These are my vows made during my installation as a deacon:
I am committed to carrying out the vision of the congregational leadership.
I will live an exemplary life that is beyond suspicion with regards to alcohol abuse and dishonest conduct.
I am fully committed to the core teachings of the church and will demonstrate that commitment in my values,
the giving of my time and money, my speech and my actions.
I will demonstrate the ability to see a job through to its completion.
I am convicted of my role as a spiritual leader in my family.
I will take seriously the need to continually maturing in my relationship with Jesus Christ.
I will be committed to Missions and Evangelism and other ministries when I am called.
How I become a Christian (Col 4:2-6)
I was born into a traditional Chinese family of five daughters. There were many difficulties that beset my family, especially my mother, before I was conceived. A young baby brother had died before I was born in 1958. My dad has two brothers who have several sons between them but he had none then. As a result, my parents worshipped many idols and offered me as a godson to them. My dad died when I was five. As a young boy I followed my mother to many temples; offering prayers of thanks. I recall traveling to temples in Bright Hill, Bukit Timah, Telok Blangah, River Valley, Tanjong Pagar, Church Street and Alexandra, most probably the ten most popular temples in Singapore then.
I was schooled for ten years in Anglo-Chinese School, a Methodist school. We had chapel service every Monday and I grew to love hymns and choruses. While in Secondary 3 (Grade 9); I joined a Bible study group at the invitation of a classmate called David Chia. That did not last long as my love for football prevailed over the Bible. Nonetheless I remembered how to sing ‘O worship the King’; the Lord’s Prayer. I can even recite John 1:1 and John 3:16 from memory.
Life ‘began’ at 17 for me. I started smoking, and then graduated to gambling. Boozing and partying well into the wee hours were part of my recreational activities. Mahjong came into my life every weekend while boozing at clubs and bars was a regular activity during the week. I have stopped all that now and friends who knew me back then could not believe their eyes!
At 35 I wanted to slow down my extra curricular activities. While my kids went to church under the chaperon of my sister Belinda and brother-in-law, Michael, I played cards with Irene. Soon this became very boring as I was winning all the time. This went on for two years before I decided to take a sneak preview of what church is all about and what it is that draws my sister all these years.
I am a guy who is always serious in what I want to do. I asked for a Bible from Belinda and next thing I knew I was presented with a $70 copy of the Life Application Bible. Though I did not know that it cost so much then I thought it was a bad investment on the part of my sister. But I did not disappoint Belinda as I finished reading the Bible in that same year.
While studying the Bible, I also attended a care team headed by Dennis Law. Nigel Leow taught me the Bible and I became closer to these Christian men. I was utterly perplexed or confused by these ‘Christians’ because my other friends were always sabotaging me and I must always be alert lest they hoodwink me, but these Christians were so gentle, so mild and trusting yet so strong in their character.
I decided to imitate them as they imitate Christ. On 5 January 1997, I took the decision to be baptized into the Lord for the remission of my sins. I was baptized by Nigel. For Belinda, it was a joyous closure after having persisted in trying to convert me for twenty-four years.
How my faith has changed me
The scripture text of Gal 5:22, 23 (Fruits of the Spirit) and 2 Pet 1:5-8 (Christian growth) became my guiding principles as a faithful Christian. I became:
Less tempted by vices – Knowing the Bible helps me to resist temptations
Less television viewing – Understanding the importance of time helps me to spend less time on unproductive activities.
Less temperamental – Becoming more loving leads to patience and helps me be less easily angered.
Less time for hobbies – Saving a soul is more important than my hobbies.
Less things are impossible - With God all things are possible, I need to put all my trust in Him.
Less thoughts of world – My home is in heaven, I am just a sojourner on earth.
Less tough with people – Our Lord Jesus was gentle. His stories on earth help me to remember to be gentle to all.
How I found my place in the body of Christ
After my baptism I do not know where I can be of help in church. I have heard of door knocking in Bukit Merah. I have the heart but not the guts then. I saw how difficult it is with Michael who is the Men’s Bible class coordinator. I started to help pick up songbooks. Later I chanced upon leading songs before bible classes.
I know the importance of pew warmers…I was one of this group. I started to attend Wednesday ‘School of Practical Christianity’ classes (SPC); Bible class and any extra curricular activities regularly. I thought was on the fast tract.
Being part of a care team helps me develop my confidence in prayers and public speaking. I was given a chance to join chain prayers and word closing prayers. I was also given opportunities to organize church activities and to learn singing.
Before I know it, I started to teach. My debut was leading an SPC class on a ‘Getting to know Him’ series. I then carved a niche in Junior Bible class by being the sole male teacher for several years. In between these activities, I was given slots to preach on Sunday mornings and evenings.
Barely two years as a Christian, I was made Treasurer in the 1999 Annual General Meeting. During my tenure, the treasury changed from red to black. Owing to the constitution of the Registration of Societies, I could not serve another term as a treasurer. Instead of retiring, I succeeded Nigel as Missions and Evangelism coordinator. As a leader I am part of Awareness, a group of men who leads the church. I became very interested in our members and wanted very much to help each one grow in Christ.
In the year 2000, there came a ‘Macedonian’ call from the Kuching church of Christ. PPCOC sponsored Andrew Ng, an evangelist from the Northeast church of Christ, Singapore. As a Treasurer, I wanted to see what was involved in this ministry as very few were committed to this effort. I just cannot understand why a church with more than 200 members could not find sufficient participation. I carried Andrew’s bag for several trips and learnt what tent making was. This experience helped me when I took up the Missions ministry. God shapes me as I travel down the Christian road.
When I look at PP in 2005 and beyond...
Maintain PPCOC as scriptually organized – PPCOC to continue as a scriptually organized church; doing things that is commanded in the Bible. There shall be no compromise on biblical issues; while exercising consensus in other areas.
Move elders to the helm of leadership – Our elders shall continue to exhibit spiritual leadership on all matters. They shall shepherd the flock to greater glory for the kingdom of God. They shall pray continually for all members and intercede for our love ones.
Motivate others to find their area of work – Deacons and leaders finding our area of work and cover all aspects of church work; leaving elders time to pray and shepherd the flock.
Members accepting elders / deacons – Members looking towards elders for spiritual guidance and deacons for physical needs. Members to know those who labour amongst thee…
More coming forward to serve – Many areas of the Lord’s work is lacking especially personal evangelism. Each one of us targets five souls to save each year.
Maturity of youths – Our youths must mature and be ready to take over the leadership in years to come. They must own their faith and not inherit it.
Backslided members to return – Through the years we have lost many members. May we be able to bring these back to Christ.
My Exhortation to you
I am amazed with the biblical character Titus (2 Cor 8:23). He is one of the most helpful and talented co-worker of the apostle Paul. Great men always have capable assistants around them and Titus is one of them.
He played a prominent role in evangelism around Mediterranean region. He is Paul’s true child after a common faith (Tit 1:4); a Gentile Christian (Gal 2:3); gifted in administration - collection for Judean saints (1 Cor 8:6; 10-11); sent to Crete to set churches in order (Tit 1:5).
He is a man on the road - Jerusalem (Conference); Corinth (Problem solving, 3 mission, deliver Paul’s letter); Ephesus; Troas; Nicopolis; Crete (Church Builder); Rome; Dalmatia (2 Tim 4:10)
He is Paul’s son in the gospel (Tit 1:4); a partner and fellow helper (2 Cor 8:23). I see myself as one when I travel with Andrew; walk in the same spirit as Paul (2 Cor 12:18).
He is also Paul’s trouble shooter and special assistant; Paul’s comforter (2 Cor 7:6). He sets rules in his work - Tit 2:15; Tit 2:7; 2 Cor 8:16-17, take earnest care of the saints; he volunteered for difficult tasks as in Dalmatia.
When a church no longer has anyone willing to go forth with its message, it has no reason to exist. I chose Titus in this exhortation because of his dedication and am uncompromising in his work.
May we be a comfort to our fellow workers and not a thorn in their flesh…I have learnt to be kinder to all full time missionaries and ministers. What a joy to see our children in the faith grow into maturity and see them take their place by our sides as equals. Let us be problem solvers and not problem creators. Leave the creation to God…
I hope each one of us can be as tough, earnest and affectionate as Titus and have the same spirit as Paul.
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