ISSUE
14 A YOUTH MAGAZINE
CELEBRATING
JESUS, OUR PASSOVER LAMB
YOUTH!
GETTING TO KNOW OUR NEW DEACONS! GENREV-ERS GRADUATING INTO NEW BEGINNINGS THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FUTURE, DAILY BREAD, IDENTITY AND WORSHIP
WHOM THE SON SETS FREE,
IS FREE INDEED. mica (p) 122/07/2012
.
A
s we cross the middle of the year, it is impossible to things that God is doing in our ministry. For a start, newly appointed Deacons and Deaconess! We jump at the know them a little better and find out what makes them tic appointments mark a new season in the ministry — a great Lord wants to do in our lives, and in the lives of those aroun
Speaking of new seasons, we turn the spotlight on thos GenRev. We hear from a couple of GenRev graduates abou stepping into main church care groups and also the heart o church care group leaders for GenRev-ers who are stepping journey of life.
Also in this issue, some HTHT (heart to heart ‘thoughts own pen down their personal reflections on various topics, future holds and what it means to have a heart of worship. with spiritual truths, Pastor Benjamin reminds us of the awe God that is ever ready to deliver us from our circumstances comes from seeing Jesus crucified and punished for our sin set free! So get excited and get ready for your breakthroug
We also track the many life-changing experiences that the past few months. Read about how our Poly and ITE you lives of young ones on a mission trip to Chiang Rai and wer changed by the experience. For our Level One youths, DAR to be a milestone in their lives as they stepped into a new s adulthood.
We are only halfway through the year and already, we’r awesome testimonies coming from The Zone. The best par another six more months of seeing the Key of David at wor mighty way!
o miss the amazing , there’s our eight chance to get to ck. For sure, these ter work that the nd us.
[Contents]
[Credits]
#04: Getting To Know You
executive producer:
se graduating from ut their experience of some of the main g into a new
#16: Jesus, our passover lamb
s’) as four of our including what the Also girding you esome power of s — the power that ns that we might be ghs!
have taken place in uths impacted the re themselves RE To Soar proved season of young
re hearing so many rt is, we still have rk in our lives in a
Get acquainted with our newly appointed Deacons (and Deaconess)
#08: In God’s Camp
A sneak peek at the team behind The Zone’s amazing camps
#12: Leaving The Nest
When GenRev-ers graduate from The Zone into an exciting new season
God’s answer to protection, deliverance and new beginnings in our lives
#22: Praise reports
Testimonies of the Lord’s goodness in our lives
#29: Little big thoughts Bite-sized columns about larger-than-life thoughts
#34: love without boundaries
i Reen lim Editor:
Rachel Leong ART DIRECTOR:
ELizabeth lee Writers:
Andrea Tan Benjamin Chong Cherlyn Tung Darren Lim Joseph Yong Lee Jianwei Lee Weiyi Priscilla Gan Sarah Koh Shana Siow Sim Wei Xuan Designers:
Charissa Kow Jeannie Tan Ng Shi Ting priscilla Tan Sara Ho Tami Lai Stylist:
justin chua Photographers:
Caleb Leow Galdon Gan Jacqueline Chang Jayden Chiang Justin Lau Rachel David Shavonne Wong
Our Poly/ITE youths make an impact in Chiang Rai
#38: dare to soar
Level One youths take that next big step into young adulthood
#41: defying gravity
Living a life fully redeemed and utterly free in Christ
#48: The Scene@The Zone #52: Events #53: CG/DG LISTING
[COPYRIGHT STATEMENT] This is a publication of New Creation Church in Singapore, a non-profit organisation. The publication is distributed free to its members and has no subscription or newsstand price. Copyright © New Creation Church, Singapore, 2013. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission. Unless stated otherwise, all scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1982. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Getting To Know You
We help you get acquainted with our newly appointed deacons and deaconess! Get to know our new deacons personally through a Q&A. You’ve probably seen them around church, or maybe one of them has lent you a listening ear, or simply smiled at you along the corridors of our church. They are none other than 8 of our newly appointed deacons! Have you ever wanted to know more about them? Like their list of favourites, what they enjoy doing, and also some insights into their own personal walks with the Lord. They unveil some interesting facts about themselves to satiate your curiosity. [Text: Cherlyn Tung]
Deaconess Anna Cheng with husband Gerald
Deacon Samuel Quek
4
Deacon Arthur Leong with wife Rachel
Deacon Jiow Hee Jhun
5
Deacon Chen Kehan with wife Huimin
Deacon Gary Tan with wife Chin Fern and daughter Rachel
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Deacon Lewis Chan with wife Adeline and son Ethan
Deacon Louis Teng with wife Deaconess Tina, daughter Jovi and son Daniel
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IN GOD’S C
We give you a sneak peek into the department behind the plannin
Events team leaders and servers. from left: Daryl chua, jamie yun, cyrus chng, audrey lim, kevin loy, wendy lim, aaron teng, mandy mah, shawn goh, kevin Tan
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CAMP
ng of Legacy, Marked and IDU camps. [Text: Sarah Koh]
[PHOTOGRAPHY: SHAVONNE WONG]
H
ave you ever returned from a youth camp feeling so completely and utterly blessed? Ever laughed yourself silly during mass games? Had fun preparing for a camp finale night performance? Felt the tangible presence of God during a camp setting? Or gleaned much during men’s and women’s meetings at camps? These things don’t just happen on their own, without planning. Months of dedicated coordinating, planning, dry runs and love go into setting the stage for all this by The Zone’s Events department. According to department head Shawn Goh, “We are all about people — people matter. Events team is privileged to be able to plan events and camps, but these events and camps are merely platforms that God has set up for the youths in the ministry to be blessed. And the Events servers have a stake in making these events and camps happen for the ministry.”
The Events team currently has 56 servers who make up three different teams that support the three major camps that occur in a year: Legacy Camp, Marked Camp and IDU (The Zone initiation camp for those graduating into DARE from Rock Kidz).
For many of us, camps are much anticipated. It’s where we are able to give our undivided attention to the Lord, feeding on and receiving from Him. It’s where we get to spend days and nights hanging out with kingdom friends, build new relationships and 9
strengthen old ones. And for the GenRev-ers, it’s where romance might have blossomed.
busy with things like the flow of each service, mass games, and the finale night programme.
So what are some of the things that the Events department looks into and how do they do it? Shawn shares that each team is made up of a Operations team and a Programmes team. The former looks into the booking of hotels, doing recce trips to ensure that our youths get the best, rooming and check-in arrangements, and the all-important food selection. The Programmes team, on the other hand, gets
Amanda Matthew, who serves as Legacy camp’s Finale Night IC, shares that serving on the Events team is “fun and exciting”. She doesn’t deny that there are deadlines to meet, as well as late nights and early mornings to deal with. For someone who loves to sleep in, Amanda shares that she actively trusts God to let her wake up fresh. She recounts that when she first started out, she was not very operationally oriented, and she wasn’t used to planning and executing projects. However, over the years of trusting God to grow her in this area, God has
Camps are also where many of us first encountered Jesus in a real, radical way, be it during worship, while being prayed over by a leader during a ministering session, or when given a word in season by a peer. When Wendy Lim, head of Operations, was asked why she likes serving in the Events team, she replied, “It’s amazing to have a front row seat witnessing youths being impacted by God, and to be able to give back to a ministry that has impacted my life in a major way.”
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Due to the project-based nature of the department, many servers serve in cycles. Planning for any particular camp begins about 5 to 9 months before the event, with it getting understandably more intense as the camp draws nearer. After the event, servers get a few months of break until the next cycle begins again.
dropped the gifts she needed into her.
The team plans events with military precision and always have an Excel formula ready for any situation. But it is also important to note that, as in Amanda’s situation, it is a strength that servers often grow into by allowing God’s grace to work in them.
Aaron Teng, who serves in the mass games section, shares that he started out not knowing what to expect, but came with a willing heart. Through his time in Events, he’s discovered both what he is good at and enjoys doing. The entire environment is also very family-like, according to these two precious servers, that it doesn’t just feel like you’re serving with just members of your ministry, but with real family. “It’s like ministry has become care group,” says Aaron. Does everything go according to planned? Of course not. Cancellations, reshuffling of logistics, and other such last minute changes
are unavoidable, but this excellent group of men and women take it in their stride. After all, plans are good, but they should always leave room for the Holy Spirit to move — that’s what makes serving so exciting.
When asked how they handle such unforeseen circumstances, Wendy said, “It is important that we hold the events with a loose hand. It’s never seen as my event, but it is God’s event, and we are just here to go with the flow of what is best for the people.”
Agreeing, Aaron brings a fresh perspective on serving in this department, “I’ve learnt that even if I feel like I’ve completely fouled up, I’m not so great that I can make an entire event a disaster. God is so much greater and that is humbling for me.” This, perhaps, is one of the greatest blessings of serving in such a department — gaining a true understanding of just how big a God we serve!
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Leaving the Nest We look at both sides of the coin when our very own GenRev-ers graduate from The Zone into main church care groups. There comes a time when a GenRev-er graduates and steps into the main church care group ministry. As with every transition in life, it is often accompanied by a mix of excitement and uncertainty. And yet, we know that with every new season in life, the Lord always brings new blessings. Here, we find out what it’s like for those who are graduating out of GenRev as we chat with two of our own who have flown the nest — one of whom has been in a main church care group for two years now — about leaving the comfort of old alliances, and the blessings that the fellowship in adult care groups have brought. We also speak with some main church care group leaders who have welcomed their share of GenRev graduates into their fold and find out what things are like on the flip side.
“When I joined my GenRev care group in 2011, I felt alone in my financial and career difficulties; I was having problems paying for the house where my mum and I lived, and I had a difficult boss.
Esther Stella Chun
Graduated from GenRev (Apr 2013)
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My then care group leader, Gary Lim, drew me out by asking me to befriend and call up fellow members. Through this, the Lord blessed me with friends with whom I could share my challenges, and we would pray and encourage one another often. They became kingdom friends who were there at critical points in my life. They once met to help me draft out a résumé and coach me to pass my interview, knowing that I had limited academic qualifications and work experience. These same friends came and visited my grandfather when he was hospitalised. We still meet regularly in between services on Sundays even though I have now moved up from GenRev. At my last GenRev service this year, I felt a little lost and even considered if I should attend another care group meeting before transitioning up to adult care group. But it so “happened” that Pastor Benjamin happened to preach on beginning every new season with Jesus
— I felt Daddy God’s love throughout the message and I was suddenly prepared and expectant for my new season.
When I stepped into my new adult care group, I naturally felt apprehensive. I looked around and wondered if bonds of the same strength could be formed again, especially when it took me a journey to open up to people in my previous care group. I was befriended by the host who shared her testimonies with me and was kind enough to engage me even though I offered little in our conversation at the beginning. There were others who had also graduated from GenRev in this new adult care group and our care group leader Kai Jin, knowing what leaving the familiarity of the youth ministry would be like, offered to spend time with us on weekends at the Star, should we have any questions in our new season. I appreciated this gesture.
To someone who is about to graduate, I would say that a good way to start a new season would be to start it with Jesus — there will be so much peace because you know He has prepared the way. Because Jesus is there, He will provide the new friends, bonds and blessings in this new season.”
set up and that was how I became one of its pioneering members. The care group meets fortnightly as there are no services on Saturdays. However, I have been blessed to have forged kingdom friendships with the guys in my care group; a brotherhood where we can share challenges candidly, pray and hang out outside of official care group meetings.
Aaron Nick Chow
Graduated from Genrev (2008)
“When I first joined an adult care group in 2008, I felt that the age range within the care group was too big for me and I quietly prayed that one day, a care group made up of people who share similar seasons would be made available for other graduates in future. Two weeks later, a full-time staff came to tell us that a “post-GenRev” care group was recently
While most GenRev-ers are dealing with budding careers, in adult CG we see issues that arise when careers begin to stabilise. For example, some of us are beginning to take on management roles and are leading older co-workers for the first time. There is also a matter of exercising Christ-centered leadership in a secular world, where not being overbearing may be perceived as a sign of weakness. Practically, we cannot share such challenges in full with our coworkers, and it is always a blessing to be able to receive encouragement from fellow brothers, who carry a spirit of faith. Together, we have seen the Lord move when His people pray. A year ago, my previous company restructured in such
a way that it curtailed the promotion prospects of its sales executives. When my care group leader prayed with me for a new job, I felt a warm sensation come all over me. Shortly after, I was headhunted to be an account executive for an insurance company, a position that also leveraged on my prior working experience.
Perhaps the greatest blessing I received came in the form of my fiancée, Cindy. As the care group comprised primarily of young working adults, we hung out more often and that gave me opportunities to know her better. To be honest, I went to care group just to be fed with God’s Word and now, I am getting married this year! By joining a new care group, you may feel a little lost or frustrated at the beginning, especially when you cannot seem to find friends whom you are comfortable connecting with. Eventually, the Lord will provide the fellowship that you need, and also a shepherd who will help guide you through difficult journeys in your life. With the new season, there will come a fresh outpouring of His grace!”
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The Heart Behind Adult Care Group What is care group to you?
CG is a place where people from all walks of life come together for a common reason, that is to hear about Jesus and how He is applicable in all areas and seasons of our lives. Common issues discussed?
Care Group Leader: Lim Kai Jin
Care Group: East Zone
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When we go through a difficult season or situation, how do we behold Jesus such that we can keep our focus on Him while waiting for the miracle or breakthrough to manifest? E.g. when we are jobless, how do we continue focusing on the Lord when the financial lack kicks in? We keep talking about real life, real issues but also a real Jesus who is a very present help in time of need.
Your heart for the care group?
Coming together as we are and being able to open up to one another like a family. So that we can pray and grow together in the Lord and through time, see ourselves transform to become in the likeness of Christ. Word of encouragement…
The Lord knows what He’s doing with your life. Believe it! Every new season is always going to be even more exciting because Jesus is a progressive God. If you open your heart, you will realise that you don’t always only need to hang out with people your age in order to receive and be blessed. When we have Jesus in common, He is the reason for divine connections.
What do you enjoy most about CG?
The fellowship. As we go about our daily lives, we tend to gather the ‘dust’ of the world on our feet. We come together and share the Word and allow Him to wash away our cares of this world. We also pray over situations with one voice and one heart and encourage each other with the Word via SMS and the Facebook page. It’s an uplifting experience. Your heart for CG?
To grow in favour and faith through the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His perfect work on the Cross. I pray that each member will experience a great life of rest and peace, and that each one will experience good success and be an impact to the world for the glory of the Lord.
p…
Word of encouragement…
Step out in faith. God has an amazing journey for you. There is growth to be gained and new kingdom friendships to be made. Like Peter, you might not feel like going ‘fishing in the day’. But launch out into the deep nonetheless and let down your nets. God is bringing in the catch. You might not find an identical care group as your current one, but God is able and He can still bless you here.
Continue to have godly fellowship and a leader whom you can go to for counsel. Many of us, including myself, have grown and benefited from the fellowship, guidance, correction and feeding from our leaders. They are there to point us to Jesus and be accountable over us. So don’t deprive yourself of this experience. May God our Father plant you in an awesome care group!
Care Group Leader: Alvin Pang
Care Group: North Zone
Apart from official care group sessions, what does the care group do?
Care Group Leader: Chua Soo Hoon
Care Group: Central Zone
Rochor Tau Huay is our common after-CG hangout! Besides the usual food and movies, we’ve also tried trekking at the railway, Hortpark and explored museums together. Two Christmases ago, we went to a nursing home and prepared a simple skit for them, with some goodie bags giveaways. Last year, we went to a student care centre and brought a group of kids for a movie treat and blessed them with a present each. Common topics discussed?
Mostly on career, relationships, parents, life partner, or buying of property.
Your heart for care group?
That we grow in the Lord, and grow to love the Word, and see Jesus together. That we receive our own revelations from the study of the Word, and always be hungry for Jesus. Word of Encouragement…
Trust our Chief Shepherd that He takes good care of us and knows precisely where to place us best to grow together with fellow believers. Jesus will not let us down and He knows what we need. Let us take on the adventure with Him, knowing He goes with us!
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Do you know that the Lord is always with you? Isn’t it such a comforting thought? It is the Lord’s promise to us that He will never leave us nor forsake us — not in our darkest hours and not when we are faced with the heat of difficult situations. We can rest knowing that God is always with us to save, protect and deliver us. The children of Israel experienced this themselves when the Lord led them out of slavery from Egypt and into their promised land. In Exodus 13:21–22, it says that “the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from the people.”
The Lord Is Always With You In your life, God always goes before you. And when He leads you, He makes it easy for you. God knew the harsh cold of the desert night, so He came and was in the pillar of fire. God knew the sweltering heat of the desert by day and He became a pillar of cloud to shield them. It does not say that the climate was easy. It was harsh. God didn’t promise that there wouldn’t be “harsh climates” in your life, but He does say that He will shield you from it. When the children of Israel needed shelter from the heat, God provided shelter. When they needed warmth at night, God provided the heat.
And no matter what the children of Israel did, the pillars of cloud and fire were always with them. (Exodus 13:22) It didn’t matter how they behaved — whether they sinned and had fallen short. In the same way, your falling short is not going to take away God’s pillars of protection and providence from your life. Away with all this teaching that the Holy Spirit can leave you! The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Jesus Guards You From Your Enemies Exodus 14:19–20 And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night. Whenever the Bible mentions the Angel of God in the Old Testament, it is always a picture of Jesus. In Exodus 14:19, it says that the Angel of God not only went before the camp of Israel, but when the Egyptian army came up behind them, He went behind them to protect them. And as the Lord went behind the children of Israel, so did the pillar of cloud. It’s such a beautiful picture! Where the Lord is, there is a fortress and a defence. Where the Lord is, there is supply. Where the Lord is, there is healing. Whatever you need today, the Bible says in Romans 8:32, “How shall He not with [Jesus] freely give you all things?” When you have Jesus, you have everything, because these things follow Him. 19
Many of us think that when Moses stretched out his hand towards the Red Sea, that God parted the sea immediately in a dramatic way. But Exodus 14:21 says that “the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided”. God’s deliverance did not happen immediately before their eyes. Sometimes, our victory does not come immediately, but God is working behind the scenes, just as He was working behind the scenes for the children of Israel.
Even when the Egyptian army was pursuing the children of Israel as they went through the Red Sea, the Bible says that the Lord took the wheels off the Egyptians’ chariots. And finally, when the children of Israel had passed through, God caused the Red Sea to close in on the enemy and drown them. You see, God always has a rescue plan for His beloved children. You may be frightened, but God will always save and deliver you, no matter how close the enemy may seem to be.
The Secret to Israel’s Freedom
The story of how God delivered the children of Israel out of the hands of the Egyptians is such an encouraging story. But how did it all even start? At which point were the children released from enslavement from the Egyptians? Once we understand that, you will have the key that will release you from every form of slavery and bondage into a place of freedom and empowerment. So, let’s go back to where it all began.
God had a plan to free His people. He raised Moses to tell Pharaoh that if he did not let the children of Israel go, that God would send 10 plagues into the land of Egypt. But with each plague that God sent, the Bible says that Pharaoh hardened his heart even more. (Exodus 9:7) It was only the tenth and final plague that God sent — the death of the firstborn in every Egyptian household — that things turned around. Exodus 12:29–32 And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among 20
my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.” What was different about the tenth plague that caused Pharaoh to let the people go even after so many deaths? Not just that, he even asked Moses and Aaron to bless him! Well, the difference was not in the plague, but what the children of Israel did before the tenth plague. The Lord told the children of Israel to partake of the Passover.
Jesus, Our Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3–4 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. The lamb here is a picture of Jesus. This is a sacrificial lamb that Moses told the people to take for each household before the tenth plague happened. Isn’t it wonderful that it says “if the household is too small for the lamb”? Jesus’ payment at the cross for our sins is always more than enough! He was an overpayment for our sins. Exodus 12:5–8 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the house where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
It says in verse 5 that “Your lamb shall be without blemish.” It is a description of Jesus, that He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), He did no sin (1 Peter 2:22) and in Him is no sin (1 John 3:5). The children of Israel were to take the blood of the lamb and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of their houses, and then eat the flesh of the lamb that has been roasted with fire. Why roasted with fire? Because fire is a picture of judgment. The way we partake
of the Lord is to see the judgement of God on Jesus for us.
God also said that when He sees the blood on the doorposts and lintel of the house, He will pass over the houses of the children of Israel. I want you to know that in this year of the Key of David, that God will shut every door to destruction in your life because you are protected by the blood of Jesus.
Holy Communion: Remembering The Finished Work
The Passover was a shadow of things to come: Christ crucified and judged for our sins. Today, we remember the finished work by partaking of the Holy Communion. Whenever we partake of the Holy Communion, we remember that it is by Jesus’ stripes, His broken body, that we are healed. It is the blood of Jesus that has cleansed us and made us righteous apart from our works. It is all because of the work of Jesus on the cross. When you partake of the Holy Communion, you will be delivered out of enslavement into divine empowerment! I believe that when the children of Israel ate of the roasted lamb that night, some of them were fearful. But did their fear disqualify them from protection from the angel of death? No, it was the blood of the lamb that protected them. What if somebody did something wrong that night? Perhaps the children just had a quarrel. But did that stop the power of the blood on the door? No! God said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over the house.” That is our confidence today! Whatever situation you are in today, don’t look at physical circumstances, don’t put faith in your behaviour, or even other people’s testimonies. Our faith is in the blood of Jesus alone! When we see Jesus judged for us, God shuts the door of destruction and opens the door of deliverance and new beginnings. The beginning of a new life for the children of Israel began with the Passover — that is the cross of Jesus Christ.
Let every new beginning for you — the beginning of your new school life, of your career, of your future marriage — start with the cross of Jesus Christ. This is the true Passover that will deliver you and set you on the path of growth, promotion and prosperity!
PRAISE
REPORTS Alena Low, CGL of Arrow JC North A I recently graduated from SMU and I’m currently considering a Master’s program. The course I’m interested in will only commence in 2015, which is a year and a half later. I managed to find a job that was related to the program, and I was keen on the experience and exposure that comes with it. However, it was a part-time position and that meant my salary would not be sufficient to pay off my school loans. Although I tried to find another part-time job to complement, the timings didn’t work out. I remember telling the Lord at the start of the last week of school that I just wanted to rest and enjoy this week. One day during our break, my friends and I decided to pack lunch from the kopitiam across our school. It suddenly started pouring heavily and we had no choice but to take the longer underground route back for class. Enroute we passed by a café and my friends decided to grab some desserts. As I was waiting outside, I was spotted by two of my “ex-bosses” from SMU from inside the café. I had worked for them for a month plus the year before. We chatted and they asked if I had gotten a job. One of them said that he had a job on hand and told me to look for him after my class.
Later on, my ex-boss told me that the school office was looking for a graduate student to help administratively. This was for a one-year contract. I shared with him my situation and about the job I did not take up, considering the pay. After our discussion, he actually said that he could and would alter the contract for me to a 4-day workweek so that I could also take on the other part-time position that I was interested in! Praise God! What really touched my heart was when my ex-boss subsequently shared that in fact he did not have me in mind when the contract was being written, but I just happened to be outside that café that day. It was the Lord who placed me at the right place at the right time! If not for the sudden downpour and my friends’ craving for desserts, I would not have known about this job. It was Jesus’ loving hand that orchestrated this and tailor-made a job just for me. Yet this was so much better than what I imagined, because I got the best of both worlds! Just like what Pastor Prince preached at the start of this year, Jesus holds the Key of David, and the doors He opens no man can shut, and doors He shuts no man can open. All glory to Jesus!
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James Kua, Arrow JC West C I would like to share my healing testimony. I suffer from a chronic condition called scoliosis (a condition where the spine is curved in an ‘S’ shape). In the first week of April this year, there was no CG scheduled as the Zone leaders were away for Leaders’ Retreat, but our CG decided to still meet up and fellowship that Friday night. That session, we were discussing about how we can receive God’s abundant blessings because we have been made righteous through Christ. Towards the end of our fellowship, we started sharing about our physical challenges, the areas that we were trusting God for healing. Then one of my CG mates Jon suggested that we could pray for healing, and we thought, why not?
When it came to my turn, my CG mates also stood around me and everyone all started praying in tongues. Each of them declared words of faith over me, standing in faith with me that through Jesus’ ransom sacrifice on the cross, He bore my crooked spine in my place so that I would not have to bear it anymore. (It is powerful to have kingdom friends standing in faith together with you!) Then I felt a progression of healing — there was a subtle and light force pushing my right elevated shoulder down to level with my left shoulder. After I experienced that, I wanted to test it out. My CG mates also suggested that I try doing what I could never do before. I raised both hands towards the ceiling, and to my awe and shock, my hands were actually even in length! All these years prior to that night, my right hand would always be higher than the left. Next, I tested the length of my legs by sitting down and putting my legs straight. To my amazement, even my legs are even in length, and they have never been even in length all these years! It was one of the most powerful nights we all felt. All glory goes to Jesus! Amen!
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{ { Little Big Thoughts
In our quiet moments, we find ourselves thinking about a myriad of things. Some funny, some poignant, and some downright life-changing. In this series of bite-sized columns, we ask four youths to pen down some of their own musings and thoughts — thinking aloud if you will. Maybe you too will be able to identify with some of these little big thoughts.
My Future Decided [TEXT: SIM WEI XUAN]
I am at, what people would call, a crossroad in life. After two decades of education, I have finally gotten that coveted university degree. The euphoria is undeniable, and yet, it is mingled with apprehension about what I should be doing next. What job should I be doing? What are my dreams? What does my future look like? All this inevitably leads to the all-important question: what has God called me to do?
Ask me what God’s call for my life is and I have no concrete answers. We may sometimes be unsure of what our future holds — let’s face it, most of the time, we’re clueless! But the God who holds our world together has got it all worked out. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
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In the Bible, Joseph was working in Egypt (a type of the world) and the Lord was with him and he prospered (Genesis 39:2). All that is needed for me to prosper is for the Lord to be with me. Today, He is not only with me, but in me!
I love it when we sing Hillsong United’s “My Future Decided” in church. It always reminds me of God’s promise to me and helps me fix my eyes on the One who has already gone before me and has seen that it is all good. So even if I feel like I am at a crossroad, not knowing what the next step is, I am in a good place because He is holding my hand, and His promise to me is this — I have a future and a hope.
Food For Today [TEXT: SHANA SIOW]
Some people eat to live, and some people live to eat.
I definitely fall in the latter category. I never skip a meal — breakfast, lunch or dinner — and crankiness ensues if I get hungry. I don’t wake up on the wrong side of bed; I just forget to take my breakfast with me before I leave the house.
Somehow, I find this food-related crisis appallingly similar to the state of my wellbeing when I miss my spiritual food-break of the day. I am prone to getting irritable and frustrated when I don’t spend time feeding on the Word. But the worst thing I’ve found out about myself when I forget to take time out with Jesus is that I get reminded of the demands on myself, the expectations I need to meet, the shortcomings I have. This invariably leads to a mild (*ahem) panic attack and subsequent meltdown accompanied by a fair share of “Why God? Why me?? Help!!”
I’ve come to realise that I start focusing on my fears and the demands on myself when I forget to feed on the Word, simply because I lose focus of the Lord. On the contrary, there are days where I’ve been hit with a tonne of work and demands, but have gotten through it all with a smile. On these days, I realise it’s all just because I spent a little time worshipping in the morning, or listening to a part of a sermon, or reading a daily devotional. It’s not a formula, but just little ways in which I make myself conscious of the Lord in my life. All these, no matter how bite-sized in portion, remind me that Jesus is always in control of my life, and that any day with Him is always victorious! Perhaps I do eat to live after all.
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I Am My Father’s Son [TEXT: BENJAMIN CHONG]
Even though I grew up in a Christian family, I always felt that my Heavenly Father was far away on a throne beyond the galaxies, looking down on earth with eyes of judgment. The lyrics from Bette Midler’s famous song “From a Distance” really summed up how I felt about Him: “God is watching us from a distance.”
My earthly father, my dad, was the one who showed me a father’s love when I was young. As I grew up, I saw how he worked tirelessly to provide for my family, availed all his time after work to spend with us, blessed me with the latest gadgets, taught me how to cycle, tutored me in math and physics. I have been blessed with a faithful and loving father. Little did I know that this was just a glimpse of my Heavenly Father’s love towards me.
When I stepped into New Creation Church and heard the gospel of grace, I began to learn that my Heavenly Father was never far away. In fact, like my dad, He wants to be part of my life to love and bless me, even more than I know. That God was willing to give up His own beloved Son, Jesus,
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for me so that I can be the righteousness of God in Christ, adopted as His own just blew me away.
Through Pastor Prince’s message on the Benjamin Generation, I gradually understood my name (Benjamin) and what it means to be the son of His right hand, His favoured son. I began to live life conscious that I am a royal priest who has unmerited favour chasing me wherever I go. It’s not something that I can work for; it’s simply because of my identity as the Father’s favoured son. Whenever I feel discouraged, rejected, hurt or disappointed, I will close my eyes and see myself as a child sitting on God’s lap. He listens to me cry out to Him and He lovingly comforts me with His strong yet gentle hands. He looks at me with eyes that speak of an everlasting love and never fails to tell me, “Son, you are always with Me, and all that I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31) I am truly blessed to have two awesome Dads.
The Heart Of Worship [TEXT: JOSEPH YONG]
When I was asked to share on “The Heart of Worship”, I found it so refreshing and timely to pause and reflect on what worship means to me personally.
In all simplicity, I believe that the heart of worship is coming back to the very heart of God — a heart that beats passionately with neverending grace and love for you and I.
Nevertheless, I asked the Lord to show me something fresh about the heart of worship.
That is the essence and heart of worship — not only about us drawing close to Him, but knowing that His heart is longing to invade our very lives with His love and embrace.
Worship means so many things to me. It is my response to the Lord’s goodness. It is me thanking Him for who He is to me. It is surrendering and letting Him have His way in my life. It can be a time of refreshing in Daddy God’s presence, and allowing Him to minister peace to me. Songs of worship help me to pour out my innermost feelings that I sometimes may not know how to express to the Lord in words.
The very first thing that the Lord brought to my mind was how God called David “a man after His own heart” (Acts 13:22). It is a phrase that has been resounding in my heart time and again. There must have been something precious David understood that was the key to worship!
David knew the heart of God and His ways. I believe his heart beat to the rhythm of God’s very own heart. In his highs and lows, he always had a revelation of God’s mercy and lovingkindness towards him and His people.
I love how Pastor Prince always describes how the temple curtain to the Holy of Holies was torn in two. As amazing as it is that we can now have access into the very presence of God to worship Him face to face, the even more amazing truth is that Daddy God could not wait to rush out to meet with us. Grace and truth not only came, but rushed towards us in a holy collision!
Every time you come to worship the Lord, remember that Jesus, our Bridegroom, just can’t wait to pour out His love on you, His perfect bride!
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love without boundaries The Poly/ITE cluster mission trip brought home the powerful revelation that the Father’s Love transcends language barriers and physical limitations. [Text : Priscilla Gan]
In March this year, a team of 45 from the Poly/ITE cluster headed to Pai Lai Luang Village, Chiang Rai for a mission trip. With 2013 being the year of open doors, many saw this as an opportunity to step up and out into the mission field. Though this was the first trip for several youths, everyone went with one common desire — to spread the Father’s love to the local villagers. The team conducted Bible Camp for the children, did home visits and put up an evangelistic night which saw many salvations. Through Bible stories, songs and games, the children experienced a love that transcended even language barriers. Some youths share on what made them sign up for the trip while the leaders offer advice for youths who are keen to join future mission trips. 34
Why I signed up for the trip? I signed up for the poly/ITE mission trip because I want God to use me to bless the villagers in other countries and to spread the gospel. Before the trip, I was worried that no villagers would get saved and come for the camp so I prayed and told God about my expectation for the trip which was for the villagers to be saved. At first I did not believe that God will answer my prayers, however at the last day of the Bible Camp, many villagers came for the camp. It was the highest attendance so far in the mission trip and when the salvation call was given, I witnessed many villagers raised their hands and received Christ.
I decided to sign up for POLY/ITE missions because of the video playback which took place on the very last Sunday service of 2012. As I watched that playback, I felt God just dropped a desire in me to want to venture beyond my country to see God’s works. The one thing I brought home was truly experiencing God’s presence during the trip daily and how the Lord worked through us to minister to the children and villagers. This reminds me that anyone is qualified to deliver the gospel. For God calls the unqualified and perfects the call. Amen!
LOUISA WONG (NP C CG)
BESSLYN CHEW SZE HUI (REPUBLIC POLY B CG)
I signed up for the trip because the Word of God is too powerful for me to enjoy alone, it has to go out to people who needs it as much as I do. This trip was even more memorable as this is my first mission trip. Personally, the most memorable moment happened after the mission trip. 40+ people went as friends, but we came back as one family. Through the team, God provided me with a family which really showed me what true church and fellowship is all about.
EDMUND TAN (TP A CG) I signed up for mission trip because I heard from many of my friends that it was a once in a lifetime experience sort of thing. Since I’ve never been for any mission trip before, I decided to try out for this one. The mission trip has revealed a larger extent of Daddy God’s love for me. Throughout all the lessons, games and briefings, at the end the thing I enjoyed most was seeing the kids receiving Jesus. It touched me because all along, I have been a person with a hard outer shell, and seeing Jesus love the kids through me made me feel His love for me too. This mission trip was one of the greatest blessings in life, the experience and the kingdom friendships God has blessed me with.
The main reason that I signed up for this trip is because I missed the previous one and that I’ll be enlisting for army this year. The most memorable experience for me is with the kids. One thing I thought to myself from the start is that I can’t deal with kids, so I signed up to serve on the operations team. I went there with the thought that my time with the kids would be minimal. But God proved me wrong. I really enjoyed being with the kids and was so sad when we had to say goodbye to them.
DICKSON TAN (NYP A CG)
NATHANIA TIRTAPUTRA (NP A CG) 35
Preparation for this trip was just preparing my heart and preparing to receive. Mission trip is not so much giving to the people as it is receiving from the Lord.
KEITH TAN (MEDICAL DOCTOR/ ZONE VARSITY LEADER)
How did you prepare for the trip? Aside from all the planning of operations and logistics, I urge my team to spend time praying in the spirit, and diving into the Word, to prepare their heart for this great work. We spent a lot of time fellowshipping over food as well, because a team that eats together sticks
BRODERICK ELISHA SIM (IC FOR OPERATIONS/LOGISTICS TEAM)
Leading up to the trip, we prepared ourselves both as a group and individually. As a group, we had a physical workout session to prepare ourselves for the high-energy activities. But more importantly, we worshipped the Lord at all our sessions; thanking Him that it would be His mission trip, and not ours. Individually, we were encouraged to write our expectations of what we wanted to see happen in both our personal and ministry lives. As a leader, I asked the Lord to show me points of growth for my youth that I could help draw out through the trip.
JOLENE KANG (ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER)
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Any advice for youth keen to join mission trip? All it takes is a “Yes, I am willing Lord” and to step out. The grace of God will unveil Himself in ways beyond your wildest imagination and touch you with His love beyond measure.
BRIDGET KANG (TEAM LEADER)
Just go. You don’t need to have a calling to be a missionary to participate. All you need is to say, “Lord, use me.”
SNG SWEE MIN (IC FOR ADMIN TEAM)
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DARE to SOAR
Held on 18 May 2013, DARE To Soar is modeled after the Jewish Bar Mitzvah (for the boys) and Bat Mitzvah (for the girls), both of which mark a coming -of-age for a youth. It is a milestone for our Secondary One youths where they begin to experience the Lord for themselves — a spiritual awakening of sorts as they enter into young adulthood. Like the Jewish tradition, the families of the youths were also present to witness and be involved in this turning point in their child’s life. The youths were challenged to step out of their comfort zone by going through high-element stations. Most significantly, the fathers were called upon to bless their children, imparting a mantle of adulthood to them. God’s presence and anointing flowed as hands were laid and words of affirmation were spoken, and truly a deep work was done in both parents and youths.
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“We were very glad that Brandon completed the rope walk. He has always been afraid to try such activities. He told me he just let go and went for it. I thought he would be the last few to try but he achieved more than that. For the anointing session, I can sense that he felt the Lord’s love. I am just glad to have gone through the session today with Brandon — this is something I myself did not have the chance to experience.”
Edwyn Lee, father of
Brandon Lee, Elevites DG
“I was feeling anxious, scared and excited while I attempted the Postman walk. When my DGL Angeline came over, I asked her if we could pray together. My mother also encouraged me to meditate on Phillippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Shortly after, God really renewed my strength so I could complete the entire course!”
Keliza Toh, EIC DG
“DARE To Soar was a significant event as we witnessed Jenevie as she took a step of faith to overcome the physical challenge set before her, and we believed that that act will bring about a spiritual awakening for her. We felt that our Abba Father was holding our hands and knitting us together with an agape love for each other.”
Joycelyn Chieu, mother of
Jenevie Chieu, Erastus DG
“My favorite part of DARE To Soar was during the anointing session with our parents. It was a defining moment for me and I could really feel Daddy God’s presence. During the time when my parents laid hands on me and prayed, there were moments when I was so touched, I felt like crying, and I knew that God was with me. I received a pocket torchlight. It has my name engraved on it. It also has the verse from Ephesians 5:8 engraved — to know that now I am a child of light. The torchlight symbolises Jesus as my light and now I walk in the light of Jesus. My parents also said I would light up the lives of others with Jesus in me.”
Jaden Tan, Eagles DG
“Awesome! I really appreciate DARE for organising it. What’s great is God’s blessing on the event — the excellent weather and His strong presence at the event, especially during worship and the laying on of hands.”
Paul Phang, father of
Thaddeus Phang, Energeo DG
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DEFYING GRAVITY As children of God, one of our greatest privileges is to be able to live life unchained and unbound – free from condemnation; free from diseases; free from poverty; free from depression; free from the weight of the world. It is a promise of God to us. Because of the work of Jesus on the cross, we have been redeemed into complete and utter freedom in Christ!
[PHOTOGRAPHER: Jacqueline Chang] [models: eilene lee, Janie siow, joel tay, sean tan, shana siow, shawn chua]
FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE
IN CHRIST JESUS
HAS MADE ME FREE
FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. ROMANS 8:2
AND MY SOUL SHALL BE
JOYFUL IN THE LORD;
IT SHALL REJOICE IN HIS
SALVATION PSALM 35:9
HE STOOD ME UP ON
A WIDE-OPEN FIELD;
I STOOD THERE SAVED– SURPRISED TO BE
LOVED! PSALM 18:19 (MSG)
EVEN IF I SHOULD FALL,
I FALL INTO HIS PERFECT GRACE. (PROVERBS 24:16)
THEREFORE IF THE SON MAKES YOU FREE,
YOU SHALL BE FREE
INDEED. JOHN 8:36
STAND FAST THEREFORE IN THE LIBERTY
BY WHICH CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE,
AND NOT BE ENTANGLED AGAIN
WITH A YOKE OF BONDAGE. GALATIANS 5:1
SCENE @ THE ZONE
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EVENTS LISTING JUl/AUG/SEP Services
Events
DARE 7, 14, 21, 28 Jul 4, 11, 18, 25 Aug 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Sep Time: 11.30am Venue: Shine Auditorium
Varsity Orientation & Integration 6 Jul 2013
ARROW 13, 27 JUL 3, 24 Aug 14, 28 Sep Time: 2pm Venue: Shine Auditorium
Genrev Marked Camp 2013 10–14 Sep 2013
Genrev 13, 27 JUL 3, 24 Aug 14, 28 Sep Time: 5pm Venue: Shine Auditorium
Varsity Mission Trip 7–11 Jul 2013
CARE GROUP & Dare GROUP LISTING dare
Level Level Level Level
arrow
JC
1 2 3 4
(Sec (Sec (Sec (Sec
1 2 3 4
youths) please contact Deaconess Anna Cheng youths) please contact Deaconess Anna Cheng youths) please contact Deacon Jiow Hee Jhun & 5 youths) please contact Elizabeth Wei AT
South A (CJC, SOTA) South B (SAJC) West A (ACS(I), ACJC,ACS Int’l, St. Francis) West B (NUS High, JJC, PJC, MI, RV High) West C (HCJC, HC International, NJC)
Abel Khoo Abel Khoo Alena Low Joshua Ong Sherry Lum Deborah Chia Felicia Tan Esther Teo Sherrie Tay Janan Long Germaine Loo Poon Yong De
khoo.abel@gmail.com khoo.abel@gmail.com low.alena@gmail.com joshua.ongxy@gmail.com lum.sherry@gmail.com deborah.chiakn@gmail.com felicia.tanwp@gmail.com esther.teowl@gmail.com tay.sherrie@gmail.com long.janan@gmail.com loo.germaine@gmail.com poon.yongde@gmail.com
PoLY /ITE
ITE College (Central, East, West) NAFA & LASALLE NP A (FMS) NP B (Business & Accountancy, IT) & Shatec NP C (HMS, SOE, SDE, SIS) NP D (LSCT/ HS) NYP A (SEG, SHS, SCL) NYP B (SIDM, SDN, SBM, SIT) RP A (SOH, SBC, STA, SIT) RP B (SHL, SEG, SAS) SP A (SD, EEE, MAE) SP B (CLS, CASS, ABE, SMA) SP C (DMIT, SB) TP A (Biz, App Sci, Humanities, SS) & PTE TP B (Design, Interactive & Info Tech) TP C (Engineering)
Ian Han Jodie Koh Ariel Lim Benjamin Chong Janey Teo Broderick Sim Debra Ng Jonathan Ong Bridget Kang Joshua Foo Edmund Lim Evelyn Tan Elizabeth Choy Sng Swee Min Ruth Lim Melissa Lam
ian.hanwh@gmail.com koh.jodie@gmail.com arieltabitha.lim@gmail.com benjamin.chongwm@gmail.com teo.janey@gmail.com broderick.simbx@gmail.com ngdebra.peirong@gmail.com jonathan.ongweimin@gmail.com kang.bridget@gmail.com foo.joshuadaniel@gmail.com edmund.limjt@gmail.com evelyn.tanyj@gmail.com elizabeth.choyse@gmail.com sng.sweemin@gmail.com lim.ruthje@gmail.com melissa.lamjy@gmail.com
Varsity
NUS Arts (Econs, E Lit, E Lang, Euro, Geography, History) NUS Arts (Others) & SDE NUS Arts (Psychology, Social Work) NUS Business, Law NUS Engineering NUS Life Sci, Medicine, Dentistry NUS Science (Others) NUS Science (PR) & Computing NIE & NTU Science NTU Arts NTU Business NTU Engineering Private & Overseas Arts (Communications, Humanities and Law) Private & Overseas Business Private & Overseas Creative and Design Private & Overseas Science SIM (Others) SIM (RMIT) SIM (UOL) SMU (Business) SMU (Others)
Jomaine Tang
tang.jomaine@gmail.com
Raymond Chua Mervyn Khoo Jotham Teo Matthias Lim Keith Tan Caleb Chan Chadin A. Wilson Chia Dorothy Ng Danny Neo Danny Neo Kevin Kwee
chua.raymondch@gmail.com khoo.mervyn@gmail.com jotham.teo@gmail.com lim.matthias@gmail.com tan.dihaokeith@gmail.com calebchanngaihon@gmail.com chadin.anuwattanaporn@gmail.com wilsonws.chia@gmail.com dorothyng.gs@gmail.com danny.joash.neo@gmail.com danny.joash.neo@gmail.com kwee.kevinkw@gmail.com
Jared Leo Sarah Tay Jared Leo Gideon Teo Poon Hui Ting Poon Hui Ting Nick Sim Terence Lau
jared.leo@gmail.com sarahzoe.tay@gmail.com jared.leo@gmail.com teo.gideonpy@gmail.com huiting.poon@gmail.com huiting.poon@gmail.com nick.simjj@gmail.com terencedavid.lau@gmail.com
North
Bishan Street Braddell Hill Choa Chu Kang Upper Thomson Yishun Street
Harville Tan Patrick Tay Kelvin Chan Lauren Teo Jaclyn Ho
harville.tan@gmail.com patrickcl.tay@gmail.com kelvin.chanjy@gmail.com lauren.teolt@gmail.com jaclyn.hokmun@gmail.com
East
Aljunied Crescent (Blk 101) Bedok South Avenue 3 (Bedok Court) East Coast Road Still Road (Telok Kurau) Kembangan (Windy Heights) Pasir Ris Street 51 (Blk 569) Pasir Ris Drive (Riverina Walk) Roseburn Avenue Tampines Street 81 (Blk 897) Tanah Merah (Tanamera Crest)
Law Suleen Alex Tan Teo Ming Xian Winnie Gui Andy Feng John Su Louis Wang Deacon Samuel Quek Timothy Ang Raymond Aw
suleen.law@gmail.com alex.tan.jj@gmail.com teomingxian@gmail.com winnie.gui@gmail.com andy.fengjm@gmail.com su.johnsc@gmail.com louis.wangxr@gmail.com quek.samuelts@gmail.com ang.timothyrg@gmail.com raymond.aw.jw@gmail.com
West
Bukit Batok Central (Blk 627) Jurong East Avenue 1 (Blk 340) Pasir Panjang (The Peak @ Balmeg) Queenstown (Mei Ling St Blk 161) West Coast Rise (Monterey Park)
Ray Teo To Jiawei Tan Pei Ling Koh Yiwei Ruth Zheng
ray.teo@gmail.com jiawei.to@gmail.com peiling.tanpl@gmail.com kohyiwei@gmail.com ruth.zhengml@gmail.com
CENTRAL
Delta Avenue (Blk 1) Kim Seng Road (Mirage Tower) Telok Blangah (Depot Road)
Julian Yang Priscilla Yu Huang Cuijing
yang.juliantw@gmail.com priscilla.yu.my@gmail.com huang.cuijing@gmail.com
northeast
Hougang (Lor Ah Soo Blk 132) Serangoon Gardens (Braemar Drive)
Denise Ng Mark Chong
ng.denisecl@gmail.com mark.chongwp@gmail.com
East A (VJC, TPJC) East B (MJC, TJC, Dunman High) North A (AJC, IJC, YJC) North B (NYJC, RI, SRJC, SJI Int’l)
genrev
at anna.cheng@newcreation.org.sg at anna.cheng@newcreation.org.sg AT jiow.heejhun@newcreation.org.sg elizabeth.wei@newcreation.org.sg
12 (Blk 128) (Braddell View) Crescent (Blk 665) (Thomson V Two) 61 (Blk 633)
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