Weekly Newsletter of MARANATHA MESSENGER Private Circulation Only MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 19 June 2016 Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28) Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore 509851 E-mail: maranatha.bpc@pacific.net.sg Sunday School: 9.45 am Sunday English / Chinese Worship Service: 10.45 am Sunday Chinese Worship Service: 7 pm Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm Introduction Rebooting Biblical Missions Evangelical Outreach and Ministry at Holy Covenant BP Church and Beyond The day after we returned from our one month sabbatical to the UK, by the divine purpose of God, from 1 to 11 June 2016, 5 of us made our way to certain churches in three locations in Country X including Paul Kong, Dn Hong Che Hwee and Han Kin Kheng (meeting Zhu Jia Wei there as well). It was a needful mission that was ordained of the Lord as we are called to preach and teach the Word and to strengthen the brethren there. There is a great spiritual need in this country as there are believers who are hungry for the word but there are not enough pastors and teachers. There are also preachers who are not trained and desired sound reformed theological training. At City Y, we met up with Preacher T who has a vibrant church of about 40 members, which is still growing. He started this church about 4 years ago and here we taught one night on the Book of Haggai to about 30 members in a certain church and had an edifying time of mutual encouragement and fellowship. The Book of Haggai was taught and notes given to them and our Chinese books published under Maranatha Resources Ministry (MRM) were well received. With the efficient speed train system there, we reached our next destination in 2 hours. Pr Barnabas Song met us at the station and we spent 5 days in the building of the flock at the Holy Covenant BP Church that is supported by Maranatha BP Church. The gospel work there began in August 2015 where Pr Barnabas Song and his wife started a children ministry on Saturday and a Sunday night Bible Study of 6-9 people. About 12-15 children would come every week and they were taught the Bible through creative means, games and craft. There was special reason why we came and that was to teach the book 1
of Jonah and to baptise the daughter, Dorcas Song of the preacher and we explained the basis for infant baptism according to the covenant that God made with us and our children. On that blessed Sunday morning, Paul Kong chaired the second morning service for Holy Covenant BPC (the first was last August). Dn Hong Che Hwee gave his testimony and we preached the word on The Sacred Duty of Every Member in the Local Church from Romans 12 attended by 16 people. The Saturday programme was attended by 12 children and 9 parents. Dn Hong Che Hwee shared the word on Creation vs Evolution and Han Kin Kheng led in the games (with goodie bags for all) and Angie Sin in the singing. Paul Kong spoke to the parents on a family theme and it was a fruitful time for all. Angie Sin spoke to the first ladies fellowship with 8 of them attending on Sunday afternoon. We also went out on evangelism to a nearby village and visited the local university where we were able to give out tracts and reach out to one of the research students. On Sunday, about 16 attended the service and we baptised Pr Barnabas Song s daughter, Dorcas Song, along with a 9 year old daughter of another family, who came for the night lecture and was convicted of the Lord. They invited us to their home for lunch and were grateful to God for the word that was preached. The next day, we had an outreach in the garden and we also visited a preacher at another city supported by Evangel BP Church to encourage one another in the work of the Lord. There was a certain family with two daughters (one of whom was baptized at Holy Covenant BP Church by us last Sunday) who invited us. They were seeking the Lord s will in their lives and we shared with them from Zephaniah 2:3 as we sought the will of the Lord together. There was a good time of feedback and evaluation on the final night at the preacher s home and his wife shared of the challenges of starting a new church and the blessings of 2
the Lord. The preacher and his wife fought back tears as they prayed and shared how gracious God is to bless and prosper the work with good progress in the midst of trying difficulties and loneliness. They thank God that this missions trip has helped to encourage them to move forward in faith with greater zeal for the Lord. Our labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58) and we need to be persevering with greater patience and hard work as we wait upon the Lord. We bid farewell and moved on to our next destination and there we were scheduled to teach twice in a cell group as well as in a church seminar. We arrived at our final destination and we met brother Eric and Kelly who orgainsed a night of Bible Study in their home on the theme of Seeking God s Will for a Life Partner. About 15 young adults gathered together as we studied the word on Genesis 24 with many questions asked on the practical aspect on the theme of marriage, singlehood, courtship and relationships where Han Kin Kheng shared her experience on singlehood. We also had an opportunity of meeting with a contact here who is involved in starting a reformed house church 7 years ago. In the afternoon on Friday, we also meet with a leader of a house church who is interested to understand how to manage a church with Presbyterian Church Polity and Proper Governance (Titus 1:5) and we were able to share with him some biblical principles. On the final morning, we had our final session with about 20 people of a certain church on the subject of Church History and Lessons from The Protestant Reformation as they desired to know more of the history of the Reformed faith and to organise their church according to what the Lord had taught in His Word. We sensed a great hunger and thirst for the Word of God and a desire to be equipped to serve the Lord effectively. Pray for them as they seek the guidance of the Lord in the stewardship and growth of the church. Thank God for protection and safety in travel via high speed train, public transport and walking and for good health and strength as we returned safely, and though tired physically, we are refreshed spiritually. Conclusion We live in the last perilous days where there is a great spiritual need in certain countries and we have a burden to assist and exhort them in the spirit of the Lord. The gospel is 3
to be preached to all nations, then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14). The Lord has His faithful remnant in different parts of the world and there is much work in the preaching the gospel and teaching in this particular country. We have a grave duty to encourage and support the brethren in the different parts of the world and God has enabled us to do so in His strength and will. Maranatha BP Church is committed to fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and to disciple committed believers in the fear and nurture of the Lord. Let us all pray fervently and do our part practically in supporting gospel missions to the saving of souls and the building up of reformed churches around the world. Jack and Angie Sin Dn Hong Che Hwee giving his testimony at the morning worship at Holy Covenant BP Church. 4
Email from London Thank you again for coming to London as part of your larger trip to the British Isles. Thank you for your ministry at New Life BP Church. It was a privilege to have you with us. Several of the attenders at the Saturday afternoon Prayer Meeting commented on the blessing you were in that meeting, not least the interview of the membership candidates. We continue to pray for you and Angie as you serve our Lord in the multifaceted ministry. We were particularly interested in the ministry in China last week. Your grateful brother, Dr Carl Martin New Life BP Church London, UK 5
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Theme for the Quarter : Developing our Biblical Understanding of Christian Issues English Worship Service Dr John Battle speaks on Prayer for Sanctification (Scripture Text : 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28; Responsive Reading : 1 Peter 1:1-25) [End of MM] 7