THE GOSPEL BELLS RANG LOUD AND CLEAR ON CHRISTMAS DAY

 

Christmas is a time to remember the 1st Advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and share His Gospel of salvation to all who will hear what Christmas is all about. Some Christians do not commemorate December 25th because they think it is a pagan holiday. Well, they miss out on a golden opportunity to evangelise. At True Life, we made sure the Gospel bells rang loud and clear on Christmas day—Jesus was born to save! The hundred or so who came to our Christmas Gospel Meeting on the 21st heard from Pr Joshua Yong what Christmas truly means. The children heard from Mrs Jenny Kan why Jesus came to die for their sins, and how the Gospel was first preached by none other than God Himself (Gen 3:15). We thank the Lord for the many who came for the first time. We pray they will trust in the Lord Jesus and continue to seek Him at True Life.

The church choir did well to carol in homes opened to them on the Lord’s Day of December 22nd. They visited the home of Roland Tay’s aged and ailing father who was so happy to see so many visit him and sing to him. Dr Jose Lagapa preached the Gospel and Dn Mern Yee rendered it in Mandarin.

The choir then visited the home of Dennis and Shauna Chew which brought much joy to them. Pastor preached from James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” The greatest Christmas gift of all must be the gift of eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16).

The last stop was the home of Mrs Elizabeth Mahadevan. She was glad the choir could visit her again to spread the Christmas cheer. She testified how her neighbours were delighted to hear the hymns and carols. Who knows how God will move them to trust in Him? John Chemalan, FEBC student from Kenya, gave the word. To cap the night, Bernard and Winnie invited the carollers to their home for one last session. It was a blessed night indeed!

As usual, our Christmas service was held on Christmas Eve. Over 400 came that night to worship the Lord. Many brought their loved ones and friends to hear the Christmas message. Pastor preached on the wise men and their gifts (Matt 2:1-11). The gift of gold speaks of Jesus as our King, frankincense points to His deity, and myrrh has to do with His humanity and sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Wisdom demands that we enthrone the Lord Jesus as King in our lives, worship Him as God and Creator, and trust Him as our only Saviour and Mediator.

What a night of worship! Praise the Lord for the instrumental ensemble (violin, cello, flute), and all the praise items by our children, Filipino and Chinese brethren, church and youth choirs, Deborah and Judith. The fellowship after the service was joyous and sweet. None was in a hurry to go home.

On Christmas Day itself, FEBC with our Kenyan and Filipino students carolled in the home of Mrs Chiang in appreciation for her love gift to missions and the needy in the Philippines. As a Christmas present, we gave her a copy of Deborah’s new music CD.

Although the world celebrate Christmas with fleshly revelry, we who believe in the Lord Jesus and know what Christmas means keep it with all reverence and holiness. We may be in the world, but we are certainly not of the world (John 17:14).

Let us not forget the message from Matthew 25:1-13 given at the Watchnight Service, New Year’s Eve. Since the Lord’s return can be at any moment now, let us all be wise and watchful. Let us be like the wise men of the Lord’s 1st Advent and the wise virgins of His 2nd who were all ready when He came. Let none of us be caught unprepared when He finally comes for us. JK

CHRISTMAS IN KATHMANDU

Pr Rajan Shrestha (17 Dec 2013)

Now we are preparing for the Christmas Gospel programme. And for this, I have translated into Nepalese language two articles “Holy Night, Humble Night” and “The First Christmas Prophecy” written by Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo. These two articles will be in the church bulletin of Kathmandu BPC. I pray and hope that through these articles, church members and non-Christians will benefit from the Christmas programme. About 100 people including non-believers will attend, and this will be a great opportunity to reach out to them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

GOD’S GOOD HAND UPON US IN KEMAMAN

A testimony by Dr Wee Tiong Soon in the Kemaman Life BPC Weekly

9 December 2013

Dearly beloved, each one of us has been led by God’s good hand in our lives in individual ways. The flooding of Kemaman from 3rd to 4th December 2013 had touched every one of us. We thank God that all our church members are safe and sound and God has provided for our every need.

I have a short testimony of how God had led us during those few days. Before our Vacation Bible School (VBS) we had prayed for good weather and good response from the young and old. God indeed held back the rain for three good days from the 27th to the 29th of November 2013. We had eight helpers from Tabernacle BPC and one from True Life BPC, Singapore, and one from a Presbyterian Church in Perth, Australia. We had about 40 plus children and even spent an afternoon at the Geliga Beach. The Ladies Fellowship had provided all the work needed to feed 60 plus people. They took care of all the meals— breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner for three days. We are thankful for the work done.

After we sent our helpers to the bus station at 10.30 pm on the last day (29 November) the rain started to pour. It did not stop until it flooded most of Kemaman.

On the 4th of December, Mrs Wee, Meri Rosalina Sanam and I left Cukai for LCCT (Airport). Meri was going home to Timor, Indonesia. In the night before we prayed for God to open the way for us. Indeed we left at 10 am and reached LCCT on time after going through five flooded roads. Sister Selene following us half an hour later and she was not able to get through at Chendor but made a detour through Paka, Santong, Trengganu Tengah, Ceneh, Jabor and then the East Coast Highway. So, on our return journey we followed her route but got lost and landed in Air Jernih. We continued towards Kemasik. Air Jernih-Kemasik was not passable the day before. So we are very thankful God opened the way for us.

All along the journey we were unable to contact our church members in Kemaman as the communication towers had no electricity to function. At Awana Kijal we met many Kemaman folks, and were told there was no tap water or electricity in all Kemaman. But when we reached home, we had electricity and there was much clean rain water for our use. We got tap water the next day much earlier than most people, and were able to help others wash their clothes.

Before this flood Mr Ang used to send us fish regularly, but this time we were surprised at the amount he sent until my two freezers were full and we had to tell him to stop. Brother Tan Keng Guan also gave us lots of dressed chicken. Now we know that God knew there was a need for food so that we can share the fish and chicken with friends during this flood. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Even the papaya trees started to ripen and we had fruits to share.

When we think of the way God has led us and provided for us we cannot help but sing praises to Him like the hymn-writer who penned, “God Leads Us Along”,

Some through the waters,
Some through the flood,
Some through the fire,
But all through the blood;

Some through great sorrow,
But God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.

God bless you all.

VERSE FOR THE WEEK

“Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” Prov 28:6

 

Christmas Carolling 2013