A n e w s letter o f The N a viga to rs S in ga po re M C I (P ) 106/03/2018
SEPTEMBER 2018
Joylnn Ng (top), Anthony Ho (bottom) and Wong Kia Yuan (right) all keep fit and healthy to glorify God. Find out how!
RUNNING WITH THE GOSPEL
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Habakkuk 2:2 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.”
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By Kylie Chia
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
In Habakkuk 2:2 and Isaiah 52:7, we read of how taking the gospel to the ends of the earth requires one who is willing to run across difficult terrain. How then can we, as God’s messengers, run well, as we head to campuses, neighbourhoods, marketplaces and mission fields to deliver His message?
Jolynn Ng (extreme right) uses sports as a means of outreach. (Image credit Jolynn)
Wong Kia Yuan (in black) develops Christ-like values in youth through sportsmanship. (Image credit Kia Yuan)
RUNNING WITH IT Sometimes, the Lord calls us to go the extra mile and run to proclaim His Word, like the herald in Habakkuk 2:2. For Jolynn Ng who leads an active lifestyle, her motivation to do so lies not only in desiring to keep fit, but more so in using it as a means of outreach. An EDGEr with The NavTeens (TNT) and assistant teacher with Geylang Methodist Secondary School’s Athletics co-curricular activity (CCA), Jolynn proclaims the message to youths through sports.
BEAUTIFUL FEET Jolynn follows in the footsteps of Wong Kia Yuan, a TNT ministry staff who entered the sports industry as a volleyball coach 29 years ago. Having played the sport leisurely and competitively since his primary school days, Kia Yuan became a coach, seeing how this complements his full-time ministry work.
“Personally, my long-term goal is to reach out to youths and see them come to Christ. My current athletics training lets me correct the players’ techniques and at the same time share the gospel by highlighting sportsmanship and linking it to Christlikeness. I see the value beyond imparting skills, that is to help them manoeuvre through life and on into eternity with an intimate relationship with God.”
“Coaching volleyball gives me a legitimate reason to be present in schools. Currently, I am coaching at St Hilda’s Secondary School, which is an Anglican school where students are more exposed to the Word. Hence, I have liberty to teach the students Christian values, whether in a group or individually.”
Kia Yuan makes the link between physical and spiritual training: “Thrice a week, players go through rigorous conditioning and run laps before they begin to play. If standards and intensity levels are not set, they won’t improve in the sport. Coaches build the foundation now so that later on, the team can focus on more advanced skills and drills. “Similarly for the Christian life, our foundation in Christ must first be strong before we can move on from spiritual milk to solid food (see 1 Peter 2:2,3, 1 Corinthians 3:2, Hebrews 5:12).” Kia Yuan incorporates physical and spiritual training into the volleyball curriculum at St. Hilda’s Secondary. (Image credit Kia Yuan)
HOW TO RACE WELL
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1 Corinthians 9:24,25 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Sports and fitness programmes can be platforms for us to connect with people, as we leverage physical activities to discuss deeper spiritual values. The upcoming Nav Olympics is a sports day for inter-campus and The NavTeens ministries, where everyone gathers to compete and do their best in captain’s ball, floorball, soccer, basketball and a 8 x 100m relay race. As teams gather for regular sports fellowship, let’s seize this opportunity to bond with team members, develop their faith and provide a safe environment for growth.
1 Begin and end with God It is important that all things, including playing a game well, is done for God’s glory and not our own. Prayers and debriefs will help players commit the activity to God and to understand the importance of having Him in the centre of their game.
3 Enjoy yourself and bond through play! Focus not on competence but on character-building. Even if you or the team don’t play well, you’d have become closer with them by trying and would have imbued lasting faith values in the process.
2 Coaches are influential on and off the field While members recover, time spent socialising or eating a meal with them opens doors for deeper conversations about life.
4 Sportsmanship and Christ-likeness Surface Christ-like values displayed or that need to be addressed during the game. Teamwork, individualistic behaviour, fears, courage, excellence, mutual encouragement, attentiveness and obedience. These are some examples of issues that may happen while playing.
HOW TO TRAIN WELL Anthony Ho is a personal fitness instructor and member of the Nav-Community Ministry. He is 70 years old and has engaged in swimming, jogging, cycling and working out in a gym since secondary school. Anthony offers some health tips as we prepare for the Nav Olympics.
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Get enough good quality sleep on a regular basis— you will feel and work so much better. According to neurologists and sleep physicians, a good sleep improves peak brain performance. Engage in either vigorous activity for at least 20 minutes thrice a week, or at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, five days a week. Warming-up for 10 minutes tones and stretches the muscles. This primes your body for the rigorous activity to come and reduces risk of injury, like cramps.
After: • • •
Cool down and stretch everything out to ease muscle tension. If it is not too late after the event, invite the team for a meal or drink to celebrate. Seize opportunities to share the gospel, pray or debrief players with Christ-like values you want to address.
Anthony Ho cares for his body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, by leading a healthy active lifestyle.
to witness the joy of those who hear the gospel for the first time! We pray that many more of us will do this often and for longer periods.
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he gospel of Jesus Christ is certainly the Good News for those who hear it for the first time. Though it took a while for this news to arrive in Singapore, it is the best news we have ever received because of the crucial role it played in transforming our nation. Today, we can testify of the grace and mercy our island has experienced. There is much to be glad for! As local campuses welcome a fresh intake of students, our labourers and staff are busy befriending them and building relationships. We are more than glad to share the Good News, as guided by the Holy Spirit. There will be those who will be hearing it for the first time, especially those from outside Singapore. In order to share this Good News abroad, we have sent labourers overseas in the past few months. How delightful
When the people in our ministries are good stewards of their spiritual life, health and wealth, it adds to our delight. Where health is concerned, our people are practising the adage, “bodily training is of some value” (see 1 Timothy 4:8). The Nav Olympics on 29 September will see people in our campus ministries engage in friendly competition. Our continuing focus on funding and raising full funding for our staff and to support ministries needs has borne good fruit over the years. We rejoice in the Lord for the financial affirmation and encouragement of friends, supporters and well-wishers. We continue to trust the Lord to provide for our every need. “[You have] made him glad with the joy of Your presence” (Psalm 21:6b). Our prayer is that this will be your experience as we journey together with the Lord in His harvest field.
TIN TOT TU NUOC NGOAI
By Christopher Liu & Abner Yee
(GOOD NEWS FROM ABROAD)
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inistry staff of Singapore Polytechnic Navigators and NavConnect, Abner Yee and Christopher Liu, partnered up to head to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam last month for a ten-day mission trip. They share their mission report.
The desire of the Vietnamese students to learn English gave a great opportunity for extended conversations with them. They were so inquisitive about our life in Singapore and actively shared about their country as well as their personal lives. This opened a door to a deeper understanding of their culture. Visiting some of their homes also gave us a glimpse into family life in Vietnam. Outings to their cultural landmarks, some of them led by the local students, were an eyeopener too!
(From left) Chris, Abner, Phek Tin and Robert enjoy local cuisine as they reach out to the locals. (Image credit Robert)
As we spent time with the youth in personal and small group meetings, we were able to build relationships and ultimately share the gospel. Those who were proactive joined us for some meals, allowing us to forge natural friendships and then to arrange for further follow-up. Two friends even made the decision to accept Christ! The outreach work had its challenges though. Our contacts were busy with university and part time work, hence some appointments had to be rescheduled while some others just did not show up. In addition, the approaching monsoon season meant unpredictable weather. In spite of rain, we experienced God’s showers of blessings because of His divine appointments with various locals. The effort made by some of the students showed how eager they were to meet with us, which allowed us the opportunity to help them meet God.
(Image credit Duong Nhân)
Finally, we are thankful to our hosts, Robert Goh and Phek Tin, who encouraged us through their testimonies, fellowship and prayers. It was inspiring to observe their faithfulness and labour in the harvest field despite their age. We would like to echo Jesus’ call to all labourers, to go and make disciples of all nations. (Image credit Arnie Chou)
FUNDING GOD’S MINISTRY By Royston Koh, Funding Coach, The Navigators Singapore
He ensured they would be provided for by giving them instructions to look for a man of peace (see Luke 10:6). In those days, the Jews were expected to take care of the “travelling rabbis.” Evidently, Jesus expected his disciples to be provided for by the people of God. Today, God’s work continues to be supported by His people in many forms, including financially. For more than 50 years, The Navigators ministries are supported by local churches, friends and alumni. Chan Ping Wah, a faithful supporter, shared: Royston Koh inspires staff to minister to donors too.
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pon reaching 30 years of age, Jesus left His vocation as a carpenter to pursue the Father’s business of initiating the Kingdom of God on earth. He began the mission of redemption. From that time on Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand” (see Matthew 4:17). Soon, Jesus recruited 12 men to be His followers. Like Jesus, these men gave up their vocations to follow Him. Often we miss the obvious. How were these 12 young men and their leader going to get by? Did Jesus have a plan to provide for His men? If so, what was it? Certainly, He did. Luke meticulously recorded the names of people who supported Jesus’ ministry. They were “Mary, called Magdalene … Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means” (see Luke 8:13). As though he did not want us to miss it, the doctor would have us know that the resurrected Jesus revealed Himself first to “Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles” (Luke 24:10). Undeniably, Jesus valued the significance of these donors’ role in His work. His partners in the gospel got to hear the wonderful news first. At the midpoint of Jesus’ ministry, the band of disciples increased to 72 men (see Luke 10:1-12). Boldly, Jesus “appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go” (Luke 10:1). He bestowed on them His authority to heal the sick and cast out demons. In addition,
“Paul says that ‘For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either’ (1 Timothy 6:7 NASB). Therefore, whatever passes through my hands during my lifetime are resources that God has given to me to manage on His behalf as a faithful steward. I am responsible to utilise the financial resources according to His direction—to ‘do good to www.navigators.org.sg all … especially to those who are of @SingaporeNavigators the household of the faith’ (Galatians 6:10 NASB).” The Navigators Singapore, 117 Just as in the days of the New Testament, the Lord expects His people today to give to the work of the Kingdom. Apostle Paul when writing to the Corinthian church said, “In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14). Whether as givers or receivers, let us advance the work of the Kingdom together for His glory!
Lor K, Teluk Kurau, Singapore 425758 Tel: (65) 6344 4133 Email: admin@navigators.org.sg 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
Writers, Contributors: Yap Kim Meng, Sophie Sim-Lawrence, Chia Kylie, Royston Koh, Scott Morton, Anthony Ho, Jolynn Ng, Wong Kia Yuan, Abner Yee, Christopher Liu
*All verse references in this article were taken from English Standard Version (ESV) 2016, unless otherwise stated.
Editor, Design & Layout: Chia Kylie
Printer: Seng Lee Press © 2018 by The Navigators Singapore