This work belongs to the Lord, for He has opened the way to begin this special outreach to ex-addicts and ex-convicts. The following account is written to testify of the Lord’s gracious, providential leading that led to this ministry.

About seven years ago, the Lord brought to Gethsemane B-P Church some ex-addicts who were saved through the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord not only saved them from their sins, but also strengthened and guided them through the truth of His Word that they have become useful Christians for His glory.

We have witnessed their spiritual progress and fruitfulness in the work of the Lord. Five of them have already entered the full-time service of the Lord. Four of them, after being trained in Far Eastern Bible College, serve the Lord actively. They are Pr Daniel Lim (preacher for Gethsemane BPC Chinese service), Dn Paul Cheng (The Gethsemane Care Ministry), Rev Reggor Galarpe (Pastor of Gethsemane B-P Mission Church, Cebu, the Philippines), and Bro Kelvin Lim (full-time worker). Two other brothers from the same background, Bro Jeremiah Sim and Bro Jeremy Mark Ferreira, have come forward to serve the Lord full-time. Today, we have more than a dozen people whom the Lord has gloriously saved from their addictions worshipping with us in Gethsemane.

In recent years, it has become more apparent to us that a fundamental Christian ministry to the drug addicts and convicts is lacking in Singapore. Thus far, to the best of our knowledge, almost all the Christian ministries are either charismatic or neo-evangelical in their doctrine and practice. With so many brethren of the same doctrinal convictions on board, the Lord put a burden in my heart to see a Bible-believing, fundamental Christian ministry being set up by Gethsemane B-P Church.

So, when Dn Paul Cheng (a graduate of FEBC with a BRE degree) shared with me his burden to start a new ministry to help former drug addicts to grow in the Lord and integrate into the society through Christian fellowship and honest work, I urged him to work with Gethsemane B-P Church to start a fundamental Christian witness in this area. After prayer and considerations, Dn Paul has returned to express his readiness to co-labour with the church.

Gethsemane B-P Church’s Session has prayerfully and carefully deliberated on this new opportunity and unanimously decided to begin and support this work, and named it “The Gethsemane Care Ministry”. The Session has decided to accept Dn Paul’s service in this area, and appointed him as church’s full-time staff to co-labour with Pastor and the Session. Paul will co-ordinate the activities of the ministry and co-labour with Pastor to provide the pastoral care to those who come to this ministry.

The Goals of the Ministry

• Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to free men from their sinful addictions.
• Edify the ex-addicts and ex-convicts through the faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word so that they may grow in Christ and His grace.
• Provide counselling based on God’s Word.
• Provide a drug-free residence to shelter them from worldly influences.
• Encourage them through Christian fellowship to integrate into fundamental churches.
• Inculcate spiritual disciplines, such as Bible reading, prayer, worship, fellowship, evangelism, serving in and supporting church ministries, etc.
• Develop good interpersonal and work attitude so that they may be well equipped to be employed or to start their own businesses.
• Find and introduce viable job opportunities that will help them to be gainfully employed.

The Activities of the Ministry

• Daily morning devotions conducted by faithful pastors, elders and other servants of God.
• Daily individual quiet time with the Lord.
• Provide counselling for those who are in crisis

• Lead them to work projects such as
  removal, disposal, transport, painting, etc.
  
  For more details, please contact
  Bro Jerah Tan (9337 2337) or
  The Gethsemane Care
  Ministry (6281 6356).

• Participation in church worship services, evangelism, prayer meetings, fellowship groups, etc.
• Provide support for other ministries of the church such as Seniors' Ministry.

The Immediate Needs of the Ministry

• Funds for the rental of the house and support of the staff
• Encouragers to visit, fellowship and pray with the residents
• Prayer Supporters

Dear reader, we covet your sincere prayers and whole-hearted support for this ministry. We give ourselves into this ministry, knowing that only Christ’s love and truth can fully liberate those who are in the bondage of sinful addictions. We have seen the power of the Gospel at work in the lives of many former addicts and former convicts. So it is high time for us to rise in faith and true dedication to enter this ministry for His glory.

We implore your loving support for this glorious work of the Lord. (Please send your gifts to Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church. Cheque may be made payable to Gethsemane B-P Church; and please write Gethsemane Care Ministry at the back of your cheque). “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).