Saved to Serve
J T Joseph
Being raised in a family that has been Christian for four generations on my mother’s side, and three on my father’s, is a precious heritage. However, as we were Methodist, I had no exposure to the Reformed Faith till 1977. My mother was the “spiritual leader” of the family. She would gather the six of us each day to read the Bible and pray. Though the practice gradually ceased as we entered our late teens, the family worship instituted by Mother left an indelible mark on all of us.
I was confirmed a member of the Methodist Church in November 1963. The years following became, however, “desert years”. I ceased attending church. Nevertheless, the fear of God remained always with me, and kept me from many temptations. In 1977, shortly after my marriage to Patricia, a colleague at work handed me a tract whose contents have faded from memory. That tract was stamped with the name & address of Sharon Bible- Presbyterian Church – my first introduction to “B-P”.
Attending Sharon BPC and the Sunday-morning classes at Life BPC, 1978-1980, were fruitful indeed. In 1980, I transferred membership to Sharon BPC, and was elected a deacon in 1981. Teaching a Sunday-class for teens began that year, and the teaching ‘ministry’ continued without a break till April 2002. The latter years of teaching at Sharon were directed at young adults. Among the topics covered were Acts of the Apostles and the Westminster Confession of Faith.
In October 1984, I left for a two- and-a-half month course in Seattle (USA), my wife remaining behind. A life-changing experience was soon to follow. I found a small, very fundamental (“KJV only”) Baptist church – Gateway Baptist Church – and began worshipping with them. One Sunday in November, the pastor (Darvin Shipman – a Texan) preached a powerful sermon on the need for believers to put sinful inclinations, habits and practices out of their lives. At the conclusion, as is typical of Baptist churches, there was an altar call. This particular call was directed at believers (not unbelievers), in keeping with the theme of the sermon. I felt moved to go forward, where I knelt down and prayed silently, surrendering my life to the Lord who had redeemed me. This was a defining moment for me, for life was never the same afterward.
In November 1985, I was ordained an elder by the Presbytery, and the duties of eldership were now added to those of teaching. An additional ministry followed in June 1992 – helping out at the Rehoboth Evening Service started by the late Pastor Burt Subramaniam. My work at Rehoboth ceased after ten years, when the leadership aligned itself with the “Bible has mistakes” position.
My family and I started attending True Life BPC on 29 February 2004, and we have continued steadfastly with the brethren of TLBPC ever since. My wife and I transferred membership to TLBPC in 2007, when we became convinced of the Lord’s will in the matter.
Wonderful to Fear the Lord
Leong Kwok Whye
When I was a student in 1980, a Christian brother from Campus Crusade for Christ shared a tract with me, namely:
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- God LOVES you and offers a wonderful PLAN for your life.
- Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God’s love and plan for his life.
- Jesus Christ is God’s ONLY provision for man’s sin. Through Him you can know and experience God’s love and plan for your life.
- We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives.
On that day, I believed the gospel and asked Jesus Christ to forgive me of all my sins and I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. There was great rejoicing among the Christians distributing the tracts but like a new-born babe, I did not understand the excitement over a new believer. In the follow-up session, the gospel message was elaborated and I was encouraged to read God’s Word, the Bible. My former colleague, Mr Robert Goh brought me to Life BP Church to be further indoctrinated in the Word of God. God was very gracious to me as He opened the pages of the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of Mark to my heart. The Book of Acts was exciting also. I was thrilled by accounts in these pages, so much so that my mother had to remind me not to neglect my course-work. Thank God for a caring mother. I attended Life BP Church catechism classes and was baptized on 1981. Spiritually speaking, I grew up in Life BP Church.
I attended FEBC night classes and it was a delight to my soul. However, it was not smooth sailing all the way. Soon, the stress of work and family weakened me. I was not praying earnestly and I backslided spiritually. There were occasions when the family was under stress but the Bible lessons were a balm. There was pain but the Word gave us hope. God gives us grace and an enduring faith. This faith in Christ overcame the troubles in life and showed me the love of God.
God the Father corrects His children. In the trial of faith, I realized that I had not understood the love of God sufficiently. It is easy to love the good; do I love the weak? I had to humble myself and confess my sin of pride before the Lord to learn God’s love. As I learned to love the weak, I realized the magnanimity of God’s love when the Son of God came to die for my sins. Loving the weak requires that I learn not to be selfish but be obedient to God’s Word. It requires a humble and submissive spirit. It is one thing to read of God’s love and another thing to learn it personally. I have learned to trust in the Lord fully in all things and prayer comes first in our home. Yes, as a family we have many weaknesses, but God have made us strong in His grace. 2 Cor 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Thank you Lord, for your love, grace and mercy.
Now, I have learned Ps 111:10: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” It is wonderful to fear the Lord for the Word of the Lord is a lamp unto my feet. It leads me to the way of life, to peace and joy and eternal life in Christ. The Lord is truly good. Praise be to God!
O Lord My God
Philip Goh
O Lord my God, my days of youth was spent without a thought for Thee.
Day by day was spent sinning against Thee.
O wretched sinner that I am, before Thee I stand condemned.
O Lord who am I That Thou should be mindful of me?
But in Thy mercies, Thou looked from Heaven, And considered a wretch like me.
Thou gave Thine only begotten Son, That through Him, I might be reconciled to Thee.
Now 46 years or so have passed, Since Thou hast led me to know Thy Holy path.
When I first stepped foot into Thy church, O what unspeakable joy when Thy Word was heard.
He who has ears let him hear, What Thy Word says into his ear.
O Lord my God, 46 years in Thee have now passed me by.
I know not whether to laugh or cry.
I searched my soul and asked myself why, What have I done to earn salvation prize?
Nothing, but only the blood of Christ!
Thou sendest days of sunshine and rain, These 46 years of sickness, toil and pain.
All because Thou art moulding me to gain, A better life in Heaven’s Glory, not in vain.
Now in my days of old I pen, When man is given threescore years and ten.
Have I my life served thee in joy or grief? Thy will be done through me, my plea!
O Christian, are you ready? Thy redemption draweth nigh!
In this sinful and wretched world no more to roam, When Jesus comes back to take us home.
When the Lord returns with His saints, Will we be found with Jesus and with Him to reign?
Editor’s Note: In the coming Annual Congregational Meeting (ACM) on April 27, 2008, Eld JT Joseph, Mr Philip Goh and Mr Leong Kwok Whye, have been nominated to stand for elections together with present session members, Rev Dr Timothy Tow, Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo, Dn Tan Beng Lee, Dn Wilson Tan, and Dn Charles Kan, to form the new church session for the years 2008-2011. All members are required to attend the ACM.
