To See How They Do
“And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.” (Acts 15:36).
We thank the Lord for the blessed opportunity to visit Brisbane Bible-Presbyterian Church (BPC) once again to “see how they do.” Our last visit was in 2009. I am pleased to report that by the grace of God they are doing well. The Church continues to take a faithful and uncompromising stand for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev Hien Nguyen, as a vigilant watchman of God’s little flock there, does his best to prevent any worldliness and falsehood from entering and endangering God’s little lambs and sheep. The strait and narrow way is not popular to many, even those who profess to be Christians. But the Lord says, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt 6:24).
In a world full of temptations and evil, Brisbane BPC serves as a spiritual haven and refuge for young people who have gone to Brisbane’s universities for their tertiary education. Currently in Brisbane BPC, we have brethren from Calvary Tengah BPC, Jesus Saves Mission (JSM), and New Life BPC studying in the University of Queensland and Bond University. Rev Hien conducts a Bible study for them every Saturday in his home.
We thank the Lord for Brother Michael Benjamin who assists Rev Hien as Secretary and Treasurer of the Church. He looks forward to joining us for our Church Camp in Penang. Rev Hien as usual will also come for the camp. Do welcome both of them warmly when they come.
Praise the Lord for open doors for Rev Hien to minister to the Vietnamese believers in Brisbane. Rev Hien writes weekly doctrinal and devotional articles for a Vietnamese newspaper whoseeditor is a Christian. The Lord has also granted him opportunities to preach in four Vietnamese churches, and he has been invited back to these churches now and again to share the Word of God. The pastors of the Vietnamese Evangelical Church and the Vietnamese Lutheran Church and their members attended the Bible Seminar on growing God’s Church God’s Way. Some returned to join us on Sunday afternoon for the worship service. Truly, it was a blessed time of fellowship and mutual encouragement in the Word and Work of the Lord. Our Vietnamese brethren appreciated very much the Word that was taught, and showed a genuine love for the Lord and hunger for His Word.
Surely the fellowship and hospitality shown by the pastor and members of the Church have refreshed my spirit and those who were with me. If you are ever planning to study in Brisbane or there for work or vacation, make sure you attend Brisbane BPC on the Lord’s Day, for the Lord has established the Church there for your own spiritual good. JK
Warmth of Christian Fellowship in Brisbane
A Testimony by Mrs Chan Sok Sin
On 9 March 2012, the four of us— Deborah, Judith, Kay Heem and I joined Pastor and Jemima to Brisbane Bible- Presbyterian Church for their Bible Seminar on 10 March and the Church’s 5th Anniversary Thanksgiving on 11 March.
I had always wanted to visit Brisbane B-P Church to encourage Rev Hien and his family; so I was very glad that by God’s Providence, Kay Heem and I could make the trip this year. The six of us brought a total of 84kg of Bibles and books to Brisbane B-P Church to be given away. Aligned with the topic of the Bible Seminar, “Growing the Church God’s Way”, the books given out included Pattern for Church Growth and Missions, Asian Awakening and John Sung My Teacher, all authored by the late Rev Dr Timothy Tow. The Seminar was held in a hall which Rev Hien had converted from a garage.
I had heard that Brisbane B-P Church had a small congregation. So, it was a pleasant surprise when 50 people, mostly Vietnamese and among whom were two non-Bible Presbyterian pastors, came to the Bible Seminar. It was full-house; Praise the Lord!
The message was based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 with Rev Hien translating it into Vietnamese. Pastor taught that in order for the church to achieve growth God’s way, it needed the power of the Holy Spirit working mightily through the preaching of the full gospel of Jesus Christ and by practising biblical separation. During the exposition on salvation in Jesus Christ by faith alone, a lady interrupted the message to express her doubts that good works were not counted towards salvation. I was taken aback by the question and at the same time glad, for it gave Pastor the opportunity to elaborate further the simplicity of the gospel. Even for many of us who have heard it many times, the gospel truth still sounded sweet and it warmed our hearts. We were also ministered to by Deborah and Judith who presented three songs in praise of our living Saviour.
The Bible Seminar ended about half- an-hour later than planned but no one was in a hurry to leave. Many took the opportunity to ask Pastor more questions during Dinner Fellowship that ensued.
The next day which was the Lord’s Day, the 5th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service was held. It began at 3:15pm after a short prayer meeting. About 35 came to thank and worship God, including some “founding members” who could not attend Brisbane B-P Church regularly due to distance. Deborah and Judith praised God in songs and a group of three students praised God with instruments—flutes and guitar. Pastor exhorted the congregation from Revelation 6, to get ready for the soon return of Jesus Christ. After the Service, many stayed behind for fellowship over dinner lovingly prepared by Rev Hien’s family.
We left the church at about 7:30pm joyful and grateful to the Lord for His goodness and grace. I was also much encouraged from the fellowship with Rev Hien and his family, and the brothers and sisters-in-Christ whom I met there.
Through this trip, I personally witnessed and experienced the warmth of Christian fellowship which was only made possible by the common bond in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Seeing how hard Rev Hien worked, I realised it was tough to be a missionary in a foreign land. Not only having to be faithful in “feeding the flock” with God’s Word, Rev Hien also had to look into the needs of the Church and her members. Therefore, just as Paul has taught us to “bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2), we must support our missionaries and their ministries in prayer without ceasing. (Photos by Dr Chan Kay Heem.)
