FELLOWSHIP MEETINGS ONLINE

The fellowship groups have one by one started to use teleconferencing platforms to hold their meetings. You are encouraged to join them. I am sure they will be happy to have new ones. Welcome one and all.

The Filipino Bible Fellowship (FilBF) were the first to start having online meetings. It began with their Gospel Meeting on March 29. It was supposed to be held at Godhill and they were praying for at least 10 newcomers. But when public meetings were banned suddenly, they had to resort to online evangelism. It turned out to be a blessing for more than 200 saw the gospel video. Since then, the FilBF have been conducting their meetings through their YouTube channel. Enquiries: Dr Lagapa (jtglagapa@gmail.com).

The Young People’s Fellowship (YPF) were quick to catch onto the online platform. Samuel Joseph who is ministering to the YPFers reports: “By God’s grace, we have been meeting every week at the usual time. Attendance is generally about the same as our previous in-person YPF meetings; about 25–30 people meet online.

“We are using the video-conferencing software Zoom. We begin with an opening prayer and a hymn (we are still trying to work out the best way for us to sing together; for now, Emily and Tim sing and play the piano while the rest of us follow along in our individual homes). After that is the message (we are continuing our study of Ezra), which is viewed on YouTube (similar to how the Sunday messages are set up). Finally, we meet online again for a time of sharing and prayer. We split into groups for this (Zoom’s software allows for such division into groups).

“The young people seem quite comfortable with the online setting; even though it is obviously not ideal compared to meeting in person, they are able to share and pray together. Right now they seem to be focused on trying to keep up with their studies and manage their time while isolated at home. I think they do also organise their own meetings online, to keep in touch with each other.” Enquiries: Pr Samuel Joseph (r.samuel.v.joseph@gmail.com).

The Young Adults Fellowship (YAF) had their first online meeting on Apr 4. Sam Goh preached live and they had a time of sharing and prayer thereafter. Enquiries: Bro Herbert (herbertgoh@gmail.com).

The Men’s Fellowship (MF) had their April meeting via Zoom with Rev Dennis Kwok as speaker. They will have their 2^nd anniversary on Tuesday May 5 and pastor will speak on the topic “Men Imitating Christ: Christ’s Commitment”. Enquiries: Bro Beng Teck (awbengteck@hotmail.com).

The Chinese Fellowship (CF) conducted their first online meeting via GoToMeeting yesterday May 2. They are studying the book of Colossians with Pr Jianwei. Enquiries: Eld Mern Yee (mernyeetai@gmail.com).

The Family Bible Fellowship’s (FBF) live video conferencing was held for the first time yesterday. The next one will be on May 30 at 3pm. Speaker: Joshua Yong. Enquiries: Dn Kay Heem (kayheem@yahoo.com).

The Adults Fellowship (AF) continue their study of Malachi via video lectures by Dr Jose Lagapa. They keep in touch with one another through WhatsApp. Enquiries: Dn Charles (kankp@singnet.com.sg).

The Ladies’ Fellowship (LF) are studying 2 Peter via video sermons by Pr Joshua Yong. They keep in touch with one another through WhatsApp. Enquiries: Sis Judith (judithkds@gmail.com).

Our church prayer meeting is now decentralised to the various fellowship groups. The prayer list is sent to the respective coordinators each week for distribution.

Although such virtual meetings are not ideal, we have to make do with them for now. Pray that we can gather and meet physically again soon.“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb 10:25). JK

EASTER TESTIMONIES IV

Living in Hope

I was born into a Buddhist family. Buddhism is a polytheistic religion and salvation is dependent on good deeds. There is no concept of the origin of sin and the creation of the universe. Life is all about believing in the law of karma. I have to try my best to balance between good deeds and bad deeds, and hopefully at the end I can qualify to enter into heaven. Also, only a human being can attain enlightenment and become a Buddha to break the cycle of karma.

When I was in my mid-twenties, I had a friend who was a Christian. He invited me to attend a gospel rally at the indoor stadium. The pastor preached about the origin of sin, hell, and judgement, and how Jesus is the only Saviour. I accepted Jesus Christ that night and said the sinner’s prayer so that I might escape the punishment of hell.

When I attended the Sunday Service in a Bible-Presbyterian (B-P) Church and the evening classes of Far Eastern Bible College, I began to understand that God is the Creator of the universe and that sin came from Adam and Eve and why all human beings are sinful. By studying the Bible diligently, I am able to understand wonderful truths of history and humanity as revealed in God’s Word. I began to realise that my entire life is rather temporal. Thus, I have turned my focus and direction to understand the meaning of life by reading the Bible intensively and extensively.

The Bible explicitly tells us the truth of life. Hence, I always remind myself to look upon Jesus Christ, the one who lived, died and resurrected and who is preparing a place for me in His everlasting kingdom. Now, I have a better hope in life to receive God’s gracious and priceless salvation by having true faith in the Only Begotten Son of God—Jesus Christ—the only Redeemer and Saviour of the world.

The present world is cursed with disasters and destruction, diseases and death, and hatred without peace. But I am faithfully and patiently waiting upon the Lord to restore the world to perfection. I regard God’s promise as the only hope given to all humanity. Whoever repents of his sins and believes in the one and only Saviour—the Lord Jesus Christ—with a sincere and faithful heart shall not perish but be saved from eternal condemnation in hell. William T

Kept and Guided by God

I grew up in a Christian home. My parents brought me and my brothers to church when we were young and we attended the Sunday School of New Life B-P Church for many years.

When I was a child, I asked my father questions about the different religions. This was because my classmates in school came from different religious backgrounds. My father spent some time explaining to me and what I remember most significantly was that he told me Jesus is the only Saviour—the way, the truth and the life. No other religious founder said this, only Jesus. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and was baptised as a child. I had my faith reaffirmed when I was a teenager.

When I was an undergraduate, my father became very ill. We went back to the Brethren church where my father came from as my uncle was a church worker there. It was not long after that my father was called home to be with the Lord. A few years later, I started attending Sunset Gospel Hour at Calvary Pandan. I transferred my membership soon after and worshipped there regularly together with my mother. It was there that I got married to my husband. We have a daughter, Pearlyn. It is our prayer that she will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Truly, God has kept us moment by moment in His love and I want to thank Him for leading and guiding us through every day of our lives. To God be the glory! Sarah L

God Watches over My Family

I was born into a Christian family. I am the youngest of five siblings. My father came from China at the age of 11 and my mother at the age of five. They came to know the Lord through relatives and started attending a Brethren church.

I was baptised at Geylang Gospel Hall in 1965. When I was in my early twenties, I was not attending church regularly. At that time, I was working in a British shipping company. I met my husband who was also working in the same company and he brought me back to church again. We got married in 1975 and moved to Marsiling. We have three children, a daughter and two sons.

New Life B-P Church was near our place so we transferred our membership and began worshipping there every Sunday. When our children were in their teenage years, my husband became very ill. We went back to the Brethren church where my husband came from. My brother-in-law is a church worker there. It was not long after that my husband was called home to be with the Lord. After a while, my daughter started attending Calvary Pandan B-P Church and I went with her.

One of my sons is attending an Anglican church. My other son is attending True Life with me. Today, together with my daughter and her family, I would like to transfer my membership to True Life. Thank God for watching over my family throughout all these years. The Lord is good! Linda Yap