Text: Selected Scriptures
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 18 October 2020
Text: Selected Scriptures
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 18 October 2020
Written by Norefel Resuma
“Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places” (Psalm 135:6). God is sovereign! When I first came to Singapore in 2008, it was merely for economic reasons, but little did I know that the sovereign God has brought me to this “foreign” land for a greater purpose. It never occurred to me that one day I will be working full-time in His vineyard, for I know that I will never be worthy to serve Him. Yet despite my sins and weaknesses, the Lord has been graciously preparing me for the work ahead. Here’s a brief recollection of God’s leading and directing in my life in the past 12 years.
I came to Singapore during the 2008 economic recession, and for the first time I had to experience how difficult it is to find a work. Still looking for a job, I was first brought to Gethsemane by Pr Donald dela Cruz (at that time he was still working as an engineer), to join the Gethsemane Filipino Fellowship (GFF). Thank God for the faithful preaching of God’s Word by Pr Dennis Kabingue and because I was blessed by the biblical teachings I received, I sincerely prayed that the Lord may grant me a pass to stay in Singapore, not so much to earn a living but to learn more of His Word, and grow in my spiritual walk. Though I was then already a believer (having accepted the Lord Jesus during my university days), yet I was struggling with worldliness and sin, and desperately longing for faithful and deep teaching of God’s Word. Thank God for answered prayer after 4 months. As I stayed in Gethsemane, I started joining the Tuesday Night Prayer Meeting and the English Worship Service on top of the GFF and the Kababayan Bible Study (KBS). I received abundant blessings from the Lord both spiritually and physically. The Lord provided me a wife through the GFF. Who could have thought I will marry a person whom I only got to know for less than a year? Undaunted, I made that momentous decision, having learned and been convicted of the Lord through the faithful preaching of God’s Word by Pastor Koshy.
Fast forward to 2017. Being zealous in the service of the Lord in GFF and continuously growing in the knowledge of Christ and His word with my wife and 3 children through the numerous preaching of God’s Word by Pastor and other preachers, I felt the increasing burden to serve the Lord more but not full-time. I prayed that if it is God’s will for me to serve, the Lord may make it clear. It was also during this time that I started to entertain the idea of exploring opportunities overseas or even returning to the Philippines as living in Singapore for foreigners with families is getting more difficult, especially financially. But all the plans of leaving Singapore did not come to fruition because every time I tried to take one step forward, the Word of God through Pastor always ministered to me, and I ended up staying on. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). I learned through the years, in Gethsemane, to humbly accept and submit to God’s Word for it is our guide for Christian living. And to obey God’s appointed under-shepherd in Pastor, having observed how he practised what he preached which is the same example I want to inculcate in my children. These are the main reasons why I remain in Singapore, and Gethsemane in particular, in spite of many other opportunities overseas. But even then, I never planned to stay in Singapore this long.
As time passed by, being convicted of prioritising the Lord, His church and family over work, I started to feel that my work in the company is becoming more and more frivolous. I became less interested with all the technology advancements, and just tried to do whatever is necessary. By God’s grace and strength, we strove as a family to join all the church fellowship meetings on Saturdays and even Bible Witness retreats; never did we miss a church camp since we started joining in 2009! Come 2018, when Pastor announced the Turkey-Israel Bible Study Tour, we prayed that we could join. Everyone, especially the children, was very excited. Not knowing the costs, we kept praying and started saving up. Weeks passed, and after knowing the estimated costs for a family of five, we agreed to drop the idea of joining. But just a little more than a month before the team’s departure, there was a severance package that was offered in the company which I am eligible to take. At that time, it seemed like the Lord was leading us to go back to Philippines for good, so I took it. The amount was more than sufficient to even join the Turkey-Israel Bible Study Tour (though the timing was quite tight). Again by God’s providence, there were only 5 seats left and so we did a last minute sign-up. Before our trip to Turkey and Israel, Pastor and Sis Carolyn visited and encouraged us, and that resulted in the change of our earlier plan of going back to Philippines for good.
2019 became an exciting year because we had no idea what was to come. Thank God for granting our desire to get a rented home near the church; I was hoping and praying for a new job nearby as well. When Bro Dennis went back to Philippines for good, I was all the more burdened to stay on for the GFF. I prayed that the Lord may call me to serve Him full-time, but deep down I thought the Lord has other plans for me. So I continued applying for work according to my field and experience, while I patiently waited in prayer. Though I had a handful of interviews, yet deep inside I know it’s going to be difficult to get one that would allow me to remain active in my service to the Lord. I’m very convicted that work is only secondary to church and family, and I wanted to be honest in all my interviews when being asked how committed I would be if I were given the position I was applying for. I trusted the Lord that if it is His will for us to stay in Singapore, His providence will prove it – I just need to make sure that I’m doing His will.
Months passed and still no work. Then one day, I got a call from Pastor asking me about my situation. He shared to me about a possible position in the church, but emphasised that I won’t be paid as much as I was getting previously and just told me to pray about it. Though I wanted to serve the Lord right then, I did not want to jump in because I was not sure. I understood that the Lord must call. In my mind, being a foreigner in Singapore, God’s calling for me is to work outside and serve the Lord part-time in the church. So I did not follow up with Pastor, and just continued with all my applications while at the same time serving the Lord in the GFF. Then one day, the Lord tested me – I was about to go for a final interview and a possible contract signing. But as that was scheduled on a Tuesday afternoon, I declined because I may have to miss the prayer meeting. It was moved to Thursday that week but a day before, that company announced a hiring freeze. Coincidence? No, God’s providence!
Even then, I was still hesitating to serve the Lord full-time – to the point of literally asking the Lord to allow me to find work before Pastor comes to me again. Around this time, I was also preparing my family if in case the Lord will finally open that opportunity for me. I tried to encouraged them to be ready and willing to sacrifice and go through suffering, if the Lord requires.
Then one night, Pastor called and shared that wonderful opportunity being offered to me, backed by the unanimous decision of the Elders. When he then asked for my response, I replied him, “What else can I say? It is God answering my prayer and confirming it through my Pastor and Elders!” I thank the Lord that in God’s appointed time, He allowed me to serve Him full-time.
I started serving the Lord full-time in May 2019. It was a mixed feeling of excitement and anxiety. Even until today, I still feel the same way every now and then. I was excited because serving the Lord full time is a privilege and only available to those whom God has called. And having that understanding is more than enough to motivate me to give my all as the Lord enables me day by day. Yet at the same time I do feel anxious, for I was responsible for the effective and efficient functioning of the office of GBWL, covering a range of administrative, financial, accounting, systems and managerial tasks. Furthermore, being an engineer by profession, I did not have any prior experience with regard to the office requirements of the church; but thank God for His grace and wisdom. The Lord has sustained me thus far. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
On top of my office-related tasks in GBWL, I continue to coordinate the activities of the GFF, and assist Pastor, the Elders and Deacons, preachers, co-labourers and church members on matters relating to the church. I am convicted that as a full-time worker, I must be willing and ready to do whatever is needed for the day. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Praise the Lord that there is so much work in the Lord’s vineyard – it is indeed toil and labour! I earnestly pray that somehow in the course of doing the work, I may be a blessing to Pastor and my co-labourers, and at the same time maintaining a life of holiness as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. My greatest fear is not that I may not be able to accomplish the work, but that I may be doing it with unclean hands and an impure heart. God forbid!
Brethren, I seek your prayer that I may be faithful and unwavering in the Lord’s calling for me, sanctifying myself daily to be holy and blameless, serving the Lord for His glory.
Text: Selected Scriptures
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 11 October 2020
Written by Matthew Peh
I thank the Lord for this opportunity to recollect God’s calling in my life, and how He used my circumstances to call me to be His labourer.
The greatest sin that has been plaguing me—a struggle which I continue to face even today—is pride. From my primary school days to university, I did relatively well in my studies. I remember in university, I had lecturers, professors, and friends asking if I were going to do a PhD in linguistics. I entertained such thoughts in my mind, with aspirations of doing well in the academic arena. Alas, man proposes, God disposes. God used three main incidents in my university life to redirect me into His vineyard.
First, failing to get a scholarship with MOE after my ‘A’ levels. Friends who did not do as well as me could get the scholarship, but I couldn’t. I was disheartened, but I ‘comforted’ myself by saying at least I wasn’t tied down to MOE. Second, not doing well for my honours thesis (HT). My HT was cross-disciplinary, combining insights from linguistics (my major), geography and sociology. I was so proud of it, for few undergraduates would attempt such an ambitious topic. I thought I would do well, but I did not do as well as I had expected. Third, the struggle with unemployment for half a year upon graduating in 2016. I was very sure that my good results would yield many job offers. Yet, I wasn’t even called up for interviews. I only managed to land a job through a friend’s recommendation.
Yet, with hindsight, I see God’s providence at work. If I had a scholarship, I would be bonded and wouldn’t be able to serve God immediately at His call. If I had done well in my thesis, I would have furthered my studies. As for the job that I had, because of the amount of free time during my office hours, I took the time to learn website building.
In November 2017, I had quit my job and did some freelance work. As I had more free time, I helped out in the church office. Specifically, I offered to revamp the BW website. During such time, I had the opportunity to review some of the older issues of the BW magazine. Volume 15, Issue 5 (‘Redeeming the Time’) was one that caught my attention. It contains sermons preached by Rev. Reggor during the 2009 church camp, which I was unable to attend due to National Service. An article, ‘The Brevity of Time’, reminded me about the shortness of life. It struck me that I had spent most of my life doing things that were unprofitable.
The Lord then reminded me of Ecclesiastes 12:1, where Solomon tells the reader to “remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth”. In addition, during one of my devotions, I read from Psalm 100:2a—“Serve the LORD with gladness”. Psalm 100 exhorts the congregation to praise the LORD for His goodness and everlasting mercies upon His people. After reading that devotion by Spurgeon, I was moved by the Spirit to read Matthew Henry’s commentary on the same psalm. In it, the commentary mentioned that “we should serve the Lord, [that we] should devote ourselves to his service and employ ourselves in it”. Through Psalm 100, God reminded me that there is great joy to be found in serving Him. Indeed, the joylessness I felt in my previous job is a stark contrast with joy in serving in His vineyard. On a personal note, I must not forget that the greatest joy, next to having the privilege to serve God, is meeting my wife while labouring for Him.
While I had entered the Lord’s vineyard thinking that my main role would be a graphic designer, God chose to add more to my plate. The additional work includes the Bible Witness Web Radio (BWWR) maintenance, church websites’ maintenance, and the running of the video systems in Gethsemane Media Centre (GMC).
For BWWR, while Sis. Melissa does the recording work of the radio programmes, the everyday running of BWWR is handled by me. When the BWWR had to go through a revamp, I had to spend days trying to figure out the new system. Thank God for the grace to do so. As to the day-to-day running of the radio, queuing the monthly devotions and the weekly programmes become a part of my work routine as well.
Additionally, during the renovation phase of GMC, the Board of Elders appointed me to be part of the technical team. I had to source for video equipment for the new building. While I had some knowledge about audio-visual systems, this was a mammoth undertaking. I thank God for wisdom to help in the video system planning for GMC. There were a lot of oversights during this project, but I thank God that the video system works for most of our purposes.
With the completion of GMC, it seems as though a little bit more was “piled onto the plate”. I now have to help run the video systems. I have to admit that I actually have very limited knowledge on our video system, and a lot of what I do is simply through trial and error (of course, led by God’s unseen Hand of guidance). Much testing and re-testing is still required today to run the system. Thank God for the wisdom to do so. I thank the Lord for the wisdom to figure out a way to use our studio to hold Zoom conferences. We held a Pastors’ Conference prior to the “circuit breaker” period with this set-up. Now, this same set-up is used on Mondays, during Pastor Koshy’s GBI “pastoral training” sessions (with Bro. Cornelius, Pr Xin Kai, Pr Sujith, and Pr Kelvin).
Indeed, it would seem like these days, my originally-slated primary role as a graphic designer and doing layouts is overshadowed by all the other work. Thank God for grace and strength to plod on and to accomplish all these work.
During this time of pandemic, I see how God has used the work we do to help people continue to worship God—albeit in a less-than-ideal manner. Thank God for grace given to Pastor, Sis. Melissa, and myself in running the Sunday services and Tuesday Night prayer meetings from the studio level, during the circuit breaker and post-circuit breaker periods. Thank God also for Bro. Arnold who helped with the Chinese worship service YouTube videos, as well as for Bro. Andronicus and Sis. Dorcas who ran the live broadcasts from Pastor’s home for a few weeks. There’s much to thank God for, including the provision of equipment, and the wisdom to do the work.
When the government mandated that all had to work from home during the circuit breaker and Phase 1 periods, I thank the Lord that the work that I had been allotted to did not suffer. From my home, I could continue to work on the Bible Witness magazine, update the church websites and also the programmes on BWWR. Thank God for the ability to work remotely.
Right now, a number of BW publications are in the works: the next issue of Bible Witness, the Chinese translation of Pastor’s 365 Daily Exhortations, the children’s devotionals (My Soul’s Delight Volumes 2 and 3), the calendar for next year. All of these have to be done in the short span of less than a month, as much time has to be given to the printers to prepare all these materials. Please pray for God’s strength and mercy to be upon me as I endeavor to finish these.
In more recent weeks, when we held services in groups of 50 at GMC, the audio-visual set-up had to once again be changed. Thank God for the wisdom and ability to adapt to the changes quickly. Though we are back in SingPost for services, things are still not completely ‘back to normal’, for the audio set-up is different from pre-coronavirus days. Again, we have to pray for God’s wisdom in trying out this new Sunday set-up. May the brethren bear with the audio-visual team during this teething phase.
Indeed, God’s work can only be done with His sustaining grace. May God continue to help us.
Text: Selected Scriptures
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 4 October 2020
Written by Arnold Diaz
I came to know of Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church in 2005, through an invitation from a friend during our Saudi Arabia days. He said to me, “Come to church, we have a good pastor from India.” So I attended and after going through my catechism classes every Sunday, I was baptised that same year in December.
Coming from Catholic and Charismatic backgrounds, I thank God for Pastor Koshy’s uncompromising preaching against sin, in particular against liquor and drinking. Sadly, my friend left the church because he cannot give up his drinking. Some years later, he “unfriended” me on Facebook because I didn’t buy him duty-free liquor as he requested me. How sad – liquor in exchange for friendship and Lord’s counsel. No wonder Pastor lamented that people leave the church for their own convenience. “But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels” (Psalm 81:11-12).
I also learn about the need to give tithes and honour the Lord on Sundays. Once, I tried not to give my tithe one Sunday (of $100) as I wanted to buy something. On Monday, I went back to work and made a mistake, which cost a cut of $300 from my salary! “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes” (Haggai 1:6).
I am also struck by Pastor’s teachings on family life. Pastor has repeatedly preached that a mother should stay at home for the sake of a godly family. I realise this the hard way. My mother was a nurse and a workaholic. During the 1970’s, my mother could take home at least S$1,000 a month. But there were consequences. As my father was working, so we were left alone with maids and learn the ways of the maid. When I reached secondary school, I learned to smoke, drink and even drive without license – even my father cannot control me anymore. My mother would just give money whenever I need it, just to compensate for her absence from home. She didn’t know me very well because she only spent very few hours with me. Many local families didn’t realise that what children need from young is for their mother to understand them and guide them while growing up. This is because of lack of knowledge of the Gospel and shallow preaching from the pulpit in our place – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6).
In the light of my situations I experienced in Philippines, the more I listen to Pastor Koshy’s preaching, the more it gave me hope and understanding of the Lord’s ways – including topics like suicide, eating of blood, celebrating valentines, tithing, drinking, smoking, stay-at-home mothers, etc. Truly, “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education” (Theodore Roosevelt).
In hindsight, my love for photography, photo-manipulation and photo-shop was a preparation for me to enter into full-time ministry. When Pastor asked me if I may consider to work full-time as videographer, I said I didn’t have any formal training or experience. His reply was, “You’ll learn as the Lord leads you.” Despite financial uncertainties and objections from some relatives, I didn’t want to waste the opportunity to serve the Lord. Because of my love of photography, I still did freelance photography outside with my friends. One day during the Lunch Hour Bible Study, 2 of the brethren rebuked me. Though theirs were simple words only, the Lord gave me understanding: “…for them that honour me I will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30). Pastor in one of his messages said, “You cannot serve the Lord if you don’t repent.” My past had been spent in much worldliness growing up in Philippines, working in Saudi Arabia and Singapore. But now working as a full-time staff, I need to repent everyday, and ask for the Lord’s wisdom, and not to do things in my old, unspiritual ways. May God help me to embrace the instruction of Proverbs 1:5-7, “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: to understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Thank God that in video-recording the messages, it’s really a great blessing that I can access any messages of Pastor and listen again and take note of some of Pastor’s quotes and Scripture verses dear to my heart. I am grateful to realise that what I have recorded, rendered and uploaded on our website can reach many homes who are craving for the Word of God. It really amazes me how the Lord works in the heart of Pastor. Again, I’ve seen how the Lord used Gethsemane during this pandemic through “Zoom” meetings and recorded messages. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
As I serve according to God’s calling, I realise there’s no quitting in the service of the Lord. I used to plan to settle down and stay in Pangasinan and help Pr Donald in the ministry. But this is my plan, not the Lord’s plan. I also missed my children when they were growing up. I left them since 2005, when they were 9 and 10 years old. So they practically grew up with my in-laws. I am not with them. My Lord knows my heart very well, I really missed being together with my family and maybe attend church service together with them, but we are very far from each other. I just pray and wait for the Lord, for “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
In working as a full-time staff, I try not to limit my availability only when others need me. I am not perfect, but the Lord gave me an opportunity to serve Him and learn from Him. I have my weakness, but He teaches me to be humble and repent from sin. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (Psalm 139:14). May the Lord be praised!
Written by John Peh
Psalm 84:10 says, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
My family and I joined Gethsemane B-P Church in December 1999. Gethsemane was then a very small church (with a congregation of about 40 to 50 worshippers) worshipping in Geylang Lorong 17. At that time, my family had the privilege to spend much time in fellowship with Pastor Koshy. I was having depression then and Pastor was counseling me. I have seen how Pastor ordered his life and family, and that led me to have a desire to serve God full-time. But I know I did not have the capacity to serve Him as a preacher nor the skill to serve in the church office. If the church had a building, I could serve as a caretaker, I thought, with Psalm 84:10 frequently resonating in my mind.
The Bible Witness Bookroom Ministry started in September 2005. Pastor Koshy had been praying for some years to have a bookroom ministry in the town area when by the guidance and provision of God, a place was made available in Hong Lim Complex through a sister who loves the work of the Lord. As I was also praying for an avenue to serve God, when Pastor approached me concerning serving in the bookroom, I readily and happily accepted it as an answer from God. The bookroom is to be a place where like-minded Christians in the town area can gather together to have a time of studying God’s Word and prayer.
The bookroom started with 1,800 books and through the years, that had increased to over 2,200 books. Some FEBC students had made used of the bookroom facilities to do research work for their assignments and thesis. They had found it to be very useful. Many lay persons, in their desire to have a more in-depth knowledge of God’s Word, had also come to the bookroom to read up on the books available. The books in the bookroom cover a wide variety of subjects, like Christian living, parenting, prayer, theology, etc., just to name a few. There was an adjoining computer room, where we had 2 computers that have been installed with Logos programme, which was very good for serious students of God’s Word.
Every Wednesday at 1.30 pm, we would have our mid-week Bible study. The average attendance was about 12 – 20 brothers and sisters. The group consisted mainly of workers from the vicinity and some members of our sister B-P churches. Pastor Koshy led the Bible study. It is very heartening to see that the brothers and sisters were so fervent in their desire to learn God’s Word despite their busy schedule at work. I myself have learnt much from the Bible study.
The live webcast of the Bible study started in Nov 2011, and this provided another avenue for brethren who could not attend the Bible study at the bookroom to learn God’s Word. Despite the fact that we are not operating the bookroom now, the live webcast is still going on. Praise be unto God that many are still tuning in to the webcast!
The Seniors’ Fellowship also met regularly at the bookroom on occasional Thursdays for their weekly meeting. In these meetings, thank God for the faithful preaching of Preacher Jeremiah, Preacher Daniel and Elder Mah. The fellowship of the seniors was also very sweet.
I am very thankful to God for allowing me to serve in the Bible Witness Bookroom. In those years at the bookroom, I was especially encouraged to see brothers and sisters who were very fervent in studying God’s Word. They came almost without fail every week for the lunch-time Bible study. I was also most uplifted when a sister, through attending the Bible study, saw the need to attend church regularly and eventually settled in Gethsemane B-P Church. Even when there are no Bible studies or fellowship meetings, I thank God for the time to read books in Pastor’s collection and also for the time to pray. I can still remember some of such times, like when I fasted and prayed when Preacher Dominino and a sister in the church (Sis Clarissa) were diagnosed with cancer, as well as when the church was raising funds for GMC.
It was also during my service in the bookroom that I saw how Pastor Koshy laboured tirelessly to feed the flock. Despite his busy schedule and health issues, he would not pass away any chance to feed his flock. I have much to learn from his example of faithfulness and commitment to God’s Word.
While I was very happy to serve in the bookroom, God has other plans. Pastor Koshy approached me sometime in December 2016 to take over Bro Roy (who was leaving) in the printing ministry of The Gethsemane Care Ministry (TGCM). I was initially very apprehensive because I do not have experience or technical skills in printing, design or sales / marketing, not to mention leading TGCM brethren in this aspect. Nevertheless, after praying and realising it is God that is leading the way, I accepted it. The initial arrangement is that I will spend half a day in the bookroom and half a day in Gordon Industrial Building (which houses the printing ministry). The initial period was a trying time for me because many brethren who had volunteered to help in the printing ministry left TGCM. There was a time when only Bro Arnold and I worked in the printing ministry. At times I felt helpless and overwhelmed. Designing, sales and leading brethren are not the talents God has given to me, I thought to myself.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD” (Isa 55:8). But in the grand scheme of God, He has a purpose for all things. With the purchase (sometime in 2018) and the completion of the renovations (in 2019) of GMC at 33 Ubi Crescent, Pastor moved his books in the bookroom to the library on the 4th storey of GMC. This is to enable Pastor and the preachers to gain access to the books more readily. The printing ministry was also moved to GMC which helped to save the cost of having to pay rent in Gordon. With the moving of the library to GMC, there is no longer a need to operate the bookroom in Hong Lim.
When we first moved to GMC, Bro Arnold and some brethren from the church helped with the designing aspect of the ministry. I still feel very inadequate because I struggle very much with sales and marketing. But praise be unto God, all things worked for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. In His time, God brought Bro Jordan into the ministry. Bro Jordan is gifted not only in design, but also in sales and marketing. With the help of Sis Dorcas, they have done a very good work. Thank God for Bro Jordan and Sis Dorcas, as well as for Bro Cayson for his unwavering support in the printing ministry. I have much to learn from his humbleness, truthfulness and fervency. God has given all of us different talents to serve Him. With Bro Jordan, Sis Dorcas and TGCM brethren, I pray that the printing ministry will grow and prosper – for the praise and glory of God.
Written by Melissa Mah
I thank God for the gracious call to serve Him in the fulltime ministry. Not only is the Lord merciful to save me from my sinful, self-pleasing ways, He has also granted me a part in His Gospel ministry. That I have an opportunity to serve Him – what a blessed privilege the eternal King has bestowed upon an undeserving sinner as I! Just as the apostle Paul said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy…” (1 Timothy 1:15b-16a).
In my late teens and early adulthood, I lived a life that was attracted by the glittering allurements of this world, seeking its pleasures and comforts, just like the worldly-wise-but-spiritually-foolish unbelieving people, forsaking the spiritual instructions and counsels in God’s Word despite learning them from a young age. Those were foolish paths that would only lead to a soul’s perilous end. However, the tender Shepherd showed great mercy not to forsake me in condemnation, but to lovingly bring me back to the fold, and even opened the door to service in His glorious Gospel work. The response, in the words of one hymn-writer, was: “love so amazing so divine, demands my love my life my all.”
But how does one know he or she is called to serve God full-time? That question lingered in my mind for a considerable length of time, until the Lord Himself showed the answer. I prayed to the Lord that if it was His will for me to serve Him with my life, He would help me know it without a doubt. Isaiah 65:24 says, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Truly, the assurance of God through prayer is the promise that every seeking soul can hope and rejoice in.
Thus in July 2006, through various circumstances in life and God’s providential leading, the Lord convicted my heart to surrender my life to serve Him, through the words and ministry of the apostle Paul who wrote: “For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:9). The apostle Paul’s attitude in the service of God was one of “labour and travail”. Instead of being anxious or fearful at the testimony of the hard labour required, I knew God was speaking to me through His Word and the working of the Holy Spirit in my heart. I took these words as God’s call and command for the days ahead, and set aside all worldly ambition to serve the Lord. The Lord had clearly laid out His expectations of my service.
I am mindful of how God had called me to serve Him, and am learning to fulfil the call to serve Him each day. None of us, with our gross sins and weak wills, truly deserve to serve so holy and awesome a Master. Yet He has sanctified us and counted us worthy of the call through the cleansing blood of Christ His Son. For this reason, we humbly labour to be accepted of Him when He comes (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:9), remembering that the measure of our work is not done by us, but by God who sees every thought, motive and deed, “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth” (2 Corinthians 10:18).
From the first day God called me, the instruction He gave to me was that the life of service would mean arduous toil, requiring whole-hearted commitment and love for His work, to which I have strived to fulfil by God’s strength and by keeping close to Him in submission to His Word and will. Through the past 14 years, the Lord has granted joy, peace and His abiding presence as I serve Him. He also gives daily strength and resolve to be faithful in spite of human weaknesses. Without His help, we are unable to fulfil any calling in life, for He, being in possession of everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4), is the Supply of our strength.
It is a daily task to unburden myself from every load that binds me to this world, in order to be approved as a faithful worker. As Scripture instructs us, we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). The Lord’s work needs all of our devotion, and it must be done with God-given wisdom and haste. Jesus commanded us to follow His example, to work “while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). The Master has allowed me entrance to His vineyard, so I must labour whole-heartedly. Christ, who has called us, strengthens us by His might to go through the course He has set before us. The difficulties along the path are joyous and not burdensome, if we look unto Him, for He has promised, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).
The Lord is our great Resource in all the work we do for Him. He supplies and sustains His work. I am neither IT savvy, nor do I possess a natural liking for technical things. So, I praise God for His gracious enablement to learn the skills needed to manage the audio recording system that our church has invested in over the past 14 years, and thereby to do my part in the propagation of the Gospel throughout the world.
Much skills and resources are needed to effectively carry out the work of God in a church like ours. In Bible Witness Media Ministry (BWMM), and Bible Witness Web Radio (BWWR), there is so much that we desire to accomplish but often the labourers are few. It is an on-going struggle to create and maintain good, spiritually edifying content to be broadcast on BWWR, and this often brings frustration and disappointment to me. Nonetheless, I praise and thank God that the Lord has preserved the ministries He has led us into, and while some abandon the work, others see its value and offer sacrificial service. I thank God for bringing Sis Sharon dela Cruz back to assist in BWMM this year, and for her labours to edit audio content for BWWR. Similarly, the Lord has recently granted us another extra pair of hands in Sis Dorcas Koshy, who has joyfully contributed much content for BWWR in the recent month.
These are God’s provisions for His own work, but there is still a great need for skilled young minds with vigour to serve Him without delay, having understood the great worth of the things of eternity. Many times we have undertaken mammoth tasks, which I worried we could not fulfil, but the Lord has always been a gracious Provider of all the resources and spiritual mettle we needed to complete each project. With every work, I have experienced the blessed Hand of the Master who has proven Himself to be the One that unfailingly guides and accomplishes His work.
In 1 Corinthians 14:34, women are instructed to “be under obedience” to the authorities God has placed in the church. Over the years, the Lord has also helped me to understand the role of a woman serving in the ministry. Serving mostly among brothers-in-Christ, I am acutely aware that fulfilling my calling requires me to follow the leadership of godly men – namely the (faithful) pastor, preachers and church leaders – as I serve in areas as the Lord would direct. My duty is to support their attempts to preach the Gospel and edify God’s people. Through the caring and upright ways of my co-labourers, I have learnt how a woman ought to serve and conduct herself in the work of the Lord. By obeying the Biblical patterns for women in service and learning from the mistakes of others, I have received much blessings serving in this church office, which has been a special and wonderful place to work in. Having a place where we are of the same mind towards God, His work and one another, is indeed God’s favour upon our ministry.
The sovereign Lord plants our footsteps, not we ourselves. He has been good to show many ways in which I could be a part of His glorious Gospel work, for which I am thankful and humbled. He has taught me patience, meekness and submission to His will. He also granted the joy of serving Him. I do not know what other areas of service or appointments in this life the Lord would set for me, but I pray I would be faithful in every task, great or small, labouring daily to be accepted of Him and to please Him. For this, I rest on the promise of God in 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” I am made a useful vessel only because of His abounding grace each day. Trusting in the Lord, I am greatly assured that He will fulfil His purposes in me.
Finally, I am aware that the greatest battle in the service of God is the battle against self – not only dealing with my own weaknesses, but also struggling against sin, distracting thoughts and ‘feeble’ emotions, yet desiring to fear the Lord, to walk in His ways, to love and serve Him with all my heart and all my soul (cf. Deuteronomy 10:12). Certainly, much daily labour is needed in order to be able to fulfil God’s call and be counted faithful – labour to be holy, labour to flee sinful enticements, labour to be rid of pride and selfishness, labour to see our own weaknesses, labour to resist being discouraged and dejected, labour to bring everything to God in prayer. Daily self-examination and repentance is necessary, with God’s gracious help, in order to prove one’s calling. We must deny self – not squandering the time, life and opportunities He has given, in trivial pursuits. Let us cast aside things that do not count for eternity, to serve Him with our all, before life is past. To the Lord be all glory and praise.
Text: Selected Scriptures
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 13 September 2020
Written by Lok Kwok Wah
“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:6-7). Thank God for granting me much grace and strength to serve in His vineyard. Despite having to face many challenges and endure many trials in serving the Lord, I know that nothing gives me greater joy than serving Him in the midst of His people. As a worker of the Lord, I desire to do whatever He calls me to do, and constantly remind myself (as the apostle Paul admonishes in the above verse) that it is God whom I serve and please above all else.
Many years ago, as a young believer in Christ, the Lord put a great desire in my heart to serve Him full-time. At that point in time, I had no inkling as to how God would ever call me to serve Him. Praise be to God, God has His way of leading and preparing those whom He has chosen to serve Him. In the intervening years, He had allowed me to work as a shipping coordinator, as well as a Christian bookroom manager. With hindsight, these experiences had helped to prepare me for my full-time ministry in terms of exposure to administrative duties and Christian literature.
By God’s providence in the 1990’s, I met Pastor Koshy on several occasions while I was worshipping in my previous church and when I visited Gethsemane B-P Church on occasion. Pastor Koshy shared with me his burden to start a Christian literature ministry in Gethsemane, which would entail someone to serve alongside him full-time! Indeed, as Ecclesiastes 3:1 says: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” God has, in His perfect time, called me to serve in Gethsemane as a full-time support staff in January 2001. Having put my hand to the plough, there is no turning back. As Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
That year (2001) also witnessed the launch of the first publication of the Bible Witness magazine (which was a brainchild of Pastor Koshy) under the Bible Witness Literature Ministry. Thank God for Pastor’s hard work and commitment, which saw his burden for sound Christian literature come to fruition. Over the years, his written works have also included the following: “365 Daily Exhortations from God’s Word”, “My Soul’s Delight” and Gospel tracts. In the same spirit of William Carey, Pastor believes that one should expect great things from God and attempt great things for God. It has been a privilege since then to co-labour with Pastor, who is always focused on spreading the Gospel and edifying the saints through the written word, both locally and in faraway lands. This desire of his to propagate the Gospel is founded on the basis of Acts 1:8, where the Lord says: “…ye shall be witnesses unto me”.
In the early stage of production, we faced challenges in sourcing for articles, editing them, planning the layout, right down to the final printing and distribution. Oftentimes, we had difficulties looking for committed writers, as well as printing companies that could meet our requirements. However, the Lord has never failed to strengthen His faithful servant, our Pastor, who had to cope with much work in the church, on top of his many preaching engagements. Despite this, he frequently wrote articles for the Bible Witness magazine and continues to do so today. By God’s grace, Pastor eventually managed to assemble a regular team of writers, proofreaders, as well as layout and illustration artists. Praise the Lord also that my wife Jenny is able to serve together with me (from home) as one of the proofreaders. This has stood me in good stead, particularly in the early stage of the editorial work (before Pr Ho Kee How joins the ministry as assistant editor). To me, it is most crucial that Jenny, as a housewife, is committed to being a keeper at home (Titus 2:5), so that I may focus on my ministry work.
In 2004, the Bible Witness Literature Ministry was renamed “Bible Witness Media Ministry” (BWMM) to include modern media such as CD, VCD, DVD, Internet, etc. In 2005, the Lunch Hour Bible Study was set up to provide an avenue for like-minded brethren who work in the Central Business District to gather for a time of studying God’s Word and prayer. The following year in 2006, the Bible Witness Web Radio (the first Christian Internet Web Radio in Singapore) went on air (24/7), and has since been in operation till today. Thank God that His continual blessings upon BWMM have also led to the launch of GBI-Online in 2015.
In line with my work in BWMM, I also assist Pastor in organising Bible Witness Retreats and Holy Land Bible Study Tours. Besides these, my responsibilities also include the upkeep of the church vans and any administrative matter that requires attention, from time to time. Being in the fulltime ministry and having served with Pastor thus far, I am often reminded that “whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23).
Since 2007, I have served as a deacon in the Session of Gethsemane BPC – in various roles, including Assistant Treasurer (counting of offerings and depositing the collections in the bank) and Assistant Clerk-of-Session. Thank God also for the opportunity to be leading the Ushers’ Ministry (2009-2016).
In 2019, when the church acquired a B1 industrial building – Gethsemane Media Centre (GMC) – and started renovations, I was given a new responsibility as Operations Manager, which includes handling the maintenance of the building and its daily operations. To date, I am still learning the ropes of keeping the GMC running. Certainly, I have many struggles in understanding the technical aspects of the operation work. Nevertheless, I pray that the Lord will be gracious and merciful to help me to work more efficiently for His glory. As Jesus has said in John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” May Christ’s wonderful example help me to stay focused in my service for Him. All glory be unto God.