A n e w s letter o f The N a viga to rs S in ga po re M C I (P ) 012/03/2019
JULY 2019
Image credit: Chia Yi Wen
JARS OF FLOWING AROMA By Kylie Chia, Communications Executive
“
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
T
hese two verses combined produced the theme for this year’s Asia-Pacific Women’s Conference, Jars of Flowing Aroma. Siem Reap this June saw the gathering of over 80 women from various countries in the AsiaPacific region. Navigator staff, lay labourers, and disciples were invigorated by sharings from key speaker Connie Chng, wife of International Executive Team member Alan Chng, on “The Treasure in Us”, being “Jars of Clay”, and ways of “Diffusing the Aroma”.
The Treasure in Us Paul declared how he did not preach himself but only Jesus Christ as Lord. It is not about us nor our earthen vessels. Rather, it is about the treasure within that makes us valuable and of noble use. Indeed, we are nothing and possess nothing that is worthy of display, not even the label we wear as Christians. The treasure is Christ. He alone, is worthy of all glory.
“
2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
Connie Chng gave three key messages at the Asia-Pacific Women’s Conference 2019 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, to over 80 women on being Jars of Flowing Aroma.
Jars of Clay Attendees learned that clay is prepared by first removing straw and stones from soil. Once these are removed, the remaining clay can be moulded easily. Further work involves submission, surrendering and waiting on Him. For some, this may be a time of transformation and painful pruning in order to become more fruitful (see John 15:2). Diffusing the Aroma If we are to spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him, we must be more like Christ and meet people at their point of need, visiting them in broken places (like the pool at Bethesda) and in marketplaces. Second, being authentic is to be sincere (or “sincera” in Greek), bare and transparent, with no hidden intent. Thirdly, while we are to be consistent in our availability and presence with others, we are to be prepared always to share the gospel when opportunities arise.
The Navigators ladies across the Asia-Pacific break cultural, language and age barriers to have fellowship and fun. Jolynn Ng, The NavTeens staff in a dress, helped her team win a game with rolls of dental floss.
Some of our labourers share their insights gained from the Women’s Conference.
Beyond Culture and Comfort Zone Lina Ang, labourer from NUS ministry
T
he greatest hindrance to my going on missions is the crossing of culture. In Acts 10, God had to convict Peter that his own religious and cultural ideals were false, so that he would reach Gentiles instead of avoiding them. God is saying that I should not let cultural differences rule over His love for the lost. Jesus Himself reached out to a Samaritan woman in John 4:4-42. Instead of giving her a lecture on sin, He asked her questions to help her realise her need for Jesus. On top of my low cultural quotient, I also generally lack patience in my people interactions. I’m in a constant rush to share everything instead of getting to know the person first. I can learn from Jesus’ example here, by making conversation and asking questions to help them recognise their deep longing for Love.
Pray Down the Stars Bui Ngoc Linh Chi, labourer from NUS ministry
“
We develop God’s heart for the nations through prayer,” said Cherry*, a workshop speaker and Singaporean missionary to East Asia. Through Abraham, Isaiah, John the Baptist, and others, God clearly revealed His heart for all people and His redemption plan for all nations. He now invites all of us to participate but I often have little faith. It is hard for me to believe that God can use a small and insignificant person like myself to bring His gospel to the nations. Cherry shared how her husband and his friend used to “pray down the stars”. When they were just college students in their 20s, they together claimed Genesis 26:4 for their lives, that God would use them to bring forth spiritual descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. His friend currently ministers in Africa. I was encouraged and I determined to find a prayer partner to pray down the stars together. *not her real name
To Disciple Gen Z Chia Yi Wen, labourer in The NavTeens (TNT)
I
n the workshop on “Reaching Today’s Generation for Christ”, I realised that Generation Z does not have issues specific to their generation. Theirs is a core sin that has been inherited from forefathers, simply displayed in different ways. So in their age group, a preponderance of loneliness, a search for identity manifesting in addictions, and so on, are prevalent. It is therefore important to ask in-depth questions to understand youths better, showing them the value of meeting face-to-face in real time, rather than through virtual means. This Gen Z, like all of us, needs genuine care and concern as we disciple them. I also learned that being a woman of God means: a) being secure in my identity in Christ, to align myself with God and His will; and also, b) being “gentle” does not mean being weak, but rather, being “gentle” is about being meek, having strength and using that strength appropriately (see 1 Peter 3:4).
Even Clay Needs To Wait Astrud Jobim Moralde, disciple with Navs Twenties-Thirties (NTT)
W
e are all just like clay that needs to be moulded, going through a process to be turned into what the Potter wants us to be. Part of the process requires us to “wait”. I am to faithfully wait on God and obey Him as He goes before me and leads me. Sometimes, I feel like the wait is endless, but it is encouraging to know He is constantly working in my life and in the lives of people I meet and pray for. I further learned that if Christ is my treasure, I need to know and experience Him personally so that I would be able to tell others naturally. Like an aroma diffused in a room to bring pleasure to others, Christ in us is to be diffused to those who have yet to know Him. I am challenged to live an authentic life as I trust the Lord for the salvation of many.
REACH GLOBAL, START LOCAL By Christopher Liu, NavConnect ministry staff In October 2017, Christopher Liu went from managing the NavMedia bookstore to ministering in the harvest field full-time. He now heads the NavConnect ministry and reaches out to international university students. His amiable nature and intentional friendship evangelism have attracted youths very receptive to the gospel.
I
saiah 55:5 ESV “Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.” Jesus built strong connections with His disciples before assigning them tasks like feeding a crowd or going out to preach in pairs. Like Christ, I first forge bonds with others and point them to the hope of Jesus. What are your convictions on lifestyle evangelism? Everyone is to cultivate such a lifestyle by developing personal encounters with Christ, then testifying of Him
NavConnect Ministry staff Christopher Liu walks the talk on lifestyle evangelism.
and His Good News to anyone and everyone (see Acts 1:8).
Why is your international?
The greatest challenge for Christians is the managing of our priorities. We are to infiltrate and permeate into the lives of people. We are to love God and our neighbours by reconciling them back to God.
The Great Commission is to make disciples of every nation. Every nation has come here. So world evangelism can now be done in rojak Singapore.
We are called into a lost world to speak to its deepest need. We make the acquaintance of unique individuals and friends instead of seeing them as targets for our outreach goals. We create an environment of trust where we can introduce people to Christ, guiding their conversations towards spiritual matters by listening to their concerns and thoughts.
ministry
Billy Graham declared in his 1978 rally that Singapore would be the Antioch of Asia. Historically, Antioch was instrumental in spreading the gospel. It was a launching platform for God’s Word into neighbouring countries (see Acts 11:19-30). As I expedite this Antioch mission, offering hospitality to international students, I encourage them to one day extend the invitation to their families as well when they return home. What do you hope to achieve? I desire our Lord’s rich blessings. I welcome your prayer support, which is indispensable to fulfilling the Great Commission. To that end, I hope to provide continued care and support for foreign students who return home, as they share God’s love with loved ones and friends.
Chris (extreme left) has fellowship with some youths over a picnic in Gardens By The Bay. (Image credit: Chris Liu)
To pray for NavConnect, you may email christopher@ navigators.org.sg today.
FROM BRAZIL TO SINGAPORE TO FIJI By Ryoo Jae Kwan, NUS ministry staff, and Jonathan Wu, labourer
Daniel Kim and Jonathan Wu are exchange students from University of São Paulo, Brazil, to National University of Singapore (NUS). Daniel arrived two years ago and Jonathan last year. Both received discipleship and mentorship from the NUS ministry and recently returned to Brazil. Jonathan shares what he learnt this past year. I attended church since young and felt that church camps were the best times to be spiritually refreshed. However, waiting for each annual camp made me weary and left me wondering if there was more to my spiritual life. I wanted to know the real God who said that Jesus dying for me was good news. While in Singapore, Daniel invited me to NUS’s fellowship. Over time, I observed that the young people had a daily and living relationship with God as their Father. With one-to-one discipling from another labourer, I learned to listen to God speak to me personally through the Word. Now, I see my daily fellowship with God as priority because it sustains me and builds my relationship with Him. God has also changed my attitude towards people. One view which has changed is my perception of the Church, in that there it is the pastor’s or leader’s job to shepherd the flock. In fact, helping other sheep grow is a responsibility for all believers, and is something God calls me to shoulder as well. Five of us were recently in Fiji for a month-long mission trip to help revive the campus ministry in the University
NUS ministry staff Ryoo Jae Kwan (left) imparts God’s vision for the world and heart for the individual to labourer Jonathan Wu, so that he’ll do the same as he returns to Brazil.
of the South Pacific. Although the country shares a similar spiritual climate with Brazil where many have already heard the gospel, many people still need to internalise the gospel so that God’s Word can effect life change. Hence, it gave me great joy to share of Christ’s love and assurance, and to see youths accept Him. As I head home to Brazil to rejoin Daniel for the remainder of our studies, I hope to continue in the same vein on disciplemaking principles I learnt in Singapore and Fiji. I aim to become more aware of the interests of others as I witness by life and lips to my classmates and family.
(L-R) Local Fiji Navstaff Ratu, Jason Teo, NUS Navstaff Ryoo Jae Kwan, Jonathan Wu, Jerrell See, Ong See Guan and Ratu’s wife Jiu. The five were in Fiji for a month-long mission trip to revive the campus ministry. (Image credit: Ratu)
www.navigators.org.sg
FROM THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR
@SingaporeNavigators The Navigators Singapore, 117 Lor K, Teluk Kurau, Singapore 425758 Tel: (65) 6344 4133 Email: admin@navigators.org.sg
Yap Kim Meng Luke 15 is a passage popularly known as The Prodigal Son. In Mandarin, the title of this passage is translated as “The lost son returns”. “Prodigal” further paints the picture of reckless and extravagant living. While there is much that we can identify with in the boy, there is a greater lesson to be learnt from The Prodigal Son’s Father. The passage opens to the grumbling and muttering of religious Jewish leaders because the riffraff were crowding around Jesus. He then grasps the opportunity and begins to teach on joy over finding the lost—no matter if it’s a lost sheep or coin or son. The Prodigal Father cares for his two sons, the one who was lost and found, as well as the near but distant older son. The Jewish leaders are like the older son, counting on merit through work and performance. Hence, they cannot grasp the love of the Father for his young disobedient son, who was accepted and restored in spite of his unacceptable acts.
The calling of The Navigators is to advance the gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of labourers living and discipling among the lost. Views expressed in published articles are those of the individual writers and may not necessarily be the views of The Navigators Singapore. All Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® Copyright © 1984, unless otherwise stated.
National Director: Yap Kim Meng Editor: Kylie Chia Writer: Ms J Printer: Seng Lee Press
The Prodigal Father is our model for fathering. If we know God the Father, we can see how unacceptable and disqualified we are. If we accept His love for us, we can experience His forgiveness. We can then extend this to our children as we forgive their shortcomings and have them personally experience the Father’s love themselves. Do we love the Father and others around us as He does?
© 2019 by The Navigators Singapore
PRAYER PULSE
National Day (9 Aug) Pray for Singapore and her spiritual revival, to see the need to bring Good News to all nations, beginning with rojak Singapore. Missions Update Bangkok, Thailand: Pray for receptive hearts to the gospel as the latest team of three ladies continue te partnership work with Nav missionaries located there in two campuses.
Image credit: Jingfei
Labourers’ Day 2019 (20 July) Pray for lay labourers to own the Navigators’ Vision and CORE Values in disciplemaking and spiritual generations. Pray also the power of the Holy Spirit to speak through key speakers and Asia Pacific-Leadership Team members Glen Morris and Pak Agung.
Sierra Leone, West Africa: Pray for the Lord’s favour as three men, including RP-NYP Navstaff Adrian Ho, head there for one, two and six months. Pray for a harvest despite impoverished conditions. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Pray for Robert Goh and Phek Tin who continue to reach out to students and young professionals from July to August.