In the Philippines
We would like to praise and thank the LORD for the VBS’s that He allowed us to have recently. With Pastor Jeffrey Khoo sending us off to the airport with prayer and the LORD’s blessing, two sessions of one-day VBS’s were conducted at Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya on the 20th of May and at Urdaneta, Pangasinan on the 27th with the theme this year being, “Jesus Came for You!”There were around 90 children in Santa Fe and about 50 children in Urdaneta.
Due to the children still having school during the weekdays, we could only have the VBS on a Saturday when they are free. Both VBS’s were planned to start at 8 am and end around 5 pm. The VBS began with singspiration by Thessa and Biboy on the ukulele. The first lesson, “You are Lost!”, and second lesson, “Jesus Saves!”, were taught afterwards along with their corresponding worksheets. Sis Gyzza Dandoy (an FEBC alumna) taught the Pre-primary department; Sis Celeste Lagapa taught the Lowers department, Theya taught the Uppers department, and Bro Ricardo Mejedo (an FEBC student) taught the Teens department.
Snacks and lunch were lovingly cooked and provided by Sis Jonalyn (Bro Ricardo’s wife) and sisters in Christ. The afternoon was then filled with other activities such as art and craft, games and preparation for their praise items during the Gospel Rally.
We are thankful to the LORD that both programmes were accomplished by His grace despite many struggles, obstacles, and opposition to the work. Either big or small, any advancement to God’s Kingdom will be attacked by Satan and his armies. Despite all that, the seed has been planted and the Word of God has gone forth. We trust His Word that it will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). We sincerely pray that all the children, parents, and even bystanders who have heard the good news of salvation may one day receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. Soli Deo Gloria!
In Malaysia
Vacation Bible School (VBS) was back in Kemaman (Terengganu) after a three-year hiatus due to Covid-19. Praise the Lord for a team of 10 to help Elder Dr and Mrs Wee Tiong Soon of Kemaman Life Bible-Presbyterian Church conduct the VBS. They were Pastor and Mrs Jeffrey Khoo (little Charity came along), Teong Kean and daughter Sophia, Bo Hao and wife Nyssha, Nyssha’s sister Ysabel from Tabernacle BPC, Soo Cheng and Samuel Eio. We had an average of 20 children during the three days of VBS from May 31 to June 2. We went up to Kemaman by car with Soo Cheng, Bo Hao and Jason (Ysabel & Nyssha’s father) driving. We started off early at six in the morning, and arrived there at six in the evening, taking breaks for good food and fellowship along the way.
The VBS theme was “Jesus Is Coming Back Again”(Matt 24:42). The programme started every day at 9 am and ended at 3 pm. The activities consisted of singspiration, Bible lessons, art and craft, memory verse, and games with tea and lunch breaks in between. The children were divided into three groups: Preschool, Primary, and Teens. Preschoolers were taken by Sophia and Nyssha, Primary students by Bo Hao and Samuel, and teens by Teong Kean and Pastor Khoo. Mrs Eileen Khoo led in the singspiration with guitar accompaniment by Sam and Ysabel. Mrs Khoo was also in charge of the games and Nyssha the art and craft. Dr Wee and Sam fetched the children to VBS every day, and Mrs Wee and some church members helped to prepare lunch and snacks for all. The students learned about the Second Coming of Christ—the Rapture, Great Tribulation, Armageddon, Millennium, Judgement of the Great White Throne, the New Heaven and New Earth and the New Jerusalem. Most importantly, they were taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how they can be saved from the Judgement to come.
A Gospel Night was held on the final night for the parents, relatives, and friends of the children to attend. Bo Hao chaired the Gospel Night and Teong Kean shared the gospel from Matthew 5:20 where Jesus said, “That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”That night, the VBS students presented a song item on the blood of Jesus with its power to save.
Praise the Lord for the opportunity to sow the gospel seed and for those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. We trust that those who have yet to confess faith would do so soon. All the children and teens were attentive and receptive and well behaved. We had a pleasant time teaching them.
On Friday night, we had our worship service at the Kemaman Life BPC. It was a combined English-Chinese service. Pastor Khoo was the preacher and Pr Daniel Lim from Gethsemane BPC was the interpreter. The message was from Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”The Lord’s Supper was served.
We departed Kemaman early on Saturday morning and arrived safely home in the late afternoon. Thank God for journey mercies and for a most enjoyable time serving Him. Thank God for Elder Dr and Mrs Wee for hosting the VBS and for their kind hospitality. Thank God for all in Kemaman and from Singapore who served so willingly and cheerfully. Praise the Lord.
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”(Phil 2:1–4)
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