January 19, 2014

Growing Up in Gethsemane Children’s Choir

Written by:
Rev (Dr) Prabhudas Koshy
Gethsemane Children’s Choir not only trains the children to sing songs unto the Lord, but also teaches them biblical disciplines that are necessary to work together as a team to serve God with one heart and one voice. We appreciate the commitment and labour of our sisters who train the Children’s Choir. May their efforts be so blessed by the Lord that our church will often be filled with the voices of children singing melodious hymns of praise. As Psalm 148:12 & 13 say, “Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the LORD.”

The years that I have spent in the Children’s Choir are indeed precious and wonderful. I really enjoy singing, as well as learning new songs. However, simply singing in the Children’s Choir without actually seeking to learn more spiritual lessons, either from the choir teachers or from the songs we sing, does not make anyone gain anything. Therefore, I would like to share some things which I have learnt through the years when I sang in the Children’s Choir.

To begin with, we are all members of the body of Christ, so working together to sing well in the Choir is important in serving the Lord.

Also, the discipline to come for the Children’s Choir practice must not be hindered by obstacles, such as the struggle to get up early in the morning or having to travel a long distance to church.

Furthermore, when we do something wrong, we must learn to accept correction and rebuke from our teachers, as well as learn from our mistakes.

To end my testimony, I would like to thank God for my teachers in the Children’s Choir – Aunty Stefanie, Aunty Melissa and Aunty Seong Yeng – for having the dedication and patience to teach us. I also appreciate Jie Jie Carmen and Aunty Seong Yeng for playing the piano, and for being longsuffering even when we made the same mistakes while singing. Above all, I am grateful to God for teaching me to serve Him with joy through my time in the Children’s Choir – “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2).

Lok Qian Ning


I want to thank God for enabling me to join the Children’s Choir, and for all my experiences in the Children’s Choir. In the beginning I was very scared to join, but by God’s grace, I’ve been in the Choir for about two to three years now. I also want to thank God for our teachers, who not only taught us to sing hymns and spiritual songs, but also to behave well and be good Christian boys and girls.

I enjoy singing in the Children’s Choir and praising the LORD with all my heart. I like to encourage other children to join the Children’s Choir. May I share a verse with you – “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High” (Psalm 92:1).

Jesimiel Lim


I join the Children’s Choir because I love God and I like to sing hymns and songs to praise Him. I also get to fellowship with other children in the Choir.

Parousia Chan


I want to thank God for the opportunity to be in the children’s choir. Training and practising in the choir can be very challenging at times because we must work very hard and stand for prolonged periods. But I still enjoy singing praises for the LORD so that I can share the Gospel with others through my singing.

I pray that God will continue to help me to serve Him joyfully in the choir.

Ashley Lim


I thank God for the precious opportunity of singing and praising God in the Children’s Choir. I also thank God for granting me the voice to sing hymns and Scripture in song. I am very grateful for the teachers who taught me how to sing and praise God joyfully. In the process, I learnt to be more disciplined and to sing better for the Lord’s glory. I hope this coming new year, that the truth of God’s Word in Psalm 96:2 may be fulfilled in my life – “Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.”

Mehetabel Lim


O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). I want to thank God for the privilege to sing in the Choir. I would like to thank God for my teachers – Aunty Stefanie, Jie Jie Melissa, Aunty Seong Yeng and Jie Jie Carmen – for their service to God.

Praise God for them as they teach us new songs, and guide us through many practices. I have joined the Choir for 2 years already and this is my 3rd year. I pray that God will help me to continue to sing for Him. Praise the Lord!

Hannah Wong


Thank God for giving me the grace to sing throughout my two years in the Children’s Choir. I also want to thank God for the strength and wisdom He has granted me for all my presentations. There were times when I was sick, but the Lord saw me through the presentations. I thank God for helping me sing for Him. Thank God for His goodness and mercy.

Hadassah Wong


But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).

Being part of the Children’s Choir has given me many wonderful blessings.

Firstly, I have been touched by Jesus’ love for me when I first sang the song, “Blessed Be The Name”, with the Choir. It tells me that God loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins, and so save us from eternal destruction.

Secondly, I have learned that commitment requires discipline. Rising up earlier on Sundays takes discipline. Moreover, discipline is needed for me to memorise the lyrics. I thank God for Aunty Stefanie, Aunty Melissa and Aunty Seong Yeng who have been very patient to train us every week. That makes it a lot easier for me to remember the songs. I thank God for ‘Jie Jie’ Carmen too, who is our pianist.

Finally, may God help me to continue serving Him in the Children’s Choir “with clean hands and a pure heart”. My mama has constantly reminded me that singing in the children’s choir should not be looked upon as a chore, but rather as a privilege to worship and serve Jesus. All praise and glory be to God!

Grace Ho


I like to sing in the Children’s Choir. In the Children’s Choir, I get to sing hymns and spiritual songs, I also get to learn more songs. At the same time, I learn many new words from the lyrics and make good friends.

Thank God for the opportunity to sing praises to Him!

Andrew Lee


I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:6).

I thank the Lord for the Children’s Choir. Firstly, praise God for providing us with good teachers in Auntie Melissa, Auntie Seong Yeng, Auntie Stefanie and Jie Jie Carmen. They have worked hard to teach us sacred hymns. Secondly, thank God for the opportunity to join all the five Reformation Cantatas and last year’s Christmas Praise. Thank God for helping me memorise all the songs. Thirdly, thank God for the friends I had in the choir who helped me whenever I needed their assistance. May the Lord continue to bless the Children’s Choir as we serve Him in the music ministry of Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church.

David Kabingue

Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church adheres to the system of faith commonly known as the “Reformed Faith” as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith together with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
Our Worship Address
SingPost Centre
Level 5 Auditorium
10 Eunos Road 8, Singapore 408600
(next to Paya Lebar MRT station)
Our mailing address
Gethsemane Media Centre
33 Ubi Crescent
Singapore 408584
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