Volume 22, Issue 42 20th December 2009
Thank God for a fruitful mission trip to the Philippines – visiting the mission stations of Gethsemane B-P Church in Cebu, Bogo and Bohol from 26 November–1 December 2009. The team comprised Dn Peter Phoa and myself (26 November–1 December) and brother Ricky Chng (November 27-29).
CebuI visited Gethsemane BP Mission Church in 2005 and 2007. Thank God for Rev Reggor and his team, serving the Lord faithfully (including his wife, Carol, and their daughters, Ruth and Naomi). The church has matured spiritually and grown in numbers over the years.Dn Phoa and I arrived on Thursday to spend some time with Rev Reggor and Preacher Edsel before they left for Singapore to minister at the family camp of Gethsemane BPC held in Seremban, Malaysia. Amidst the strong Roman Catholic and other cultish or cultic influences (e.g. Mormons and Iglesia ni Cristo), the Lord has sustained the ministry of Gethsemane B-P Mission Church. It has recently started The Gethsemane Care Ministry, led by Preacher Eli who has recently graduated from FEBC. There is much potential in this ministry – reaching out to ex-drug addicts and their families for the Lord. At present, they have taken in one person, namely ‘Gee’. There are many more in the queue but a stringent interview process is in place to identify ‘genuine candidates’ who desire to quit drug addiction. I opine there is much room for growth in this ministry. It is working towards self-financing, just like the Care Ministry of Gethsemane BPC in Singapore.At present, the church premises in Cebu is becoming too small to accommodate the growing congregation. They are looking at a bigger building nearby. I have encouraged them to take the step of faith in ‘extending the tent’ for the Lord. In addition, with the new place, God willing, they will be able to start night classes in Basic Theology. This could possibly be the ‘genesis’ of a Bible College in Cebu. May the Lord glorify Himself through this ministry.Dn Phoa and I also visited Preacher Richard Tiu’s family. His mother has recently undergone successful breast cancer surgery and will be going for a knee replacement surgery next year. Preacher Richard has taught many courses in the Bible College of East Africa (BCEA) in Kenya for about three and a half years after his graduation from FEBC. At present, he is waiting on the Lord to get a work permit to co-labour with Rev Dr Koshy in editing the Bible Witness publication in Singapore. We also visited Preacher Eli’s family. In our
Justification by faithRomans 5:9
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Our Pastor: Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy (M: 9001 1119, H: 6788 1721, Email: [email protected])Our Office: 510 Geylang Road, #02-06, Singapore 389466. Tel: 6741 1910, Fax: 6741 1016
O come, let us worship and bow down:Let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
Psalm 95:6
Mission Trip To The philippines26 Nov – 1 Dec 2009
(We publish the report of Elder Boaz Boon (Calvary Tengah BPC) who visited Gethsemane Mission Churches in the Philippines.)
G E T H S E M A N EBible-Presbyterian Church
‘Not my will, but Thine, be done’ (Luke 22:42)
Call to Worship Dn Arvind Pawa
*O Worship the King (1)* Invocation & Gloria Patri
* Responsive Scripture Reading (Psalm 119:33-48)
O Jesus, I Have Promised (418)Collection of Offerings
Doxology & Prayer
Sweet By and By (548)Children’s Sermon
Pastoral Prayer & Sermon Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy
“Law of Liberty” (Christian Freedom IX)
(James 1:23-25)
*Open My Eyes, That I May See (246)* Benediction & Threefold Amen
* Congregation Standing
to all worshippersWelcome
Order oF Worship
Scripture Memorization
2
Our Church Session: Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy (9001 1119), Elder Mah Chin Kwang (9675 4031),Elder Alan Choy (9853 9556), Dn Arvind Pawa (9642 8954), Dn Daniel Lim (9385 0371),
Dn Lok Kwok Wah (9022 5508) & Dn Kelvin Lim (8268 2828).
visits we sang hymns and Dn Phoa would share from God’s Word to encourage those present. I love to eat the sweet mangoes in Cebu and in that day alone, I must have eaten more than 10 of them!
BogoBrother Ricky flew into Cebu on Friday and together we were driven by Preacher Richard to Bogo, straight from the airport. The scenic three odd hours drive with sea view and sugar cane plantations was simply breathtaking. On our arrival, we visited Preacher Domi’s parents’ home at San Antonio. He has converted the old home into an outreach to the villagers – mainly youths and young children. Within a few months, the Lord has given them about 60 youths and children. The place is being extended. When we were there, the rear extension of the premises was in progress which when completed could accommodate another 60 people.Thereafter, we visited Bogo town and we drank coconut water to quench our thirst. Somehow, we didn’t see anyone selling sugar cane juice even though Bogo is a huge exporter of sugar cane. We thought it might be good business to bring our Singapore sugar cane machine and set up a stall there! That night, I preached at their Prayer Meeting. To my pleasant surprise, 100% of the congregation of about 30 odd people turned up. Preacher Domi expressed thanksgiving to God for the attendance at Prayer Meeting, which has been very good since the church started about a year ago. Members shared freely to praise the Lord for His blessings. What a wonderful Prayer Meeting! Indeed, the powerhouse of the church is its Prayer Meeting. Hence, with about 30 odd people in the Bogo town church and about 60 people in the San Antonio outreach, the Lord has blessed Preacher Domi with about 100 souls in barely a year. The Lord has provided an effective help-meet for Preacher Domi, Sharon. She is expecting their first baby while yet serving fervently – being a Singaporean, she is adapting very well to the Filipino culture.The next morning, we had breakfast fellowship in a beautiful resort in Bogo soaking in the sunrise at about 6.00 am. The sun rises at about 5.30 am in Bogo. It was at the breakfast fellowship that we discussed the possibility of our CtYF visiting Bogo on a youth mission in December 2010. We are praying for the Lord’s direction in this matter. Thereafter, we visited several homes to encourage them in the Lord. The people were very hospitable. We were treated to a sumptuous lunch at Preacher Domi and Sharon’s home (amazing – we could still eat!), we ministered to the villagers in San Antonio and the 60 odd youths/children who come every Saturday afternoon. It was a blessed time – Preacher Domi spoke to the children with lots of animation while Dn Phoa spoke to the youths who were most attentive.
After that meeting, it was time to say goodbye. With about 24 hours spent in Bogo, and having done so many things in so short a time, parting was sad. Indeed, our trip was packed back-to-back with so many activities. At about 5 pm, we set off for Cebu. The sky was still bright, but soon after that nightmare began! The scenic route turned pitch dark coupled with lots of heavy vehicles carrying tons of sugar cane (definitely many times overloaded) with their dangerous driving. Not to mention other vehicles coming out from nowhere zooming in front, sideways and before you know it, a person was dashing across the road...it was a complete nightmare for the next three hours. At one moment, I almost prayed, “Lord, into Thy hands I commit my spirit” (Psalm 31:5). I was the front seat passenger witnessing all the madness of the night drive back to Cebu. Thank God for safety.
BoholOn the Lord’s Day (29 November), I preached at Cebu Gethsemane Mission BPC in the morning. After the worship service, we had a lovely lunch fellowship at the church premises – members cooked and brought the lunch. Thereafter, Ricky had to fly back to Singapore (as he didn’t have enough leave to stay longer), Dn Phoa, Preacher Eli and I made our way to Bohol via a two-hour ferry ride. The Bohol church usually conducts their worship service in the morning, but with special arrangements, it was held in the afternoon so that we could minister to the people there. Dn Phoa preached to an attentive congregation of about 30 people. Preacher Edsel is the pastor of Bohol BPC but he has gone to Singapore to attend the Gethsemane BPC family camp. Hence, Preacher Eli accompanied us. After the worship service, we had dinner fellowship with Bucio, a faithful brother in the Lord and Hansel, a 19-year-old Bible college student. They accompanied us during the visitation the following day. We noticed that Bohol city was very quiet after 7.30 pm. We then realised that people in Bohol normally sleep at about 6.30 pm and wake up at 4 am. That is interesting!Altogether, we visited 8 homes. It was a wonderful time getting to know the people, their way of life and their struggles. Dn Phoa and I took turns to share God’s Word and we sang hymns at every home to encourage them. We witnessed the Lord’s bountiful blessings upon Preacher Edsel in his ministry in Bohol.
ConclusionWe have received many blessings from the Lord in this short but fruitful mission trip. May the Lord continue to grant us the love for His work in the mission field and to encourage the missionaries there with our prayers, giving and visits as He leads (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:58).
Our Staff: The Gethsemane Care Ministry Bro Jerah (9337 2337), Gethsemane Chinese Service Dn Daniel Lim (9385 0371),Gethsemane Filipino Service Pr Dennis Kabingue (9648 0004), Gethsemane Children’s Ministry Pr Kelvin Lim (8268 2828)
Church Office Diana Koh, Bible Witness Dn Kwok Wah, Kenneth, John, Melissa Mah, Eric & Ruth
Junior Worshipper’s Devotion
3
Christmas is about the story of Christ’s life. Christmas season is an appropriate time for Christians to tell others about their Lord Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian, it is your God-given duty to tell others about Christ. Do you know how to tell someone about Him? Let us learn from the Apostle Paul.
Paul used the Bible to tell the Gospel story. He told the people in Corinth, “How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). When we talk to people about Christ, we must use the Bible as our source of authority. Those who are listening to us will then realize that we are not telling them stories which we have invented, but the truth of God’s Word.
Moreover, when we base what we say on the Bible, we will not represent Christ wrongly, and we will have a lot of things to say about Him because the Bible is all about Christ.
Paul told the Corinthians about the purpose of Christ’s life: He came to die for their sins. This truth also applies to us today! In order for Christ to die for sins, He first needs to be born. The Lord Jesus Christ needs to live
as a man on earth so that He can die for the sins of man even though He has no sin of His own. As a man, Christ lived a perfect life. His perfect life fulfilled the law of God, and gives the righteousness required for man’s salvation. Christmas depicts the beginning of Christ’s life as a man on earth.
Have you told anybody about Christ recently? If not, take the next few days to tell someone about the Gospel story. Tell them that Christmas is about Christ’s life – how He was born to die for their sins. When they come to know what Christ has done for them, they may turn to Him for salvation. The Bible also says that those who heard Paul believed in the things which he said about Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:11).
Let us follow Paul’s example to tell others the Gospel story of Christ that they may believe and be saved. When this happens, not only will more
souls be added into the kingdom of God, we may have more friends in Gethsemane too, God-willing! Make this Christmas season
meaningful by sharing the Gospel with someone.
Christmas Is for Christians to Declare Christby Pr Kelvin Lim
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, … For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
"ReDeeming The Time"
Recollect, relearn and enjoy the blessings
of our recent church camp.
Camp messages and scenes are now
available in DVDs (A box of 9 DVDs, 1
mp3 CD and a Photo CD).
The package is available at $18 per box.
Please place your order at the reception
table.
Watchnight Service
Watchnight Service will be held on
Thursday, 31 December, at 9:30pm
in the Seminar Room on level 2. We
encourage all worshippers to come
prepared to share your testimony for
the glory of God.
4
Sunday Collection(December 13 english Service)
Tithes: $3,910.00
Offerings: 3,295.60
Gifts: Ethiopia Building Fund (50.00)Care Ministry (Cebu) (300.00)Bohol Mission Church (50.00)
San Antonio Ministry (200.00)Pastor Jed (500.00); Kelvin Lim (200.00)
Jerry Chan (5.00); Anthony Evangelista (5.00)
Our Place of Worship: SingPost Auditorium (Level 5), 10 Eunos Road 8, Singapore 408600Our Websites: www.gethsemanebpc.com; www.biblewitness.com
Mon - Sat Activities December 21 - December 26
Tuesday Prayer Gathering (8:00pm) Venue: SingPost Seminar Room #02-31
Wednesday Lunch Hour Bible Study (12:45pm) Venue: Bible Witness Media Ministry Bookroom (Tel: 6438 0578), Hong Lim Complex
Thursday Seniors’ Ministry (11:00am) Venue: Please contact Dn Daniel Lim for more information at 9385 0371.
Friday Morning Prayer (6:30am - 7:15am) Cancelled
Young Adults’ Fellowship (Every 2nd and 4th Friday, 8:00pm) Please contact Sis Kamala for more information at 9026 0401
Satu
rday
Church Choir Time: 2:00pm Venue: SingPost Seminar Room #02-31
Adults’ Fellowship
Every 1st and 3rd Saturday, 4pm.Venue: SingPost Seminar Room #02-31 Annexe
Gethsemane Children’s Ministry
Time: 3:30pm Venue: SingPost Seminar Room #02-31Teachers: Bro Jeremiah & Dn Kelvin
Song Leader: Sis Kim LeiRefreshment: Sis Jenny Lok
GYBH Christmas Gathering
Time: 4:00pm Venue: SingPost Seminar Room AnnexeSpeaker: Elder Alan Choy Topic: The True Blessings of Christmas
A Pot Bless Christmas dinner will follow after the message.
non-Sunday CollectionEthiopia Building Fund: $100.00, 5,000.00,
200.00
Care Ministry: 5,000.00
General Fund: 200.00, 330.00
Pastor Koshy: 250.00
Bible Witness: 630.00
2010 Ethiopian AssignmentNew Building Fund Target: $500,000.00Total (as of 13 Dec 2009): $130,433.80
Please give cheerfully!Let us rise and build!
Hasten to complete the work!‘Strengthen their hands
in the work of the house of God’ Ezra 6:22
Sunday Activities December 20 December 27Li
ons
Hom
e M
inis
try
(10:
00am
) Venue:
Suspended SuspendedEnglish:
Chinese/Dialect:
Get
hsem
ane
Filip
ino
Serv
ice
(12:
00no
on)
Worship Leader: Bro Eric Deliña Bro Eric Deliña
Preacher: Pr Dennis Kabingue Pr Dennis Kabingue
Usher: Donald dela Cruz Arnold Diaz
Pianist: Sis Chloe Pawa Bro Josias Pawa
Refreshment: Sis Juvy Baybayanon Sis Emelinda
Get
hsem
ane
Chi
nese
Ser
vice
(2
:30p
m)
Worship Leader: Elder Alan Choy Bro Stephen Yap
Preacher: Pr Daniel Lim Pr Daniel Lim
Pianist: Sis Carmen Wong Sis Sarah Yap
Ushers: Robert & Gideon Cayson & John
Refreshment: Sis Katherine Peh Sis Ivy Seah
Get
hsem
ane
Engl
ish
Serv
ice
(2:3
0pm
)
Worship Leader: Dn Arvind Pawa Dn Lok Kwok Wah
Preacher: Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Elder Mah Chin Kwang
Pianists: Sarah Lee & Jollyn Low Eunice Choy & Flora Ng
Ushers: Dn Kelvin, Benny, Kwan Teng, Bernard, Arnold & Tuck Whye
Stephanie Lee (Greeter)
Edwin, Beng Wee, Andy, Bernard,
Randy & Jeremiah Aileen (Greeter)
Junior Worship: Pawa Mong Jee, (Aileen), Engida
Winnie Yap, (Meilanie), Low Siew Lian
Sunday School: Carolyn & Dn Kelvin Cancelled
AV Ministry: Crew No. 1 Crew No. 1
Flowers: Mah Lean Choo Low Siew Lian
Refreshment Duty:
Meilanie, Catherine Choy, Rebecca & Corliss
Yeo Geok Hien, Karen Quek & Sarah Abraham
Adult’s Bible Class (4:45pm) “The Persecuted” Cancelled
Malayalam Fellowship (6:30pm) Venue: SingPost Meeting Room #02-30
Sunday evangelismNext Sunday, please meet Bro Edwin Quek for a briefing after worship. We encourage all to join the evangelism team to win souls for the Lord. In view of this, Adults’ Bible Class and Sunday School will be cancelled.
Christmas LunchToday is the last day to sign up if you are joining the lunch fellowship. Those who have signed up for lunch, please make your payments to Sis Diana Koh.
Christmas ServiceChristmas Service will be held on Friday, 25 December, at 10:30am in this Sanctuary. There will be infant baptism, adult baptism, reaffirmation of faith & transfer of membership. The candidates are: infant Baptism – Deuel Davis Susano Kabingue (s/o Pr & Mrs Dennis Kabingue), Elaine Rose Cuervo Laurencio (d/o Mr & Mrs Randy Laurencio) & Yap Xiao Wen (d/o Mr & Mrs Yap Foo Choy). Adult Baptism - Clarissa Lim Xin-Ting. Reaffirmation of Faith - Lim Yin Sze, Samantha. Transfer of membership - Ho Hui Lin; Quek Lay Eng, Violet; Lee Kok Wah, Roy; Goh Eng Siew, Ricky & So Sim Seah.
Preacher: Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy; Chairman: Elder Alan Choy; Ushers: Jeremiah, Danial, Jerah, Jason, Anthony & Francis Lee.