In all my journeys whether near or far I remember Psalm 121. The Scottish called it “The Traveller’s Psalm”. In verse 8 it says “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in”. God is in control in all the travels and will ever keep us from evil and harm.
The journey to Tangkak BP Fellowship on 22 December was an unforgettable experience. My wife and I left home to board a coach from Novena at 9.30 am and arrived in Pagoh at 3.30pm after a 6 ½ hours ride. There was an hour of waiting in the coach before we cleared the Singapore Customs Checkpoint. The traffic snarled up was caused by the holiday season. From JB Checkpoint to Machap the coach inched very slowly along the highway because a car ran off the road and turned turtle in the ditch. Preacher Yap Kim Chuan despite having a flu and fever came to fetch us at Pagoh Rest and Recreation point to Ophir Hotel. Later in the evening Kim Chuan, his wife and daughter together with his two grandchildren joined us for a meal in an old coffee shop. Thereafter we dropped by at Lim Chan You and Bee Khim’s house. It was sweet fellowship to mingle with their daughter, Jerlyn and son, Justin.
The next day at the Worship Service, I preached a Christmas message with Rev. Kim as interpreter and Holy Communion was served with Dn. Chua and Pr. Yap assisting. I met Rev. Koa Keng Woo in the church. He was able to travel from Muar in spite of a flu. The Tangkak BP Fellowship committee had planned a thanksgiving lunch to celebrate Rev. Koa’s being awarded an honorary Doctorate and Pr. Yap Kim Chuan’s graduation from FEBC. The celebration was held after the worship service at Shan Hai Than restaurant. We thanked God for a time of sharing and learning of the Lord’s work in days past.
Chan You together with Pr. Yap drove us to Malacca after lunch. On Christmas Eve afternoon, Aileen and I took a taxi to PJ. In the evening Elder Lim invited us for a steam boat dinner and we both discussed about the combined church camp and the urgency for the BP Churches to challenge our young people to enter the fulltime ministry. God willing the Senior Adult Fellowship might come to Evangel BPC next year for a combined fellowship meeting.
On Christmas Day, I preached, conducted two adults and one child baptism, three adults transfers to Evangel BPC and administered the Holy Communion. Elder Lim by faith had invited a number of his patients and friends to the Christmas service. An attendance of 108 people, both young and old came to witness the baptism of their loved ones and to watch the play ‘The Three Trees’ performed by their children. It was a meaningful Christmas sketch which was well understood and received by the congregation. On the way home I received a sms from Eld. Lim – “Pastor thank you. I am still overwhelmed with the joy of worship. God bless.”
Amelia Leo Writes:
Evangel B-P Church Vacation Bible Camp
The inaugural Evangel B-P Church Vacation Bible Camp was held in the church’s premises at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 13-15 December 2012. In the course of three days, 24 youths (both Christian and non-Christian) were brought together by God’s providence to learn about His purposes for their lives. Spiritual lessons were accompanied by lessons on nature, drawing and even acting. As Elder Dr Lim aptly put it, it was indeed “three glorious days” well spent.
The first day saw 24 youths, slightly shy and uncertain about what to expect, gathering for the first lesson of the camp, entitled “Created In His Image”. Through teacher Sooky’s teaching and group activities, the youths learnt about how Man was made in the image of God. Games and singing followed; and after lunch, the youth were briefed about Project 33 – where campers were to act out a mini-musical based on the Tale of Three Trees during the church’s Christmas Service. The afternoon was spent creating props, learning lines, singing and acting. By this time, the youth had warmed up to each other and much laughter was heard in the church premises.
The second day commenced with an outing to the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), where the youth went about on a scavenger hunt to see God’s marvelous creation for themselves under fine, providentially-provided weather. The afternoon passed with games and the second lesson, entitled “Converted By God’s Grace”.
On the third day, the youth learnt about consecrating themselves to God’s service, before being quizzed by Rev. Ho about what they learnt during the three days of camp. The youth then delved into preparations for Project 33, with just enough time to stage a soft run of the mini-musical at the end of the camp. The three trees, Joshua, Kai Jun and Jack, received much giggles and applause for their acting. The youth eventually broke camp after a group photograph and exchanging Facebook contacts.
The camp’s organizers, while initially anxious (sometimes to the point of lacking sleep), were relieved and encouraged by the good turnout at the camp, and by the enthusiasm of the youths. Several months of preparation paid off as the youth had much fun and were reluctant to leave. It is our prayer that the seed of the Gospel planted in these youths through the camp would someday germinate and bring them to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Editor note: Rev. Ho and family and Amelia went to Evangel BPC in December to assist in the the youth camp ministry. Dr. Lim appreciates Sharon BPC for her support and he looks forward to more participation by the Sharonites in the Lord’s ministry at Evangel. Rev. Ho presently preaches once a month at Evangel and he is also in the church planning committee.
Sharon Bible Presbyterian Church 