prison visits.
I was invited to Frankel by a friend and prayed to receive Christ when I joined the Adults Training Class (ATC) in 1977. At that time, ATC was held in an open shed (where the Chapel and extended kindergarten block are currently situated).
BFEC introduced me to church community. I thank God for my first cell group, which stayed together for more than 10 years. The members were there when our children were born; we watched each other’s children grow up, get married and start their own families. Looking back, I am full of gratitude for God’s faithfulness in our lives.
In 1978, I was baptised by our late elder, Dr Tan Ban Cheng, and my baptism verse, Psalm 119:11- “I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you” has been a constant reminder to me even to this day. I remembered being taught by our Elders, like Ernest Chew and the late Seet Poon Soo during Discipleship Training Class and had fond memories of the many ATC Camps and Christmas carolling. Those were times when God brought brothers and sisters to encourage me in my faith journey.
Geok Chye (standing extreme left) at SSS Camp (1996)
As you can see, Frankel is very much a part of my life, my second home. I am reminded of the lyrics of the National Day song, “Home” – This is home, surely As my senses tell me This is where I won’t be alone For this is where I know it’s home
I got to know my wife, Nancy, from church. She was serving in the Girls’ Brigade then and was also a member of ATC. The late Elder Fred Sabapathy was not only the officiating minister at our wedding, but he and his wife (Mr and Mrs Fred, as we fondly called them) had also been a constant source of encouragement to us. They never failed to call us every year on our wedding anniversary, even when we were overseas.
And so, on this 60th anniversary, as I look back and reflect on God’s goodness, I am thankful for BFEC. If I could go back in time and start over again, I would still choose growing up in BFEC. Thank you, BFEC, for nurturing me and giving me many faithful brothers and sisters who have walked alongside me through the ups and downs of my faith journey. It is God who has built BFEC so that people like me can find our “home” on this side of heaven.
My children were dedicated in church when they were little and they grew up, grounded in the teaching of God through their dedicated Sunday School teachers, like Gail, Ai Ling, Guat Ha and Adrian Ng.
To God be the Glory!
29
Geok Chye’s cell group birthday celebration in 2000
30
TWO For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
TWO For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
常青感恩之旅 EVER THANKFUL FOR THE EVERGREEN MINISTRY by 王慧珍 Heng Hwee Cheng
相较于英文部，中文部不论在人数，资源方面 都有局限，但神的恩典丰丰富富地加添在每个 所需的地方。常青有同工，有中英文部的弟兄 姐妹。俗话说：家和万事兴。在福兰克福音堂 的大家庭里，我们不分彼此，一起同心合一为 着我们的长辈献出我们卑微的器皿。
往前
神迹
谢谢大家同心服事 感动画面很多 爱的种子散播出去了
歌：有许多未来的事情，我现在不能识透， 但我知谁掌管明天，我也知谁牵我手。 2017年末给了同工这则 Whatsapp
【弗三20】「神能照着运行在我们心里的大 力，充充足足的成就一切超过我们所求所想 的。」 看听
看。当时我们的祷告是：求神向我们说话，给 我们三个月的时间，如果神没有和我们三人说 不，我们就开始常青团契。
【太十三16】「但你们的眼睛是有福的，因 为看见了；你们的耳朵也是有福的，因为听见 了。」
这扇门会一直为我而开，直到我甘心乐意通过 它走进去。
全知全能的神在我还未知前面道路的时候，一 颗一颗渐进地把常青的种子撒在我心中。家族 里我是唯一华校生，又在祂奇妙的安排下去了 特选中学，让我能以基本的双语文化背景在教 会中英文部沟通,筹划事宜。
预备
谢谢大家这一年来对我的包容 明年我会学着 话说慢一点 脚步放慢一点 点子少一点。
2017年9月6日，“相聚在邻里”，常青福音 布道午宴，250位朋友一起在神的殿里听神的 话语；2018年复活节，我们迎来常青第二和 三位受洗归主的朋友。每次郊游，从几十位到 如今的近百人，若没神的看顾，这么一群又是 拐杖又是轮椅的长辈，靠着人的力量，怎能成 事。感恩的事项何其多，感谢神从不撇下我 们。
交心长辈的忠言，多点玛利亚，不做庸庸碌碌 的马大。 大家给我的提醒，我铭记在心。感谢神，这一 路上有你们。 请在祷告中记念常青团契，我们只走神为我们 预备的道路。
【赛四十二16】「我要引瞎子行不认识的 道，领他们走不知道的路；在他们面前使黑暗 变为光明，使弯曲变为平直。这些事我都要 行，并不离弃他们。」
后来，有机会带着只懂海南话还没信主的家婆 到圣恩堂；还没信主的爸爸去勿洛信义会,勿 洛福音堂的乐龄团契……祂奇妙地预备了我前 面的路。
神的事工，祂必预备，敞开的门是无人能关 的。 2017年初我们开始筹备常青团契，在 此期间我哭了！苦了！觉得委屈了！身心软弱 了！神适时把天使带到我身边，安慰和修直前 面的道路。
祂让我看到华文乐龄团契带给只懂华语方言的 长辈的祝福，也让我听见长辈的声音，心里慢 慢地有了一个想法，福兰克福音堂也可以有华 文乐龄团契。
主内弟兄姐妹同心祷告，智慧的言语，温馨的 拥抱，这一切的一切都让我铭记于心。好多名 字，这会儿就在脑子里萦绕，感谢你们！你们 都在这事工上有份，你们在天上的赏赐是大 的。
祷告 【撒上三10】「。。。耶和华啊，请说，仆 人敬听！。。。」
神的事工，祂必预备， 敞开的门是无人能关的 。
2017年2月8日 福兰克福音堂常青团契开始 了新乐章。
胆怯的心让我裹足不前，神并没因此放弃我， 圣灵在我心里不断动工，见到的人，看到的 事，都是祂耐心的引导。
同心
2016年9月，这颗种子终于要发芽了。感谢 锺锦和长老和董希益执事的同心祷告。当我把 这个想法和他们分享时，他们没有把我当疯子
【番三9】「“那时，我必使万民用清洁的言 语，好求告我耶和华的名，同心合意地事奉 我。 」 33
34
常青感恩之旅 EVER THANKFUL FOR THE EVERGREEN MINISTRY by 王慧珍 Heng Hwee Cheng
相较于英文部，中文部不论在人数，资源方面 都有局限，但神的恩典丰丰富富地加添在每个 所需的地方。常青有同工，有中英文部的弟兄 姐妹。俗话说：家和万事兴。在福兰克福音堂 的大家庭里，我们不分彼此，一起同心合一为 着我们的长辈献出我们卑微的器皿。
往前
神迹
谢谢大家同心服事 感动画面很多 爱的种子散播出去了
歌：有许多未来的事情，我现在不能识透， 但我知谁掌管明天，我也知谁牵我手。 2017年末给了同工这则 Whatsapp
【弗三20】「神能照着运行在我们心里的大 力，充充足足的成就一切超过我们所求所想 的。」 看听
看。当时我们的祷告是：求神向我们说话，给 我们三个月的时间，如果神没有和我们三人说 不，我们就开始常青团契。
【太十三16】「但你们的眼睛是有福的，因 为看见了；你们的耳朵也是有福的，因为听见 了。」
这扇门会一直为我而开，直到我甘心乐意通过 它走进去。
全知全能的神在我还未知前面道路的时候，一 颗一颗渐进地把常青的种子撒在我心中。家族 里我是唯一华校生，又在祂奇妙的安排下去了 特选中学，让我能以基本的双语文化背景在教 会中英文部沟通,筹划事宜。
预备
谢谢大家这一年来对我的包容 明年我会学着 话说慢一点 脚步放慢一点 点子少一点。
2017年9月6日，“相聚在邻里”，常青福音 布道午宴，250位朋友一起在神的殿里听神的 话语；2018年复活节，我们迎来常青第二和 三位受洗归主的朋友。每次郊游，从几十位到 如今的近百人，若没神的看顾，这么一群又是 拐杖又是轮椅的长辈，靠着人的力量，怎能成 事。感恩的事项何其多，感谢神从不撇下我 们。
交心长辈的忠言，多点玛利亚，不做庸庸碌碌 的马大。 大家给我的提醒，我铭记在心。感谢神，这一 路上有你们。 请在祷告中记念常青团契，我们只走神为我们 预备的道路。
【赛四十二16】「我要引瞎子行不认识的 道，领他们走不知道的路；在他们面前使黑暗 变为光明，使弯曲变为平直。这些事我都要 行，并不离弃他们。」
后来，有机会带着只懂海南话还没信主的家婆 到圣恩堂；还没信主的爸爸去勿洛信义会,勿 洛福音堂的乐龄团契……祂奇妙地预备了我前 面的路。
神的事工，祂必预备，敞开的门是无人能关 的。 2017年初我们开始筹备常青团契，在 此期间我哭了！苦了！觉得委屈了！身心软弱 了！神适时把天使带到我身边，安慰和修直前 面的道路。
祂让我看到华文乐龄团契带给只懂华语方言的 长辈的祝福，也让我听见长辈的声音，心里慢 慢地有了一个想法，福兰克福音堂也可以有华 文乐龄团契。
主内弟兄姐妹同心祷告，智慧的言语，温馨的 拥抱，这一切的一切都让我铭记于心。好多名 字，这会儿就在脑子里萦绕，感谢你们！你们 都在这事工上有份，你们在天上的赏赐是大 的。
祷告 【撒上三10】「。。。耶和华啊，请说，仆 人敬听！。。。」
神的事工，祂必预备， 敞开的门是无人能关的 。
2017年2月8日 福兰克福音堂常青团契开始 了新乐章。
胆怯的心让我裹足不前，神并没因此放弃我， 圣灵在我心里不断动工，见到的人，看到的 事，都是祂耐心的引导。
同心
2016年9月，这颗种子终于要发芽了。感谢 锺锦和长老和董希益执事的同心祷告。当我把 这个想法和他们分享时，他们没有把我当疯子
【番三9】「“那时，我必使万民用清洁的言 语，好求告我耶和华的名，同心合意地事奉 我。 」 33
34
I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)
“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” (Matthew 13:16)
Our God leads us through unfamiliar paths; He lights our way and makes our journey smooth. God had opened the door for the Evergreen ministry and He was with us throughout the journey. We started preparing, planning and scheduling for the Evergreen Ministry at the beginning of 2017. It was a time that was both mentally and physically challenging. But during this trying period, God sent his gracious angels to comfort and pave the way forward.
Reflecting on how the Evergreen fellowship began, it is amazing to see how our omniscient God had planned this Chinese ministry initiative even from my days as a student, preparing me with an education first in a Chinese medium school and then in a SAP school. Back then, I often wondered why I was the only one in my family who attended a Chinese School.
The prayers of these angels, their words of wisdom and the warm fellowship of these brothers and sisters in Christ will always be etched on my heart. There are too many of them to thank here, but their reward in heaven is great.
The basic understanding of both languages and cultures enabled communication with the respective ministries in church during the startup of Evergreen. The seed of a Chinese fellowship was also planted when I brought my Hainanese-speaking motherin-law to Holy Grace Presbyterian Church and when my father started attending Bedok BethesdaTampines Church and Bedok Lutheran Church Elderly Fellowship. Both of them accepted Christ and God opened my eyes to the blessings that would come from having a Chinese-based fellowship.
Through the grace of God and with the help of these brothers and sisters, the BFEC Chinese Evergreen Fellowship was born on 8 February 2017.
A year has passed. At the end of 2017, I sent a whatsapp message to the Evergreen co-workers:
celebrated as our second and third member of this fellowship were baptised.
“Thank you for serving in Evergreen. Thank you for all the touching and heartwarming moments in this ministry as we sow the seed of love. Thank you for your understanding this year. Thank you for grace and forgiveness. Next year I will learn to talk a bit slower, to walk a bit slower and to have fewer ideas.”
We meet every Wednesday. On the 5th week of the month, we plan an outing. We praise God for this blessing and give thanks for it is only through His strength that these outings, involving elderly with wheelchairs and walking sticks, are possible. The Evergreen ministry has so many things to give thanks for and we thank the Lord for always being there for us.
A wise and caring Elder in church also advised, I had to “be more like Mary rather than Martha”. I thank God for all of you on this journey, and I will hold all your guidance and reminders close to my heart.
What is ahead? “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand”
Please pray for Evergreen that we will only walk the path that God has prepared for us.
United in one heart “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.” (Zephaniah 3:9)
Starting with prayer “The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)
Initial concerns about resources and volunteers for the Evergreen ministry were quickly forgotten when Frankelites from both the English and the Chinese congregations stepped forward to volunteer their talents and gifts. Language barriers were overcome as we served together as one family.
The idea for the Evergreen ministry for BFEC remained just an idea for a long time. It seemed a daunting task and I did not feel up to the challenge. However, God was faithful and the Holy Spirit continued to work in me and guide me - showing me the steps that were needed to be taken and the people who were needed to start the ministry.
Language barriers were overcome as we served together as one family.
Miracles “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, God does far beyond what we expect.” (Ephesians 3:20)
In September 2016, Elder Chong Kum Wah and Deacon Adam Tang Khee Lee were told about the idea for a Chinese fellowship for the elderly. We prayed about it. Our prayer was that if after three months God did not say ‘no’, we would go ahead with this ministry.
God had planted the seed for Evergreen and through His Grace, the ministry soon bore fruit. 6 September 2017 - One Together 250 people gathered to fellowship and hear God’s Word.
God leads us “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things
On Easter Sunday 2018, the Evergreen ministry Evergreen Ministry Outing at Changi Airport Terminal 4.
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I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)
“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” (Matthew 13:16)
Our God leads us through unfamiliar paths; He lights our way and makes our journey smooth. God had opened the door for the Evergreen ministry and He was with us throughout the journey. We started preparing, planning and scheduling for the Evergreen Ministry at the beginning of 2017. It was a time that was both mentally and physically challenging. But during this trying period, God sent his gracious angels to comfort and pave the way forward.
Reflecting on how the Evergreen fellowship began, it is amazing to see how our omniscient God had planned this Chinese ministry initiative even from my days as a student, preparing me with an education first in a Chinese medium school and then in a SAP school. Back then, I often wondered why I was the only one in my family who attended a Chinese School.
The prayers of these angels, their words of wisdom and the warm fellowship of these brothers and sisters in Christ will always be etched on my heart. There are too many of them to thank here, but their reward in heaven is great.
The basic understanding of both languages and cultures enabled communication with the respective ministries in church during the startup of Evergreen. The seed of a Chinese fellowship was also planted when I brought my Hainanese-speaking motherin-law to Holy Grace Presbyterian Church and when my father started attending Bedok BethesdaTampines Church and Bedok Lutheran Church Elderly Fellowship. Both of them accepted Christ and God opened my eyes to the blessings that would come from having a Chinese-based fellowship.
Through the grace of God and with the help of these brothers and sisters, the BFEC Chinese Evergreen Fellowship was born on 8 February 2017.
A year has passed. At the end of 2017, I sent a whatsapp message to the Evergreen co-workers:
celebrated as our second and third member of this fellowship were baptised.
“Thank you for serving in Evergreen. Thank you for all the touching and heartwarming moments in this ministry as we sow the seed of love. Thank you for your understanding this year. Thank you for grace and forgiveness. Next year I will learn to talk a bit slower, to walk a bit slower and to have fewer ideas.”
We meet every Wednesday. On the 5th week of the month, we plan an outing. We praise God for this blessing and give thanks for it is only through His strength that these outings, involving elderly with wheelchairs and walking sticks, are possible. The Evergreen ministry has so many things to give thanks for and we thank the Lord for always being there for us.
A wise and caring Elder in church also advised, I had to “be more like Mary rather than Martha”. I thank God for all of you on this journey, and I will hold all your guidance and reminders close to my heart.
What is ahead? “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand”
Please pray for Evergreen that we will only walk the path that God has prepared for us.
United in one heart “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.” (Zephaniah 3:9)
Starting with prayer “The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)
Initial concerns about resources and volunteers for the Evergreen ministry were quickly forgotten when Frankelites from both the English and the Chinese congregations stepped forward to volunteer their talents and gifts. Language barriers were overcome as we served together as one family.
The idea for the Evergreen ministry for BFEC remained just an idea for a long time. It seemed a daunting task and I did not feel up to the challenge. However, God was faithful and the Holy Spirit continued to work in me and guide me - showing me the steps that were needed to be taken and the people who were needed to start the ministry.
Language barriers were overcome as we served together as one family.
Miracles “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, God does far beyond what we expect.” (Ephesians 3:20)
In September 2016, Elder Chong Kum Wah and Deacon Adam Tang Khee Lee were told about the idea for a Chinese fellowship for the elderly. We prayed about it. Our prayer was that if after three months God did not say ‘no’, we would go ahead with this ministry.
God had planted the seed for Evergreen and through His Grace, the ministry soon bore fruit. 6 September 2017 - One Together 250 people gathered to fellowship and hear God’s Word.
God leads us “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things
On Easter Sunday 2018, the Evergreen ministry Evergreen Ministry Outing at Changi Airport Terminal 4.
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COMING HOME AWAY FROM HOME
by Monika Ta
The result? A growing earnestness during Bible studies, a hunger for the Word no matter what personal or family background and such sincerity in seeking God, resulting in a number of baptisms!
What can one contribute in a group where cultures differ and sometimes clash, and where the competency in spoken English can vary so widely? How does one prepare an engaging Bible study lesson for both Christians and pre-believers? Can I be effective since I don’t even speak their native language? These were some of my struggles when I first started serving the sisters, and some brothers, from the Philippines and Indonesia with the International Fellowship (or IF), then known as the Foreign Workers Ministry, back in 2006.
As these fellow disciples-in-the-making grow in the Word and Spirit, they naturally come to a point where they seek opportunities to serve alongside other members of the BFEC body. One area that really encourages me is when we serve together at Cafe Leaf. The team spirit and servanthood add a special flavour to the dishes served. Could this be why it’s always “sold out”?
Despite these real and perceived barriers, I’ve come to realise that the language of God’s love is far-reaching and barrier-breaking in IF, even as other nationals from Myanmar and Sri Lanka have since joined. I have seen God’s love touch and melt many a heart these 12 years.
Besides Cafe Leaf, members of the IF regularly serve as stewards and greeters at worship services, alongside other Frankelites being rostered. During Social Action month, we also go out in pairs to bless other domestic helpers staying in and around our Frankel neighbourhood. When it comes to church
Weekly Bible Study
events or campaigns, IF will not want to be left out. At one recent carnival, our members came up with a brilliant way to raise funds for St Andrew’s Autism School. We sold pre-loved items and did simple massages. That was really enjoyable! Our ultimate goal is to equip our members with spiritual truths, so that when it’s time to return home, they can take on leadership roles to serve their community. Will you pray with us?
Birthday Celebration
IF is really a home away from home - where tears of joy and woe alike are shared and where lives are spurred on to live out His values in the various homes they serve. It is this vulnerability and receptivity that makes serving them for the three or so years they are here meaningful and beautiful. I am sure I’m not alone in realising this. It has been a real joy and privilege in this season of my life to serve alongside Seetoh Hui Ing, Lea Gonzales, Florence Ramos and Tan Fang Fang, not forgetting forerunners (in no particular order) like Lindis Szto, Anna Lau, Pamela Teh, Angeline Koh, Shirley Soo, Becky Lagman, Chong Mui Chin, Amy Tan, Ding, Ethel, Mariana and Ria. May this simple sharing give you a better insight into the IF ministry. May it also encourage you to serve in any capacity you are led to consider, even for a stint. Come, step forward and be encouraged.
Serving at Cafe Leaf
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COMING HOME AWAY FROM HOME
by Monika Ta
The result? A growing earnestness during Bible studies, a hunger for the Word no matter what personal or family background and such sincerity in seeking God, resulting in a number of baptisms!
What can one contribute in a group where cultures differ and sometimes clash, and where the competency in spoken English can vary so widely? How does one prepare an engaging Bible study lesson for both Christians and pre-believers? Can I be effective since I don’t even speak their native language? These were some of my struggles when I first started serving the sisters, and some brothers, from the Philippines and Indonesia with the International Fellowship (or IF), then known as the Foreign Workers Ministry, back in 2006.
As these fellow disciples-in-the-making grow in the Word and Spirit, they naturally come to a point where they seek opportunities to serve alongside other members of the BFEC body. One area that really encourages me is when we serve together at Cafe Leaf. The team spirit and servanthood add a special flavour to the dishes served. Could this be why it’s always “sold out”?
Despite these real and perceived barriers, I’ve come to realise that the language of God’s love is far-reaching and barrier-breaking in IF, even as other nationals from Myanmar and Sri Lanka have since joined. I have seen God’s love touch and melt many a heart these 12 years.
Besides Cafe Leaf, members of the IF regularly serve as stewards and greeters at worship services, alongside other Frankelites being rostered. During Social Action month, we also go out in pairs to bless other domestic helpers staying in and around our Frankel neighbourhood. When it comes to church
Weekly Bible Study
events or campaigns, IF will not want to be left out. At one recent carnival, our members came up with a brilliant way to raise funds for St Andrew’s Autism School. We sold pre-loved items and did simple massages. That was really enjoyable! Our ultimate goal is to equip our members with spiritual truths, so that when it’s time to return home, they can take on leadership roles to serve their community. Will you pray with us?
Birthday Celebration
IF is really a home away from home - where tears of joy and woe alike are shared and where lives are spurred on to live out His values in the various homes they serve. It is this vulnerability and receptivity that makes serving them for the three or so years they are here meaningful and beautiful. I am sure I’m not alone in realising this. It has been a real joy and privilege in this season of my life to serve alongside Seetoh Hui Ing, Lea Gonzales, Florence Ramos and Tan Fang Fang, not forgetting forerunners (in no particular order) like Lindis Szto, Anna Lau, Pamela Teh, Angeline Koh, Shirley Soo, Becky Lagman, Chong Mui Chin, Amy Tan, Ding, Ethel, Mariana and Ria. May this simple sharing give you a better insight into the IF ministry. May it also encourage you to serve in any capacity you are led to consider, even for a stint. Come, step forward and be encouraged.
Serving at Cafe Leaf
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DO EVERYTHING IN LOVE
Collection of the completed boxes
by Willy Ong
“Do everything in love” – 1 Corinthians 16:14
In 1 Corinthians 16:14, Paul exhorts the Corinth Church to “do everything in love”. Christ did everything in obedience to His Father, and out of love for every living person. Even to the Cross. During the 40 Days of Community (40DOC) campaign in 2012, hundreds of Frankelites put their faith into action by loving our neighbours near and far. 40DOC is long over and Project Shoebox might not occur again till another season. But the love of Christ continues to dwell in each of our hearts.
It was June-July 2012. My wife Sharon and I were staying up every other night typing furiously on our laptops responding to emails after our daughter was put to bed. Thankfully there was no Whatsapp back then! Things were falling into place as the Social Action Committee and key church staff and leaders worked together to challenge every single Frankelite to participate in at least one of the 15 social action projects over a period of 40 days. They ranged from cleaning up houses of low-income families to befriending foreign workers to ministering to the elderly, the sick, the blind and the poor.
Empty carton boxes waiting to be collected by Frankelites
Submitting a personalised shoebox for a girl
A sample of a completed box
While we commemorate the 60th anniversary of BFEC, my prayer is that every Frankelite will continue to love their respective neighbours and to “do everything in love”, in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
The anchor “Project Shoebox” was a highlight for many. We vividly remembered how parts of BFEC became an “assembly line and warehouse”, where brightly-coloured shoeboxes were stacked up like colourful walls, each lovingly decorated and packed with love.
Cell groups lovingly putting together the shoeboxes
Sealing of all the boxes collected
It was a great encouragement as the congregation saw the shoeboxes accumulating every week right at the area under the Cross. 2,000+ Shoeboxes were eventually packed and sent to Cambodia. It was a season where the whole church was mobilised to impact communities within BFEC, in Singapore, and beyond our shores.
Shoeboxes at the Cross
A symbolic presentation of the shoebox to OM, Mrs Dawn Greenfield by Guest of Honour Moses Lim
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Celebration Sunday with the shoeboxes as a backdrop
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DO EVERYTHING IN LOVE
Collection of the completed boxes
by Willy Ong
“Do everything in love” – 1 Corinthians 16:14
In 1 Corinthians 16:14, Paul exhorts the Corinth Church to “do everything in love”. Christ did everything in obedience to His Father, and out of love for every living person. Even to the Cross. During the 40 Days of Community (40DOC) campaign in 2012, hundreds of Frankelites put their faith into action by loving our neighbours near and far. 40DOC is long over and Project Shoebox might not occur again till another season. But the love of Christ continues to dwell in each of our hearts.
It was June-July 2012. My wife Sharon and I were staying up every other night typing furiously on our laptops responding to emails after our daughter was put to bed. Thankfully there was no Whatsapp back then! Things were falling into place as the Social Action Committee and key church staff and leaders worked together to challenge every single Frankelite to participate in at least one of the 15 social action projects over a period of 40 days. They ranged from cleaning up houses of low-income families to befriending foreign workers to ministering to the elderly, the sick, the blind and the poor.
Empty carton boxes waiting to be collected by Frankelites
Submitting a personalised shoebox for a girl
A sample of a completed box
While we commemorate the 60th anniversary of BFEC, my prayer is that every Frankelite will continue to love their respective neighbours and to “do everything in love”, in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
The anchor “Project Shoebox” was a highlight for many. We vividly remembered how parts of BFEC became an “assembly line and warehouse”, where brightly-coloured shoeboxes were stacked up like colourful walls, each lovingly decorated and packed with love.
Cell groups lovingly putting together the shoeboxes
Sealing of all the boxes collected
It was a great encouragement as the congregation saw the shoeboxes accumulating every week right at the area under the Cross. 2,000+ Shoeboxes were eventually packed and sent to Cambodia. It was a season where the whole church was mobilised to impact communities within BFEC, in Singapore, and beyond our shores.
Shoeboxes at the Cross
A symbolic presentation of the shoebox to OM, Mrs Dawn Greenfield by Guest of Honour Moses Lim
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Celebration Sunday with the shoeboxes as a backdrop
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THE JOY WHEN WE SING
by Lindis Szto
In ministry, both in church and abroad, hymns and spiritual songs with their strong, unchanging theological truths have always given me new strength and courage, especially when the going gets tough. Music breaks down cultural barriers, cuts across age differences and denominational lines. Music binds groups of people together; there is a sense of camaraderie that gives us an identity as a specific people group. Martin Luther was right when he said, “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through music.”
One day, dear friend, we will join our voices with the myriads of angels and the great multitude of believers from every nation, tribe, people and language singing:“Praise and honour belong to the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb! Glory and power belong to God for ever and ever!” (Rev 5:13) What a Glorious Day that will be! Amen! Singing with you for Him, Lindis Szto
Choir in the ‘80s
even organised opportunities where those who especially enjoyed singing served as worship ‘back-up’ singers at 8am and 10am services.
My dear brothers and sisters, What a joy to sing with you in church on Sundays. I know that you don’t always feel like singing and at times the song may be unfamiliar. But do you realise something wonderful happens when we come together to sing - to God and to one another? No matter what our individual journey is with God, we are united by the same Spirit as our voices come together to sing. We all have the best reason to sing to give thanks to Him for redeeming us from our sins and to sing His praises.
But before you get the idea that you need to be super-talented to sing, think again. Though not everyone will enter or win “Singapore’s Got Talent”, I’m convinced that everyone who can speak can learn to use a singing voice. God is fair; not everyone can play a musical instrument but everyone has a built-in musical instrument. Everyone can learn to sing.
Youth Choir
You are living proof of this. I remember how disappointed you were when you thought you couldn’t make the grade to join the choir. But you persisted and picked up simple skills in correct vocal techniques. You now know you can sing and have the confidence and ability to sing for the Lord.
Through the years, I have noticed many congregational singers who have come and gone. Some have gone home to be with the Lord. Some have stopped singing about Him altogether. Whatever the reasons, I do miss their voices.
I love to sing, but singing with others who love the Lord gives me so much more joy. Whether the voices are blending harmoniously, acappella or accompanied by some musical instrument, the sound of God’s people singing together is, well, heavenly!
Through the years, I have also witnessed many singing projects in our church. Singing is such a part of our BFEC story. Apart from choirs that started way back in the early years of BFEC, we’ve also had Sunday School talentimes, ATCET (Adult Training Class singing team) performances and Youth Choir musicals. There were numerous Choir cantatas. Then there were the unforgettable evangelistic musicals like PHIL and TGBCG (The Great Big Christmas Giveaway 1 & 2) that galvanized many of us. There was even a time when we had Cafe Frankeltino - held on Saturdays - where different people and small groups sang. More recently, we
Throughout my Christian life, music has lifted me from loneliness, discouragement, sadness, anxiety and added to my times of celebration and joy. I cannot stop singing! “I sing because I’m happy! I sing because I’m free, for His eye is on the sparrow and I know He cares for me”. 41
Christmas (1968) Choir
Church Choir at the BFEC 50th Anniversary
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THE JOY WHEN WE SING
by Lindis Szto
In ministry, both in church and abroad, hymns and spiritual songs with their strong, unchanging theological truths have always given me new strength and courage, especially when the going gets tough. Music breaks down cultural barriers, cuts across age differences and denominational lines. Music binds groups of people together; there is a sense of camaraderie that gives us an identity as a specific people group. Martin Luther was right when he said, “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through music.”
One day, dear friend, we will join our voices with the myriads of angels and the great multitude of believers from every nation, tribe, people and language singing:“Praise and honour belong to the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb! Glory and power belong to God for ever and ever!” (Rev 5:13) What a Glorious Day that will be! Amen! Singing with you for Him, Lindis Szto
Choir in the ‘80s
even organised opportunities where those who especially enjoyed singing served as worship ‘back-up’ singers at 8am and 10am services.
My dear brothers and sisters, What a joy to sing with you in church on Sundays. I know that you don’t always feel like singing and at times the song may be unfamiliar. But do you realise something wonderful happens when we come together to sing - to God and to one another? No matter what our individual journey is with God, we are united by the same Spirit as our voices come together to sing. We all have the best reason to sing to give thanks to Him for redeeming us from our sins and to sing His praises.
But before you get the idea that you need to be super-talented to sing, think again. Though not everyone will enter or win “Singapore’s Got Talent”, I’m convinced that everyone who can speak can learn to use a singing voice. God is fair; not everyone can play a musical instrument but everyone has a built-in musical instrument. Everyone can learn to sing.
Youth Choir
You are living proof of this. I remember how disappointed you were when you thought you couldn’t make the grade to join the choir. But you persisted and picked up simple skills in correct vocal techniques. You now know you can sing and have the confidence and ability to sing for the Lord.
Through the years, I have noticed many congregational singers who have come and gone. Some have gone home to be with the Lord. Some have stopped singing about Him altogether. Whatever the reasons, I do miss their voices.
I love to sing, but singing with others who love the Lord gives me so much more joy. Whether the voices are blending harmoniously, acappella or accompanied by some musical instrument, the sound of God’s people singing together is, well, heavenly!
Through the years, I have also witnessed many singing projects in our church. Singing is such a part of our BFEC story. Apart from choirs that started way back in the early years of BFEC, we’ve also had Sunday School talentimes, ATCET (Adult Training Class singing team) performances and Youth Choir musicals. There were numerous Choir cantatas. Then there were the unforgettable evangelistic musicals like PHIL and TGBCG (The Great Big Christmas Giveaway 1 & 2) that galvanized many of us. There was even a time when we had Cafe Frankeltino - held on Saturdays - where different people and small groups sang. More recently, we
Throughout my Christian life, music has lifted me from loneliness, discouragement, sadness, anxiety and added to my times of celebration and joy. I cannot stop singing! “I sing because I’m happy! I sing because I’m free, for His eye is on the sparrow and I know He cares for me”. 41
Christmas (1968) Choir
Church Choir at the BFEC 50th Anniversary
42
WERE IT NOT FOR THE BOYS’ BRIGADE
by Jeffrey Goh (former Elder of Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church)
我们都是祭司 WE ARE A PRIESTHOOD by 钟锦和长老 Elder Chong Kum Wah Translated by Kuah Leck Ping
Officer Cadet School and was commissioned as an Officer in 1972. From the leadership examples of Captain James Ho, Captain Tay Cheng Kee and other Brigade leaders, I learnt how to motivate and lead my National Servicemen.
Did you know I was introduced to BFEC way back when I was in primary school? BFEC was in her early years and I was still attending Bethesda Katong Church. I was looking for an ECA (Extra Curricular Activity) to join. I was told that the Boys’ Brigade (BB) was meeting at BFEC. I visited BFEC one Saturday and saw the BB training taking place. I took an instant liking to the BB uniform of blue with a white lanyard and beret. I decided to join but I could not afford to buy the uniform as my family was very poor. I brought this up to the Captain, the late brother James Ho, and he arranged for BFEC to sponsor my uniform. I was so grateful. Every Saturday, I would wear the uniform for training and continued to wear it at home for a while to admiring glances from the neighbourhood children!
When I became an Elder in Bethesda Bedok Tampines Church (BBTC), I was privileged and honoured to be given opportunities to preach at BFEC and also to be involved in leadership development. I also started speaking at the Peranakan Ministry at BFEC. Although my command of Baba Malay is not fluent, BFEC Peranakans patiently allowed me to practise the language with them as my “guinea pigs.” Whenever I step into BFEC, I sense a warm welcome, with warm “tau huay chwee” (soya bean milk) and lots of kueh (Malay cakes) and conversations.
The BB taught me many Christian values when I was a young boy hungry to learn about Christ. As a result, when I was in Primary 6, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
Although I have since stepped down as an Elder of BBTC, BFEC leaders and members will always have a special place in my heart! May BFEC continue to grow and be a beacon of hope for the residents of Frankel and the neighbourhood, and live out the destiny God has for her now and in the future.
In the BB, I also learnt to blow the bugle, an instrument unique to the BB, and I also learnt to play the side drums. I was good at this and I vividly remember playing the side drums at the 1960 National Day Parade at the Padang! It was so memorable. Because of my musical experience gleaned from the BB, I was put in charge of starting a Brass Band when I became a teacher at Jalan Eunos Primary School. The BB also prepared me for National Service. I learnt how to march and other disciplines that later helped me adapt very well to the rigours of military life. I did so well in National Service that I was sent to
与许多基督徒一样，当初信主，为的是要寻求 永恒的生命，并争取进入天堂，即心满意足， 别无他求，殊不知主有他的命令。我们活在世 上乃是要荣耀主的圣名，完成主托付给我们的 使命 - 使万民作我的门徒 （太二十八19）。 我们总要 “敬畏神、谨守他的诫命、这是人 所当尽的本分。因为人所作的事、连一切隐藏 的事、无论是善是恶、神都必审问”（传十二 13-14）。
「惟有你们是被拣选的族类、是有君尊的祭 司、是圣洁的国度、是属神的子民、要叫你们 宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。」 (彼前二9) 在旧约时代，以色列人不能直接来到神面前， 而必须透过祭司间接见神。但到了新约时代， 因着主耶稣的救赎，基督徒（无论是以色列民 或外邦人）再也无需通过中间媒介 - 祭司， 而是可以直接到神面前，因为我们是君尊的祭 司，是属神的子民，这是何等幸福的事啊！但 别忘了我们须宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明 者的美德，也即是爱主耶稣，服侍主耶稣，传 扬福音。
当我读了上述的经文，在圣灵带领和感动下， 毅然开始参加事奉，负责担任家庭营营长，当 时孩子仍年幼，介于两岁到六岁之间。在孩子 成长阶段，也带领细胞小组。在职场接近退休 时，接棒担任中文部主席。不敢凭着一己之 力，把事奉作好，因为所谓的好，是主观和见 仁见智，容易陷入论断的短视光景中，乃是凭 着主所加添的力量，自己尽心，尽性，尽意， 尽力的与同工一起事奉。 愿主给我们恩上加 恩，力上加力，聚焦于主身上。
在人生的每一个阶段，都有个别阶段的重大事 项要处理。青少年/学生时代，时间就被功课 考试所占据；进入职场，就一头栽进工作中， 也同时为 “立业成家” 而忙得团团转；孩子 进入这世界后，小家庭更加忙碌，为孩子成 长，学业而到处奔波；等到事业稍微稳定后， 又要为子女的婚姻，孙儿的抚养再度的忙碌； 当我们猛然觉悟所剩下的时日无多时，身体机 能也开始渐渐衰退，力不从心。我们难道就如 此这般沉浸在忙碌中，虚度人生吗？忘了回应 主的呼召吗？
Jeffrey Goh preaching at the 2016 Easter Service at Parkland Green Conducting a baptism (sprinkling).
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44
WERE IT NOT FOR THE BOYS’ BRIGADE
by Jeffrey Goh (former Elder of Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church)
我们都是祭司 WE ARE A PRIESTHOOD by 钟锦和长老 Elder Chong Kum Wah Translated by Kuah Leck Ping
Officer Cadet School and was commissioned as an Officer in 1972. From the leadership examples of Captain James Ho, Captain Tay Cheng Kee and other Brigade leaders, I learnt how to motivate and lead my National Servicemen.
Did you know I was introduced to BFEC way back when I was in primary school? BFEC was in her early years and I was still attending Bethesda Katong Church. I was looking for an ECA (Extra Curricular Activity) to join. I was told that the Boys’ Brigade (BB) was meeting at BFEC. I visited BFEC one Saturday and saw the BB training taking place. I took an instant liking to the BB uniform of blue with a white lanyard and beret. I decided to join but I could not afford to buy the uniform as my family was very poor. I brought this up to the Captain, the late brother James Ho, and he arranged for BFEC to sponsor my uniform. I was so grateful. Every Saturday, I would wear the uniform for training and continued to wear it at home for a while to admiring glances from the neighbourhood children!
When I became an Elder in Bethesda Bedok Tampines Church (BBTC), I was privileged and honoured to be given opportunities to preach at BFEC and also to be involved in leadership development. I also started speaking at the Peranakan Ministry at BFEC. Although my command of Baba Malay is not fluent, BFEC Peranakans patiently allowed me to practise the language with them as my “guinea pigs.” Whenever I step into BFEC, I sense a warm welcome, with warm “tau huay chwee” (soya bean milk) and lots of kueh (Malay cakes) and conversations.
The BB taught me many Christian values when I was a young boy hungry to learn about Christ. As a result, when I was in Primary 6, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
Although I have since stepped down as an Elder of BBTC, BFEC leaders and members will always have a special place in my heart! May BFEC continue to grow and be a beacon of hope for the residents of Frankel and the neighbourhood, and live out the destiny God has for her now and in the future.
In the BB, I also learnt to blow the bugle, an instrument unique to the BB, and I also learnt to play the side drums. I was good at this and I vividly remember playing the side drums at the 1960 National Day Parade at the Padang! It was so memorable. Because of my musical experience gleaned from the BB, I was put in charge of starting a Brass Band when I became a teacher at Jalan Eunos Primary School. The BB also prepared me for National Service. I learnt how to march and other disciplines that later helped me adapt very well to the rigours of military life. I did so well in National Service that I was sent to
与许多基督徒一样，当初信主，为的是要寻求 永恒的生命，并争取进入天堂，即心满意足， 别无他求，殊不知主有他的命令。我们活在世 上乃是要荣耀主的圣名，完成主托付给我们的 使命 - 使万民作我的门徒 （太二十八19）。 我们总要 “敬畏神、谨守他的诫命、这是人 所当尽的本分。因为人所作的事、连一切隐藏 的事、无论是善是恶、神都必审问”（传十二 13-14）。
「惟有你们是被拣选的族类、是有君尊的祭 司、是圣洁的国度、是属神的子民、要叫你们 宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。」 (彼前二9) 在旧约时代，以色列人不能直接来到神面前， 而必须透过祭司间接见神。但到了新约时代， 因着主耶稣的救赎，基督徒（无论是以色列民 或外邦人）再也无需通过中间媒介 - 祭司， 而是可以直接到神面前，因为我们是君尊的祭 司，是属神的子民，这是何等幸福的事啊！但 别忘了我们须宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明 者的美德，也即是爱主耶稣，服侍主耶稣，传 扬福音。
当我读了上述的经文，在圣灵带领和感动下， 毅然开始参加事奉，负责担任家庭营营长，当 时孩子仍年幼，介于两岁到六岁之间。在孩子 成长阶段，也带领细胞小组。在职场接近退休 时，接棒担任中文部主席。不敢凭着一己之 力，把事奉作好，因为所谓的好，是主观和见 仁见智，容易陷入论断的短视光景中，乃是凭 着主所加添的力量，自己尽心，尽性，尽意， 尽力的与同工一起事奉。 愿主给我们恩上加 恩，力上加力，聚焦于主身上。
在人生的每一个阶段，都有个别阶段的重大事 项要处理。青少年/学生时代，时间就被功课 考试所占据；进入职场，就一头栽进工作中， 也同时为 “立业成家” 而忙得团团转；孩子 进入这世界后，小家庭更加忙碌，为孩子成 长，学业而到处奔波；等到事业稍微稳定后， 又要为子女的婚姻，孙儿的抚养再度的忙碌； 当我们猛然觉悟所剩下的时日无多时，身体机 能也开始渐渐衰退，力不从心。我们难道就如 此这般沉浸在忙碌中，虚度人生吗？忘了回应 主的呼召吗？
Jeffrey Goh preaching at the 2016 Easter Service at Parkland Green Conducting a baptism (sprinkling).
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44
CONTINUE TO STUDY, TEACH, PREACH AND LIVE OUT THE WORD
by Philip Satterthwaite, Principal, Biblical Graduate School of Theology (BGST)
My congratulations to you on BFEC’s 60th anniversary.
Chong Kum Wah with the Chinese Com 2016
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
As Christians, we believe God has given us eternal life. We may feel satisfied, thinking that it is enough to secure a place in heaven, without realising that our Lord has commanded us to do more. We are to live to bring glory to the Lord’s name and to fulfill His mandate to us – to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). We should take heed of Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
In Old Testament times, the Israelites could not approach God directly. They could meet God indirectly via the priests. But in New Testament times, because of our Lord Jesus’ redemptive work, Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, no longer needed a human mediator - another “priest” - but can, as priests ourselves, approach God directly. For we are a royal priesthood and God’s chosen people - how blessed and privileged we are! However, let us not forget that we need to exhibit the virtue of the One who brought us out of darkness and led us into His wonderful light. We need to love and serve the Lord Jesus and preach the gospel.
With the Holy Spirit’s leading, after reading the verses above, I was prompted to serve the church as camp commandant. At that time, my children were very young, between two to six years old. I also led a small group when my children were growing up. When I was near retirement, I found myself accepting the baton to become the Chinese Ministry chairman. I cannot rely on my own strength to do the ministry well and it is premature to judge whether I have done a good job or not. All I can do is to rely on our Lord who strengthens me and continue to be faithful as I serve alongside my coworkers with all my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength.
As we go through different stages of life, we will have various important matters to deal with. For young people, their time is occupied by homework and examinations. For those in the marketplace, they would be snowed under by work and busy with establishing a career and building a family. Once children come along, the family will become busier overseeing the children’s growth and schooling. When the time comes to reap the fruit of a stable career, the children may get married and along come the grandchildren. And so this goes on. We realize that our days are numbered and our physical body is ageing and weakening. But do we just want to get sucked into this kind of busyness and waste our lives? Have we forgotten to respond to our Lord’s calling?
excessively cheem (“deep” in Singlish) sermons, but preaching through these books was a great help for me in developing my understanding of them and how to apply them today, and therefore a great help to me in my work as an lecturer on the Old Testament at the Biblical Graduate School of Theology (BGST).
BFEC holds a particular place in my affections, as you were the first church in Singapore to invite me to preach to you, not simply on one Sunday, but for all the Sundays of one month (June 2001) on a book of my choice. As some you may remember, the book I chose to speak on was Ecclesiastes. I found it a great experience to study this book in some depth, and go through some of the Preacher’s musings with you.
In the last three series you had the great idea of getting me to share the series with some of your young men whom you were training up to be preachers: I preached some of the sermons in the series but also helped these men to put together their sermons and discussed with them afterwards how their sermons had been received. This was the most enjoyable for me. I thought this was a highly creative approach on your part, and one that showed your concern that the work of BFEC should continue to grow in the decades to come.
Astonishingly, you invited me back to do the same thing in many of the years that followed. This, in spite of the fact that I publicly warned you that I would accept such invitations! So I preached the series on Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Kings, Leviticus, Genesis 25 to 50, selected Psalms, Habakkuk, Amos and Jeremiah. I don’t know what you all made of my sometimes
On your 60th anniversary I simply want to say “keep up the good work!” Continue to study, teach, preach and live out the Word. BFEC is probably different in many ways from what it was decades ago, but let this focus on the Word be something that continues to define what you are as a church. Many things may change in church life, and often rightly so, but let this continue to be a distinctive. May God grant BFEC many more anniversaries, and may each anniversary see the work of BFEC prospering as you continue to bring the gospel to your fellowSingaporeans.
May the Lord give each of us grace upon grace and strength upon strength to stay focused on Him.
Philip Satterthwaite preaching at BFEC in 2015
45
46
CONTINUE TO STUDY, TEACH, PREACH AND LIVE OUT THE WORD
by Philip Satterthwaite, Principal, Biblical Graduate School of Theology (BGST)
My congratulations to you on BFEC’s 60th anniversary.
Chong Kum Wah with the Chinese Com 2016
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
As Christians, we believe God has given us eternal life. We may feel satisfied, thinking that it is enough to secure a place in heaven, without realising that our Lord has commanded us to do more. We are to live to bring glory to the Lord’s name and to fulfill His mandate to us – to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). We should take heed of Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
In Old Testament times, the Israelites could not approach God directly. They could meet God indirectly via the priests. But in New Testament times, because of our Lord Jesus’ redemptive work, Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, no longer needed a human mediator - another “priest” - but can, as priests ourselves, approach God directly. For we are a royal priesthood and God’s chosen people - how blessed and privileged we are! However, let us not forget that we need to exhibit the virtue of the One who brought us out of darkness and led us into His wonderful light. We need to love and serve the Lord Jesus and preach the gospel.
With the Holy Spirit’s leading, after reading the verses above, I was prompted to serve the church as camp commandant. At that time, my children were very young, between two to six years old. I also led a small group when my children were growing up. When I was near retirement, I found myself accepting the baton to become the Chinese Ministry chairman. I cannot rely on my own strength to do the ministry well and it is premature to judge whether I have done a good job or not. All I can do is to rely on our Lord who strengthens me and continue to be faithful as I serve alongside my coworkers with all my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength.
As we go through different stages of life, we will have various important matters to deal with. For young people, their time is occupied by homework and examinations. For those in the marketplace, they would be snowed under by work and busy with establishing a career and building a family. Once children come along, the family will become busier overseeing the children’s growth and schooling. When the time comes to reap the fruit of a stable career, the children may get married and along come the grandchildren. And so this goes on. We realize that our days are numbered and our physical body is ageing and weakening. But do we just want to get sucked into this kind of busyness and waste our lives? Have we forgotten to respond to our Lord’s calling?
excessively cheem (“deep” in Singlish) sermons, but preaching through these books was a great help for me in developing my understanding of them and how to apply them today, and therefore a great help to me in my work as an lecturer on the Old Testament at the Biblical Graduate School of Theology (BGST).
BFEC holds a particular place in my affections, as you were the first church in Singapore to invite me to preach to you, not simply on one Sunday, but for all the Sundays of one month (June 2001) on a book of my choice. As some you may remember, the book I chose to speak on was Ecclesiastes. I found it a great experience to study this book in some depth, and go through some of the Preacher’s musings with you.
In the last three series you had the great idea of getting me to share the series with some of your young men whom you were training up to be preachers: I preached some of the sermons in the series but also helped these men to put together their sermons and discussed with them afterwards how their sermons had been received. This was the most enjoyable for me. I thought this was a highly creative approach on your part, and one that showed your concern that the work of BFEC should continue to grow in the decades to come.
Astonishingly, you invited me back to do the same thing in many of the years that followed. This, in spite of the fact that I publicly warned you that I would accept such invitations! So I preached the series on Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Kings, Leviticus, Genesis 25 to 50, selected Psalms, Habakkuk, Amos and Jeremiah. I don’t know what you all made of my sometimes
On your 60th anniversary I simply want to say “keep up the good work!” Continue to study, teach, preach and live out the Word. BFEC is probably different in many ways from what it was decades ago, but let this focus on the Word be something that continues to define what you are as a church. Many things may change in church life, and often rightly so, but let this continue to be a distinctive. May God grant BFEC many more anniversaries, and may each anniversary see the work of BFEC prospering as you continue to bring the gospel to your fellowSingaporeans.
May the Lord give each of us grace upon grace and strength upon strength to stay focused on Him.
Philip Satterthwaite preaching at BFEC in 2015
45
46
WHY ARE YOU HERE AT BFEC? “Why are you at BFEC?”, three cell groups led by James Sim, Kiang Tzy Peng, Tan Eng Gee and Poa Kheng Sin asked themselves. As they keyed in the reasons into a graphic-generating software, this design of words and phrases emerged. What do you see? What are your reasons for being in BFEC?
THREE But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22)
47
WHY ARE YOU HERE AT BFEC? “Why are you at BFEC?”, three cell groups led by James Sim, Kiang Tzy Peng, Tan Eng Gee and Poa Kheng Sin asked themselves. As they keyed in the reasons into a graphic-generating software, this design of words and phrases emerged. What do you see? What are your reasons for being in BFEC?
THREE But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22)
47
BUILDING THE TABERNACLE
BETTER THAN SACRIFICE
Lau Ying Kheng shares this poem from a reflection that came to her during the 2017 Pulpit series on Exodus. BFEC started from a foundation of willing hearts, free will offering and sacrifice. May BFEC continue to grow, thrive and be a pleasing aroma to God built upon the same foundation.
What does it mean to be serving in the wider Body of Christ? How might we decide to be involved in this day and age? One of our longest serving elders is Advisory Elder Dr Ernest Chew. He shares his personal take of the various God-given opportunities he has witnessed or seized to be a part of in and beyond BFEC.
When it was time to build the tabernacle, God could have supplied His own silver and gold; But He said, “Bring to me only what you have . . .” and “Offer at my altar what you own.” When it was time to build the tabernacle, God could have forced, programmed or charged, “Do as I say or you will die!” Instead He called, “Give of a willing heart.” So when it was time to build the tabernacle, The people responded – those whose hearts were stirred; Seven times it was said in Exodus 35, 36, “They came, they brought, they spun, they served.” The heart of the matter of the building of the tabernacle, Is, in my humble opinion, a matter of the heart. Teach, lead, speak, give – whatever you do, do it – But don’t just go through the motions or play the part. For when God calls us to build the tabernacle, He doesn’t care if we do little or much; Time, talent, treasure, He made them all – All He asks from us is a willing heart.
49
No sacrifice, no success. Yet there is something better than sacrifice. God through Samuel says, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). If I make sacrifices “but do not have love, I gain nothing” (Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:3). BFEC has grown spiritually only as long as, and as far as, it has heeded the words of our Lord, the great commissioner: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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...” (Matthew 28:19 to 20).
My father Dr Benjamin Chew had set an example as President of Singapore Youth for Christ, Chairman of the Keswick Convention, and Chairman of the Singapore OMF Council (of which Elder Fred Sabapathy was also a member). Elder P.S. Seet was involved in mission work in the region, and in the prison ministry in Singapore. One of the fruits of Mr Seet’s ministry was Neville Tan, who with his wife Anne became a missionary trainee, and a gifted evangelist who now pastors the Church of God (Evangelical) in Bedok. They trained at Singapore Bible College, along with Kathleen and John Lee, who became our missionaries, and later led the outreach to Sengkang and Punggol, planting the River of Life Community Church there.
Examples of Church Planting Jesus’ evangelistic and educational mandate was obeyed by Bethesda (Katong) Church leaders in establishing a kindergarten, a Sunday School, and an Assembly at Frankel Estate in the 1950s. After we became autonomous in the early 1970s, we planted a mission home in Sennett Road which has become Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church (BPMC). We also commissioned a missionary couple, Melville and Salome Szto, to serve under the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) in Japan.
In 1968 Dr David Adeney had established the Discipleship Training Centre, and when a local Board was formed, he asked me to be its Chairman. Mass Evangelism I also chaired the Campus Crusade’s “Here’s Life, Singapore”, “I Found It!” evangelistic campaign in 1976-77, which was supported by over 100 churches. Many Frankelites participated, including Crusade staff, like Roland Tan and Nancy Chuang, and there were many conversions. One of our deacons, Lawson Lau, edited YFC’s IMPACT magazine, which publicised this campaign.
In 1959, Aileen and I joined with other friends to form BFEC’s first Young People’s Group. We were away in the UK in the late 1960s. When I returned in 1970 to teach History at the University, and joined the BFEC Church Council, I sought to obey the Great Commission on the campus, in our church, and in our young nation, and followed the examples of our Elders in their church and parachurch ministries.
50
BUILDING THE TABERNACLE
BETTER THAN SACRIFICE
Lau Ying Kheng shares this poem from a reflection that came to her during the 2017 Pulpit series on Exodus. BFEC started from a foundation of willing hearts, free will offering and sacrifice. May BFEC continue to grow, thrive and be a pleasing aroma to God built upon the same foundation.
What does it mean to be serving in the wider Body of Christ? How might we decide to be involved in this day and age? One of our longest serving elders is Advisory Elder Dr Ernest Chew. He shares his personal take of the various God-given opportunities he has witnessed or seized to be a part of in and beyond BFEC.
When it was time to build the tabernacle, God could have supplied His own silver and gold; But He said, “Bring to me only what you have . . .” and “Offer at my altar what you own.” When it was time to build the tabernacle, God could have forced, programmed or charged, “Do as I say or you will die!” Instead He called, “Give of a willing heart.” So when it was time to build the tabernacle, The people responded – those whose hearts were stirred; Seven times it was said in Exodus 35, 36, “They came, they brought, they spun, they served.” The heart of the matter of the building of the tabernacle, Is, in my humble opinion, a matter of the heart. Teach, lead, speak, give – whatever you do, do it – But don’t just go through the motions or play the part. For when God calls us to build the tabernacle, He doesn’t care if we do little or much; Time, talent, treasure, He made them all – All He asks from us is a willing heart.
49
No sacrifice, no success. Yet there is something better than sacrifice. God through Samuel says, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). If I make sacrifices “but do not have love, I gain nothing” (Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:3). BFEC has grown spiritually only as long as, and as far as, it has heeded the words of our Lord, the great commissioner: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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...” (Matthew 28:19 to 20).
My father Dr Benjamin Chew had set an example as President of Singapore Youth for Christ, Chairman of the Keswick Convention, and Chairman of the Singapore OMF Council (of which Elder Fred Sabapathy was also a member). Elder P.S. Seet was involved in mission work in the region, and in the prison ministry in Singapore. One of the fruits of Mr Seet’s ministry was Neville Tan, who with his wife Anne became a missionary trainee, and a gifted evangelist who now pastors the Church of God (Evangelical) in Bedok. They trained at Singapore Bible College, along with Kathleen and John Lee, who became our missionaries, and later led the outreach to Sengkang and Punggol, planting the River of Life Community Church there.
Examples of Church Planting Jesus’ evangelistic and educational mandate was obeyed by Bethesda (Katong) Church leaders in establishing a kindergarten, a Sunday School, and an Assembly at Frankel Estate in the 1950s. After we became autonomous in the early 1970s, we planted a mission home in Sennett Road which has become Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church (BPMC). We also commissioned a missionary couple, Melville and Salome Szto, to serve under the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) in Japan.
In 1968 Dr David Adeney had established the Discipleship Training Centre, and when a local Board was formed, he asked me to be its Chairman. Mass Evangelism I also chaired the Campus Crusade’s “Here’s Life, Singapore”, “I Found It!” evangelistic campaign in 1976-77, which was supported by over 100 churches. Many Frankelites participated, including Crusade staff, like Roland Tan and Nancy Chuang, and there were many conversions. One of our deacons, Lawson Lau, edited YFC’s IMPACT magazine, which publicised this campaign.
In 1959, Aileen and I joined with other friends to form BFEC’s first Young People’s Group. We were away in the UK in the late 1960s. When I returned in 1970 to teach History at the University, and joined the BFEC Church Council, I sought to obey the Great Commission on the campus, in our church, and in our young nation, and followed the examples of our Elders in their church and parachurch ministries.
50
This was the precursor of a much larger personal and mass evangelistic movement, the Singapore Billy Graham Crusade of December 1978, which was supported by 237 churches. My father was was the Chairman of the Executive Committee; I was one of its 8 Vice-Chairmen; Elder Fred chaired the Hospitality Committee, while other Brethren leaders chaired and served on other functional committees, and the Advisory Council, alongside brothers and sisters from various churches.
The GCF, BFEC, and SLH While encouraging unity in Christian witness on campus, I also served as President of the Graduates’ Christian Fellowship (GCF), which like our own church made representations to Parliament on the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Bill in 1990. These were taken into account in the Act itself. The GCF also pioneered the concept of an inter-denominational Christian home or hospital for the elderly sick, and as a result, St. Luke’s Hospital at Bukit Batok was opened in 1996. Its eight foundation members include Bethesda (Katong) and BFEC. I have served on its Board from its inception, and chair its Chaplaincy Committee. Our brother Dr Tan Lai Yong was also involved in the early stages of SLH before he and his wife served in Yunnan.
More than 330,000 people heard the Gospel faithfully proclaimed at the National Stadium. Over 19,000 responded to Dr Graham’s invitation, and more than 11,000 received Christ into their lives for the first time. Among those who made life-changing decisions were Robert Chua and Khoo Teng Cheong, now Elders of Bethesda (Katong). Elder Robert’s son, Harry, is a Frankelite who had served full-time in San Francisco.
To commemorate the 21st anniversary of SLH in October 2017, I wrote the lyrics for a new anthem, “Serving, Loving, Healing”, with music by fellow Board member Samuel Tan, a gifted composer.
The Crusade brought nation-wide blessing and revival, and led to the formation of the Evangelical Fellowship of Singapore (EFOS) in May 1980. EFOS also led in other evangelistic events like the Luis Palau Mission in 1986.
The IBCM, BNF, EFOS, and the Great Commission Within the Brethren Assemblies, we organised in June 1993 the International Brethren Conference on Missions (IBCM), of which I served as Chairman, and Elders Lionel Ong and Edwin Lam played important roles. This conference led to the formation of the Brethren Networking Fellowship (BNF), which continues its good work today. From the beginning, BFEC has been fed and blessed by the ministry of God’s Word and our fellowship with other Brethren Assemblies and evangelical churches. For our pulpit ministry, we have not only home speakers, but also Bible teachers from other churches, and had our vision stretched and widened. Our leaders also preach and teach the Word in other churches and para-church organisations.
Elder Ernest with the other Elders of BFEC and Bethesda Bedok Mission Home (now known as Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church) in 1988
Apart from EFOS and St. Luke’s Hospital, I have the privilege of serving the Lord on the Boards of the Bible Society of Singapore, and the Singapore Bible College, with which BFEC has had close ties over many years. My prayer is that such connections will remind fellow Frankelites that “the Church exists for mission, as fire exists by burning” (Emil Brunner). It was through our corporate membership of EFOS that Frankelites participated in the Global Day of Prayer (GDOP) in the new millennium, and then the Jubilee Day of Prayer (JDOP) in July 2015 to celebrate our nation’s 50th anniversary. It will be through EFOS and the National Council of Churches, Singapore (NCCS) that BFEC will be taking part in the Celebration of Hope in May 2019 at the National Stadium. While this service may involve making sacrifices, these would mean nothing if not for the love of Christ, which constrains and controls us (2 Corinthians 5:14 to 15) and our humble, loving obedience to His global Great Commission. To God alone belongs the glory, “great things He hath done” - and so we “praise the Lord” with this desire: “let the earth hear His voice!”
Ernest and Aileen Chew at Amity Printing Company in Nanjing, the largest producer of Bibles in China, and one of the largest in the world.
The Billy Graham Working Committee. Elder Ernest is standing at the extreme left.
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52
This was the precursor of a much larger personal and mass evangelistic movement, the Singapore Billy Graham Crusade of December 1978, which was supported by 237 churches. My father was was the Chairman of the Executive Committee; I was one of its 8 Vice-Chairmen; Elder Fred chaired the Hospitality Committee, while other Brethren leaders chaired and served on other functional committees, and the Advisory Council, alongside brothers and sisters from various churches.
The GCF, BFEC, and SLH While encouraging unity in Christian witness on campus, I also served as President of the Graduates’ Christian Fellowship (GCF), which like our own church made representations to Parliament on the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Bill in 1990. These were taken into account in the Act itself. The GCF also pioneered the concept of an inter-denominational Christian home or hospital for the elderly sick, and as a result, St. Luke’s Hospital at Bukit Batok was opened in 1996. Its eight foundation members include Bethesda (Katong) and BFEC. I have served on its Board from its inception, and chair its Chaplaincy Committee. Our brother Dr Tan Lai Yong was also involved in the early stages of SLH before he and his wife served in Yunnan.
More than 330,000 people heard the Gospel faithfully proclaimed at the National Stadium. Over 19,000 responded to Dr Graham’s invitation, and more than 11,000 received Christ into their lives for the first time. Among those who made life-changing decisions were Robert Chua and Khoo Teng Cheong, now Elders of Bethesda (Katong). Elder Robert’s son, Harry, is a Frankelite who had served full-time in San Francisco.
To commemorate the 21st anniversary of SLH in October 2017, I wrote the lyrics for a new anthem, “Serving, Loving, Healing”, with music by fellow Board member Samuel Tan, a gifted composer.
The Crusade brought nation-wide blessing and revival, and led to the formation of the Evangelical Fellowship of Singapore (EFOS) in May 1980. EFOS also led in other evangelistic events like the Luis Palau Mission in 1986.
The IBCM, BNF, EFOS, and the Great Commission Within the Brethren Assemblies, we organised in June 1993 the International Brethren Conference on Missions (IBCM), of which I served as Chairman, and Elders Lionel Ong and Edwin Lam played important roles. This conference led to the formation of the Brethren Networking Fellowship (BNF), which continues its good work today. From the beginning, BFEC has been fed and blessed by the ministry of God’s Word and our fellowship with other Brethren Assemblies and evangelical churches. For our pulpit ministry, we have not only home speakers, but also Bible teachers from other churches, and had our vision stretched and widened. Our leaders also preach and teach the Word in other churches and para-church organisations.
Elder Ernest with the other Elders of BFEC and Bethesda Bedok Mission Home (now known as Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church) in 1988
Apart from EFOS and St. Luke’s Hospital, I have the privilege of serving the Lord on the Boards of the Bible Society of Singapore, and the Singapore Bible College, with which BFEC has had close ties over many years. My prayer is that such connections will remind fellow Frankelites that “the Church exists for mission, as fire exists by burning” (Emil Brunner). It was through our corporate membership of EFOS that Frankelites participated in the Global Day of Prayer (GDOP) in the new millennium, and then the Jubilee Day of Prayer (JDOP) in July 2015 to celebrate our nation’s 50th anniversary. It will be through EFOS and the National Council of Churches, Singapore (NCCS) that BFEC will be taking part in the Celebration of Hope in May 2019 at the National Stadium. While this service may involve making sacrifices, these would mean nothing if not for the love of Christ, which constrains and controls us (2 Corinthians 5:14 to 15) and our humble, loving obedience to His global Great Commission. To God alone belongs the glory, “great things He hath done” - and so we “praise the Lord” with this desire: “let the earth hear His voice!”
Ernest and Aileen Chew at Amity Printing Company in Nanjing, the largest producer of Bibles in China, and one of the largest in the world.
The Billy Graham Working Committee. Elder Ernest is standing at the extreme left.
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THE JOY OF GIVING AND RECEIVING BIBLES
by Ong Teck Chye
It reminds us that we should not be late for church and worshipping God with others in church is of paramount importance to our spiritual growth. Many people have wondered why there is a need for us to distribute Bibles in person – could we not just contribute money and get the Bibles printed, sent over and distributed locally? Well, it is all about Relationship – or as we say in Chinese, “Guanxi” (關係). Ivan Lim, one of our first-time mission trippers, says it well:
It was June 1989. I was in Beijing, China. I had brought some Bibles in, by God’s grace. But it seemed like I was in the right place at the ‘wrong’ time, for during the trip, I saw firsthand the student protests (27 May to 4 June 1989 ) at Tiananmen Square. And as I looked at the great multitude of students, the Lord gripped my heart and prompted me to not only think but pray about the need of these students - that they may come to know Jesus and read the Bible.
Believers received Lisu language Bibles with joy
God sure remembered the prayers I uttered that day for the students. Upon the encouragement of my late sister Bee Eng, and the guidance and partnership of her good friend, Mr Kua Wee Seng (who had been involved in Bible missions work for many years with the United Bible Societies), God led me to organise the first BFEC Bible Distribution Trip to China in 2011.
We also had the opportunity to interact with the leaders of the Christian Council in each province to gain a wider perspective of their work, church growth and training programmes for church pastors and lay-leaders. We participated in other ministries such as village medical work, children’s sunday school, worked with the physically disabled, helped out in old folks homes and did Bible translation work.
The response from the BFEC English-speaking congregation was overwhelming. Immediately after the first trip, a second trip followed. God is faithful; we have organised 16 trips (at least 2 trips a year) since then. Jehovah Jireh! The Lord has never failed to provide all funds that are needed for each trip.
Over the years I, and those who have gone on these trips have learnt many precious lessons:
“One of the most important lessons I learnt on this trip is the appreciation of the term “Guanxi” (關係)。 “Guanxi” can be loosely translated as “relationship” in English but the traditional Chinese characters carry a bit more meaning. The character “關” is equivalent to a pass or a gate. The character “係” comprises a part that represents humans. Thus the word “Guanxi” together can be seen as establishing human relationships through open doors.”
The “關係”, the relationships that we build with the Chinese church and authorities, is built on love. We are able to love because God first loved us. And we praise God that through the tangible display of His love by the mission trippers and the Christians in China, many doors have been opened. One official who was initially sceptical, was won over by God’s love as he travelled with the team. God’s love expressed over the years has also opened doors for one of the Chinese churches to be entrusted with the running of an old folks home and for the United Bible Societies’ proposals to be readily accepted and heartily endorsed by government officials. Printing Bibles and having them distributed locally would definitely be more economical but that would have completely missed the point. Just as our relationship with God is a personal one, our Bible Distribution trip to China should be a personal one. As Singaporeans, we are in a very advantageous position to do this work. And now that the doors of China, which had been shut 50 years ago, are open, let us not forsake this “Guanxi” which keeps the doors open so that God’s love can continue to enter and fill China.
First, the joy of seeing Bibles placed in the hands of the local believers. Upon receiving the Bible, tears trickle down their cheeks as they hug us with thankfulness to God for answering their prayers.
An average of 2,000 Bibles are donated and personally presented to poor believers who long to own a Bible in each Bible distribution trip. To encourage and assist them to read the Bible, a pair of reading glasses is also given to those who need them. Bible tools (reference books / concordances) are given to each Seminary student and financial support to those who are very poor and unable to pay their school / tuition fees at Bible school.
It never fails to prompt us to reflect on our faith when we see how the locals take God’s word seriously and treasure the Bible. Secondly, the faith of believers who live in remote areas. The believers who live in the remote mountain areas set off for church as early as 5am. They deem coming late to church as disrespectful to God. They see worshipping God in church as essential for their spiritual needs and growth. 53
A tearful farewell at Hanzhong Christian Church, Shaanxi
Just as our relationship with God is a personal one, our Bible Distribution trip to China should be a personal one. 54
THE JOY OF GIVING AND RECEIVING BIBLES
by Ong Teck Chye
It reminds us that we should not be late for church and worshipping God with others in church is of paramount importance to our spiritual growth. Many people have wondered why there is a need for us to distribute Bibles in person – could we not just contribute money and get the Bibles printed, sent over and distributed locally? Well, it is all about Relationship – or as we say in Chinese, “Guanxi” (關係). Ivan Lim, one of our first-time mission trippers, says it well:
It was June 1989. I was in Beijing, China. I had brought some Bibles in, by God’s grace. But it seemed like I was in the right place at the ‘wrong’ time, for during the trip, I saw firsthand the student protests (27 May to 4 June 1989 ) at Tiananmen Square. And as I looked at the great multitude of students, the Lord gripped my heart and prompted me to not only think but pray about the need of these students - that they may come to know Jesus and read the Bible.
Believers received Lisu language Bibles with joy
God sure remembered the prayers I uttered that day for the students. Upon the encouragement of my late sister Bee Eng, and the guidance and partnership of her good friend, Mr Kua Wee Seng (who had been involved in Bible missions work for many years with the United Bible Societies), God led me to organise the first BFEC Bible Distribution Trip to China in 2011.
We also had the opportunity to interact with the leaders of the Christian Council in each province to gain a wider perspective of their work, church growth and training programmes for church pastors and lay-leaders. We participated in other ministries such as village medical work, children’s sunday school, worked with the physically disabled, helped out in old folks homes and did Bible translation work.
The response from the BFEC English-speaking congregation was overwhelming. Immediately after the first trip, a second trip followed. God is faithful; we have organised 16 trips (at least 2 trips a year) since then. Jehovah Jireh! The Lord has never failed to provide all funds that are needed for each trip.
Over the years I, and those who have gone on these trips have learnt many precious lessons:
“One of the most important lessons I learnt on this trip is the appreciation of the term “Guanxi” (關係)。 “Guanxi” can be loosely translated as “relationship” in English but the traditional Chinese characters carry a bit more meaning. The character “關” is equivalent to a pass or a gate. The character “係” comprises a part that represents humans. Thus the word “Guanxi” together can be seen as establishing human relationships through open doors.”
The “關係”, the relationships that we build with the Chinese church and authorities, is built on love. We are able to love because God first loved us. And we praise God that through the tangible display of His love by the mission trippers and the Christians in China, many doors have been opened. One official who was initially sceptical, was won over by God’s love as he travelled with the team. God’s love expressed over the years has also opened doors for one of the Chinese churches to be entrusted with the running of an old folks home and for the United Bible Societies’ proposals to be readily accepted and heartily endorsed by government officials. Printing Bibles and having them distributed locally would definitely be more economical but that would have completely missed the point. Just as our relationship with God is a personal one, our Bible Distribution trip to China should be a personal one. As Singaporeans, we are in a very advantageous position to do this work. And now that the doors of China, which had been shut 50 years ago, are open, let us not forsake this “Guanxi” which keeps the doors open so that God’s love can continue to enter and fill China.
First, the joy of seeing Bibles placed in the hands of the local believers. Upon receiving the Bible, tears trickle down their cheeks as they hug us with thankfulness to God for answering their prayers.
An average of 2,000 Bibles are donated and personally presented to poor believers who long to own a Bible in each Bible distribution trip. To encourage and assist them to read the Bible, a pair of reading glasses is also given to those who need them. Bible tools (reference books / concordances) are given to each Seminary student and financial support to those who are very poor and unable to pay their school / tuition fees at Bible school.
It never fails to prompt us to reflect on our faith when we see how the locals take God’s word seriously and treasure the Bible. Secondly, the faith of believers who live in remote areas. The believers who live in the remote mountain areas set off for church as early as 5am. They deem coming late to church as disrespectful to God. They see worshipping God in church as essential for their spiritual needs and growth. 53
A tearful farewell at Hanzhong Christian Church, Shaanxi
Just as our relationship with God is a personal one, our Bible Distribution trip to China should be a personal one. 54
GOD IS TRUSTWORTHY
by Melville Szto, Advisory Elder
The night before our wedding, Salome and I spent some time praying, and we wept before the Lord as we realised suddenly the enormity of the step of faith that we had just taken. I do not mean our decision to get married – that was decided three years earlier when we got engaged in Adelaide, Australia. It was the final step of a series of faith steps we had taken from the time of my graduation from university. Firstly, for me to give up a career as a chemical engineer to go to Bible College, then the commitment to go as missionaries to Japan, and finally telling the church about our call and asking to serve at BFEC for a couple of years for pastoral experience before we left to serve with Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF). Prominent in our minds was the question: how were we going to be supported? The church leaders hardly knew us. They knew perhaps that I had been an active YPG (Young Peoples’ Group) member before going to Australia for my studies. But that was eight years ago, in 1965. I had spent four years in university, one year working, and three years in Bible College, and came back to Singapore only one time in those eight years! Why should they commit to taking us on as missionaries in training? BFEC already had one “missionary” (as all full-time workers were called), our brother Mr Seet Poon Soo, commended in 1969. I returned from Australia at the end of 1972, and it was now 5 January, 1973. Support for full-time workers in those days was through personal gifts and an occasional offering taken during a church service.
Serving at BFEC before OMF
God Faithfully Provides for Missions
Praise God, the Elders, though I’m sure a little dubious, accepted us to serve in the church in preparation for eventually going to Japan. I was also invited by the Singapore Bible College to teach several subjects. We were commended as missionary designates, later joined by Neville Tan and, still later, his wife Anne. We were soon involved with teaching Sunday School, myself preaching, Salome helping the Ladies Group, advising the YPG, visiting church members, starting the church library, and starting a new work in Kampong Chai Chee which today has become Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church. We took the church young people out regularly to do tracting and personal evangelism, both in Chai Chee and on the beaches. The Mission Board was formed at this time and we also started the Evangelism Board to oversee tracting and other evangelistic activities and follow-up. Where did our support come from?
How many missionaries was BFEC supporting in 1975? There were six missionaries, Seet Poon Soo, Melville and Salome Szto, Neville and Anne Tan and Kathleen Lee serving under the BFEC Mission Board, plus four full-time workers, Nancy Chuang and Roland Tan (Campus Crusade) and Florence Tan and Millie Tay (Navigators). How were such a large number of missionaries supported by this amount of offering? God provided through many other people and other churches in those early days. Today our church mission fund offering is about $1 million per annum, and our church missionaries are mostly supported 100%. Salome and I have now served 45 years in BFEC, 35 years of that with OMF, of which 27 years were in Japan, eight with Asian Cross-Cultural Training Institute (ACTI).
The first issue of the monthly SCOPE newsletter was published in March 1974 (later the name changed to ‘Frankelite’, now ‘Ready’, but no longer monthly). The second issue of SCOPE had this to say in the editorial written by Paul Seow, a church deacon, “Our average 1973 monthly collection for our missionaries before August was $220/(approximate). Our congregation was challenged to respond to increase our missionary gifts. Today our missionary gifts exceed $1,500 each month (averaging $2,053 per month the last six months, a nine-fold increase).” One year later, 1975, the year we left for Japan, the monthly average exceeded $1,800 although the total income received was more than this from personal gifts and honorariums received by the missionaries which were channelled into the mission fund.
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Commendation of Melville and Salome (1973)
Melville Szto with his autobiographies
The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.
You might be interested in some statistics: In 1975 the church had 10 full-time workers out of a congregation of 300. The annual missionary commitment of $3,000 per annum in 1973 had risen to $28,000 per annum. Between 1973 and 1975, we had 48 baptisms. By 1975, a Sunday School and worship services had also begun in the home of deacon Francis Lim in Kampong Chai Chee and the church had committed to buying property at Sennett Road to become the future Bethesda Bedok Mission Home, then Bethesda Bedok Mission Church, and now Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church. How we joyfully testify, “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.” (Psalm 145:13)
Melville, Salome and mother, Mrs Kay Szto at Placeholders Arts Festival 2017
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GOD IS TRUSTWORTHY
by Melville Szto, Advisory Elder
The night before our wedding, Salome and I spent some time praying, and we wept before the Lord as we realised suddenly the enormity of the step of faith that we had just taken. I do not mean our decision to get married – that was decided three years earlier when we got engaged in Adelaide, Australia. It was the final step of a series of faith steps we had taken from the time of my graduation from university. Firstly, for me to give up a career as a chemical engineer to go to Bible College, then the commitment to go as missionaries to Japan, and finally telling the church about our call and asking to serve at BFEC for a couple of years for pastoral experience before we left to serve with Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF). Prominent in our minds was the question: how were we going to be supported? The church leaders hardly knew us. They knew perhaps that I had been an active YPG (Young Peoples’ Group) member before going to Australia for my studies. But that was eight years ago, in 1965. I had spent four years in university, one year working, and three years in Bible College, and came back to Singapore only one time in those eight years! Why should they commit to taking us on as missionaries in training? BFEC already had one “missionary” (as all full-time workers were called), our brother Mr Seet Poon Soo, commended in 1969. I returned from Australia at the end of 1972, and it was now 5 January, 1973. Support for full-time workers in those days was through personal gifts and an occasional offering taken during a church service.
Serving at BFEC before OMF
God Faithfully Provides for Missions
Praise God, the Elders, though I’m sure a little dubious, accepted us to serve in the church in preparation for eventually going to Japan. I was also invited by the Singapore Bible College to teach several subjects. We were commended as missionary designates, later joined by Neville Tan and, still later, his wife Anne. We were soon involved with teaching Sunday School, myself preaching, Salome helping the Ladies Group, advising the YPG, visiting church members, starting the church library, and starting a new work in Kampong Chai Chee which today has become Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church. We took the church young people out regularly to do tracting and personal evangelism, both in Chai Chee and on the beaches. The Mission Board was formed at this time and we also started the Evangelism Board to oversee tracting and other evangelistic activities and follow-up. Where did our support come from?
How many missionaries was BFEC supporting in 1975? There were six missionaries, Seet Poon Soo, Melville and Salome Szto, Neville and Anne Tan and Kathleen Lee serving under the BFEC Mission Board, plus four full-time workers, Nancy Chuang and Roland Tan (Campus Crusade) and Florence Tan and Millie Tay (Navigators). How were such a large number of missionaries supported by this amount of offering? God provided through many other people and other churches in those early days. Today our church mission fund offering is about $1 million per annum, and our church missionaries are mostly supported 100%. Salome and I have now served 45 years in BFEC, 35 years of that with OMF, of which 27 years were in Japan, eight with Asian Cross-Cultural Training Institute (ACTI).
The first issue of the monthly SCOPE newsletter was published in March 1974 (later the name changed to ‘Frankelite’, now ‘Ready’, but no longer monthly). The second issue of SCOPE had this to say in the editorial written by Paul Seow, a church deacon, “Our average 1973 monthly collection for our missionaries before August was $220/(approximate). Our congregation was challenged to respond to increase our missionary gifts. Today our missionary gifts exceed $1,500 each month (averaging $2,053 per month the last six months, a nine-fold increase).” One year later, 1975, the year we left for Japan, the monthly average exceeded $1,800 although the total income received was more than this from personal gifts and honorariums received by the missionaries which were channelled into the mission fund.
55
Commendation of Melville and Salome (1973)
Melville Szto with his autobiographies
The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.
You might be interested in some statistics: In 1975 the church had 10 full-time workers out of a congregation of 300. The annual missionary commitment of $3,000 per annum in 1973 had risen to $28,000 per annum. Between 1973 and 1975, we had 48 baptisms. By 1975, a Sunday School and worship services had also begun in the home of deacon Francis Lim in Kampong Chai Chee and the church had committed to buying property at Sennett Road to become the future Bethesda Bedok Mission Home, then Bethesda Bedok Mission Church, and now Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church. How we joyfully testify, “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.” (Psalm 145:13)
Melville, Salome and mother, Mrs Kay Szto at Placeholders Arts Festival 2017
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JOURNEY ON
BLESSINGS, COMMITMENT, KINSHIP AND LOVE
by Joseph Chean, National Director, Youth With A Mission (Singapore)
by Elder Khoo Teng Cheong, Chairman, Bethesda Katong Church
On behalf of Bethesda Katong Church (BKC), and personally, from the bottom of my heart, I would like to wish all the members of Bethesda Frankel Estate Church (BFEC) a joyous and God blessed 60th anniversary! As I prayed and reflected on the ongoing close relationship between our two churches in preparing for this article, I am grateful to the Lord that you have reached this wonderful milestone. Through His love for us in Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, He has inextricably linked us in the following ways: Firstly, by being a blessing to each other. All of us are familiar with the origins and history of BFEC. I believe it was my grandfather, Dr Khoo Peng Seng, who had the seed of an idea planted in his heart to start a Sunday School and kindergarten in Frankel Estate in the 1950s. Over the course of the next 20 years, Elders and members of BKC, under the guidance and by the providence of the Lord, laboured to realise the emerging vision of BFEC through generous giving and providing the initial leadership. Indeed, it was a great joy to see BFEC assume independence to chart your own God-led path in 1973. Since then you have seen great growth and been a blessing to the Frankel Estate community and more broadly across Singapore and the region. Here in BKC, we are especially grateful for the direct and frequent blessings we have received from BFEC over the years. Our congregation has been and continues to be edified by speakers from your leadership, including Elder Ernest Chew, Elder Jimmy Tan, Elder Joshua Quek and Dr Tan Lai Yong. And when we came to you with a new vision of our own BKC redevelopment project, you gave generously to help us realise the renewed vision for BKC, just as we helped start you off all those decades ago. We are deeply grateful for that generous act of love to us in our time of need. I pray that we continue to be a blessing to each other and build on our strong ties in the Lord’s love.
Congratulations, Frankelites! What a joy it is to celebrate 60 years of God’s goodness. In God’s perspective, 60 years is within the context of His timeline (Eternity). When God proclaims that He is Good, what He meant is “there is so much more potential you don’t know” and He invites you into a journey to discover who He is and what He wants to accomplish in and through you. May you uncover God’s Goodness and walk in Oneness of Heart in your next assignment. As you walk in faithfulness, the next generation will inherit the blessings of your obedience and God will take them deeper and wider into God’s future for BFEC. May God’s peace and presence rest on you.
Joseph Chean at BFEC 2017 church camp
Secondly, we are linked by our mutual commitment to outreach and service to the community. BFEC started as a kindergarten to reach out to children in the Frankel Estate Community. To this day, you discharge that commitment wonderfully through Bethesda Katong Kindergarten. Both our churches have carried on the tradition of planting, or helping to plant other churches, in communities further afield in Singapore to reach people who need to hear the Gospel and the saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Leaders from both churches also served on the organising committee for the Billy Graham Crusade in Singapore in 1978. We are both committed to the Alpha Ministry. We also continue our outreach efforts throughout the world by supporting our missionaries and other Christian causes in the region. BFEC and BKC are both foundation members of St Luke’s Hospital and our leaders still serve on the board there. We both are part of the Brethren Network Fellowship and work together with our fellow Brethren Churches to address broader denomination-wide issues. Let us continue to be linked by our passion to reach out and serve the community in the fire of the Holy Spirit as part of our Christian witness to the world around us. Thirdly, we are also linked by strong mutual bonds of kinship. From a personal perspective, I mentioned my grandfather’s role in establishing BFEC. I am also related to
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JOURNEY ON
BLESSINGS, COMMITMENT, KINSHIP AND LOVE
by Joseph Chean, National Director, Youth With A Mission (Singapore)
by Elder Khoo Teng Cheong, Chairman, Bethesda Katong Church
On behalf of Bethesda Katong Church (BKC), and personally, from the bottom of my heart, I would like to wish all the members of Bethesda Frankel Estate Church (BFEC) a joyous and God blessed 60th anniversary! As I prayed and reflected on the ongoing close relationship between our two churches in preparing for this article, I am grateful to the Lord that you have reached this wonderful milestone. Through His love for us in Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, He has inextricably linked us in the following ways: Firstly, by being a blessing to each other. All of us are familiar with the origins and history of BFEC. I believe it was my grandfather, Dr Khoo Peng Seng, who had the seed of an idea planted in his heart to start a Sunday School and kindergarten in Frankel Estate in the 1950s. Over the course of the next 20 years, Elders and members of BKC, under the guidance and by the providence of the Lord, laboured to realise the emerging vision of BFEC through generous giving and providing the initial leadership. Indeed, it was a great joy to see BFEC assume independence to chart your own God-led path in 1973. Since then you have seen great growth and been a blessing to the Frankel Estate community and more broadly across Singapore and the region. Here in BKC, we are especially grateful for the direct and frequent blessings we have received from BFEC over the years. Our congregation has been and continues to be edified by speakers from your leadership, including Elder Ernest Chew, Elder Jimmy Tan, Elder Joshua Quek and Dr Tan Lai Yong. And when we came to you with a new vision of our own BKC redevelopment project, you gave generously to help us realise the renewed vision for BKC, just as we helped start you off all those decades ago. We are deeply grateful for that generous act of love to us in our time of need. I pray that we continue to be a blessing to each other and build on our strong ties in the Lord’s love.
Congratulations, Frankelites! What a joy it is to celebrate 60 years of God’s goodness. In God’s perspective, 60 years is within the context of His timeline (Eternity). When God proclaims that He is Good, what He meant is “there is so much more potential you don’t know” and He invites you into a journey to discover who He is and what He wants to accomplish in and through you. May you uncover God’s Goodness and walk in Oneness of Heart in your next assignment. As you walk in faithfulness, the next generation will inherit the blessings of your obedience and God will take them deeper and wider into God’s future for BFEC. May God’s peace and presence rest on you.
Joseph Chean at BFEC 2017 church camp
Secondly, we are linked by our mutual commitment to outreach and service to the community. BFEC started as a kindergarten to reach out to children in the Frankel Estate Community. To this day, you discharge that commitment wonderfully through Bethesda Katong Kindergarten. Both our churches have carried on the tradition of planting, or helping to plant other churches, in communities further afield in Singapore to reach people who need to hear the Gospel and the saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Leaders from both churches also served on the organising committee for the Billy Graham Crusade in Singapore in 1978. We are both committed to the Alpha Ministry. We also continue our outreach efforts throughout the world by supporting our missionaries and other Christian causes in the region. BFEC and BKC are both foundation members of St Luke’s Hospital and our leaders still serve on the board there. We both are part of the Brethren Network Fellowship and work together with our fellow Brethren Churches to address broader denomination-wide issues. Let us continue to be linked by our passion to reach out and serve the community in the fire of the Holy Spirit as part of our Christian witness to the world around us. Thirdly, we are also linked by strong mutual bonds of kinship. From a personal perspective, I mentioned my grandfather’s role in establishing BFEC. I am also related to
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your beloved Elder Ernest Chew, and also to your former beloved Elder, Dr Tan Ban Cheng, by marriage. My auntie, Mdm Tan Suan Lui, was the pioneering Principal of Bethesda Katong Kindergarten, of which I am an alumni. I mention this only to humbly illustrate the point that I believe our churches have been blessed and are joined by deep blood bonds of family and kinship. I also dare say that, like myself, many of our children and, possibly, grandchildren, have been brought up by the ministry of Bethesda Katong Kindergarten. This serves to remind us that even beyond family blood ties, because of what God has done for us in the gift of His Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross for all of us, we are bound spiritually, at a far more fundamental level, by the blood of Christ. Because of His great love and grace for us, “the Spirit bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). Through our faith in His saving work for us on the cross, we are part of God’s family as brothers and sisters in Christ for eternity, even as we wait patiently for Him to come back again. Last, but certainly not least, because of this great love for us, we are inextricably linked by our mutual love for our Lord and by our deep gratitude for what He has done for us and how He has blessed us through the years. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Over the past 60 years of BFEC’s and the more than 80 years of BKC’s existence, we have enjoyed the Lord’s love and blessings in our lives, sometimes over multiple generations of our church families. We can only be deeply grateful for this great love and faithfulness to us. Just as He loves and continues to bless us, let us continue to be faithful to obey the commandment that our Lord Jesus gave us: “..love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). Let us continue to worship our Lord passionately together. Let us continue to love one another, just as he loves us, not only in our own churches, or across our two churches but also to show that great love to the communities around us, so that all can know that we are disciples and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that all of us in BFEC and BKC, and indeed in the ecumenical Church in Singapore, can continue to bear witness to that great promise we have seen for ourselves through our church lives in Psalm 100:5, “For the Lord is good, his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” All honour and glory to Him! I thank God for blessing and walking with all of you in BFEC for the past 60 years as a faithful community in Christ. I pray He will continue to bless you, keep you and make His face shine upon you for the next 60 years, indeed the next 600 years or more! May your life be of continuing love, worship, praise and service to Him. Hallelujah and Amen!
Early elders and deacons, most of whom came over from Bethesda Katong Church.
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FROM DAUGHTER CHURCH TO MOTHER CHURCH, THANK YOU!
by Senior Pastor Kenny Fam, Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church
Congratulations, leaders and members of Bethesda Frankel Estate Church (BFEC) on the joyous occasion of your 60th anniversary! The theme of READY’s commemorative issue “From Me to You” reminds me of a song from The Beatles:
This group later met in the home of Francis Lim and the first worship service was held there in August 1974. Chia Hong Hoe was the first Elder assigned to start the new work at Chai Chee. BFEC also played a key role in paying for the property at 2, Sennett Road. This resulted in the founding of Bethesda Bedok Mission Home (BBMH) in December 1976. Francis Lim was appointed as Elder to assist Elder Chia Hong Hoe in the new church.
If there’s anything that you want If there’s anything I can do Just call on me and I’ll send it along With love, from me to you. I’ve got everything that you want Like a heart that’s oh so true Just call on me and I’ll send it along With love, from me to you.
Elder Edward Oh reminisces, “I remember BFEC’s generosity in practical assistance to start the work in Chai Chee and to help fund our move to Pasir Ris. They gifted the property at 2, Sennett Road to us. We are forever in debt to them. May God continue to use BFEC mightily in the years to come.”
Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church (BPMC) has been the recipient of such practical Christian love from BFEC on a number of occasions. We are deeply grateful to the leadership of BFEC for their foresight in supporting the church plant in the new Chai Chee and Bedok housing estates as far back as 1973. Ten BFEC Young People’s Group (YPG) members formed a Bible Study Group with Melville Szto as their leader, meeting in the home of Madam Leonie Tay in Chai Chee.
Your generous demonstration of practical love as our mother church helped us through those challenging transitions in our fledgling years as a church. May the Lord continue to empower BFEC to be salt and light as you seek to advance His kingdom in your community and beyond!
BPMC in the early years as BBMH
BPMC today
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your beloved Elder Ernest Chew, and also to your former beloved Elder, Dr Tan Ban Cheng, by marriage. My auntie, Mdm Tan Suan Lui, was the pioneering Principal of Bethesda Katong Kindergarten, of which I am an alumni. I mention this only to humbly illustrate the point that I believe our churches have been blessed and are joined by deep blood bonds of family and kinship. I also dare say that, like myself, many of our children and, possibly, grandchildren, have been brought up by the ministry of Bethesda Katong Kindergarten. This serves to remind us that even beyond family blood ties, because of what God has done for us in the gift of His Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross for all of us, we are bound spiritually, at a far more fundamental level, by the blood of Christ. Because of His great love and grace for us, “the Spirit bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). Through our faith in His saving work for us on the cross, we are part of God’s family as brothers and sisters in Christ for eternity, even as we wait patiently for Him to come back again. Last, but certainly not least, because of this great love for us, we are inextricably linked by our mutual love for our Lord and by our deep gratitude for what He has done for us and how He has blessed us through the years. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Over the past 60 years of BFEC’s and the more than 80 years of BKC’s existence, we have enjoyed the Lord’s love and blessings in our lives, sometimes over multiple generations of our church families. We can only be deeply grateful for this great love and faithfulness to us. Just as He loves and continues to bless us, let us continue to be faithful to obey the commandment that our Lord Jesus gave us: “..love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). Let us continue to worship our Lord passionately together. Let us continue to love one another, just as he loves us, not only in our own churches, or across our two churches but also to show that great love to the communities around us, so that all can know that we are disciples and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that all of us in BFEC and BKC, and indeed in the ecumenical Church in Singapore, can continue to bear witness to that great promise we have seen for ourselves through our church lives in Psalm 100:5, “For the Lord is good, his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” All honour and glory to Him! I thank God for blessing and walking with all of you in BFEC for the past 60 years as a faithful community in Christ. I pray He will continue to bless you, keep you and make His face shine upon you for the next 60 years, indeed the next 600 years or more! May your life be of continuing love, worship, praise and service to Him. Hallelujah and Amen!
Early elders and deacons, most of whom came over from Bethesda Katong Church.
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FROM DAUGHTER CHURCH TO MOTHER CHURCH, THANK YOU!
by Senior Pastor Kenny Fam, Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church
Congratulations, leaders and members of Bethesda Frankel Estate Church (BFEC) on the joyous occasion of your 60th anniversary! The theme of READY’s commemorative issue “From Me to You” reminds me of a song from The Beatles:
This group later met in the home of Francis Lim and the first worship service was held there in August 1974. Chia Hong Hoe was the first Elder assigned to start the new work at Chai Chee. BFEC also played a key role in paying for the property at 2, Sennett Road. This resulted in the founding of Bethesda Bedok Mission Home (BBMH) in December 1976. Francis Lim was appointed as Elder to assist Elder Chia Hong Hoe in the new church.
If there’s anything that you want If there’s anything I can do Just call on me and I’ll send it along With love, from me to you. I’ve got everything that you want Like a heart that’s oh so true Just call on me and I’ll send it along With love, from me to you.
Elder Edward Oh reminisces, “I remember BFEC’s generosity in practical assistance to start the work in Chai Chee and to help fund our move to Pasir Ris. They gifted the property at 2, Sennett Road to us. We are forever in debt to them. May God continue to use BFEC mightily in the years to come.”
Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church (BPMC) has been the recipient of such practical Christian love from BFEC on a number of occasions. We are deeply grateful to the leadership of BFEC for their foresight in supporting the church plant in the new Chai Chee and Bedok housing estates as far back as 1973. Ten BFEC Young People’s Group (YPG) members formed a Bible Study Group with Melville Szto as their leader, meeting in the home of Madam Leonie Tay in Chai Chee.
Your generous demonstration of practical love as our mother church helped us through those challenging transitions in our fledgling years as a church. May the Lord continue to empower BFEC to be salt and light as you seek to advance His kingdom in your community and beyond!
BPMC in the early years as BBMH
BPMC today
60
FOUR “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28,29)
ENTERING HIS REST
by Tan Fang Fang
God is full with faithfulness For He promises His rest And His promise stands today With His Son to lead the way For tested in the wilderness Is-ra-el refused to trust In the God who set them free From this wretched slavery But lo, behold! Hope emerges In the midst of this wilderness A Christ also tested in every way Yet was not held by sin’s dread sway This is Christ gloriously fair! Became flesh our sins to bear Bore our troubles on the cross Gained our lives in His great loss
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Now we approach with confidence The Son who learned obedience This is God’s beloved Son This, the Christ who will lead us home. “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:8 to 10)
FOUR “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28,29)
ENTERING HIS REST
by Tan Fang Fang
God is full with faithfulness For He promises His rest And His promise stands today With His Son to lead the way For tested in the wilderness Is-ra-el refused to trust In the God who set them free From this wretched slavery But lo, behold! Hope emerges In the midst of this wilderness A Christ also tested in every way Yet was not held by sin’s dread sway This is Christ gloriously fair! Became flesh our sins to bear Bore our troubles on the cross Gained our lives in His great loss
62
Now we approach with confidence The Son who learned obedience This is God’s beloved Son This, the Christ who will lead us home. “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:8 to 10)
THE END OF MY SEARCH
by Bernard Lim
For most of my life I searched for meaning, happiness and success through spiritual or supernatural means. I was a strong Taoist for 62 years. But at different times, I was also involved in several other conventional religions but worst, witchcraft. In fact, at 18 years of age, I was a medium for two years, having been influenced by my uncle, himself a practising medium.
If there was anything that prevented me from getting what I wished, I wanted to know, “How do I tap the power of the deity to clear the obstacle?” For example, I would often take a flight out to Bangkok and return within a day just to perform the rites to a certain deity there. You name it, I did it. But two things were soon to happen to change my life.
My father was an opium addict. He chased my mother out of the house. To avoid bad luck, he gave away my sister. When my father died young, within one month, three other relatives died. One of my brothers sadly lost his mind after he committed his life to a deity spirit. It possessed him. My life and my family background was also marked by involvement in the occult. By now you get the picture.
First Life-Changing Point
But we were shocked. What we saw was a Christian wake! “What? She has become a Christian?!”. I was confused and upset. This was the woman who had often told me – that so long as I sought her power, I must NEVER associate with Christians. How did this happen?
Second Life-Changing Point Then the second thing happened to me. My wife had come to know Jesus through her friend and her back was wonderfully healed. Instead of being happy, I told her NOT to share with me anything about Jesus. I would give her three months; I told her if there was no result, she had to come back to pray to the deities with me. On that first Sunday, she went to BFEC. She came back after the church service and didn’t share anything with me. But on the second Sunday she came back, she said she wanted to be baptised. I told her, “Huh? So fast? Please lah, wait for three months!” But her mind was made up.
Her sister, who wasn’t a Christian then and was looking after her, related the story. She said that prior to her death, my witchcraft godma was hospitalised. One night she had a dream. In her dream, she had fallen off the hospital bed. As she cried out for help, she said that all the deity spirits she had been loyal to did NOTHING to help her. However, only a man dressed in white came to her rescue and carried her up from the floor. She knew instantly this was Jesus. When she awoke, she summoned her sister and told her to do two things. First, quickly get a pastor to baptise her. Second, make sure her funeral is according to Christian rites. My witchcraft godma died within a few hours of her baptism.
One afternoon, I was sitting alone in my shop, desperate for God to answer me. My usual practice is to ask for health and wealth. So I prayed, “If you say you are God, please help me - grant me health and wealth.” In my heart, I said to myself, “Don’t bullshit. It’s just another religion to console myself.” To my surprise, almost immediately, I experienced a peace I never received before. No words can describe it. This inner peace was a miracle to me and it totally changed me. I knew it was from God, not any of the deities I had been seeking. God showed me His love and joy. My frustrations in life, my burdens, my anger, jealousy, desire for more and more material things - all were gone! I was so happy – this was a kind of joy I cannot explain. There and then, I believed in Jesus. I just knew my life would never be the same.
When I heard these stories at her funeral, I was not moved. In fact, I was simmering with anger at her betrayal. I decided, “No choice – I just had to carry on my search!” By this point, many people had already been sharing the Gospel with me at the shop where my wife Geraldine and I ran our business. One of them was my client Rosalind who attended BFEC. But nothing went into me.
I stopped praying to my deities for four days. Then I removed all of the idols, amulets and charms from my house and my shop.
The first was this. For 20 years, I was a disciple of a lady practising witchcraft. I called her my “godma.” She was very powerful in the use of cosmic evil forces and predicted things accurately. She had many followers. But one day, when she was in her late eighties, she suddenly told me she wanted to stop her practice saying she was getting old. She said it was time for me to find another master. I felt very lost. When she stopped being my “master,” my health immediately took a turn for the worse. My kidneys failed and I needed dialysis. My business also suffered very badly.
In my mind, however, I knew all along there is only one God and that the rest of the so-called deities are not God – I recall that even Buddha said that he is not God. But I sought out religion and the spirits of deities in order to get what I thought were basic needs - good health and more wealth. I mean, who doesn’t want health and wealth, right ?
Some time later, I received news she had died. I went, with her many disciples, to the wake. We came armed with joss sticks and offerings to burn. Bernard and wife Geraldine
63
64
THE END OF MY SEARCH
by Bernard Lim
For most of my life I searched for meaning, happiness and success through spiritual or supernatural means. I was a strong Taoist for 62 years. But at different times, I was also involved in several other conventional religions but worst, witchcraft. In fact, at 18 years of age, I was a medium for two years, having been influenced by my uncle, himself a practising medium.
If there was anything that prevented me from getting what I wished, I wanted to know, “How do I tap the power of the deity to clear the obstacle?” For example, I would often take a flight out to Bangkok and return within a day just to perform the rites to a certain deity there. You name it, I did it. But two things were soon to happen to change my life.
My father was an opium addict. He chased my mother out of the house. To avoid bad luck, he gave away my sister. When my father died young, within one month, three other relatives died. One of my brothers sadly lost his mind after he committed his life to a deity spirit. It possessed him. My life and my family background was also marked by involvement in the occult. By now you get the picture.
First Life-Changing Point
But we were shocked. What we saw was a Christian wake! “What? She has become a Christian?!”. I was confused and upset. This was the woman who had often told me – that so long as I sought her power, I must NEVER associate with Christians. How did this happen?
Second Life-Changing Point Then the second thing happened to me. My wife had come to know Jesus through her friend and her back was wonderfully healed. Instead of being happy, I told her NOT to share with me anything about Jesus. I would give her three months; I told her if there was no result, she had to come back to pray to the deities with me. On that first Sunday, she went to BFEC. She came back after the church service and didn’t share anything with me. But on the second Sunday she came back, she said she wanted to be baptised. I told her, “Huh? So fast? Please lah, wait for three months!” But her mind was made up.
Her sister, who wasn’t a Christian then and was looking after her, related the story. She said that prior to her death, my witchcraft godma was hospitalised. One night she had a dream. In her dream, she had fallen off the hospital bed. As she cried out for help, she said that all the deity spirits she had been loyal to did NOTHING to help her. However, only a man dressed in white came to her rescue and carried her up from the floor. She knew instantly this was Jesus. When she awoke, she summoned her sister and told her to do two things. First, quickly get a pastor to baptise her. Second, make sure her funeral is according to Christian rites. My witchcraft godma died within a few hours of her baptism.
One afternoon, I was sitting alone in my shop, desperate for God to answer me. My usual practice is to ask for health and wealth. So I prayed, “If you say you are God, please help me - grant me health and wealth.” In my heart, I said to myself, “Don’t bullshit. It’s just another religion to console myself.” To my surprise, almost immediately, I experienced a peace I never received before. No words can describe it. This inner peace was a miracle to me and it totally changed me. I knew it was from God, not any of the deities I had been seeking. God showed me His love and joy. My frustrations in life, my burdens, my anger, jealousy, desire for more and more material things - all were gone! I was so happy – this was a kind of joy I cannot explain. There and then, I believed in Jesus. I just knew my life would never be the same.
When I heard these stories at her funeral, I was not moved. In fact, I was simmering with anger at her betrayal. I decided, “No choice – I just had to carry on my search!” By this point, many people had already been sharing the Gospel with me at the shop where my wife Geraldine and I ran our business. One of them was my client Rosalind who attended BFEC. But nothing went into me.
I stopped praying to my deities for four days. Then I removed all of the idols, amulets and charms from my house and my shop.
The first was this. For 20 years, I was a disciple of a lady practising witchcraft. I called her my “godma.” She was very powerful in the use of cosmic evil forces and predicted things accurately. She had many followers. But one day, when she was in her late eighties, she suddenly told me she wanted to stop her practice saying she was getting old. She said it was time for me to find another master. I felt very lost. When she stopped being my “master,” my health immediately took a turn for the worse. My kidneys failed and I needed dialysis. My business also suffered very badly.
In my mind, however, I knew all along there is only one God and that the rest of the so-called deities are not God – I recall that even Buddha said that he is not God. But I sought out religion and the spirits of deities in order to get what I thought were basic needs - good health and more wealth. I mean, who doesn’t want health and wealth, right ?
Some time later, I received news she had died. I went, with her many disciples, to the wake. We came armed with joss sticks and offerings to burn. Bernard and wife Geraldine
63
64
HOW GOD SAVED GRANDMA
by Karen Lim
Karen and her grandmother Mdm Tan Woo Neo after a Hokkien Service at BBTC
Bernard getting baptised during Easter 2017
In the past, well-meaning Christians gave me many Bibles. But I couldn’t understand a thing. Now with His Holy Spirit living in me, I began to understand God’s teachings and to walk with Him. I have since renounced all other prior connections with the spirit realm.
Baptism and Transformation The first Sunday after that, on 12 March 2017, I went to BFEC with my wife. I felt the presence of the Lord very strongly. I immediately joined my wife in her baptism lessons. There was no turning back.
And despite struggling with health issues, I am no longer bothered whether He eventually heals me. I have also an unmistakable peace knowing that even the future of our business was in His hands. I am just so thankful that God has chosen to love and save me.
On 16 April, barely six weeks after my encounter with Jesus at the shop, my wife and I were baptised. It was on Easter Sunday at the Sunrise service organised at the East Coast Beach. As I came out from the water, I looked up to the heavens. What was God telling me? I reflected on my life, how I was following the witchcraft godma. God impressed this on my heart – “Whatever she had promised you is nothing to what I have in store for you. Forsake what she had offered you for that is not the right path. As you have sought after her, now you must follow after Me.” I didn’t fully understand that. All I know is I am so thankful God chose to love me and reveal Himself to me.
My friends, we don’t come to God to meet our needs for wealth and health. I must come to God to meet my greatest need – to have my sins forgiven. The Cross where Jesus had died was meant for me, for us. Good Friday is therefore the most sad day for me. Jesus did not deserve to die. But it is also a most happy day. He died for my sins! I pray you will also discover this joy and peace. I believe I have found what I’m looking for. May God also reveal Himself to you in your search for meaning and eternal life.
Indeed, the best part about being a Christian is that I can call God “Father,” a relationship neither my family nor other religions had offered me. I now have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. From then on, God has heard and answered my deepest prayers. I started reading the Bible which is God’s Word. Two brothers, Pee Keat and Tzy Peng had weekly Bible Study with me to nurture my faith.
65
returned to her physically modified home and is now able to enjoy some of her favourite activities like watching TV, eating carrot cake and going around the neighbourhood in a wheelchair. The family has since hired a full-time helper cum caregiver to look after her.
I remember praying for my grandmother’s salvation for many years since I became a Christian in my late teens. As I was partly raised by my grandmother, I was very attached to her as a child and even as I grew up, I remained close to her. However as she was a devout Buddhist, she would often turn down my invitation to bring her to church.
It is funny how we might forget but God never forgets. He answered my desperate prayer, more than 6 months after she first had a stroke, for my grandmother to have a vision of Jesus Christ and to receive salvation. One day out of the blue, my grandmother told me that she dreamt of Jesus. Even though I believe she had not seen any pictorial representations of Jesus, she was somehow able to describe him in a most vivid manner, including His hair, garments and expressions. In her dream, she shared with me that she asked Jesus to heal her. Since then, my grandmother had for the very first time in her life, on her own initiative and accord, asked me to take her to the Hokkien Service at Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church (BBTC). She lives behind the church and praise God that the entire way is wheelchair-accessible. I thank God that He has indeed joined all the dots together for her. Years ago, I attended BBTC briefly, thinking that it would be great if my grandmother could one day attend the Hokkien service that the church held every Saturday for elderly folks. All praise to God! I am continuing to pray that God will open her eyes to His care and love for her and that she will grow in faith.
When she was stricken by a massive stroke in September 2016, I was completely distraught. As she was discovered only the next morning more than 10 hours after she had the stroke, she could not be operated upon. The few doctors who saw her told us that she had a very slim chance of survival over the next few days, and even if she did, she would be in a severe vegetative state. I remember huddling over her in prayer, late one night when I was all alone with her at the hospital bed, and asking Jesus to appear to her in her semi-conscious state. The thought that she would pass away without having received salvation was unbearable. God sent us many angels in the time when my grandmother was in hospital - semi-conscious and in critical condition. They came in the form of the doctors and nurses, brothers and sisters in Christ who came to visit and to pray for her, family members who rallied around her in prayer; and even fellow patients at her ward who always gave us a smile despite their own pain and physical suffering. Over the next few weeks, I would say that her recovery was nothing short of a miracle of life itself. I saw before my own eyes her faculties slowly being restored - first her sight (she was semi-conscious for nearly a week), then her speech (she could not speak for nearly a month) and finally her ability to swallow (she was initially on tube-feed). From an initial prognosis in which chances of survival were less than 5% given the extent of her stroke, my grandmother has since
God has shown me through my grandmother’s journey the importance of always praying and never giving up. His mercies and love can touch even the hardest heart, and there is nothing too difficult for Him. I pray that she will continue to grow in her faith and to experience the fullness of joy that comes from a living relationship with Jesus Christ. 66
HOW GOD SAVED GRANDMA
by Karen Lim
Karen and her grandmother Mdm Tan Woo Neo after a Hokkien Service at BBTC
Bernard getting baptised during Easter 2017
In the past, well-meaning Christians gave me many Bibles. But I couldn’t understand a thing. Now with His Holy Spirit living in me, I began to understand God’s teachings and to walk with Him. I have since renounced all other prior connections with the spirit realm.
Baptism and Transformation The first Sunday after that, on 12 March 2017, I went to BFEC with my wife. I felt the presence of the Lord very strongly. I immediately joined my wife in her baptism lessons. There was no turning back.
And despite struggling with health issues, I am no longer bothered whether He eventually heals me. I have also an unmistakable peace knowing that even the future of our business was in His hands. I am just so thankful that God has chosen to love and save me.
On 16 April, barely six weeks after my encounter with Jesus at the shop, my wife and I were baptised. It was on Easter Sunday at the Sunrise service organised at the East Coast Beach. As I came out from the water, I looked up to the heavens. What was God telling me? I reflected on my life, how I was following the witchcraft godma. God impressed this on my heart – “Whatever she had promised you is nothing to what I have in store for you. Forsake what she had offered you for that is not the right path. As you have sought after her, now you must follow after Me.” I didn’t fully understand that. All I know is I am so thankful God chose to love me and reveal Himself to me.
My friends, we don’t come to God to meet our needs for wealth and health. I must come to God to meet my greatest need – to have my sins forgiven. The Cross where Jesus had died was meant for me, for us. Good Friday is therefore the most sad day for me. Jesus did not deserve to die. But it is also a most happy day. He died for my sins! I pray you will also discover this joy and peace. I believe I have found what I’m looking for. May God also reveal Himself to you in your search for meaning and eternal life.
Indeed, the best part about being a Christian is that I can call God “Father,” a relationship neither my family nor other religions had offered me. I now have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. From then on, God has heard and answered my deepest prayers. I started reading the Bible which is God’s Word. Two brothers, Pee Keat and Tzy Peng had weekly Bible Study with me to nurture my faith.
65
returned to her physically modified home and is now able to enjoy some of her favourite activities like watching TV, eating carrot cake and going around the neighbourhood in a wheelchair. The family has since hired a full-time helper cum caregiver to look after her.
I remember praying for my grandmother’s salvation for many years since I became a Christian in my late teens. As I was partly raised by my grandmother, I was very attached to her as a child and even as I grew up, I remained close to her. However as she was a devout Buddhist, she would often turn down my invitation to bring her to church.
It is funny how we might forget but God never forgets. He answered my desperate prayer, more than 6 months after she first had a stroke, for my grandmother to have a vision of Jesus Christ and to receive salvation. One day out of the blue, my grandmother told me that she dreamt of Jesus. Even though I believe she had not seen any pictorial representations of Jesus, she was somehow able to describe him in a most vivid manner, including His hair, garments and expressions. In her dream, she shared with me that she asked Jesus to heal her. Since then, my grandmother had for the very first time in her life, on her own initiative and accord, asked me to take her to the Hokkien Service at Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church (BBTC). She lives behind the church and praise God that the entire way is wheelchair-accessible. I thank God that He has indeed joined all the dots together for her. Years ago, I attended BBTC briefly, thinking that it would be great if my grandmother could one day attend the Hokkien service that the church held every Saturday for elderly folks. All praise to God! I am continuing to pray that God will open her eyes to His care and love for her and that she will grow in faith.
When she was stricken by a massive stroke in September 2016, I was completely distraught. As she was discovered only the next morning more than 10 hours after she had the stroke, she could not be operated upon. The few doctors who saw her told us that she had a very slim chance of survival over the next few days, and even if she did, she would be in a severe vegetative state. I remember huddling over her in prayer, late one night when I was all alone with her at the hospital bed, and asking Jesus to appear to her in her semi-conscious state. The thought that she would pass away without having received salvation was unbearable. God sent us many angels in the time when my grandmother was in hospital - semi-conscious and in critical condition. They came in the form of the doctors and nurses, brothers and sisters in Christ who came to visit and to pray for her, family members who rallied around her in prayer; and even fellow patients at her ward who always gave us a smile despite their own pain and physical suffering. Over the next few weeks, I would say that her recovery was nothing short of a miracle of life itself. I saw before my own eyes her faculties slowly being restored - first her sight (she was semi-conscious for nearly a week), then her speech (she could not speak for nearly a month) and finally her ability to swallow (she was initially on tube-feed). From an initial prognosis in which chances of survival were less than 5% given the extent of her stroke, my grandmother has since
God has shown me through my grandmother’s journey the importance of always praying and never giving up. His mercies and love can touch even the hardest heart, and there is nothing too difficult for Him. I pray that she will continue to grow in her faith and to experience the fullness of joy that comes from a living relationship with Jesus Christ. 66
Let me end with this.
No Regrets Knowing God
ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS
by James Chong
For those who know me, I am an introvert, a man of few words. I normally avoid social events even though friends or colleagues would be present. Even if I did attend, it was just to “show my face” before I quietly disappeared.
Moreover, if you are the creator of the car, would it be easier to replicate the same design or produce a customised design for each car? Look around you; we all have two ears, two eyes, one nose and one mouth yet we all look different. God has created each of us to be unique and only occasionally does He create something similar e.g. such as identical twins.
In 2004, both parents and both siblings had come to faith and I was the only one still sitting on the fence. My parents signed me up for the Alpha course organised by BFEC, a series of talks for prebelievers to find out more about the Christian faith. I didn’t know anyone in church and nor anyone attending the course. So since I’m an introvert, you would think I wouldn’t attend the course - but I did.
I am neither a medical doctor nor a scientist but my simple mind tells me there must be a Creator God. Look at our amazing human body with its ability to heal itself, e.g. if you have a cut, your blood will clot and your skin will heal on its own. If you break a bone, your bone will also heal on its own. But the very expensive Mercedes Benz S Class car cannot self-repair, whether it’s malfunctioning wiring, a broken window or even a small dent or crack.
As the day drew closer, the introvert me came up with many excuses not to go. That fateful day, while walking from the train station to church, I was tempted to turn around and go home. But somehow, I told myself, “Just try one session, give it a chance.” One chance was all God needed; I attended all 10 sessions, came to faith and was baptised.
In the game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”, contestants have to answer a series of questions to win the grand prize of one million dollars. They have three lifelines to help them 50/50 (take a chance), poll the audience or call a friend. These lifelines depict life because when we encounter difficulties, we often resort to the same methods – we take a chance (50/50), or solicit opinions (so easy now with social media), or call a trusted friend for advice. May I offer a better option? Ask the God who created you, the God who loves you and who already knew what He had in mind for you before you were born. Psalm 139:16 tells us “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
During my growing years, my introvert nature often led me to give up, do things halfway or not even start at all. When I was younger, my father often brought me to a club to swim. I was quite a good swimmer and the swim coach asked my father to let me join the swim team. I attended one training session and never returned. In primary school, I signed up for taekwondo class and won a silver medal in a competition but after I obtained my yellow belt, I never returned. In secondary school, I acted a character well during a class drama project. My teacher asked me to join the drama and debate team. I attended one session and never returned.
Get to know this awesome God.
In junior college, I played soccer rather well. The soccer coach asked me to join the school team. I attended one training session and never returned. Do I regret all the opportunities and experiences I passed up? Perhaps. But I am so grateful and thankful I did not pass up the single most important opportunity – to attend Alpha, to know about God and to know Him.
My Creator God’s Purpose for Me Q2: why was I created and what is the purpose of my life on earth? Logical reasoning would have us ask what the end goal is. We cannot be on Earth for no reason and that our achievements count for nothing when we die.
My Creator God “Does faith contradict reason?” was a topic at BFEC’s Life’s Big Questions. It would seem so, because it was almost impossible that I would attend one Alpha session, let alone all 10. Upon reflection, however, I don’t believe it does. My primary driving force was my search for answers to two fundamental, age-old questions of life:
If we believe in a Creator God, then the best way to understand why you have been created is to ask the Creator Himself. Recently my family went on holiday and tried archery for the first time - hitting the bull’s eye is so difficult! – and it was a timely reminder that we are very fortunate to be born in Singapore; a tiny red dot barely visible on the world map yet having first/world class standards in education, public housing, medical care, airports, seaports. It is like hitting the bull’s eye. You are where you are surely by design. The divine Archer has placed you where you are; it is part of God’s deliberate, well-thought out plan and purpose for you. Logical reasoning would lead to a faith in a Creator God.
Q1: is there a Creator God? Logically speaking, simply putting two cells together cannot result in a perfectly formed human being nine months later. It is akin to saying that leaving two or more pieces of metal in a garage for some months will result in a fully functional, perfectly engineered Mercedes Benz S Class. 67
James and Ai Hua with daughters Sophie and Zoe (right).
68
Let me end with this.
No Regrets Knowing God
ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS
by James Chong
For those who know me, I am an introvert, a man of few words. I normally avoid social events even though friends or colleagues would be present. Even if I did attend, it was just to “show my face” before I quietly disappeared.
Moreover, if you are the creator of the car, would it be easier to replicate the same design or produce a customised design for each car? Look around you; we all have two ears, two eyes, one nose and one mouth yet we all look different. God has created each of us to be unique and only occasionally does He create something similar e.g. such as identical twins.
In 2004, both parents and both siblings had come to faith and I was the only one still sitting on the fence. My parents signed me up for the Alpha course organised by BFEC, a series of talks for prebelievers to find out more about the Christian faith. I didn’t know anyone in church and nor anyone attending the course. So since I’m an introvert, you would think I wouldn’t attend the course - but I did.
I am neither a medical doctor nor a scientist but my simple mind tells me there must be a Creator God. Look at our amazing human body with its ability to heal itself, e.g. if you have a cut, your blood will clot and your skin will heal on its own. If you break a bone, your bone will also heal on its own. But the very expensive Mercedes Benz S Class car cannot self-repair, whether it’s malfunctioning wiring, a broken window or even a small dent or crack.
As the day drew closer, the introvert me came up with many excuses not to go. That fateful day, while walking from the train station to church, I was tempted to turn around and go home. But somehow, I told myself, “Just try one session, give it a chance.” One chance was all God needed; I attended all 10 sessions, came to faith and was baptised.
In the game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”, contestants have to answer a series of questions to win the grand prize of one million dollars. They have three lifelines to help them 50/50 (take a chance), poll the audience or call a friend. These lifelines depict life because when we encounter difficulties, we often resort to the same methods – we take a chance (50/50), or solicit opinions (so easy now with social media), or call a trusted friend for advice. May I offer a better option? Ask the God who created you, the God who loves you and who already knew what He had in mind for you before you were born. Psalm 139:16 tells us “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
During my growing years, my introvert nature often led me to give up, do things halfway or not even start at all. When I was younger, my father often brought me to a club to swim. I was quite a good swimmer and the swim coach asked my father to let me join the swim team. I attended one training session and never returned. In primary school, I signed up for taekwondo class and won a silver medal in a competition but after I obtained my yellow belt, I never returned. In secondary school, I acted a character well during a class drama project. My teacher asked me to join the drama and debate team. I attended one session and never returned.
Get to know this awesome God.
In junior college, I played soccer rather well. The soccer coach asked me to join the school team. I attended one training session and never returned. Do I regret all the opportunities and experiences I passed up? Perhaps. But I am so grateful and thankful I did not pass up the single most important opportunity – to attend Alpha, to know about God and to know Him.
My Creator God’s Purpose for Me Q2: why was I created and what is the purpose of my life on earth? Logical reasoning would have us ask what the end goal is. We cannot be on Earth for no reason and that our achievements count for nothing when we die.
My Creator God “Does faith contradict reason?” was a topic at BFEC’s Life’s Big Questions. It would seem so, because it was almost impossible that I would attend one Alpha session, let alone all 10. Upon reflection, however, I don’t believe it does. My primary driving force was my search for answers to two fundamental, age-old questions of life:
If we believe in a Creator God, then the best way to understand why you have been created is to ask the Creator Himself. Recently my family went on holiday and tried archery for the first time - hitting the bull’s eye is so difficult! – and it was a timely reminder that we are very fortunate to be born in Singapore; a tiny red dot barely visible on the world map yet having first/world class standards in education, public housing, medical care, airports, seaports. It is like hitting the bull’s eye. You are where you are surely by design. The divine Archer has placed you where you are; it is part of God’s deliberate, well-thought out plan and purpose for you. Logical reasoning would lead to a faith in a Creator God.
Q1: is there a Creator God? Logically speaking, simply putting two cells together cannot result in a perfectly formed human being nine months later. It is akin to saying that leaving two or more pieces of metal in a garage for some months will result in a fully functional, perfectly engineered Mercedes Benz S Class. 67
James and Ai Hua with daughters Sophie and Zoe (right).
68
IT’S NOT TOO LATE!
by Jeanne Nah
My mother became a Christian through little nudges from the Lord.
God Paves the Way for Physical and Spiritual Healing
The first nudge came on 6 July 2016 when my mother’s eldest sister was baptised. A few days earlier, the extended family had gathered to celebrate her birthday and also to say farewell as she was suffering from endstage kidney failure. She had been a diabetic for many years. My mother was very happy over my aunt’s baptism. My aunt went home to the Lord in August that year, at the age of 88.
The next morning, my mother had jaundice and her blood pressure suddenly plunged. The doctor advised me to inform my relatives that she was in grave danger. Many doctors and nurses rushed into her ward to pump saline into her to raise her blood pressure. They eventually stabilised her and went ahead with the procedure - but they only managed to put in the stent to save her life.
The second nudge came on 22 January 2017. That day, my mother kept throwing up everything she ate and had to be hospitalised at SGH. Tests showed that her liver had thousands of harmful enzymes. The doctor said it could be due to her taking Chinese medicine which could have poisoned her liver. My cousin, who works at SGH, visited my mother and she agreed to him praying for her.
The fourth nudge was the caring doctor my mother was blessed with. He saved her life by watching over her all through that night. Her kidneys were not functioning well either and she had to be put on dialysis in the middle of the night. All I could do was kneel and pray, and wait for the sun to rise. The fifth nudge came the next day, on Chinese New Year Eve, through brothers Letchumanan, Francis Soh and Edwin Tan. I had gotten to know them better during our trip to Sutera Home in December 2016. That morning, I left a message with the church office and also texted Francis and Edwin to inform them that my mother was very ill and if they could visit her. I knew everyone would only work half day because it was Chinese New Year Eve but I hoped my mother could confirm in front of others that she had said the sinner’s prayer of her own free will.
The third nudge came on 25 January when my mother was to have an ERCP procedure done. The doctor was going to insert a tube to remove gallbladder stones blocking her duct and also put in a stent to open the duct to drain the toxins. My cousin visited my mother again that morning and later texted me to say that my mother had said the sinner’s prayer! The night before, I had knelt and prayed that the Lord would heal my mother, physically and spiritually, because at 83 years old, anything could happen during the procedure. My cell group, relatives, and friends from as far away as Canada were praying for her too.
Indeed, God works in mysterious ways because Letch, Francis and Edwin turned up at SGH. I am still very grateful for their
69
support. As her condition was critical, all four of us were allowed to see her, while dressed in surgical gowns and masks. My mother said the sinner’s prayer again and agreed to be baptised by Letch. You could hear the angels sing in heaven.
My mother’s hospitalisation taught me to “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). God reminds me through my maternal aunt and mother that it is never too late to accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
On Chinese New Year itself, my sister, who lives in England, arrived. We were worried my mother would be on dialysis for life but her kidneys began to function after only one round of dialysis. In fact, things began to look up after my mother’s baptism, despite her also coming down with pneumonia due to excessive water retention. She was in hospital for 19 days. It was an ordeal but she was grateful that my cell group members, relatives, Christian colleagues and friends visited and prayed for her. Lindis visited her at home during her recuperation and Salome and other church members also prayed for her recovery. Indeed, the Lord heard their prayers and showed His mercy and grace to my mother. As my mother regained her health, the stent and some loose stones in her duct were removed. She was finally discharged in November although some stones remain in her gallbladder. At the moment, she is reasonably well. Praise the Lord!
Jeanne and her mother, Madam Katherine Tan
Thirsty for the Lord My mother with her simple faith thirsts to know more about God and His workers in the mission field. She has read books by Philip Yancey, CS Lewis, Melville Szto, Tan Lai Yong and Bishop Solomon and also biographies of Hudson Taylor, Eric Liddell, Fanny Crosby. I have borrowed books from friends and dug up books I had bought over the years, and she has read them all. Now I visit the church library to borrow more books for her. Indeed, my mother’s faith reminds me of the verse: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Editor’s note: Mdm Katherine Tan went home to be with the Lord after subsequent illness on 2 July 2018 as this issue was going into print. Even as we offer our condolences to Jeanne, we thank God for His sovereign will and timing.
70
IT’S NOT TOO LATE!
by Jeanne Nah
My mother became a Christian through little nudges from the Lord.
God Paves the Way for Physical and Spiritual Healing
The first nudge came on 6 July 2016 when my mother’s eldest sister was baptised. A few days earlier, the extended family had gathered to celebrate her birthday and also to say farewell as she was suffering from endstage kidney failure. She had been a diabetic for many years. My mother was very happy over my aunt’s baptism. My aunt went home to the Lord in August that year, at the age of 88.
The next morning, my mother had jaundice and her blood pressure suddenly plunged. The doctor advised me to inform my relatives that she was in grave danger. Many doctors and nurses rushed into her ward to pump saline into her to raise her blood pressure. They eventually stabilised her and went ahead with the procedure - but they only managed to put in the stent to save her life.
The second nudge came on 22 January 2017. That day, my mother kept throwing up everything she ate and had to be hospitalised at SGH. Tests showed that her liver had thousands of harmful enzymes. The doctor said it could be due to her taking Chinese medicine which could have poisoned her liver. My cousin, who works at SGH, visited my mother and she agreed to him praying for her.
The fourth nudge was the caring doctor my mother was blessed with. He saved her life by watching over her all through that night. Her kidneys were not functioning well either and she had to be put on dialysis in the middle of the night. All I could do was kneel and pray, and wait for the sun to rise. The fifth nudge came the next day, on Chinese New Year Eve, through brothers Letchumanan, Francis Soh and Edwin Tan. I had gotten to know them better during our trip to Sutera Home in December 2016. That morning, I left a message with the church office and also texted Francis and Edwin to inform them that my mother was very ill and if they could visit her. I knew everyone would only work half day because it was Chinese New Year Eve but I hoped my mother could confirm in front of others that she had said the sinner’s prayer of her own free will.
The third nudge came on 25 January when my mother was to have an ERCP procedure done. The doctor was going to insert a tube to remove gallbladder stones blocking her duct and also put in a stent to open the duct to drain the toxins. My cousin visited my mother again that morning and later texted me to say that my mother had said the sinner’s prayer! The night before, I had knelt and prayed that the Lord would heal my mother, physically and spiritually, because at 83 years old, anything could happen during the procedure. My cell group, relatives, and friends from as far away as Canada were praying for her too.
Indeed, God works in mysterious ways because Letch, Francis and Edwin turned up at SGH. I am still very grateful for their
69
support. As her condition was critical, all four of us were allowed to see her, while dressed in surgical gowns and masks. My mother said the sinner’s prayer again and agreed to be baptised by Letch. You could hear the angels sing in heaven.
My mother’s hospitalisation taught me to “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). God reminds me through my maternal aunt and mother that it is never too late to accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
On Chinese New Year itself, my sister, who lives in England, arrived. We were worried my mother would be on dialysis for life but her kidneys began to function after only one round of dialysis. In fact, things began to look up after my mother’s baptism, despite her also coming down with pneumonia due to excessive water retention. She was in hospital for 19 days. It was an ordeal but she was grateful that my cell group members, relatives, Christian colleagues and friends visited and prayed for her. Lindis visited her at home during her recuperation and Salome and other church members also prayed for her recovery. Indeed, the Lord heard their prayers and showed His mercy and grace to my mother. As my mother regained her health, the stent and some loose stones in her duct were removed. She was finally discharged in November although some stones remain in her gallbladder. At the moment, she is reasonably well. Praise the Lord!
Jeanne and her mother, Madam Katherine Tan
Thirsty for the Lord My mother with her simple faith thirsts to know more about God and His workers in the mission field. She has read books by Philip Yancey, CS Lewis, Melville Szto, Tan Lai Yong and Bishop Solomon and also biographies of Hudson Taylor, Eric Liddell, Fanny Crosby. I have borrowed books from friends and dug up books I had bought over the years, and she has read them all. Now I visit the church library to borrow more books for her. Indeed, my mother’s faith reminds me of the verse: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Editor’s note: Mdm Katherine Tan went home to be with the Lord after subsequent illness on 2 July 2018 as this issue was going into print. Even as we offer our condolences to Jeanne, we thank God for His sovereign will and timing.
70
WHAT MONEY CANNOT BUY
I panicked! My first instinct was to borrow more to pay off my debts and I even hated those who refused to lend me money. I managed to carry on till 2010 when my borrowing got completely out of hand. My creditors sued me and finally, I was declared bankrupt and lost my job.
by Luke Roy Tan
My loans skyrocketed rapidly from $10,000 to almost $100,000 in less than 6 months. I was frantic. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t sleep. I was scared whenever the phone rang. My head felt like it was going to explode each day. Disclosure and Despondency
That same year, a friend suggested we set up a transport company together to provide limousine services. I agreed because this meant I would still be a boss. Business was quite good. I regained my confidence and was soon spending lavishly again. Life was looking good when I got into a civil suit with a previous creditor.
Finally I broke the news to my family. They were completely shocked and in pain beyond words. I had hurt them yet again. We had no idea how to repay the loans. I almost wanted to kill myself but told myself I had to deal with the mess I had created. This time, I was completely broken and desperate. I cried out to God to help me. I submitted everything to God and told Him I would be completely obedient. I was very grateful for my family too. Despite the hurt and anguish I caused them, they rallied around in full support.
More Ups and Downs Family Background
More income, more pride
I am 43 years old and work as a driver, with the bulk of my business from limousine services. I come from an average income family but was very pampered by my late mother, two elder sisters and maternal grandmother. They always gave me what I wanted and I was blissfully unaware that we were financially tight.
I had the opportunity to join the financial industry when my bond was almost up. The manager told me I could earn a lot of money, travel for free and live lavishly. He brought me to many fivestar restaurants to persuade me to join him. I was convinced and resigned from the Police Force. I earned double my previous salary in just a few months and bought my first car at 23 years old. As my income grew, my appetite for the good life grew even more. I became very arrogant; I felt my success was all due to my hard work.
Since young, I’ve always longed to be rich but I didn’t know how to achieve it. I wasn’t good in my studies but still managed to pass my GCE “O” levels with three credits. When I had to enlist for National Service, I didn’t want to join the army because it was “siong” (“terrible” in Singlish) and the allowance was low. So I signed on with the Singapore Police Force as a full-time officer on a five year bond. At least it was full-time paid employment.
However, I was still borrowing because I had never learnt to manage my finances. I had no savings. My back-up plan was to apply for multiple credit cards and credit lines. I prided myself for being smart and hardworking, a self-made entrepreneur - until the crash came.
However, my salary wasn’t enough to support my lavish lifestyle. My late mother used to say, “You earn $1 but spend $2”. I was constantly borrowing from everyone and repaying them on my pay day. This went on throughout my Police Force days.
The Big Crash In 2008, I was hit by the global financial crisis. My income dropped by 90%. I couldn’t repay my credit card bills, car instalment, apartment rental.
71
I went to a lawyer, Quek Mong Hua, for legal advice. We both knew mine was a tough case. Mong Hua told me he was a church elder and offered to pray with me as God was in control of everything.
God’s Sovereign Way in My Life
At this time, I was introduced to the Alpha course. My two sisters and my girlfriend attended the introduction dinner. After that, my elder sister, my girlfriend and I decided to continue with Alpha. Eventually, we made the decision to believe in Jesus Christ.
Elder Mong Hua and his wife Bee Poh also came to help and motivate me. By God’s divine arrangement, Bee Poh shared my situation with Dr. Andres Panasiuk, a speaker from “COMPASS - Finances God’s Way”, a ministry teaching biblical financial stewardship. He was in Singapore that weekend and was hosted by the Queks. She arranged for him to meet me as my condition was critical.
God was good to me as the outcome of my case was extremely favorable. I felt my life was given back to me. However, although I had accepted Christ, my relationship with God was very transactional and I did not fully submit to Him.
I was given a crash course on how to handle my finances and had to list all my personal and business debt. The total was about $923,000. I was shocked! I had been in denial all along and never wanted to know what my total debt was. I now realized why I was in trouble; I learnt I had no contentment and that I was a very bad steward of God’s resources. My actions and decisions were not Christ-like and Christ wasn’t in the center of my life. Step by step, with wisdom revealed by God and God-sent friends like my girlfriend Gine, Elder Mong Hua and Bee Poh
I decided I needed to make money fast to repay my debts but in my eagerness to expand my business, I made many wrong decisions and soon ran out of funds to sustain daily expenses. I didn’t want to trouble my family because they had already done so much for me. So I went to loan sharks. I told myself I could surely repay because my business was profitable but this wasn’t the case.
72
WHAT MONEY CANNOT BUY
I panicked! My first instinct was to borrow more to pay off my debts and I even hated those who refused to lend me money. I managed to carry on till 2010 when my borrowing got completely out of hand. My creditors sued me and finally, I was declared bankrupt and lost my job.
by Luke Roy Tan
My loans skyrocketed rapidly from $10,000 to almost $100,000 in less than 6 months. I was frantic. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t sleep. I was scared whenever the phone rang. My head felt like it was going to explode each day. Disclosure and Despondency
That same year, a friend suggested we set up a transport company together to provide limousine services. I agreed because this meant I would still be a boss. Business was quite good. I regained my confidence and was soon spending lavishly again. Life was looking good when I got into a civil suit with a previous creditor.
Finally I broke the news to my family. They were completely shocked and in pain beyond words. I had hurt them yet again. We had no idea how to repay the loans. I almost wanted to kill myself but told myself I had to deal with the mess I had created. This time, I was completely broken and desperate. I cried out to God to help me. I submitted everything to God and told Him I would be completely obedient. I was very grateful for my family too. Despite the hurt and anguish I caused them, they rallied around in full support.
More Ups and Downs Family Background
More income, more pride
I am 43 years old and work as a driver, with the bulk of my business from limousine services. I come from an average income family but was very pampered by my late mother, two elder sisters and maternal grandmother. They always gave me what I wanted and I was blissfully unaware that we were financially tight.
I had the opportunity to join the financial industry when my bond was almost up. The manager told me I could earn a lot of money, travel for free and live lavishly. He brought me to many fivestar restaurants to persuade me to join him. I was convinced and resigned from the Police Force. I earned double my previous salary in just a few months and bought my first car at 23 years old. As my income grew, my appetite for the good life grew even more. I became very arrogant; I felt my success was all due to my hard work.
Since young, I’ve always longed to be rich but I didn’t know how to achieve it. I wasn’t good in my studies but still managed to pass my GCE “O” levels with three credits. When I had to enlist for National Service, I didn’t want to join the army because it was “siong” (“terrible” in Singlish) and the allowance was low. So I signed on with the Singapore Police Force as a full-time officer on a five year bond. At least it was full-time paid employment.
However, I was still borrowing because I had never learnt to manage my finances. I had no savings. My back-up plan was to apply for multiple credit cards and credit lines. I prided myself for being smart and hardworking, a self-made entrepreneur - until the crash came.
However, my salary wasn’t enough to support my lavish lifestyle. My late mother used to say, “You earn $1 but spend $2”. I was constantly borrowing from everyone and repaying them on my pay day. This went on throughout my Police Force days.
The Big Crash In 2008, I was hit by the global financial crisis. My income dropped by 90%. I couldn’t repay my credit card bills, car instalment, apartment rental.
71
I went to a lawyer, Quek Mong Hua, for legal advice. We both knew mine was a tough case. Mong Hua told me he was a church elder and offered to pray with me as God was in control of everything.
God’s Sovereign Way in My Life
At this time, I was introduced to the Alpha course. My two sisters and my girlfriend attended the introduction dinner. After that, my elder sister, my girlfriend and I decided to continue with Alpha. Eventually, we made the decision to believe in Jesus Christ.
Elder Mong Hua and his wife Bee Poh also came to help and motivate me. By God’s divine arrangement, Bee Poh shared my situation with Dr. Andres Panasiuk, a speaker from “COMPASS - Finances God’s Way”, a ministry teaching biblical financial stewardship. He was in Singapore that weekend and was hosted by the Queks. She arranged for him to meet me as my condition was critical.
God was good to me as the outcome of my case was extremely favorable. I felt my life was given back to me. However, although I had accepted Christ, my relationship with God was very transactional and I did not fully submit to Him.
I was given a crash course on how to handle my finances and had to list all my personal and business debt. The total was about $923,000. I was shocked! I had been in denial all along and never wanted to know what my total debt was. I now realized why I was in trouble; I learnt I had no contentment and that I was a very bad steward of God’s resources. My actions and decisions were not Christ-like and Christ wasn’t in the center of my life. Step by step, with wisdom revealed by God and God-sent friends like my girlfriend Gine, Elder Mong Hua and Bee Poh
I decided I needed to make money fast to repay my debts but in my eagerness to expand my business, I made many wrong decisions and soon ran out of funds to sustain daily expenses. I didn’t want to trouble my family because they had already done so much for me. So I went to loan sharks. I told myself I could surely repay because my business was profitable but this wasn’t the case.
72
AND GOD SHOWS UP
by Koh Pee Kiat
“Is there a God? Is God real?” And if so, “Who is this God?”
and my family, I slowly climbed my way out of my pit. To them, I will forever owe a great debt of thanks.
God Responds Personally to My Prayer While I was there, I was shielded from any updates about the war. But that did not stop me from worrying. Should tensions indeed escalate, I would be far away from my loved ones, especially my mother and siblings, who were all in Singapore. Even though I was not a Christian then, I prayed this before I slept. Questioning God, although I did not know Him, I asked, “God, since you created this world and all of us, why would you allow war to destroy your creation?”
These questions bothered me when I was an undergraduate, back in 1979. But as a student at Sheffield University in England, there were other things that bugged me more that year.
Currently, I am running the same business as a one-man operation. I live according to my means and as amazing as it sounds, even after giving a portion of what I earn to God regularly, I still have enough each month to repay my debts. Truly, I do not have to be anxious for He has provided and blessed me with good customers, sustainable income and sufficient rest and sleep. A joyful experience indeed!
You see, that was the time Iran and Iraq were engaged in a proxy war involving the world’s superpowers. China and Russia were backing Iran, while the United States and the United Kingdom backed Iraq.
The last 20 over years of my life was disorderly until I came to Christ. God never intended to harm me. All my problems were created by me, yet He walked with me throughout.
When we returned to our university hall the next day, I knelt at my bedside before I slept and prayed the same prayer.
Those days, we only received updates about the war through traditional news media, like the newspapers and nightly television broadcasts. I anxiously followed the developments and many speculated that it might escalate to World War III, with a mortality rate far higher than the first two World Wars.
Friends, I hope you never experience the problems I had but whatever you are going through, I do want to share that the decisions we make have consequences but God loves us passionately, wholeheartedly and unconditionally. However much we have messed up, it is never too late to turn to God. He will accept you and embrace you as a loving father embraces a lost child. And God never gives up on us. He is with us ALL the time, even when we don’t acknowledge Him.
That very night, a man with long white hair dressed in a long white robe appeared at the top of my bed and said in a loud voice to me, “Why are you worrying about war? It has to happen. When you wake up, read Mark chapter 13 verse 7.” Strangely enough, in my dream, I argued with him, “Why Mark chapter 13 and not Mark chapter 14 verse 7?”
One day, a local undergraduate reading theology invited me and another PhD student from Brunei (there were very few Asians staying in my hall) for an overnight stay in a cottage near Yorkshire. It was all quite spontaneous. We were not sure what to expect but we accepted the invitation. The cottage was at the top of a small mountain far from the city; it looked like a stable. There was no electricity and water. I remembered it to be very cold. But I also recalled, fondly, the cloudless night sky, which was peppered with countless stars.
I thank God deeply for His grace to me. I once was lost but now am found. I live each day for Him and my relationship with Him has become very close. I know it sounds very cliché but truly, that’s something money can never buy.
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He replied, “If you do not believe me, just go and read Mark chapter 13 verse 7 when you wake up!” Just as He replied, I was jolted from my sleep and quickly flipped through a tiny Gideons’ Bible given to me by the campus. It said exactly what he had told me, “And when you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.”
74
AND GOD SHOWS UP
by Koh Pee Kiat
“Is there a God? Is God real?” And if so, “Who is this God?”
and my family, I slowly climbed my way out of my pit. To them, I will forever owe a great debt of thanks.
God Responds Personally to My Prayer While I was there, I was shielded from any updates about the war. But that did not stop me from worrying. Should tensions indeed escalate, I would be far away from my loved ones, especially my mother and siblings, who were all in Singapore. Even though I was not a Christian then, I prayed this before I slept. Questioning God, although I did not know Him, I asked, “God, since you created this world and all of us, why would you allow war to destroy your creation?”
These questions bothered me when I was an undergraduate, back in 1979. But as a student at Sheffield University in England, there were other things that bugged me more that year.
Currently, I am running the same business as a one-man operation. I live according to my means and as amazing as it sounds, even after giving a portion of what I earn to God regularly, I still have enough each month to repay my debts. Truly, I do not have to be anxious for He has provided and blessed me with good customers, sustainable income and sufficient rest and sleep. A joyful experience indeed!
You see, that was the time Iran and Iraq were engaged in a proxy war involving the world’s superpowers. China and Russia were backing Iran, while the United States and the United Kingdom backed Iraq.
The last 20 over years of my life was disorderly until I came to Christ. God never intended to harm me. All my problems were created by me, yet He walked with me throughout.
When we returned to our university hall the next day, I knelt at my bedside before I slept and prayed the same prayer.
Those days, we only received updates about the war through traditional news media, like the newspapers and nightly television broadcasts. I anxiously followed the developments and many speculated that it might escalate to World War III, with a mortality rate far higher than the first two World Wars.
Friends, I hope you never experience the problems I had but whatever you are going through, I do want to share that the decisions we make have consequences but God loves us passionately, wholeheartedly and unconditionally. However much we have messed up, it is never too late to turn to God. He will accept you and embrace you as a loving father embraces a lost child. And God never gives up on us. He is with us ALL the time, even when we don’t acknowledge Him.
That very night, a man with long white hair dressed in a long white robe appeared at the top of my bed and said in a loud voice to me, “Why are you worrying about war? It has to happen. When you wake up, read Mark chapter 13 verse 7.” Strangely enough, in my dream, I argued with him, “Why Mark chapter 13 and not Mark chapter 14 verse 7?”
One day, a local undergraduate reading theology invited me and another PhD student from Brunei (there were very few Asians staying in my hall) for an overnight stay in a cottage near Yorkshire. It was all quite spontaneous. We were not sure what to expect but we accepted the invitation. The cottage was at the top of a small mountain far from the city; it looked like a stable. There was no electricity and water. I remembered it to be very cold. But I also recalled, fondly, the cloudless night sky, which was peppered with countless stars.
I thank God deeply for His grace to me. I once was lost but now am found. I live each day for Him and my relationship with Him has become very close. I know it sounds very cliché but truly, that’s something money can never buy.
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He replied, “If you do not believe me, just go and read Mark chapter 13 verse 7 when you wake up!” Just as He replied, I was jolted from my sleep and quickly flipped through a tiny Gideons’ Bible given to me by the campus. It said exactly what he had told me, “And when you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.”
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What happened next, you may ask. Many of you would think that I would have immediately become a Christian. However, I was a stubborn guy who wanted more confirmation from God. I wrestled with Him for another 10 long years before accepting Him as my personal Lord and Saviour.
I Respond to God Eventually I was amazed. After staring at the verse for several minutes, it dawned on me that it must have been God who had appeared in my dream. I shared this encounter with the Bruneian student at breakfast, but he casually dismissed it as mere coincidence, because he told me he had dreamt of exam questions before and they later appeared in his test papers! I pondered over what he said and reasoned that out of 31,102 verses in the Bible, it was extraordinary that God would speak to me personally and confirm it with a verse even though I was a pre-believer. Later, I found verses in the Bible reinforcing my conviction that the One who appeared in my dream was indeed God. Matthew 28:3 says, “And His appearance was like lightning and His garment as white as snow.” I was quite sure that it was not a coincidence.
永生的盼望 ETERNAL HOPE
by 陈春来 Tan Choon Lye, Jeffrey Translated by Kuah Leck Ping
So, is God real? Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Yes, God is real! I hope you will draw near to the living God and allow Him to reveal Himself to you in his own way and in his own time, just as he did with me.
我想通过这篇短文叙述我信主的过程，同时也 让大家知道主如何带领我来面对生活上的种种 挑战。
目前我正在和杜传道以一对一方式逐篇的学习 新约圣经概论。通过这些活动，我感觉我跟神 的距离更亲近了。教会的领袖们也在鼓励我服 事，让我担任敬拜及饼杯祝谢的主席。
记得在12年前的一个下午，我载了一位讲英 语的基督徒，在整个车程中，他问我是否要让 耶稣成为我个人救主。为了阻止他进一步跟我 讨论基督教，我就随便答应，并跟着他做一个 简短的祷告。当他抵达目的地，下了车，我有 一种如释重担的感觉，也把刚才所做的祷告忘 了一干二净。
这些年来，我经历了神无时无刻与我同 在。在我驾驶的生涯中让我的顾客源源不断， 并有好几次让我躲过车祸。神也特别眷顾我的 妻子和3个孩子。现在我也学习把圣经的教导 应用在日常生活上。也学习向我传福音的人一 样，一有机会就为未信主的家人或别人祷告， 以及分享圣经的讯息。
在这里，我要告诉大家能成为一个基督徒，是 主拣选我们，而不是我们自己选择的。因为在 我邀请耶稣成为我个人救主的祷告后，主就感 动我的邻居Philip Ong带领我成为一个基督 徒。他带我去参加一个小组聚会，那是在一位 福兰克福音堂的姐妹开放自己的家举行的。我 邻居也知道我要牺牲驾车时间参加小组而减少 收入，他也给了我一些爱心资助。
切记！成为一个基督徒并非凡事一帆风顺，要 时常祷告，把一切交托给神。但是肯定的是， 我们都有永生的盼望！借此与大家共勉。
就这样我可以持续参加小组的敬拜，也参与 每个礼拜在教会崇拜。也第一次参加了教会在 金马伦高原举行的家庭营。这样的教会生活过 了一年后，在2008年12月12日洗礼成为基 督徒，归入福兰克福音堂。 为了提高自己的灵命，我积极参与圣经学习。 跟教会的兄长请教圣经的知识。并且，主动将 圣经读完了两遍，发现圣经好像一本很精彩的 小说，把耶稣基督的生平事迹，一步一脚印， 详细的描述，也让我明白上帝如何通过耶稣 基督，救赎世人的过程。圣经里有这样一段 经文让我印象深刻：“敬畏耶和华是智慧的开 端。(箴言9:10节）
Pee Keat, Karen with Samuel and Samantha
75
76
What happened next, you may ask. Many of you would think that I would have immediately become a Christian. However, I was a stubborn guy who wanted more confirmation from God. I wrestled with Him for another 10 long years before accepting Him as my personal Lord and Saviour.
I Respond to God Eventually I was amazed. After staring at the verse for several minutes, it dawned on me that it must have been God who had appeared in my dream. I shared this encounter with the Bruneian student at breakfast, but he casually dismissed it as mere coincidence, because he told me he had dreamt of exam questions before and they later appeared in his test papers! I pondered over what he said and reasoned that out of 31,102 verses in the Bible, it was extraordinary that God would speak to me personally and confirm it with a verse even though I was a pre-believer. Later, I found verses in the Bible reinforcing my conviction that the One who appeared in my dream was indeed God. Matthew 28:3 says, “And His appearance was like lightning and His garment as white as snow.” I was quite sure that it was not a coincidence.
永生的盼望 ETERNAL HOPE
by 陈春来 Tan Choon Lye, Jeffrey Translated by Kuah Leck Ping
So, is God real? Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Yes, God is real! I hope you will draw near to the living God and allow Him to reveal Himself to you in his own way and in his own time, just as he did with me.
我想通过这篇短文叙述我信主的过程，同时也 让大家知道主如何带领我来面对生活上的种种 挑战。
目前我正在和杜传道以一对一方式逐篇的学习 新约圣经概论。通过这些活动，我感觉我跟神 的距离更亲近了。教会的领袖们也在鼓励我服 事，让我担任敬拜及饼杯祝谢的主席。
记得在12年前的一个下午，我载了一位讲英 语的基督徒，在整个车程中，他问我是否要让 耶稣成为我个人救主。为了阻止他进一步跟我 讨论基督教，我就随便答应，并跟着他做一个 简短的祷告。当他抵达目的地，下了车，我有 一种如释重担的感觉，也把刚才所做的祷告忘 了一干二净。
这些年来，我经历了神无时无刻与我同 在。在我驾驶的生涯中让我的顾客源源不断， 并有好几次让我躲过车祸。神也特别眷顾我的 妻子和3个孩子。现在我也学习把圣经的教导 应用在日常生活上。也学习向我传福音的人一 样，一有机会就为未信主的家人或别人祷告， 以及分享圣经的讯息。
在这里，我要告诉大家能成为一个基督徒，是 主拣选我们，而不是我们自己选择的。因为在 我邀请耶稣成为我个人救主的祷告后，主就感 动我的邻居Philip Ong带领我成为一个基督 徒。他带我去参加一个小组聚会，那是在一位 福兰克福音堂的姐妹开放自己的家举行的。我 邻居也知道我要牺牲驾车时间参加小组而减少 收入，他也给了我一些爱心资助。
切记！成为一个基督徒并非凡事一帆风顺，要 时常祷告，把一切交托给神。但是肯定的是， 我们都有永生的盼望！借此与大家共勉。
就这样我可以持续参加小组的敬拜，也参与 每个礼拜在教会崇拜。也第一次参加了教会在 金马伦高原举行的家庭营。这样的教会生活过 了一年后，在2008年12月12日洗礼成为基 督徒，归入福兰克福音堂。 为了提高自己的灵命，我积极参与圣经学习。 跟教会的兄长请教圣经的知识。并且，主动将 圣经读完了两遍，发现圣经好像一本很精彩的 小说，把耶稣基督的生平事迹，一步一脚印， 详细的描述，也让我明白上帝如何通过耶稣 基督，救赎世人的过程。圣经里有这样一段 经文让我印象深刻：“敬畏耶和华是智慧的开 端。(箴言9:10节）
Pee Keat, Karen with Samuel and Samantha
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Jeffrey Tan (Seated, at extreme right) at the Shepherds and Leaders Appreciation Lunch (2017)
Thank you for allowing me to share how I came to believe in the Lord and also how He has led me through various life challenges.
Nurtured by His Word In order to nurture my spiritual life, I was active in Bible study. I sought help from my church seniors and I read the Bible through twice. I found the Bible is like an exciting novel that gave details of the life of Jesus. It also helps me understand how God saves the people of the world through Jesus Christ. One verse that was impressed in my heart was “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10)
About 12 years ago, an English-speaking Christian boarded my taxi. Throughout the journey, he kept asking whether I wanted to believe Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour. To stop his endless discussion on Christianity, I just said I agreed and followed him as he led me in saying a simple prayer. As soon as he alighted from my taxi, I felt relieved and forgot all about the prayer that I had just said.
I am now studying the New Testament with Brother Du Jian Hua. I feel I am drawing closer and closer to God. The church leaders also encourage me by allowing me to lead worship and the Lord’s Supper.
At this point I want to say that we can become Christians because God had called us and not only because we chose to. After I said that prayer to receive Jesus as my personal Saviour and Lord, He prompted my neighbour Philip Ong to guide me in my spiritual walk. He introduced me to a small gathering hosted in a home that belongs to a sister in BFEC. My neighbour also knew that I had to sacrifice my driving time and income in order to attend the small group, so he compensated me with love-gifts.
His Provision and Protection I have also experienced God’s omnipresence and protection all these years. He has provided streams of customers and protected me from a few accidents. He also took care of my wife and my three children. Now I am learning to apply what I have learnt from the Bible in my daily life. I am also learning from the example of the people who share the gospel with me, by praying for pre-believers and my pre-believing family members. Whenever I have the opportunities, I also share Bible messages with them.
Thus I was able to continue to attend the small group and even Sunday service in BFEC. In that year of church life, I also participated in a church camp in Cameron Highlands. I was baptised on 12 December 2008.
Our life does not become smooth sailing once we become a Christian. We need to be prayerful and entrust everything to God. But I am certain of this we all have eternal hope! May we be encouraged. 77
SAKURA
by Daniel Lau, our missionary in Hanamaki, Japan
Psalm 90
Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11 If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. 12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. 16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. 17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. 10
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” 4 A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning: 6 In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered. 7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 1
78
Jeffrey Tan (Seated, at extreme right) at the Shepherds and Leaders Appreciation Lunch (2017)
Thank you for allowing me to share how I came to believe in the Lord and also how He has led me through various life challenges.
Nurtured by His Word In order to nurture my spiritual life, I was active in Bible study. I sought help from my church seniors and I read the Bible through twice. I found the Bible is like an exciting novel that gave details of the life of Jesus. It also helps me understand how God saves the people of the world through Jesus Christ. One verse that was impressed in my heart was “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10)
About 12 years ago, an English-speaking Christian boarded my taxi. Throughout the journey, he kept asking whether I wanted to believe Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour. To stop his endless discussion on Christianity, I just said I agreed and followed him as he led me in saying a simple prayer. As soon as he alighted from my taxi, I felt relieved and forgot all about the prayer that I had just said.
I am now studying the New Testament with Brother Du Jian Hua. I feel I am drawing closer and closer to God. The church leaders also encourage me by allowing me to lead worship and the Lord’s Supper.
At this point I want to say that we can become Christians because God had called us and not only because we chose to. After I said that prayer to receive Jesus as my personal Saviour and Lord, He prompted my neighbour Philip Ong to guide me in my spiritual walk. He introduced me to a small gathering hosted in a home that belongs to a sister in BFEC. My neighbour also knew that I had to sacrifice my driving time and income in order to attend the small group, so he compensated me with love-gifts.
His Provision and Protection I have also experienced God’s omnipresence and protection all these years. He has provided streams of customers and protected me from a few accidents. He also took care of my wife and my three children. Now I am learning to apply what I have learnt from the Bible in my daily life. I am also learning from the example of the people who share the gospel with me, by praying for pre-believers and my pre-believing family members. Whenever I have the opportunities, I also share Bible messages with them.
Thus I was able to continue to attend the small group and even Sunday service in BFEC. In that year of church life, I also participated in a church camp in Cameron Highlands. I was baptised on 12 December 2008.
Our life does not become smooth sailing once we become a Christian. We need to be prayerful and entrust everything to God. But I am certain of this we all have eternal hope! May we be encouraged. 77
SAKURA
by Daniel Lau, our missionary in Hanamaki, Japan
Psalm 90
Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11 If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. 12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. 16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. 17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. 10
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” 4 A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning: 6 In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered. 7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 1
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Daniel and Joylyn with (left to right) Faith, Samuel and Grace in Hanamaki
At forty, the Grow@Noon youth would think I am old, but the Evergreen folk would say I am still very young. No matter how young or old we are, I believe it is important to ask ourselves: “How are we using our time? Are we spending too much time in our work? How much time do we devote to our relationship with God, to our families, and to physical rest? I am thankful for time away from my busy schedule now and then to have a much-needed time of personal reflection.
The Sakura (cherry blossoms) is one of the most popular symbols of Japan. It first begins to bloom in Kyushu in the south and makes its way to Hokkaido in the north. People from all over the world would come to witness an event that lasts only a week in the year. Soon, the pink Sakura petals would all fall into the wind and be no more. Many people enjoy the beauty of Sakura but some also look at the philosophical significance behind it. In Japanese culture, the short-lived Sakura is a reminder of the brevity and transience of life.
It is an understatement to say there was plenty of excitement in Moses’ life. He spent the first forty years as a prince, the next forty years as a shepherd and the last forty as a prophet. We know the Lord guided him through each stage of his life and used every opportunity in Moses’ life for His glory. The Lord will also do the same for us in every chapter of our lives. No matter how old we are, let us make time to have personal reflections, so we may gain wisdom to make the most of our days (v12). Perhaps the Lord may be telling us to realign ourselves to him, or to challenge us to new opportunities. We only need to make the time to listen to Him.
The Sakura is a symbol of brevity, but it is also a symbol of things to come. It usually blooms in early April, and this coincides with the start of the Japanese calendar year. Students begin a new school term, and many professionals begin work in a new location after a job transfer. The Sakura may remind us that life is short but it also reminds us that each new season brings excitement and opportunity.
In Psalm 90, Moses reminds us that the years of our lives are seventy or eighty, but they are soon gone and we fly away (verse 10), much like the Sakura flowers flying away in the wind. Having passed the first forty years of my life, I now consider myself firmly rooted in the “mid-life” category! These days, I contend with recurring backaches and lengthy tooth procedures. A recent stomach bug that forced me to stay in bed for a few days also reminded me that I am a mere human - inadequate, frail and shortlived. 79
May the Lord add not only years to our life, but life to our years.
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Daniel and Joylyn with (left to right) Faith, Samuel and Grace in Hanamaki
At forty, the Grow@Noon youth would think I am old, but the Evergreen folk would say I am still very young. No matter how young or old we are, I believe it is important to ask ourselves: “How are we using our time? Are we spending too much time in our work? How much time do we devote to our relationship with God, to our families, and to physical rest? I am thankful for time away from my busy schedule now and then to have a much-needed time of personal reflection.
The Sakura (cherry blossoms) is one of the most popular symbols of Japan. It first begins to bloom in Kyushu in the south and makes its way to Hokkaido in the north. People from all over the world would come to witness an event that lasts only a week in the year. Soon, the pink Sakura petals would all fall into the wind and be no more. Many people enjoy the beauty of Sakura but some also look at the philosophical significance behind it. In Japanese culture, the short-lived Sakura is a reminder of the brevity and transience of life.
It is an understatement to say there was plenty of excitement in Moses’ life. He spent the first forty years as a prince, the next forty years as a shepherd and the last forty as a prophet. We know the Lord guided him through each stage of his life and used every opportunity in Moses’ life for His glory. The Lord will also do the same for us in every chapter of our lives. No matter how old we are, let us make time to have personal reflections, so we may gain wisdom to make the most of our days (v12). Perhaps the Lord may be telling us to realign ourselves to him, or to challenge us to new opportunities. We only need to make the time to listen to Him.
The Sakura is a symbol of brevity, but it is also a symbol of things to come. It usually blooms in early April, and this coincides with the start of the Japanese calendar year. Students begin a new school term, and many professionals begin work in a new location after a job transfer. The Sakura may remind us that life is short but it also reminds us that each new season brings excitement and opportunity.
In Psalm 90, Moses reminds us that the years of our lives are seventy or eighty, but they are soon gone and we fly away (verse 10), much like the Sakura flowers flying away in the wind. Having passed the first forty years of my life, I now consider myself firmly rooted in the “mid-life” category! These days, I contend with recurring backaches and lengthy tooth procedures. A recent stomach bug that forced me to stay in bed for a few days also reminded me that I am a mere human - inadequate, frail and shortlived. 79
May the Lord add not only years to our life, but life to our years.
80
FIVE HAIKUS FOR MY FATHER A haiku is a Japanese poem of 17 syllables in phrases of 5, 7 and 5. Priscilla Soh prayed for inspiration to write something that would honour God’s love and God answered when she was at a silent retreat.
FIVE
Calling and searching You gather us from afar Chosen, pre-destined.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The weight of the world Carried on Your shoulders but I’m not too heavy.
(Psalm 23:6)
The palms of Your hands Marred by ugly nail-bored scars Carry my very name. Crimson ran aground Restoring, healing, cleansing Your blood shed for me. I lift up my eyes And in the twinkling of Yours Know I am much loved.
Photo of Mt Yarigatake taken by Mr Ito Tetsuya, Priscilla’s colleague
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FIVE HAIKUS FOR MY FATHER A haiku is a Japanese poem of 17 syllables in phrases of 5, 7 and 5. Priscilla Soh prayed for inspiration to write something that would honour God’s love and God answered when she was at a silent retreat.
FIVE
Calling and searching You gather us from afar Chosen, pre-destined.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The weight of the world Carried on Your shoulders but I’m not too heavy.
(Psalm 23:6)
The palms of Your hands Marred by ugly nail-bored scars Carry my very name. Crimson ran aground Restoring, healing, cleansing Your blood shed for me. I lift up my eyes And in the twinkling of Yours Know I am much loved.
Photo of Mt Yarigatake taken by Mr Ito Tetsuya, Priscilla’s colleague
82
REMEMBERING GOD’S DAILY GRACE
by Pauline Wang
29 June 2010 Dear Nate, You are one year old today. Well, at least in terms of your birth age. According to your corrected age, you are only nine months old. The first 78 days of your life were spent at KKH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and SCN (Special Care Nursery). Mummy did not manage to hold you when you were born. That’s because at 28 gestational weeks, your lungs were not fully developed. At birth, your lungs collapsed and you needed resuscitation. Subsequently a ventilator was inserted to help you breathe. Each day is a daily grace from the Lord. Your Chinese name is hence 怀恩，Huai En (remembering God’s grace).
Towards the end of August, daddy had to go overseas. It was also during this time that we were notified of a lump near your groin area. Hernia. A surgery was scheduled. The uncles and aunties in the cell group and church prayed for you. They love you very much, you know. The operation went very well. His daily grace.
Mummy still remembers the first time I saw you. Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to see. You were so tiny. I think the tubes, monitoring equipment and CPAP (an apparatus which pumps oxygen to help you breathe) were heavier than your 1 kg frame. Silently, I wept. The NICU soon became a familiar place during the confinement. We thank God for a senior nurse at the NICU. She would walk over and pray for you daily. You had quite a bad case of jaundice. The nurses would strip you naked and sun would bathe you. Thank God your liver started working actively and after two weeks, you were off phototherapy. His daily grace.
Nate, mummy wants you to remember His daily grace in our lives – especially yours. You were discharged with a whole list of problems: Retinopathy of prematurity stage II (abnormal growth of the blood vessels in your eyes), poor post-natal growth, congenital muscular torticollis (‘twisted’ neck) and anaemia. But God helped you overcome them one by one as you grew older by the days and weeks in the hospital. You are a fighter.
At about one week after your birth, you needed blood transfusion. Subsequently, you went on to have another two rounds of transfusion because your red blood count wasn’t exactly fantastic. A dentist had to be called in as a pre-natal tooth decided to make its appearance. It was rather wobbly and with the ventilator inserted, they did not want to risk having a loose tooth go missing in your airways. The dentist was extremely nice. He told daddy and mummy not to worry about the alignment because God made all things beautiful and when you grow up, the teeth would form up nicely and naturally. His daily grace.
You were discharged a few days later. After 78 long days in the hospital, we could finally have you home with us.
Nate, you are one year old today. There are many milestones you still have to reach. Some are easier and some may be a little more challenging. But mummy knows that you will overcome them because of His daily grace in your life. Blessed one year old birthday, Nate. Love, Mummy
Pauline and Nate in 2009.
Nate in 2017.
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REMEMBERING GOD’S DAILY GRACE
by Pauline Wang
29 June 2010 Dear Nate, You are one year old today. Well, at least in terms of your birth age. According to your corrected age, you are only nine months old. The first 78 days of your life were spent at KKH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and SCN (Special Care Nursery). Mummy did not manage to hold you when you were born. That’s because at 28 gestational weeks, your lungs were not fully developed. At birth, your lungs collapsed and you needed resuscitation. Subsequently a ventilator was inserted to help you breathe. Each day is a daily grace from the Lord. Your Chinese name is hence 怀恩，Huai En (remembering God’s grace).
Towards the end of August, daddy had to go overseas. It was also during this time that we were notified of a lump near your groin area. Hernia. A surgery was scheduled. The uncles and aunties in the cell group and church prayed for you. They love you very much, you know. The operation went very well. His daily grace.
Mummy still remembers the first time I saw you. Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to see. You were so tiny. I think the tubes, monitoring equipment and CPAP (an apparatus which pumps oxygen to help you breathe) were heavier than your 1 kg frame. Silently, I wept. The NICU soon became a familiar place during the confinement. We thank God for a senior nurse at the NICU. She would walk over and pray for you daily. You had quite a bad case of jaundice. The nurses would strip you naked and sun would bathe you. Thank God your liver started working actively and after two weeks, you were off phototherapy. His daily grace.
Nate, mummy wants you to remember His daily grace in our lives – especially yours. You were discharged with a whole list of problems: Retinopathy of prematurity stage II (abnormal growth of the blood vessels in your eyes), poor post-natal growth, congenital muscular torticollis (‘twisted’ neck) and anaemia. But God helped you overcome them one by one as you grew older by the days and weeks in the hospital. You are a fighter.
At about one week after your birth, you needed blood transfusion. Subsequently, you went on to have another two rounds of transfusion because your red blood count wasn’t exactly fantastic. A dentist had to be called in as a pre-natal tooth decided to make its appearance. It was rather wobbly and with the ventilator inserted, they did not want to risk having a loose tooth go missing in your airways. The dentist was extremely nice. He told daddy and mummy not to worry about the alignment because God made all things beautiful and when you grow up, the teeth would form up nicely and naturally. His daily grace.
You were discharged a few days later. After 78 long days in the hospital, we could finally have you home with us.
Nate, you are one year old today. There are many milestones you still have to reach. Some are easier and some may be a little more challenging. But mummy knows that you will overcome them because of His daily grace in your life. Blessed one year old birthday, Nate. Love, Mummy
Pauline and Nate in 2009.
Nate in 2017.
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84
JOURNEY OF A “MIDDLE-OLD-TIMER” FRANKELITE
Journey Overseas and Return to BFEC
by Agnes Tan
Agnes (extreme right) with friends in a BFEC Senior Sunday School musical
Sunday School at BFEC
As I was contemplating what to write for the BFEC 60th Anniversary publication, I was prompted on 11 March 2018 when Jimmy led the ‘old’ song ‘Be this my joy’. I know the song because I had served in Sunday school in the ‘70s and ‘80s together with Jimmy. I decided to share these fond memories not only out of nostalgia but with hope that it would shed some light on how the Lord has brought many incidents and people together for our personal and collective growth as the body of Christ at Frankel.
In 1979, I joined Senior Sunday School (SSS). Soon after, I started playing piano for Sunday School worship or ‘Singspiration’.
After spending about 8 years in the US, I had to return home because of a bad relapse of my illness. At my father’s encouragement, I came back to God, started to attend BFEC again, and subsequently joined a worship team. I praise God that Worship Team A is still serving together after all these years.
I left for the US in 1986 to pursue a postgraduate degree in Chemistry. I attended Park Street Church in Boston, which was recommended by Elder Ernest Chew and played piano for the International Fellowship there. I also played piano at an independent Bible study group. At Park Street Church, I met Clara Yip, a soprano from Hong Kong, a Master’s graduate of New England Conservatory who had won the Handel prize there. I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as her accompanist for a year as she sang at various churches in the Boston area.
The initial years at BFEC after I returned from the US were to me difficult and awkward, partly because of my illness and other personal struggles. I probably stumbled quite a few people over some things I did and/or said. If I have stumbled anyone who is reading this, I apologize and ask for your forgiveness. I have sought and found forgiveness from God.
It was in the US that I was first diagnosed with the illness that I have been fighting ever since. After a few years of trying to recover, I walked away from God for a while. (That was the worst thing I ever did. Everyone, please don’t ever do that.)
It was at BFEC that I fully understood what it means to be a Christian. I was baptised in 1980, as the first in my family to attend BFEC. My memories of my years in SSS include Bible quizzes (I had a very good memory at the time!), Talentime (singing competitions – I flattered myself that I could sing but never won anything) and camps. For me, the highlight of the camps was the ‘initiative tests’, where groups were assigned problems to solve but the best way was almost always not the most obvious one. Later, I had the opportunity to serve in the worship service (I played the Electone) and as choir pianist.
My involvement with BFEC began in 1977 when I was in secondary one at Tanjong Katong Girls’ School. A secondary two student came to my class and introduced the Girls’ Brigade (GB) as an extracurricular activity. She was very enthusiastic and I became interested. I joined GB 12th Coy, which was based at BFEC. It was at GB that I first got to know Lindis and her sister Christine Szto who served as Lieutenants in the ministry. (Elder Fred Sabapathy was the Chaplain.) At the time I joined GB, I wasn’t a Christian. I accepted Christ later in August 1977 when someone shared the gospel with me at school though I don’t recall any follow-up. At GB, I played the bagpipe. I recall Patrick Lee playing drums with the Boys’ Brigade 20th Coy, also based at BFEC. I played piano for a musical staged by GB. Unfortunately BB and GB have since ceased operations at BFEC.
I thank God for those early years in Sunday School and Adult Training Class which were formative, both in terms of my journey in Christ and the foundation of my music ministry. Among my Sunday School teachers was Mona Fong, with whom I still keep in close contact.
Be this my joy today To hear and to obey My Saviour’s word His wonderful word. To read in every line God’s will and make it mine Be this my joy My wonderful joy - Composer Unknown
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86
JOURNEY OF A “MIDDLE-OLD-TIMER” FRANKELITE
Journey Overseas and Return to BFEC
by Agnes Tan
Agnes (extreme right) with friends in a BFEC Senior Sunday School musical
Sunday School at BFEC
As I was contemplating what to write for the BFEC 60th Anniversary publication, I was prompted on 11 March 2018 when Jimmy led the ‘old’ song ‘Be this my joy’. I know the song because I had served in Sunday school in the ‘70s and ‘80s together with Jimmy. I decided to share these fond memories not only out of nostalgia but with hope that it would shed some light on how the Lord has brought many incidents and people together for our personal and collective growth as the body of Christ at Frankel.
In 1979, I joined Senior Sunday School (SSS). Soon after, I started playing piano for Sunday School worship or ‘Singspiration’.
After spending about 8 years in the US, I had to return home because of a bad relapse of my illness. At my father’s encouragement, I came back to God, started to attend BFEC again, and subsequently joined a worship team. I praise God that Worship Team A is still serving together after all these years.
I left for the US in 1986 to pursue a postgraduate degree in Chemistry. I attended Park Street Church in Boston, which was recommended by Elder Ernest Chew and played piano for the International Fellowship there. I also played piano at an independent Bible study group. At Park Street Church, I met Clara Yip, a soprano from Hong Kong, a Master’s graduate of New England Conservatory who had won the Handel prize there. I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as her accompanist for a year as she sang at various churches in the Boston area.
The initial years at BFEC after I returned from the US were to me difficult and awkward, partly because of my illness and other personal struggles. I probably stumbled quite a few people over some things I did and/or said. If I have stumbled anyone who is reading this, I apologize and ask for your forgiveness. I have sought and found forgiveness from God.
It was in the US that I was first diagnosed with the illness that I have been fighting ever since. After a few years of trying to recover, I walked away from God for a while. (That was the worst thing I ever did. Everyone, please don’t ever do that.)
It was at BFEC that I fully understood what it means to be a Christian. I was baptised in 1980, as the first in my family to attend BFEC. My memories of my years in SSS include Bible quizzes (I had a very good memory at the time!), Talentime (singing competitions – I flattered myself that I could sing but never won anything) and camps. For me, the highlight of the camps was the ‘initiative tests’, where groups were assigned problems to solve but the best way was almost always not the most obvious one. Later, I had the opportunity to serve in the worship service (I played the Electone) and as choir pianist.
My involvement with BFEC began in 1977 when I was in secondary one at Tanjong Katong Girls’ School. A secondary two student came to my class and introduced the Girls’ Brigade (GB) as an extracurricular activity. She was very enthusiastic and I became interested. I joined GB 12th Coy, which was based at BFEC. It was at GB that I first got to know Lindis and her sister Christine Szto who served as Lieutenants in the ministry. (Elder Fred Sabapathy was the Chaplain.) At the time I joined GB, I wasn’t a Christian. I accepted Christ later in August 1977 when someone shared the gospel with me at school though I don’t recall any follow-up. At GB, I played the bagpipe. I recall Patrick Lee playing drums with the Boys’ Brigade 20th Coy, also based at BFEC. I played piano for a musical staged by GB. Unfortunately BB and GB have since ceased operations at BFEC.
I thank God for those early years in Sunday School and Adult Training Class which were formative, both in terms of my journey in Christ and the foundation of my music ministry. Among my Sunday School teachers was Mona Fong, with whom I still keep in close contact.
Be this my joy today To hear and to obey My Saviour’s word His wonderful word. To read in every line God’s will and make it mine Be this my joy My wonderful joy - Composer Unknown
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86
Thanksgiving for BFEC
For me, what marked the end of those “awkward” years was three years ago at the church camp (Dr Tan Soo-Inn was the speaker) when I publicly acknowledged that I had fumbled. God is faithful and gracious; I received and experienced His forgiveness afresh and He started the process of inner healing. I am still on that journey.
Nevertheless, there were many at BFEC who were aware of my struggles. I thank God for the many people who came alongside me with prayer support as well as practical help. I am especially grateful for friends who have seen me at my worst yet extend God’s love to me, and who have the guts to ‘scold’ me when I was wrong and hence set me on the right path. I would like to specifically thank Mong Hua and Bee Poh, Cheng Kee and Mona, Jimmy and Monika, Worship Team A, Jason Sin and cell group, Susan Cheok, Joyce Cheong, Tang Hui Kheng, Amy Lim, Lindis … and others I may have inadvertently left out (my apologies!).
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
by Benjamin Lim
I would also like to thank Frankelites for their love and help in coming alongside me and my mother Lily during our bereavement with the loss of my father (Kelly Tan) and brother (Leonard Tan). In the final analysis, what I consider most significant in my journey is God’s love and faithfulness in spite of my failings; this includes love shown to me by various Frankelites. I also thank Him for equipping me for the music ministry so that I can serve Him.
Fong Cheng Kee found a part-time job for me. I have been working there for about eight years. I am very grateful to him and Mona (who have been praying for me a lot), as well as my bosses Mr Koh Soo Keong and Mr Sim Poh Choon, who have been very patient with me as I struggle with my illness. I would also like to thank my colleagues, Alice, Fiona, Audrey and Hazel, who have been a source of support and encouragement.
It is my prayer that BFEC continues to be a bastion of love and service. With respect to all in the BFEC family. Soli Deo Gloria!
God may not call every believer to be a preacher, but He gives all believers the honour and privilege of sharing our faith. There’s a saying that claims a cat has nine lives. If I were a cat, I’m pretty sure I would have used up my nine lives many times over. God has been merciful and gracious countless times towards me throughout my life, from birth till today, something my beloved parents would attest. I thank God that all this is most definitely due to the relentless, fervent prayers of my family and all my brothers, sisters, aunties and uncles in Christ. You see, despite being born and bred in BFEC, I had been a pew warmer at best. This sharing is greatly different - no arm-twisting from home, from brothers Timothy, Arene or Alawn. No one told me to do this; I’m led to share with you.
God is faithful and gracious; I received and experienced His forgiveness afresh and He started the process of inner healing. I am still on that journey.
On 28 February 2017, what was initially a routine visit to the GP quickly escalated to an emergency admission to East Shore Hospital. After a routine chest X-ray, the doctors found a tumour approximately 12 cm in diameter compressing my heart and lungs. The medical team said that it could be either thymoma or lymphoma. Chances of lymphoma were high due to the symptoms and my age bracket, as thymoma normally affects older people. Regardless, Lynn, my wife, and I were in a state of shock. I lead a health-conscious lifestyle. I don’t drink anything besides water and coffee, don’t smoke, rarely eat fast or processed food and exercise daily. Lynn called my parents and they immediately contacted a close friend and brother-in-Christ, Dr Luke Tan at about 6 p.m. Dr Tan was in my ward by 6.20 p.m. and signed my discharge papers to move me to another hospital where he could monitor my situation more closely. (Unknown to us was that he had already arranged for a ward to be ready for us that night, that he had also arranged for PET scan the very next morning and a CT biopsy immediately after. Dr Tan also assembled a medical team that he trusted to attend to me.
Agnes with mother, Mrs Lily Tan
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88
Thanksgiving for BFEC
For me, what marked the end of those “awkward” years was three years ago at the church camp (Dr Tan Soo-Inn was the speaker) when I publicly acknowledged that I had fumbled. God is faithful and gracious; I received and experienced His forgiveness afresh and He started the process of inner healing. I am still on that journey.
Nevertheless, there were many at BFEC who were aware of my struggles. I thank God for the many people who came alongside me with prayer support as well as practical help. I am especially grateful for friends who have seen me at my worst yet extend God’s love to me, and who have the guts to ‘scold’ me when I was wrong and hence set me on the right path. I would like to specifically thank Mong Hua and Bee Poh, Cheng Kee and Mona, Jimmy and Monika, Worship Team A, Jason Sin and cell group, Susan Cheok, Joyce Cheong, Tang Hui Kheng, Amy Lim, Lindis … and others I may have inadvertently left out (my apologies!).
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
by Benjamin Lim
I would also like to thank Frankelites for their love and help in coming alongside me and my mother Lily during our bereavement with the loss of my father (Kelly Tan) and brother (Leonard Tan). In the final analysis, what I consider most significant in my journey is God’s love and faithfulness in spite of my failings; this includes love shown to me by various Frankelites. I also thank Him for equipping me for the music ministry so that I can serve Him.
Fong Cheng Kee found a part-time job for me. I have been working there for about eight years. I am very grateful to him and Mona (who have been praying for me a lot), as well as my bosses Mr Koh Soo Keong and Mr Sim Poh Choon, who have been very patient with me as I struggle with my illness. I would also like to thank my colleagues, Alice, Fiona, Audrey and Hazel, who have been a source of support and encouragement.
It is my prayer that BFEC continues to be a bastion of love and service. With respect to all in the BFEC family. Soli Deo Gloria!
God may not call every believer to be a preacher, but He gives all believers the honour and privilege of sharing our faith. There’s a saying that claims a cat has nine lives. If I were a cat, I’m pretty sure I would have used up my nine lives many times over. God has been merciful and gracious countless times towards me throughout my life, from birth till today, something my beloved parents would attest. I thank God that all this is most definitely due to the relentless, fervent prayers of my family and all my brothers, sisters, aunties and uncles in Christ. You see, despite being born and bred in BFEC, I had been a pew warmer at best. This sharing is greatly different - no arm-twisting from home, from brothers Timothy, Arene or Alawn. No one told me to do this; I’m led to share with you.
God is faithful and gracious; I received and experienced His forgiveness afresh and He started the process of inner healing. I am still on that journey.
On 28 February 2017, what was initially a routine visit to the GP quickly escalated to an emergency admission to East Shore Hospital. After a routine chest X-ray, the doctors found a tumour approximately 12 cm in diameter compressing my heart and lungs. The medical team said that it could be either thymoma or lymphoma. Chances of lymphoma were high due to the symptoms and my age bracket, as thymoma normally affects older people. Regardless, Lynn, my wife, and I were in a state of shock. I lead a health-conscious lifestyle. I don’t drink anything besides water and coffee, don’t smoke, rarely eat fast or processed food and exercise daily. Lynn called my parents and they immediately contacted a close friend and brother-in-Christ, Dr Luke Tan at about 6 p.m. Dr Tan was in my ward by 6.20 p.m. and signed my discharge papers to move me to another hospital where he could monitor my situation more closely. (Unknown to us was that he had already arranged for a ward to be ready for us that night, that he had also arranged for PET scan the very next morning and a CT biopsy immediately after. Dr Tan also assembled a medical team that he trusted to attend to me.
Agnes with mother, Mrs Lily Tan
87
88
1 March 2017 The barrage of tests, x-rays, scans and biopsy began. To say I was afraid and confused was an understatement. There was an instance during one of the scans where I started to get extremely claustrophobic, but I wasn’t allowed to move or the scan would have to be done all over again. I thought, “Let’s sing a hymn.” So, after a long and hard search in my brain’s backup hard drive, “As the Deer” (one of my favourite hymns when I was growing up) cropped up and when I was about to start singing it in my head, I realised with shame that I couldn’t remember the lyrics. I started to get desperate and agitated but settled for a “kiddy Christian” song that my two boys would often sing, “This Little Light of Mine.” Despite feeling normal, I was given a high-risk patient tag, which meant I wasn’t allowed to leave the hospital; I couldn’t even walk 100 m to Paragon, which was nearby, for a meal. The hospital and ward really felt like a prison. While in the hospital, every night, I would cry myself to sleep. As an early riser, when I woke up in the morning, I’d realise that it wasn’t a bad dream and I would start to cry as well.
3 March 2017 Meanwhile, Friday, like our Singapore Election day, was the “cooling off” period. Lynn and I were given a day to spend some time with each other without any tests and just prepare ourselves mentally. We were so surprised when we returned from our daily walk around the ward – some of our church Elders were waiting for us in my room and were ever ready to lay their hands on me to pray for me.
Benjamin in ICU for 2.5 days
2 March 2017 I woke up and started to cry again. But this time, remembering how well the hymn worked the day before, I thought maybe if I sang a hymn, it would comfort me. Amazingly enough, “The Steadfast Love of the Lord Never Ceases” immediately came to mind and I didn’t even have to google the words. This hymn stayed with me throughout this trial. The good news started streaming in after the test results came out. It was a thymoma, not lymphoma. And the thymoma was not thought to be aggressive. Then came the not bad, but hard-to-swallow news. The surgery was going to be complicated, as the tumour had compressed against my heart and lung. The lead surgeon requested another thoracic surgeon to work together on the operation. It wasn’t a procedure that would inspire confidence. Then there were the statistics. To be sure that none of the cells of the tumour remained, there was a 80 - 90% chance that I would have to go through radiation. There was an 85% chance that they had to remove part of my lung; there was a 85% chance they had to replace some valves with biomedical parts and a 80% chance they had to scrape the lining of my heart. It was going to be a half clamp shell operation. Best-case scenario was a 5-hour operation if everything went well. The fear set in. Looking back, I believe every doctor selected was one whom God had appointed and hand-picked for me. In particular, was the anaesthetist, Dr Monica Woo. When she first came to check on me the day before the operation, Lynn and I were both very concerned. Outwardly, her actions seemed ‘clumsy’ to me, even unprofessional. She really looked nothing like a doctor. We were a little worried. But as you will soon read, I was wrong.
89
4 March 2017, Saturday morning 8 a.m. I was wheeled in to the operating theatre. It was cold and bright. Here is where the anaesthetist unknowingly played a crucial role. As the medical team started to prep me for the operation, she started to say all the right things to comfort me. Before she started, I looked at her squarely in the eye and said, “Dr Woo, I am scared” and like a mother, she comforted me by cradling my face as she inserted 6 IVs in my hands and a central line to my neck. Can you imagine if one of the male, professional-looking doctors were to cradle my face in his hands? It would have been terribly awkward! I would not have felt any ounce of comfort! Praise God that despite the need for blood transfusions (because of clotting issues), the operation was completed in 2.5 hours and not the initially-planned 5 hours! Not only that, they managed to remove the tumour easily because it was fully encapsulated, (if you were to compare it to an egg, it was hardboiled and not soft-boiled) and they did not need to scrap my heart lining or cut part of my lungs out or even replace any of my arteries or valves. The tumour they took out was 12 cm in diameter and weighed 1.04 kg. Yes, I’m now 1.04 kg lighter. I was in the ICU for 2.5 days. 90
1 March 2017 The barrage of tests, x-rays, scans and biopsy began. To say I was afraid and confused was an understatement. There was an instance during one of the scans where I started to get extremely claustrophobic, but I wasn’t allowed to move or the scan would have to be done all over again. I thought, “Let’s sing a hymn.” So, after a long and hard search in my brain’s backup hard drive, “As the Deer” (one of my favourite hymns when I was growing up) cropped up and when I was about to start singing it in my head, I realised with shame that I couldn’t remember the lyrics. I started to get desperate and agitated but settled for a “kiddy Christian” song that my two boys would often sing, “This Little Light of Mine.” Despite feeling normal, I was given a high-risk patient tag, which meant I wasn’t allowed to leave the hospital; I couldn’t even walk 100 m to Paragon, which was nearby, for a meal. The hospital and ward really felt like a prison. While in the hospital, every night, I would cry myself to sleep. As an early riser, when I woke up in the morning, I’d realise that it wasn’t a bad dream and I would start to cry as well.
3 March 2017 Meanwhile, Friday, like our Singapore Election day, was the “cooling off” period. Lynn and I were given a day to spend some time with each other without any tests and just prepare ourselves mentally. We were so surprised when we returned from our daily walk around the ward – some of our church Elders were waiting for us in my room and were ever ready to lay their hands on me to pray for me.
Benjamin in ICU for 2.5 days
2 March 2017 I woke up and started to cry again. But this time, remembering how well the hymn worked the day before, I thought maybe if I sang a hymn, it would comfort me. Amazingly enough, “The Steadfast Love of the Lord Never Ceases” immediately came to mind and I didn’t even have to google the words. This hymn stayed with me throughout this trial. The good news started streaming in after the test results came out. It was a thymoma, not lymphoma. And the thymoma was not thought to be aggressive. Then came the not bad, but hard-to-swallow news. The surgery was going to be complicated, as the tumour had compressed against my heart and lung. The lead surgeon requested another thoracic surgeon to work together on the operation. It wasn’t a procedure that would inspire confidence. Then there were the statistics. To be sure that none of the cells of the tumour remained, there was a 80 - 90% chance that I would have to go through radiation. There was an 85% chance that they had to remove part of my lung; there was a 85% chance they had to replace some valves with biomedical parts and a 80% chance they had to scrape the lining of my heart. It was going to be a half clamp shell operation. Best-case scenario was a 5-hour operation if everything went well. The fear set in. Looking back, I believe every doctor selected was one whom God had appointed and hand-picked for me. In particular, was the anaesthetist, Dr Monica Woo. When she first came to check on me the day before the operation, Lynn and I were both very concerned. Outwardly, her actions seemed ‘clumsy’ to me, even unprofessional. She really looked nothing like a doctor. We were a little worried. But as you will soon read, I was wrong.
89
4 March 2017, Saturday morning 8 a.m. I was wheeled in to the operating theatre. It was cold and bright. Here is where the anaesthetist unknowingly played a crucial role. As the medical team started to prep me for the operation, she started to say all the right things to comfort me. Before she started, I looked at her squarely in the eye and said, “Dr Woo, I am scared” and like a mother, she comforted me by cradling my face as she inserted 6 IVs in my hands and a central line to my neck. Can you imagine if one of the male, professional-looking doctors were to cradle my face in his hands? It would have been terribly awkward! I would not have felt any ounce of comfort! Praise God that despite the need for blood transfusions (because of clotting issues), the operation was completed in 2.5 hours and not the initially-planned 5 hours! Not only that, they managed to remove the tumour easily because it was fully encapsulated, (if you were to compare it to an egg, it was hardboiled and not soft-boiled) and they did not need to scrap my heart lining or cut part of my lungs out or even replace any of my arteries or valves. The tumour they took out was 12 cm in diameter and weighed 1.04 kg. Yes, I’m now 1.04 kg lighter. I was in the ICU for 2.5 days. 90
This is not coincidence; this is not luck; this is not fate. This is God’s evidence of His abundant Grace upon me, and His perfect work in our lives.
Miraculous Recovery Twice Over The doctor said I would be able to walk a few steps on the fourth day. Again, God made my recovery a miracle. Lynn and I walked up and down the corridors of the ward about 20 - 30 times to the astonishment and applause of the ward nurses. As every breath hurt, I prayed hard not to sneeze. And God answered that simple prayer – my first sneeze was four weeks post-op. More blessings followed - the doctors discharged us by Day 5. (The initial plan was 10 days). And by Day 7, I was brisk walking 6 km and climbing about 6000 ft daily in the gym. One of the hardest things about this whole ordeal was being separated from our two boys (Jesse had just turned four and Julian, two). They had moved to my parents’ home to allow Lynn and I to recuperate. Two weeks after the op, the doctor was amazed at my rate of recovery. I stopped all pain killers. He even gave us an “open date” to return for our next check-up. We were so happy and decided it was time to bring the boys home. We did just that and planned to take them to their favourite restaurant for dinner that night. But just as we were about to leave for dinner, I developed a fever and rash. Puzzled, I called the lead surgeon to update him. By early the next morning, my doctor, Dr Wong, requested that I be ‘re-warded’ (What an unfortunate pun!). I was upset. The boys had just come home. I asked God the question I am sure everyone has asked Him before, “Why, God?” When I returned to the same ward, the hospital tag they placed around my wrist felt like handcuffs. When they started to insert the IVs, I just broke. I couldn’t wrap my mind around what was happening. My new-found faith in God was brought to its knees. The next four weeks proved challenging. Despite the tumour being removed, certain indicators were unexplainably way off the charts – white blood cell count, C-reactive protein and Ferritin were dangerously above normal. All the doctors could say was it might indicate an autoimmune disease. The only solution, if the levels remained high, was to administer steroids which, once started, I may need to take for God knows how long. But as it turned out, God does know better and He surely knew my still-fragile heart. Helplessly, I could only wait and rely on the prayers being uttered on my behalf. After the first week, the levels decreased – not back to normal – but an encouraging sign. Doctors said to give it more time. Indeed, during the next few weeks, the levels bounced up and down like a turbulent stock-market. Only on 17 April was my doctor, Dr Leong Keng Hong, happy and relieved that the levels finally seemed to be on a downward trend to normalcy. My heart is truly humbled and amazed.
Benjamin and Lynn with sons Julian (left) and Jesse (right).
Defying the Odds What are the odds a 12 cm, 1.04 kg tumour would defy statistics and probability to turn out encapsulated, so that its removal would not affect my lungs or my heart? What are the odds that the biopsy said not to be benign initially after biopsy would turn out to be benign in the end? What are the odds that the surgeons could complete the surgery in half the best-case scenario time? What are the odds that radiation postsurgery is not needed? What are the odds that the doctor discharged us on the fifth day after the operation, and not the initially-determined timeline of 10 days? This is not coincidence; this is not luck; this is not fate. This is God’s evidence of His abundant Grace upon me, and His perfect work in our lives. What has changed since God took this journey with me? My faith is strengthened; my life has become more purposeful and my hope is more anchored on Him. I pray that we continue to keep the faith, hold on to God and believe in His goodness. The Lord is good and we are truly blessed to have journeyed and witnessed God’s small miracle in me. Thank you so much to all who have been and are still praying for us.
This is not coincidence; this is not luck; this is not fate. This is God’s evidence of His abundant Grace upon me, and His perfect work in our lives.
Miraculous Recovery Twice Over The doctor said I would be able to walk a few steps on the fourth day. Again, God made my recovery a miracle. Lynn and I walked up and down the corridors of the ward about 20 - 30 times to the astonishment and applause of the ward nurses. As every breath hurt, I prayed hard not to sneeze. And God answered that simple prayer – my first sneeze was four weeks post-op. More blessings followed - the doctors discharged us by Day 5. (The initial plan was 10 days). And by Day 7, I was brisk walking 6 km and climbing about 6000 ft daily in the gym. One of the hardest things about this whole ordeal was being separated from our two boys (Jesse had just turned four and Julian, two). They had moved to my parents’ home to allow Lynn and I to recuperate. Two weeks after the op, the doctor was amazed at my rate of recovery. I stopped all pain killers. He even gave us an “open date” to return for our next check-up. We were so happy and decided it was time to bring the boys home. We did just that and planned to take them to their favourite restaurant for dinner that night. But just as we were about to leave for dinner, I developed a fever and rash. Puzzled, I called the lead surgeon to update him. By early the next morning, my doctor, Dr Wong, requested that I be ‘re-warded’ (What an unfortunate pun!). I was upset. The boys had just come home. I asked God the question I am sure everyone has asked Him before, “Why, God?” When I returned to the same ward, the hospital tag they placed around my wrist felt like handcuffs. When they started to insert the IVs, I just broke. I couldn’t wrap my mind around what was happening. My new-found faith in God was brought to its knees. The next four weeks proved challenging. Despite the tumour being removed, certain indicators were unexplainably way off the charts – white blood cell count, C-reactive protein and Ferritin were dangerously above normal. All the doctors could say was it might indicate an autoimmune disease. The only solution, if the levels remained high, was to administer steroids which, once started, I may need to take for God knows how long. But as it turned out, God does know better and He surely knew my still-fragile heart. Helplessly, I could only wait and rely on the prayers being uttered on my behalf. After the first week, the levels decreased – not back to normal – but an encouraging sign. Doctors said to give it more time. Indeed, during the next few weeks, the levels bounced up and down like a turbulent stock-market. Only on 17 April was my doctor, Dr Leong Keng Hong, happy and relieved that the levels finally seemed to be on a downward trend to normalcy. My heart is truly humbled and amazed.
Benjamin and Lynn with sons Julian (left) and Jesse (right).
Defying the Odds What are the odds a 12 cm, 1.04 kg tumour would defy statistics and probability to turn out encapsulated, so that its removal would not affect my lungs or my heart? What are the odds that the biopsy said not to be benign initially after biopsy would turn out to be benign in the end? What are the odds that the surgeons could complete the surgery in half the best-case scenario time? What are the odds that radiation postsurgery is not needed? What are the odds that the doctor discharged us on the fifth day after the operation, and not the initially-determined timeline of 10 days? This is not coincidence; this is not luck; this is not fate. This is God’s evidence of His abundant Grace upon me, and His perfect work in our lives. What has changed since God took this journey with me? My faith is strengthened; my life has become more purposeful and my hope is more anchored on Him. I pray that we continue to keep the faith, hold on to God and believe in His goodness. The Lord is good and we are truly blessed to have journeyed and witnessed God’s small miracle in me. Thank you so much to all who have been and are still praying for us.
GIVE OF YOUR BEST TO THE MASTER
by Irene Wee, Principal (1998 - 2017), Bethesda (Katong) Kindergarten
“Give of your best to the Master” - this hymn was frequently sung at Chapel services in the Methodist Girls’ School during my primary and secondary school days. Little did I realise that these lyrics would come to have so much impact in my working life in the years following. The words took on a whole new meaning and I wanted to make them my motto in my service to God, first as a teacher, coordinator, Vice-Principal, and then Principal, at Bethesda (Katong) Kindergarten (BKK).
to rely less on my own ability and effort, and to turn to Him often. This has helped me in my spiritual growth and in developing my strength of character (Romans 5:3 and 4). I remembered vividly an incident where I was awakened in the wee hours of the morning to pray specifically for a couple and not knowing why. The very next morning, the wife of the couple whom I was praying for, walked into my office and informed me that she was taking action to annul her marriage and instructed me not to let her husband take the children from school. It then dawned on me why I was awakened to pray for this couple. I was dumbfounded for a moment and knowing that she is a Christian, I shared with her how the night before, I was awakened to pray for her and her husband. She replied adamantly, “I have already signed the papers” ignoring what I said.
In the course of my working life, I have learnt early to depend on the Lord for His wisdom and guidance to discharge my duties efficiently and in a manner pleasing to Him. I had to trust and obey what He says and know that it is not simply a one-time decision, but to daily trust in His mercy and strength. Furthermore, I have a desire and commitment to trust Him with my heart and not depend on my own understanding and learn to acknowledge Him in all my ways and His promise of leading the way (Proverbs 3:5 and 6). In the process, God gave me the understanding to grasp this truth that “Jesus is my Saviour” and “Jesus is my Lord and Master” are inseparable.
I was upset and troubled and questioned the Lord, “Why, Lord? Why, Lord?” When I calmed down, the very essence of trusting His ways convicted me (“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55: 8 and 9) and I continued to pray for this family. Indeed, many a time when I have become discouraged or fallen, God in His mercy, grace and steadfast love, has picked me up, restored me back to the joy of my salvation and led me on.
As a Principal, my efforts were not limited to ensuring that children were developed holistically. Parents who were struggling with marital issues also got my attention as I know the impact of the family on a child. I would offer my time and attention to the parents, giving them a listening ear and, when due, my advice and perspective. During such times of crises, often overwhelmed by stress, I have learnt
By Julienne Tan
Notes: 3310s: Nokia model. OOTDs: Outfit of the Day GGs: the girls in my batch- that’s what we were eventually called
94
GIVE OF YOUR BEST TO THE MASTER
by Irene Wee, Principal (1998 - 2017), Bethesda (Katong) Kindergarten
“Give of your best to the Master” - this hymn was frequently sung at Chapel services in the Methodist Girls’ School during my primary and secondary school days. Little did I realise that these lyrics would come to have so much impact in my working life in the years following. The words took on a whole new meaning and I wanted to make them my motto in my service to God, first as a teacher, coordinator, Vice-Principal, and then Principal, at Bethesda (Katong) Kindergarten (BKK).
to rely less on my own ability and effort, and to turn to Him often. This has helped me in my spiritual growth and in developing my strength of character (Romans 5:3 and 4). I remembered vividly an incident where I was awakened in the wee hours of the morning to pray specifically for a couple and not knowing why. The very next morning, the wife of the couple whom I was praying for, walked into my office and informed me that she was taking action to annul her marriage and instructed me not to let her husband take the children from school. It then dawned on me why I was awakened to pray for this couple. I was dumbfounded for a moment and knowing that she is a Christian, I shared with her how the night before, I was awakened to pray for her and her husband. She replied adamantly, “I have already signed the papers” ignoring what I said.
In the course of my working life, I have learnt early to depend on the Lord for His wisdom and guidance to discharge my duties efficiently and in a manner pleasing to Him. I had to trust and obey what He says and know that it is not simply a one-time decision, but to daily trust in His mercy and strength. Furthermore, I have a desire and commitment to trust Him with my heart and not depend on my own understanding and learn to acknowledge Him in all my ways and His promise of leading the way (Proverbs 3:5 and 6). In the process, God gave me the understanding to grasp this truth that “Jesus is my Saviour” and “Jesus is my Lord and Master” are inseparable.
I was upset and troubled and questioned the Lord, “Why, Lord? Why, Lord?” When I calmed down, the very essence of trusting His ways convicted me (“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55: 8 and 9) and I continued to pray for this family. Indeed, many a time when I have become discouraged or fallen, God in His mercy, grace and steadfast love, has picked me up, restored me back to the joy of my salvation and led me on.
As a Principal, my efforts were not limited to ensuring that children were developed holistically. Parents who were struggling with marital issues also got my attention as I know the impact of the family on a child. I would offer my time and attention to the parents, giving them a listening ear and, when due, my advice and perspective. During such times of crises, often overwhelmed by stress, I have learnt
By Julienne Tan
Notes: 3310s: Nokia model. OOTDs: Outfit of the Day GGs: the girls in my batch- that’s what we were eventually called
94
HALF TIME, FULL FAITH
by Wong Lee Pin, Principal, Bethesda Katong Kindergarten
Ms Wee with BKK children before the change of uniform to the current one
It was not an easy decision to make. I am successful in my teaching career - I am valued by my organisation; I have good friends among my colleagues and the respect of my superiors and subordinates. Why would I leave all these for something that I have never ever considered? The journey to joining Bethesda Katong Kindergarten (BKK) was indeed a life-turning point!
Ms Wee in the BKK office
About a year before this decision, while studying the book, “Half Time” by Bob Buford with my cell group, some questions kept playing in my mind. So what if I have had a successful first half, can I say the same of my second half? If all things were possible, what would I be doing with my life in this second half? That was when I opened my heart and told God I will do what He wants of me.
In the following months, I found the couple’s children appeared happier and more chatty. Tears of joy filled my eyes when I saw the couple celebrating together at their older child’s graduation ceremony at our Annual Concert. The restoration of this couple’s broken relationship is made possible only by our Almighty God’s intervention and healing. I am glad to learn that they and their family have since become regular in worshipping and participating at a local church! Praise the Lord!
Throughout my service in BKK, I have learnt, through my understanding of God’s Word, that my serving - be it the children, parents, teachers or those in authority over me - is a form of worship and that work is worship too. At work, I recognise that Jesus is at my workplace and He is the real reason I carry out my duties in a manner that honours God, by serving with enthusiasm and looking forward to Kingdom reward which is everlasting (Ephesians 6:5 to 8).
I had the sense of being divinely led as events unfolded in quick succession. I met Ms Wee, the Principal of BKK, at the Eye Centre when I accompanied my mum there for her checkup. Though we did not know each other well then, while waiting, she shared about the work of BKK, the joys and challenges. It was then that the thought of going into BKK took root. It is a ministry to the young children, an age group that to me is not only cute and adorable but teachable and mouldable. It is a ministry of my church, a church that has helped me to grow and given me opportunities to serve God. Could this be another such opportunity?
It often seems impossible to see the fruit of my work. I want to believe I’m contributing to God’s Kingdom and serving His purpose in my life. In such times, I am reminded of His presence, promise and the power of Jesus’ resurrection and be certain that God will make my work fruitful by His power. I have learnt to rejoice in His power and presence which is the key to a rich and fulfilling work life.
I am thankful to the Lord for blessing me with understanding bosses in my 37 years at BKK. I am even more thankful that He is my Boss.
95
Journeying It was a long journey of praying and confirming. I am thankful that my cell group members and some close friends partnered me in this adventure. Through it all, God showed He understood all my insecurities and confirmed His will through my personal time with Him, community time with fellow believers, circumstances and gave me a peace that is beyond my comprehension. One passage that He showed me during my personal time was 1 Corinthians 2: 9 to 12. These verses came after a visit to a friend who was then managing her own centre. Ironically, after showing me around, she ended with the advice not to enter the early childhood sector as it was tough! What a joy it was to be reassured that God’s secret wisdom is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, not something that our eyes have seen or our ears have heard. ...“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love Him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. Confirming God has planned it in a marvellous way; He spoke to me in the community of believers. The theme of the church camp was Faith. I remembered clearly the camp speaker, Pastor Benny Ho’s injunction – if God puts something in our inner man and it refuses to go away, we need to act. We must be faithful so that faith can grow, not wait for more faith before being found faithful. A song that was sung during the camp brought tears to my eyes and has remained one of my favourites. When I sing the song, “Find Us Faithful”, I like to change the pronoun to “me” so that as I remember past men and women of faith, I
Indeed the decision-making process was not without struggles. Though I thought I had submitted my will to God, many insecurities surfaced and it was a faith journey for me. Will BKK want me? What if I cannot adapt to the new job, new environment or new culture? Will the teachers, children and parents accept me? Because of my years in the teaching service, it will inevitably mean taking a pay cut. What if it led me to not having enough for retirement? 96
HALF TIME, FULL FAITH
by Wong Lee Pin, Principal, Bethesda Katong Kindergarten
Ms Wee with BKK children before the change of uniform to the current one
It was not an easy decision to make. I am successful in my teaching career - I am valued by my organisation; I have good friends among my colleagues and the respect of my superiors and subordinates. Why would I leave all these for something that I have never ever considered? The journey to joining Bethesda Katong Kindergarten (BKK) was indeed a life-turning point!
Ms Wee in the BKK office
About a year before this decision, while studying the book, “Half Time” by Bob Buford with my cell group, some questions kept playing in my mind. So what if I have had a successful first half, can I say the same of my second half? If all things were possible, what would I be doing with my life in this second half? That was when I opened my heart and told God I will do what He wants of me.
In the following months, I found the couple’s children appeared happier and more chatty. Tears of joy filled my eyes when I saw the couple celebrating together at their older child’s graduation ceremony at our Annual Concert. The restoration of this couple’s broken relationship is made possible only by our Almighty God’s intervention and healing. I am glad to learn that they and their family have since become regular in worshipping and participating at a local church! Praise the Lord!
Throughout my service in BKK, I have learnt, through my understanding of God’s Word, that my serving - be it the children, parents, teachers or those in authority over me - is a form of worship and that work is worship too. At work, I recognise that Jesus is at my workplace and He is the real reason I carry out my duties in a manner that honours God, by serving with enthusiasm and looking forward to Kingdom reward which is everlasting (Ephesians 6:5 to 8).
I had the sense of being divinely led as events unfolded in quick succession. I met Ms Wee, the Principal of BKK, at the Eye Centre when I accompanied my mum there for her checkup. Though we did not know each other well then, while waiting, she shared about the work of BKK, the joys and challenges. It was then that the thought of going into BKK took root. It is a ministry to the young children, an age group that to me is not only cute and adorable but teachable and mouldable. It is a ministry of my church, a church that has helped me to grow and given me opportunities to serve God. Could this be another such opportunity?
It often seems impossible to see the fruit of my work. I want to believe I’m contributing to God’s Kingdom and serving His purpose in my life. In such times, I am reminded of His presence, promise and the power of Jesus’ resurrection and be certain that God will make my work fruitful by His power. I have learnt to rejoice in His power and presence which is the key to a rich and fulfilling work life.
I am thankful to the Lord for blessing me with understanding bosses in my 37 years at BKK. I am even more thankful that He is my Boss.
95
Journeying It was a long journey of praying and confirming. I am thankful that my cell group members and some close friends partnered me in this adventure. Through it all, God showed He understood all my insecurities and confirmed His will through my personal time with Him, community time with fellow believers, circumstances and gave me a peace that is beyond my comprehension. One passage that He showed me during my personal time was 1 Corinthians 2: 9 to 12. These verses came after a visit to a friend who was then managing her own centre. Ironically, after showing me around, she ended with the advice not to enter the early childhood sector as it was tough! What a joy it was to be reassured that God’s secret wisdom is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, not something that our eyes have seen or our ears have heard. ...“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love Him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. Confirming God has planned it in a marvellous way; He spoke to me in the community of believers. The theme of the church camp was Faith. I remembered clearly the camp speaker, Pastor Benny Ho’s injunction – if God puts something in our inner man and it refuses to go away, we need to act. We must be faithful so that faith can grow, not wait for more faith before being found faithful. A song that was sung during the camp brought tears to my eyes and has remained one of my favourites. When I sing the song, “Find Us Faithful”, I like to change the pronoun to “me” so that as I remember past men and women of faith, I
Indeed the decision-making process was not without struggles. Though I thought I had submitted my will to God, many insecurities surfaced and it was a faith journey for me. Will BKK want me? What if I cannot adapt to the new job, new environment or new culture? Will the teachers, children and parents accept me? Because of my years in the teaching service, it will inevitably mean taking a pay cut. What if it led me to not having enough for retirement? 96
too will remember to pass the baton on to the next generation. It is a heritage of faithfulness that I am exhorted to pass on.
It’s been 6 years since I joined BKK on staff. Today, the promise given in Joshua 1:9 rings true for me as I experience and witness God’s presence daily. Truly my Jehovah-Raah (The Lord is My Shepherd) leads and guides lovingly.
“Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses Let me run the race not only for the prize But as those who’ve gone before me Let me leave to those behind me The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives”
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
In another instance, God opened the door for me, in a supernatural way, to go for the Christian Education (CE) Retreat (or ‘4-14’ Retreat) organised by BFEC. Due to some scheduling error on my superior’s part (quite unthinkable), I was free to attend the Retreat at the last minute. The areas of concern discussed at the Retreat resonated with my own and God gave me another peek into the work He wants me to do.
Ms Wong teaching at BKK
A PASSION FOR SOULS
by Esther Liew
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour in 1978 and was baptised in BFEC in July 1981. Little did I guess that my journey with Him in reaching out to others would be so faith-stretching.
I pondered over the vision and told myself that I needed to be still, spend time to read the Bible, be rooted in His Word, learn from Him and grow. I was so weak and sick that I couldn’t get out of the house, except to do household chores. I spent two hours every day meditating on God’s Word and I started reading the book of Psalms. My relationship with God was so close that I could experience Him holding my hand. In a way, God was preparing me for this Divine Passion of Evangelism. The Holy Spirit touched my heart and I felt the strong urge to reach out to pre-believers.
Our late Elder P.S.Seet was my role model. He brought me to our church prayer meeting (CPM) every Friday from 1978 -1990. After that, I went on my own. He taught me how to study the Bible, pray and visit church members and to evangelise. I joined our church cell group (known then as 3Cs or Christcentred cells) in 1986. Elder Seet was my cell leader.
Finally, after handing in my resignation, even though BKK had not then offered me anything, I felt a new sense of peace – peace of being divinely led. I am able to echo the words of philanthropistturned-missionary William Borden, “No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets”.
I was afflicted with a kind of gland problem that caused me to lose at least three to five kg every week. For six years, I had to eat a lot of fat and protein to replace my weight loss but it was unsuccessful.
What a joy it was to be reassured that God’s secret wisdom is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, not something that our eyes have seen or our ears have heard.
Passion in Action
Satan put doubts and fears in me. I struggled in my new-found faith. My mother said it was because “you left your religion and worship the western God, that’s why you are afflicted with this serious illness.”
I brought my two children (Kin Soon and Wei Li) and two nieces (Grace and Tracy) to Sunday School. One night after our 3Cs meeting, I brought Elder Seet to share the Good News with my husband, Teck Seong (TS). He prayed the sinner’s prayer and was baptised in 1983.
I prayed, “Lord Jesus Christ, release me from my fears and give me Your Peace that transcends all understanding.” I was very weak and I blacked out very often. The doctor told my husband that I had to endure the pain and suffering till I die.
I invited my siblings and their spouses to our church evangelistic lunch at Spring Court Restaurant. The speaker was the late Dr Tan Ban Cheng. I also invited them to TS’s baptism thanksgiving celebration to hear of the goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I pleaded with God, “I am the only Christian in the family and I am not ready to die yet, at least not until all of them have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.”
I visited TS’s cousin and gave her a Chinese Bible. I told her to read the Gospel of John while I prayed for the Holy Spirit to help her to understand His Word and touch her heart to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. Praise God! She prayed the sinner’s prayer. She is now 97 years old and still healthy.
Planting the Passion for Evangelism One night I was in great pain. I screamed at God, “Are You there? I am in great pain!” Then, I fell asleep and had a vision. God spoke to me, “Be still and know that I am God. Wait upon Me. I will heal you.” I tried to catch hold of God’s hand but He left me and I woke up.
97
I have been praying without fail for TS’s family members. When I heard his mother was afflicted with stomach cancer and that it had spread to her lungs, I felt a heavy burden and told Elder Seet to pray God would increase my passion to share the gospel with my mother-in-law. 98
too will remember to pass the baton on to the next generation. It is a heritage of faithfulness that I am exhorted to pass on.
It’s been 6 years since I joined BKK on staff. Today, the promise given in Joshua 1:9 rings true for me as I experience and witness God’s presence daily. Truly my Jehovah-Raah (The Lord is My Shepherd) leads and guides lovingly.
“Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses Let me run the race not only for the prize But as those who’ve gone before me Let me leave to those behind me The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives”
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
In another instance, God opened the door for me, in a supernatural way, to go for the Christian Education (CE) Retreat (or ‘4-14’ Retreat) organised by BFEC. Due to some scheduling error on my superior’s part (quite unthinkable), I was free to attend the Retreat at the last minute. The areas of concern discussed at the Retreat resonated with my own and God gave me another peek into the work He wants me to do.
Ms Wong teaching at BKK
A PASSION FOR SOULS
by Esther Liew
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour in 1978 and was baptised in BFEC in July 1981. Little did I guess that my journey with Him in reaching out to others would be so faith-stretching.
I pondered over the vision and told myself that I needed to be still, spend time to read the Bible, be rooted in His Word, learn from Him and grow. I was so weak and sick that I couldn’t get out of the house, except to do household chores. I spent two hours every day meditating on God’s Word and I started reading the book of Psalms. My relationship with God was so close that I could experience Him holding my hand. In a way, God was preparing me for this Divine Passion of Evangelism. The Holy Spirit touched my heart and I felt the strong urge to reach out to pre-believers.
Our late Elder P.S.Seet was my role model. He brought me to our church prayer meeting (CPM) every Friday from 1978 -1990. After that, I went on my own. He taught me how to study the Bible, pray and visit church members and to evangelise. I joined our church cell group (known then as 3Cs or Christcentred cells) in 1986. Elder Seet was my cell leader.
Finally, after handing in my resignation, even though BKK had not then offered me anything, I felt a new sense of peace – peace of being divinely led. I am able to echo the words of philanthropistturned-missionary William Borden, “No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets”.
I was afflicted with a kind of gland problem that caused me to lose at least three to five kg every week. For six years, I had to eat a lot of fat and protein to replace my weight loss but it was unsuccessful.
What a joy it was to be reassured that God’s secret wisdom is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, not something that our eyes have seen or our ears have heard.
Passion in Action
Satan put doubts and fears in me. I struggled in my new-found faith. My mother said it was because “you left your religion and worship the western God, that’s why you are afflicted with this serious illness.”
I brought my two children (Kin Soon and Wei Li) and two nieces (Grace and Tracy) to Sunday School. One night after our 3Cs meeting, I brought Elder Seet to share the Good News with my husband, Teck Seong (TS). He prayed the sinner’s prayer and was baptised in 1983.
I prayed, “Lord Jesus Christ, release me from my fears and give me Your Peace that transcends all understanding.” I was very weak and I blacked out very often. The doctor told my husband that I had to endure the pain and suffering till I die.
I invited my siblings and their spouses to our church evangelistic lunch at Spring Court Restaurant. The speaker was the late Dr Tan Ban Cheng. I also invited them to TS’s baptism thanksgiving celebration to hear of the goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I pleaded with God, “I am the only Christian in the family and I am not ready to die yet, at least not until all of them have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.”
I visited TS’s cousin and gave her a Chinese Bible. I told her to read the Gospel of John while I prayed for the Holy Spirit to help her to understand His Word and touch her heart to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. Praise God! She prayed the sinner’s prayer. She is now 97 years old and still healthy.
Planting the Passion for Evangelism One night I was in great pain. I screamed at God, “Are You there? I am in great pain!” Then, I fell asleep and had a vision. God spoke to me, “Be still and know that I am God. Wait upon Me. I will heal you.” I tried to catch hold of God’s hand but He left me and I woke up.
97
I have been praying without fail for TS’s family members. When I heard his mother was afflicted with stomach cancer and that it had spread to her lungs, I felt a heavy burden and told Elder Seet to pray God would increase my passion to share the gospel with my mother-in-law. 98
Esther with Lai Yong’s mother (after her baptism) and other Frankelites
I found an Elder from a Presbyterian church who spoke Hakka and he made the trip up north with us to share the gospel with my mother-in-law. Three weeks before our trip, TS went for an emergency operation. I know it was spiritual warfare but the evil one cannot defeat us. God is our Captain who will fight for us. We made the trip but the evil one tried to stop me from sharing the gospel and telling Bible stories to her. We also faced opposition from her non-believing daughter. Although she didn’t pray to believe in Jesus Christ, she told me she enjoyed listening to the Bible stories.
to take care of you.” Bob broke down in tears. He knows the gospel. I asked him whether he wants to pray the sinner’s prayer with me in the presence of his wife. He did. I encouraged him to use his wonderful voice to sing for the Lord. Three of us rejoiced in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord (PTL)!
Back in Singapore, I continued to pray for her. I asked God to give her a dream as she believed in dreams. Two weeks later, God gave her a vision. He brought her to heaven and showed her that heaven was awesome, carpeted with gold. There she saw Jesus Christ in a white gown. God also brought her to hell. There she saw Satan being burned with others in the hot sulphur. When she woke up, she called her grandson to bring a pastor to her and he brought a European missionary who could speak Hakka.
Then someone brought Joel Ti (TS’s old friend) into our lives. We brought him to church. Elder Seet shared the gospel with him and he prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
Praise the Lord! She prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. She went home to be with our Lord Jesus on 3 November 1985. During her wake, I shared the gospel with her eldest son and his wife. A few years later, they too prayed to receive Jesus Christ. His wife testified, “Thank God for you who brought us the Good News.” Physical and Spiritual Healings
I pleaded with God, “I am the only Christian in the family and I am not ready to die yet, at least not until all of them have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.”
With husband Teck Seong and the late Bob Koh
99
God is faithful. He doesn’t leave us or forsake us. He found a surgeon to operate on me on 3 December 1988. I fully recovered in April 1989. To God be the Glory for all that He has done for me! In 1994, I was meditating on the Gospel of John. I told God, “If You want me to share the gospel with Bob Koh, send me.” Lo and behold, his daughter Angel called and asked me to look after her very ill father, since he did not want to see any Christians, Elders and missionaries. I said “Yes” and asked God to protect me from his “bug.” I looked after Bob for two weeks and had to massage him from the neck down every day. He asked me, “Why do you risk your life to look after me?” I replied, “Jesus Christ loves you. He asks me
One night, I had a dream about Chong Swan Sek (TS’s friend) being ill. I found out that he had had a bypass. I encouraged TS to visit him with me. The gospel was shared and he prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
One Chinese New Year, Lai Yong brought his wife, children and mother to visit me. While I was having fellowship with his mother, suddenly God anointed me with the Cantonese tongue. God prompted me to share the gospel with Mrs Tan in Cantonese. I asked her whether she understood what I had just shared. She said, “Yes and I saw a very bright light (I can’t explain it) around you and your face was radiant.” I asked her to pray with me to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. She prayed with me in front of Lai Yong. PTL! Once my brother-in-law Lawrence’s mother collapsed in their house and was hospitalised. I felt very strongly that I should share the gospel with her. I prayed and asked Tan Chin Koon (from the Chinese Ministry) to come with me to share the gospel with her. As we walked towards her, we saw her beaming smile. I knew the Holy Spirit had prepared her heart for our visit. Chin Koon shared the gospel with her. She prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. PTL! My home at Jedburgh Gardens belongs to God. Two relatives stayed with me while they studied here; both of them and their families are now Christians. My next mission, till He calls me home, is to bring taxi drivers and elderly folk into the Kingdom of God. As He has used me, I believe He can use you too. We all have the same Holy Spirit who empowers us (Acts 1:8). Why not trust Him? The joy of the Lord is my strength. AMEN.
100
Esther with Lai Yong’s mother (after her baptism) and other Frankelites
I found an Elder from a Presbyterian church who spoke Hakka and he made the trip up north with us to share the gospel with my mother-in-law. Three weeks before our trip, TS went for an emergency operation. I know it was spiritual warfare but the evil one cannot defeat us. God is our Captain who will fight for us. We made the trip but the evil one tried to stop me from sharing the gospel and telling Bible stories to her. We also faced opposition from her non-believing daughter. Although she didn’t pray to believe in Jesus Christ, she told me she enjoyed listening to the Bible stories.
to take care of you.” Bob broke down in tears. He knows the gospel. I asked him whether he wants to pray the sinner’s prayer with me in the presence of his wife. He did. I encouraged him to use his wonderful voice to sing for the Lord. Three of us rejoiced in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord (PTL)!
Back in Singapore, I continued to pray for her. I asked God to give her a dream as she believed in dreams. Two weeks later, God gave her a vision. He brought her to heaven and showed her that heaven was awesome, carpeted with gold. There she saw Jesus Christ in a white gown. God also brought her to hell. There she saw Satan being burned with others in the hot sulphur. When she woke up, she called her grandson to bring a pastor to her and he brought a European missionary who could speak Hakka.
Then someone brought Joel Ti (TS’s old friend) into our lives. We brought him to church. Elder Seet shared the gospel with him and he prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
Praise the Lord! She prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. She went home to be with our Lord Jesus on 3 November 1985. During her wake, I shared the gospel with her eldest son and his wife. A few years later, they too prayed to receive Jesus Christ. His wife testified, “Thank God for you who brought us the Good News.” Physical and Spiritual Healings
I pleaded with God, “I am the only Christian in the family and I am not ready to die yet, at least not until all of them have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.”
With husband Teck Seong and the late Bob Koh
99
God is faithful. He doesn’t leave us or forsake us. He found a surgeon to operate on me on 3 December 1988. I fully recovered in April 1989. To God be the Glory for all that He has done for me! In 1994, I was meditating on the Gospel of John. I told God, “If You want me to share the gospel with Bob Koh, send me.” Lo and behold, his daughter Angel called and asked me to look after her very ill father, since he did not want to see any Christians, Elders and missionaries. I said “Yes” and asked God to protect me from his “bug.” I looked after Bob for two weeks and had to massage him from the neck down every day. He asked me, “Why do you risk your life to look after me?” I replied, “Jesus Christ loves you. He asks me
One night, I had a dream about Chong Swan Sek (TS’s friend) being ill. I found out that he had had a bypass. I encouraged TS to visit him with me. The gospel was shared and he prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
One Chinese New Year, Lai Yong brought his wife, children and mother to visit me. While I was having fellowship with his mother, suddenly God anointed me with the Cantonese tongue. God prompted me to share the gospel with Mrs Tan in Cantonese. I asked her whether she understood what I had just shared. She said, “Yes and I saw a very bright light (I can’t explain it) around you and your face was radiant.” I asked her to pray with me to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. She prayed with me in front of Lai Yong. PTL! Once my brother-in-law Lawrence’s mother collapsed in their house and was hospitalised. I felt very strongly that I should share the gospel with her. I prayed and asked Tan Chin Koon (from the Chinese Ministry) to come with me to share the gospel with her. As we walked towards her, we saw her beaming smile. I knew the Holy Spirit had prepared her heart for our visit. Chin Koon shared the gospel with her. She prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. PTL! My home at Jedburgh Gardens belongs to God. Two relatives stayed with me while they studied here; both of them and their families are now Christians. My next mission, till He calls me home, is to bring taxi drivers and elderly folk into the Kingdom of God. As He has used me, I believe He can use you too. We all have the same Holy Spirit who empowers us (Acts 1:8). Why not trust Him? The joy of the Lord is my strength. AMEN.
100
So during the three months of chemo prior to my surgery, I was praying that God would remove all signs of cancer - such that when my doctor scoped my stomach before the surgery, he wouldn’t find anything. If there’s nothing to be found, then there’s nothing to cut away. Wouldn’t that be an amazing testimony of God’s miraculous healing?
(Psalm 90:12). So, if I know I have only that many months to live, I look at the problem, and conclude it’s really nothing. What is more important? How can I make the most of the remaining time that I have here on earth? We have only so much time left. Let us make it count. The second lesson for me is about the deep assurance that I felt during the nine months of my treatment – the feeling that God was in full control of my situation. He didn’t just leave me to sort out the crisis on my own. And how do I know this? I believe that God had been speaking to me through the words from the precious Bible. And He had assured me many times that things will be alright.
My request wasn’t granted. The ulcer in the stomach remained though it had certainly shrunk in size. And in the surgeon’s words, “If I didn’t search hard enough, I would have missed it altogether.”
HIS GRACE MAKES EACH DAY COUNT
My next prayer then became, “Lord, if it’s possible, let them not remove my stomach entirely.” And praise God, the doctor needed to remove only 80% of the organ. You don’t know how thankful I am for the remaining 20%. Today, sometimes, my wife says I eat like I hadn’t gone for any surgery.
by Kiang Tzy Peng
In May 2016, I got a call from my doctor.
activities – scans, consultations, more tests… Surgery was prescribed. This is a typical treatment for stomach cancers.
You know, when you get a call from your doctor, it’s never ever good news.
My oncologist recommended six rounds of chemotherapy (chemo) followed by surgery and then another six rounds of chemo. The first rounds of chemo were intended to shrink the cancer cells and the later rounds, to wipe out all traces of the cancer.
I had just gone through a regular colonoscopy and stomach scope the day before. It was my first time., just following advice that men above 50 should do a routine scope. During my stomach scope, my doctor detected an ulcer on the stomach walls. He took a biopsy and sent it for testing.
Ulcer and Stomach Reduced in Size
The test result came back positive. It was an aggressive strain of stomach cancer. Infiltrative and diffusive – meaning, you don’t actually see a tumour but the cancer cells had infiltrated the walls of my stomach. Like the “tip of an iceberg”, so says my surgeon. He could see the tip (in the form of an ulcer) when he did the scope but as to the extent of the spread, the only way he could know would be when he cut up the stomach.
For most cancer patients, what is dreaded most is chemotherapy. You are essentially injecting highly toxic drugs into your system. These are meant to kill the malignant cells and along the way, many healthy cells as well. In warfare, we call this collateral damage. The loss of hair was the least of my worries. There were the other side effects - stomach cramps, diarrhoea, loss of taste, lowered immunity and overall loss of strength and stamina.
Mei Ling, my wife, and I were totally unprepared for this news. This was meant to be a mere routine procedure, not a life-threatening exercise! What transpired in the next few days was a flurry of
But you know, chemo wasn’t what I feared most. I just couldn’t imagine life without a stomach.
101
It’s been almost two years now, since my first diagnosis. At the start, my oncologist placed me at stage three cancer. The statistics say that four out of five don’t make it beyond five years. After my operation in August 2016, I was downgraded to stage one. For stage one stomach cancer patients, three out of ten don’t live beyond five years. These are 2012 statistics. I’m pretty sure medical advancement has improved the survival rates considerably. But you know how it is for cancer survivors… we’re as good as our next check-up. My last full check-up was August last year. So I’m good to go for another four months.
I remember this very troubling dream I had when I was about a month into my chemo. I won’t go into the details of the dream. But I recall waking up in the middle of the night feeling totally overwhelmed by a deep sense of frustration, anguish and aloneness. That same day, I read a passage from the Bible. This was the account of the apostle Peter – one of Jesus’ trusted disciples – it was an account of Peter walking on water amidst the waves. The words of Jesus spoken to Peter spoke to me in a most personal way. Jesus said: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” This is just one example of many accounts of God speaking to me through His word.
Life-changing Lessons There are three lessons that I’ve learned from this episode. These are personal, heartfelt and much treasured lessons for me. This has to do with my human frailty – I am not invincible. I have a shelf life. My comfort comes from a precious Book - the enduring Word of God. My healing comes from the love of Christ – as extended to me by God’s people. First lesson. These days, whenever I get frustrated with life or I get annoyed with people, I just have to remember that the days in my life are numbered
Tzy Peng while undergoing treatment
102
So during the three months of chemo prior to my surgery, I was praying that God would remove all signs of cancer - such that when my doctor scoped my stomach before the surgery, he wouldn’t find anything. If there’s nothing to be found, then there’s nothing to cut away. Wouldn’t that be an amazing testimony of God’s miraculous healing?
(Psalm 90:12). So, if I know I have only that many months to live, I look at the problem, and conclude it’s really nothing. What is more important? How can I make the most of the remaining time that I have here on earth? We have only so much time left. Let us make it count. The second lesson for me is about the deep assurance that I felt during the nine months of my treatment – the feeling that God was in full control of my situation. He didn’t just leave me to sort out the crisis on my own. And how do I know this? I believe that God had been speaking to me through the words from the precious Bible. And He had assured me many times that things will be alright.
My request wasn’t granted. The ulcer in the stomach remained though it had certainly shrunk in size. And in the surgeon’s words, “If I didn’t search hard enough, I would have missed it altogether.”
HIS GRACE MAKES EACH DAY COUNT
My next prayer then became, “Lord, if it’s possible, let them not remove my stomach entirely.” And praise God, the doctor needed to remove only 80% of the organ. You don’t know how thankful I am for the remaining 20%. Today, sometimes, my wife says I eat like I hadn’t gone for any surgery.
by Kiang Tzy Peng
In May 2016, I got a call from my doctor.
activities – scans, consultations, more tests… Surgery was prescribed. This is a typical treatment for stomach cancers.
You know, when you get a call from your doctor, it’s never ever good news.
My oncologist recommended six rounds of chemotherapy (chemo) followed by surgery and then another six rounds of chemo. The first rounds of chemo were intended to shrink the cancer cells and the later rounds, to wipe out all traces of the cancer.
I had just gone through a regular colonoscopy and stomach scope the day before. It was my first time., just following advice that men above 50 should do a routine scope. During my stomach scope, my doctor detected an ulcer on the stomach walls. He took a biopsy and sent it for testing.
Ulcer and Stomach Reduced in Size
The test result came back positive. It was an aggressive strain of stomach cancer. Infiltrative and diffusive – meaning, you don’t actually see a tumour but the cancer cells had infiltrated the walls of my stomach. Like the “tip of an iceberg”, so says my surgeon. He could see the tip (in the form of an ulcer) when he did the scope but as to the extent of the spread, the only way he could know would be when he cut up the stomach.
For most cancer patients, what is dreaded most is chemotherapy. You are essentially injecting highly toxic drugs into your system. These are meant to kill the malignant cells and along the way, many healthy cells as well. In warfare, we call this collateral damage. The loss of hair was the least of my worries. There were the other side effects - stomach cramps, diarrhoea, loss of taste, lowered immunity and overall loss of strength and stamina.
Mei Ling, my wife, and I were totally unprepared for this news. This was meant to be a mere routine procedure, not a life-threatening exercise! What transpired in the next few days was a flurry of
But you know, chemo wasn’t what I feared most. I just couldn’t imagine life without a stomach.
101
It’s been almost two years now, since my first diagnosis. At the start, my oncologist placed me at stage three cancer. The statistics say that four out of five don’t make it beyond five years. After my operation in August 2016, I was downgraded to stage one. For stage one stomach cancer patients, three out of ten don’t live beyond five years. These are 2012 statistics. I’m pretty sure medical advancement has improved the survival rates considerably. But you know how it is for cancer survivors… we’re as good as our next check-up. My last full check-up was August last year. So I’m good to go for another four months.
I remember this very troubling dream I had when I was about a month into my chemo. I won’t go into the details of the dream. But I recall waking up in the middle of the night feeling totally overwhelmed by a deep sense of frustration, anguish and aloneness. That same day, I read a passage from the Bible. This was the account of the apostle Peter – one of Jesus’ trusted disciples – it was an account of Peter walking on water amidst the waves. The words of Jesus spoken to Peter spoke to me in a most personal way. Jesus said: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” This is just one example of many accounts of God speaking to me through His word.
Life-changing Lessons There are three lessons that I’ve learned from this episode. These are personal, heartfelt and much treasured lessons for me. This has to do with my human frailty – I am not invincible. I have a shelf life. My comfort comes from a precious Book - the enduring Word of God. My healing comes from the love of Christ – as extended to me by God’s people. First lesson. These days, whenever I get frustrated with life or I get annoyed with people, I just have to remember that the days in my life are numbered
Tzy Peng while undergoing treatment
102
The third lesson for me is about the healing that I’ve received. It’s not only about people who prayed for my healing. Many did. And I’m really grateful for each person, each prayer. But it’s also about people who came by to show care and concern. They extended to me the love of Jesus Christ. Every word, every card, every text message, every gift was an expression of Christ’s love. And I am so convinced that it’s the love of Christ expressed through God’s people that has healed me – in ways much, much bigger than my physical recovery. The love of Jesus heals. And it heals in a much deeper way than the physical.
But you know what? In preparing to share, I went through my journal – just some quick notes and thoughts which I typed out on my phone during the entire period of my nine-month long treatment. Here’s one of the first notes I wrote - on 24 May 2016. Day 1. Chemo. “I am open Lord, if you wish me to be ready always to testify of Your goodness.”
THE INVITATION OF A FRIEND
by Hwang Ching Yun
Thank you for yet another opportunity to testify of God’s goodness to me. May you also experience His goodness in your life. The Lord brought me to this church 40 years ago through my classmate, Violet Soh. She is the sister of Tony Soh, one of our Frankelites. She worships at Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church now.
Ready Always to Testify of God’s Goodness When first invited to share at ‘Life’s Big Questions’ on the topic “Why do bad things happen to good people?”, I wasn’t quite sure. First, because I’m not “good” enough. Second, I’m also quite sure what I went through wasn’t “bad” enough. I have read so many accounts of really bad things that have happened to really good people. I don’t quite qualify.
We have only so much time left. Let us make it count.
Ching Yun (2nd from right) and Violet (extreme right) with other Frankelites at SSS.
I became a Christian when I was about 14 years old, but I did not come to this church till I was 16. Being painfully shy, timid and an introvert, I just found it very hard to be comfortable around a lot of strangers when my friends brought me to church. Hence, I never attended any church regularly until God brought Violet into my life.
Away and Back But there was a time when I stopped going to church. This was when I left Sunday School and went to Adult Training Class. Violet had gone overseas to study. By then I had backslidden because I started doing things without considering God. I did what I wanted to do without asking God whether it was His will for me. Then I started to feel that God is a very demanding God, and that He wanted too much from me. I wanted to do my own things, enjoy life, and have fun. So I stopped going to church and avoided my church friends.
A Classmate’s Invite We were classmates but our paths did not cross until one day our teacher made us sit together. We were not happy about it but we eventually became best friends. When I first came to this church, I felt very uncomfortable and I did not want to continue attending but Violet was very persistent. She would tell me that she would wait for me at the playground till I turned up, and so I had to go with her. I then got involved in a Senior Sunday School (predecessor of Grow@Noon) activity and got to know people and began to feel more at home, so I stayed on. And now, I have been here 40 years. God sure works in strange ways. By prompting our teacher to seat Violet and me next to each other, I eventually ended up at BFEC.
But God is not one to let us go so easily. He brought me back to church through my sister’s illness. I was so desperate and afraid she would die and go to hell that I cried out to God. I realised that in spite of everything, I still believed in God and turned to Him in times of need. That led me back to BFEC. By His grace I am still here. Thanks be to God!
Tzy Peng and Mei Ling with Wen Wei and Wen Jen
103
104
The third lesson for me is about the healing that I’ve received. It’s not only about people who prayed for my healing. Many did. And I’m really grateful for each person, each prayer. But it’s also about people who came by to show care and concern. They extended to me the love of Jesus Christ. Every word, every card, every text message, every gift was an expression of Christ’s love. And I am so convinced that it’s the love of Christ expressed through God’s people that has healed me – in ways much, much bigger than my physical recovery. The love of Jesus heals. And it heals in a much deeper way than the physical.
But you know what? In preparing to share, I went through my journal – just some quick notes and thoughts which I typed out on my phone during the entire period of my nine-month long treatment. Here’s one of the first notes I wrote - on 24 May 2016. Day 1. Chemo. “I am open Lord, if you wish me to be ready always to testify of Your goodness.”
THE INVITATION OF A FRIEND
by Hwang Ching Yun
Thank you for yet another opportunity to testify of God’s goodness to me. May you also experience His goodness in your life. The Lord brought me to this church 40 years ago through my classmate, Violet Soh. She is the sister of Tony Soh, one of our Frankelites. She worships at Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church now.
Ready Always to Testify of God’s Goodness When first invited to share at ‘Life’s Big Questions’ on the topic “Why do bad things happen to good people?”, I wasn’t quite sure. First, because I’m not “good” enough. Second, I’m also quite sure what I went through wasn’t “bad” enough. I have read so many accounts of really bad things that have happened to really good people. I don’t quite qualify.
We have only so much time left. Let us make it count.
Ching Yun (2nd from right) and Violet (extreme right) with other Frankelites at SSS.
I became a Christian when I was about 14 years old, but I did not come to this church till I was 16. Being painfully shy, timid and an introvert, I just found it very hard to be comfortable around a lot of strangers when my friends brought me to church. Hence, I never attended any church regularly until God brought Violet into my life.
Away and Back But there was a time when I stopped going to church. This was when I left Sunday School and went to Adult Training Class. Violet had gone overseas to study. By then I had backslidden because I started doing things without considering God. I did what I wanted to do without asking God whether it was His will for me. Then I started to feel that God is a very demanding God, and that He wanted too much from me. I wanted to do my own things, enjoy life, and have fun. So I stopped going to church and avoided my church friends.
A Classmate’s Invite We were classmates but our paths did not cross until one day our teacher made us sit together. We were not happy about it but we eventually became best friends. When I first came to this church, I felt very uncomfortable and I did not want to continue attending but Violet was very persistent. She would tell me that she would wait for me at the playground till I turned up, and so I had to go with her. I then got involved in a Senior Sunday School (predecessor of Grow@Noon) activity and got to know people and began to feel more at home, so I stayed on. And now, I have been here 40 years. God sure works in strange ways. By prompting our teacher to seat Violet and me next to each other, I eventually ended up at BFEC.
But God is not one to let us go so easily. He brought me back to church through my sister’s illness. I was so desperate and afraid she would die and go to hell that I cried out to God. I realised that in spite of everything, I still believed in God and turned to Him in times of need. That led me back to BFEC. By His grace I am still here. Thanks be to God!
Tzy Peng and Mei Ling with Wen Wei and Wen Jen
103
104
FROM HIM TO ME ... WHAT AN ADVENTURE!
by Diana Chin
June 2018 marks eight years of my most wonderful faith journey with our Almighty, loving Heavenly Father at St. Andrew’s Autism School. Actually, the adventure began earlier. Father God has a marvellously magnificent magical way of orchestrating the path He would have me take. I was a happy vice-principal (VP) in a primary school. It was a spiritually enriching stint. I was contented to be used by Him there. On one first day of school – and you would know such a time is both exciting and also stressful for both the kids and teachers, Principal and VP – I received a phone call from the Cluster Superintendent. “I have this opportunity for you. Just say Yes.”
Superintendent (Supt) repeated himself – the ear and the mind had to make sense of those two short, loaded sentences. And he told me where I may possibly be seconded to. Mustering poise and buying time, I replied, “May I call you back in an hour’s time, please?” In the midst of the busyness, I surfed to find out more about the special school. Ah, Supt did not get the name quite right - or maybe I didn’t hear it right! So I have to figure out if I am looking at the right website. (These were early days of the special school so there wasn’t much information anyway).
Petrified, Digging Deep
Overwhelmed with Even More Assurances
And how does the Holy Spirit enable me to reply “Dear Supt, I am willing to be considered for the posting”? It would be an intensive, faith-stretching six months of grasping what it is to courageously follow His leading and obey Him.
This deeply-moving episode can be another story of “From Him to me”! In essence, here are the three reassurances:
I faced five men at the interview. I hardly knew anything about autism or leading a special school. I did not get adequate preparation and briefing for the interview (again, early days of such postings of public service education personnel to special schools; it’s much better now). I said “No” to Supt based on some technicality mentioned at the interview. But even as I said No, I could not rest well and was not truly at peace. When the matter was clarified; I was asked to confirm my Yes. Immediately, fear and trepidation, inadequacy and doubt overwhelmed me. I desperately searched for God’s word and assurances to me. “Please speak your special, direct, personal word to me, Lord.” I immersed myself in retreats, prayer, extended times with Him. I pleaded for Father God’s deep assurances for me (I daren’t ask for signs as I am not confident of spotting and interpreting them!), His loving assurance that this is what He would have me do, His promises of being with me and enabling me to do this His way.
Huh, this instruction in the midst of supporting primary one kids as they walked up the stairs with their heavy bags and ushering parents to a first-dayof-school briefing!
And how does the Holy Spirit enable me to accept the unanimous endorsement of my current and future senior managements for the appointment? Supt informed me when I am in the midst of a rigorous training workshop in the Orchard Road area. (He sure has a knack for contacting me at demanding moments!)
Humbly reminded whenever I look out onto the school grounds.
A 2010 focus. Humbled; it still applies today.
Heading home, I walked down Orchard Road almost in a daze with the finality of the news. “Affirm Your assurances to me, Lord”. And behold, I received three such sure reassurances that I will not live happily ever after IF I did not say YES to His leading!
First, a woman with half her head caved sat in the middle of the pedestrian walkway, begging. It was startling. Many pedestrians walked a little away from her; they were uncomfortable, they stared and weren’t sure what to do or how to respond. I witnessed a mother and child walking by, then turning back; the mother led her daughter back to hand some money to the needy woman. The girl was gently assured and approached the needy individual with compassion and confidence. Next, a clear strain of “When a Child is Born” from a trumpet floated in the air. It was not the Christmas season. I looked all around but cannot locate the source of the poignantly-rendered piece. I was startled again - the Child is for the needy children. The final reassurance came. I was totally shaken up - already swept away, staggering into a building to look for space to catch my breath and dry my tears. An encounter with a grand display of an item I had asked God to show me whenever I needed to be joltingly reminded that He is thinking of me. The Adventure Continues My faithful, loving, heavenly Father has showered His wondrous assurances and promises to me since the day of that momentous phone call. I would never have, on my own, volunteered for this leadership position. It is too intimidating and scary, and beyond my imagination. It has been and continues to be His amazing, sovereign orchestration. And how does the Holy Spirit enable me to do His work all these eight adventurous years? It’s another story of His marvellously magnificent magical ways! “The Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes.” Psalm 113:23.
FROM HIM TO ME ... WHAT AN ADVENTURE!
by Diana Chin
June 2018 marks eight years of my most wonderful faith journey with our Almighty, loving Heavenly Father at St. Andrew’s Autism School. Actually, the adventure began earlier. Father God has a marvellously magnificent magical way of orchestrating the path He would have me take. I was a happy vice-principal (VP) in a primary school. It was a spiritually enriching stint. I was contented to be used by Him there. On one first day of school – and you would know such a time is both exciting and also stressful for both the kids and teachers, Principal and VP – I received a phone call from the Cluster Superintendent. “I have this opportunity for you. Just say Yes.”
Superintendent (Supt) repeated himself – the ear and the mind had to make sense of those two short, loaded sentences. And he told me where I may possibly be seconded to. Mustering poise and buying time, I replied, “May I call you back in an hour’s time, please?” In the midst of the busyness, I surfed to find out more about the special school. Ah, Supt did not get the name quite right - or maybe I didn’t hear it right! So I have to figure out if I am looking at the right website. (These were early days of the special school so there wasn’t much information anyway).
Petrified, Digging Deep
Overwhelmed with Even More Assurances
And how does the Holy Spirit enable me to reply “Dear Supt, I am willing to be considered for the posting”? It would be an intensive, faith-stretching six months of grasping what it is to courageously follow His leading and obey Him.
This deeply-moving episode can be another story of “From Him to me”! In essence, here are the three reassurances:
I faced five men at the interview. I hardly knew anything about autism or leading a special school. I did not get adequate preparation and briefing for the interview (again, early days of such postings of public service education personnel to special schools; it’s much better now). I said “No” to Supt based on some technicality mentioned at the interview. But even as I said No, I could not rest well and was not truly at peace. When the matter was clarified; I was asked to confirm my Yes. Immediately, fear and trepidation, inadequacy and doubt overwhelmed me. I desperately searched for God’s word and assurances to me. “Please speak your special, direct, personal word to me, Lord.” I immersed myself in retreats, prayer, extended times with Him. I pleaded for Father God’s deep assurances for me (I daren’t ask for signs as I am not confident of spotting and interpreting them!), His loving assurance that this is what He would have me do, His promises of being with me and enabling me to do this His way.
Huh, this instruction in the midst of supporting primary one kids as they walked up the stairs with their heavy bags and ushering parents to a first-dayof-school briefing!
And how does the Holy Spirit enable me to accept the unanimous endorsement of my current and future senior managements for the appointment? Supt informed me when I am in the midst of a rigorous training workshop in the Orchard Road area. (He sure has a knack for contacting me at demanding moments!)
Humbly reminded whenever I look out onto the school grounds.
A 2010 focus. Humbled; it still applies today.
Heading home, I walked down Orchard Road almost in a daze with the finality of the news. “Affirm Your assurances to me, Lord”. And behold, I received three such sure reassurances that I will not live happily ever after IF I did not say YES to His leading!
First, a woman with half her head caved sat in the middle of the pedestrian walkway, begging. It was startling. Many pedestrians walked a little away from her; they were uncomfortable, they stared and weren’t sure what to do or how to respond. I witnessed a mother and child walking by, then turning back; the mother led her daughter back to hand some money to the needy woman. The girl was gently assured and approached the needy individual with compassion and confidence. Next, a clear strain of “When a Child is Born” from a trumpet floated in the air. It was not the Christmas season. I looked all around but cannot locate the source of the poignantly-rendered piece. I was startled again - the Child is for the needy children. The final reassurance came. I was totally shaken up - already swept away, staggering into a building to look for space to catch my breath and dry my tears. An encounter with a grand display of an item I had asked God to show me whenever I needed to be joltingly reminded that He is thinking of me. The Adventure Continues My faithful, loving, heavenly Father has showered His wondrous assurances and promises to me since the day of that momentous phone call. I would never have, on my own, volunteered for this leadership position. It is too intimidating and scary, and beyond my imagination. It has been and continues to be His amazing, sovereign orchestration. And how does the Holy Spirit enable me to do His work all these eight adventurous years? It’s another story of His marvellously magnificent magical ways! “The Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes.” Psalm 113:23.
FROM US TO YOU – WE LOVE OUR PLAYGROUND St. Andrew’s Autism School (SAAS) received S$50,000 from BFEC’s Community Carnival, “Come Walk With Me”, in July 2014. The school topped up an amount to construct a playground for the children. The playground equipment was chosen to address the areas of development that the children needed. For example, to build up skills in social interaction and communication, and group play, the see-saw, merry-go-round and swings accommodate more than two persons. Here in a collection of drawings and scribbles, the SAAS kids share what they like about the playground. It is their simple, child-like way of saying thanks to all of you at BFEC.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterised by challenges in communicating and interacting in socially appropriate ways. Other characteristics include repetitive and restrictive behaviours, with sensory issues. It is a neurological developmental condition with an unknown cause and also no cure. Early and clear diagnosis, effective interventions and education enable people with ASD to have a higher chance of leading more independent lives. As ASD presents itself in a spectrum, there are varying degrees of severity manifested. Extreme ability in one/some areas and higher to moderate ability to mild to severe learning challenges are attributed to differences in IQ and the presence of other, additional medical conditions. St Andrew’s Autism School serves children and teens of the high support profile. They are aged 7 to 18 years old. There are currently more than 250 of them and more than 100 teachers. Access info about SAAS at: http://www.saac.org.sg/index.php/programmes/standrew-s-autism-school If you wish to volunteer, access: http://www.saac.org.sg/index.php/partnership/ volunteering-with-saac
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FROM US TO YOU – WE LOVE OUR PLAYGROUND St. Andrew’s Autism School (SAAS) received S$50,000 from BFEC’s Community Carnival, “Come Walk With Me”, in July 2014. The school topped up an amount to construct a playground for the children. The playground equipment was chosen to address the areas of development that the children needed. For example, to build up skills in social interaction and communication, and group play, the see-saw, merry-go-round and swings accommodate more than two persons. Here in a collection of drawings and scribbles, the SAAS kids share what they like about the playground. It is their simple, child-like way of saying thanks to all of you at BFEC.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterised by challenges in communicating and interacting in socially appropriate ways. Other characteristics include repetitive and restrictive behaviours, with sensory issues. It is a neurological developmental condition with an unknown cause and also no cure. Early and clear diagnosis, effective interventions and education enable people with ASD to have a higher chance of leading more independent lives. As ASD presents itself in a spectrum, there are varying degrees of severity manifested. Extreme ability in one/some areas and higher to moderate ability to mild to severe learning challenges are attributed to differences in IQ and the presence of other, additional medical conditions. St Andrew’s Autism School serves children and teens of the high support profile. They are aged 7 to 18 years old. There are currently more than 250 of them and more than 100 teachers. Access info about SAAS at: http://www.saac.org.sg/index.php/programmes/standrew-s-autism-school If you wish to volunteer, access: http://www.saac.org.sg/index.php/partnership/ volunteering-with-saac
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A LETTER FROM MARGATE, UK
by John Sherwell
You don’t know me but I remember you. I am 84 this year and living in Margate, UK but I can never forget Bethesda Frankel Estate Church, the church where I was baptized 52 years ago. At the age of 29, I served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) at Changi, Singapore from August 1963 to August 1966. That was when the British forces were still in Malaya. I was privileged to be at the Opening and Dedication Service of your brand new church sanctuary on 21 November 1964. I still have the invitation card which was issued to all to attend that service! I also have the printed order of service and, in fact, I was also playing the organ accompaniment! I recall that Dr. Benjamin Chew, Freddie Sabapathy, Dr Khoo Peng Seng and T.C. Koh and others were there. Fond memories indeed! I also remember Oh Swee Eng during my time in Singapore.
In January 2008 I visited Singapore for the first time since I abruptly left in August 1966. Later that year, I found you on your church website and connected with Elder Jimmy who promptly responded to my email. I have sent over to him copies of the pages of my baptism Bible (with all the signatures) as well as the order of service and invitation. I am making plans to go to Penang and Singapore in 2019. I hope to visit BFEC, God-willing, when I travel in January 2019. Hope to see you then. I have only good memories of my three years at Changi, and especially of Bethesda Frankel Estate Church and the love shown by all of you. May God bless you all as you celebrate your 60th anniversary. Thank you for keeping up the witness in Frankel Estate and for blessing people like me all those years ago.
I was baptized in BFEC on 10 Apr 1966 and I still have the very Bible given to me, signed by Elders: Freddie Sabapathy, Dr Khoo Peng Seng, Chia Hong Hoe, Seet Poon Soo and from another assembly, R. A. Mitchell.
SIX Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
John and Norman Sherwell
John’s memorabilia from BFEC (1964-66)
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A LETTER FROM MARGATE, UK
by John Sherwell
You don’t know me but I remember you. I am 84 this year and living in Margate, UK but I can never forget Bethesda Frankel Estate Church, the church where I was baptized 52 years ago. At the age of 29, I served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) at Changi, Singapore from August 1963 to August 1966. That was when the British forces were still in Malaya. I was privileged to be at the Opening and Dedication Service of your brand new church sanctuary on 21 November 1964. I still have the invitation card which was issued to all to attend that service! I also have the printed order of service and, in fact, I was also playing the organ accompaniment! I recall that Dr. Benjamin Chew, Freddie Sabapathy, Dr Khoo Peng Seng and T.C. Koh and others were there. Fond memories indeed! I also remember Oh Swee Eng during my time in Singapore.
In January 2008 I visited Singapore for the first time since I abruptly left in August 1966. Later that year, I found you on your church website and connected with Elder Jimmy who promptly responded to my email. I have sent over to him copies of the pages of my baptism Bible (with all the signatures) as well as the order of service and invitation. I am making plans to go to Penang and Singapore in 2019. I hope to visit BFEC, God-willing, when I travel in January 2019. Hope to see you then. I have only good memories of my three years at Changi, and especially of Bethesda Frankel Estate Church and the love shown by all of you. May God bless you all as you celebrate your 60th anniversary. Thank you for keeping up the witness in Frankel Estate and for blessing people like me all those years ago.
I was baptized in BFEC on 10 Apr 1966 and I still have the very Bible given to me, signed by Elders: Freddie Sabapathy, Dr Khoo Peng Seng, Chia Hong Hoe, Seet Poon Soo and from another assembly, R. A. Mitchell.
SIX Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
John and Norman Sherwell
John’s memorabilia from BFEC (1964-66)
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FROM A TEACHER TO HIS EX-JSS STUDENTS
by Matthias Ong
UNENDING SONGS by Jonathan Cho Sixty years have quickly passed, and we’ve sung countless songs; songs of joy, pain, adoration and love to the One God whom these praises belong. We look back only in gratitude, not in nostalgia or regret, because You’ve been leading us all the way, O Father, we will not forget. And as we look forward in time to the rest of our days as Your Church, Lord Jesus, we know that You are faithful and You will never leave us in the lurch. For You loved us before we acknowledged You, and by Your sacrifice, You make us Yours. So Spirit touch Your Church in Frankel, And may it be Your kingdom, not ours, that endures.
(Luke 24). It is a road many of us also walk and that you might be walking now. The many voices of today may be telling you different things and filling you with many doubts, but as I told you back in JSS, Jesus is real and He is alive. He will not hurt you but save you. He is also willing to discuss these struggles with you.
Dear Ex-JSS Students, How is life treating you? With two kids now in tow, I haven’t had much time to have meaningful conversations with you. Or ask you about your experiences over the last week, just like I used to in JSS every Sunday. I hope you are doing well. Time certainly waits for no man. You know, I am glad to see each one of you grow up. Some of you have grown so tall. Some of you have been through the army, and some even have jobs. And there are those that I don’t see at all. Just looking back at those times in JSS years ago, when you first stepped into JSS ready to say the sinner’s prayer at the teacher’s leading, you were so small. If life hasn’t changed you since, I would be very surprised. I constantly wonder, “Has that seed planted back then grown? Is it bearing fruit yet?”
Have hope and have faith. You are not children anymore, and neither are you my students now, and so I might not be able to teach you much more as you find other teachers in life. Take time to pray. And if you have still more time, I could share some more of my life’s experiences of God with you, though I also sincerely hope that you could teach me a little bit more about walking with Jesus too. Emmanuel, Matthias
Through the years, despite not having much time to talk to you, I have still been able to take a glance or two to see what you’ve been up to! Sometimes, I do also hear from your parents or others - a little bit about how you are doing. I can see that there are some of you who enjoy church greatly. But I also know that some of you are struggling. The weeds and thorns of life are strangling that little plant within you. Some of you feel lonely and crowded out in church. And, some of you have left church. Amidst the circumstances that you are going through, I also know that “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1). And, beyond what I can see, I know that God is with you and walking alongside you each step of the way. No matter where you are or what you are doing right now, I hope you take a momentary pause to read about the road to Emmaus
Matthias (standing, at extreme right) with his class in 2009
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FROM A TEACHER TO HIS EX-JSS STUDENTS
by Matthias Ong
UNENDING SONGS by Jonathan Cho Sixty years have quickly passed, and we’ve sung countless songs; songs of joy, pain, adoration and love to the One God whom these praises belong. We look back only in gratitude, not in nostalgia or regret, because You’ve been leading us all the way, O Father, we will not forget. And as we look forward in time to the rest of our days as Your Church, Lord Jesus, we know that You are faithful and You will never leave us in the lurch. For You loved us before we acknowledged You, and by Your sacrifice, You make us Yours. So Spirit touch Your Church in Frankel, And may it be Your kingdom, not ours, that endures.
(Luke 24). It is a road many of us also walk and that you might be walking now. The many voices of today may be telling you different things and filling you with many doubts, but as I told you back in JSS, Jesus is real and He is alive. He will not hurt you but save you. He is also willing to discuss these struggles with you.
Dear Ex-JSS Students, How is life treating you? With two kids now in tow, I haven’t had much time to have meaningful conversations with you. Or ask you about your experiences over the last week, just like I used to in JSS every Sunday. I hope you are doing well. Time certainly waits for no man. You know, I am glad to see each one of you grow up. Some of you have grown so tall. Some of you have been through the army, and some even have jobs. And there are those that I don’t see at all. Just looking back at those times in JSS years ago, when you first stepped into JSS ready to say the sinner’s prayer at the teacher’s leading, you were so small. If life hasn’t changed you since, I would be very surprised. I constantly wonder, “Has that seed planted back then grown? Is it bearing fruit yet?”
Have hope and have faith. You are not children anymore, and neither are you my students now, and so I might not be able to teach you much more as you find other teachers in life. Take time to pray. And if you have still more time, I could share some more of my life’s experiences of God with you, though I also sincerely hope that you could teach me a little bit more about walking with Jesus too. Emmanuel, Matthias
Through the years, despite not having much time to talk to you, I have still been able to take a glance or two to see what you’ve been up to! Sometimes, I do also hear from your parents or others - a little bit about how you are doing. I can see that there are some of you who enjoy church greatly. But I also know that some of you are struggling. The weeds and thorns of life are strangling that little plant within you. Some of you feel lonely and crowded out in church. And, some of you have left church. Amidst the circumstances that you are going through, I also know that “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1). And, beyond what I can see, I know that God is with you and walking alongside you each step of the way. No matter where you are or what you are doing right now, I hope you take a momentary pause to read about the road to Emmaus
Matthias (standing, at extreme right) with his class in 2009
112
I leave with you not (just) an inheritance of money or wealth, or even a building and its resources, but more importantly, an inheritance of faith and the stories of a life of having walked with God. Of all the things that I can give to you, this is of greatest value and worth because there is truly no life apart from God. Take these, and learn to chart a journey of your own with Him. My prayer is that you steward these treasures well; build on that inheritance and grow it into something that you can then leave behind for your children, and their children’s children. Sing the songs of adoration and worship that I have taught you and write new ones that express who God has shown Himself to be to you. Stand tall, so that the next generation can sit on your shoulders and cast a vision for the Lord that goes further and higher than you or I could have ever seen.
By then, you would have formed part of another generation, and you may find yourself standing at the same spot I am at today. I pray then, that you would have come to know God personally, learnt to relate to Him, and to love Him wholeheartedly. I pray too, that our Church will still be celebrating with gratitude, yet another anniversary of being able to partner God in the work that He is doing, and that you would have given all that you are to loving His Church and His people, pouring your life out to serve those around you. Remember that your life in the Church is not just about you, and it is not just about the Church itself. Seek to understand the ways of God and how He is moving all around the Nation, and in the World, from one generation to the next.
FROM DADDY TO DAUGHTER, FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION
by Jonathan Cho
My child, I believe that God has hidden a mystery in the Holy scriptures: that one generation is not enough to declare how good He is and what He has done for us. The expanse of the infinite love of God will take my lifetime, your lifetime, and the lifetime of many future generations to fully canvas. Even then, we may still fall short. But that is the extent of His greatness and goodness. May you catch a glimpse of this through your life in our church family at BFEC; may you tell stories of what God has done in your life, write songs about who He is, and love others with such extravagance that they will want to know too, Who it is that first loved you.
My child, I pray that you would follow my example, but exceed me in all matters of faith, hope and love – and I pray that your children will exceed you in the same. With love, Papa
My dear child,
“Generation after generation stands in awe of your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts. Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking; I compose songs on your wonders. Your marvelous doings are headline news; I could write a book full of the details of your greatness.”
As our Church celebrates a major milestone in this year’s anniversary, I rejoice at the thought of being able to partake in it with you by my side. In every sense, we are at this moment, both a part of the same generation – living in the same appointed time, with the purpose of knowing God and making Him known.
(Psalm 145:4 to 6), MSG
There will come a time however, when my life will pass and I will go to be with the fathers who have gone before us. I have learnt a great many things from those who have fathered me in the faith – Sunday school teachers, elders, deacons, older brothers – many of whom have poured out time, love, energy, and tears to build this Church, in the belief that God is using her to usher many into the faith. I have benefitted from this, and so have you.
My child, I believe that God has hidden a mystery in the Holy scriptures: that one generation is not enough to declare how good He is and what He has done for us. Jonathan, Dorea and little Zoey
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114
I leave with you not (just) an inheritance of money or wealth, or even a building and its resources, but more importantly, an inheritance of faith and the stories of a life of having walked with God. Of all the things that I can give to you, this is of greatest value and worth because there is truly no life apart from God. Take these, and learn to chart a journey of your own with Him. My prayer is that you steward these treasures well; build on that inheritance and grow it into something that you can then leave behind for your children, and their children’s children. Sing the songs of adoration and worship that I have taught you and write new ones that express who God has shown Himself to be to you. Stand tall, so that the next generation can sit on your shoulders and cast a vision for the Lord that goes further and higher than you or I could have ever seen.
By then, you would have formed part of another generation, and you may find yourself standing at the same spot I am at today. I pray then, that you would have come to know God personally, learnt to relate to Him, and to love Him wholeheartedly. I pray too, that our Church will still be celebrating with gratitude, yet another anniversary of being able to partner God in the work that He is doing, and that you would have given all that you are to loving His Church and His people, pouring your life out to serve those around you. Remember that your life in the Church is not just about you, and it is not just about the Church itself. Seek to understand the ways of God and how He is moving all around the Nation, and in the World, from one generation to the next.
FROM DADDY TO DAUGHTER, FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION
by Jonathan Cho
My child, I believe that God has hidden a mystery in the Holy scriptures: that one generation is not enough to declare how good He is and what He has done for us. The expanse of the infinite love of God will take my lifetime, your lifetime, and the lifetime of many future generations to fully canvas. Even then, we may still fall short. But that is the extent of His greatness and goodness. May you catch a glimpse of this through your life in our church family at BFEC; may you tell stories of what God has done in your life, write songs about who He is, and love others with such extravagance that they will want to know too, Who it is that first loved you.
My child, I pray that you would follow my example, but exceed me in all matters of faith, hope and love – and I pray that your children will exceed you in the same. With love, Papa
My dear child,
“Generation after generation stands in awe of your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts. Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking; I compose songs on your wonders. Your marvelous doings are headline news; I could write a book full of the details of your greatness.”
As our Church celebrates a major milestone in this year’s anniversary, I rejoice at the thought of being able to partake in it with you by my side. In every sense, we are at this moment, both a part of the same generation – living in the same appointed time, with the purpose of knowing God and making Him known.
(Psalm 145:4 to 6), MSG
There will come a time however, when my life will pass and I will go to be with the fathers who have gone before us. I have learnt a great many things from those who have fathered me in the faith – Sunday school teachers, elders, deacons, older brothers – many of whom have poured out time, love, energy, and tears to build this Church, in the belief that God is using her to usher many into the faith. I have benefitted from this, and so have you.
My child, I believe that God has hidden a mystery in the Holy scriptures: that one generation is not enough to declare how good He is and what He has done for us. Jonathan, Dorea and little Zoey
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PRESS ON IN SOWING AND PLANTING
BFEC - A SPECIAL CHURCH
by Dr Tan Soo-Inn and Bernice, Graceworks
by Kenneth Wong, itinerant preacher (Bethesda Hall, Ang Mo Kio)
Genesis 26 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. 22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.” 28 But they said, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you…”
Nevertheless it wasn’t a year without its challenges. It was also to be a year of hard digging in an arid area for wells to water the crops and herds. They encountered contention (v20) and opposition (v21). But in pressing on without becoming weary in well doing, they found their ‘Rehoboth’, the Lord’s provision of a place with space to grow and be fruitful (v22). The resultant effect was the indisputable testimony in the eyes of others that God was indeed among them (v28). It was cause for much thanksgiving and glory to God.
It has been my great joy and privilege to be a friend of BFEC over these many years. I have fond memories of the many occasions of ministering the Word of God among you since 1999, as well as the many Frankelites I have come to know.
May this 60th year be a precious year for BFEC as you step out to sow what you have not sown before, and reap a hundredfold as you have never reaped before. May the Lord graciously grant you room to grow and flourish. And may the torch of your testimony shine ever brighter that many will see and acknowledge that truly God is with you!
I had been reading Genesis 26 when I learned of BFEC’s 60th anniversary this year. In Genesis 26:12, we read of a remarkable year in an otherwise uneventful life of Isaac. While they had traditionally been mostly nomadic herdsmen, they nevertheless sowed and planted, sowing by faith instead of sticking to the safe. And God blessed them with reaping a hundredfold harvest in the same year. The extent of God’s doing often far exceeds our expectations (Ephesians 3:20).
It has been a privilege to be a friend of BFEC and on the occasion of your 60th anniversary, we rejoice with you and thank God for you. No church is perfect but a church can be faithful. Your faithfulness through the years has touched many, many lives. What are the strengths of BFEC? Let me name three.
of every member of the church. Yet the laity can maximise their potential only if they are led by godly, competent leaders who lead with commitment and a servant heart. Based on the Word, bold in ministry, blessed with good leaders --- three reasons why BFEC is a special church.
One, the church is rooted in the Word. This is one of the strengths of churches in the Brethren movement. The Christian faith is based on God’s revelation and a faithful church, like BFEC, understands that their life and ministry is shaped by the Word properly interpreted. Second, BFEC is committed to boldness in ministry. With time, churches especially older churches can become inward looking or minister within their comfort zones. BFEC continues to seek the Lord as to how they can minister relevantly in each generation. Third, the church has been blessed by good leaders. A Brethren Church understands the importance
These three qualities will be much needed as the church moves into the future. The world is changing rapidly and the ministry landscape is changing too, both in Singapore and beyond. BFEC and the other churches in Singapore need to seek the Lord afresh as to what He wants us to do and how. Such an exercise must be rooted in the Word even as it seeks to connect to the real world. And for this to happen we need godly leaders. So, on the occasion of BFEC’s 60th anniversary, we challenge the church to press on in her life and mission and rejoice that the Lord has given her the key resources to do that.
Dr Tan with Bernice at Camp 2015 (Come Walk With Me)
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PRESS ON IN SOWING AND PLANTING
BFEC - A SPECIAL CHURCH
by Dr Tan Soo-Inn and Bernice, Graceworks
by Kenneth Wong, itinerant preacher (Bethesda Hall, Ang Mo Kio)
Genesis 26 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. 22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.” 28 But they said, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you…”
Nevertheless it wasn’t a year without its challenges. It was also to be a year of hard digging in an arid area for wells to water the crops and herds. They encountered contention (v20) and opposition (v21). But in pressing on without becoming weary in well doing, they found their ‘Rehoboth’, the Lord’s provision of a place with space to grow and be fruitful (v22). The resultant effect was the indisputable testimony in the eyes of others that God was indeed among them (v28). It was cause for much thanksgiving and glory to God.
It has been my great joy and privilege to be a friend of BFEC over these many years. I have fond memories of the many occasions of ministering the Word of God among you since 1999, as well as the many Frankelites I have come to know.
May this 60th year be a precious year for BFEC as you step out to sow what you have not sown before, and reap a hundredfold as you have never reaped before. May the Lord graciously grant you room to grow and flourish. And may the torch of your testimony shine ever brighter that many will see and acknowledge that truly God is with you!
I had been reading Genesis 26 when I learned of BFEC’s 60th anniversary this year. In Genesis 26:12, we read of a remarkable year in an otherwise uneventful life of Isaac. While they had traditionally been mostly nomadic herdsmen, they nevertheless sowed and planted, sowing by faith instead of sticking to the safe. And God blessed them with reaping a hundredfold harvest in the same year. The extent of God’s doing often far exceeds our expectations (Ephesians 3:20).
It has been a privilege to be a friend of BFEC and on the occasion of your 60th anniversary, we rejoice with you and thank God for you. No church is perfect but a church can be faithful. Your faithfulness through the years has touched many, many lives. What are the strengths of BFEC? Let me name three.
of every member of the church. Yet the laity can maximise their potential only if they are led by godly, competent leaders who lead with commitment and a servant heart. Based on the Word, bold in ministry, blessed with good leaders --- three reasons why BFEC is a special church.
One, the church is rooted in the Word. This is one of the strengths of churches in the Brethren movement. The Christian faith is based on God’s revelation and a faithful church, like BFEC, understands that their life and ministry is shaped by the Word properly interpreted. Second, BFEC is committed to boldness in ministry. With time, churches especially older churches can become inward looking or minister within their comfort zones. BFEC continues to seek the Lord as to how they can minister relevantly in each generation. Third, the church has been blessed by good leaders. A Brethren Church understands the importance
These three qualities will be much needed as the church moves into the future. The world is changing rapidly and the ministry landscape is changing too, both in Singapore and beyond. BFEC and the other churches in Singapore need to seek the Lord afresh as to what He wants us to do and how. Such an exercise must be rooted in the Word even as it seeks to connect to the real world. And for this to happen we need godly leaders. So, on the occasion of BFEC’s 60th anniversary, we challenge the church to press on in her life and mission and rejoice that the Lord has given her the key resources to do that.
Dr Tan with Bernice at Camp 2015 (Come Walk With Me)
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BRIDE OF CHRIST READY AT HIS RETURN
by John Lee, Pastor-Mentor, River of Life Community Church (ROLC)
John Lee (far right) with other Frankelites in 1985
Presently, you are the Bride waiting for the Bridegroom’s, the Lord Jesus’ Return. While waiting, you are preparing yourself as a holy bride, ready and eager to meet the Return of your Lord and Lover, your spiritual Bridegroom to usher you to a greater celebration - the Wedding Supper celebration. Like the wise virgins, you long for the Lord’s Coming by engaging in the works, worship and warfare of the Lord as depicted in the Early Church. Keep on devoting yourselves “to the apostles’ teaching, the fellowship, breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42) as you long for the Bridegroom’s imminent Return.
Blessed 60th anniversary! Congratulations! On behalf of the Council and River of Life Community (ROLC) Church, we rejoice with you as you count His blessings in your celebrations. BFEC’s vision is “To be the Bride of Christ ready at His Return.” This vision has three implications. It describes BFEC as the Bride of Christ in the past, present and future dimensions. In the past, BFEC was the Bride purchased by the precious blood of the Lamb before the foundation of the world. In the words of Paul, “For He chose us (BFEC) in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In Him we (Frankelites) have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:4,7)
In the future, the Marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) will be your greater Celebration. The apostle John wrote, “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Revelation 19:6-8)
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This present celebration is a call for all Frankelites to rekindle your love for the Lord and His church. It is only right that BFEC renews her dedication to do greater works in His Name (John 14:12), thus widening her influence and impact in Kingdom life and ministry. Each member of BFEC must aim to make an IMPACT for Christ. One personal IMPACT is for each of you to declare “I Must Plant A Cell Today”. With two to five cells together, you can have a greater corporate IMPACT - “I Must Plant A Church Today”. Planting individual cells and corporate churches are two-fold ways to literally fulfill your vision for BFEC - “To be the Bride of Christ ready at His Return”. That was how ROLC Church was birthed - through planting two cells and then birthing a daughter church by the Holy Spirit through Frankelites. With this, we sincerely pray that BFEC will be the spiritual mother of more churches and bring forth influence and impact as we look forward to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
In the future, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be your greater Celebration.
Happy 60th anniversary! May the Lord watch over all His saints at BFEC.
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BRIDE OF CHRIST READY AT HIS RETURN
by John Lee, Pastor-Mentor, River of Life Community Church (ROLC)
John Lee (far right) with other Frankelites in 1985
Presently, you are the Bride waiting for the Bridegroom’s, the Lord Jesus’ Return. While waiting, you are preparing yourself as a holy bride, ready and eager to meet the Return of your Lord and Lover, your spiritual Bridegroom to usher you to a greater celebration - the Wedding Supper celebration. Like the wise virgins, you long for the Lord’s Coming by engaging in the works, worship and warfare of the Lord as depicted in the Early Church. Keep on devoting yourselves “to the apostles’ teaching, the fellowship, breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42) as you long for the Bridegroom’s imminent Return.
Blessed 60th anniversary! Congratulations! On behalf of the Council and River of Life Community (ROLC) Church, we rejoice with you as you count His blessings in your celebrations. BFEC’s vision is “To be the Bride of Christ ready at His Return.” This vision has three implications. It describes BFEC as the Bride of Christ in the past, present and future dimensions. In the past, BFEC was the Bride purchased by the precious blood of the Lamb before the foundation of the world. In the words of Paul, “For He chose us (BFEC) in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In Him we (Frankelites) have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:4,7)
In the future, the Marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) will be your greater Celebration. The apostle John wrote, “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Revelation 19:6-8)
117
This present celebration is a call for all Frankelites to rekindle your love for the Lord and His church. It is only right that BFEC renews her dedication to do greater works in His Name (John 14:12), thus widening her influence and impact in Kingdom life and ministry. Each member of BFEC must aim to make an IMPACT for Christ. One personal IMPACT is for each of you to declare “I Must Plant A Cell Today”. With two to five cells together, you can have a greater corporate IMPACT - “I Must Plant A Church Today”. Planting individual cells and corporate churches are two-fold ways to literally fulfill your vision for BFEC - “To be the Bride of Christ ready at His Return”. That was how ROLC Church was birthed - through planting two cells and then birthing a daughter church by the Holy Spirit through Frankelites. With this, we sincerely pray that BFEC will be the spiritual mother of more churches and bring forth influence and impact as we look forward to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
In the future, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be your greater Celebration.
Happy 60th anniversary! May the Lord watch over all His saints at BFEC.
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HAVING ARROWS THAT SHOOT WELL
by Michael Mak
As BFEC celebrates her 60th Anniversary, I am reminded of the need to pass on the baton for the next 60 years, God-willing.
the truth that it is the Lord whom we are working for. Before the Fall, in the garden of Eden, work was a pleasure and worship unto the Lord. As believers filled with the Spirit, if we adopt the same attitude in our workplace today, people around us will see our approach towards work is different and be prompted to “come and ask,” thereby creating opportunities for us to share God’s love and the Gospel with them.
I refer to Psalm 127:3-5 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court. 3
We must be liberated from work stress as a result of unbiblical financial pressures of our own doing. Only then will we be free to serve God while still in the marketplace.
Evangelism ministries. I have also been equipped by the Compass Ministry to equip others to manage one’s finances in God’s way. One of the topics is “Work,” which embraces what I have stated above. I have also had the privilege of facilitating this course with Young Adults from other churches. It is my hope that our young adults can embrace the vital truths regarding Biblical stewardship, and in doing so help bring BFEC into the next 60 years. Praise God for blessing BFEC for 60 years. As we pass the baton to the next generation, may we each continue to bless others and bring more into the kingdom in the next 60 years.
Arrows for life
Verse 4 says, “As arrows in the hands of a warrior, so also are children born in one’s youth.”
There is no retirement in God’s kingdom work. The Great Commission does not end when you are 55 or 65 years of age! In fact, doing God’s work in ministry is His providence to keep our minds engaged, especially if you have stopped doing paid work.
Quiver full of arrows We need to fill our quiver with arrows as we go into spiritual warfare. In other words, we need more children (go forth and multiply!) and they must be trained, rooted in God’s word. This will ensure that when we “shoot” them, our children are able to fight the enemy on their own and not fall short. We must pass on the baton and teach the next generation, else the war will be lost in our generation if we fail to position our children as arrows in our quiver.
There is no retirement in God’s kingdom work.
I have been blessed by BFEC and so I seek to help in whatever ways I can. I had previously led a Young Adults (YA) group for four years till 2010 from the time they were university undergraduates till they started work. Some are in ministry in BFEC now, while others have joined other churches. I was also a strong advocate of marriage and of going forth to multiply, as in Psalm 127:3 to 5, to the YA group I led.
Overcoming arrows The younger generation may be lost in the daily busyness of work. However, we must hold firm to
As others in BFEC continue to engage our young adults, I have since been serving in the Financial and
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HAVING ARROWS THAT SHOOT WELL
by Michael Mak
As BFEC celebrates her 60th Anniversary, I am reminded of the need to pass on the baton for the next 60 years, God-willing.
the truth that it is the Lord whom we are working for. Before the Fall, in the garden of Eden, work was a pleasure and worship unto the Lord. As believers filled with the Spirit, if we adopt the same attitude in our workplace today, people around us will see our approach towards work is different and be prompted to “come and ask,” thereby creating opportunities for us to share God’s love and the Gospel with them.
I refer to Psalm 127:3-5 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court. 3
We must be liberated from work stress as a result of unbiblical financial pressures of our own doing. Only then will we be free to serve God while still in the marketplace.
Evangelism ministries. I have also been equipped by the Compass Ministry to equip others to manage one’s finances in God’s way. One of the topics is “Work,” which embraces what I have stated above. I have also had the privilege of facilitating this course with Young Adults from other churches. It is my hope that our young adults can embrace the vital truths regarding Biblical stewardship, and in doing so help bring BFEC into the next 60 years. Praise God for blessing BFEC for 60 years. As we pass the baton to the next generation, may we each continue to bless others and bring more into the kingdom in the next 60 years.
Arrows for life
Verse 4 says, “As arrows in the hands of a warrior, so also are children born in one’s youth.”
There is no retirement in God’s kingdom work. The Great Commission does not end when you are 55 or 65 years of age! In fact, doing God’s work in ministry is His providence to keep our minds engaged, especially if you have stopped doing paid work.
Quiver full of arrows We need to fill our quiver with arrows as we go into spiritual warfare. In other words, we need more children (go forth and multiply!) and they must be trained, rooted in God’s word. This will ensure that when we “shoot” them, our children are able to fight the enemy on their own and not fall short. We must pass on the baton and teach the next generation, else the war will be lost in our generation if we fail to position our children as arrows in our quiver.
There is no retirement in God’s kingdom work.
I have been blessed by BFEC and so I seek to help in whatever ways I can. I had previously led a Young Adults (YA) group for four years till 2010 from the time they were university undergraduates till they started work. Some are in ministry in BFEC now, while others have joined other churches. I was also a strong advocate of marriage and of going forth to multiply, as in Psalm 127:3 to 5, to the YA group I led.
Overcoming arrows The younger generation may be lost in the daily busyness of work. However, we must hold firm to
As others in BFEC continue to engage our young adults, I have since been serving in the Financial and
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VOICES OF OUR YOUTH Five of our Grow@Noon youth, Augustine Koh, Kung Ye Fay, Summer Walters, Daniel Teo and Josef Tan, signed up for internship with BFEC during their school break from November 2017 to January 2018. What did they discover about God and themselves? What can we learn from them?
Daily Devotion and Quiet Time Summer: I learnt about spiritual leadership, e.g. how to lead and facilitate discussions, and ways to analyse the Bible to gain a deeper understanding, e.g. through the use of the acronym O.I.A (many observations, one interpretation and multitudes of applications). Daniel: These regular sessions helped me better understand God’s Word in greater depth and also helped improve my relationship with God as I started to pray more. As I don’t regularly keep my devotional time, they served as good reminders and practice for me personally. Ye Fay: Life is complex and not everyone is dealing with the same issues. Applications from the Word of God provide pivots for our faith.
Discipleship Training School, YWAM (one-week course)
Chinese Evergreen Fellowship Augustine: Although we were only with them for two sessions, I really experienced how God had worked in this ministry as all the seniors enjoyed the fellowship, outings and messages given by the various speakers. I also heard how some of them wanted to get baptised even though they had joined for only a few months. This was really a testimony of how God can touch the lives of our older brethren.
Summer: I gained greater insight into youth pastoring and youth ministries, e.g. the differences in children, youth and adult ministries, and the difficulty in transitioning between the different ministries. I was exposed to different denominations through the discussions at the sessions. Ordinarily, I would have little chance of gleaning lessons from other denominations. I learnt about the different ways we can serve God. We also met pastors from overseas, whom we ordinarily have little or no chance to interact with.
Summer: We witnessed their service which we teenagers do not usually actively engage in. It was very interesting to be involved. It engaged members through music, exercise, health, spiritual talks and encouraged them to socialise with one another. As our population ages, we must modify our services to include them, as well as tackle problems they may face, such as loneliness and depression. Evergreen is so important. As youth, we can play a part in this programme, perhaps by encouraging others to take part in a few sessions, to give their programme more variation.
Augustine: I discovered how other churches run their youth ministries. I also enjoyed meeting new people whom we shared our experiences with. It was heartwarming how the people at YWAM were so friendly and welcoming even though we had never met before! I even met a guy from Fiji. 121
Christmas party at Simei Care Centre (now Anglican Care Centre, Simei) Summer: We had to prepare a Christmas Program. The first time I heard about it, I was apprehensive as I had no prior experience interacting with people with mental health issues. However, this opportunity allowed me to learn more about them, and eliminate my fear, making this a valuable and enlightening experience. The visit also showed how we can reach out to people who need spiritual help to go through difficult times or face their mental health issues. And how we can continue to spread the Word of God to them as they would have fewer chances to learn about the Word of God.
Placeholders Arts Festival (16 and 17 Dec 2017) @ BFEC and 10, La Salle Street - raising funds for Kampong Siglap Life Skills and Retreat Centre
Josef: I had to lead a game and spoke in public for the first time. It was a small group and I believe it not only went well but turned out to be a good warm-up and preparation for the other challenges during my internship.
Ye Fay: The team of interns under the leadership of Kelvin Ng took part in the cleaning of the old Siglap Primary School, the other venue of Placeholders besides BFEC. We were tasked with the initial cleaning of the classrooms to enable the artists to install their art creations. Though the process was tiring and hot, I enjoyed the overall experience. I really bonded with the team as we worked tirelessly to clean up the place in time for the event.
Augustine: I was initially worried when I was told Simei Care Centre was a place for mentally ill people. However, Fang Fang (who regularly helps out at this Centre) was very encouraging. She assured us that it was all going to be ok. She went through with us the schedule and activities we were going to conduct. When the actual day came, everyone there was so friendly and happy to see us. I even made a new friend, Faith, who was very friendly and shared with me how God was telling her to go to the mission field. I felt really encouraged by her. All in all, the Christmas gathering was very fun and encouraging. I also felt very happy as I saw that the people really had fun and we also invited them for Placeholders, our 2017 BFEC Christmas event.
Josef: Long hours in the sun painting the mural and the even longer hours cleaning the appalling, abandoned building at 10 La Salle St, which was covered in dust and falling apart, with bits and pieces of interesting leftovers of the past lying around, was well worth it. With just brooms, dustpans, mops, buckets and water, we worked hard cleaning the rooms till we achieved an acceptable level of cleanliness. Daniel: I helped with one art work by our very own resident artist, Abram Tan, until 11 p.m. and also helped in the creation of some art pieces in the rooms. From this event, I learnt to have the heart to serve and help others. It taught me to be resilient and not give up. One highlight for me was giving out Placeholders flyers outside Temasek Polytechnic. As this was my first time, I had negative expectations and the task seemed extremely daunting. Thus I had to depend 122
VOICES OF OUR YOUTH Five of our Grow@Noon youth, Augustine Koh, Kung Ye Fay, Summer Walters, Daniel Teo and Josef Tan, signed up for internship with BFEC during their school break from November 2017 to January 2018. What did they discover about God and themselves? What can we learn from them?
Daily Devotion and Quiet Time Summer: I learnt about spiritual leadership, e.g. how to lead and facilitate discussions, and ways to analyse the Bible to gain a deeper understanding, e.g. through the use of the acronym O.I.A (many observations, one interpretation and multitudes of applications). Daniel: These regular sessions helped me better understand God’s Word in greater depth and also helped improve my relationship with God as I started to pray more. As I don’t regularly keep my devotional time, they served as good reminders and practice for me personally. Ye Fay: Life is complex and not everyone is dealing with the same issues. Applications from the Word of God provide pivots for our faith.
Discipleship Training School, YWAM (one-week course)
Chinese Evergreen Fellowship Augustine: Although we were only with them for two sessions, I really experienced how God had worked in this ministry as all the seniors enjoyed the fellowship, outings and messages given by the various speakers. I also heard how some of them wanted to get baptised even though they had joined for only a few months. This was really a testimony of how God can touch the lives of our older brethren.
Summer: I gained greater insight into youth pastoring and youth ministries, e.g. the differences in children, youth and adult ministries, and the difficulty in transitioning between the different ministries. I was exposed to different denominations through the discussions at the sessions. Ordinarily, I would have little chance of gleaning lessons from other denominations. I learnt about the different ways we can serve God. We also met pastors from overseas, whom we ordinarily have little or no chance to interact with.
Summer: We witnessed their service which we teenagers do not usually actively engage in. It was very interesting to be involved. It engaged members through music, exercise, health, spiritual talks and encouraged them to socialise with one another. As our population ages, we must modify our services to include them, as well as tackle problems they may face, such as loneliness and depression. Evergreen is so important. As youth, we can play a part in this programme, perhaps by encouraging others to take part in a few sessions, to give their programme more variation.
Augustine: I discovered how other churches run their youth ministries. I also enjoyed meeting new people whom we shared our experiences with. It was heartwarming how the people at YWAM were so friendly and welcoming even though we had never met before! I even met a guy from Fiji. 121
Christmas party at Simei Care Centre (now Anglican Care Centre, Simei) Summer: We had to prepare a Christmas Program. The first time I heard about it, I was apprehensive as I had no prior experience interacting with people with mental health issues. However, this opportunity allowed me to learn more about them, and eliminate my fear, making this a valuable and enlightening experience. The visit also showed how we can reach out to people who need spiritual help to go through difficult times or face their mental health issues. And how we can continue to spread the Word of God to them as they would have fewer chances to learn about the Word of God.
Placeholders Arts Festival (16 and 17 Dec 2017) @ BFEC and 10, La Salle Street - raising funds for Kampong Siglap Life Skills and Retreat Centre
Josef: I had to lead a game and spoke in public for the first time. It was a small group and I believe it not only went well but turned out to be a good warm-up and preparation for the other challenges during my internship.
Ye Fay: The team of interns under the leadership of Kelvin Ng took part in the cleaning of the old Siglap Primary School, the other venue of Placeholders besides BFEC. We were tasked with the initial cleaning of the classrooms to enable the artists to install their art creations. Though the process was tiring and hot, I enjoyed the overall experience. I really bonded with the team as we worked tirelessly to clean up the place in time for the event.
Augustine: I was initially worried when I was told Simei Care Centre was a place for mentally ill people. However, Fang Fang (who regularly helps out at this Centre) was very encouraging. She assured us that it was all going to be ok. She went through with us the schedule and activities we were going to conduct. When the actual day came, everyone there was so friendly and happy to see us. I even made a new friend, Faith, who was very friendly and shared with me how God was telling her to go to the mission field. I felt really encouraged by her. All in all, the Christmas gathering was very fun and encouraging. I also felt very happy as I saw that the people really had fun and we also invited them for Placeholders, our 2017 BFEC Christmas event.
Josef: Long hours in the sun painting the mural and the even longer hours cleaning the appalling, abandoned building at 10 La Salle St, which was covered in dust and falling apart, with bits and pieces of interesting leftovers of the past lying around, was well worth it. With just brooms, dustpans, mops, buckets and water, we worked hard cleaning the rooms till we achieved an acceptable level of cleanliness. Daniel: I helped with one art work by our very own resident artist, Abram Tan, until 11 p.m. and also helped in the creation of some art pieces in the rooms. From this event, I learnt to have the heart to serve and help others. It taught me to be resilient and not give up. One highlight for me was giving out Placeholders flyers outside Temasek Polytechnic. As this was my first time, I had negative expectations and the task seemed extremely daunting. Thus I had to depend 122
on God that the whole operation would run smoothly. Surprisingly, I was able to garner courage and spoke to about 30 students about the Arts Festival. This particular incident taught me to have faith and to be brave in the face of unfamiliar circumstances. Augustine: I helped John Teo set up the tech/sound system. It was no easy task to run cables from one end of the tarpaulin to the other, hanging them on the frame at the same time. I think the time when everyone “panicked” was the night before Placeholders. There were still a lot of things to be done. Everyone scrambled and worked through the night. It was really amazing to see people from the neighbourhood attending this event.
Grow@Noon Camp - Camp Lit
Summer: I saw how much we can do to help even if we do not have specific skills to do specialised tasks, such as creating art installations. We can still contribute to the greater project. I have come to appreciate the sheer amount of time and hard work that go into big projects such as this. Now that I have had this experience, I am encouraged to contribute to future projects in any small way I can.
Summer: I participated only in the planning stage as I was overseas during the camp. Together, we planned a game, where campers had to pick Biblical references from a Superman movie “Man Of Steel”. It was an interesting experience, as we had to pick out subtle details from the movie and references that ordinarily we would have missed. Then we looked for corresponding verses or events in the Bible and we learnt to view from a new perspective. It allowed us to come closer to the one true interpretation.
Daniel: The Camp taught me how to be a more effective leader and how to adapt to an everchanging scenario. I was appointed a group leader as well as one of the secondary Camp Commandants. As interns, we were involved in planning the camp. I was in charge of organising the bus rides and buying the camp bandanas. I had never chartered a bus before so it provided me good experience on how to deal with people professionally. Josef: There was a day when there was no breakfast catered due to miscommunication. The other interns had to rush to the nearby Mcdonald’s to purchase 60 burgers for the 40+ campers within 45 minutes.
Augustine: We were assigned different roles. I had the role of Camp Commandant / Worship In-charge. At the Camp, I enjoyed interacting and fellowshiping with the younger Grow@Noon youths, as well as the JSS children.
Ultimate Training Camp (A four-day, threenight Sports Intensive Camp)
Welcome session for the Grow@Noon new Senior Ones
Daniel: This camp focused on training athletes to use their sport to worship and praise God. From the camp I learnt diligence, accountability, discipline and perseverance. Above all, I learnt how to worship God in my life. For example, whenever | would play sports such as basketball or football, I would pray before I enter the court. The 20-hour Sports Marathon taught me that pain has a purpose and I should always give my best whether I win or lose. It ultimately taught me to welcome God more into my life and to talk to Him more.
Summer: The objective of this is to ease the transition of JSS students into Grow@ Noon and allow them to feel comfortable and welcome. To plan the activities, we used a planning method introduced by Kelvin, P.E.P.S.I. (prayer, establish objectives, programme, schedule, investment). We prayed for the event and people, set goals so we would be able to determine success, created a plan to follow to ensure it is done on time and figured out the logistics and resources. We learnt that logistics is an integral part of most projects. We need to plan and organise early, with a timeline and goals to ensure that all materials are prepared on time, such as contacting the speaker.
Ye Fay: Although this was a sports camp, and I am not the most physically fit person, I managed to pull through and took away many interesting Christian principles I found really useful in my daily life. The 20-hour S.P.E.C.I.A.L., though long and tiring, was made enjoyable with the support of the new friends we made. Most of all, it was comforting to know that God had our backs no matter what the situation is.
Josef: We prepared for this event very well and ensured that everybody was aware of their assigned roles and how they fit into the whole programme.
Josef: It was a gruelling camp and it pushed me further than I have ever pushed myself. It revealed to me many things about myself that made the pain all worthwhile. I made some good friends in the teams I was in. I drew closer to God in the camp, learning to depend on Him and knowing that He is there to carry me at any time.
Youth Alpha Daniel: For the final week of the internship, we were tasked with planning the Youth Alpha series. We put into practice what we had learnt since November. We went into greater detail in planning and thought through the process and the flow of events to the point where we were comfortable. This helped me gain experience should I plan for any future events whether in church or for an external event. L-R: Interns Josef, Auguestine, Daniel, Kelvin (Grow@Noon ministry leader with Theo), Ye Fay and Summer (with Caleb Chong)
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on God that the whole operation would run smoothly. Surprisingly, I was able to garner courage and spoke to about 30 students about the Arts Festival. This particular incident taught me to have faith and to be brave in the face of unfamiliar circumstances. Augustine: I helped John Teo set up the tech/sound system. It was no easy task to run cables from one end of the tarpaulin to the other, hanging them on the frame at the same time. I think the time when everyone “panicked” was the night before Placeholders. There were still a lot of things to be done. Everyone scrambled and worked through the night. It was really amazing to see people from the neighbourhood attending this event.
Grow@Noon Camp - Camp Lit
Summer: I saw how much we can do to help even if we do not have specific skills to do specialised tasks, such as creating art installations. We can still contribute to the greater project. I have come to appreciate the sheer amount of time and hard work that go into big projects such as this. Now that I have had this experience, I am encouraged to contribute to future projects in any small way I can.
Summer: I participated only in the planning stage as I was overseas during the camp. Together, we planned a game, where campers had to pick Biblical references from a Superman movie “Man Of Steel”. It was an interesting experience, as we had to pick out subtle details from the movie and references that ordinarily we would have missed. Then we looked for corresponding verses or events in the Bible and we learnt to view from a new perspective. It allowed us to come closer to the one true interpretation.
Daniel: The Camp taught me how to be a more effective leader and how to adapt to an everchanging scenario. I was appointed a group leader as well as one of the secondary Camp Commandants. As interns, we were involved in planning the camp. I was in charge of organising the bus rides and buying the camp bandanas. I had never chartered a bus before so it provided me good experience on how to deal with people professionally. Josef: There was a day when there was no breakfast catered due to miscommunication. The other interns had to rush to the nearby Mcdonald’s to purchase 60 burgers for the 40+ campers within 45 minutes.
Augustine: We were assigned different roles. I had the role of Camp Commandant / Worship In-charge. At the Camp, I enjoyed interacting and fellowshiping with the younger Grow@Noon youths, as well as the JSS children.
Ultimate Training Camp (A four-day, threenight Sports Intensive Camp)
Welcome session for the Grow@Noon new Senior Ones
Daniel: This camp focused on training athletes to use their sport to worship and praise God. From the camp I learnt diligence, accountability, discipline and perseverance. Above all, I learnt how to worship God in my life. For example, whenever | would play sports such as basketball or football, I would pray before I enter the court. The 20-hour Sports Marathon taught me that pain has a purpose and I should always give my best whether I win or lose. It ultimately taught me to welcome God more into my life and to talk to Him more.
Summer: The objective of this is to ease the transition of JSS students into Grow@ Noon and allow them to feel comfortable and welcome. To plan the activities, we used a planning method introduced by Kelvin, P.E.P.S.I. (prayer, establish objectives, programme, schedule, investment). We prayed for the event and people, set goals so we would be able to determine success, created a plan to follow to ensure it is done on time and figured out the logistics and resources. We learnt that logistics is an integral part of most projects. We need to plan and organise early, with a timeline and goals to ensure that all materials are prepared on time, such as contacting the speaker.
Ye Fay: Although this was a sports camp, and I am not the most physically fit person, I managed to pull through and took away many interesting Christian principles I found really useful in my daily life. The 20-hour S.P.E.C.I.A.L., though long and tiring, was made enjoyable with the support of the new friends we made. Most of all, it was comforting to know that God had our backs no matter what the situation is.
Josef: We prepared for this event very well and ensured that everybody was aware of their assigned roles and how they fit into the whole programme.
Josef: It was a gruelling camp and it pushed me further than I have ever pushed myself. It revealed to me many things about myself that made the pain all worthwhile. I made some good friends in the teams I was in. I drew closer to God in the camp, learning to depend on Him and knowing that He is there to carry me at any time.
Youth Alpha Daniel: For the final week of the internship, we were tasked with planning the Youth Alpha series. We put into practice what we had learnt since November. We went into greater detail in planning and thought through the process and the flow of events to the point where we were comfortable. This helped me gain experience should I plan for any future events whether in church or for an external event. L-R: Interns Josef, Auguestine, Daniel, Kelvin (Grow@Noon ministry leader with Theo), Ye Fay and Summer (with Caleb Chong)
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those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. (Matthew 21:12-14)
by Dr Tan Lai Yong
Here, we read of Christ’s Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday. The people in Jerusalem welcomed Jesus with singing, waving palm fronds and laying their cloaks on the road. In a dramatic actioncharged scene, Jesus then enters the Temple area and chases out the money changers. He overturns the benches of those selling doves. But these money changers and dove-sellers were actually providing a needed service to the pilgrims.
I first came to BFEC in 1974 when I was studying in Siglap Secondary School. At that time, BFEC was one of the few churches in the area willing to open its facilities to our school’s Youth For Christ club (YFC). We had over 200 students attending our evangelistic rallies and YFC anniversaries. BFEC welcomed us and did not charge us any rental. Thus when I was looking for a church to join, it was natural that my classmates and I joined BFEC. I thank God that BFEC has been my church since I became a Christian.
Jesus said, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” It is significant that after Jesus cleared the temple, the Gospel says that the blind and lame could come in. There is more space and more freedom and thus the invitation to the marginalised to enter into the temple court to be with Jesus.
Concern about the Fruits One of the first times I served in church was to help plant trees. Our Senior Sunday School teacher, Tay Cheng Kee, and our dear brother, Jimmy Koh Chee Tat (now with the Lord) led this effort. Jimmy hired a pick-up truck and drove us to buy a few mango trees from a nursery in Bukit Timah. We brought the trees back and planted them along the fence at church. And we discussed, “What if neighborhood children came and steal the mangoes?” We concluded that the Lord will bless them too.
projects should we do more? Who are the people we should nurture? What are some things we should do less of? Are we unwittingly stopping fruits from growing because they sometimes bring inconvenience? Reaching Out As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”. Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. (Matthew 20:29-34)
Years later, I heard these mango trees had been cut down. Anecdotally, not only did no one steal the mangoes, but apparently some were concerned that the sap, flowers, birds’ droppings and especially the mangoes might fall on parked cars, dirtying the cars and denting some. So a decision was made to remove the trees. I felt quite sad that our cars had become more important than the mangoes. As we celebrate BFEC’s 60th anniversary, we need to think through our priorities. What are the fruits we want? What 125
The accounts in Matthew chapters 20 and 21 remind us of three action platforms for the church:A) Jesus reached out to the blind - we need to be at the forefront of care and compassion. B) Jesus cleaned the temple courts where business was thriving – we need good market place ministries, transforming our hearts so that we can influence our work place through prayer and purpose. C) Jesus created space in the temple for the blind and the lame to enter - we must put in place policies and priorities where the marginalised can come into community.
This story from Matthew reminds us not to rebuke the marginalised nor silence the needy. Instead we should, following our Lord Jesus, be ready to reach out to listen and to heal. The Apostle Matthew records that after the blind men were healed, they followed Jesus. I assume they followed him all the way from Jericho to Jerusalem. Jericho is an ancient town about 250 metres below sea level and Jerusalem, a city on a hill about 750 metres above sea level. The journey of discipleship can be a hard climb but it is always done with the Lord Jesus Christ in the lead; no longer the blind leading the blind but a journey of redeemed people who have been touched by the Lord.
Across the Road, the Nations, the Generations Moving ahead, may I suggest three concepts to guide our planning, actions and resource allocation: A) Across the Road B) Across the Nations C) Across the Generations
Making Space Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of 126
NATIONS AND GENERATIONS, AND RIGHT NEXT TO US
those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. (Matthew 21:12-14)
by Dr Tan Lai Yong
Here, we read of Christ’s Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday. The people in Jerusalem welcomed Jesus with singing, waving palm fronds and laying their cloaks on the road. In a dramatic actioncharged scene, Jesus then enters the Temple area and chases out the money changers. He overturns the benches of those selling doves. But these money changers and dove-sellers were actually providing a needed service to the pilgrims.
I first came to BFEC in 1974 when I was studying in Siglap Secondary School. At that time, BFEC was one of the few churches in the area willing to open its facilities to our school’s Youth For Christ club (YFC). We had over 200 students attending our evangelistic rallies and YFC anniversaries. BFEC welcomed us and did not charge us any rental. Thus when I was looking for a church to join, it was natural that my classmates and I joined BFEC. I thank God that BFEC has been my church since I became a Christian.
Jesus said, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” It is significant that after Jesus cleared the temple, the Gospel says that the blind and lame could come in. There is more space and more freedom and thus the invitation to the marginalised to enter into the temple court to be with Jesus.
Concern about the Fruits One of the first times I served in church was to help plant trees. Our Senior Sunday School teacher, Tay Cheng Kee, and our dear brother, Jimmy Koh Chee Tat (now with the Lord) led this effort. Jimmy hired a pick-up truck and drove us to buy a few mango trees from a nursery in Bukit Timah. We brought the trees back and planted them along the fence at church. And we discussed, “What if neighborhood children came and steal the mangoes?” We concluded that the Lord will bless them too.
projects should we do more? Who are the people we should nurture? What are some things we should do less of? Are we unwittingly stopping fruits from growing because they sometimes bring inconvenience? Reaching Out As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”. Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. (Matthew 20:29-34)
Years later, I heard these mango trees had been cut down. Anecdotally, not only did no one steal the mangoes, but apparently some were concerned that the sap, flowers, birds’ droppings and especially the mangoes might fall on parked cars, dirtying the cars and denting some. So a decision was made to remove the trees. I felt quite sad that our cars had become more important than the mangoes. As we celebrate BFEC’s 60th anniversary, we need to think through our priorities. What are the fruits we want? What 125
The accounts in Matthew chapters 20 and 21 remind us of three action platforms for the church:A) Jesus reached out to the blind - we need to be at the forefront of care and compassion. B) Jesus cleaned the temple courts where business was thriving – we need good market place ministries, transforming our hearts so that we can influence our work place through prayer and purpose. C) Jesus created space in the temple for the blind and the lame to enter - we must put in place policies and priorities where the marginalised can come into community.
This story from Matthew reminds us not to rebuke the marginalised nor silence the needy. Instead we should, following our Lord Jesus, be ready to reach out to listen and to heal. The Apostle Matthew records that after the blind men were healed, they followed Jesus. I assume they followed him all the way from Jericho to Jerusalem. Jericho is an ancient town about 250 metres below sea level and Jerusalem, a city on a hill about 750 metres above sea level. The journey of discipleship can be a hard climb but it is always done with the Lord Jesus Christ in the lead; no longer the blind leading the blind but a journey of redeemed people who have been touched by the Lord.
Across the Road, the Nations, the Generations Moving ahead, may I suggest three concepts to guide our planning, actions and resource allocation: A) Across the Road B) Across the Nations C) Across the Generations
Making Space Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of 126
location and economy. As Christians, we must bring God’s love across the nations. There are good strategies like “The 10:40 Window” and “Unreached People Groups” to achieve this. However, they mostly describe the external. When we look across the nations, we must allow the Lord to look deep into our hearts. Matthew 6:33 - “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (ESV) - is still true and should spur us to live above and beyond the pervasive materialism in Singapore, to live with hearts ready to serve the nations.
Across The Road The Lord has brought the Kampong Siglap Retreat and Life Skills Centre project to our doorstep. This centre is designed to care for some of the lowest-income families in Singapore. The retreats and camps will be opportunities for single mothers and their children to be nurtured, encouraged, equipped and empowered in life-skills; and we can serve them right at our doorstep. BFEC used to have thriving Girl’s and Boy’s Brigade Companies. With their closure, we have lost an outreach arm. I came to BFEC because the leadership then allowed youths to use the church and its resources on weekdays. We haven’t done so for many years. We should not wait passively for young people to come, but go out to meet them. The Kampong Siglap Project is a wonderful opportunity to do so and it will be a grievous loss if we miss it.
The rise and influence of China gives us food for thought about how to complement major worldwide trends with sharing God’s love. China’s “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR), a global plan to bring Chinese businesses across the world, should spur us to think about being servants of God’s love, ready to be scattered and placed for the Gospel as needed. We can think about sharing and learning, bringing expertise and building connections along the OBOR.
Kampong Siglap can also be a community hub for volunteering. Imagine secondary school students from the East Coast and Bedok areas coming on weekdays to volunteer, run projects to care for senior citizens or participate in activities to appreciate and nurture the environment and volunteer in tandem with community needs.
But we also face intense challenges and opposing forces - like the rise of nationalism, our own xenophobia and global terrorism threats. We need to seek God, think hard, count the cost (of doing and not doing the Lord’s will) and so be wise and be brave in our lifestyle choices.
We need to respond to the Kampong Siglap initiative.
The Lord has brought many nations into Singapore. I visited a neighbourhood primary school recently and found there were students from eight nations in one class alone. Sadly, no local families were actively reaching out to them, to immerse them
Across The Nations The Lord has given us a country strategic in
in our culture or welcome them to a home-cooked meal. The nations are right here but many Christian churches have failed to reach out.
early 2000s, many dialect churches and Mandarinspeaking congregations sprang up and grew. Now BFEC, and many local churches, need to pray and win the younger generation, including those born in “Christian families.” We need to be fervent in our commitment to bring the gospel deep into their hearts.
At our 60th anniversary, we should ask ourselves, “If there are millions of foreigners in Singapore, why aren’t our churches filled with them?” Across The Generations We need to serve across the generations. Looking at ourselves in BFEC, it is obvious we do not have good connections with our youth and young adults. Age-wise, our church population shows a sunken “middle”. We have many children and seniors but a drop in the 20 - 45 age group. I became a Christian in 1974. At that time I had no idea how to witness to my parents. It was the same for many of my peers. We were mostly Englishspeaking while our parents spoke dialect. We had no clue to how to share the gospel with them. We prayed much. My mother became a Christian in 2004, 30 years after I became one. At that time, many of us rallied around to pray for our parents. The Billy Graham Crusade came and went in 1978. We took time to share the gospel with our parents. We needed to reach across the generations.
The youths need far more than creeds. They need to see that the gospel is authentic. We need to connect them to God. In tandem with Protestant work ethics, many Singaporean Christian families have grown better off economically, but have become overly busy. We place priorities on everything and anything that society demands. So our children are busy; our teenagers are busy. We forget to bring them before the Lord in quietness and in stillness, to find their confidence in God and not in achievements. We have to reach across the generations again in prayer and priorities so that our young people know God. We can start the journey across the road, at Kampong Siglap, where youth and nations can come together to serve and to learn. As we celebrate our church’s 60th anniversary, let us remember that “The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.” (William Temple, Bishop Church of England 1881-1944).
God has shown Himself to be faithful to our prayers. In the first 30 years of BFEC’s history, church growth in Singapore was mainly among the English-speaking. But in the late 1900s and
We need to seek God, think hard, count the cost (of doing and not doing the Lord’s will) and so be wise and be brave in our lifestyle choices. Lai Yong with Grow@Noon youth at HealthServe
127
128
location and economy. As Christians, we must bring God’s love across the nations. There are good strategies like “The 10:40 Window” and “Unreached People Groups” to achieve this. However, they mostly describe the external. When we look across the nations, we must allow the Lord to look deep into our hearts. Matthew 6:33 - “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (ESV) - is still true and should spur us to live above and beyond the pervasive materialism in Singapore, to live with hearts ready to serve the nations.
Across The Road The Lord has brought the Kampong Siglap Retreat and Life Skills Centre project to our doorstep. This centre is designed to care for some of the lowest-income families in Singapore. The retreats and camps will be opportunities for single mothers and their children to be nurtured, encouraged, equipped and empowered in life-skills; and we can serve them right at our doorstep. BFEC used to have thriving Girl’s and Boy’s Brigade Companies. With their closure, we have lost an outreach arm. I came to BFEC because the leadership then allowed youths to use the church and its resources on weekdays. We haven’t done so for many years. We should not wait passively for young people to come, but go out to meet them. The Kampong Siglap Project is a wonderful opportunity to do so and it will be a grievous loss if we miss it.
The rise and influence of China gives us food for thought about how to complement major worldwide trends with sharing God’s love. China’s “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR), a global plan to bring Chinese businesses across the world, should spur us to think about being servants of God’s love, ready to be scattered and placed for the Gospel as needed. We can think about sharing and learning, bringing expertise and building connections along the OBOR.
Kampong Siglap can also be a community hub for volunteering. Imagine secondary school students from the East Coast and Bedok areas coming on weekdays to volunteer, run projects to care for senior citizens or participate in activities to appreciate and nurture the environment and volunteer in tandem with community needs.
But we also face intense challenges and opposing forces - like the rise of nationalism, our own xenophobia and global terrorism threats. We need to seek God, think hard, count the cost (of doing and not doing the Lord’s will) and so be wise and be brave in our lifestyle choices.
We need to respond to the Kampong Siglap initiative.
The Lord has brought many nations into Singapore. I visited a neighbourhood primary school recently and found there were students from eight nations in one class alone. Sadly, no local families were actively reaching out to them, to immerse them
Across The Nations The Lord has given us a country strategic in
in our culture or welcome them to a home-cooked meal. The nations are right here but many Christian churches have failed to reach out.
early 2000s, many dialect churches and Mandarinspeaking congregations sprang up and grew. Now BFEC, and many local churches, need to pray and win the younger generation, including those born in “Christian families.” We need to be fervent in our commitment to bring the gospel deep into their hearts.
At our 60th anniversary, we should ask ourselves, “If there are millions of foreigners in Singapore, why aren’t our churches filled with them?” Across The Generations We need to serve across the generations. Looking at ourselves in BFEC, it is obvious we do not have good connections with our youth and young adults. Age-wise, our church population shows a sunken “middle”. We have many children and seniors but a drop in the 20 - 45 age group. I became a Christian in 1974. At that time I had no idea how to witness to my parents. It was the same for many of my peers. We were mostly Englishspeaking while our parents spoke dialect. We had no clue to how to share the gospel with them. We prayed much. My mother became a Christian in 2004, 30 years after I became one. At that time, many of us rallied around to pray for our parents. The Billy Graham Crusade came and went in 1978. We took time to share the gospel with our parents. We needed to reach across the generations.
The youths need far more than creeds. They need to see that the gospel is authentic. We need to connect them to God. In tandem with Protestant work ethics, many Singaporean Christian families have grown better off economically, but have become overly busy. We place priorities on everything and anything that society demands. So our children are busy; our teenagers are busy. We forget to bring them before the Lord in quietness and in stillness, to find their confidence in God and not in achievements. We have to reach across the generations again in prayer and priorities so that our young people know God. We can start the journey across the road, at Kampong Siglap, where youth and nations can come together to serve and to learn. As we celebrate our church’s 60th anniversary, let us remember that “The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.” (William Temple, Bishop Church of England 1881-1944).
God has shown Himself to be faithful to our prayers. In the first 30 years of BFEC’s history, church growth in Singapore was mainly among the English-speaking. But in the late 1900s and
We need to seek God, think hard, count the cost (of doing and not doing the Lord’s will) and so be wise and be brave in our lifestyle choices. Lai Yong with Grow@Noon youth at HealthServe
127
128
SUNDAY Worship Services: English - 8 am & 10 am Chinese - 9.30 am Creche, KSS & JSS (Children): 10 am Grow@Noon (Youth): 12 pm International Fellowship (Indonesian & Filipino): 10 am 9214 (Seniors) Bible Study & Fellowship: 10am MONDAY 9214 Frankel Lights: 10 am TUESDAY 9214 Table Tennis: 6 pm Ladies Group: 8 pm WEDNESDAY 9214 Evergreen Fellowship (Chinese): 10.30 am Jesus Club (Special Needs): 7.30 pm (Alternate weeks) THURSDAY 9214 Table Tennis: 3 pm FRIDAY Church Prayer Meeting: 8 pm SATURDAY Peranakan: 4 pm (2nd & 4th Sat) Foreign Indian Workers’ Fellowship (English Class): 8 pm (except last Sat) WAG: 7.30pm (Last Sat of month) Our Cell Groups (for Adults & Young Adults) meet in church and members’ homes throughout the week.
4 La Salle Street Singapore 456930 Tel: 6448 1800 Fax: 6448 0831 Email: bfec@bfec.org.sg Web: www.bfec.org.sg
SUNDAY Worship Services: English - 8 am & 10 am Chinese - 9.30 am Creche, KSS & JSS (Children): 10 am Grow@Noon (Youth): 12 pm International Fellowship (Indonesian & Filipino): 10 am 9214 (Seniors) Bible Study & Fellowship: 10am MONDAY 9214 Frankel Lights: 10 am TUESDAY 9214 Table Tennis: 6 pm Ladies Group: 8 pm WEDNESDAY 9214 Evergreen Fellowship (Chinese): 10.30 am Jesus Club (Special Needs): 7.30 pm (Alternate weeks) THURSDAY 9214 Table Tennis: 3 pm FRIDAY Church Prayer Meeting: 8 pm SATURDAY Peranakan: 4 pm (2nd & 4th Sat) Foreign Indian Workers’ Fellowship (English Class): 8 pm (except last Sat) WAG: 7.30pm (Last Sat of month) Our Cell Groups (for Adults & Young Adults) meet in church and members’ homes throughout the week.
4 La Salle Street Singapore 456930 Tel: 6448 1800 Fax: 6448 0831 Email: bfec@bfec.org.sg Web: www.bfec.org.sg
READY N0.7 July 2018 A publication of Bethesda Frankel Estate Church | MCI (P) 124/01/2018