Back to 2021 Church Weekly List

Vol. XVIII No. 43
25 July 2021

COMBINED YOUTH CONFERENCE

Thessa Lagapa

The 17th Combined Youth Conference (CYC) was held from 22 to 25 June 2021 (Tues to Fri), 9.30am to 4.30pm. It was first announced to be a physical conference with Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church as the venue. However, due to COVID-19 heightened measures, CYC 2021 was moved to the online platform of Zoom, where participants attended from the comforts of their homes. This also allowed two youths from Myanmar to join. A total of 65 participants signed up and daily attendance fluctuated between 55 and 58.

Our main speaker, Pr Samuel Joseph, carefully prepared seven messages and spoke on the theme “Living for Life Above.” Our theme verse was taken from Colossians 3:1–5. The message topics were: (1) Christ Our Life (Col 3:1–4), (2) Mortifying Sin (Col 3:5–7), (3) Putting Off Vice (Col 3:8–11), (4) Putting On Virtue (Col 3:12–14), (5) Life in the Church (Col 3:15–17), (6) Life in the Family (Col 3:18–21), (7) Life in the Society (Col 3:22–4:1).

As Christian youths, most of us are busy with the temporal things of earth around us. We forget to look above and live for that which is eternal. “Living for Life Above” is like an alarm waking us up from our spiritual lethargy. The messages were not just gentle pleas but urgent calls for us to make sure we are living up to who we say we are.

“If ye then be risen with Christ” — If you really say you are a Christian, then “seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” COVID-19 has been a big wake-up call from the Lord for us to reflect on ourselves, whether our priorities have been aligned with God’s Word. If we are still stubbornly ignoring God, our speaker made sure to remind us again and again to set “your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Why should we do this? Why do we need to live for life above? Can that not be done in heaven itself? The reason lies here: “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” We may still be on earth, but we ought to live knowing that we are citizens of heaven, not of this sin-sick world. We are pilgrims passing through. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Christ is now the centre of our lives, and we must live to please and obey Him. And in order not to have anything block us from doing that, we ought to “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” And this is to be a daily fight against sin so that going through this sanctification process, we are made to be more like Christ and to be better witnesses.

Each day, after two messages in the mornings (with a break in between), discussions followed in break-out rooms. The questions were meditative, challenging us to be honest with ourselves and our true spiritual state. It was not only a time where we prayerfully made resolutions in our hearts, but through our sharing, we also strengthened one another, realising that we are not alone in our Christian walk here on earth.

The afternoons were filled as well. We had two workshops conducted by fresh graduates of the Far Eastern Bible College. On Tuesday afternoon, Bro David Chew conducted a workshop on “Biblical Guidelines for Worship Music,” and Bro Cornelius Koshy brought us through “Biblical Responses to LGBTQ+ Issues” on Thursday afternoon, and answering our questions pertaining to this topic at the end of each session. Both were pertinent topics for the youths of today which needed to be addressed. Peer pressure and “societal norms” are real. That is why convictions based on the Bible and made early in life will guide and protect us from the enemy’s attacks.

Despite the physical distance, fun and games were still made possible on Wednesday afternoon enabling us to get to know one another and to build godly bonds with likeminded brethren.

The last session of the Conference was dedicated to a Q&A session on the theme messages. Questions were submitted anonymously and Bro Samuel Joseph answered each question with much care and wisdom from God. The questions showed the struggles of the youths in their personal lives, and it was a good time to seek answers from God’s Word.

We praise God for the committee members who tirelessly planned this Conference regardless of the unpredictable changes of restrictions; for the three speakers who faithfully and passionately brought God’s Word to us; for all participants who dedicated their time to listen to God’s Word for the benefit of their spiritual growth; for the modern technology that allowed us to carry on with this Conference; and most of all, for our Heavenly Father to whom all glory and honour should be given. We look forward to Combined Youth Conference 2022!

GREETINGS

From Kemaman Life BPC

Dear Dr Khoo

Thank you for your message for our church and exhortation. I take this opportunity to thank you for 27 years of labour of love for our church. Before the opening of the church, Rev John Ling often invited me to attend the worship service in Kemaman Presbyterian Church but I told him I could not understand Mandarin. I know he must have prayed to God to set up the English worship service. So God moved Rev Timothy Tow to make this possible. I remember the inauguration service very clearly as though it was yesterday.

In His time God tested our faith and led us to separate from the Presbyterian Church. They would not even rent us the premises. Looking back, True Life BPC and Far Eastern Bible College also faced similar event. God is good and led us each step. He had sent Rev Lee Kim Shong to help us in a big way with the Lord’s Supper utensils, Bibles, hymn books and gifts. God had sent Sunday School teachers, saints for fellowship and VBS to help. We remain close friends spiritually and personally to this day.

Thank you for arranging the preachers schedule and they are the cream of preachers and we look upon them as ambassadors of Christ and I look forward to hear what message God has for us. They also look upon us as children of God in need of sanctification and the Word of God.

We look forward to see you face to face when God permits. Once again thanks.

In Christ

Eld Dr Wee Tiong Soon

July 4, 2021

From Gethsemani GAPPI

Dear Dr Khoo

Greetings in the blessed name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I want to thank you and True Life for your continued prayer and support for us. There are several things I would like to share with you in this report.

(1) Thank God that the church is still continuing in her services unto the Lord.

(2) The situation now in Batam is not getting better. More people are infected, but thank God we are well and protected. The two young people who got infected are cured and clean already. But their father Mr Aritonang has gone home to be with the Lord. Please pray for the bereaved family.

(3) We still continue with all our weekly ministries. We thank God that last Wednesday in our Bible study class, some young people from other parts of Indonesia joined us via Zoom. They are from Manado, Kupang, even Papua. Please continue to pray that many people will come and study God’s Word.

(4) We thank God that the Indonesian Bible Study conducted by Murni has resumed. There are 4 regular students: Adel (maid of sister Wendy), Margaretha, Suwantik (from Kemaman), and Kiki (maid of uncle Mahadevan). Beti (sister of Adel) joined once. There are actually some more from Sumba who would like to join, but their internet connection is not so good. Please pray for them.

(5)Suwantik from Kemaman told Murni she wants to be baptised. Murni has talked to Mrs Wee and sister Wendy. She plans to conduct a separate catechism class for her. It would be every Friday evening as they have agreed to that time, starting in August.

(6) Thank God I have bought a new motorcycle.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Shobastian
July 5, 2021

For details and registration, go to www.febc.edu.sg. Registration closes on Aug 1.

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