Church Weekly for 13 January 2008
My dear readers,
1. “Day by Day” with Jesus in 2008
Lina Sandell, the “Fanny Crosby of Sweden,” learnt to walk with the Lord “day by day” when her father was suddenly snatched from her in a stormy boat trip when he was thrown into the turbulent waters and drowned. In her grief and loss, Lina Sandell found comfort in the Lord whose parting words before his ascension were, “… lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt 28:20 ). With our Lord by our side, what have we to fear?
In the “Lord’s Prayer,” we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” The supply of all our food, household and personal needs for the support of this earthy life are to be cast upon God who cares for us (1 Pet 5:6 , 7 ).
Did you ever wonder why we ask for God to supply on a daily basis and not weekly or monthly? The daily asking in prayer speaks of an ongoing dependence on God in a warm and close filial relationship. As a loving and caring Heavenly Father, He longs for our company. On our part we are to respond in daily prayer and petition.
If God were to supply us on a weekly or monthly basis, it would immediately create problems of storage and security! We would have to think of more space, refrigeration, and guarding against thieves and rats!
Our Heavenly Father’s “day by day” supply is by divine wisdom and design. That is why He sent manna daily, fresh and wholesome, to feed His people in the wilderness every morning for forty years, except on the seventh day, the Holy Sabbath, the day of rest and worship.
The lesson is clear. God’s people, then and now, are to learn to depend on the Father in Heaven, “day by day,” in daily fellowship and communion, so needful and blessed.
2. Family Worship our filial response
Our “day by day” dependence on God calls us to gather all the family in holy assembly on a nightly basis. In an “evil and adulterous generation,” God’s people need to keep close to Him for spiritual support, protection and instruction. Each day our children (and ourselves) are exposed to the world and all its temptation and godless influences. Family Worship is the least we can do to reinforce our spiritual security and walk with God.
Do not wait until disaster strikes, when some young person falls victim to grave sin, or crime, or other offensive act. Then many a father or mother will regret, “Why did we not have Family Worship?” But Family Worship is more than a “crime preventive.” It is a joyous fellowship and renewal of our filial love of God and love for one another.
We have all the “tools.” Let every family find much blessing, every night, in Family Worship. God bless you and your family tonight and every night.
3. Global Warming “Greatest Scam”
Friday Church News Notes
John Coleman was the founder of the Weather Channel. Currently he is the meteorologist for KUSI television in San Diego, California. The following is an excerpt from his blog dated Nov 7, 2007, posted on the ICECAP web site (International Climate and Environmental Change Assessment Project). “It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming; it is a SCAM. Some dastardly scientists with environmental and political motives manipulated long term scientific data to create an illusion of rapid global warming. Other scientists of the same environmental whacko type jumped into the circle to support and broaden the ‘research’ to further enhance the totally slanted, bogus global warming claims.
Their friends in government steered huge research grants their way to keep the movement going. Soon they claimed to be a consensus. Environmental extremists, notable politicians among them, then teamed up with movie, media and other liberal, environmentalist journalists to create this wild ‘scientific’ scenario of the civilization-threatening environmental consequences from Global Warming unless we adhere to their radical agenda.
Now their ridiculous manipulated science has been accepted as fact and become a cornerstone issue for CNN, CBS, NBC, the Democratic Political Party, the Governor of California, school teachers and, in many cases, well informed but very gullible environmentally conscientious citizens. ... I do not oppose environmentalism. I do not oppose the political positions of either party.
However, Global Warming, i.e. Climate Change, is not about environmentalism or politics. It is not a religion. ... I have read dozens of scientific papers. I have talked with numerous scientists. I have studied. I have thought about it. I know I am correct. There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril.” (Christian News 3 Dec 2007).
Comment: I fully support Mr Coleman. Man will not destroy the earth: God Himself will do it in His own time (2 Pet 3:7 ).
4. SGBF 1st Quarter 2008
Our first quarter of 2008 is blessed with another series of “Hymn Themes.” Godly hymns set to music is what we need today, to strengthen and comfort troubled souls, often under stress and the enormous pressures of daily living in an ungodly and hostile environment.
Come to SGBF, 6 pm Sunday night.
Lovingly in the Lord
Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor
Weekly Supplement
SAIPAN – JORDAN REPORT
(by Pastor Pang and Preacher Chee)
Dear brethren and prayer partners in the Lord Jesus,
First of all, my family and I wish you a very blessed Christmas.
We thank God our heavenly Father for His faithfulness in seeing us through the year 2007. It was yet another year of spiritual opportunities and blessings. Yea, as the hymn writer has challenged us, we have not been able to count God’s blessings, for they are without number.
Thank God for this 16th year in the mission field of Saipan where we continue to reach out to the few thousand Chinese workers who remain in this small island. Kok Hiong travels between Guam and Saipan ministering to the two Chinese Churches. As more garment and textile factories have been closed down in Saipan, many of our Church members have returned to China. Presently, there are around 50 worshipers every Lord's Day. We thank God also for the six full-time Bible students who are serving in various house Churches of our former members in China. One Bible student has remained behind with his family to assist Kok Hiong to pastor the Chinese Church in Saipan. We praise the Lord for Pastor and Mrs Noel Puno who continue to care for the Filipino Community Church supported by the Chinese Church.
We are thankful for the growth and blessings in 'Christ is Lord' Chinese Church in Guam for the past year. There is a significant increase of new converts and Sunday School children since we moved our family to Guam early last year. In fact, we are scouting around for a bigger place for our adult worship as well as the ever-increasing number of Sunday School students. Thank God for the success of the hosting of the first Youth Christmas Camp last week. Twenty-five teens and children were soundly grounded in the precious Word of God. Most of the children in this group have shown much improvement in their young lives.
Thank God for His providence and protection during the many mission trips our family has made in the past year. Seven trips were made to China alone, where Kok Hiong visited and encouraged the two thousands returnees (former baptised members) from Saipan and Jordan. Thank God for the opportunity to conduct a number of intensive house church leaders' training in different provinces. Our family also had many wonderful opportunities to minister in the mission fields of Cambodia, Jordan and Cyprus during the summer when our two boys had a long school vacation. We are also grateful that our family was once again given a refreshing time with the Tengah folks in their June family camp in Batam. Praise the Lord for the faithful ministry of Sister Theresa Yip who has been based among the hundreds of returnees. Her presence and encouragement among these brethren are valuable in these provinces and cities.
We thank God for preserving Preacher and Mrs Chee Khuen Wah who tirelessly serve in the fruitful Jordan ministry. We thank God also for Rev and MrsDavid Wong of Kulai for standing in for the Chees and the Mission Teams from Calvary Pandan and Tengah in assisting and encouraging the many young converts in the three locations in this part of the Holy land. We thank God for the great effort Sister Lay Choo has put in among the 40 young believers in Cyprus for the 8 months she was there. Due to her visa status, she has to be out of Cyprus for 6 months before she can go back again. We thank God for the faithful ministries of Pr and Mrs Chee and Dns Peggy Leong of Tengah in rendering help when this infant Church was in real need.
Dear brethren, we covet your fervent prayers. Your love gifts and financial support are greatly appreciated especially in Saipan as the offerings locally have been much reduced in the past year. Please remember Kok Hiong as he has been diagnosed with Kidney Inflammatory Disease and he is taking Chinese herbal medicine as well as not making any trips for the next few months. Please pray with and for us that we will be faithful to spend and be spent, always diligent in the saving of precious souls and nurturing of the saints in the new year of 2008.
Once again, may you and your family have a revived and blessed new year in our gracious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
In His love and service,
Kok Hiong, Guek Mui, En Yang & En Hong, 23rd December 2007, Guam
Year End Report on Jordan Ministry
Dear prayer partners,
Greetings to all of you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
First of all, we thank God for seeing us through another year with His manifold blessings and wonderful spiritual harvests. We also consider it a great privilege to serve our Great Almighty God in co-labouring with you through your constant prayers and support in various ways to reach out to the lost souls in the Holy land of Jordan.
1. Cyprus trip
After sister Theresa Yip left Cyprus for China in the beginning of the year, the Lord sent sister Lay Choo to help out in the ministry of Cyprus. However, due to the expiry of her visa which only lasted for 6 months, she had to leave. Upon the request of Rev Pang, we began our monthly trip to look after this group of young believers since Nov. The congregation consists of about 40 believers. There is an urgent need for a shepherd to take care of these believers. Do pray that God will send forth such a faithful and mature servant to the harvest field in Cyprus.
2. China trip
Due to the great needs of shepherding more than 250 believers in three different parts of Jordan (i.e Irbid, Sahab and Karak), we could only visit the Jordan returnees once every three years. This year we made our second trip to China for the last six years. We thank God for enabling us to encourage and counsel them to resolve the many problems. We also thank God we could share the Gospel to their loved ones and some have received Christ.
3. Tengah mission team
We thank God for the annual mission team led by Elder Lan from Tengah BPC to help in the Jordan ministry, bringing over Chinese Bibles, and Christian literature.
Elder Lan writes:
“……The Lord providentially made it possible for us to check in the boxes of literature etc in excess of the baggage allowance and the subsequent smooth clearance through the Jordanian custom. The Lord enabled the team to minister to the Chinese brethren through songs, testimonies and the Word. Every member of the team, from the youngest to the oldest had a role to play. Thank God for the unity of purpose and the bond of brotherly love among the team members. When the children shared their testimonies, it was so much of an encouragement to the Chinese brethren that there were tears in many of their eyes as they were reminded of their own children and the need to reach out to them with the gospel.
By the grace of God, we managed to conduct 32 meetings. Through these meetings, especially at Sahab, the Lord saved to Himself at least 47 souls……” (End of Elder Lan’s article)
Tengah mission team
4. A Pleasant Surprise
It was a pleasant surprise when Deacon Milton Ang wrote to us of his visit to CCCJ when he led a group of brethren from Calvary Pandan English congregation for the Holy land Trip. He also brought 100 copies of “Streams in the Desert” in Chinese.
5. Christmas outreach
Despite the excessive overtime, we thank God for a wonderful attendance in both meetings at Karak and Irbid. The attendance for Karak on 25 Dec was above 70 while the attendance was above 300 for Irbid on 28 Dec. Thank God that a total of 28 precious souls were added into the Kingdom of God in these two meetings.
6. Arab church
Upon the request of Irbid Baptish Church, CCCJ has agreed to help the Arab church in building extra toilets which costs more than 5000JD (1JD=S$2.1). By the grace of God, we bore about two thirds of the total expenses. We also thank God for a good relationship between the Chinese Church and Arab church both in Irbid and Karak as they have graciously allowed us to use their church premises for our meetings in the last six years.
Last but not the least, we thank God for you and ask Him to bless you and your family abundantly in the coming new year.
Gratefully yours,
Khuen Wah and Siew Eng, 29 Dec 2007