Trinitarian Magazine Issue 2/2019 by Trinity Christian Centre

Nurturing The Future Today

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it.” PROVERBS 22:6

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contents

IN THIS ISSUE

FOCUS

Are You the Church? HEARTBEAT

HEARTBEAT

Missions at a Glance

Forty Years of Expansion

Statistics for January-March 2019

Missions Report

A highlight of Trinity’s missions efforts from January-March 2019 85

The Future-Proof Church Pastors Conference 2019

Having Fun While Giving to The Nations Missions Carnival 2019

HEARTBEAT

Extravagance for The Nations

TCA College

A Life Empowered CCSS

98 110

Nurturing Champions

Updates from our children’s home

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FOCUS

Understanding community, God’s way

Connect Group Myths – Busted!

29:13

Life Conference 2019

Growing in God by growing together

PULSE

Be Connected and Be Discipled Trinity’s Connect Groups

PULSE

Easter 2019

What's the Price? DiscoveryLand Easter event

Expanding into the Heart of the City The Launch of Trinity@Orchard

The Start of Year Two Missions Convention 2019

APCCS

Becoming True Friends

Life Conference Children’s Track

LIT! 20

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IGNYTE Poly Camp 2019

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ISSUE 02/2019

A QUARTERLY NEWS MAGAZINE BY TRINITY CHRISTIAN CENTRE Advisor Lead Pastor Dominic Yeo Chief Editor Pastor Janice Chng Editors Diana Lim, Jessie Chew Editorial Team Carol Lim, Hannah Tan, Han Mei Zhen, Imelda Lie, June Teh, King Rachel, Koh Zhi Guo Daniel, Kristine Lee, Loh Dan Lin, Lye Huixian, Maryann Goh, Miranda Zhang, Nyon Yit An Contributing Writers Lead Pastor Dominic Yeo Pastor Rick Warren Rev Dr Edwin Perona Alivia Kan, Faith Lee, Jennifer Ng, Julie McDonald, Kelvin Low, Lorraine Chee, Sarah Han, Sherlyn Tan, Tan Chu Yi

ENVISION

Remove the Stones for Your Miracles

Contributing Photographers IGNYTE Photography Team Kelvin Low Renatus Photography Twenty4Frames

Accessing the miraculous and supernatural life

UP CLOSE

God, My Divine Physiotherapist

Real Life Miracles

Broken By Divorce, Restored By God Real Life Miracles

THEOLOGY FOR TODAY

When Harmless Becomes Harmful The Slippery Slope of Adultery

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Designers Hue & Ink MICA(P) 036/04/2019 Printer and License number Oxford Graphic Printers Pte Ltd L005/02/2019

For Ad Sales Enquiries Contact Jessie Chew at +65 6304 7721 or jessiechew@trinity.sg.

CR N 19 7 8 0 2 91 1H

No one puts new wine into old wineskinsâ&#x20AC;Ś New wine calls for new wineskins. Mark 2:22 (NLT)

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words from the lead pastor

NEW WI N E S K I N FOR NEW WI N E

ou and I have stepped into a new era in Trinity Christian Centre. The Kingdom of God is expanding, and He is calling each of us to arise so that we will be fruitful for Him.

that is to come (Mark 2:22). That’s why it is imperative for you and I to continue growing in our faith life.

With the divine appointments at 29:13, many experienced divine encounters as we took our Spirit and Word life to the next level (pg 24). Not only did we move from ordinary to the extraordinary, from the natural into the supernatural, and from the normal into the miraculous, we experienced a powerful God that wants to do powerful things in our lives. At Life Conference, Bishop Dag’s messages were prophetic proclamations of the new wine that is being poured into our church – a spark in our hearts to rise up, break out of barrenness, and dedicate ourselves to all that God wants to do through us (pg 34). Friends, we cannot take the faith injection of 29:13 and Life Conference for granted. God is calling our faith to operate at a higher level. We must be willing to do more than pray. We must be willing to work, to exercise faith so that faith can grow.

To carry out the divine tasks that have been assigned to us, you and I must be willing to remove the stones for our miracles (pg 44). What was dead comes back to life because we dare to declare and exercise faith in a mighty God. Trinitarians, the trumpet has been blown for us to move forward and to move forward together. With the launch of the Connect Groups, we are doing more than building small biblical communities. We are keeping the faith momentum going by coming together as one church to close the gaps, beat the heartbeat of God, and actively connect with one another (pg 70-83). If you are not yet a part of these communities of faith, I encourage you to join a Connect Group so that you and your family can experience new levels of breakthrough and blessing. As we go into the second half of the year, I am excited for all that is to come. Declare life, stay connected, and move forward in fruitfulness!

If we want God to continue pouring new wine into our lives, we must dare to become new wineskins ready to contain everything

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EASTER 2019

ONCE BROKEN, NOW MENDED. BY A L I V I A KA N A ND FAI T H LE E

BEYOND BUNNIES AND EGG HUNTING, WHAT IS EASTER TRULY ABOUT? FOR TRINITARIANS, THE HOPE OF EASTER CAME TO LIFE IN THE FORM OF COLORED WRISTBANDS, EACH ONE REPRESENTING A POWERFUL TRUTH ABOUT HUMANITY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE IN JESUS.

10 DAYS OF PRAYER This year, Trinitarians dared to declare these powerful truths by coming together in 10 Days of Prayer, boldly interceding for open hearts and powerful God-encounters. Carecells and individuals also dared to be God’s messengers by tracting and sharing the Gospel throughout the island.

BROKEN On April 18-20, 8,312 people experienced Easter through Broken, our interactive dance presentation. Some were also treated to a special pre-presentation event where they engaged with Trinitarians through food, coffee, and conversations. An atmosphere buzzing with excitement, the three lounges

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H E AR WH AT O TH E R S SAY Kenny Cheng I thank God for the opportunity to tract for Easter this year. It was very encouraging to learn from my carecell members who were passionate, enthusiastic, and prepared to connect with people they had just met. Though it was daunting at the start, I thank God for His leading and we managed to speak to a few people. One of them thanked us and shared that perhaps it was time for him to return to church. I’m glad for the opportunity to serve God and be used by Him! Nancy Lee On the Monday before Easter, I crossed paths with a domestic helper I usually see in the neighborhood. Instead of the usual “hi” and “bye,” I asked how she was doing, and she shared about a recent health episode. While eating, the Holy Spirit prompted me to go back to pray for her and invite her for Broken. Using the wristband, I shared

the Gospel with her and another woman that she was with. I thank God for His wisdom and guidance to answer their questions. When the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask them to say the sinner’s prayer, I gathered the courage to obey. Praise God that we have two more souls in God’s Kingdom! Jessica Chong We had one member on crutches because of a leg injury. Despite his situation, he wanted to come so that his children would know God’s heart about sharing the Gospel. We prayed for healing and declared that God would use him mightily during tracting. When Sunday came, we praised God that his leg was healed enough to come! We came together and went out in force to invite the community for Broken. God answered our prayers exceedingly. We gave out over 90 invites, engaged with over 100 people, and shared the Gospel at least five times.

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were filled with lively conversations and hearty-laughter. Featuring the exhilarating story of hope and life rising above brokenness, Broken was a time where oikos understood the Gospel through colors and a powerful sharing by Pastors Gary Chia and Gerald Tan on finding hope, life, and restoration in Jesus.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

“Jesus came to mend our brokenness! He was broken for you and me. His love for men remains unbroken. He’s our living hope and Savior. He has risen and conquered death. He is our victory over all!” – Pastor Gary Chia

– Psalm 147:3

While heaven is for all (gold), the sin of humanity keeps us from being with God (black). With Jesus’ death on the cross (red), the curse of sin has been broken – we are now reconciled with God (white)! By exercising faith in Jesus, we have all been made righteous before God and can experience a new life (green). Truly, what’s broken can be mended through Christ, a truth that 192 people embraced as they made decisions for Jesus through these presentations.

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“For great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.” – Psalm 86:13

EASTER SUNDAY With jubilant spirits, Trinitarians and friends rejoiced and celebrated on Easter Sunday. The congregation was deeply encouraged by the live sharing of How Hon Yew, Christopher and Dawn Thia, and Chung Chee Keong. Read their Real Life Miracles here

SEE

HON YEW

CHRISTOPHER AND DAWN

CHEE KEONG

Indeed, the empty tomb means that His power is greater than the mistakes of our past and present. Jesus’ resurrection has broken the curse of sin and death over our lives. We live with the promise that there is life, hope, strength, victory, and power in Him! We praise God that 11,919 people joined us for all our Easter events, as well as the 218 who have made decisions for Jesus! All glory to God for the opportunity to walk in the victory Jesus has won for us!

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WH A T’ S THE PRICE?

DISCOVERYLAND’S EASTER EVENT BY H A NNA H T A N

rom hitting balloons across the room, yelling out prices, and waving clappers vigorously in the air, 624 kids (including 122 first-time visitors) were fully engaged at this year’s DiscoveryLand Easter event, What’s the Price? After successfully guessing the price for things ranging from everyday household objects to a Disneyland vacation,

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the children were stumped by the final question – What’s the price of eternal life? Nine billion cookies! Ten million dollars! Nine billion trees! Our gameshow contestants gave their best guess. Yet, how can we put a price on something that is priceless? It was at this point that Pastor Melanie Tan and Sister Hannah Lee took to the stage to teach the children about the true meaning of Easter through illustrations and an explanation of our event colors. GO L D

HEAVEN IS FOR ALL

BL AC K

THE SIN THAT SEPARATES

RED WHITE GR EEN

THE BLOOD OF JESUS FOR FORGIVENESS CLEANSED THROUGH JESUS THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

The true meaning of Easter was made real to every child. TES TIMON IES F ROM OUR CH ILDREN Natania Ooi, age 11 I learned that God’s love is priceless and that His love is never-ending. I enjoyed the acting and the testimony shared by Sister Hannah. Caleb Seah, age 6 I learned that eternal life is priceless. I liked playing the games.

Ariel Tang, age 11 I finally understand how much Jesus has gone through for us. I enjoyed the game show. Jazzelle Teo, age 10 I learned how to open my heart to Jesus. I enjoyed how they helped us know more about Jesus through activities.

Our very own Pre-Teens (Stephen Liew, age 12; Jerneive Choy, age 11) dared to take the stage to share their testimonies, bringing the Word to life as they shared how God was so real in their lives. Indeed, the true meaning of Easter and the price paid by Jesus was made real to every listening child. We thank God for the 85 children who made decisions for Jesus, opening their hearts to a God who sacrificed His precious Son for them. Testimonies have been edited for clarity and length. ISSUE 2

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THE LAUNCH OF TRINITY@ORCHARD

E X PA N D I N G INTO THE HEART OF THE CITY BY T AY CH U YI

THREE HOURS BEFORE THE START OF SERVICE, ALL OF TRINITY@ORCHARD’S PASTORAL STAFF COULD BE FOUND AT HALL 10 GETTING THE VENUE READY. AS THE SERVING TEAMS STARTED STREAMING IN, PALPABLE ANTICIPATION COULD BE FELT IN THE AIR.

April 28 was the launch of Trinity@Orchard and everyone was there early to ensure that the inaugural service would be a success. When doors opened at 9:30am, the lobby was bustling with excitement. People streamed into the hall. Cameras snapped away at the photo booth. Celebration Hosts welcomed oikos in for service. Truly, God’s presence could be felt throughout the place.After a powerful time of worship and a welcome call from Pastor Dominic who was preaching in Trinity@Bangkok, Pastor Gerald Tan led

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everyone in a prayer of dedication, declaring Trinity@Orchard to be a place of salvation, encounters, miracles, and growth. Preaching from Ezekiel 47:1-14, he exalted us to rise to God’s call in the new trajectory that is Trinity@Orchard. In this new season, we must hold fast to the source, purpose, and positioning of God’s anointing. As we focus on God, He situates and empowers us to bring about transformative work. Pastor Gerald also broke the misconception that we needed a certain amount of anointing before moving as God desires. The truth is that wherever we are will be a place of life because God has called us there. All we need to do is respond to the call of service. The presence of God was strong as many made a fresh commitment to step into His anointing once again.

In this new season, we must hold fast to the source, purpose, and positioning of God’s anointing.

After service, everyone was treated to cold brew coffee, yummy tarts, and an exclusive inaugural gift – a felt iPad sleeve. With all the mingling and casual fellowship happening in the foyer, it was evident that Trinity@Orchard would become a strong community of believers. The friendly welcome, the facilitation of fellowship, and most importantly, the hosting and dwelling of God’s presence, was so evident that morning. We thank God for the 280 attendees (including seven first-time visitors), but this is only the beginning. With such a great start, there is no doubt that we will make history here at Trinity@Orchard for the glory of God!

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H E AR WH AT O TH E R S SAY Pearlina Royceton The warm and friendly reception made my oikos feel welcome, even one who was afraid of crowds! During Family Time (a time set aside for fellowship before and after service), Trinitarians were proactive in initiating conversations with my oikos. I believe that this is what broke the ice and helped them integrate better into the community. Both of them were keen to come back and consider making Trinity their home church.

His presence to fill my life, and hold back nothing from Him.

Jason Ong For a long time, I served out of obedience but I never dared ask God for an anointing in my ministry. I was afraid of the “weight” that would come with it. Pastor Gerald’s sermon challenged me on this, and reminded me to recognize that God was the One who called my carecell to be a part of Trinity@Orchard. God wants to anoint us to bring forth transformation. I am encouraged to answer this new beginning as a call from God, to allow

I chose to serve because I want to do what I can for His Kingdom. Serving is one way that I can be intentional about connecting people to Christ. I believe that He can use my section mates and me to speak to the young adults here.

As we focus on God, He situates and empowers us to bring about transformative work.

Christine Ho When the news about Trinity@Orchard was first released, I was a bit apprehensive because it was a sudden change. As I prayed, the Lord put this sense of excitement in me. Coming to this new place, I feel like there is so much to be done, and I believe greater things will be unlocked at Trinity@Orchard.

Andrew Lee I truly believe that Trinity@Orchard will be a place where God’s calling will manifest, where people will flourish in all that He is calling them to!

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9TH CONGRESS WORLD ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

MADRID / SPAIN

LA CAJA MÁGICA

Make it a

for the next March!

MAR 19-21, 2020

MORE THAN

ANOINTED SPEAKERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

MORE THAN

WORKSHOPS, PLENARY AND PANEL SESSIONS

SCAN TO REGISTER NOW: Early bird ends Oct 15, 2019!

CHOOSE FROM

SIMPLE OPTIONS AND REGISTER NOW!

SIGNUP

Main Congress attendee (all ages)

Next Gen Congress attendee (13-35yrs)

Main Congress Group of 12 (2 go free) 30 (5 go free)

NOW

SHIFTING FROM NATURAL LIVING TO SUPERNATURAL LIVING

BY IMELDA LIE & JENNIFER NG

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THE BOILING FROG ANECDOTE SAYS IF YOU SUDDENLY PUT A FROG IN HOT WATER, IT WILL JUMP RIGHT OUT. BUT IF YOU PUT A FROG IN TEPID WATER AND SLOWLY TURN ON THE HEAT, IT WILL NOT PERCEIVE THE DANGER AND BE BOILED TO DEATH.

I think it’s the same with our faith. Often, we do not realize our faith is in danger of drifting away as our lives get busier. What we need is an awakening to jolt us out of the hot water. That’s what the 29:13 Revival and Breakthrough Meetings did for many.

REVIVAL MEETINGS From March 25-29, Trinitarians gathered at the Sanctuary for the sole purpose of seeking God. With hands lifted and knees bowed during worship, many came to a place of intimacy with God and God’s presence became so tangible. It was as though our pent-up desire for God, long stifled by the distractions in our lives, were finally released. On the first night, we confessed and repented for the many hindrances that caused our love with God to cool. It was time to be enamoured with Jesus again. This posture carried on into the week as Trinitarians continued to be impacted by powerful messages over the next few nights.

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During one meeting, Pastor Gerald spoke about two kinds of apathy toward God. The first kind is obvious: those who just don’t care or bother about Him. But the second is harder to distinguish. We might see them serving and attending carecell.

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What is needed is a divine, fresh encounter. When an encounter takes place, a divine purpose takes over. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fire of God on the inside! â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lead Pastor Dominic Yeo

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But God is still in the business of touching lives and igniting spirits. Trinitarians streamed to the altar and poured out their hearts. Revival was taking place as lips began to cry out to Him, singing “Set a fire down in my soul that I can’t contain that I can’t control. I want more of You, God. I want more of You, God.” The revival meetings are just the start. God is indeed priming Trinity for more and greater breakthroughs as we enter a new season. Every day, our hearts are awakened to a new truth and a fresh experience of His power and presence.

BREAKTHROUGH MEETINGS Yet when given the option to come into God’s presence for five consecutive nights, they start negotiating with God. There’s no urgency for the Gospel or for fresh encounters with Him. Admittedly, I (Imelda) had the second kind of apathy. When I first heard about the revival meetings, my initial decision was to attend just three nights. After all, won’t a majority put me in God’s good book? Yet, the anchoring verse Jeremiah 29:13 reminds us that, “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” We will find Him when we seek with all our heart, not a majority. When God checked my heart, I decided to adjust my week to attend all five nights. The Sanctuary overflowed on Friday to welcome many who might have missed the preceding nights. As I looked into the crowd, I couldn’t help but wonder if I could have been equally touched by the Holy Spirit if I had only attended part of the meetings.

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For April and May on Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 pm, Trinitarians had very important appointments. These appointments were not work-related, nor with family or friends. They were appointments of the supernatural, taking place in Trinity@Paya Lebar’s Sanctuary. 29:13 was rooted in Jeremiah 29:13. It was a call from God for Trinitarians to draw into deeper intimacy with Him, to experience Him, to respond, and to align ourselves with His plans and purposes. Thursdays were nights where we delved into the book of John. Minds were renewed and refreshed as we heard God’s heartbeat through His Word. On Fridays, we came before Him to lay bare our hopes and dreams, our pains and struggles, our fears and anxieties, our sin and shame. In these times of encounter, there was the steadfast assurance that He would wash away whatever that does not glorify Him,

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and make us whole again. Just as God had called us, He met with us. The Sanctuary was filled with His palpable presence as His people earnestly seek Him with all their heart, praising and worshipping Him. He met us at every level, He fed us spiritual food through His Word, and He brought us through a mindset shift. We learned to look beyond the logical, laying hold of the supernatural, and having the boldness and faith to declare spiritual truths and God’s work upon our lives. He ministered to us and freed us from our wrong mindsets and denials, from our fears, challenges or struggles.

A prophetic drawing by Ying Xuan (age 10) while hearing Pastor Gary’s Thursday message

gave excuses not to take up. However, God challenged me with the revelation that it was the disciples who baptized, not Jesus.

I (Jennifer) was truly blessed at these meetings. The Thursday bible teaching set the foundation and understanding for the God encounters and breakthroughs on Fridays. I came away from the meetings with a God-perspective rather than a me-perspective.

As we are called to be leaders, we are the salt and light, impacting and influencing people around us and transforming lives. The song we sang over those two nights were so true – I have a river of life flowing out from me! More than that, we have to dig deep and be led by the Spirit – not hampered by our physical limitations or by our human perspective, thoughts, prejudices, or biases.

On the last Thursday of April when Pastor Dominic shared from John 4:2, God reminded me that we are all called to be intentional and strategic leaders – men and women who were to get involved in priestly duties. It was a role that I often

29:13 was a God-ordained plan to shift us from natural living into supernatural living so that we could hunger for and develop spiritual appetites. May our breakthroughs lead us forward into God’s plans and purposes.

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F R OM T HO S E SET ABL A Z E D.

THESE ARE SOME TESTIMONIES OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED 29:13. BE ENCOURAGED!

Ezra Lee I was upset over a situation at work, wondering what I had done wrong and whether I was good enough. During the revival meeting, God asked if all these things were worth more than Him. Though I told Him “no,” I still felt down. When Pastor Dominic exhorted us to pray, I decided not to let my situation be more powerful than my God. I prayed and spoke in tongues, refusing to let my mood and feelings overtake me. Suddenly, I felt a great upheaval from deep within me, a sense of relief that just washed over me. I knew then that God was telling me that it didn't matter what other people thought. He loved me and that was all that mattered.

God was the One that provided for me and I only needed to lean on Him ever more. I did not have to worry about the past but forge ahead proclaiming in faith that God is my Provider. Doreen Kok On the first night, I struggled during worship when one of the songs reminded me of my past hurts. I told God that I thought I had already forgiven and moved on. He didn't say anything until I chose to worship God for who He is. Then God says it was the fray of hurt! I experienced five nights of cleansing as He worked through different parts of my life, back to His sanctuary holiness. Now when I worship, it is like open heaven – so beautiful and awesome.

Brigid Pang In one bible teaching, Pastor Dominic shared about Jesus turning the woman’s focus from the natural into the supernatural. That spoke greatly to me because I am daily seeking God amid restructuring and expanding my business. To focus on God and the supernatural first, to live the incredible by tapping into the streams of living waters within. It is so exciting to

apply! Thank God for His inexhaustible supply of living waters within us. Steph Lim 29:13 has helped me have a closer walk with God, something I did not have before. The sessions caused me to desire reading the Word and praying more frequently. It changed the way I communed with God as I sought to put Him first. God has been speaking to me, helping me realize how real and intimate He is.

Chow Khiaw Sing I had read John 1 many times and knew the meaning of the words. But when Pastor Gerald had us read from John 1:1-5, I was in tears. That night, Jesus brought those words to life. All the way home, my heart was just so full of thanksgiving. I couldn’t stop thanking Jesus for that encounter, for dispelling darkness and bringing light into my life. It is so hard to explain this overwhelming feeling of gratitude for who He is to me. So great was this joy that I texted my carecell about my God encounter and encouraged them to go for 29:13!

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Thomas Chua When my wife and I were asked to go for this year’s Life Conference, we initially said “no.” Our ministry in Jalan Kukoh had just started on top of other ministry commitments and family responsibilities. It felt as though we had too many other commitments and worries. When Pastor Dominic shared from John 4, God reminded us of the detour Jesus made to minister to one person. What’s more, the point where our resources go empty is the point where we need to dig deeper. The Word so ministered to us that when the Holy Spirit prompted us to call our Section Leader to help us register, we did so without hesitation. We decided not to let our situation deter us from rising in faith to obey God and receive His blessing.

Kristen Soong This year is a challenging year where there are many changes happening for me, my carecell, carecell member's lives, and at work. 29:13 brought me to a time of refreshing spiritually in the Lord. The meetings helped me to go into the presence of God and encounter Him personally – to hold on to His promises.

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I thank God for these opportunities to pray and be realigned to His plans.

Stephen Loh A new revelation came to me during one of the 29:13 meetings – It’s not the wealth of life but the depth of life that matters the most. This spurred me to spend more time seeking God and His word in a deeper way. I started hearing His rhema word more clearly, and my everyday life became more meaningful. At the same time, I became more discerning and was able to encourage more people around me. Truly when we seek God with all our hearts, we will find Him and know His purposes for us!

Janice Lim I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea last year. According to the test results, I would stop breathing 180 times in the night. Though I went for surgery to clear my sinuses and bought a ventilator machine to help me breathe better throughout the night, my quality of life suffered. Doctors said that I would need to use the machine every day or else risk getting a stroke.

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During a 29:13 meeting, I responded to an altar call for healing. I firmly declared that I was healed and since that night, I stopped using the ventilator machine. Now, I am trying to wean off my high blood pressure medicine, so I no longer need to rely on medication daily. Thank God for the restoration of my health! Jimmy Koh I accepted Christ 10 years ago. But as the years went by, because of my parttime studies, I dropped out of carecell and became a Sunday Christian. Three years ago, I returned to a carecell. Through the community’s encouragement, I started to do my Time Alone With God and pray, but only when I was free. I was unwilling to do more for God. Somehow the spiritual disciplines felt like a routine. I had lost the intense passion and love for God when I first got saved. I had lost my first love with Jesus. In a 29:13 meeting, God placed in my heart the desire to re-kindle the first love for Him. I want to experience again that immense love, joy, and passion. So I prayed and declared that God would re-ignite the flame in me.

At the altar, God did a deep work in my heart! He filled me once again. Now there is a fresh thirst for God.

on Him in times of need for healing or provision or protection.

Now I pray with my wife, and together we encourage each other to seek more of God and for Him to dwell in our household. I have started to read His Word daily. It's no longer a routine but an enjoyment! I just want more of God!

Florence Lee During one of the 29:13 meetings as Pastor Gerald told us to reflect, God spoke to me about His light. Then Pastor Gerald sensed a need to pray for people who have family members who seemed to have darkness over them.

Mavies Holborn In mid-2018, I experienced a sharp pain in my right shoulder. The pain was so excruciating that I could not lift my arm. Having gone through a major operation in 2017, I didn’t want to be in another operation so soon.

My 19-year-old son immediately came to mind. He had fallen away from God for more than two years and was hostile whenever I tried to talk to him about God. As a single parent, my boy means a lot to me. My wish is for him to grow in the ways of the Lord.

My breakthrough came during a Thursday night teaching where I learned how God truly cares for our lives. At the altar call, I stepped out in faith for my miracle. I felt the presence of Jesus and received in faith God’s promises in my life and His healing. After the service, the sharp pain was gone! I could worship God with full mobility! To me, it's beyond just receiving the miracle but knowing God more. He loves and cares for all of us dearly far more than we can ever imagine. He hears our cries. I can totally trust and depend

When Pastor Gerald initiated the altar call, I stepped out to receive my breakthrough. I got home and found my son lying on the floor reading the Bible! Since then, he has returned to church. One day, he rang to tell me that while looking for a book in his room, he found a gift from an IGNYTE friend with 29:13 written on it. He excitedly said it must be God telling him to seek Him and He will be found! It's a miracle! I’m so grateful for the breakthrough. Truly when we seek Him with all our hearts, He will be found! Testimonies have been edited for clarity and length.

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F R OM TH E YOUNG ONE S .

29:13 WAS NOT JUST FOR THE ADULTS. READ ON TO SEE HOW OUR CHILDREN GREW IN THEIR FAITH LIFE!

Isaac Lau, age 10 29:13 brought me closer to God! A special moment was when my parents prayed for me. Elissa Goh, age 10 I learned that God is my shepherd. A memorable moment was when our teachers taught us songs! Nicholas Parh, age 10 During 29:13, I learned to sing and worship with all my heart and soul.

Jing Khai, age 12 I enjoyed the praise and worship. There was a wonderful atmosphere in service! I learned that God is at work and that He can do many great things. Joanna Chong, age 7 I liked to praise the Lord at 29:13. I remember that Jesus touched my heart too. Jesus is the shepherd of my heart. Varghese Ann Steffi, age 9 I like the games on Thursday night because they are fun and enjoyable.

Tyra Angelique, age 10 I learned that Jesus will never let us go! Arididon N. Samantha, age 9 I enjoyed playing games and worshipping. I learned that Jesus wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave me. Esther Chiang, age 7 I learned that Jesus loves us. I enjoyed the games because they were very fun. Caleb Seah, age 6 I enjoy worshipping God and learned how to honor God.

I learned that we should love and care for others.

Isaac Yow, age 9 I enjoy worshipping God. I learned that God will do miracles in my life.

Joseph Leow, age 9 I enjoyed the worship. I also learnt not to be scared.

Ma Antonia Isabelle, age 6 When we were worshiping, Jesus held my hand.

Lynette Ong, age 11 I liked the games because they were very fun. I also learned that Jesus is the bread of life!â&#x20AC;? Testimonies have been edited for clarity and length. ISSUE 2

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NEW WINESKIN, NEW WINE LIFE CONFERENCE 2019

BY J E N N I F ER N G

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THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA – DAY SESSIONS From June 6-8, 1,210 Spiritual Parents, Associate Leaders, and Leaders came together at Trinity@Paya Lebar for a time of teaching and impartation. As the church matures into the new Connect Group structure, this time of equipping helped everyone understand their role and purpose as they answer God’s call as chosen priests, to catch His heart for souls, make disciples, and raise leaders. Though there are many unknowns, every leader dared to rise up in faith to move forward into this new era of Trinity’s history. With plenary sessions by Pastor Dominic, Rev Ong Sek Leang, and Bishop Dr Dag Heward-Mills, their messages gave us insight on how to always be ready for new wine, to keep ourselves open to the workings of the Holy Spirit. To do that, we would need to be constantly washed, challenged, and anointed by the Word of God. As leaders and the foundations of this local church, each of us was being called to hold ourselves to a higher standard, so that we could effectively connect and disciple those under our care. Just as new wineskins are pliable, our lives and ministries must dare to be guided by the Holy Spirit to let go of old ways and walk in the new.

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We would need to be constantly washed, challenged, and anointed by the Word of God.

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Our lives and ministries must dare to be guided by the Holy Spirit to let go of old ways and walk in the new. The teachings and impartation culminated in a prophetic act of faith and milestone on the closing session to signify our transition into this new structure. As we saw the chain of connecting and discipling propagated from the Lead Pastor to every Spiritual Parent, this visual representation sealed in many hearts the new connect and disciple philosophy that we are now embarking together as one church. I am blessed as I step in to embrace His call as a leader. Life Conference has spurred me on to live out the call, to be intentional and purposeful in connecting and discipling, to be fruitful, and to bring souls into the Kingdom of God. I thank God that I am not alone on this journey. Indeed, our part is to exercise faith, align ourselves to God’s vision, and to partner with the Holy Spirit in all things!

THE CALL TO FRUITFULNESS – NIGHT RALLIES For two nights (June 6-7), 4,735 people came to the Sanctuary eager to hear God’s prophetic word from Guest Speaker Bishop Dr Dag Heward-Mills (including 38 first-time visitors). It was a powerful move of the Holy Spirit as Bishop Dag stirred, challenged, and revealed God’s expectations from each

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Celebrating the installation of Pastors Phebe Ngan, Esther Lee, Melvin Wong, and Lorraine Chee on Friday night

of us. Were we ready to take our faith life to the next level? On the first night, Bishop Dag shared that Christianity is about bearing fruits for Jesus (Luke 13:6-8). Just as fig trees will produce figs, and apple trees will produce apples, so Christians should produce Christians. God is looking for fruits from us, that which He has saved us for, by witnessing and leading people to Christ. We cannot give God what we think He wants. He has already told us what He likes! Souls are precious to God. Being fruitful by winning souls is what God expects from us and what pleases Him. Just as a tree which does not bear fruit will be cut down, Bishop Dag stressed of the consequences that await us when we choose to only bear leaves. Using Matthew 21:19, Jesus’ encounter with the leafy fig tree was a reminder that God doesn’t want a salad – He wants fruit!

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On the second night, Bishop Dag continued the call to evangelism using Luke 14:16-23. As servants of God, we must invite as many people as possible to God’s banquet (church), so that they can taste the goodness of the Gospel. Just as there were many excuses for not coming to the banquet, we, too, must check ourselves. Do we use these same excuses to shirk our responsibility for evangelism? To spur us on, Bishop Dag shared a story of a person who took a step of faith, answered God’s call, and travelled thousands of miles to serve and win souls. The fruits that resulted are countless souls she brought into the Kingdom of God and generations of spiritual children who carry her heart to serve God and love people. She set the foundation necessary for Trinity to have six regional centers. She is none other than Pastor Dowdy, a missionary who stayed on to become Trinity’s first Senior Pastor. Life Conference was a time where God set a spark in each of our hearts to win souls. Now, it’s time to rise up in faith and be fruitful for His glory!

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F R OM L IV E S CH ANG ED.

THESE ARE SOME TESTIMONIES OF THOSE WHOSE LIVES WERE IMPACTED AT LIFE CONFERENCE 2019! Loh Dan Lin In the days leading up to Life Conference, I prayed and asked God to open my heart, mind, eyes, and ears to receive His word. He answered my prayers and I was refreshed and reignited. I was struck by Bishop Dag’s message to be fruitful – that God will stir us up and “fertilize” us so that we have another chance to bear fruit (Luke 13:8-9). It was truly a wake-up call for me to re-align my life with Christ at the center and to have a Kingdom perspective when I allocate my time and resources every day. The call to connect and disciple was also deeply ingrained in me. I was reminded of the people God wants me to connect and disciple, as well as to serve in the workplace ministry He has called me to.

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Responding to Pastor Dominic’s message that faith is not activated through prayer but through action, I started reaching out to various people after Life Conference. I am trusting that God can and will work miracles through my mustard seed-size faith (Luke 17:6).

Matthew Seow I feel that this new era of Connect Groups would bring us to a whole new level. The concept of connecting and discipling has never been so easily understood and embraced. I’m excited to see how much Trinity can grow not just in numbers, but in our community life as fellow believers of Christ! Looking forward to what’s ahead!

Abigail Leong Life Conference really helped me to catch the heartbeat of the church. It also reminded me of the importance of being a leader for Christ. The phrase Connect to Disciple, Disciple to Connect helped me to consider ways to disciple my youths! The Night Rallies were super impactful as Bishop Dag conveyed the heart and

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sense of urgency behind evangelism. His sermon tugged at my heartstrings, reigniting the passion to reach out to the lost!

Neo You Soon In the days leading up to Life Conference, God has been speaking to me about the importance of faith and believing in God (Hebrews 11:6). Pastor Dominic’s morning devotion on faith affirmed this. I sense that God is telling me to exercise faith to see breakthroughs in the new Connect Group structure. “Perfect time” and “perfect faith” are not necessary to move ahead. I just need to take it one step at a time and activate faith! Connecting with people doesn’t come naturally to me. But I plan to intentionally connect with my members as regularly as I can, praying that they, too, will come to catch the heart of connecting and discipling.

Sarah Png I look forward to us nurturing our faith and allowing our passion for the things of God to transform us daily. When we are transformed, we will transform lives

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around us just as Jesus did. I believe that as a church, we will make an impact like never before as we follow Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; example to connect and disciple lives always and in all ways!

When we are transformed, we will transform lives around us just as Jesus did.

Lee Guang Rong One of the most beautiful moments during the night rallies was when Bishop Dag knelt before Pastor Dowdy and thanked her for serving God by coming to Singapore. It was a simple gesture that spoke volumes of his heart. It was also a strong reminder of how Trinity was a direct beneficiary of someone who took the step of serving and honoring God.

Yeong Kit Yee I sprained my ankle on the first day of Life Conference. The pain was so bad that it felt like a knife had cut into my bone. When Pastor Dominic spoke on the need to activate faith, I dared to ask for a miracle. By lunchtime, I was walking without pain! I thank God for this instant healing!

Daryl Teo As I engaged with the teaching and impartation,

I felt God calling me to the fundamentals of a strong biblical community rooted in His love, equipped, and built up until "we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). As a Spiritual Parent, I can't wait to see and be a part of what God has in store for us in this new Connect Group model!

Charis Chong With the changes happening through the Connect Groups, I am excited but feared not being prepared or equipped enough to catch up with the direction of the church. When Pastor Ong preached about how the purpose of new wineskin was about the wine (the Holy Spirit), it made me realize that everything that I was to do was for God. It removed my doubts and helped me set my heart right and priorities straight. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited to move with the church and into the new Connect Group structure! I believe the Holy Spirit will move, we will grow, and Jesus will be made known. Testimonies have been edited for clarity and length.

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BECOMING TR UE F R IEN D S

LIFE CONFERENCE CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TRACK BY J UL IE M C DO NA LD

hile parents were in the Day Conference, 143 children discovered the importance of unity and the value of extending friendship to others. Through sharing and workshops by DiscoveryLand pastors and leaders, the children were reminded of how they are forgiven by God, dearly loved by Him, and given every spiritual blessing. Because of all these things, they can give back to the people around them!

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After learning about the need to speak in truth and love, the children learned tips on how to have meaningful conversations. From smiling to asking open-ended questions, our children were given the tools they needed to confidently engage with others. Giving our time. Always telling the truth. Being godly influences. The final workshop taught the children that being a true friend is about pointing others to Jesus and His love! Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Track was so much more than learning. There were also many fun activities and games! From a trip to the Science Center to group challenges and game stations in the Summit, it was a grand time that reinforced the importance of teamwork and unity. In everything the children did, the Holy Spirit was truly moving in their midst! It was incredible to see these young children lift their hands during worship, step up to the altar call, and commit themselves to be true friends! I was truly touched to see the children seeking God wholeheartedly. I am certain that Trinity will continue to be filled with young leaders who rise up to impact generations for God!

Being a true friend is about pointing others to Jesus and His love! TES TIMON IES F ROM OUR CH ILDREN Caleb Leong, age 9 I learned to pray for other people when they are hurt. Ariel Tay, age 10 I learned not to be afraid to share Christ with others. Katriel Choo, age 11 I learned about true friendship and how to start a conversation so that we can share Christ with people. I also learned that I have every spiritual blessing. Issac Yow, age 9 I learned that we are united as a Kingdom family. I enjoyed learning together with my new friends.

Natania Ooi, age 11 I learned that I am a child of God and that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m useful. I would really like to thank the pastors who prayed for me as they really let God work through me. Tricia Chua, age 10 God has touched me through Life Conference. The last day at the altar call caused me to cry. Anna Poh, volunteer This was my first time serving and I have been very blessed by the children. From how they worship to having a heart for God, I have really learned a lot. This time has brought me back to basics.

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In order for the power of God to work in and through our lives, there are certain obstacles we need to overcome.

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REMOVE THE STONES

FOR YOUR MIRACLES BY LE AD PAS T O R D O MI N I C YE O

OUR GOD IS A GOD OF MIRACLES. THROUGH HIM, YOU AND I HAVE ACCESS TO THE MIRACULOUS AND SUPERNATURAL LIFE. BUT TO RECEIVE OUR MIRACLE, IN ORDER FOR THE POWER OF GOD TO WORK IN AND THROUGH OUR LIVES, THERE ARE CERTAIN OBSTACLES WE NEED TO OVERCOME.

By looking at the story of Lazarus in John 11:1-44, you and I can discover what it takes to remove the stones for our miracles. Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair. 1

So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” JOHN 11:1-3

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This narrative in John starts with an overview of Jesus’ relationship with the family. Lazarus’ sister Mary had demonstrated extravagant giving by washing Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume (Luke 7:36-50). Jesus and the disciples were guests in their home, witnesses of Martha’s exasperation of Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). The narrative also tells us that the family was in trouble. Lazarus was gravely ill and on his deathbed. In response, Mary and Martha sent a desperate word to Jesus. They knew He was the only one who could heal their brother.

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Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days, 7and then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” JOHN 11:6-7

Yet, when Jesus received the word, He waited two days before making His way to them. Strange, isn’t it? If someone close to us were on their deathbed, our first reaction would be to rearrange our schedule and rush to their bedside. By the time Jesus reached the town, Lazarus was more than dead. He had already been entombed for four days.

action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. As we see with Lazarus, getting an illness can debilitate us or lead to our physical demise. But as children of God, raised to be seated in the heavenly realms (John 1:12; Ephesians 2:6), you and I are subject to another set of laws – the laws of the supernatural. It is within these laws that miracles take place, instances where God deliberately overrides the laws of nature.

…Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” JOHN 11:4

As children of God, you and I are subject to another set of laws – the laws of the supernatural.

Jesus wasn’t worried. He knew that Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death (verse 4), for it was an opportunity for God’s glory to be displayed.

LIVING IN THE NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL Every person on this earth is subject to something known as the laws of nature – conditions God has put in place to govern our world. The law of gravity dictates that whatever we drop will fall to the ground. Newton’s Third Law tells us that for every

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The book of John has many instances where God supernaturally overrides the natural law, including the eventual raising of Lazarus from the dead.

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miracles of God. That’s why it’s so important for us to recognize and remove the four stones that prevent us from receiving our miracles.

TURNING WATER INTO WINE John 2:1-12 HEALING OF THE NOBLEMAN’S SON John 4:46-54

THE STONE OF DISAPPOINTMENT

HEALING OF THE MAN AT BETHESDA John 5:1-15

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 20

FEEDING OF THE 5,000 John 6:1-13 JESUS WALKING ON WATER John 6:16-21

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” JOHN 11:20-21, 32

HEALING OF THE MAN BORN BLIND John 9:1-7 Just as the Son of God was able to access the power of God, you and I are also given that right as His sons and daughters. That, in turn, means we have access to miracles. Some of us have learned to access miracles – to daily walk in the supernatural. However, many continue to resist or even deny the

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When Jesus came to Bethany, only Martha came out to meet Him. So deep was Mary’s anguish that she couldn’t bring herself to leave home. Both sisters expressed disappointment in Jesus for a number of reasons.

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A PERCEIVED DELAY 17 On His arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. JOHN 11:17-19

Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” JOHN 11:35-36 35 36

While one can argue that Jesus had to travel far to get to Mary and Martha, the fact was that Jesus was only two miles away. The average person can walk that distance in 30-40 minutes. Instead of rushing to them, Jesus seemed to take His time, so much so that Lazarus was already in the tomb for four days when He arrived.

A PERCEPTION THAT GOD ALLOWED BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN A thought that could have crossed the minds of the sisters was why God allowed Lazarus to become ill. Though Lazarus was subject to the laws of nature, though illness is part and parcel of life, God could have supernaturally stopped their brother from getting sick. But He didn’t.

In Mary and Martha’s eyes, Jesus was too late. A PERCEIVED LACK OF CARE When God doesn’t work the way we expect Him to, it’s natural to believe that He doesn’t care. For the sisters, they believed Jesus would rush to be with them, to lay hands on their brother and heal him. But He didn’t.

Just as the Son of God was able to access the power of God, you and I are also given that right as His sons and daughters.

Maybe Jesus didn’t love Lazarus. Maybe He didn’t care about the urgency of the matter. However, we know that Jesus loved Lazarus very much because verse 35, the shortest verse in the Bible, tells us that, “Jesus wept” for him.

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Maybe you struggle with those same thoughts and feelings as Mary and Martha. You’re in a tough situation and there doesn’t seem to be a way out. Despite being a good Christian, despite going to church every weekend, serving at every opportunity, fervently sharing the Gospel and regularly engaging in spiritual disciplines, bad things still happen to you. Instead of receiving healing, your health condition gets worse. Instead of doing well in a tough situation, everything that could go wrong goes wrong. Making the situation worse is seeing God at work in other people’s lives. Every weekend, the pastors share about people receiving their miracles and breakthroughs. Maybe you’ve started to question why God would answer their prayers but turn a deaf ear on yours. As a result, you’ve stopped believing for your miracle. You feel that God has let you down. It’s easier to accept that the laws of natures at work. It’s easier to believe that God doesn’t love you enough to stop bad things from

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happening. It’s easier to see the situation for what it is than to believe that things can turn around. Mary and Martha were ready to believe all these things. They had believed for a miracle of healing, sending a message to Jesus and waiting eagerly for His arrival. Whatever hopes they had of a miracle healing were dashed the moment Lazarus died. But Jesus had a reason to His delay. By ensuring that Lazarus was “deader than dead,“ his eventual resurrection would be nothing short of a miracle – an act that only God could perform. …Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” JOHN 11:4 As singer Karen Peck’s song goes, when He’s four days late, He’s still on time. Let’s move on to another stone that prevents us from receiving our miracles.

THE STONE OF LOGIC Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” He said. 38

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“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” JOHN 11:38-39 Our confession affects our destiny. While we live in a world of facts, we cannot allow facts to determine our confession.

Negative facts + lack of faith =

DESPAIR AND UNBELIEF

Negative facts + faith = COURAGE When we combine negative facts with negative confession, we get despair and unbelief. That’s what Martha was doing. She confessed that Lazarus had been dead for four days. She confessed that there would be a stench in the tomb. She confessed that if Jesus went in, He would be knocked out by the odor of Lazarus’ decomposing body. Martha not only had to roll away the stone of disappointment, she also had to roll away the stone of logic.

It’s so easy to be routinized by the laws of nature, forgetting that they can be superseded by God’s supernatural law. Indeed, Martha had forgotten that she was also living in the supernatural. As long as we stay in the logical, as long as we declare the facts of the natural world, the only reality we will experience is the natural. To experience the supernatural, to receive our miracles and build our faith life, we must combine negative facts with a faith confession. If we want to walk in the supernatural, then our confessions must be based upon our faith in a supernatural God!

THE STONE OF RESIGNATION From verse 39, we see how Martha was starting to come to terms with her brother’s death. He had been in the tomb for four days. His body was starting to decompose. Besides the stones of disappointment and logic, she also had to roll away the stone of resignation. She believed that there was no miracle left for her family. She declared the facts and could not believe for more than that. Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” JOHN 11:40

When we live in the logical, we will operate from the natural. For Martha, it was logical to believe that Lazarus’ body would have started decomposing.

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If we want to walk in the supernatural, then our confessions must be based upon our faith in a supernatural God!

I love Jesus’ response to Martha. In rebuking her unbelief, it was as though He was saying that she was hard of hearing! Earlier on in verse 23, Jesus had already told her that Lazarus would rise again. While she interpreted it as the resurrection on the last day, Jesus was preparing her for a resurrection that would happen that day, right before their eyes.

In John 10:10, Jesus declared that He came so that we might have life and life more abundantly. What does that abundant life look like? It’s about a life of the supernatural! Therefore, when Jesus called for the stone in front of Lazarus’ tomb to be removed, He was calling for every person there to break out of their routine of natural living.

What kind of unbelief do we harbor in our minds and hearts? What negative situations and challenging circumstances have we resigned ourselves to? There are too many spouses resigned to stale and loveless marriages. There are too many parents resigned to prodigal children. Too many Christians are resigned to the bondage of secret sin or negative health diagnosis. When retrenchment takes place, many are resigned to believe that they are no longer useful or employable.

THE NEED FOR FAITH Every command of God involves a faith action. It is the only way we can experience supernatural living. If we want God to intervene in our lives, it starts by hearing His voice and moving where He tells us to move.

Friends, it’s time to remove the stone of resignation. It’s time to declare life and hope into every situation, no matter how long they’ve been around or how dire they seem to be. If our God can raise people from the dead, then He surely has the power to turn our situations around!

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After ministering at a Saturday revival meeting in Barranquilla in January 2018, I happened to see a lady in the foyer with a downcast face. I approached her and while I was praying, I kept declaring that she would have life.

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When we went back a few months later, the hosting pastor told us that a miracle had taken place for the lady from the foyer. She had suffered four miscarriages, the fourth one having happened the day before the revival meeting. The doctor told her it was impossible to have a child because her womb could not hold a fetus. “So what happened to her?” I asked. “Today, you are going to meet her child!” During the Sunday service, I invited the family on stage to share their testimony. At the end of their sharing, there was not a dry eye in sight. The entire service hall was filled with tears of joy. This lady was told to accept the facts. She was told to accept the reality of the situation. She was advised to consider other means of expanding her family. The doctor had even begun helping her process papers for adoption. A miracle took place because this woman chose to roll away the stone of disappointment of four miscarriages. She chose to roll away the stones of logic and resignation that she would never have a child. In that moment of prayer, she exercised faith by daring to break out of natural living. She exercised faith by putting her hope in God and believing that He would supernaturally intervene. BELIEVING THAT LEADS TO SEEING “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” JOHN 11:40

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The glory of God is the manifestation of God. The glory of God is in the miracles that God puts on display for you. Natural law tells us that we need to see to believe. But when we do that, we limit the supernatural work of God. When we take on the attitude of the natural, when we approach God with a “show me first” attitude, the reality is that we resist or reject God’s miracles for our lives. If we believe, we will see. That’s how supernatural law works.

If we believe, we will see. That’s how supernatural law works. For the woman in Barranquilla, she believed the words of my prayer even before she could see. As a result, God blessed her with the miracle of life. Nine months later, she cradled in her arms the evidence of God’s power. Nine months later, her baby was proof that when we believe, we will surely see.

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THE NEED FOR GODLY COMMUNITY So they took away the stone. JOHN 11:41A

on Jesus through people who pray with us, share our burdens, and speak the truth in love.

The stone that covered the entrance of Lazarus’ tomb was not one that could be removed by the sisters. It would require the strength of many men to roll it away. From here, we learn about the importance of relationships. Technology has made it easy for us to live as lone wolf Christians. With apps, YouTube, and Facebook Live, we can “go to church” from the comfort of our couches. Christian websites and e-books give us instant access to godly advice. In this world of increased isolation, we must remember that God didn’t create us to walk alone. In a church as large as Trinity, it is easy to get lost in the crowd. That’s why Connect Groups are the lifeblood of the church, small gatherings of like-minded believers who regularly meet together to share life. It is in this spiritual family where we are encouraged to keep our eyes

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There are some of us who hesitant to join (or re-join) the community of faith. Perhaps we’re worried of being judged. Maybe we don’t want to be hurt or disappointed by people. Sometimes, we just don’t want to burden others with our problems. Whatever our reasons, God designed us to thrive within communities so that we can live out the full extent of our faith. When you and I don’t have the strength to roll away the stones in our lives, I thank God that Connect Groups are the place where we can find stone-rollers: people who dare to journey with us through the storms of life and to encourage us to move forward and experience breakthroughs. THE POWER OF EXPECTANCY Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.“ JOHN 11:41B

Jesus’ prayer holds important lessons for us regarding prayer language. Look at the tenses He uses when praying. “You have heard Me.” It shows us of a miracle that God had already performed, even before Jesus uttered these words! Jesus and God had already conspired to bring Lazarus back from the dead. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have already worked together so that you can receive your miracle. How many of us believe that?

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DARE TO DECLARE!

In Jeremiah 29:11, God’s declaration is this: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” JOHN 11:43

The plans are already there. Heaven and earth have already collaborated for a blessing to take place in our lives.

After rolling away the stone, Jesus called for Lazarus out by name. By doing that, Jesus demonstrated a specific answer to a specific prayer, as well as the necessity of speaking life into a place of death.

However, heaven is waiting for the trigger of our faith action. God is waiting for us to exercise faith before He exercises His power. LIVING PROOF ”I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me.” JOHN 11:42

Remember what He declared back in verse 4? Even before making His way to Bethany, Jesus had already declared that Lazarus’ sickness “would not end in death.” When we read verse 43, we need to read it with the conviction of a Pentecostal preacher. We need to declare knowing and believing that God will bring life into our situations.

God wants to release miracles into your life because He loves you. God also wants to release miracles into your life because He wants you and I to become His witnesses – to have a story to tell.

The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Friends, do not be ashamed of the Gospel. Do not be ashamed of the God who has the power to transform lives and shape destinies.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” JOHN 11:44

When you have dinner with family members or meet a friend for coffee, dare to share about how God has been good to you in good times and bad. You never know what your faith story can do to build up their trust in God.

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Some of us go about life in the same way, living each day like the walking dead. We are alive in Jesus but not transformed into Christlikeness. We are alive in Christ, but we are bound by sin. That’s why Jesus had Lazarus’ grave clothes removed. Lazarus needed to be liberated from the signs of death! As the redeemed of Christ, we must live like the redeemed. But many times, pride or shame prevent us from getting rid of our grave clothes. Instead of seeking help, we try to cover up or hide our sins because we think we can overcome them on our own. Notice who Jesus commanded to remove Lazarus’ clothes – the people around him. Once again, we see the importance of godly relationships. Just as Lazarus needed help to get out of his grave clothes, you and I need the help from the community of faith to be freed from the bondage in our lives.

As the redeemed of Christ, we must live like the redeemed. Are you ready for your miracle? If you are, then get ready to remove the stones of your life. It’s time to tell disappointment, logic, resignation, and natural law to make way for the supernatural move of God. Dare to declare life into dead marriages, life into dead finances, life into dead emotions and dead dreams. Declare life into your business and career. If you’re sick, declare life from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. It’s time for you to declare life, move in faith, and get ready to see God move!

When we dare to be vulnerable, when we dare to be accountable to mature Christians like Spiritual Parents or Leaders, their encouragement gives us the strength we need to break sin’s hold over our lives. (Discover the importance of the biblical community by reading our Focus section on pg 70-83).

Pastor Dominic Yeo is the Lead Pastor of Trinity Christian Centre. Follow him on social media at @PDomYeo Hear this message and others at www.trinity.sg (Watch > Sermons) or on the Trinity app.

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REAL LIFE MIRACLES

GOD, MY DIVINE PHYSIOTHERAPIST BY LY E H UI X I A N

FOR TWO YEARS, ELAINE ONG SUFFERED FROM A MYSTERIOUS AILMENT THAT ZAPPED HER UPPER BODY STRENGTH. AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH A RARE CONDITION, SHE EMBARKED ON A GRUELING PHYSICAL REGIMEN THAT FORCED HER TO STOP WORKING AND SERVING. PUTTING HER TRUST IN GOD, SHE PERSEVERED UNTIL SHE RECEIVED HER HEALING.

n late 2015, I started to experience weakness in my upper arms. Over time, it deteriorated so much that household chores became increasingly difficult. Doing simple things such as putting a pot of water to boil, carrying groceries, or even hanging laundry was slow and took so much effort. The weakness gradually evolved to numbness on both sides of my face and periodic breathlessness. I was hospitalized several times because of suspected heart attack or stroke.

the same â&#x20AC;&#x201C; inconclusive. My heart, brain, spine, and chest were functioning well. The frustration of my worsening condition was compounded by its mystery. Treatment was impossible because no one knew what we were dealing with. While I tried to be thankful that the symptoms were not life-threatening, I got increasingly frustrated with the loss of independence. With little to no improvement in my condition, I could only resign myself, in disappointment, to accept this new normal.

For the next 18 months, I went from specialist to specialist trying to get a diagnosis. Despite a myriad of visits, scans, and tests, the results were always

A DIAGNOSIS, AT LAST

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In August 2017, I was finally diagnosed with bilateral neurogenic thoracic outlet

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syndrome (TOS). It is a condition caused by the narrowing of the cavity between the collarbone and the first rib. This can cause compression to the blood vessels, major artery, and major vein running through that narrowed cavity. An MRI confirmed that the blood flow through the thoracic outlet was constricted to 50 percent in both upper limbs. A disorder affecting less than one percent of the population, bilateral TOS was even rarer. My vascular specialist gave two options for treatment: surgery to remove the first rib or daily, intensive, and painful physiotherapy. The first option was going into what the specialist called “tiger territory.” Among other risks and complications, there was a very real possibility the surgery would kink a nerve, leading to a loss of sensation in my fingers and arms. My condition was so rare that the vascular specialist only performed this kind of procedure once every 1-2 years. Surgery was the option of a last resort, something that should be considered if intensive physical therapy didn’t alleviate the condition.

under the care of a team who did all that they could to avoid surgery. One of them, Gigi, is a Trinitarian.

PHYSICAL THERAPY BEGINS With that, I immediately started a four-month physical therapy regimen. The commitment was high and there were no rest days. When I wasn’t doing physiotherapy, I strengthened my muscles through intensive Pilates. I am thankful that God placed me

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I prayed for God’s divine intervention. I know so well that God was Jehovah Rapha – “the God who heals.”

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The sessions were painful and grueling. As they pulled and stretched and jabbed into my body, it felt like I was constantly being stabbed by knives. My muscles screamed in agony.

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Making cards with the carecell for Pastors Appreciation Month

Each session felt like an eternity as I was pushed daily to my physical and mental limit. The only thing I could do after each session was crawl into bed and sleep for hours. Then came the point when I could not manage therapy, work, and ministry. The mental and physical fatigue was taking a huge toll on my physical and mental well-being. I had to be put on hospitalization leave for almost two months so that I could get enough rest after each session. I struggled to continue leading my carecell. Though I wanted to continue serving, it felt as though I had nothing left to give my members. Seeing my exhaustion, both my pastor and Section Leader encouraged me to step down for a season. I am grateful that my Core Group agreed to step up so that I could focus on getting better. All this time, I prayed for God’s divine intervention. Years ago, He healed me of a nerve problem. I know so well that God was Jehovah Rapha – “the God who heals.” I only needed a touch from heaven to be spared from the endless cycle of therapy and rehabilitation. Yet after six weeks of daily

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While at my lowest, I am grateful that many Trinitarians encouraged me to keep pressing in for my breakthrough. sessions, the principal physiotherapist noted that progress was very slow. Deep down, my disappointment grew. Surgery seemed inescapable. I felt completely incapacitated and utterly useless, frustrated that all of my efforts in recovery were going nowhere. It was heartbreaking to see how the condition was affecting my family life. My therapist had warned me not to do anything that required me to elevate my arms. I no longer had the strength to hold my beloved then-year-old niece and almost-three-year-old nephew. I was even asked to discontinue swimming, an activity I enjoyed. I had to stop serving Communion because the trays were too heavy. I was even struggling to raise my arms in worship during weekend services. Not wanting to worry my elderly parents, I did not dare to tell my immediate family the full extent of my condition.

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I knew that if God wanted to heal me, He could and He could do it in an instant. All I needed was one touch from heaven to be spared from the agony of rehabilitation. Maybe this time He wanted me to live with this “thorn” like the one He gave Paul. Reluctantly, I started to accept the reality in front of me. I was dejected at the possibility that this would be my new normal. I probably needed to go for surgery – an endeavor that was expensive, full of risk, and offered no guarantee for a complete recovery. While at my lowest, I am grateful that many Trinitarians encouraged me to keep pressing in for my breakthrough. They prayed for me, sent me words of encouragement, and did what they could to accommodate my condition.

DIVINE THERAPY

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With Chevonne and Declan

In September 2017, I shared about my condition with one of the pastors. She sensed a spiritual element to what I was going through and referred me to the Divine Exchange and Wholeness (DEW) ministry. A month later, I began attending DEW every Monday in conjunction with my physical therapy sessions.

A pair of gentle hands started to stretch and twist the left side of my body painlessly. When she woke me up, I felt groggy and out of sorts. It was as if I had come out of anesthetic. According to her, she spent the last hour praying and watching my body contort in all sorts of directions. My arms were rotating up and down, side to side. She kept her distance, watching God’s divine work upon my body.

Though I was very tired and weak, I pressed on. A breakthrough finally came in late February 2018 in a session where my DEW counselor asked me to lie down. As soon as she started praying for me, I fell into a very deep sleep.

My left shoulder and arm felt lighter and less stiff. Two days later, Gigi was surprised by what she saw. God was very good to her: He had taken away 50 percent of her work! All she had to do was focus on my right side.

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With Pastor Ong Bee Leng at Maundy Thursday service

God showed me that it is by His stripes that I have been healed in time to serve Him – a poignant demonstration of Jesus’ Easter victory! I continued to press on, trusting in God for complete healing. At the following month’s DEW session, I fell into another deep sleep where the gentle hands of God stretched and twisted the right side of my body. Again, my DEW counselor spent the hour praying and watching my body and arms twisting and turning on its own. When I was awoken, I felt a marked difference in my right shoulder and arm. Through God’s divine physiotherapy sessions, my TOS had been healed!

PAIN RETURNS The joy was short-lived when I started to experience immense spinal pain a few days later. I had to see the therapists three times in three days just to get a bit of relief. Why did the pain return? What happened to my divine healing? Did God really heal me? Though puzzled and disappointed by the quick turn of events, I refused to be defeated. I had to keep claiming God’s complete healing. I reached out to my pastors, leaders,

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and members for prayer and encouragement. I needed all the support I could get to keep my focus on God. I started thinking about the pain and realized that was on my lower back and neck – places not related to my TOS condition. When I shared this with Gigi, she confirmed my suspicion and encouraged me to claim 1 John 4:4: “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.” I began to declare this verse over my situation. After a few more physiotherapy sessions, that spinal pain was finally gone.

GOD’S PERFECT HEALING, GOD’S PERFECT TIMING Looking back, I saw God’s perfect timing. He healed my shoulders, upper limbs, and spine in time for me to serve on Maundy Thursday. For the first time in months, I handled the communion trays without feeling weakness or pain. During worship, I could effortlessly lift my arms to the heavens. God showed me that it is by His stripes that I have been healed in time to serve Him – a poignant

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demonstration of Jesus’ Easter victory! I scaled back on physical therapy until they said I no longer needed them. In October 2018, I visited my vascular specialist for a follow-up consultation. As he performed an elevated arm stress test, a big smile crossed his face. He was so excited when he could feel pulses from both sides of my arms! The vascular specialist immediately knew that my TOS was gone. He told me that I did not need any MRI, follow-up consultations, treatments, or surgery. I was overjoyed. Indeed when God intervenes, His healing is complete!

The miracles of God require our participation through obedience, faith, and trust that He will release His divine healing and intervention in His perfect time.

During one of the 29:13 meetings, Pastor Melvin Lim shared that God’s delay doesn’t mean His denial. The miracles of God require our participation through obedience, faith, and trust that He will release His divine healing and intervention in His perfect time. I just needed to wait for His timing so that my story can be shared for His glory! I thank God and praise Him for His touch upon my body and life!

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REAL LIFE MIRACLES

BROKEN BY DIVORCE, RESTORED BY GOD BY J E S SI E C H E W

GROWING UP IN A SINGLE-PARENT HOME LEFT DELIA NG DISILLUSIONED ABOUT FAMILY, CYNICAL TOWARDS PEOPLE, AND UNABLE TO CONNECT WITH GOD. IT WOULD TAKE A SERIES OF DIVINE APPOINTMENTS TO BRING HER OUT OF ANGER AND INTO THE ABUNDANT LIFE.

A DESIRE UNFULFILLED, A MINDSET FORMED

s a toddler, I don’t have any memories of my biological father. When I was a few months old, my parents separated and eventually divorced. For me, family was my mother, my two older brothers, and I. It was only in kindergarten that I started to see that my family was different. Teachers would talk about the family unit. Classmates would come to school with mommy and daddy. In those days, divorce was never talked about in public. Deep down, I desired a father figure. I observed how children would interact with their dads and wondered what it would be like to have one. At the same time, I started to believe that I didn’t need a father. I started to believe that I didn’t need anyone.

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That mindset was reinforced at six years old when my brothers decided to live with my biological father. Their decision devastated me. Was I so insignificant, so unlovable that they had to abandon me? I believed that I couldn’t trust or depend on anyone. By letting people get close, it allowed them to hurt me. To protect myself from the pain, I started to close myself off. In early primary, I became independent and very wary of people, especially adults and people of authority. I constantly questioned their intentions, believing that they had a hidden agenda. Interactions with friends were from a distance because I didn’t know (or want) to connect with others. Though I knew that my mother was the only person I could rely on, she was not the affectionate type and couldn’t give me the

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Deep down, I desired a father figure and wondered what it would be like to have one. emotional support that I needed. She worked two jobs to put a roof over my head and food on the table. Yet, I craved a relationship that was beyond functional. I longed to receive words of affirmation from her, to hear that she was proud of me or approved of what I was doing. Because of this, I became very competitive. I believed that I needed to excel and make something of my life to make her proud. Moreover, I felt that I needed to prove that my life mattered. Since my family fell apart after I was born, I believed that I was a curse to them, unplanned and unwanted.

Even though I didn’t experience God’s love through my family, I am grateful that I was still able to experience the love of God through His people. My Sunday school teachers were friendly and warm. It was their care and concern that drew me to church every weekend.

GLIMPSES OF GOD

My mother’s bible study friends were also integral in my growing-up years. During primary school, they would take turns to care for me whenever my mother needed to work late or when she had night classes.

Growing up in a Christian household, the notion of God was not something foreign to me. But I couldn’t relate to God as good, loving, or caring. When we sang “There is None Like You,” I couldn’t believe

As I observed how these families interacted with one other, I believe that it was God’s way of showing me what relationships between husband and wife, parent and child, and between siblings should look like.

Perhaps God made a mistake when He created me.

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that “suffering children were safe in [His] arms” since I didn’t feel safe or secure in my own home. Even at a young age, I knew that the character of God was something that should be modeled in my home.

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There was a warmth and stability that I enjoyed very much, times that gave me something to look up to and aspire towards.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH MY HEAVENLY FATHER

Over the years, I had allowed myself to grow numb, cold, and aloof. In that moment of surrender, God started to do a deep work. I saw God reaching into my heart and pulling out a rock. Immediately, there was a lightness and joy that I had never felt before.

Despite the hope the Christian community gave me about family, my heart and thoughts remained bitter and angry. I was angry for always getting the shorter end of the stick. I was angry that people didn’t love me enough to stay in my life. I was angry at how unfair God seemed to be. If God loves us all the same, then why was my life like this? At 15, my friend invited me to church and I agreed to go, even though I had stopped going to church since the start of secondary school. I believed that my relationship with God was conditional. If I did good things, then God would bless me. But I had not been a “good Christian.” I had stolen and lied and did all sorts of bad things. I didn’t believe that God would take me back.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” EZEKIEL 36:26 In that moment of divine exchange, I experienced the power and grace of God. Despite everything I had done, God’s love still reached out to me. Despite walking away from Him so many times, God still pursued me and supernaturally healed my heart. He had given me a chance to experience freedom and a new life. Though my circumstances did not change, I was no longer weighed down by my hurt and pain. With my new freedom, I had finally found the strength and grace needed to forgive my biological father right there and then.

Perhaps I deserved to be angry for the rest of my life.

GIVING MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER ANOTHER CHANCE

But on that day, I stepped forward for the altar call. I was angry at my circumstances, and I finally reached a point where I was tired of being angry. In spite of my small faith, I was ready to give God another chance. If pleasing Him and getting His forgiveness meant forgiving others, then I would try to obey. God, teach me to forgive, I prayed, I don’t want to be angry anymore.

God’s timing was perfect. In that same year, my second brother suggested a meeting with my biological father. He would be migrating the family to Australia and my brother encouraged me to try building a relationship before it was too late.

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I was ready to move forward. I earnestly wanted to know who he was.

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The date and time were set. I felt nervous and didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that I wouldn’t be angry. I was determined to leave the past in the past. When I got to the restaurant, he presented me with a bouquet. After ordering food and drinks we sat in silence until he broke the ice, apologizing for what he had done. Though he acknowledged that the apology didn’t change what happened, he still wanted the chance to be my father, if I would give it to him. We continued to meet every month to get to know one another. Eventually, he brought me to his home to meet his wife and my half-siblings. At first, I wasn’t sure how to interact with them. But when I saw how my brothers were interacting with the family, I started to get an idea of how to move forward as a family.

Though I was okay with the state of my relationship with God, God wanted much, much more. One day, I was compelled to read the passage beforehand: Philippians 3:7-12. I was particularly struck by verse 10. “I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.” PHILIPPIANS 3:10 The moment of truth had come.

While the relationship with my biological father was being repaired, it would take a few more years to reconcile with my Heavenly Father.

God knows me, but I did not know Him. I had not experienced the power of Jesus’ resurrection – a power that could bring life to something once dead.

THE TURNING POINT Despite godly influences and divine encounters, I still struggled with yo-yo faith for many years, depending on the faith of my friends to keep me going. If they went to church, I would go to church. But if they didn’t, then I wouldn’t bother. Though I professed to be a Christian, there was no real relationship between God and me.

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That continued all the way into university when I went overseas for an internship with a Christian organization. There, everyone had to be a part of staff devotion. Instead of treating it as a way to grow in my relationship with God, I treated it as a task, a box that I needed to check off every week.

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Besides being prideful, I was also competitive and ambitious. Yet, every accolade I achieved had left me empty and unsatisfied. It was then that God revealed that true satisfaction could only be found in Him and Him alone. For many years, I had been selective about the things I was willing to surrender to God. At that moment, He challenged me to let go of everything so that I could be fully aligned to Him.

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God healed my heart and gave me a chance to experience freedom and a new life. “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” MATTHEW 16:26 With that experience, I gained the conviction needed to live for God fully and completely. Once I was back in Singapore, I started attending Trinity. I had seen how much my brothers matured in church and I wanted to experience that same growth. I also started attending carecell, went to classes, and engaged in spiritual disciplines. I was committed to being discipled and grow in authentic faith. As I devoted more time to praying and reading His Word, I became more in tune with His voice and with the leading of the Holy Spirit. It was no longer I who lived, but Christ who lived in me (Galatians 2:20). One of the truths that grounded me through this journey of alignment was Proverbs 3:12 (“For the Lord corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights” – NLT). Growing up, I associated discipline and correction with harshness, accusation, and anger. But that verse changed my mindset, helping me to receive God’s loving and gentle heart towards me. ISSUE 2

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LIVING A BEAUTIFUL LIFE Today, I’m living a life I never thought was possible. I work at a Christian non-profit organization, am married to a wonderful man, and have a bubbly one-year-old girl. Our family is getting ready for expansion as we will be welcoming a baby boy in September.

In this journey of reconciliation, I saw how the ultimate reconciliation was between Daddy God and me. Like the father with the prodigal son, His thoughts were always for me. When I was ready to come back, He ran to me with open arms ready to embrace me. I live each day knowing that I am His beloved daughter and that I can depend on Him for all things and in all circumstances.

As God worked in each of my family member’s lives, He made it possible for us to be reconciled. Recently, I came back from holidays with my mother and brothers. I also make it a point to meet my biological father for dinner and to celebrate milestones. Indeed, God is a God of our entire household.

People make mistakes, but God doesn’t. He destined me to be born, and I have a purpose in Him. Though my parents made mistakes, I have learned that I could rise above them, secure in the truth that God loves me and is always with me.

God redeemed my past for His purpose. He was relentless in demonstrating unconditional love and undeserved grace to me. He restored my identity and helped me see His perfect design for marriage, parenthood, and the family.

In the ashes, God has given me a crown of beauty. In my despair, God has given me songs of praise. Truly, it is through Him that I have all that I need to continue living a joy-filled and purpose-driven life.

Delia is currently working at Focus on the Family Singapore, where she helps young people build stronger ties with their families.

Read about it here

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Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission. ISSUE 2

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AR E YOU THE CHURCH?

BY K E VI N K W A N G AN D D I AN A L I M

focus

church \'ch rch\ e

Definition: 1. A church is a building in which Christians worship. 2. A church is one of the groups of people within the Christian religion that have their own beliefs, clergy, and forms of worship.

t's Sunday morning. People are streaming through the doors of a building located in one of the hipper postal codes in London. Those who are already there are hyped up, ready to dance and sing to the music while waiting to be fed by inspiring, illuminating speakers. You might think I'm writing about a passionate church in England with a vibrant, enthusiastic congregation. You would be wrong. What was illustrated is a fast-growing atheist church with grand plans of instituting "god-free" communities around the world. According to an article by The Daily Beast,1 Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans founded the Sunday Assembly â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they described it as an atheist church â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the first service was held earlier this January. Since then, besides the first branch founded in London and services held in a deconsecrated church in the metropolitan city, other branches have mushroomed in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Australasia. "The idea is simple: [Sunday Assembly] has all of the community spirit, engagement,

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and inspiration of a church without any of the religious aspects. Each service has at least one guest speaker, from economists to poets, a moment of reflection and, above all, repeated entreaties to get to know the rest of the people there," the article stated. Sounds uncanny? It should. The story of Sunday Assembly and its rising popularity should provoke us Christians, both new or old, to seriously consider two things: what is church, and what is church to us? The reason why Sunday Assembly is reportedly attracting so many people is that human beings have an innate need to be part of a community. So if you prescribe to the idea that church is simply a place where Christians come to worship, you would be meeting that need. But is church just a convenient location to socialize? Or is there more to consider when we talk about community in the context of how God envisioned it? Let's take a deeper look.

1 https://www.thedailybeast.com/sunday-assembly-is-the-hot-new-atheist-church

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UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY, GOD'S WAY Community existed before the beginning of time and is rooted in the eternal Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In Genesis 1:26 God says, "Let us make man in our image." Did you notice how the verse is expressed in plural terms?

Living in a Godly community is not just a lifestyle preference; it's simply the best way to function.

The creation account provides us an amazing window into the community nature of God. In fact, community is so important that even in the perfect environment – the Garden of Eden – being alone was not considered to be a good thing as God created Eve to be Adam's companion. People hunger to be part of a community because we are created with God's communal DNA. Ecclesiastes 4 further describes the importance of not being alone: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil" (verse 9) and "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." (verse 12) Through these verses, we see that God has created us as unique individuals who are interdependent on each other.

them in fellowship, nurturing, and discipling them in His ways. The end goal was to empower them and send them on toward a common purpose, which was to make disciples of all nations. Eugene Peterson, author of The Message bible, summed it up succinctly, "Jesus invested 90 percent of His time with 12 Jewish men so that He could reach the rest of the world."

Jesus Christ brought God's communal DNA one step further, as seen in His three years of ministry life.

The importance of a united community could be seen when Christ prayed for His disciples in John 17:11 "that they may be one as We are One." The "We" referred to the Trinity of God, and Jesus' desire was for us as believers to have the same kind of fellowship to live life to the full.

One example of this was the invitation for 12 men to join Him in His journey on Earth. In the three years, He spent much time with

Thus, living in a Godly community is not just a lifestyle preference; it's simply the best way to function.

JESUS AND FELLOWSHIP

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However, there are challenges within our church communities that threaten the formation of the ideal exemplified earlier.

THE EARLY CHURCH AS THE MODEL The vision that God and Jesus have in terms of community was exemplified on a larger scale with the church formed on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:42-47 records their initial exploits: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. The believers in the Early Church were committed to the teaching of God’s Word and to one another. Its strength and momentum were generated primarily by the unity of the believers. It was an exciting community to be a part of – everyone was filled with awe of what was taking place in the church. This is certainly an ideal that our church today can look to emulate and grow toward.

COMMUNITY BREAKS THE POWER OF INDIVIDUALISM The benefits and value of a Godly community is clearly illustrated, which is why we have other groups of people trying to re-create a similar experience within their community.

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Randy Frazee, in his book The Connecting Church, talked about the problem of individualism and isolation seeping into the church, thereby creating the gap between what today's communities are and what a God-centered community should be. There are two groups of people who personify Frazee's idea of individualism. The first is people who stroll in late during worship and exclaim, "Ah! Just in time for the Word," thus missing the importance of corporate worship. Then there are those who run out, sometimes literally, of the service hall the moment the preacher ends his message and says "let us pray." They miss the importance of responding to the Word of God. What links the two groups of people is the notion that the individual is the most important. For the first group, they fail to see that being on time and worshiping God with the rest of the congregation builds up a spiritual atmosphere of hungering after Him, which helps usher the presence of the Lord. Similarly, the quick exit by a handful of people immediately after the sermon has ended punctures the spiritual atmosphere built up over the course of service. It also acts as a distraction for those who are looking to press in and respond to God's prompting. This is not to say we must stay on even in emergencies, but if the reason for leaving

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God's idea of community teaches us to live beyond ourselves.

early is to avoid the traffic jam exiting church, for example, then it's fair to say the need met is an individualistic one. Individualism has caused individuals to be focused on the fundamental premise that the human individual is of primary importance. It causes us to think that church is simply just about I, me, and my needs. Individualism puts you above God and the plans He has for you. God's idea of community teaches us to live beyond ourselves, though. Philippians 2:3-4 exhorts us accordingly, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Living in a church community requires sacrifice and us dying to self, but in doing so, we enrich the collective body. For instance, if you're seated in the middle of the row and people are responding to the altar call, the "sacrifice" would simply be to remain in your seat. You might have to spend a longer time while driving out, but you would have allowed someone in your row to receive a timely, life-changing word from God. Randy Frazee gives his readers something to seriously reflect on, “Can a group

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of Christians who do not share a common set of beliefs, practices, and virtues really be considered a Christian community, or are they rather a group of individuals who happen to gather on Christian soil?” The Bible gives us our orientation to God and the baseline for living in community. It challenges our motivations and commissions us with God’s plans and purposes. When we are gripped with God’s purpose, commit ourselves to be united and build the local church that God has placed us in; it breaks the power of individualism.

COMMUNITY BREAKS THE POWER OF ISOLATION The other problem identified by Randy Frazee is isolation. There are pockets of churchgoers who believe attending services, or being involved in carecells and other corporate events are optional. Some even regard exhortations to be part of these activities as rigid bureaucracy and a means for the church leadership to spot-check on congregants. When chatting with them about knowing more people in church, they are mostly cynical, guarded and unwilling to be part of the larger community. These "lone rangers" need to know isolation is dangerous, as it insulates them from having wider perspectives and reinforces long-held negative beliefs. There are also believers who have one foot in the church community, but a larger footprint with other social groups or friends.

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They are not quite plugged in, or committed, to forging strong relationships with other Trinitarians, choosing to coast by and be casual acquaintances instead. They may turn up for service or carecells, but never stick around to have a meal together or just spend time getting to know the rest of the community better. In other words, they exhibit no intentions of wanting to integrate within the community but remain on the periphery of God's community. 1 Corinthians 12 reminds us, however, that as the body of Christ, we are all interconnected and it's not in His design for us to be isolated entities. God's church is a community of believers, filled with the love of God, and commissioned with His purpose. This means God's people living together in an intentional, relational community to advance the wellbeing of one another in every way â&#x20AC;&#x201C; physically, spiritually, materially, and emotionally. It's a bond that exists even when we are not gathered physically together. It is our spiritual family. Breaking out of isolation can be the easiest, and also the most difficult, step to take for the groups

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mentioned above. The first step to initiate a conversation or ask to be included in a carecell can prove daunting for those who are new or long-time periphery churchgoers. Do it all the same, and you will realize your fears are unfounded. Once the initial contact has been made, regular, intentional interactions are necessary to develop friendships and, by extension, the church community. This means going beyond chatting about football, fashion, or work, but finding out how each other are doing in terms of their walk with God, being the salt and light in their families, or challenges in upholding Christian values at their workplaces. As such, accountability and strong relationships are ideal antidotes to the negative spirit of isolation that ails God's community.

COMMUNITYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S UNSTOPPABLE POWER Finally, community attracts the presence and power of God. Jesus said in Matthew 18:19-20, "â&#x20AC;Śtruly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they

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ask for, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them." The early church took community seriously and saw the Great Commission fulfilled in great measure. In Acts 2:42-47, we see what God's community looked like and what it did. It provided fellowship, helped disciple new believers, allowed them to serve one another, evangelize, and worshiped God in unity. The result? God added to their numbers daily because the early believers were modeling what Jesus did among them. In Acts 5:42, it says, "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah." This was truly community in action – both in public and private life.

We don’t go to church; we are the church. - Canon Ernest Southcott

The founder of the home church movement in England, Canon Ernest Southcott, said it best, "The holiest moment of the church service is the moment when God's people — strengthened by preaching and sacrament — go out of the church door into the world to be the church. We don’t go to church; we are the church."

The glue that kept the early church together, however, was God's love in action. Romans 12:9-21 talks about this love, that which is sincere, devoted, shares with those in need, not conceited, and rejoices with those who rejoice, and mourns with those who mourns. In the end, building relationships within the church is not just to feed one's carnal need for companionship. It's about reaching out to the lost, hurting and weak, helping them connect with God and be discipled in His ways.

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CONNECT GROUP MYTHS

The best way to grow in God is to grow together. That’s why gatherings of like-minded believers, our spiritual family, are so important. Yet, misconceptions and half-truths abound.

It's more than a gathering! It's a time where God's children authentically share our lives and are discipled through God's Word. Connect Groups see life change happen!

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CONNECT GROUPS ARE ONLY FOR NEW CHRISTIANS

Connect Groups are for everyone! Whether you've been a Christian for three days, three months, or three decades, God intended for us to grow together in a community!

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MYT H

CONNECT GROUP MEETINGS ARE JUST SOCIAL GATHERINGS

MYT H

Dare to bring your faith life to the next level by being a part of these biblical communities, our Connect Groups! Read on as we bust these myths.

I WON’T FIND A CONNECT GROUP I CAN GROW WITH

From young adults to families, English to Chinese-speaking communities, there are Connect Groups for every age and life stage. With Connect Groups located all over Singapore, there’s sure to be a community of faith near your home, workplace, or school.

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While it’s great to have one-on-one relationships with Christians, we can’t run away from God’s call to community because it’s for our own good.

Last we checked, everyone has the same 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

M YT H

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY AND I CAN’T MAKE THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT

Life happens and there are times when we can't go for Connect Group meetings. That's okay, you are family to us and we will be happy to have you with us whenever you can!

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CONNECT GROUPS REQUIRE ME TO SHARE AND PRAY OUT LOUD, WHICH IS COMPLETELY OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE

We all have time for the things that matter, just like how we make space for desserts in our full stomachs!

Joining in discussions or praying out loud can be daunting. But Connect Groups are not here to pressure you to do things you aren’t ready to do.

So allow yourself more time with God and His community and expereince a refreshing!

Be real, be you!

M YT H

In these covenantal relationships, we find a group of people who are of one mind and heart, committed to encouraging, serving, and growing together. They are people who choose to love us, and whom we choose to love in return.

I DON’T HAVE TIME

I CAN’T MAKE CONNECT GROUP MEETINGS BECAUSE I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF MY CHILDREN

If you are a family with young children, bring them along! Many Connect Groups have children’s programs so that our little ones can be part of community life. Let our trained facilitators impart God’s truth into their lives so that the whole family can grow in God together.

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I HAVE ENOUGH CHRISTIAN FRIENDS AND I DON’T NEED ANY MORE

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I WON’T MAKE ANY FRIENDS

While you might feel like an outsider in the beginning, you won’t stay that way for long. Connect Groups are the place where you can be yourself and find people who want to get to know you. Take your time to build relationships. You’ll discover that you have more in common than you first thought!

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I DON’T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT GOD OR THE BIBLE

The only criterion for joining a Connect Group is a desire to be part of a spiritual family.

M YT H

In fact, learn more about God and the Bible as we learn together through weekly sharing!

ATTENDING CHURCH SERVICE IS ENOUGH

Ever had questions on how the weekend sermon can be relevant in your life?

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I HAVE TO GO TO CONNECT GROUP MEETINGS WITH MY SPOUSE

Though many husbands and wives come to Connect Group meetings and gatherings together, that’s not a requirement to join one. There are many reasons why spouses don’t come together. Don’t let that stop you from being part of this biblical community. Come for meetings and gatherings, assured that you’ll be warmly welcomed into the family.

Or wanting God and His Word to come more alive in you? A single flame snuffs easily, but not so a mighty blaze! We need one another to spur each other on, and that's God's design for our lives.

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H E AR F R OM TR INITAR IANS COMING FOR SERVICES AND MONTHLY CHURCH PRAYER MEETING IS JUST THE START. GROW DEEPER BY JOINING A GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED TRINITARIANS IN SMALL, BIBLICAL COMMUNITIES! READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW TRINITARIANS HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY MAKING THE BIBLICAL COMMUNITY AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR LIVES.

Quah Choon Hwa When my husband was admitted for a major surgery, the Carecell Leader mobilized the carecell to pray throughout the entire operation. When the surgery was extended, they continued praying earnestly for God’s intervention. This was despite being members for less than two months! The warmth and love we received from this experience reminded me of John 13:34: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

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Simon Ling As a family carecell, it is awesome to see the children look out and care for each other. They even told us how much they look forward to coming to carecell every week to see each other!

their intimacy with the Lord. This spurred me to draw closer to God. My carecell’s boldness in sharing Christ has helped me experience breakthrough in evangelism.

Wang Huiying The carecell has shown me that God did not intend for us to do life alone.

I was anxious for their salvation but didn’t know how to reach out to them. I always found it difficult to speak to those closest to me.

Because my carecell modelled God’s love for me, I have learned to love them with my words and actions. Through the carecell, I am challenged to step out of my comfort zone. That helped me to grow as a person and as a Christian. Bill Lee I was burned out in another church and even though I knew I needed a community to hold me accountable and keep me growing, I wasn't ready to commit. When we did join a carecell, it was during one of the most stressful periods of my life. I had quit a comfortable job to start a new business. The men’s fellowship was my anchor in the midst of these choppy waters. They, too, had stressful jobs but the peace they had speaks of

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Since becoming a Christian at 18 years old, I did not share Christ with my family.

Our carecell persevered in urging me to invite my family to cell and church activities. When I grudgingly complied, my family members actually came! Not one of them rejected me. I was surprised! The carecell also rallied together to pray for the salvation of my mother. Mom started to attend the Chinese service and one day, my carecell brother led her to say the sinner's prayer! She now attends Trinity regularly. When she got baptized, 28 of my family members, mostly pre-believers, attended her baptism ceremony! Now I no longer have a fear of inviting my family members to church events. When I started on my Christian journey, there were only three believers

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within the family. Today, more than half of the family are believers! My carecell has transformed the way I live for Christ. Through the community of the carecell, I've grown in my faith, I've overcame my past, I've a new heart for the lost and I've experienced God's faithfulness through every carecell member. Jennifer Yew-Yeo Being part of a carecell helped me see the importance of community living. As a body of Christ, we are commanded to use our gifts to build each other up. I saw how coming together as a carecell makes us stronger, united in purpose and vision. Being in the same journey with likeminded brothers and sisters increased my courage to step up to become a leader. Each of us has a personal responsibility of aligning ourselves to God’s purpose and plans in the church. Setting aside time to meet

every Friday for carecell is commitment. That comes from believing that it matters. When one is in the company of like-minded believers, such as the carecell, we will be challenged to grow! And the enlargement, stretching, lengthening and strengthening will follow suit. Edna Ng I used to be very reluctant to pray. However my carecell was a safe place where we all learned how to pray together and witness how God answers our prayers. I’ve grown and learned how to pray like a child without fear. I have also taken a step of faith to join a Missions Impact Team. It was beautiful knowing that I had a spiritual family who supported me in prayer throughout the trip. Without the carecell, I wouldn’t have been able to fulfill this great commission or have a breakthrough in serving God!

God has created us as unique individuals who are interdependent on each other

Jonathan Ang and Valerene Tan Through the carecell, we learn to love God and love His people. We have grown as disciples through the strong culture of serving through various platforms and ministry expressions, caring for and praying for one another and using our gifts collectively to win the world for Christ. Each week, regardless of how we feel, attending carecell is a must! Priscilla Lock Being in a carecell helped me to grow in my spiritual walk. Carecell is a place where God’s great commission and ways are encouraged and practiced. The sharing of God’s word and real-life testimonies in the carecell continually spurs each of us to grow spiritually and to live out God’s word. Testimonies have been edited for clarity and length.

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They devoted themselves to the apostlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 42

All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 44

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. 46

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Acts 2:42-47

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W H AT C A N I EXPECT IN CONNECT GROUPS? Strong Community. Strong Discipleship. IT’S MORE THAN A NAME CHANGE! The new Connect Group church model continues to build upon the strong foundation of our Carecell model. Be connected in a smaller group, develop strong relationships. Be discipled in the Word of God and reach out to impact our world together.

WEEKS 1-3 Meet in Connect Groups WEEK 4 Connection Night for Members

Discipleship Night for Leaders and Spiritual Parents WEEK 5 (QUARTERLY) Flexible

Every Friday, you can look forward to: • Sermon discussions • Discipleship videos • Time Alone With God (TAWG) sharing • Topical Series • Lots of fun!

TRINITY APP Join a Connect Group IN-PERSON Fill out a Connect Card at our Information Counters ONLINE www.trinity.sg > Latest Updates > Join a Connect Group SIGNUP NOW

CLICK HERE TO

Join a Connect Group today!

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TRINITY’S MISSIONS ENDEAVORS TO DEMONSTRATE A PASSIONATE HEARTBEAT FOR GOD’S GLOBAL AGENDA BY EMPOWERING AND EQUIPPING CHURCHES, ORGANIZATIONS, MINISTRIES, MINISTERS, AND COMMUNITIES. THIS INCLUDES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF, AND/OR SUPPORT TO, CHARITABLE AND HUMANITARIAN WORKS, AS WELL AS EQUIPPING OF PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERSHIP. EVERYONE HAS A PART TO PLAY WHEN IT COMES TO MISSIONS. DURING MISSIONS CONVENTION 2019, TRINITARIANS WERE CHALLENGED TO EXPAND THEIR KINGDOM VISION AND DEMONSTRATE EXTRAVAGANCE BY DARING TO PRAY, GIVE, AND GO TO THE NATIONS.

MIS S ION S RE PORT M IS S IO N S AT A GLA N C E

JANUARY-MARCH 2019 GO WAVES TO REGIONAL CENTERS

Trinitarians

Trinitarians went for the first time

GIVE

TRAINING AND CONSULTATION TRIPS ^

trip

decisions

healing

ministries supported

country VIETNAM

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SPONSORED IN INDIA, INDONESIA, MYANMAR, THAILAND

trips

1,338

destitute children

^Training and Consultation trips are counted by the number of destinations and do not include preaching and exploratory trips.

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THAILAND

TRINITY@BANGKOK The first three months of 2019 was a season of milestones and new levels of faith. We thank God for 14 decisions for Christ in the first quarter of 2019, made possible in part through Trinity@Bangkok’s partnership with a Campus Wave team in January. The congregation also participated in its first Missions Faith Promise in March, a breakthrough for this young church! ARTHON CHUMCHORN FOUNDATION We celebrate another milestone for Trinity with the approvals to establish the Arthon Chumchorn Foundation in February.

TRINITY@JAKARTA

Many exciting things are happening at Trinity@Jakarta as we welcomed five people into the Trinity family (February 24), commissioned 10 new spiritual parents (January 20), and hosted training for the worship and technical team (March 1). A new carecell was birthed on January 26, bringing the total number of carecells to four. Trinity@Jakarta also dared to be extravagant givers as they participated in Ang Pow for Jesus and the Missions Faith Promise.

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TRAINING AND CONSULTATION

Committed to taking their ministries to the next level, 265 pastors and leaders from 21 nations came to be refreshed and equipped at Pastors Conference 2019 (read more about it on pg 86). Our ministers also helped 64 Chinese-speaking pastors and leaders understand the value of being a cell church by leading 7 Steps to Transforming Your Church at Trinity@Paya Lebar from March 4-6. Trinity continues to equip churches from around the world through training and consultation trips. This quarter, our pastors went to Vietnam to continue an ongoing cell church training with a network of churches.

SPONSORSHIP OF CHILDREN

1,338 destitute children in four countries (India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand) are supported by the giving of Trinitarians. Through you, these children have opportunities to develop intellectually, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially.

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Be a part of Trinity’s Missions – Pray, Give, and Go! Trinitarians, thank you for giving to the nations by praying, giving, and going! In this Decade of Expansion, continue to be part of Trinity’s growing missions endeavors so that more lives can be touched and impacted for His glory.

PRAY

• Missions Impact Teams and Wave Teams: Safe

travels and God’s manifest power to be seen through their ministry.

• The Children: To know

God intimately and to grow in favor with God and man.

• Ambassadors and Trainers: Fresh anointing,

and impactful, lasting ministry.

• Expansion Endeavors:

Divine alliances and wisdom for our leadership.

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PASTORS CONFERENCE 2019

THE FUTURE-PROOF CHURCH BY JESSI E C H E W

FACED WITH THE PROBLEMS OF TODAY, MINISTERS OFTEN DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME TO CONSIDER AND PREPARE FOR THE CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW. YET, THEY MUST CONTINUALLY ADAPT TO A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD. WHAT ARE THE CHANGES THEY NEED TO PREPARE FOR? WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO TO KEEP THEIR MESSAGE AND MINISTRIES RELEVANT? WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD THE CHURCH OF TOMORROW?

or four days (March 6-9), 265 delegates from 21 nations embarked on a journey to future-proof their church at Pastors’ Conference 2019. In plenary sessions anchored by four apostolic speakers (Lead Pastor Dominic Yeo, Rev Dr Naomi Dowdy, Rev Ong Sek Leang, Dr Bryan Jarrett), delegates gained insight on the changes needed to make ministries resilient, robust, and ready for the future. Entitled Future-Proof Your Church, it was also a time for delegates to future-proof themselves. There was much to learn regarding super trends, harnessing technology for ministry, and effective engagement with millennials, Generation Z, and the silver generation.

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While the journey ahead appears daunting, delegates were reminded of the need to run their own race, be mandate-driven (not issue-driven), demonstrate authentic Christianity, and operate on the power of the Holy Spirit. Last year’s Pastors Conference gave me insight into how pastoral teams could grow together and work together. This year, the focus was on the impact of technology in our ministries. I saw the different ways technology could attract people to the Gospel, connect people to the church, and bring them into the presence of God. Rev Rachel Bala, Senior Pastor and Overseer Great Commission Apostolic International

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The world needs the church. But if the church does not keep up with the changing world, it will not be able to come up with the right solutions. Through this conference, God has shown me a clearer direction for what we have to do, especially in the area of incorporating more technology into the ministry.

I encourage people to attend Pastors Conference because Trinity has an apostolic understanding of what’s going on throughout the world. When you come here, you hear and see what God is doing in the nations. Not only do you begin to understand your place in God’s global agenda, you’ll also learn how to be practically effective for the end-time harvest.

As a Senior Pastor, I know I cannot work alone. That’s why I brought an entire team with me to Pastors Conference 2019. That way, we can all learn from the different sessions and discuss the ways we can move the church forward.

Bruce Atkinson, Associate Pastor Emmanuel Evangelical Church London, England

It’s easy to gain knowledge, but Pastors Conference is also a time where we can build and receive an impartation of faith. Through the session on the silver force, I have started thinking about ways to shepherd, mobilize, and empower this generation. As we start to engage their experience and giftings, both within and outside the church, I believe that God will bring renewed purpose into their lives and in the life of the church.

Pastors Conference was also an enriching spiritual experience. God has refreshed me during this time and has also given me new revelation. I recommend this conference to all pastors and church leaders.Not only can we learn from the various sessions but we can see for ourselves how God is working in and through this church.

Eric Lau, Senior Pastor Bethany Church Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Rev Arif Multi Ardania, Senior Pastor GSJA Betlehem Bogor, Indonesia

Join us in 2020 and bring your ministry to the next level!

I’ve been attending Trinity’s conferences for the past four years and what we have learned has changed our ministry. This year, we brought a few more people with us, and they have gained so much during their time here.

PASTORS CONFERENCE 2020 March 11-14, 2020 Trinity@Paya Lebar More information will be available through our website (www.trinity.sg) in the days to come.

Hannah Chinnam Faith Worship Church Tanuku, India

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PA S T O R S ' CONFERENCE 2 0 19 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

4 days, 265 delegates, 21 nations. One journey to future-proof churches.

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E X T R VA G A N C E FOR T H E N AT I O N S MISSIONS CONVENTION 2019

BY K OH Z H I G U O D A N I E L

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n March 8, Trinitarians and delegates caught a glimpse of heaven on earth during Missions Rally. Resplendent in national costumes, we praised and worshipped as one with expectant and purposed hearts.

Sharing from Ephesians, Dr Jarrett shared a message about the need to demonstrate extravagant giving to the nations. He shared that the more we age, the more risk averse we tend to become. “It’s a natural progression to start seeing every reason why something won’t work instead of seeing every reason why it will.

“Salvation belongs to our God,” every voice declared as flag-bearers crossed the stage for the Parade of Nations. Holding flags of 30 nations, our IGNYTErs waved them high towards the heavens.

Somewhere along the way, we stopped living to win, and started living not to lose.” He exhorted for us not to live in the past. “You start dying when your memories are bigger than your dreams.”

“All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, Lord; they will bring glory to Your name.” PSALM 86:9

Citing the example of Caleb, we were reminded of the need to be vision- and faith-filled all the days of our lives.

As we worshipped with the hymn “Glorify Thy Name,” the flags dipped as a prophetic act of every tribe and tongue one day bowing before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

“But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.” NUMBERS 14:24, NKJV

“It was humbling holding up the flag of another country to God,” shared Laura Tan (age 19). Her schoolmate and fellow IGNYTEr, Johann Capistrano (age 21) concurred: “Dipping the flag was a small action but it carried huge weight. It was a privilege serving this way.” As anxious as our youth might have been on stage, it was exhilarating to see the next generation serve the Lord in this way.

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“Any God-sized vision is bigger than we are. It’s so big that when compared to our resources, we are tempted to say, ‘I possess nothing of value compared to a vision of that magnitude,’” Dr Jarrett continued during Missions Rally (March 9-10).

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“And there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the Lamb.” – Revelations 7:9

Hosting guests from around the world at Missions Makan

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Sharing from 2 Kings 4:1-7, he challenged us to look within ourselves and offer the resources God has given us. When the time came, many dared to offer up the olive oil of their lives with faith and expectancy that God would multiply for maximum Kingdom-impact. Some offered up their time and talents to go on a missions trip. Many offered up their treasures as God gave them figures for their Faith Promise cards. We praise God that many dared to believe for His miraculous provision with a combined Missions Faith Promise of SGD 12,133,457.04. Trinity@Jakarta and Trinity@Bangkok (in their first Missions Faith Promise) also dared to be extravagant givers as they committed a total of IDR 631,400,000 and THB 797,100 to see Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work done in their nations and beyond.

Anybody can look but it takes a visionary to see. - Dr Bryan Jarrett

Trinitarians in Bangkok and Jakarta giving generously of their Missions Faith Promise

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HEAR W HAT OTHERS SAY Eleanor Soh, age 17 I volunteered to be a flag bearer for Missions Rally, and to my surprise, I was assigned the flag of the country where I had interned. Was it a coincidence? I honestly don’t think so. During Dr Jarrett’s sermon, every word spoken felt like they were directed at me. God used him to really wake me up. It is time to live up to that calling and dream once again. It is time to trust in God by playing to win instead of playing not to lose, to vision beyond what I can see. To not just tread on “safe waters” but rather to go into the unknown, a place of unfamiliarity knowing that He will be my Backer and my Provider. I will surrender my fears, inadequacies, and future into His hands. No matter where He leads, I know He knows better than me. I will choose to obey Him no matter where or what He has entrusted me with. Lord, may You use me as You will.

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MISS I O NS CAR NIV A L 2019 BY L O RRA I NE C H E E

n March 9-10, DiscoveryLandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s venues were transformed for our most anticipated event of the year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our annual Missions Carnival! Supported by 90 volunteers, 789 children (including 50 first-time visitors) engaged in games that taught them about the heart of missions and their part in Kingdomexpansion. In a short sharing by Pastor Chung Kah Fei and Brother Melvin Wong, a simple

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This year's Missions Carnival taught our children about the heart of missions and their part in Kingdom-expansion. T ES TIMON IES FROM OUR C H ILDREN

but powerful message taught them the importance of declaring, blessing and giving. Since God gave extravagantly to us, we should pay the blessings forward boldly and give generously. By Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grace, we even had 72 decisions for Jesus over the weekend! Indeed, every Trinitarian has a part to play in missions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even our youngest!

Asher Au, age 9 I learned that anything we give counts. Even though we might not have a lot of money to give, we can still help others.

Lim Yi Xuan, age 12 I learned what extravagant giving is and about a church in the bible that gave extravagantly. I enjoyed everything!

Jaychi Tan, age 11 I learned how to give generously. I really enjoyed the carnival and that every one was praying together.

Odelia Lee, age 7 I enjoyed the game, Secret Code. I learned that you should give even if you have little. Lim Fang Min, age 9 (first-time visitor) I learned that God loves us!

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TCA COLLEGE

Recognized by the Singapore Ministry of Education as a religious school.

FORTY YEARS OF EXPANSION Renamed Theological Centre for Asia with an initial enrolment of 120 students.

1983

1979

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Rev Dr Naomi Dowdy envisioned a place where formal ministerial training would be available to leaders dedicated to serving churches and communities here in Asia.

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Trinity@Adam bungalows, the site of our first classes

1988

Out of that vision emerged Trinity School of the Bible, the first Pentecostal and Charismatic school to offer Bachelor of Theology and Master of Arts in Singapore.

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Received accreditation from the Asia Pacific Theological Association.

1994

1993 Received accreditation from the Asia Theological Association.

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Rev Dr Naomi Dowdy, the first President of the school, was appointed the Chancellor.

1997

2000

Launched a Chinese Department offering the Certificate of Ministry and Master of Arts in Ministry. Rev Derek Tan was appointed the second President of the school.

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To become a multidisciplinary college, four schools were launched: School of Counseling, School of Creative Arts, School of Theology, and School of Leadership.

Received accreditation from the Asia Theological Association for the Chinese Department.

Rev Dr Wilson Teo was appointed the third President.

2004

2006

2007 Established partnerships with Azusa Pacific University and the University of Wales.

2005 Rev Dominic Yeo was appointed the Vice-Chancellor and expanded the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision from a theological seminary to a multi-disciplinary college.

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To mark this expansion, Theological Centre for Asia was renamed TCA College.

Moved to a new and larger campus at Trinity@Paya Lebar.

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Received recognition from the Singapore Association for Counseling for the Postgraduate Diploma in Counseling.

Offered our first online course through the School of Theology (English), paving the way for fullyonline programs.

Inaugurated our Centre for Counseling to provide clinical and professional counseling services.

2011

2013

2016

TCA College celebrates 40 years of expansion.

2019

2018 Rev Dominic Yeo assumed the role of Interim President.

Received recognition from the Singapore Association for Counseling for the Master of Arts in Counseling.

Launched two online programs: Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies

(School of Theology, English Department)

and Master of Arts in Christian Leadership

(School of Leadership)

in partnership with Life Pacific College.

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Rev Dr Dennis Lum is installed as the fourth President.

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C E L E B R AT I N G E X PA N S I O N

God is building a new landscape for the whole body of Christ in Singapore. - The Right Reverend Rennis Ponniah

A myriad of events taking place as we celebrate TCA's 40th Anniversary

To all of you at TCA College on your 40th anniversary, let me express my heartiest congratulations!

I take this opportunity to acknowledge the good work TCA College has done over the years in the area of counselors’ education.

On behalf of the Anglican Church of Singapore, I rejoice with you and give thanks for your ministry.

Your programs add to the diversity of pre-service counselor-training options in Singapore and have contributed many excellent practitioners in the field.

Over the last 40 years, TCA has contributed significantly by equipping and training lay leaders, church workers, pastors, and missionaries. Your Gospel-emphasis and commitment to grow the Church is inspiring.

Happy 40th Anniversary to all at TCA College! Dr Frederick Low Vice President and Chairman Counsellors’ Education Board, Singapore Association for Counselling

As you complete the generational lap of 40 years, what does the Lord have in store for you in the next lap? We honor the Lord that it is He who is building His Church (Matthew 16:18). Truly, I believe He is building a new landscape for the whole body of Christ in Singapore.

Congratulations on your 40th anniversary. TCA College has certainly grown from strength to strength since her inception. Today, she stands as a bastion of truth and a beacon of light, not just in Singapore, but also to the rest of Asia. May you continue to be a pathfinder and trailblazer for the Kingdom. We wish you God’s highest and best.

May the Triune God empower the leadership, the faculty, and successive cohorts of TCA students to always shine for His glory.

Rev Yang Tuck Yoong Senior Pastor, Cornerstone Community Church Chairman, Board of Directors, Tung Ling Bible School

Warmly in Christ, The Right Reverend Rennis Ponniah Bishop of the Diocese of Singapore

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FAMILY 4 0 TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER M AY 1

tarting with a night at Temasek Club, guests and alumni from all parts of the world came together to celebrate the expansive TCA family. It was an atmosphere of joy as old friends re-connected to share what God has done in and through their lives. One student shared how heartwarming it was to see generations of alumni come together under the TCA banner. When the program commenced with a march-in of 40 flags, the Parade of Nations was a visible reminder of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faithfulness over the past 40 years. A skit depicting the life of students, a commemorative video, life testimonies from alumni, and a finale song stirred hearts and affirmed how Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision for us is indeed a reality.

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Learning about TCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and seeing how far she has come was informative and inspirational. It makes me proud to be a part of this journey. ISAAC TAY L E AD PAS TOR HOP E CI TY CH URCH

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LEGACY IN C O N V E R S AT I O N WITH OUR FOUNDER

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rare and precious opportunity, our Founder and Chancellor Rev Dr Naomi Dowdy interacted with the TCA Family about her journey in founding and expanding the college. Rev Dowdy shared about TCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s humble beginnings as classes from a small bungalow, a library housed in a storage container, and an office that was stacked on top of the library. Her commitment to persevere despite the odds serves as an inspiration and example of what it means to partner with God to make His plans a reality.

Knowing TCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey has made me more grateful for the opportunity to pursue my studies here. I thank God for leading TCA in the past 40 years to where it is today. YIN-YU CHIEN ( MATT) AS S I S TANT PAS TOR TAI NAN AS S E MBLY OF GOD, TAI WAN

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EMPOWER MENT 4 0 TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE M AY 3

erspectives were challenged and widened as speakers from academic, pastoral, counseling, and the social service sectors shared their insights at this one-day conference. Entitled Innovative Ministry in a Disruptive Age, nearly 300 people were challenged to consider how they could adapt to a rapidly-changing world and expand in Kingdom-impact.

One thing I caught was that I must rely on the Spirit for whatever I do, be it counseling or using technology. Technology should serve to bring us closer together (rather than further apart), but ultimately God is the One who brings all things together!

The plenary sessions were engaging and reflective in areas of theology, spirituality, counseling, technology, ethics, and political and socio-cultural issues.

C E L E S T E TAN C A S E WO R K E R LIFE COMMUNITY S E RV I C E S S O C I E T Y

LIAN BE NS ON K H U P T ONG E VAN G E L I C AL B AP T I S T CONVENTION CHURCH INDIA

I was stirred to rethink current perspectives â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to try and identify trends that would enable me to become more relevant in ministry. NORMAN WONG C H I L D R E N â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S M I N I S T RY B E T H E L A S S E M B LY O F G O D Testimonies have been edited for clarity and length.

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INFLUENCE G R A D UAT I O N

M AY 5

ailing from various denominations and nations, TCA College was proud to release 111 graduates to fulfil their God-given destiny at our graduation ceremony. Smiles abounded as they walked across the stage to receive their credentials, transitioning from students to alumni. Guest speaker Rev Dr Ivan Satyavrata exhorted each of them on Finishing Well as they persevere through the people, power, and pain tests of life. Many students and guests were in tears as they responded earnestly to the altar call. With the installation of our fourth President, Rev Dr Dennis Lum, we forge forward into this new season, committed to keeping our legacy of expansion and believing that our best days are ahead of us.

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We are committed to keeping our legacy of expansion.

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CARE COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY

A LIFE EMPOWERED

Sunny (right) providing free tuition at Taman Jurong

AT CARE COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY (CCSS), WE ARE NOT CONTENT SIMPLY TO SEE AN INDIVIDUAL HELPED. WE DESIRE TO SEE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TRANSFORMED, BECOMING EMPOWERED PEOPLE WHO ARE CHANNELS OF BLESSING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

Meeting every other month in hour-long sessions, Sunny would update Andrew (his caseworker) on his progress. “Andrew is very encouraging and often asks about my studies, work, family and emotional well-being. He also gave me career advice.”

In 2018, our CarePrison caseworkers invested over 830 hours in inspiring hope and in making lasting, positive changes for over 300 offenders and their family members. Looking at areas such as accommodations and family counselling, the program helps inmates integrate back to society and prevent re-offense.

Andrew also saw great potential in Sunny. “He is a very committed individual, and he is very focused on not wanting to go back to his old habits.”

For some, reintegration can require completing tertiary education. One such person is Sunny Swee (age 37). At prison school, Sunny’s teacher encouraged him to continue his studies. After completing his sentence in 2015, he enrolled in Nanyang Technological University to study Mathematics. As a recipient of the Yellow Ribbon Fund Star Bursary, he was also referred to CCSS in 2018.

A few months later, Sunny graduated from university with a 2nd Upper Class Honors. To prepare him for the marketplace, he attended a personal grooming and social etiquette workshop conducted by one of our corporate sponsors. In March 2019, he started work as a data scientist. Sunny also invests into lives by providing free tuition to at-risk youth and children from underprivileged families. He shared that volunteering gives him a sense of purpose and he desires to make a difference. His encouragement to others is to persevere despite the odds. “It is never too late. I have been given a second chance. We can show that we can change for the better and even contribute back to society.”

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Your giving makes a difference in lives. ISSUE 2

Visit https://ccsscares.sg/be-a-partner to support lives through CCSS.

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THE CHAMPIONS@CHIANG MAI CITY

NURTURING CHAMPIONS A HOME AWAY FROM HOME, THE CHAMPIONS@CHIANG MAI CITY IS A SAFE PLACE WHERE OUR CHILDREN CAN DEVELOP INTELLECTUALLY, SPIRITUALLY, PHYSICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY.

N II Nii received two certificates for having the highest marks of her cohort in Mathematics and Thai. In May, she started attending a program for gifted youth.

WE REJOICE FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR.

“Before coming to the home, I stayed with my elder brother. On some nights, I would have to sleep on my own because he would go out late into the night. My mother could not care for me because she had to work in Bangkok. I felt abandoned and believed that I would never have the means to further my studies.

May they continue to grow strong in the Lord and fulfill their God-given potential!

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Through the home, I was able to know about Jesus. He changed my thoughts and attitude. I can have three meals a day and sleep well at night. I am glad that Trinity allows me to further my studies in the gifted program. I may not be the smartest among my cohorts, but I will strive to do my best.”

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S I T T I R AT M AY U R I & YOR ADI Mayuri used to be shy but has become a bubbly teenager. She is good-natured and very helpful. Whenever she is given a task, she is determined to complete it. At the start of every term, she aims to get full marks on her examinations. Since Primary 1, she has excelled in all subjects and is the top student among her cohort. In the past term, she did exceedingly well with a GPA of 3.81. Her favorite past times are football and volleyball. She loves Korean pop and Korean dramas, too. She wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Yoradi (Dee Dee) is a girl who loves to compete and take

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Sittirat (Mong) used to have

up challenges. In the past she would become angry and throw tantrums if she failed, frowning and sulking for the entire day. Through the years, she has changed in her attitude and character. Though she is still competitive, she is now able to control her emotions better. She loves to help out in the kitchen and teach the younger children in Thai and Mathematics. Her grades are among the top three in her class and in the past term, she achieved a GPA of 3.85. She loves to play badminton, football, volleyball, and skipping. Like her sister, Mayuri, she also loves Korean pop and watching Korean dramas.

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a very bad temper, was irresponsible, and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care much about his studies. Since giving his life to Jesus, he has experienced many positive changes.

After much counseling, he is better at controlling his anger. He has learned to take on more responsibilities and is now a youth leader in the home, helping the younger ones in their studies. His school grades have also improved tremendously since Primary 5. Last term, he had a GPA of 3.81. Mong loves anything Japanese and is also a gifted guitarist. On weekends, he teaches other children how to play the guitar and plays football with them.

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APCCS

T H E S TAR T OF YEAR TWO BY J E S SI E C H E W

STRENGHTENING THE PENTECOSTAL-CHARISMATIC COMMUNITY OF SINGAPORE

hree years ago at the Fresh Fire Conference, a group of like-minded pastors discussed ways to build up churches of the Pentecostal tradition. It was especially important to create a platform where ministers could empower one another through solid, God-centered relationships. In time, those talks birthed The Alliance of Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches of Singapore (APCCS), a formal network of fellowship and support for churches of similar theological beliefs.

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Empowering one another through solid, God-centered relationships.

Launched in April 2018, the APCCS also serves as an additional Christian voice for the nation, working with relevant government authorities on various social concerns and issues. Now in its second year, the APCCS is gearing up for bigger things to come. During its first Annual General Meeting on April 25, members came to Trinity@Paya Lebar to approve the adoption of a revised constitution that would strengthen the Allianceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s governance and allow for greater participation in its Board of Directors. What started as a normal meeting became extraordinary when Pastor Dominic Yeo introduced a proposal for his Chairmanship to be passed to Rev Yang Tuck Yoong, effective May 1. In light of his growing global ministry, it was time to pass the baton of leadership

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so that the Alliance could receive the time and attention needed to fulfill its objectives. Pastor Dominic would still serve as ViceChairman, assisting Rev Yang in representing and unifying the network of relationships among the Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Independent churches of Singapore. With unanimous approval, Rev Yang expressed gratitude in their confidence before leading APCCSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; First Prayer Meeting. With its growing prominence in the nation, it is imperative for the Alliance to continually intercede for one another and the nation with prayers of protection, divine wisdom, and courage. The name of the Alliance declares its reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit. As the APCCS moves forward in one spirit and with the Spirit, may this network be a place where ministries reach their fullest potential for the glory of God.

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IGNYTE POLY CAMP 2019 B Y SA RA H H A N

FROM APRIL 1-4, 113 POLY IGNYTERS GATHERED AT JOHOR BAHRU, HEARTS EXCITED AND HUNGRY FOR WHAT GOD WILL BE DOING THROUGH OUR ANNUAL POLY CAMP. THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE BELIEVED THAT GOD WOULD EXPOSE ALL DARKNESS WITHIN OURSELVES AND IN OUR CAMPUSES.

his year's camp saw many new things in its publicity and camp program. To signify that we are going to light up our schools, the committee went to all six campuses with LED lights forming our six LIT! logos. QR codes were given out for campers to access materials (instead of physical camp booklets) and Time Alone With God material was slipped under the doors of each room. Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence was so powerful across the whole camp from the games to the workshops and in every service.

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The games, increasing in intensity, represented the times where campers would have to choose between godly values versus worldly values tied in nicely with what Pastor Gerald Tan preached on the first night about the collision of worlds and how only Jesus remains. It was a night of renewal for many campers as they surrendered their sins, hurts, and shame to the Lord. On the second day, Pastor Gerald preached another powerful word, Here I Am, where he exhorted the campers to declare they were willing to meet, surrender, go, and serve. That was followed on the third night with a message about the anointing of God that brings transformation, new direction, and courage to follow the call of God. Closing the camp was Brother Boon Jia Hao who shared a word about being LIT! in an ELITE world – being ready to expose the ELITEs in our lives to be LIT for Jesus. I know and believe that the Poly ministry is in a place where we are ready to expose darkness in our lives and schools and to declare His light to every place that the Lord brings us to.

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T ES TIMON IES FROM CAMPERS Brittney Toh, age 17 During camp, God revealed to me how I have lost confidence and faith for the lost and just wanted to do things that I am comfortable in. While answering the altar call, He showed me a picture of a lion. At that moment, I knew He was telling me not to be fearful – to surrender the five loaves and two fish for Him to multiply. Wordan Tay, age 18 God brought me back to the place of loving Him all over again, realizing my identity in Him, and to flow in His anointing. I’ve been set free to be fearless and to walk with a different spirit of an uncontainable fire and passion for God.

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Jonas Cheong, age 17 As I stood at the altar, I surrendered all my insecurities to God and told Him that “I will go.” I no longer feel insecure for I know my identity is in Christ. All glory to God! Grace Mun, age 20 God was moving so powerfully among us every single day and it was truly a camp that was life-changing! The final day sealed the conviction in me to be LIT for Christ. Brother Jia Hao’s message ignited a desire to live passionately as someone given the undeserved prize of eternal life – a servant of God ready to chase down and expose the things that separate me from His will.

2019

THEOLOGY FOR TODAY

WHEN HARMLESS BECOMES HARMFUL THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF ADULTERY

BY R E V D R E D W I N P E R O N A T CA C O L L E G E

theology for today

A GLANCE. A THOUGHT. A QUERY. A SUMMON. AN ENCOUNTER. A CHILD. DAVID’S PROGRESSION INTO ADULTERY STARTED OFF AS HARMLESS. YET, THE BIBLE DOES NOT SHY AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT HE, “A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART,” 1 HAD COMMITTED A GRAVE SIN.

aving weighted his odds, Bible also records Abraham (“God’s friend”2) nearly caused others to commit adultery with his wife Sarah because he was too fearful to speak the truth.

attitude against adultery was shared with other civilizations in the Ancient Near East, reflecting a dominant view that adultery was considered a criminal act against persons.

To understand what led these giants of the faith down this path, as well as the lessons we can learn from their mistakes, we must first understand how adultery is defined and viewed in Scripture.

In God’s eyes, marriage was the foundation for the healthy building of families and society-at-large. A covenantal relationship founded on the grounds of fidelity and loyalty, engaging in adultery was a breach of that covenant and, thus, a destroyer of marriages and families with wide-reaching social and civil implications.5

A VIEW FROM THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT The seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14) prohibits Israel from committing adultery (naaph) – broadly defined as engaging in extramarital affairs or having sexual relations with someone engaged to be married.3 An offense punishable by death,4 the Bible’s strong

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While the New Testament appears to do away with the extreme penalty of adultery (death), what we discover is an expansion of its definition. When Jesus says that “anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” (Matthew 5:28);

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A covenantal relationship founded on the grounds of fidelity and loyalty, engaging in adultery was a breach of that covenant.

1 1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22 2 Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23 3 Leviticus 18:20; 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22-29 4 Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 20:10, 14; 21:9; Deuteronomy 22:22, 24 5 Genesis 20:9; 39:9; Exodus 20:17. See also John Durham, Exodus, Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 3 (Waco: Word, 1987), 293-294.

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He makes it clear that adultery involves much more than the act of doing – it starts with the act of thinking. By linking the tenth commandment with the seventh commandment (“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife” and “You shall not commit adultery”), Jesus calls for believers to engage in self-examination. The reality is that adultery (moicheuo) can be committed in one’s thoughts before an actual, outward action ever takes place. Moreover, coveting the spouse of another is the antithesis of His call to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31; cf. Leviticus 19:18). In Matthew 19:1-9, Jesus singles out porneia (referring to “sexual infidelity” or “adultery”) as a legal, yet unfortunate basis for divorce. In this context, He saw adultery as humanity’s sinful inclination to reject God’s original design of marriage as a permanent, mutuallyenriching relationship between a man and a woman.

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Adultery can be committed in one’s thoughts before an actual, outward action ever takes place.

The apostle Paul also warns of the consequences of adulterous living (1 Corinthians 6:9), asserting that avoidance of adultery among other sins fulfills the command to care for and respect self and other people (Romans 13:9). For God, adultery is always wrong. It is a situation made worse when a cycle of adultery is triggered by divorce sought for “whatever and any flimsy reason.”6 However, adultery must be justly handled by the church with the intent to help offenders recover (1 Corinthians 5).7

Coveting the spouse of another is the antithesis of [the] call to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

In all these contexts, Paul’s emphasis is on making sure one’s present lifestyle does not endanger his/her future standing before God.

SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ADULTERY No one is immune from the sin of adultery, not even being “a man after God’s own heart” or “God’s friend.” The former

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6 Matthew 19:3; Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18. Discussion on whether divorce constitutes/leads to adultery is outside the scope of this article. 7 1 Corinthians 5 tells of adultery-incest involving an unrepentant member and his church’s reluctance to correct the member’s sinful behavior. Here, Paul concludes his instruction with a death penalty law (from the Old Testament) to emphasize restorative discipline that required temporary removal of the offender from the fellowship.

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committed adultery while the latter acted as an accomplice. Therefore, it is in our best interest to acknowledge we are all at real risk and constantly vulnerable to the sin of adultery (1 Corinthians 10:12). By looking at their stories (Genesis 20:1-18; 12:10-20; 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25), Scripture provides guidance to consider how to establish safeguards to keep us from the sin of adultery.8 BE TRUTHFUL ABOUT YOUR MARITAL STATUS Abraham failed to disclose Sarah as his wife (disclosing only that she was his sister) because he feared the possibility of being killed. With Abimelech, he assumed the people of the land lacked morality (Genesis 20:11).

With Pharaoh, he likely recognized the futility of saying no to royalty. So great was this fear that Abraham only told half-truths to both men and instructed Sarah to do likewise (Genesis 12:13; 20:2). By failing to disclose the full truth, Abraham’s omission could have led Pharaoh and Abimelech to commit adultery.

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Both men had taken Sarah into their homes. Both men would have proceeded to marry Sarah if God had not intervened.

his soldiers, he called for her (while her husband was away in battle) and proceeded to sleep with her.9

By inflicting Pharaoh’s household with a serious illness and speaking to Abimelech in a dream (Genesis 12:17-19; 20:3), God’s revelation of Sarah’s status spared them from committing adultery.

David had done a heinous thing. He had despised the word of the Lord by knowingly and consciously breaking the seventh commandment. Even more heinous was how he used his power and position to get what he wanted, even if it did not belong to him.

Both men also rebuked Abraham for his lack of honesty (Genesis 12:18-19; 20:9-10), indicating that they recognized the impropriety of marrying a married woman. Abraham’s failure demonstrates the importance of openly and fully disclosing our marital status. Actions, like wearing our wedding band, posting photos of our spouse/family on social media, and mentioning our spouse in conversations, serve as clear signals that we are thoroughly “off limits.” BE RESPECTFUL OF THE MARITAL STATUS OF OTHERS Though David knew Bathsheba was married, that detail meant little to him. Instead of respecting her status as the wife of one of

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David had been appointed by God as the most powerful man in his land to ensure the welfare and safety of his citizens. Instead, he abused his authority by calling Bathsheba to come to him, a request she could not have denied even if she wanted to. David’s failure is a grave reminder of the need to respect the marital status of others. So sacred is this relationship to God that when 8 As a theologian, the insight I provide here is very general in nature. Therefore, if you find yourself struggling with the temptation of adultery – physical, emotional, or both – I encourage you to seek the help of your pastors and/or professional marriage counselors.

9 King David had three wives (1 Samuel 25:42-44; 30:5). At that time “alliance marriages” of monarchs are allowed. However, David went out of line with Bathsheba by having sexual relations with someone else’s wife. See John Walton, Victor Harold Matthews and Mark W. Chavalas, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2000), 448.

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the Pharisees questioned Jesus about the legitimacy of divorce, He responded by saying, “what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matthew 19:6). Therefore, efforts to knowingly separate husbands and wives are grounds for swift and devastating punishment from God, as we see in the next point. CONSIDER LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OVER SHORT-TERM GAIN There are several reasons why adultery takes place: a cry for attention, a way to inflate one’s ego, unmet marital needs, a friendship that goes outside the realm of platonic.

Whatever the reason, adultery might seem like a good idea at the time but almost always leads to negative, widespread, and long-term consequences. Abraham’s fear of death could have undermined God’s plan to bless him and make him a great nation (Genesis 12:2). David’s desire to meet a carnal need resulted in a curse over his household and the death of the resulting child (2 Samuel 12:11-12; 14). In our hypersexualized world, it’s tempting to live by the mantra, “Life is short. Have an

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affair.” However, study after study confirms the devastating, long-term effects adultery has on marriages, families, and society-at-large.10 ESTABLISH PERSONAL BOUNDARIES David cannot be faulted for taking a walk on the roof of his palace and accidentally gazing on a naked Bathsheba. As a flesh-and-blood man, he cannot even be faulted for initially desiring her. The trouble came when he continued to entertain those thoughts, so much so that his thoughts became action.

For Abraham, God’s intervention with Abimelech should have taught him to be truthful. His decision to tell a half-truth shows both his lack of confidence, as well as his selfishness to sacrifice Sarah’s dignity for personal safety. Few people wake up in the morning and suddenly decide to pursue affairs. The path of adultery often starts by ignoring existing problems or engaging in small, seemingly-harmless actions. By establishing personal boundaries, one decreases the possibility of going down the

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Our commitment to uphold our vows and fear of the Lord must prompt us to turn away from the (potential) sin of adultery.

path of infidelity. Consider the ones listed below. • Determine what actions you will do for everyone (platonic) and actions you will reserve for your significant other (romantic). • Refrain from language that is considered flirting or can be misinterpreted as caring for someone in a romantic way. 10 Further discussion about the effects of adultery is outside the scope of this article. To find out more, click on the icons to visit the following websites:

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FOCUS ON THE FAMILY AFFAIRS AND ADULTERY

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FOCUS ON THE FAMILY SHOULD I GET A DIVORCE?

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“Today's careers offer more opportunity for extramarital affairs. The new infidelity occurs between peers who first become emotionally attached, having no thought of physical involvement.” FOR MORE ON THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF ADULTERY IN THE WORKPLACE, READ ROB MOLL’S ARTICLE, THE NEW WORKPLACE ROMANCE, BY CLICKING HERE.

• Avoid situations where you will be alone with someone other than your spouse (or someone else’s spouse) for long periods of time. One famous example comes from Reverend Billy Graham who did not dine, travel, or meet alone with women who were not his wife. • Seek help to strengthen your marriage as soon as possible by speaking to spiritual leaders and going for counseling. Given the rise of “work spouses,” the risk of engaging in extramarital relationships with colleagues is a real threat to the sanctity and fidelity of marriage. If we find ourselves engaging in any of the following “harmless” activities, our commitment

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to uphold our vows and fear of the Lord must prompt us to turn away from the (potential) sin of adultery. • Intentionally spending more time with a “close colleague” than with our spouse. • Establishing emotional connections that should be reserved for our spouse. • Relying on others to meet needs that should be met by our spouse. LESSONS FROM JOSEPH While the temptation to commit adultery is incredibly strong, the Bible shows us that such temptations can be overcome. Where Abraham and David failed, Genesis 39 shows us how a young man succeeded. Well-built, handsome, and exceedingly capable in his master

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Potiphar’s house, it is little surprise that Potiphar’s wife took a liking to Joseph. But when Joseph was confronted with the invitation to intimacy, he automatically exercised his safeguards. “My master has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” GENESIS 39:9 Joseph showed respect for her status as his master’s wife. His response shows that he considered the long-term consequences and chose not to abuse the power and privileges that Potiphar had entrusted to him. When her daily advances didn’t work, Potiphar’s wife schemed to force him into intimacy. One day, she sent

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away the servants and when Joseph entered into the house, she grabbed his cloak in an attempt to bring him into the bedchamber. Joseph held firm to his boundaries by running out of the house (verses 10-12).

ADMIT THE SIN, ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM “Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’” 2 SAMUEL 12:13

Though Joseph remained righteous in God’s eyes, that did not prevent him from suffering. Falsely accused of attempted rape, Joseph was thrown into jail (verses 13-20).

Recovery starts first and foremost by recognizing our sin and acknowledging the problem. Some of us might come to this conclusion ourselves. Some of us might require an Abimelech or Nathan to confront us verbally. No matter how we are made aware of our (potential) infidelity, working through adultery requires humility to admit our wrongdoing, demonstrate repentance, and seek God’s forgiveness for the sin.

Thankfully, his story does not end there. As we read on in Genesis 40-50, God blessed Joseph’s righteousness. Joseph was made the Pharaoh’s right-hand man, a position that allowed him to be a blessing to his family, his people, and the surrounding nations.

RECOVERING FROM ADULTERY Adultery is a sin with devastating, long-term consequences. For those who are in an affair and want to come out of it, Abraham and David’s story offer some insight into the ways we can walk towards the path of repentance and recovery.11

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MAKE THINGS RIGHT AND ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES David took Bathsheba into his household by marrying her, making their relationship right in the eyes of God and people (2 Samuel 12:27).

After receiving gifts and praying for the household, Abraham restored his relationship with Abimelech. In both instances, the Bible shows us the importance of

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doing all that we can to make things right instead of making the matter worse. Ending extramarital relationships. Being truthful about infidelity to one’s spouse and seeking his/her forgiveness. Being committed to working through the underlying issues with spiritual leaders and professional counselors. Making things right means doing whatever is within our power to turn away from our sin and demonstrate genuine remorse. It also means accepting responsibility for the resulting consequences. David tried to cover up his affair and resulting pregnancy by bringing Uriah back to spend some time with his wife. When that didn’t work, he had Uriah killed on the battlefield. As a result, God placed a curse upon his household and condemned the resulting child to death. Though David pleaded for God to spare the child, he ultimately accepted God’s decision. 11 As a theologian, the insight I provide here is very general in nature. Therefore, if you find yourself struggling with the sin of adultery and want to break free, I encourage you to seek the help of your pastors and/or professional marriage counselors.

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“While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’

When adultery leads to the conception and birth of a child, both parties must consider how to care for this child and integrate him/her into their lives.

But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” 2 SAMUEL 12:22-23

Such arrangements differ from situation to situation and require great sensitivity to provide the child with the best environment to grow up happy, healthy, and secure.

The remainder of David’s life suggests that he did nothing to make matters worse. His marriage with Bathsheba was redeemed with the birth of Solomon – the son who would go on to be the wisest man in the world and to build the temple of God. Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 1 KINGS 3:6

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Seek the guidance of spiritual leaders or family counselors to determine the best course of action for the circumstances at hand.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS This article calls us to make two decisions. First, we must proactively establish safeguards to protect ourselves, and people around us, from the temptation and sin of adultery. Secondly, we must cling to the hope that God, in His abundant grace and amazing love, will help anyone find forgiveness and healing from the consequences of adultery. The road to recovery can be long and sometimes lifelong. However, if we are willing, God is faithful to help us make the best of every situation for His glory.

Rev Dr Edwin Perona has been a faculty member of TCA College since July 2016. He earned his Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, USA. Dr Perona’s teaching interests include the New Testament, Biblical Greek, and the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament. Recommended Resources Carder, Dave. Torn Asunder: Recovering from Extramarital Affairs. Rev. and expanded ed. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1995. Macdonald, Gordon. Rebuilding Your Broken World. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004. Mylander, Charles. Running the Red Lights: Putting the Brakes on Sexual Temptation. Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1986.

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