TRUE LIFE MINISTRIES

A Report by the Clerk of Session for the Year Ending 2018

The Church is blessed by the Lord with steady attendance in its worship services as well as prayer meetings, Sunday School and fellowship groups. Average attendance at each Lord’s Day worship service is about 500, including children.

Worship Service

The Church holds its Worship Service every Lord’s Day, 10.30 am at the Regional Language Centre (RELC), 30 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258352. The pulpit is jealously guarded, only preachers of the same doctrinal persuasion, i.e. of the reformed faith, taking a stand for biblical separation and standing squarely on the perfect inspiration and perfect preservation of Scripture, are invited to preach the Word. Besides Pastor Jeffrey Khoo, our preachers include Rev Dr Koa Keng Woo, Rev Lek Aik Wee, Rev Joseph Poon, Rev Clement Chew, Rev Eben Yoon and Dr Jose Lagapa.

The Chinese Worship Service holds its service on every Lord’s Day, at 10.30 am at Tanglin 1 & 2, RELC. Chinese ministers and preachers, namely, Pastor Jeffrey Khoo, Rev Kelvin Wong, Pr Kelvin Lim, Pr Daniel Lim, Pr William Goh, Pr Zhu Jianwei and Eld John Leong have been invited to speak to the Chinese congregation. Rev Dr Koa Keng Woo preaches every 4^th week of the month and administers the Lord’s Supper.

Children’s Ministry

The children are ministered to each Lord’s Day through the Children’s Ministry. They join the Church Worship Service with the adults at 10.30 am and proceed to the 6^th floor for the Children’s Worship after the offertory prayer.

Prayer Meeting

Prayer meetings are held every Friday evening at the RELC, and on the first Friday of each month, Family Worship cum Prayer Meeting is held at the homes of True Lifers. In keeping with the format of John Sung revival meetings, the study of God’s Word is led by Pastor Jeffrey Khoo and followed by a season of thanksgiving and testimonies, where the faith of members are fortified by hearing how the Lord has been good to the brethren. Prayer meeting has a regular attendance of about 100–120, with a good number of parents bringing their children with them to pray and seek the Lord’s blessing. Since December 21, prayer meeting is held at Godhill.

Sunday School

The Adult Bible Class (ABC) was held at the RELC Auditorium. Rev Clement Chew taught the book of Isaiah chapter by chapter. Average attendance was about 80.

The Chinese Sunday School completed the study of Systematic Theology and started on a new series on Calvin’s Institutes. The lessons were taught by Pr Zhu Jianwei and Eld Tai Mern Yee. Average attendance was about 15.

The Children’s and Teens’ Sunday Schools were led by Mrs Jemima Khoo with the assistance of a committed team of teachers and helpers. The classes were held on the 6^th floor. Ages of the students range from three to sixteen.

Catechism Class

Catechism class was held for 12 weeks from January to March for those who wish to be baptised, to reaffirm their faith, or to become church members. Basic doctrines of the Christian faith and of the Bible-Presbyterian Church are taught. Classes were conducted by Pastor Jeffrey Khoo and Eld Tai Mern Yee for the English and Chinese classes respectively.

Evangelism and Missions

Door-to-door HDB flats’ evangelism was conducted at Bukit Panjang HDB Estate on every 3^rd Sunday of the month with an average attendance of 30 coming each time to share the good news of salvation.

The Church supported missions in the following countries through regular financial support. Australia: Rev Nguyen Gia Hien (Brisbane B-P Church and Vietnamese B-P Church) and Rev Errol Stone (Faith Presbyterian Church, Perth), Malaysia: Dr Wee Tiong Soon (Kemaman Life B-P Church), Myanmar: Thang No (New Life Student Centre in Yangon), Palestine/Bethlehem: Rev Danny Awad and Rev George Awad (Baraka B-P Church), Philippines: Philippines Missions (Mindanao, Cebu), Africa: Missionary Bai Eun Young (Bible College of East Africa, Kenya), Rev Park Seungkyu (Bible College of East Africa, Tanzania and Chemchemi Kindergarten), and Philip Lagat (Radio Ministry).

Designated love gifts by worshippers were also given to Cambodia: Sun Sokha (Faith Krang Angkrang Church, Phnom Penh) and Tann Heng (Word of Life B-P Church, Siem Reap), and Korea: Park Jung Il (Covenant B-P Church).

Choir Ministry

The Church Choir ministers to the congregation through music. Its theme verse is “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2) Choir practices are held every Sunday after Worship Service and end at 1.30 pm. The Church Choir presents an item every first Sunday of the month. On special occasions such as Church Anniversary and Good Friday, an item is presented jointly with the Youth Choir. In addition, the Church Choir sings at vigil services and goes caroling every year the Sunday before Christmas.

The Youth Choir renders a song item in praise to God during fifth Sundays. On special occasions, song presentations and their practices are combined with the Church Choir. The practices start at 12.30 pm every Lord’s day (except on days of presentation) after the worship service. The average attendance is about 25.

The Chinese Choir aims to encourage members in learning good old fashioned hymns as well as spiritual songs in Mandarin. Practices take place every Lord’s Day in Tanglin 1 from 12:30–1:15 pm. In 2018, the Chinese Choir rendered items of praise to God at all Combined English and Chinese worship services, as well as on multiple occasions at the Chinese Worship Service.

Bible Study Groups

The Church has two foreign language Bible Study groups meeting on the Lord’s Day. The Indonesian and the Myanmar Bible Study groups are led by FEBC students as part of their ministry practicum. The Bible Study is attended mainly by the domestic maids employed by Church members.

Adults Fellowship

The Adults Fellowship (AF) meets every 2^nd Saturday afternoon of the month at the homes of fellow brethren. The average attendance is 25–30. In 2018, the AF studied on the theme “Living for Christ” under Dr Jose Lagapa. The AF celebrated its 13^th Anniversary Thanksgiving on 10 February 2018 at RELC with Pastor Jeffrey Khoo as our speaker. The AF also gave to missions and needy brethren in the Church.

Chinese Fellowship

The Chinese Fellowship meets bimonthly on the third Saturday at the homes of brethren. In 2018, we completed the Book Study of Zephaniah and started a second series on the book of Colossians with Pr Zhu Jianwei. For our 8^th Chinese Fellowship Thanksgiving Anniversary in November, a Gospel rally was organised where about a hundred heard the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ shared by our Pastor Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo.

Family Bible Fellowship

The Family Bible Fellowship (FBF) celebrated its 13^th year in January 2018. The FBF theme verses remained unchanged in 2018: Psalm 127:1 and Matthew 7:24. The focus in 2018 was on Christian love in action. Activities organized included messages, workshops, fellowship, sharing and discussion, dinner and a concurrent children’s program. There was also a BBQ outing for members to interact in an informal setting. Some members also started a small visitation group. On average, about 15–18 families and several individuals attended the meetings on a regular basis.

Filipino Bible Fellowship

The Filipino Bible Fellowship (FilBF) met in the afternoon every Lord’s Day in the Upper Room at Gilstead Road. Since October 7, the meeting is held at Goldhill Plaza (Godhill). FilBF evangelistic band goes to Orchard Road area and recently to Toa Payoh Town Park on Sundays (12:30–1:30 pm) to distribute tracts and share the gospel to fellow Filipinos. Seven Filipinos who confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, attended the Catechism and were baptized on Easter Sunday.

Pastor Jeffrey Khoo ministered to them during the “FilBF Meets the Session” event on January 7 and the 2^nd Anniversary Thanksgiving Service cum Gospel Meeting on July 29. Others who co-laboured with Dr Jose Lagapa in the preaching of God’s Word were Rev Reggor Galarpe, Pastor Renato Cortez, Eld Douglas Ho, Pr Dennis Kabingue and Bro Samuel Goh. The messages were taken from Gospel of Matthew. On December 23, a Christmas Gospel Meeting was held in Godhill.

A mission’s outreach, Christian Bible Fellowship (CBF), was started on October 28 in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu, Philippines. The FilBF financially supported one student in FEBC and the construction of a church building for New Camiling Fundamental Baptist Church in Valencia City, Bukidnon. One of the FilBF members, Bro Deccarlo Igot, was called to full-time service and would be enrolled at FEBC starting January 2019.

Ladies Fellowship

The Ladies Fellowship (LF) met every 1^st Wednesday evening of the month in the residence of Dr and Mrs Jose Lagapa at the Upper Room, Gilstead Road, and at Godhill from November onwards. Dr Jose Lagapa taught them from the scriptures about “Our Heavenly Father, the Giver of Every Good and Perfect Gift” (James 1:17). Many young people continue to come to the meeting every month.

Following the exhortation first given by our beloved founding Pastor, the late Rev Timothy Tow, to give to missions, the LF has been giving to the Bible College of East Africa in Kenya. For our 14^th Anniversary on February 7, the Lord’s messenger was Pastor Jeffrey Khoo.

Men’s Fellowship

The Men’s Fellowship (MF) started with some members from the Family Bible Fellowship (FBF) – Men’s Group. MF only became a full fellowship group in May 2018. The guiding verse for MF is Hebrews 10:24: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” The MF is attended by about 12 to 15 men.

Young Adults Fellowship

The Young Adults Fellowship (YAF) met on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month at the home of Pastor as well as other YAFers. The YAF motto is “A Living Sacrifice” taken from Romans 12:1–2. The theme for 2018 was “Spiritual Lessons from the Book of Joshua”. Pastor instructed us from the book of Acts and Pr Joshua Yong taught us from the book of Joshua. On other occasions, Pr Zhu Jianwei exhorted us to set our affections on things above and be thankful to God and Bro Samuel Goh taught us on “Faith before Christ returns”. The average meeting attendance was about 25.

The YAF commemorated her 6^th Anniversary Thanksgiving on October 13 at RELC. Rev Stephen Khoo preached on “God and Man” (Eccl 12:13–14). The annual YAF Retreat was held at the Resort Lautan Biru, Mersing from December 10 to 13. Pastor was the speaker on the theme “Money Matters in the Bible”.

Young People’s Fellowship

The Young People’s Fellowship (YPF) held its weekly meetings on Saturday afternoons in various locations, including the homes of Church members. The average attendance was about 30. In 2018, we were instructed from the book of Judges (by Pastor Jeffrey Khoo), the book of Haggai (by Eld Tai Mern Yee), and the books of James, 2 John, and 3 John (by Bro Samuel Joseph). In addition, on the 4^th and 5^th Saturdays we enjoyed combined meetings with other fellowship groups, as well as other special meetings including workshops on chairing and evangelism. We ended the year with our annual YPF Camp, held from December 25 to 28 at Resort Lautan Biru (Mersing). The camp theme was “In but Not Of the World.” Attendance at the camp was about 70 (including parents).