Sermon Text: Psalm 107:1–32
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 4th May 2025
Sermon Text: Psalm 107:1–32
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 4th May 2025
(Excerpts from Pastor’s sermon during the Graduation Service of GBI, Vizag, on 26th April 2025, based on 2 Timothy 2:19–26)
The Holy Spirit often used vivid images in Scripture to reveal spiritual truths. In 2 Timothy 2:19-21, Paul describes the church as a “great house” filled with vessels of gold, silver, wood, and clay. These vessels represent believers – some useful and honourable, others not. Through this imagery, Paul calls us to purify ourselves, that we might become vessels fit for the Master’s service.
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (v. 19).
In the previous verses (vv. 16–18), Paul warned Timothy about false teachers whose heresies were capable of overthrowing the faith of some within the church. Yet, despite the spread of error and ungodliness, Paul declares with confidence, “Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure...” Amidst the chaos, the true church rests on an unchanging foundation laid by God Himself.
In his first letter to Timothy, Paul had already affirmed that “the house of God, which is the church of the living God”, is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). The church stands immovably upon the truths God has revealed in His Word. No matter how fiercely falsehood rages, God secures His people upon the solid ground of His truth. It is no surprise, then, that the church is pictured here as “a great house” (v. 20a).
Paul further emphasises this security by noting that the foundation of God has a seal — a mark of ownership and divine purpose: “The Lord knoweth them that are his.” Like a stone engraving on a grand building, God’s mark assures us that He knows and loves each true believer, and none will ever be lost. As Jesus prayed to the Father: “Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none” (John 18:9; cf. 17:12).
The seal also declares God’s purpose for His people: “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” God’s ownership is never passive; it leads to active sanctification. True believers will not abandon God to embrace sin—rather, they will continually depart from sin, as visible proof that they belong to Him.
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour” (v. 20).
Paul continues his household imagery of the church, describing it as a “great house” filled with different kinds of vessels. Some are crafted from precious metals like gold and silver; others are made from common materials like wood and clay. In any grand home, vessels of honour are displayed proudly, while vessels of dishonour — used for refuse or waste — are hidden away.
In the same way, within God’s great house, the church, there are faithful servants who bring honour to His name, and others who bring shame through unfaithfulness, laziness, cowardice, or discontent. We are called not merely to be part of the house, but to be vessels of honour — clean, useful, and ready for the Master’s service.
No institution on earth is greater in God’s sight than His church. Serving Him within it is both a high privilege and a sacred duty. To be a vessel of honour in the great house of God is not something to be taken lightly. It is a calling that demands our best, and rewards us with eternal significance.
Paul exhorts, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (v. 21). Every believer, especially those called to leadership (like Timothy), must cleanse himself from false doctrines and ungodly practices warned of earlier (vv. 16–18). Only by separating from sin and error can one become a vessel of honour, set apart and ready for the Master’s use.
The Lord uses only clean vessels. Talent, intelligence, or capability alone do not make one useful to God. The Lord requires purity of life. If we flee from sin and live for Him, we will become instruments that bring Him glory. Are you purging your life of sinful attitudes, worldly habits, and ungodly influences? If so, God will prepare you for every good work He has ordained for you to fulfil (cf. Ephesians 2:10).
Paul then gives three crucial instructions to maintain ourselves as honourable vessels:
Flee youthful lusts: “Flee also youthful lusts” (v. 22a). Youthful lusts include more than sexual sins; they also include pride, impatience, quarrelsomeness, ambition, and all kinds of selfish desires. God’s servant must actively flee these things.
Follow righteousness, faith, love and peace: “Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (v. 22b). It’s not enough to flee from sin. We must also pursue godly virtues, alongside others who “call on the Lord out of a pure heart”. Running from sin must be matched by running towards righteousness with all the people of God.
Avoid foolish arguments and cultivate gentleness: “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (vv. 23-26).
The servant of the Lord must not be argumentative and quarrelsome, but be “gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves”. Our goal is not to win debates, but to restore souls. With patience and prayer, we labour, trusting that God may grant repentance and rescue those ensnared by the devil. In your teaching and interactions, ask yourself: “Am I striving to win arguments, or working to restore hearts?” “Is my conduct and message drawing others towards Christ, or pushing them further away?”
To be a vessel of honour in God’s great house, we must flee from what corrupts, pursue what is godly, and serve others with gentleness. Then only can we reflect Christ, to the glory of God.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Who can stand up against the Almighty? No, not one. No elaborate argument is needed to corroborate this truth. Is it then not a wise counsel to submit ourselves to God? Yet because of our foolishness, the text uses the word “therefore” (which points to what is said in the previous verse) to reinforce the reason for the command to submit to God, namely: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” If our hearts are not taught to humbly submit to God, we will soon be resisted by God. Conversely, His grace is promised us if we walk in humility and submission.
Therefore, submission to God means that we live humbly before God and His people. We must be careful to maintain lowliness of mind always, not thinking highly of ourselves, for we are nothing without His grace and help. We must also be mindful not to exalt ourselves, but to give glory to God who freely bestows salvation and all good things upon us.
Submission to God also means obedience to all His revealed will in His Word. We must attend to His Word reverentially. We must hear His Word with eagerness and readiness to believe and obey. When the Spirit of God convicts and directs our hearts through His Word, we should immediately yield ourselves to do what He bids us to do.
Moreover, the wording of the verse, “Submit yourselves therefore to God”, seems to suggest that we must be willing to accept whatever God appoints unto us. If the providence of God places us under chastisements of trials, let us submit willingly and cheerfully to His will, knowing that all these things work together for our good (Romans 8:28). Let us not question or doubt the good purposes of our God. Let us not allow our hearts to grow weary or hold back ourselves from joyfully yielding to His providence. Rather, let us gird up the loins of our minds, and manifest a voluntary and active submission to our great Lord!
Submission to our Lord and Saviour will be demonstrated by immediate obedience; delays hint of insubordination, and neglects essentially reflect rebellion. While we desire to submit to God, the devil will come with his wicked suggestions and temptations to lure us away from obeying God. So, we must resist the devil by submitting ourselves to God’s Word. Then, and only then, shall the devil flee from us, and we shall have victory.
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
This is a portion of Paul’s prayer for the believers in Thessalonica who were in the midst of persecution and trials. Paul’s prayer, which began in the previous verse, reads: “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). God can give His people comfort amidst the greatest tribulation. As long as we have God to stand by us and the blessed hope of eternal life that His grace bestows in our hearts, all troubles will be counterbalanced. Our God is the “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Since God is the source of all comfort, let us go to Him in prayer for it. Let us not expect men to provide it, though God may use His children to bring His comfort to us. If, by God’s grace, they be instrumental in God’s hands to comfort us, let us gladly accept it. However, we must ask God to send His comfort into our hearts.
It is important that we do not allow our troubled hearts to slip further into depression by thinking that there is no comfort for us. We must encourage our weary and sad hearts to hope in the Lord for our comfort. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (Psalms 42:5, 11; 43:5).
The apostle also prayed for the Lord to “stablish” suffering believers “in every good word and work”. The word “stablish” means make firm and steadfast. When God by His grace comforts our hearts, He will also strengthen us in “good word and work”. The expression “good word” refers to the truths of God’s Word, while the phrase “good... work” relates to the performance of all His good will concerning us in His service.
Trials often compel the hearts of believers to question and distrust the truths of God’s Word, and even to refrain from serving and praising God. However, those who wait upon the Lord for their consolation shall receive His aid to grow in faith and in understanding of His Word, and thereby offer themselves in greater service to the Lord. We may find ourselves being shaken by our trials, but let us seek His strengthening grace in prayer. As Paul assured the believers later in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”
20b And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
This is part of the apostle Paul’s joyful testimony of his new life in Christ. He testifies here of the reality of the newness of life that he has been experiencing since he had met Christ. Paul is not explaining an experience unique to himself, but to everyone who is a Christian.
The renewed life of every Christian is not some future, faraway experience. The new life is an everyday experience of Christians while they “live in the flesh”. Neither is it some kind of mystical, “out-of-body” experience. Paul did not want his readers to somehow misconstrue what he had said earlier in the verse – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” – as some kind of unrealistic or transcendental notion. It was while still living in his body (like every other man) that Paul delighted in his new life in Christ. The truth is: every Christian lives through Christ, who lives in him, while he is still exposed to the common experiences of temptations, cares and anxieties in his body.
In today’s portion of Galatians 2:20, Paul tells us that his new life in Christ is lived “by the faith of the Son of God”. It is his utter reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ that enables him to live a life that is in such a bond with Christ. He humbly and wholly trusts in Christ. Christ is the focus of his faith. It is through the channel of faith that he remains one with Christ and receives the strength to live as Christ wants him to live.
It is faith that instils within a Christian the passion to live according to Christ’s will, purpose and power. By means of his unshakable confidence in his Redeemer, he surrenders all to Him and lives for Him. He puts all his confidence and expectation in Christ, and lives in full affinity with Him.
Paul also tells us that his unwavering faith in Christ is motivated by the love of Christ: “I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” There is no higher sense of compulsion to put our trust in Christ than His love for us. Every genuine Christian, like Paul, yields his life to Christ in faith and consecration because of the consciousness that Christ loved him like no one ever did. He knows that Christ gave Himself on the cross for his salvation. The knowledge and the assurance that “Christ loves me” should stir every Christian to live for Christ above all other influences and motivations.
20a I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; not I, but Christ liveth in me.
Paul testifies here the reality of his salvation and its continuing influence in his life. This ought to be the testimony of every Christian. By the expression, “I am crucified with Christ”, Paul depicts the fact that when we are joined to Christ by faith, we die with Him. The curse of the law against our sins demanded our death. So Christ bore our sins and died on the cross on our behalf to take away the curse of the law against our sins. As Paul said in Colossians 2:14, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross”.
Being then crucified with Him, we are freed from all the curse and guilt of the law. We are only delivered from the yoke of the law by becoming one with Christ by faith in Him. Now the curse of the law has no power over us. So we can live without the fear of the condemnation of the law.
Paul then said, “nevertheless I live”. Paul wanted us to know that though he was crucified with Christ, he was not lifeless, inactive and insensible of spiritual realities. Rather, he is alive, as never before, to the things of God. When one is crucified with Christ, one becomes dead to sin, the world and the curse of the law, and alive in Christ unto God and His righteousness.
Hence, Paul’s statement at the end of our text: “yet not I, but Christ liveth in me”. Now his life is not driven anymore by self-righteousness, violence, worldliness, etc., but by Christ who lives in him. He is now a new creature, and no longer lives as he did in his unregenerate state while still in Judaism. He is no more Saul the blasphemer, the persecutor, the dangerous person; neither is he now Saul the Pharisee, living a hypocritical life! His life of righteousness is no more of himself, but of Christ. Being made alive in Christ, he now lives by the principles of life and holiness implanted in him through the presence and power of Christ who lives in him. Paul is no more living for himself; he is moulded and led by Christ who lives in him. Christ is not only the author and maintainer of his new life, but He is also the life itself!
Christ dwells in His people, and their lives are united with Him. They are now one with Him, from whom all the vital principles and powers of their life flow. As Christ lives in them, their lives in turn manifest His glory.
9b Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Paul was buffeted by the messenger of Satan and afflicted with what he referred to as “a thorn in the flesh”. The Lord, who found it necessary that the trouble should remain in Paul’s life, assured him of His grace which was sufficient to strengthen and equip him to serve the Lord effectively. The Lord’s assurance that His grace was sufficient to support and strengthen Paul in his trial, made him a happy minister of the Gospel. So he joyfully confessed, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Because of the glorious promise of the Lord’s sufficient and strengthening grace, Paul refused to be perturbed by his trial. Instead of being preoccupied with the trial, he committed himself to delight in the grace of the Lord that was made available to him. He was in effect saying, “I count it my joy to be afflicted, if my trial will be the means to know the power of my great Redeemer.” Paul rejoiced that his weakness became the vehicle by which the Lord’s grace and power were most fully manifested to himself and to others. When the devil inflicted him with weakness and pain, the Lord “perfected his strength” in the midst of his weakness. It seems that Paul was saying that his weakness plus Christ’s power equals perfect power. Paul was not relying on his own strength, for he was full of weakness. He was most powerful when he was least reliant on his own resources and most reliant on the Lord’s grace and power.
Self-reliance, which is the result of pride, is detrimental to our spiritual joy. So it is to prevent the possibility of pride in Paul that the Lord permitted his trial. We should not, therefore, be bitter when afflictions are allowed in our lives. Only when we are totally emptied of ourselves, will our strength be perfected with Christ’s glorious power. Very often, the continuing weakness in Christians is necessary so that they might not confuse the power of God with their own power, and lose God’s power by attempting to rely on themselves.
Like Paul, in order that you may be vessels of Christ’s glorious power, be glad to suffer the trials He would permit. If you are in the midst of trials, rejoice that His power shall rest (pitch a tent) in you. His power will keep your faith intact, and let you magnify Him against Satan’s evil devices.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Christians are conquerors. In fact, our verse declares that Christians are “more than conquerors”. This is truly a comforting message to Christians, for they live in a hostile world. Though they would face extreme hostilities, their faith shall not be quenched because the Word of God assures them that they shall be “more than conquerors”!
Paul has written in the previous verses about the steadfastness of God’s love for believers in the face of hostility: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter” (vv. 35-36). Christians will be enabled to overcome sin, Satan, the world, temptations, reproaches, afflictions, persecutions, and thereby continue in their faith.
The devil will trouble their souls with temptations and trials. Many Christians will suffer great afflictions. But they shall abide in their faith, love and service through thick and thin. In fact, they shall be “more than conquerors”.
Just what did the apostle mean when he referred to Christians as “more than conquerors”? He meant that they are winning a sweeping, overwhelming victory. The emphasis made here by the apostle is that in the midst of all the myriads of hostile experiences – yes, even by means of them and with their “help” – Christians shall show that they are more than conquerors!
They overcome their innumerable troubles, not by their own strength, but through the Lord Jesus Christ who loves them. The ability to triumph over all adversity does not arise from any inherent superiority of believers, but rather by the might of their loving Saviour. His love for them is the pledge of His help for them to be great overcomers.
Christ’s steadfast love will strengthen and enable us to endure affliction. The special favour of His love will strengthen us. We shall overcome all our afflictions, not by our natural powers, but by the special blessings of our Saviour’s love.
Sermon Text: Matthew 11:28–30
Speaker: Pr Cornelius Koshy
Date: 27th April 2025
Thomas Tow
I was baptised as an infant in late 1951 or early 1952 in Say Mia Tng (Life Church’s English service) at Prinsep Street, and attended Sunday School there. My family later worshipped at Life BP Church at Gilstead Road, when the new building was completed in 1963.
Having been brought up in a fifth-generation Christian family and having attended a Methodist school for 12 years, God made it easy for me to learn the Word during my formative years. I believed in Jesus Christ as my Saviour and regularly prayed. However, I was not living like a Christian ought to live. As a youth, I was lukewarm in my faith and remained far from God. In my early twenties, I went abroad to England to study architecture and urban design. Upon completion of my studies, I remained there to work. I became engrossed in my pursuit of professional fulfilment and remained spiritually lost. After living nearly 10 years in England, I travelled to New York to work. Four years later, my US employer posted me to Singapore to work on a major project. I first met my wife, Melanie, in the Singapore office. I had wanted to return to worship in church regularly, but always procrastinated because of work matters and excuses. I even worked on Sundays when there were urgent project deadlines. Looking back, I’m thankful to God for placing in my life, my prayerful mum, aunts, uncles, brethren and Melanie, who were good, God-fearing influences. Praise God for Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, for leading me back to His fold when I followed Melanie’s return to the Methodist church. I sought repentance and thanked Him for His grace and mercy (Psalm 145:8).
At church, I served as a church librarian and designed the church library. Being part of the Crisis Relief and Christian Outreach ministries, I taught English to migrant workers in their dormitories. Melanie and I co-facilitated in the church’s spiritual formation classes. We took part in mission trips to Cambodia and designed a couple of buildings for a missionary ministry. God has been good to provide these opportunities for us to serve. Our participation in Bible study groups through the years has helped me to learn God’s Word and to grow in faith. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Prov. 27:17).
During the pandemic lockdown, I started attending online services and came across Gethsemane BP Church’s website. I was drawn to the forthright, fundamental and Bible-believing sermons by Pastor Koshy and the preachers. In early March 2022, I attended my first service at Gethsemane BP Church.
When I was diagnosed with early prostate cancer in March 2024, I was touched and blessed by the devotions and prayers received during a visit from Pastor Koshy and Sis. Carolyn, followed by a separate visit from Elder and Mrs Mah, and Pr Jeremiah and Sis. Gina. I give thanks to God for enabling me to be part of the Seniors’ Ministry, the church’s evangelistic outreach, St Luke’s Eldercare outreach (at Tampines and Marine Parade), as well as for availing Melanie and me to help out on the Vizag project.
Having received sound doctrine in our church, I am more grounded in the faith (cf. 1 Tim. 4:16). I thank God for the dedication, encouragement and support given by Pastor Koshy, the elders, preachers, deacons, deaconess and brethren, as I look forward to being a serving church member.
Melanie Francis Tow
I learned about Jesus early in life. My mother taught me to pray when I was 4 or 5, but my parents didn’t belong to a church. They sent me to Vacation Bible School and eventually Sunday School, where I became a regular and eager attendee. At age 15, I felt it was time to affirm my faith in the Lord Jesus through baptism. I attended the church’s membership class, and was baptized and confirmed into a United Methodist church in USA in 1972.
I continued to grow in faith through church and Sunday School up through my first two years in university. But when the decision to study architecture took me to a much larger institution, away from my Christian friends and overwhelmed me with course work, I stopped attending church. Striving, achieving and building my career became my priorities. I believed in God and still prayed, but my roots were not deep (Matthew 13:5-7).
It was the diagnosis of late-stage cancer in my mother years later that jolted me out of my spiritual slumber. Prayer became urgent and more regular. I returned to Bible reading in earnest. After quoting Scripture at her funeral, I promised God that I would return to church, which I did the following Sunday after returning to Singapore. I began to take seriously the importance of God’s Word, reading through the New Testament first, and later the Old Testament. God in His mercy opened the opportunity for me to lead a Bible study in church on Sundays for a group of domestic helpers. Over the 15 years I led the group, my knowledge of the Bible grew, and more importantly, so did my efforts to obey its truths in my life. I also served as a facilitator in the church’s spiritual formation classes. On a few occasions, I was invited to write for the church publication. My testimony would not be complete without giving thanks for my faithful, God-fearing husband, Thomas, whom I met on my first day in Singapore when I moved here for work in 1990. His mother was a model for my own spiritual growth, as have been other elderly aunts and uncles in the Tow family. For over 20 years, Thomas and I have been part of a small group which meets bi-weekly for Bible study, currently via zoom. The same group met for some years in our office to pray for missionaries and churches overseas. All these experiences have served to mould and shape who I am today. I can never thank the Lord enough for the great mercy He has shown me.
God is not finished shaping this pot of clay. When I have become too comfortable and confident in my professional work and ministry, God has taken steps to remove them. Significant losses over the last five years have served to dethrone the idols I had grown to rely on. Work in our architectural practice slowed and, soon after, my part-time teaching at the university. During Covid, church ministries I served in ceased. In late 2020, I was hospitalised for two weeks and underwent surgery to remove part of my colon. By God’s mercy, I survived and, in time, regained strength. But I knew that life would never be the same again. Two years later, I fractured both arms in a fall and had to rely on my husband to help me with even simple tasks like eating and washing. I believe the Lord used these humbling experiences to strip away vanity, pride and self-reliance that stood in the way of total dependence on Him. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth...” (Hebrews 12:6). I now value every day as a precious gift. Jesus gave His life at Calvary to purchase me and redeem me (Ephesians 2:8-9). I owe my life to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Nothing changes us and helps in the slow but steady work of sanctification like God’s Word. At Gethsemane, sermons by Pastor Koshy and preachers continually bring new understanding of Scriptural passages, challenging me to apply them in my daily life. The Catechism classes have deepened my knowledge and clarified doctrines I never fully understood. I have been so blessed by the dedication, warmth, generosity and genuine faith of the elders, deacons, deaconess and brethren I have met, especially through the Ladies’ Fellowship, Seniors’ Ministry and Pastoral Visitation. Particularly touching were visits made to our home by Pastor Koshy and Sis. Carolyn, and by Elder and Mrs Mah, Pr Jeremiah and Sis. Gina, who came to pray and encourage us after Thomas was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I am grateful to be worshipping in a church focused on fulfilling the Great Commission. It is a joy to be part of the monthly evangelism in Bedok and at St Luke’s Eldercare. Moreover, Thomas and I are thankful that we can help with the Vizag project.
Now in my late sixties, I am still learning to surrender to God’s sovereign will. I don’t know when God will call me home, but I do know that I want to use what remains of my time here on earth to serve my Lord with gladness (Ephesians 2:10). Thanks be to God for leading me to Gethsemane BP Church. I pray for His enabling grace to serve as a faithful member in the days to come.
“Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.”
(Frances R. Havergal)
Zhou YuHeng
I was brought to church at the young age of 5, and have been attending church ever since. While I’d repeatedly prayed the sinner’s prayer in Sunday School, I only trusted Jesus as my Saviour and Lord, and worshipped Him, later on as I grew up.
I’ve been through church dissolution twice, once in 1997 and then in 2023. I was introduced to a BP church and its teachings after the first church dissolution. It was enriching for me – it felt like I’d never been taught so richly about God’s Word. However, following the abrupt church disbandment in Aug 2023, I felt discouraged and upset; I was unable to commit to another church and went church-hopping instead. During that period, I saw many variants in Bible versions, church practices, teachings, and congregations in those churches I visited – both BP and non-BP. There started to rise within me the conviction that, if I should settle down in a church, it should be yet another BP church.
Subsequently, I started coming to Gethsemane BPC. I saw that this was a church where I was constantly learning the truths of God’s Word and appreciating God for His faithfulness, goodness and righteousness. Both the pastor and congregation love learning God’s Word so much, that there seem to be a retreat or teaching seminar every other month! I thank God that even though I felt discouraged and demoralised in the months after my previous church’s disbandment, He kept me continuing to go to church even when I didn’t want to commit yet. He did not forsake me in all my years as a Christian, and especially during the past 1.5 years when I didn’t belong to any church. I pray that I will be moved to dedicate my life to serving Him more and more, and that I will strive to be more Christ-like in my ways. Praise the Lord!
Lena Sim
I was baptized in 1990 in a fundamental church. The church dissolved about a decade later when the pastor passed on without a true successor. Subsequently, I attended a BP church and transferred membership a few years later. Then in the year 2023, with the abrupt disbandment of the church, I started to backslide and church-hop for a few months. Our never-forsaking God has led me to Gethsemane BP Church, with a faithful pastor and dedicated elders, preachers and deacons.
I thank God for Pastor Koshy who unwaveringly expounded on God’s Word, loud and clear. He never hesitates to give us a listening ear, and is honest and sincere to help the needy. My utmost respect for his “walk-the-talk” attitude. May the Lord continue to bless Pastor Koshy with good health and strength to labour for God’s work without ceasing.
Ong Lian Heoh (Celeste)
About 30 years ago as I was facing deep struggles of life, I was seeking for a Saviour to depend on. Thank God for using special circumstances to gently stir my heart to go to church. Around this time, my son was enrolled in Trinity Methodist Kindergarten. Each Sunday, I brought him for Sunday worship service for about 2 years.
Thank God that after some time, the Lord led me to Berean BP Church and then later to Berith BP Church. After 20 overs years in Berith, Pastor Wee was diagnosed with dementia and he was unable to continue his ministry. Members were told to find a like-minded church to worship in. I thank God for leading us to worship in Gethsemane BP Church.
I thank God for Pastor Koshy’s faithful preaching of the Word of God, and that the church is involved in many outreach works in mission fields. I pray that the Lord will bless and preserve Pastor Koshy and his family with good health and strength, as they give themselves to the work of the ministry in Gethsemane Church.
Teo Hock Leong
Before I believed in the Lord Jesus l felt lost and empty, but when I realised and heard what the Lord Jesus had done for me at the cross of Calvary, l prayed to receive Him as my Lord and Saviour – and my life was never the same. Thank God for enabling me to overcome my sinful habits in gambling and now I have a purpose in life and joy I never had before.
Thank God also for leading us to Gethsemane BP Church when Pastor Wee was diagnosed with dementia. When our church was dissolved, each member was told to find a Bible-believing church to worship in. We are much blessed and encouraged by the preaching of Pastor Koshy, drawing many lessons for our Christian life, which helped us not to walk in our self-imposed blindness. We pray that God will preserve and keep Pastor Koshy strong to preach the Word of God on the pulpit during worship services and in his teaching ministries. May the Lord continue to bless the church’s overseas mission outreaches. May the Lord keep all the families and members of the church in good health and strength as we serve Him. Our heartfelt thanks to the church elders, preachers, deacons and members for extending to us your gracious and warm fellowship.