HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

Ow Kuan Tai

Psalm 71:17, “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous work.”

God called me to be His child when I was in Secondary Four. It was in His divine plan that my ears were listening, my pride was humbled and my heart was submissive to the gospel. It was the day of my ‘O’ level preliminary chemistry test in the laboratory. After the test, I was not allowed to leave the laboratory, my Christian classmate shared the gospel with me and invited me to the then Tanglin Bible Class. Tanglin Bible Class changed its name to Life Bible Class (LBC) in 1986 to show our affiliation to Life Bible-Presbyterian (B-P) Church. I accepted the invitation. I went for the Bible Study on Saturday. On Sunday I received Jesus as my Lord and Saviour after worship service at Life BPC. Looking back, I thanked God for sending forth sisters-in-Christ to share the gospel with me at every available opportunity and the Lord for giving me simple faith to believe.

The initial years after I was saved were years of abundant learning of the Word of God without hindrance—no parental objections, no lack of Bible studies or worship. Going for Bible studies every Friday and Saturday, attending the worship service at Life B-P Church, prayer meeting, evangelism, Sunset Gospel Hour became a must with the Lord every week. I thanked God for giving me sound doctrine, theology and practical Bible lessons. I must say I am a well-fed baby.

After the years of training, the time for service came. The leaders of LBC had the vision of starting a church; but we must be very sure that it is God’s will for us to start a church. We prayed for God’s will as well as the location for our church and we also consulted with Rev Timothy Tow. With God’s leading and the help and blessing of Rev Tow, we started Tabernacle B-P Church. The first few years of Tabernacle B-P Church required hard labour and perseverance. But God is faithful. Brethren from LBC who came to Tabernacle B-P Church were not slothful in service—everyone was involved in at least one area of service. Though we were small in number, we had all the ministries of a church (worship service, Sunday School, prayer meeting, Bible studies, children ministry, evangelism, books and tape library, PA, choir). Also, God blessed Tabernacle B-P Church with new converts through evangelism. It was a great joy to have many parents bringing their children, and sibling coming with sibling and even grandparents were brought to worship in the church together. And Tabernacle B-P Church grew in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, and this continues to be so till today.

Life B-P Church will always have an important place in my heart as I got saved there and it has nourished me all the years. After serving in Tabernacle B-P Church for more than a decade, I was back to Life B-P Church. I always thought of Life B-P Church as a church with sound doctrines and is faithful to God’s Word so that no false teaching could creep in. I was wrong. It was a big surprise and I was very disappointed when I learnt of the different stands regarding the VPI and VPP issues among the church leaders. But I thank God I was with the E-Band Fellowship then. We had the faithful Rev Timothy Tow patiently explaining to us what the Bible has to say and also among ourselves we prayed. Many of us were torn over whether to stay at Life BPC or to go to the FEBC Worship Service or to another church. But God led some of us to True Life BPC and we called ourselves the Adults Fellowship at the advice of Rev Jeffrey Khoo.

Soon after, I had to undergo another of God’s testing. My mum was diagnosed with cancer and her prognosis was poor. She was told she has only a year to live; but God in His mercy saved my mum and prolonged her life. During the next few years of her life, it was a struggle for me. I wanted to take care of her for her remaining life but I did not know for how long and whether I could cope with her physical care and financially. It was both physically and mentally straining for me. But God did not leave me comfortless and alone; I received spiritual and financial support from True Life BPC, AF and brethren from Tabernacle BPC. This lasted for five years. Through these years, God’s comforting hand saw both my mum and myself through until she was received into Jesus’ arms. God’s blessings and giving were never lacking.

Dear brethren, all of us have our various tests from God; but He promised that His grace is sufficient for us (2 Cor 12:9). Let us be equipped with the Word of God so we can stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Rom 5:2). And one good place to start is to attend a fellowship group where members are of similar characteristics, background or age group. We study the Word of God together, pray for one another, support fellow members and are each other’s keeper.

MY BELOVED PRAYER-WARRIOR MOM

Esther Chew (Toronto, Canada)

“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” (Prov 31:28). Yes, ‘her children’ include her grandchildren too. I believe if her great grandson can speak, he will also say the same! Thank God for my beloved prayer-warrior Mom, who has inspired me in countless ways, and lessons learned have greatly enhanced my missions work. In our daily prayer sessions she always prayed for all her children, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandson by their Christian names. She also remembered and interceded for brethren as well.

Mom helped translate the Chinese letters from my students in China. She could also explain many of the Chinese strokes or Chinese idioms to me. Even when in China, I would phone Mom regularly and pray with her over the phone. I also shared about my ministry, and Mom would pray for me, my students and my outreach to the unsaved. Mom was a vital prayer partner in my missions work. Soon after my return from my 8th to China, Mom told Grace that should I be in China, when our Lord calls her Home, I was not to return, but to complete the work for our Lord there. Later she also communicated such to me. I said God’s will always be done. [I was supposed to depart in June, but somehow God over-ruled. I often pray God would permit me to be in Canada when He takes Mom Home.]

She was diligently reading the Bible daily, until her failing eyesight (aggravated by her diabetic condition). When she was in better health, Mom would read all the passages out loud. Thus, she could recite Psalm 23 and other precious verses. Often when I stumbled over the Cantonese pronunciation, or just provided the Mandarin, and even English, she filled in the missing words or completed the verses for me. I was most gratified that she could recall many important Bible passages. God blessed my daily prayer and Bible lessons with Mom, and I was able to learn how to pray and share in Cantonese.

She was willing to learn God’s Word from me, and strived to apply in her life. One lesson was to find at least one item to praise God and be thankful, even in the worst scenario, e.g. during pain or discomfort thank God for providing doctor or medication. Thus, during her hospitalization, when I prayed with her at her bedside, she mouthed the ‘Amen’ or nodded her head. God used me to encourage her with many familiar passages such as the whole armour of God (Eph 6:13-18). Despite much daily pain towards the end, Mom did not forget her Lord, as I continued to remind and reiterate that she was His precious child and the cherish sheep of our Divine Shepherd. How I marvel at God’s wondrous grace to Mom who continued to cling to Him, never murmuring, only pleading for strength through every sharp pain (Phil 4:13).

Praise God, like our late Dad, Mom had “fought a good fight, finished her course, and had kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). It had been unbearably painful to watch Mom suffering these many months. We truly thank God that Mom has been freed from all her excruciating pains and we rejoice she is enjoying her deserved rest at last. But we miss her greatly and still struggle to control our tears, during this period of deep grieving. Thank God it is just “Good-night Mom! We will soon see you in the morning, when we will also meet Dad again!” In the meantime, we cherish all our sweet memories of our beloved Mom and Dad, who will always live in our hearts because they have left their footprints in the sands of our Christian testimony. Amen!

[Madam Wong Kooi Yong (Mrs Chew Fook Wah) was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday August 9, 2014 at 1.15 pm. Her daughter Esther Chew is an FEBC graduate (MRE 03) and itinerant missionary to China. Esther worships with us at True Life whenever she is in Singapore. Our sincere condolences to Esther and the Chew family. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Ps 116:15).]

GREETINGS FROM KENYA

Dear Dr. Khoo,

Greetings in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I am very thankful to God for the safe journey back home when I left Singapore on 24th June 2014. It was a blessed time to meet and rejoice with the brethren here in Kenya.

I will always thank God for leading me to go and study in the Far Eastern Bible College. The days I spent there were not in vain for I have seen the benefits of it all even in these few days. It is my prayer that God will continue to preserve the College for many more years. All prayers made for this college will not be in vain for with prayers all things are possible (Matt 23:5).

Here in Kenya we are going on well by the grace of God. We do also thank God for opening for us many doors to serve Him. I am currently serving the Lord in one of our local churches with a walking distance of about 5 km from my home. Thank God also for the opportunity to teach in Grace Bible Institute (a young Bible school that was started in our church a few years ago—Good News Church of Africa). Currently we have two students. Continue praying for this Bible School so that many more faithful students will join for the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few (Matt 9:37).

Finally, pass my regards to Mrs. Tow, your family, FEBC fraternity and True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. All glory be unto the living and true God.

Yours in Christ,

John Chemalan

[John Kiprop Chemalan graduated from FEBC with his Master of Religious Education (MRE) degree on 11 May 2014. True Life BPC had financially supported him in his studies at FEBC and we are glad he is now serving the Lord back home in Kenya. We pray the Lord to direct more faithful students to study full-time at FEBC. “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matt 9:37-38).]