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Written by Cornelius Koshy

In penning down my testimony of calling and God’s continued working in my life during this pandemic, I acknowledge with the psalmist, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee” (Ps 139:17-18). Since a young child, the only ambition I desired was to be a pastor. My parents are in the service of God. My upbringing revolved around the ministries of the church. The knowledge of my dedication for service was always a relentless reminder that I should do no other work than the work of the Gospel. By the age of 17, I was sure I wanted to serve God, but I kept it to myself. For fear that I misunderstood the call of God as a transient emotional-hype, I continued with the path of most teenagers, which involved completing A-levels, National Service and pursuing a degree – but always with that inescapable thought at the back of my mind that I have to serve God.

This desire met with distraction. From age 17 to 24, offers of a more comfortable life were within reach. The desire to serve God was soon deferred to an indefinite time of “when I am older”. This desire was also met with discouragement. At that time, the B-P church was still embroiled in VPP battles. Pastors were fighting for the Truth and harder lines of separation were drawn. Some churches split over doctrine; others split over disagreements. Deacons, preachers, full-time workers left for different reasons. Family discussions frequently centred around church matters. Friends were lost along the way. Discouragement often has a downcast side to it. The childlike desire soon felt like a childish dream…

The desire also met with deception, “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me (Romans 7:11). Youthful pride and lust waged their fiercest war during these years, but thanks be to God: “for a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief” (Prov 24:16). Finally, desire met with disease. In December 2015, I was diagnosed with Post-streptococcal Glomerulonephritis (PSGN for short), a rare disease which affects young babies or older folks. Young men would be the last of its victims, but God’s providential and directive will targeted my 21-year-old kidneys. Beginning with an unsuspecting sore throat during the finals of my third semester in NUS, it escalated to enormously edematous face and limbs, especially at dependent body parts – a horror to fellow youths in the combined retreat in Cebu, Philippines on Christmas Eve, 2015. Thank God for the prayers of many in the church and a complete recovery was made within a month. Indeed, “the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:15).

Life turned around slowly since then – slow because there was still some disobedient denying of the desire for full-time service. It should have been complete denial of self, but it took another 1½ years for His Word to have absolute sway. In the final semester of my undergraduate studies in 2017, the Lord called me through 3 passages, the last of which is 2 Tim 1:5-9 [the fuller version of my testimony may be found in Burning Bush Vol. 24 No. 1 (2018) and the summarised version in our weekly bulletin (16 July 2017)]:

5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began…

The Spirit of God used this passage to speak directly to my heart. Reading this passage in the attic-studio of CRC at Lor 28, Sunflower Building, Paul’s encouragement to Timothy was God’s charge to me. There were some residual fears of the challenges of the ministry which still resided within, but v. 7 allayed those. Shame is fear’s twin sister, and v. 8’s charge to be unashamed of the testimony of our Lord challenged my heart. My calling is not to the agreeable work of the Gospel, but to the afflictions of the Gospel, calibrated according to the power which He imparts.

3 years of trying theological studies passed quickly. Friday night, 1 May 2020, was most memorable. The typical Thanksgiving dinner, which marks the end of the semester, was held in the third week of Circuit Breaker. No singing, no skits. No preaching, just prayers of thanksgiving offered before our packeted dinner. It was a quiet night. Just after 12 noon of that day, which was also the deadline of the last submission, I had called my dad over lunch to inform him that I had completed all my academic requirements. Then at night, I called my grandparents in India, elders and friends in church, to share the good news that I had completed my studies. It was almost 2 hours of “happy-calls”.

On Saturday morning, 2 May, Eld Mah called to ask of the direction and place where the Lord was leading me. I told him that there was no reason to leave Gethsemane, but neither was I ready to begin preaching. In a subsequent meeting with the Board of Elders on 7 May via Zoom, I shared in addition that I felt like a novice-preacher, having only 3 formal years of theological instruction, with little experience of preaching. I still was tearfully frightened at the thought of preaching in Gethsemane, and daunted to take up any responsibility. Knowing the spiritual expectation of a mature congregation and my ineptness, I expressly said that ‘I am not ready’, and that I needed more time to prepare myself to “feed the flock” (Acts 20:28). Being also acutely aware that preaching is never a piece of art for people’s listening pleasure, but a piece of bread for people to feed and grow, the BOE accepted my request to continue studying with Gethsemane Bible Institute (GBI), and I was received into Gethsemane’s staff as a “Student-Preacher” on 1 June 2020. This probationary position was for the Elders’ close supervision and monitoring, and Pastor’s instruction as his understudy.

Although I would have preferred to start small, and slowly grow with preaching by and by, it pleased God to grant me not a few preaching opportunities. In the first month alone, the Lord gave 10 different opportunities to preach via virtual means – an overwhelming thought for any “fresh” graduate whose preaching opportunities used to be, maximally, once a month. On 20 July 2020, GBI inaugurated a Pastoral Bible Studies (GBI-PBS) and I joined Pr. Kelvin, Pr Sujith and Pr Zhu Xin Kai for weekly sessions on Pastoral Theology and Ecclesiology. On my own, I am re-doing Systematic Theology’s Theism and Soteriology under GBI-PBS as well, with Pr Samson Hutagalung as my tutor. On that same day, FEBC began a new semester, and Dr Jeffrey Khoo encouraged me to consider a ThM programme. Presently, I am doing an additional 4 subjects with FEBC this semester: Acts of the Apostles, Theism (Chinese), Intertestamental History & Theology of Prayer to fulfil the requirements of ThM, albeit remotely.

Recollecting the past 5 months since June, I give thanks for God’s enabling in my preaching / teaching ministries at Gethsemane. They include recording a devotion every Monday on the topic “The Christian and His Neighbour”, for Youth Bible Hour segment on Bible Witness Web Radio (BWWR), which has reached its 20th (final) message. Beginning in mid-November, will be the next series, “Following After” – a topical study of biblical instructions on who, what and how Christians are to follow in our walk with God. On fortnightly Wednesday nights, I join Pr Sujith (via Zoom) in his Puritan Reading Group (started as his initiative to encourage a reading habit of good Christian literature), with around 12 participants across India (and one Singaporean young adult), to revisit Puritan literature and Reformed Theology. In each session, I’d summarise / explain a chapter or two of Puritan literature, followed by an expositional preaching of the verses in the chapter. We have completed 10 sessions on John Owen’s “On the Mortification of Sin”, and just embarked on Thomas Watson’s “Repentance”. In Gethsemane Youth Fellowship (GYF), the Lord moved me to begin a 6-part series on “Living in Knowledge of God”, wherein youths are taught on the practical implications of the Aseity of God, Solitariness of God, Condescension of Christ, Friendship of Christ, the Person of the Spirit and Witness of the Spirit. Praise God also for my ongoing involvement in GYF’s YouTube series on “The Biblical Case Against Homosexuality”, which is also used by Ebenezer Youth Fellowship of Tabernacle BPC. {Providentially, when Pr Xin Kai invited me to share 2 devotions (in Mandarin) in their university students’ retreat in August, I was prepared to preach for 30 minutes each, but was “terrified” to realise an hour was allotted for their devotion slot! Thank God for his help to preach two 40-minute devotions on the topic, “Our Duty for Holiness”. May God’s especial blessing be upon me to stir up gifts to preach in both English and Chinese.}

Having led the Youth Choir (2013-2020) and being in the Youth Committee (since 2018), GYF is an area of service close to my heart. During the pandemic, I joined Aunty Diana Chan in our earnest efforts to encourage our youths. From July-Sept 2020, some 20 visitation (‘over-food’) sessions were made involving 54 youths, with sharing of specially chosen verses for everyone, and a prayer for the struggles shared by them. (Pastor and Eld Choy, who took lead by laying the guidelines of visitations, were given regular updates.) Round two of youth visitations will resume as soon as regulations are further laxed. Personally, I thank God for the first physical meeting since Circuit-Breaker (held in GMC Seminar Room on 17 October) which was smoothly conducted, due in part to the foresight of Bro. Wei Heng (Youth Media Team) and assistance of Bro. Amoz (Youth Choir) in pre-recording hymns to be played as substitute for singing during our fellowship meetings. May our faithful God continue to bless our efforts to feed every young heart with the Word of God and to urge them to hate every false way (Ps 119:104)!

I thank God for serving with Pr. Kelvin and Aunty Luan Kheng in the weekly Gethsemane Children’s Ministry (GCM) Zoom fellowships on Saturdays (11am and 2pm). Praise God for every child who has been diligent in memorising Scripture passages as part of an informal Scripture Memorisation Programme. The average child might have already memorised more than 20 verses (some as many as 50!) in English and some in their mother tongue. A selection of these verses have been incorporated into scripts and 11 scenes are currently recorded for future Bible Witness web-TV programmes (with help of others, including Melissa, Luan Kheng, Carolyn, Arnold, Matthew, Dorcas, Jenice, Amoz). In addition, a web-series called “Soteriology for Kids” is compiled (with Dorcas’ help), to explain soteriological doctrines such as Election, Justification, Adoption, etc., to children. Verses concerning these topics are phone-recorded by parents and I record my explanation of these verses for young children to understand. Motion graphics and texts are overlayed by Dorcas. May God strengthen me as a member of the GCM Committee, for our children’s continued spiritual growth during these changing circumstances of the pandemic.

The Gethsemane Church Choir (GCC) is another ministry which has changed drastically, beginning from April 2020. I thank God for the help of Sisters Melissa, Sharon, Dorcas, and Bro. Amoz for recording and mixing the voice-tracks, lightening my burden as I continue to have oversight of this ministry. From monthly presentations of song during pre-Covid days, the choir now sings every week! 4 groups (of 4) come down to GMC studio on Wednesdays and Thursdays, to record hymns for the Sunday worship services and Tuesday prayer meetings. Special thanks to Bro. Amoz who, during his university break (20 Aug-20 Oct 2020), took over the administrative duty of scheduling singers for these recordings (no easy task given their changing work-schedules!), thus freeing some time for me to pray, plan and prepare for my upcoming wedding / marriage life. Thank God also for singers from the Youth Choir and the congregation who have reinforced and supplemented the GCC for our weekly singing. In collaboration with Bible Witness, the GCC now prepares for recordings of music videos and the release of albums in 2021.

Finally, thank God for the opportunity to be part of Faithful Men’s segment of BWWR: re-listening to Pastor’s (prayer meeting) messages on “The Life of Moses”, recommending timestamps for Sis. Dorcas to splice for airing on web-radio, and organising brethren from the Gethsemane Men’s Fellowship in weekly singing for the same purpose. I thank God that since the last week of October, 8 men come down once a month to offer the sacrifice of their singing lips.

My service hitherto has not been offered alone. Being dependent on multimedia platforms in this pandemic, the pulpit ministry is heavily reliant on the audio, video and technical assistance of GBWL staff. None of my aforementioned areas of service would have been effectual without the God-fearing and God-serving team in GMC, who are as “the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord” (Eph 2:21). Prayers and support by family and church brethren have been my “powerhouse”, as I learn the ropes. This testimony won’t be complete if I don’t mention Abigail Sarah George, who would (on Friday, 11 Dec 2020) become my helpmeet, and join me in fulfilling my calling to be a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel (cf. 2 Tim 1:8). Pray for us, as we prepare ourselves for each other and for the Gospel work in Gethsemane! May our union be blessed of God and a blessing to God’s people in the days to come, to the praise and glory of His name!

Written by Ignatius Law

As I pen down my testimony on my calling to full-time service, Romans 11:34 comes readily to mind: “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor?”

Being called to give up a career in the secular world to serve God was not what I initially imagined, having come back from my studies in Perth. By God’s grace, I had attended a faithful Bible-believing church over there for 2 years; while there, I had been regularly involved in the church’s activities, from serving in the nursing homes to engaging in city evangelism. The leaders in that church particularly emphasised on cultivating a habit of being active in the Lord’s work. Even something as simple as sweeping the church grounds is also deemed as a service to the Lord. Hence, going to nursing homes and going for evangelism on Sunday were nothing new to me, for these are some of the ways we Christians are expected to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (cf. Exodus 20:8).

When I came back to Singapore to work after graduation, one of the criteria that I hold on firmly was to forsake not the Sabbath, but to always put worship of God first. Hence, many banking jobs were not available to me as most banks in Singapore are open 7 days a week – all the banks require their interns to work on Sundays to fulfil the quota that is laid out. So, although I have been shortlisted for a number of banking positions, it was very clear to me that this was not God’s will for me. Therefore, I looked elsewhere.

My first job was an insurance agent. At first, I thought this was God’s will for me as it seemed to me that I would be able to attend church services uninterrupted, due to the “flexibility” of the job. However, I quickly found out that it was not so, for my time was not my own but was entirely dependant on my clients’ timing and preferences. Thus not long after, I started the search for a new job. Despite the rather stagnant job market, I thank God that I managed to land an accounting role in a company (situated in the west). However, my job scope requires me to regularly stay back past 6.30pm, so as to balance the accounts. As a result, I skipped a number of prayer meetings to finish my work.

During that time, at the urging of a friend, I signed up for the combined GYF-GYAF retreat held at Pulai Springs, Johor in December 2019. This was despite knowing it would be very hard to request time off from my work (I was still on probation) to attend the retreat. Thank God my request to my boss was granted, and I went ahead cheerfully. At the retreat, a brother “quizzed” me regarding my irregular attendance in prayer meetings. When I shared my difficulties due to my workload, that brother admonished me to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matt 6:33). It dawned on me that missing prayer meetings was becoming much more frequent in my life, and I had better take the initiative to start attending prayer meeting regularly!

For the past few months, Pastor Koshy had been preaching regularly on the burden of the church to have more full-time workers, to have more young adults stepping up to the great responsibility of consecrating their lives to serve God. Being intrigued, I started asking a brother (who is a church staff) about the struggle and difficulties that he faced. He shared with me that serving God was not a mere simple task, but requires one to be committed till the very end of one’s life. For Jesus said unto the people who desired to follow him but was distracted by their own burdens in life, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

To discern whether I have the calling, that brother advised me to pray for God to show me His will. He also shared with me the important presence of two key things: there must be a sincere desire to serve, and there must be a position that is available. By God’s providence, it was around about the same time, I heard of a sister who would be leaving the ministry due to her upcoming marriage and her new responsibilities as a wife.

Now, those who are thinking of following Christ are expected to put in serious thought and consideration. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish” (Luke 14:28-30). The same principles must be applied to full-time service. So, I sat there and did a spreadsheet, writing each of my concerns down and prayed about them. However, the Lord reminded me that since even the fowls of the air are fed, how much more God will do so to me? I was able to see God’s sovereign Hand working at each point of my life, from providing an internship in Perth even when chances seemed bleak (because of Australia’s protectionist policies) to even providing a second job (which involves accounts) for me.

However, the decision to enter into full-time ministry wasn’t easy. At that time, a shipping company expressed interest in my resume which I had sent out during my job-hunting earlier. I was sorely tempted to gain more experience outside first, before stepping foot into the ministry. Thankfully, I spoke with Pastor, who advised me that there’s no place for double-mindedness in the ministry. Being in the ministry, one has to be steadfast and not wavering in decision-making.

Not long after, when Covid-19 pandemic hits, I was quite fearful that it might be much more difficult even to resign from the company – for instead of the traditional way of personally handing the resignation letter over to my director, I had to do so over an email, not knowing how the other side would react! Thank God that when I explained my decision to want to serve God by serving in my church, she relented and even told me that I did not have to serve my two weeks’ resignation notice!

The first few weeks in the office wasn’t easy because of the need to adapt quickly to the church’s daily operations, and also to handle the impending audit. (Thank God for Sis Joey’s assistance in replying to the auditor’s queries, and also in preparing the documents for submission.)

I would like to end off by sharing a couple of verses from the hymn, ‘Give of your best to the Master’, written by Howard B. Grose:

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.

May this hymn remind me to constantly give my best to God and do my best for His glory!

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.

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.

Pride

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.

Providence

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.

Piling On

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.

Pandemic

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.

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.