The Singapore Mission Team s Visit and an Eventful Week of Witnessing

MARANATHA MESSENGER Weekly Newsletter of Private Circulation Only MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 8 Jan 2006 Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore 509851 Tel: (65) 6545 8627 Fax: (65) 6546 7422 E-mail: maranatha.bpc@pacific.net.sg Website: www.maranatha-bpc.com * Sunday School: 9.45 am Worship Service: 10.45 am Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm Pastor: Rev (Dr) Jack Sin (HP: 9116 0948) The Singapore Mission Team s Visit and an Eventful Week of Witnessing The Maranatha Missions Team s visit to Covenant BPCI was the first of its kind. Few months ago, we were informed from our mother church that twelve people will be coming to Bangalore as part of the Missions Team. When we heard the number, we were a bit puzzled. Some of the concerns that immediately flashed out in our minds were: How to accommodate them? How about the food and other logistics? Will there be children and people coming for the various activities planned? Another major concern was the safety and security of the team members because of the anti Christian sentiments in Bangalore. Since this was the first ever visit by a Missions Team, we were inexperience in hosting a team. However, it required us to pray earnestly and depend upon God rather than in our own wisdom and strength. All praise and thanks to God for He has taken care of all our concerns; at the end of one week s activities we all were marvelled by the way the Lord has blessed us with a fruitful week of witnessing for the Lord. The team arrived on Monday, Dec 19, at 10.40 pm. The next day the team left for Mysore to visit some places of historical importance. (Before independence, Bangalore and many parts of Karnataka were under the Maharaja of Mysore). The three and a half hour journey was demanding with bumpy roads and dust due to the ongoing widening of the highway. We thank the Lord for protection along the way. While we were in Mysore, we experienced God s guidance each step of our way. One of the main focuses of the Missions Team s visit was the three days (Thursday Saturday) special Christmas programme for the children. We thank God for more than 30 children who came for the programme, many of which were from Hindu families. The children were divided into two groups, English speaking and Kannada speaking children. The Kannada speaking children came from very poor family background, as their parents were construction workers, living in sheds made of tarpaulin. Nonetheless, they were receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is wonderful to know that when the call was given to them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, three of them came forward and prayed the sinners prayer. They came without wearing proper dress, and having proper food. They were downtrodden in the society, forsaken and exploited by all. However, the love of Jesus Christ has found them, and we were able to let them know why Christians are different. The English-speaking children too were receptive. Most of the children who attended our programme never had such an experience of attending a church programme before. However, they came with much enthusiasm and eagerness to learn the Christmas story, and about the love of God revealed in a manger in Bethlehem. On the last day, one young girl, Surya, accepted the Lord as her personal Lord and Saviour. We praise God for every sinner who confessed his sin and put his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the children s programme, we were able to make contact and friendship with several families. We hope that some of these parents will come and attend our

worship services and be part of the Covenant family. On Friday evening, we had a revival meeting, where Pastor Jack shared the Word of God on spiritual revival: Prepare to Meet Thy God. We praise the Lord for more than 30 people attended the meeting, and were blessed by the faithful preaching of God s Word. Another highlight of the Missions Team s visit was the Saturday evening s Christmas carolling. We were able to visit five homes, two of which were Hindus. One girl called Durga, along with her mother was receptive to the gospel, as we have invited them for the next day s worship service, both mother and daughter came for the morning and evening services. It was by the providential guidance of the Lord that we were able to visit their house, which was not planned earlier. We look forward to reaching out to their entire household with the gospel of salvation. Sunday, being the Christmas day, was the climax of our activities. For the morning English worship service, we had a blessed time of worshipping the Lord and remembering His death on the cross through the Lord s Table. It was wonderful to see Durga coming for worship service along with her mother. Justin had to translate the message into Tamil for the sake of Durga s mother. The evening service was also blessed, where many came to worship the Lord in the Kannada and Tamil languages. There was one Mr Ng, a Malaysian working in Bangalore, also came through the contact of Mr George Tan and Dr Koh via the guest house which they were staying in. After the worship service we had a fellowship dinner with all the worshippers, a delicious Chicken Briyani, prepared by Justin s parents. Overall, our hearts were filled with thanksgiving and praises to our Most High God for His mercies on us to count us as His instruments in His hands to proclaim the message of salvation to the people around. The merciful God has taken care of all our concerns and blessed us abundantly in every area, especially in the areas of accommodation, food, good health, and security. Praise the Lord for the many people, both young and old, who came and heard the gospel. For the last one week, the Lord had done great things in our midst. This has further strengthened our faith in Him, challenged us to commit our ways unto Him, and continue to serve Him with fervency and earnestness. Truly, we believe that this is just the beginning, and the Lord has great things for us in the days to come. We are very grateful to our mother church, Maranatha BPC, to Pastor Dr Jack Sin, Angie Sin, and all the other ten members of the team, for their ministry in our midst, to the needy people of our land, India. We thank the Lord for their love for the Lord, the burden to reach out to the perishing souls, and willingness to sacrifice many things for the gospel sake. We have been touched in the depth of our hearts by their labor of love. May the Lord continue to give them the joy of Christian service. Friends, thank you for your prayers, and standing together with us in the work of the Lord. I want to conclude with the challenge that has come to us, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor 15:58). Amen! Dr George Skariah Covenant BPC, India * * * * * * * * * Testimony 1 God has opened the door for us in Bangalore and in obedience to His Great Commission to go forth and teach all nations. The mission team arrived in Bangalore on 19 Dec 05. A number of programmes were organised by the team. There were the Vacation Bible School (VBS), the Revival Meeting, Carolling and the Sabbath Worship Services. We also set up the Children s Library. Members themselves had their own quiet time with the morning devotions, reflections

and prayer following each activities for the day. About 30 children attended the VBS on three consecutive mornings. The children were grouped under English-speaking and Kannada-speaking. Each morning they were presented with a Bible verse: Matt 1:23; John 3:16 and Luke 2:11. The children showed their enthusiasm and were fast learners. They were supportive and encouraged one another. Many of them could recite the verses given the time allotted. I saw great potential among these children and three Kannada-speaking children accepted the Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. Each session ended with quizzes, games and refreshments, which the children enjoyed tremendously. The revival meeting on Friday evening was well attended. The message was delivered by Pastor, Dr Jack Sin. On Christmas Eve, we carolled at five houses. At each home, a Christmas message was shared by one of our members. Two Church services were held on Sunday (Christmas Day); the English and the Vernacular (in the evening), which were well received. The team sang the missionary hymn, To India with God s Love at both services. I thank God for the privilege to go with Maranatha s mission team to witness to the people in Bangalore. I also thank God I can help in the worksheets, quiz, catalogued the children s books, led in one of the morning devotions, introduced the mission team to the congregation and shared one of the Christmas messages during carolling at the homes. The Church s mission for Bangalore is IN the right direction; we first plant the Church before we embark on any social activities and the Church takes full responsibility. I have been to one other mission trips in Thailand where the Church was in partnership with other missions and where the priorities were on social activities such as orphanages and drug rehabilitation centres. The saving of souls should be the primary mission of any Church. Dr Koh Thong Sam Testimony 2 For with God nothing shall be impossible, said one of the Kannada kids who attended the VBS when asked how could Mary be pregnant when she is not married? Such is the kind of simple faith displayed by the Kannada children that truly touched me deeply. The Kannada children live in tents and have little education, little in life but during the VBS programme, they were keen, earnest and very excited to learn. They showed kindness and affection amongst each other and the older ones were always ready to help the younger ones along. How our Lord blessed their hearts with joy and love! The Lord had in His own amazing ways showed me how small my faith had been in trusting Him in all situations. It was during this trip that I saw brother George and sister Bessy trusted the Lord in the preparations, planning and the executions of the whole programme, especially in getting the children from the English speaking class to join us in the VBS and the various services. Indeed our God answers prayers and He was in our midst during the entire trip, ensuring that everything worked well according to His will. Praise the Lord for having me part of this blessing! Sally Lum Testimony 3 This is my third my mission trip with Maranatha, the first two were at Chiangmai. Praise be onto God that this is my best mission trip so far. I can t exactly pin-point why I feel this way. The Lord had taught me precious unforgettable lessons after the first two mission trips. Perhaps this time is so different, because the language barrier is not there. Even though, I was assigned to teach the Kannada children who probably didn t understand much of what I taught, Justin s special rapport with them and his interpretation of ten sentences to my one sentence more than made-up for the communication gap. I was especially moved by their physical and spiritual hunger. When we reached out to them

with the love of Christ and fed them with physical and spiritual food; there was the joy and gratitude on their dusty and scruffy faces as they shook our hand; that warmed my heart. Once again, the Lord reminded me that it s truly more blessed to give than to receive. My cup runneth over when on the last day of the Vacation Bible School, three of the older Kannada children (Narashima, Manujunata, Gajandra) prayed the sinner s prayer with Pastor and Justin and received Christ with child-like faith. Praise the Lord! I want to thank the Lord for bringing me there in answer to our prayers, for the privilege of being used as a channel of blessing and for the warm hospitality of George & Bessy s (including Abigail and Nathanael), the Indian food was chennaidigei!(meaning very good), and Justin s parents who cooked and thanked us; the warm camaraderie/fellowship among the mission team members and lastly the warm weather, sent specially by our loving and heavenly Father in the midst of winter. Anne Lee Testimony 4 To begin with, I would like to sincerely encourage you to go for mission trips. As nothing can be compared by being physically there to minister to the local people and in return you will definitely be ministered to. I can felt the presence of the Lord with each one of us through out the whole week in Bangalore. God is good and faithful, He always lead the ways for us. There are so many incidents that I wish I can shared it with you and which everyone of the team of 12 that went to the mission trip will be delighted to share as well. Brother George Skariah and Sister Bessy are such considerate and godly people, Brother Justin and especially his Parents are so wonderful and approachable. So much so that I missed the fellowship we had. In this trip, I have the following thanksgivings: Firstly, to God for the Holy Spirit in me that help me to learn to be appreciative, forgiving and with an open mind and a willing heart. And I pray that God will continue to mould me to live a life of holiness and submission to God s will. Secondly, to many of the team members for their concerns and medicine during the first two days when I am down with running nose, headache and cough. I recovered the third day. Many thanks to a sister who willingly lend me her mobile so that I can make a call back home to my parents that I have reached Bangalore safely. Thirdly, to Pastor for giving me a privilege to share my testimony on Sunday Vernacular Worship Service in the evening which happened also to be Christmas Day. I was able to look back and reflect about my past and thankful to God for his never ending love upon me and my non-believing family. Lastly, to Angie for giving me a learning experience to teach Bible Lesson to the children; no doubt in the beginning I was nervous and worried that I cannot do it, God has lovingly guide me to do my best for His glory. During this trip, God has given me the opportunity to know the team members better. It enabled me to see the other side of them, such as their strengths. Everybody contributed their labour of love in their own ways. How blessed it is to serve and to be a part in the Kingdom of God. Jane Poh Testimony 5 One of the lessons I have learnt from the mission trip is that I should appreciate the life God

has given us in Singapore; after seeing the poverty in India. I must learn not to complain about dirtiness or take things for granted. What touched me most was how the older Kannada children took care of the younger ones by sharing the food and tidbits that we gave them. At the beginning, I was afraid that I could not eat the spicy Indian food but praise God the food cooked by Bessy was suited to my taste. God willing, I will go there again with the next mission team to co-labour with George, Bessy and Justin. Becky Lum Testimony 6 It has been a memorable and meaningfiul mission trip to Bangalore, India. I am greatly blessed by it even though it is my first time to India. Thank God I was able to take leave from work, to go for the trip. The morning devotions by George Skariah, Uncle George Tan, Dr Koh, Thien An, Justin & Pastor were good; they helped us to start each day with the Word of God & prayer. Both English and Kannada speaking children are adorable; I missed them. Preparing lessons at the last minute was not easy, especially when I have to teach the Kannada Children. So we spent time till midnight preparing the lessons. I also thank God for Justin who was there to interpret the lesson to Kannada so that the Kannada-speaking children could understand. Thank God for George & Justin for bringing us around Bangalore & Mysore. I have to say a word of thanks to Bessy who prepared the meals and met our needs. Thank God also for Justin s parents (Uncle Jaya & Aunty Stella) for preparing a delicious Chicken Briyani for the Sunday fellowship dinner. I realise Dr Koh is an interesting person because every time I see him in Church, he looked serious. Thank God I was able to share my testimony during the morning service where I cried. Thank God for seeing us through the 4 hours bumpy bus ride to Mysore. It is my prayer that I will be able to return yearly to minister to the Kannada children and hope that more people will be able to support the work in Bangalore. All praise to God! Chew Chu Huey New MYF Exco 2006 The youths today are caught up with many distractions and worldly temptations, including the computer games, mass media, secular music, the influence of worldly friends and leisure. Solomon in Ecc 12:1 says, Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. We thank God for the MYF that caters to the spiritual needs of our youths. Do pray for the newly elected Exco 2006, who are as follows: Chairman: Vice-Chairman: Secretary: Treasurer: Committee Member: Advisor: Liaw Jian Xiong, Jonathan Ng Jun Yong, Shaun Chew Chu Huey, Esther Heng Li Li, Joline Ng Jun Quan, Scott Dn Steven Ng Encourage your children to attend the fortnightly MYF meetings on Sun at 1.30 pm (and Tweens Fellowship on the 1st Sunday, MYAF on the 3rd Sunday of the month) and let them

grow in the fear and knowledge of the Lord as they study the Word, pray and fellowship together in an edifying manner. Jack Sin * * * * * * * * * At the Pulpit Theme for the Quarter: Proclaiming the Pure Gospel & Godly Living (Galatians) Dr Jack Sin Modern Day Heresies & False Gospel (Gal 1:5-9) *These hyperlinks work with Word 97 and later version. [End of MM]