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One of the significant theological slogans that emerged out of the Reformation was Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda (i.e. “The church reformed, always reforming”). It represented nothing more than the Reformers’ desire for the church to return to sound biblical theology. They never thought of their theological work as devising something altogether new. Their intent was singular – renewing or reviving the church according to the saving truths of the Word of God.

Reformers knew that the church had become corrupt, and a change in the church’s beliefs and ministry was critical. Hence, they worked relentlessly to have the church reformed and always reforming according to the Word of God. John Calvin wrote in the preface of his tract, The Necessity for Reforming the Church:

“We maintain, then, that at the commencement when God raised up Luther and others, who held forth a torch to light us into the way of salvation, and who, by their ministry, founded and reared our churches those heads of doctrine in which the truth of our religion, those in which the pure and legitimate worship of God, and those in which the salvation of men are comprehended, were in a great measure obsolete. We maintain that the use of the sacraments was in many ways vitiated and polluted. And we maintain that the government of the Church was converted into a species of foul and insufferable tyranny.”

In that article, Calvin’s greatest attempt was to express “how to restore the Church to its proper state.” He dealt with four topics, which he remarked as “soul and body” of the church. He referred to the topics of worship and salvation as the “soul” of the church, while sacraments and church government were called the “body” of the church. He sought to call for prompt actions to remedy the evils in the church related to worship, salvation, sacraments and church government.

One of the most significant outcomes of the Reformation was the prominence that the preaching of the Word received in the church worship services. In the late-medieval period, sermons were not the common feature of church worship. People had to go out of the church into open fields to hear preachers. Such preachers [e.g. Bernardino of Siena (1380– 1444); Girolamo Savonarola (1452–1498)] faced excommunication and even execution. In those days, people went to church to see ceremonies attached to Mass. Preaching was so neglected that it virtually ceased to exist in the church. However, Reformation brought preaching of the Word from the obscurity and secrecy of the fields back into the worship service of the church. The Reformers’ battle for the Word of God had reinstated its preaching to its rightful place in the church.

The Reformers would not leave the souls of the spiritually hungry churchgoers in the hands of irresponsible clergymen who were not keen to feed them with the Word. So, like the faithful and concerned shepherds, the Reformers strived – even though it would mean death to them – to nourish the flock of God with the truths of the Holy Scriptures. Soon the activities of the churches, where the Reformers had laboured, became thoroughly Wordcentred. The proclamation of God’s Word became their greatest concern. In Saint Pierre’s Church of Geneva, where Calvin ministered, the church building was rid of all the statues of saints, relics, crucifixes and even the altar where the Mass was conducted. Even the walls and pillars were whitewashed to hide Rome’s unbiblical iconography. A wooden pulpit was brought into the church and was placed in such a way that the worshippers would be seated around it. By placing the pulpit at the centre from which the sermon would be preached, Scripture was given centre stage. Such changes were also made in other churches in the surrounding areas. Thousands of sermons were preached by the Reformers, thus making available to God’s flock the indispensable means of grace that provided them with salvation, sanctification, wisdom, comfort and revival.

Indeed, the Reformers were eager to get the church aligned to the Scriptural depiction of its faith and practice. Their efforts were not in vain. Eventually, Reformed Confessions of Faith (such as the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Confession and Catechisms) were drawn up to guide the church in the truths of God’s Word. These standards of faith testify that the Reformers’ efforts to reform the church were truly a movement to bring the church back to biblical theology. A Reformed church is a church that yields to the doctrines of Scripture. Churches in all ages and in all places must be committed to remain faithful to Scriptural doctrines and living – all the more so because of the Scriptural warning that false teachers will arise to bring damnable heresies in to the flocks of God (Matthew 24:5, 11, 24; Acts 20:29- 30; 1 Corinthians 11:19; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 4:14; Colossians 2:8, 18; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 4:3; Titus 1:11; 2 Peter 2:1).

Though the Roman Catholic Church had long presented itself as the true, biblical apostolic church, a host of its doctrines and practices were unknown to the apostles and the early church, not to mention the New Testament. So, the Reformers called the church to reform itself by submitting to the sound theology of the Holy Scriptures.

Sadly, many protestant churches of our time make changes to their faith, worship and practice based on contemporary culture. They attempt to legitimise the implemented changes by holding them up as consistent with the Reformation principle of “The church … always reforming”. This motto was never meant to justify unbiblical changes made to the faith, life and practice of the church. Instead, it demands that the church subject itself to the scrutiny of God’s Word and that it continually remain faithful to the truths of the Word of God. Making the timeless authority of God’s Word subordinate to changing cultural values and scientific theories is contrary to the Reformation motto of “always reforming”.

The true intent of Reformation is to reform the church back to Scripture. Even after 500 years, the church needs this same Reformation. The Bible is the only authority for the church, and it is sufficient and efficient to bring salvation and edification to His people.

As we recall the 16th century Reformation, we praise God for the great work He has done through the Reformers. Among the Reformers, John Calvin (1509-1564), though regarded as a second generation Reformer, had played a definitive role in the Reformation. Calvin is credited, along with Martin Luther and John Knox, for helping to revive biblical Christianity.

It is reported that more than 30,000 English-speaking congregations around the world trace their lineage through John Calvin. He was a figure of remarkable significance in the history of the Reformed tradition.

John Calvin was a theologian, pastor, biblical exegete and tireless apologist for Reformed Christianity. His theological works, biblical commentaries, tracts, treatises, sermons and letters helped to spread the Reformation doctrines throughout Europe. He ranks among the most important thinkers in church history. No theologian has been as acclaimed or assailed as much as Calvin.

Calvin’s greatest single work in Christian theology is “The Institutes of Christian Religion”. He wrote it at the age of 27 (though he continued to update and republish it throughout his life). It has altered the course of Western history as much as any other book. It is still read by theological students today. It covers a broad range of theological topics from justification by faith alone to Christian liberty and the doctrines of church and sacraments. The overarching theme of the book - and Calvin’s greatest theological legacy - is the idea of God’s total sovereignty, particularly in salvation and election.

During his pastoral ministry in Geneva, Calvin tirelessly preached over two thousand sermons. He preached twice on Sunday and almost every weekday. It is reported that his sermons lasted more than an hour. Church historians note that Calvin worked himself nearly to death. When he could not walk, he was carried to church in a chair to preach. Even when the doctor forbade him to go out in the winter, he would welcome people into his bedroom and give lectures there. When some urged him to rest, he would ask them, “What? Would you have the Lord find me idle when he comes?”

To provide a glimpse of this giant of theology, here are some quotes from Calvin’s pen. (These quotes are adapted from http://www.calvin500.com/ john-calvin/quotes-by-calvin)

• “There is not one blade of grass, there is no colour in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.”
• “Seeing that a Pilot steers the ship in which we sail, who will never allow us to perish even in the midst of shipwrecks, there is no reason why our minds should be overwhelmed with fear and overcome with weariness.”
• “There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence.”
• “God preordained, for his own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation.”
• “You must submit to supreme suffering in order to discover the completion of joy.”
• “We must remember that Satan has his miracles, too.”
• “However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts.”
• “No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief.”
• “Man with all his shrewdness is as stupid about understanding by himself the mysteries of God, as an ass is incapable of understanding musical harmony.”
• “Let us not cease to do the utmost, that we may incessantly go forward in the way of the Lord; and let us not despair of the smallness of our accomplishments.”
• “Knowledge of the sciences is so much smoke apart from the heavenly science of Christ.”
• “Though Satan instils his poison, and fans the flames of our corrupt desires within us, we are yet not carried by any external force to the commission of sin, but our own flesh entices us, and we willingly yield to its allurements.”
• “Man’s mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain.”
• “A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.”

An excerpt from “An Introduction to St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans,” Luther’s German Bible of 1522 by Martin Luther, 1483-1546. Translated by Rev. Robert E. Smith from DR. MARTIN LUTHER’S VERMISCHTE DEUTSCHE SCHRIFTEN. Johann K. Irmischer, ed. Vol. 63 gen: Heyder and Zimmer, 1854), pp.124-125. [EA 63:124-125]

Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by good works or a better life, they fall into error, even though they speak and hear much about faith. “Faith is not enough,’’ they say, “You must do good works, you must be pious to be saved.’’

They think that, when you hear the gospel, you start working, creating by your own strength a thankful heart which says, “I believe.’’ That is what they think true faith is. But, because this is a human idea, a dream, the heart never learns anything from it, so it does nothing and reform doesn’t come from this ‘faith,’ either.

Instead, faith is God’s work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn’t stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and good works, even though he does not know what faith or good works are. Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with many words.

Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God’s grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire! Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guard against good-for-nothing gossips, who think they’re smart enough to define faith and works, but really are the greatest of fools.

Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do.

Luther’s Tower Experience:
Martin Luther Discovers the True Meaning of Righteousness

[An Excerpt From Preface to the Complete Edition of Luther’s Latin Works (1545) by Dr. Martin Luther, 1483- 1546. Translated by Bro. Andrew Thornton, OSB from the “Vorrede zu Band I der Opera Latina der Wittenberger Ausgabe.1545” in vol. 4 of Luthers Werke in Auswahl, ed. Otto Clemen, 6th ed.,(Berlin: de Gruyter. 1967). pp. 421-428]

Translator’s Note: The material between square brackets is explanatory in nature and is not part of Luther’s preface. The terms “just, justice, justify” in the following reading are synonymous with the terms “righteous, righteousness, make righteous.” Both sets of English words are common translations of the Latin “justus” and related words. A similar situation exists with the word “faith”; it is synonymous with “belief.” Both words can be used to translate Latin “fides.” Thus, “We are justified by faith” translates the same original Latin sentence as does “We are made righteous by belief.”

Meanwhile in that same year, 1519, I had begun interpreting the Psalms once again. I felt confident that I was now more experienced, since I had dealt in university courses with St. Paul’s Letters to the Romans, to the Galatians, and the Letter to the Hebrews. I had conceived a burning desire to understand what Paul meant in his Letter to the Romans, but thus far there had stood in my way, not the cold blood around my heart, but that one word which is in chapter one: “The justice of God is revealed in it.” I hated that word, “justice of God,” which, by the use and custom of all my teachers, I had been taught to understand philosophically as referring to formal or active justice, as they call it, i.e., that justice by which God is just and by which he punishes sinners and the unjust.

But I, blameless monk that I was, felt that before God I was a sinner with an extremely troubled conscience. I couldn’t be sure that God was appeased by my satisfaction. I did not love, no, rather I hated the just God who punishes sinners. In silence, if I did not blaspheme, then certainly I grumbled vehemently and got angry at God. I said, “Isn’t it enough that we miserable sinners, lost for all eternity because of original sin, are oppressed by every kind of calamity through the Ten Commandments? Why does God heap sorrow upon sorrow through the Gospel and through the Gospel threaten us with his justice and his wrath?” This was how I was raging with wild and disturbed conscience. I constantly badgered St. Paul about that spot in Romans 1 and anxiously wanted to know what he meant.

I meditated night and day on those words until at last, by the mercy of God, I paid attention to their context: “The justice of God is revealed in it, as it is written: ‘The just person lives by faith.’” I began to understand that in this verse the justice of God is that by which the just person lives by a gift of God, that is by faith. I began to understand that this verse means that the justice of God is revealed through the Gospel, but it is a passive justice, i.e. that by which the merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written: “The just person lives by faith.” All at once I felt that I had been born again and entered into paradise itself through open gates. Immediately I saw the whole of Scripture in a different light. I ran through the Scriptures from memory and found that other terms had analogous meanings, e.g., the work of God, that is, what God works in us; the power of God, by which he makes us powerful; the wisdom of God, by which he makes us wise; the strength of God, the salvation of God, the glory of God.

I exalted this sweetest word of mine, “the justice of God,” with as much love as before I had hated it with hate. This phrase of Paul was for me the very gate of paradise. Afterward I read Augustine’s “On the Spirit and the Letter,” in which I found what I had not dared hope for. I discovered that he too interpreted “the justice of God” in a similar way, namely, as that with which God clothes us when he justifies us. Although Augustine had said it imperfectly and did not explain in detail how God imputes justice to us, still it pleased me that he taught the justice of God by which we are justified.

Teaching of the Church:

According to 1 Timothy 3:2, elders must be “apt to teach”. In Titus 1:9, elders are expected to be “holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” The Greek word translated as “exhort” (parakaleô) can also mean “encourage”, “comfort”, etc. Thus, the ruling elder’s teaching – though not formal or on a full-time basis like the pastors who are teaching elders – includes informal counselling and words of encouragement. The elder should also be able to “convince the gainsayers” by sound doctrine (Titus 1:9). The Greek word translated “gainsayers” (antilegô) refers to “those who speak against”. Hence, elders must acquaint themselves with the biblical doctrines and practices of the church, that they may give a sound response to those who object to the doctrines of the Word of God.

This, of course, does not mean that every elder must be equally knowledgeable and gifted to perform the task of teaching. It is abundantly clear that there are some elders (being pastors) who are specially tasked to “labour in the word and doctrine” (1 Timothy 5:17), while others focus mainly on ruling the church. However, every elder must be able to communicate sound biblical knowledge. To fulfil such an important duty, elders must have a constant, prayerful commitment to equip themselves with sound theological knowledge. They must equip themselves to teach efficiently in the Bible studies and to answer the inquirers wisely and adequately. They must labour to both propound sound doctrines and defend them for the purity of the church.

Rule of the Church:

Elders are expected to rule well, and such are worthy of double honour (1 Timothy 5:17). As rulers, they are not to be lord over God’s heritage (1 Peter 5:3), but rather as fathers who rule their household (1 Timothy 3:4). They teach the Word of God (Hebrews 13:7), and labour to admonish the church (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:12). They watch for the souls of God’s people (Hebrews 13:17), and lead them by example (1 Peter 5:3; 1 Timothy 4:12). As men entrusted with responsibility for the wellbeing of the souls of the people, they will have to give an account to the Lord for them (Hebrews 13:17).

Elders ought to be in charge of the admission, spiritual nurture, and discipline of the members of the church. Their collective supervision as rulers of the church is crucial to maintaining the purity of the church. The special attention of the elders to catechise those who seek membership and to ascertain them to be credible followers of Christ is most needful. It is also their duty to admonish (with a loving and firm spirit) members of the church who walk disorderly. They are expected to carry out their roles as rulers with much diligence and labour (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:12).

The elders also have important duties to perform in the meetings of the Board of Elders and the Church Session. In those meetings, the situation and needs of the church will be considered, and the elders should confer together to find the best biblical way to manage matters at hand for the benefit of the church. Hence, elders must have a commitment to attend all such meetings and to participate in the discussions concerning the administration of the church with eagerness and patience. As the meetings of the Board of Elders and the Session cannot be held in a hurried or perfunctory manner, much forbearance, tolerance, endurance are expected. Elders must not think of themselves as mere advisers in the Board or the Session, but as colabourers together with the pastor to shepherd the flock of God. Elders must also be careful to avoid any misunderstandings, quarrels or alienation between them. Only when the elders – who are the rulers of the church – endeavour to work together in sincerity and faithfulness, in harmony and love, and with zeal and patience can the church be effective in bearing a glorious testimony for the Lord.

A List of Biblical Duties of Elders

1. Remember the teachings and faithfulness of the apostles, and faithful men of the past and present, and emulate them (Acts 20:17-21, 28-31, 35; 1 Peter 5:1; Hebrews 13:7).
2. Keep watch over the souls of believers and the church (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17).
3. Teach, exhort and admonish from the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9).
4. Shepherd (or feed) the flock of God (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2).
5. Exercise oversight of the church (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Peter 5:2).
6. Serve the Lord in the church willingly and readily (1 Peter 5:2).
7. Be exemplary to the church (1 Peter 5:3).
8. Serve with humility (1 Peter 5:5).
9. Labour together with fellow elders and pastors (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
10. Serve as to give an account to God (Hebrews 13:17).
11. Be watchful against destructive false teachers (Acts 20:29-31).
12. Visit and pray for the members, especially the sick and needy of the church (James 5:14).

When a person is ordained as an elder of the church, he is being entrusted with God-given duties to fulfil. His ordination is a public acknowledgment of his calling and equipping by the Holy Spirit to carry out the God-given duties of an elder. Below, some of the major biblical duties of an elder are briefly discussed.

The Duties of Elders

Oversight of the Church:

In conjunction with the pastor (the teaching elder), the elders take the oversight of the spiritual and administrative matters of the church. Elders are exhorted in 1 Peter 5:2 to “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind”. The word “feed” translates a Greek word (poimaínō), which denotes the duties of a shepherd towards the flock. An elder is to be like a shepherd who cares for the flock of God in the local church where he is appointed to the office. His duty of shepherding means that he must willingly and readily “take the oversight” of the congregation. Exercising oversight (episkopeo) would mean that like a shepherd he cares for the nurture, protection and guidance of God’s people. The apostle Paul’s instruction to the Ephesian elders was: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers” (Acts 20:28). Every elder must co-labour with the pastor and fellow elders to provide the necessary spiritual and administrative oversight. He must work with genuine pastoral concern for the flock of God. He must know the affairs of the flock and oversee their spiritual well-being. As part of the board of elders (or presbytery), he must personally and jointly labour to watch over the flock of God. The wise words of Solomon are applicable to every elder: “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds” (Proverbs 27:23).

The oversight of the flock would include visiting the poor, the sick and the afflicted. The elder must be willing and prepared to attend to the spiritual and temporal needs of the needy among the congregation. In fact, Scripture encourages the needy to call on elders – “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14). As under-shepherds of Christ’s flock, every elder ought to manifest Christ’s compassion and care, with much love and tenderness to His suffering sheep. He may minister to the afflicted with an appropriate hymn, or the reading of a portion of Scripture, or a brief prayer.

He must also attend to the backsliding members of the church in order to correct them and nurture them back. Every elder must prayerfully work to avoid the spiritual decline of the congregation. He should admonish members who neglect the fellowship gatherings and sacraments, which are means of grace that are essential to spiritual growth and health. Without proper supervision, the members of the church can slowly slip into spiritual lethargy and degeneration. Every elder must labour to avoid having members of the church degenerate and fall away unnoticed. Though the pastor bears much of the responsibility of the pastoral care, elders are also called to share with him the pastoral supervision of the church.

                                                                                              (more on this topic next week)

Translation & Printing of Tract, Magazine and Books

(A Mission Request from Sujith Samuel from India)

Dear Pastor,

Bro Ravi has finished reviewing the Telugu translation of the Gospel tract – “An Appointment to Keep” – done by Bro Priya Kumar. He commented that Bro Priya did it well, and I was happy to hear that. During his FEBC vacation, Bro Priya will try to translate some selected Bible Witness issues, such as the recent one on “Charismatism’s Errors” which is much needed here. He also promised to translate “365 Daily Exhortations from God’s Word” written by you.

I am sure the efforts we put to translate to Telugu will not go wasted. Telugu is spoken by 76 million people. It is the third most-spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali. Even the whole Tamil-speaking population in the world is less than 70 million. Telugu has more speakers than those of languages like Korean and French. (Other Indian languages like Kannada, Malayalam, Odiya, etc. have only half the number of Telugu speakers – i.e. around 33-38 million.) These statistics may not be exact. However, they are taken from credible census. Hence, I am sure that there will be many, many readers of the translated tract if we print and distribute it. Here, most of the people prefer to read and speak in Telugu rather than in English.

the tract to Odiya. I will get the help of a translator from Asha Kiran Hospital to proofread it. This hospital (about 200 km from Vizag) is a mission hospital started by Christian doctors from Christian Medical College, Vellore. They provide treatment facilities for the tribal people at a very affordable rate. Many well-qualified Christian doctors work there for very low salary. They also have outreach ministries and translation work. Currently, the director of the hospital is a Malayali doctor.

Hindi is another language into which I hope our materials can be translated. Most people in the north of India speak Hindi and their local languages. I am trying to find a person to do it. Pray that God will lead us to the right person.

I would like to request that the Session allocate some funds for the printing of our translated materials.

Pastor, I know you specially like the hymn, “O for a thousand tongues to sing”. I also like it very much. There will be greater beauty if the thousand tongues from different language groups would sing our Saviour’s praise. May God help us to reach out to people who speak different languages like Telugu, Hindi, Bengali, Odiya, Malayalam or whatever language. Now we are placed in this Teluguspeaking area with easy access to Orissa and Hindi areas. So, we should try our best to produce at least basic Bible study materials in Telugu and Odiya.

Following today’s worship service, we shall hold our Annual Congregational Meeting and the Election to the Church Session. The candidates to the Church Session (2017-2019) are all men who have been serving as elders and deacons. The only change among the candidates in this election is Dn Francis Lee’s nomination to the office of eldership. His nomination has been approved by the Board of Elders upon prayerful examination of his doctrine and life.

It is important that we understand the biblical necessity, nature and importance of ruling elders in our church.

Necessity of Ruling Elders

In the apostolic times, when the Gospel spread through Judea, Samaria, Asia Minor and in other regions, churches were formed. Their proper spiritual and administrative care became a great concern to the apostles. Paul then wrote to Titus what should be done for the proper management of the church – “thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” (Titus 1:5).

The apostolic instruction is that the appointment of elders as church officers is vital to an orderly, well-managed church. The ordaining of elders is an imperative. It is on no account to be omitted. Paul’s admonition was that Titus would go through city by city and ordain a body of elders in each congregation (cf. 1 Timothy 3, where Paul also mentioned the appointment of deacons, who are to be assistants to the elders). The elders, then, are to rule and organise the church.

The basic biblical pattern for the proper organisation of a local church is that elders (plural in number) ought to be ordained from within the congregation, in accordance with the biblical requirements of abilities and standards of behaviour. This is corroborated by Acts 14:23 – “And when they (Paul and Barnabas) had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”

Nature of Ruling Elders

Elders ought to be men of sound moral and spiritual character. Their qualifications are plainly laid down in the Word of God, as attested to by Titus 1:6-9, “(being) blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

A similar requirement of conduct is also given in I Timothy 3:2-7. “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

The passages quoted above lay special emphasis upon high morals and sound spiritual abilities and character. So, every man who is considered for the office of eldership ought to be blameless in life and steadfast in the faith. He should be a man of wisdom and discretion. Neither riches nor wealth nor social position can qualify a man to be a ruler in God’s house. Holiness must characterise his pursuit of life so that he may be an example to the flock. Devotion to God – piety – should characterise every ruling elder. He must be a godly, spiritually-minded man. His piety is the measure of his strength. All his duties require godliness, and without it, all his skills and capabilities are of little use in the government of the church. If he is truly godly, then he will truly influence the church for the glory of God. It is the godly influence of the elders that direct the proper conduct of the church.

alification. Not every church member who is devout is qualified to be an elder of the church. A candidate to the office of eldership must also be a man of intelligence, practical wisdom, experience, and administrative capacity. The best and wisest godly men in the congregation should be selected. From time to time, the board of elders will have to deal with matters of utmost gravity and also grapple with perplexing problems. In such situations, the ablest of minds and the most knowledgeable of men are to be found among the rulers of the church. Men who lack excellent mental capacity would not be able to handle such duties. While we thank God for capable men whom God has given to us, let us also pray for more competent men for the eldership. The apostle also insisted that an elder should be “apt to teach”. This is not necessarily a reference to public and official instruction, for ruling elders are not those who are called to labour in the Word as teaching elders (cf. 1 Timothy 5:17). There must be, however, the ability to communicate and defend sound doctrines of the Bible. Elders must take every opportunity available to them to increase in the knowledge of God’s Word. They should be diligent and faithful students of God’s Word so that they may teach in the Bible class, and guide worshippers and inquirers in the wisdom of God’s Word. The role of elders is of vast importance in preventing the church from departing from the truth of God’s Word and defending the church against errors of all kinds that will creep in through false teachers. So, the apostle Paul instructed the Ephesian elders, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).

God willing, I will address the topic of the ruling elders more next week. Meanwhile, I urge you to prayerfully cast your vote today. May the Holy Spirit help us to recognise and support everyone whom He has called to the offices of the elders and deacons in Gethsemane BPC.

The election to the Church Session (2017-2019) will be held along with the Annual Congregation Meeting next Lord’s Day (24th September) at 1.45 pm. All communicant members are advised to attend the ACM as it is our constitutional duty.

As it was mentioned before from the pulpit, the Board of Elders has decided that all the present members of the Session will be nominated to serve for the next 2-year term of the Session. The BOE has also approved the proposal to nominate Dn Francis Lee to be an elder of the church, having interviewed and determined his calling, giftedness and biblical qualifications to be an elder. All other candidates are also assessed according to the Scriptures and our Church’s constitution.

Information on the candidates’ prior service is published below. This information is not exhaustive. In fact, all of them have been actively serving the Lord in our midst, both as members and leaders, for many years. We thank God for their faithfulness in their appointed areas of service in the past and for their readiness to continue in the service to which the Lord has called them.

Let us continually pray for them and their families to remain faithful, humble and diligent in their lives and ministries. Please join this Tuesday night prayer meeting, as we will be especially praying for the ACM, election and for each of the candidates.

Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy

Candidate for the office of Pastor and Chairman of the Session

• Since 1990, Pastor Koshy has been preaching God’s Word in Gethsemane and was ordained as the Pastor of Gethsemane Bible- Presbyterian Church in 1994. Since 1999, he has been leading the Church Session as its Chairman.
• His main areas of ministry have been the preaching and teaching of God’s Word during Sunday worship services, Tuesday Prayer Meetings, various fellowship meetings, seminars, retreats and camps of Gethsemane B-P Church.
• He regularly provides pastoral counselling to the members and worshippers, and also leads the Pastoral Visitation Ministry.
• He also gives pastoral supervision and leadership to the Bible Witness Media Ministry (as the Editor of the Bible Witness magazine), The Gethsemane Care Ministry, and all the fellowship groups of the church.
• He is also actively involved in training men for the ministry through FEBC, Gethsemane Bible Institutes in the Philippines and Ethiopia. He also conducts lectures on Systematic Theology for GBI-online. He also corresponds with our missionaries and visits our church’s mission stations.
• He is married to Carolyn, and they have 3 children, Cornelius, Andronicus and Dorcas, and they serve the Lord as a family in Gethsemane BPC. Cornelius, having received the Lord’s call, is undergoing theological training in FEBC.

Eld Mah Chin Kwang

Candidate for the office of Elder & Session Member

• Since Gethsemane BPC’s inception in 1988, Eld Mah has been serving in the leadership of Gethsemane as an elder. He served as the chairman of the Interim Committee till 1994, and of the Session (1995-1999).
• He has laboured in various leadership roles of Gethsemane: Clerk-of-Session, Leader of Gethsemane Encouragers’ Ministry, Finance Committee Member, Building Committee Member, etc.
• He regularly teaches in Catechism class, Seniors’ Ministry, The Gethsemane Care Ministry. From time to time, he also preaches in fellowship groups. He also serves as worship chairman on Sundays and renders his advice and help in many areas of church administration, such as Finance Committee.
• In the recent years, Eld Mah has led several mission trips to places like Kuching, Pangasinan, Cebu, etc.
• He is married to Lean Choo, and they have two children, Melissa and Matthew, and a young grandson, Ethan. Melissa serves the Lord in BWMM and Matthew, who is married to Fidelia, serves in GYAF and other areas of the church ministries.

Eld Ng Poh Kok

Candidate for the office of Elder & Assistant Clerk-of- Session

• In 2008, Eld Ng and his family joined Gethsemane B-P Church. Prior to that, he served as a deacon in Sharon BPC (1978-2002) and as an elder (2002-2008). He also served in Sharon BPC as a Sunday School teacher and as its Superintendent.
• Eld Ng was elected as an elder of our church in 2013. During the present term of the Session, he has served as the Treasurer. He has also served on the committees of Gethsemane Adults’ Fellowship and Gethsemane Men’s Fellowship. He now co-labours with Pastor in the leadership of the Pastoral Visitation Ministry.
• His wife Dorothy, and their two daughters, Sarah and Sharon, are also members of Gethsemane BPC. Sarah is married to Samuel Yong, and they both actively serve the Lord in our church. Sharon, who was married to our late missionary Dominino dela Cruz Jr, now serves the Lord in our midst together with her son Nehemiah.

Eld Alan Choy Weng Heng

Candidate for the office of Elder & Session Member.

• Since 1995, Eld Choy has been a member of Gethsemane BPC. From 1997 to 2003, he served as a deacon. In 2003, he was elected and ordained as an elder of Gethsemane BPC.
• In the Session, he has laboured in various leadership roles: Clerk-of- Session, Treasurer, etc., as well as being a member of the Finance Committee and Building Committee in recent years. He presently leads the GYF committee with Pastor.
• He attended FEBC as a part-time student and graduated with Certificate of Religious Knowledge in May 2013.
• He regularly teaches in Catechism class and ministers at the Lions Home for the Elders, etc. In the Chinese Service, he serves as a worship chairman and preaches God’s Word, when the need arises.
• He is married to Luan Kheng; and they have three children, Eunice, Jenice and Amoz. As a family, the Choys serve the Lord actively in various areas of Gethsemane BPC.

Dn Francis Lee Kek Gee

Candidate for the office of Elder & Clerk-of-Session

• Dn Francis and family joined Gethsemane as members in 2008. Before that, he was a member of Life B-P Church (since 1988), and True Life B-P Church (2003-2007). Upon joining Gethsemane, he rendered his services in various ministries of the church.
• He became a deacon in Gethsemane in 2011 and diligently served in the Session to date. He has faithfully served in the Session as the Clerk-of-Session and also as the Treasurer. He is a member of the Finance Committee of the church.
• He has given his service as the Camp Master in annual church camps, Committee Member of Gethsemane Adults’ Fellowship and Gethsemane Men’s Fellowship. Presently, he also serves in Gethsemane Defenders’ Ministry. He also served along with Eld Mah in recent mission trips to our mission fields.
• He sought theological learning through FEBC as a part-time student and graduated with Certificate of Religious Knowledge in 2008, and Certificate of Biblical Studies in 2010.
• His wife Stephanie and their four children, Sarah, Michelle, Samuel and Moses, worship and serve the Lord in Gethsemane BPC and various fellowship groups.

Dn Daniel Lim Hoe Chiang

Candidate for the office of Deacon & Session Member

• In 2005, he was appointed as a preacher in the Chinese Service of Gethsemane BPC and has faithfully devoted himself to ministering to the brethren in that ministry. Preacher Daniel Lim, after obtaining his Diploma in Theology from FEBC, served with The Helping Hand (2000-2005) as a missionary in the Philippines, and then upon his return to Singapore, as a counsellor and a director of The Helping Hand.
• Since 2007, he has been serving as a deacon in the Session of Gethsemane BPC.
• He conducts weekly Bible Study in The Gethsemane Care Ministry (TGCM) and assists Pastor in counselling and in the leadership of TGCM.
• He serves together with Pr Jeremiah Sim and Eld Mah in the Seniors’ Ministry on Thursdays and also preaches God’s Word regularly in Changi Prison. He also frequently travels to Malaysia (Kemaman, KL, etc.) to preach God’s Word in sister churches.
• He is married to Roscelle, and they have two young children, Mehetabel and Jesimiel. As a family, they participate in church fellowship activities and ministries.

Dn Lok Kwok Wah

Candidate for the office of Deacon & Assistant Treasurer

• Since 2001, he has been faithfully serving in the Bible Witness Media Ministry as a full-time worker. He transferred his membership to Gethsemane BPC in 2005 from Life BPC and became a deacon of Gethsemane in 2007.
• In the Bible Witness Media Ministry, he supervises the printing, distribution of the Bible Witness magazine. He also assisted Pastor in organising BW retreats, Holy Land Bible Study Tour, etc.
• He has been serving as a deacon in the Session of Gethsemane BPC since 2007. He has served in the Session in various roles: Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Clerk-of-Session, etc. He led the Ushers’ ministry (2009-2016).
• He also helps out in the day-to-day matters of the church in the church office.
• Together with him, his wife Jenny and three children, Qian Hui, Qian Yi and Qian Ning, worship and serve in Gethsemane.

Dn Kelvin Lim Cheng Kwang

Candidate for the office of Deacon & Session Member

• In 2000, he was baptised in Gethsemane BPC and became an active member of the church.
• The Lord called him into fulltime ministry in 2002, and in 2004 he joined FEBC for theological training. He completed the Bachelor of Theology in 2008 and was appointed as Assistant to the Pastor in Gethsemane Children’s Ministry.
• He was elected as a deacon in 2009.
• He leads the Gethsemane Children’s Ministry. He also avails himself to preach and to teach God’s Word during worship service, at prayer meeting and different fellowship meetings, and in TGCM.
• He travels to Malaysia to preach God’s Word in Kemaman Life BPC, Calvary Jaya B-P Fellowship, Kuching Mission outreach.
• His wife Jasmine and their three children, Joash, Jorim and Joses, worship and serve the Lord in Gethsemane BPC.

Dn Low Boon Siang

Candidate for the office of Deacon & Treasurer

• Dn Boon Siang was saved and baptised in Gethsemane in the year 2001.
• Over the past 14 years, as he steadily grew spiritually, he served the Lord in Youth Fellowship (2002-2008); Ushers’ Ministry (2005-2009); Young Adults’ Fellowship Committee (2008- 2012); Audiovisual Ministry (2009 till now); Men’s Fellowship Committee (2013 to present). He also served in committees of Church Camp (2009 and 2012).
• As a teacher of God’s Word to children, Bro Boon Siang served in Junior Worship (2006 to present) and in GCM (2008 to 2013). He also served the Lord in the Fundamental Christian Ministry of NTU and NIE (2006-2008), and the B-P Combined Youth Conference Committee (2007-2008).
• Upon his election as a deacon in 2015, he was appointed to be a member of the Finance committee, and was given the leadership of Young Adults’ Fellowship. In 2017, he was appointed to lead the Ushers’ Ministry. He laboured much in organising the recent 5th Missionary Conference held in Kuching.
• His wife Hui Lin and their two young sons, Christopher and Caleb, worship in Gethsemane BPC and participate in many fellowship groups and ministries.

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

I thank the Lord for helping me to be in Vizag for the last three months. I was totally new to the city. But God helped me to slowly settle down here. There are many difficulties, but God is sovereign and He is guiding. Through this report, I like to update the church regarding the work here.

When I came here, I did not have a place to stay. I stayed in a hotel. After searching fruitlessly for a place myself and also through my contacts here, I thought I would not be able to get a place to stay. Many house-owners were not giving rooms to single persons. Every time I make a call to a flat-owner, he would say that he would rent out only to families. After much enquiry, I saw an advertisement about the current flat in a rental service website, and the owner who is staying abroad was willing to give the place for me to stay. Thank God for His provision. There are many restrictions though. I cannot conduct meetings or religious activities there; but I am thankful to the Lord that I got a place at least to stay.

Almost every Sunday, I attended Sunday meetings in a fellowship group affiliated with the Free Presbyterian Church. There are four families attending these meetings regularly. All of them are very supportive and very friendly to me. They regularly pray for me and encourage me. The pastor of the group is very passionate about mission work and he preaches very well. He will be out of India for some weeks. Please pray for safe journey (to and fro) for him and his family. They also gave me opportunity to share from God’s Word in their meetings on some Sundays. I thank the Lord for preserving such a small group in this city.

I had the opportunity to be involved in prison ministry in Parlakhemundi (Odisha) for some weeks before the jail authorities stopped the meetings and I am not going there anymore. (I request your prayers for the authorities to give permission to re-start the meetings.) Bro Henjit who was involved in prison ministry there, started coming down to Vizag to learn theology in English. Though he had studied theology in a fundamental Baptist bible college in the Odia medium, he is very much interested in learning theology in English. Thus, I started teaching him Systematic Theology. Another person from the outskirts of Vizag also came for some classes. Please pray that these brothers will continue to come to learn from God’s Word. Since the prison bible-study is stopped, Bro Henjit is trying to start a bible-study in his home. Pray that he will be able to get people to continue his work in that small village.

Some weekends, I visited some rural Baptist churches in Vizag. I went with a Christian doctor who goes for rural evangelism almost every weekend. He practises in the clinic from Monday to Thursday; and from Friday to Sunday, he will go out for weekend evangelism. His grandfather had planted some churches in the outskirts of Vizag and also in hill stations like Arakku. He will visit those churches. During most of my visits, I was given opportunity to preach, while this doctor would translate my messages from English to Telugu.

I also received opportunities to visit some “Naxalaffected” (i.e. by far-left radical communists) areas in Orissa. The Christians there live in much fear. They are very poor and even mobile coverage is very limited. In many parts of Odisha, persecution is quite severe, but yet many Christians continue to remain faithful to the Lord. There are a lot of small churches in Odisha and in the border-areas of Andhra Pradesh. But most of the pastors do not have formal training. They are also not well-educated in English. Worse, good Christian resources are not available in English or in the local language. Thus, there is a need to educate these pastors and supply them with good resources so that the people under their care may benefit. If we can translate and publish some basic bible-study materials in the local languages, that will be very useful for them.

In order to continue the work here, we need to get a place which allows freedom of worship and also we need to get legal registration with the government. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” I thank Gethsemane B-P Church for your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for me and the work here.

Testimony of Sis Juvy Lynn Anaviso

Dear Pastor Koshy and brethren in Gethsemane BPC, Singapore,

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]reetings in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

I want you all to know that I am now in Cebu, the Philippines and currently studying as a full-time student at Gethsemane Bible Institute, Cebu. The Lord has been so good to me here. I am truly grateful to the Lord for how He has arranged for me a place to stay. I am staying now at Sister Ophelia’s place. Sister Ophelia is one of the members of Gethsemane BPC, Cebu.

I am also thankful to God for leading my path here in GBI, Cebu, where I have enjoyed studying His Word. I thank God also for providing me lecturers who love God and love His Word. I thank the Lord for His provision of books and computers for GBI. I also want to thank God for the support I am receiving from the mother church, Gethsemane BPC, Singapore.

With all these provisions and goodness from the Lord, I take it as a double confirmation of His will for me. I can truly say that it is indeed His will for me to come here, for I can see and experience His cooperative will at work.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, please continue to uphold me in your prayers. And please continue also to remember Gethsemane BPC, Cebu and Gethsemane Bible Institute, Cebu in your prayers.

Thank you and all glory be to God!

Though the Bible predicts perilous times in the last days, Christians are urged to live with the hope of glorious experiences of heaven which their Saviour has promised them. They might live through many troubles and sufferings in this present world, but they can live in the hope of a glorious eternity. Every Christian can say confidently, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:24 that “we are saved by hope … But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8:24-25). Our salvation that we have received by faith also kindles within us an undying hope. We hope in the promise of Christ concerning our eternal heavenly home – “then do we with patience wait for it.” We wait, not as criminals for execution, but as a bride for the wedding! The joy is sure to come. So, we eagerly and patiently wait for His return. He will surely come to take us to His glorious home.

A Christian’s real possession is not what he can see. Suppose God prospers him and he has riches: let him be grateful, but let him confess that these are not his treasures. All the wealth of the world gathered together cannot be compared to the glory that awaits all those who are saved by the blood of Christ.

Paul speaks of “the glory which shall be revealed in us”, and he tells us in another place that it is “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”. He then said, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17- 18). What great hope Christians possess! It is glory! Glory shall be ours, even ours, poor sinners as we are. Grace is sweet, but what must glory be? And it shall be revealed in us, and about us, and over us, and through us, through all eternity.

Hope’s Descriptions

Scripture has the following descriptions for the hope that we have received through our salvation in Christ:

A blessed hope – Titus 2:13 says that Christians must live their lives by “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”.

A good hope – 2 Thessalonians 2:16 tells us that “our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father … hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace”.

A lively hope – 1 Peter 1:3 tells us that “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. We have a lively hope, a vigorous, active, operating hope! It lives for ever. Our hope shall never die.

It is worth waiting for the fulfilling of our hope, for it is certainly a blessed, good hope, which is imperishable.

Hope’s Demeanour

In his first epistle, the apostle Peter exhorts the believer to "hope to the end." He wrote, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). Here Peter mentions three duties of every true Christian. It is interesting to note that in the Greek text, only the last verb is an imperative or command; the first two verbs are participles. In other words, the first two verbal expressions explain to us how we can keep our hope in focus.

The first expression of hope is to "gird up the loins of your mind". To understand the expression, "gird up the loins", we must take our thoughts back to the time and place of Peter. In those days people wore long robes which often constrained them from moving freely and fast. So whenever they needed to move quickly, they would gather up their robes and tuck into a belt. This action of girding up the cloth around the loins is often used to represent one’s preparedness for action. The people of Israel were told to eat the first Passover "with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover" (Exodus 12:11). So when Peter told his readers to "gird up the loins of your mind", he was telling them to be mentally prepared. Our minds must diligently study the prophecies of Christ’s second coming and enthusiastically await His coming. We cannot let our minds wander into the things of the world and conveniently forget the promises of His return.

The second expression of hope is to "be sober", which gives us further understanding as to what it takes to hope for Christ’s return. The Greek word translated as "be sober" carries the idea of alertness or vigilance against dangers. Hope involves not only mental preparedness but also spiritual alertness against the snares of the devil which may keep us trapped in sin at His coming. We must keep a wakeful spirit amid all the narcotising conditions around us. The apostle Paul also calls us to be sober as we hope for Christ’s return – "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8).

Finally, "hope to the end" is the ultimate expression of genuine hope. The words, "to the end", comes from the Greek word (telios) which means "perfect" or “complete”. We must set our hearts on our ultimate hope – the Lord’s return.

We look forward in steadfast hope for God’s grace towards us to be fully realised at the revelation of Jesus Christ on the last day. Then His grace shall accept us to our eternal home while the great wrath of God’s judgment will cast the unbelievers into the eternal hell. This grace has already been coming to us since the day we received Christ into our hearts. When our hope is fully set on the final appearance of His return, we will continually receive a greater portion of His grace in our trial-filled journey in this world, that we may complete our journey and receive the final gift of God’s grace, i.e. our glory.

Gethsemane Young Mothers is a special ministry of our church that ministers to the spiritual needs of the young mothers in our midst. But it is also attended by other Christian young mothers. One of them is Sis Chui Yin. She worships in Calvary Pandan BPC together with her husband, Jack and their two little children. Both Jack and Chui Yin are medical doctors. However, in order to fulfil her biblical role as a wife and mother (Titus 2:4-5; 1 Timothy 5:14; Psalm 113:9; Psalm 128:3) she became a homemaker. Recently, her pregnancy led to a severe medical condition and the loss of her child. The testimony of God’s help in her trial was published in Calvary Pandan weekly; and it was brought to my attention by Sis Low Hui Lin. For the glory of God and for the edification of all the young mothers in our midst, I publish the WhatsApp message I received from her on Friday and also her testimony below.

Dear Pastor Koshy,

Thank you for your concern. I’m doing fine, resting at home and waiting on God for full recovery of strength and health. All these weeks that I have been confined to the bed whether at home or in hospital, I have been greatly blessed by being able to tune in to the live streaming of Sunday worship service of Gethsemane B-P Church. While seeking God’s will for me and my baby, I remembered the few messages I heard at Gethsemane Young Mothers’ meetings, especially about God’s gift of children with disability, and also about bearing the death of children. I thank God for your faithful service in teaching us how to bear these trials in motherhood. It was by God’s grace that I could have attended those meetings earlier in the year. I look forward to being able to join Gethsemane Young Mothers again when I can.

At 6am on 17 June, I had to be rushed to KK hospital, where investigations confirmed that my water bag membrane had ruptured, and I was leaking amniotic fluid from the water bag. I was in my 18th week of pregnancy.

Doctors advised that the prognosis was grim. My womb was susceptible to infection and prone to pre-term labour. Baby would be extremely premature. Even if by some miracle the pregnancy could be sustained for many weeks more, the baby would most likely be born with multiple problems of prematurity and chronic lung problems.

Doctors advised for termination of the pregnancy in view of the poor outlook. We declined and started on the long journey of waiting on the Lord, hoping that the pregnancy would be sustained. I was admitted to the hospital for complete bed rest, rigorous round of antibiotics and regular monitoring.

At that time, I had not fully understood what was to come. All I knew was the precious promise in God’s Word that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. Amidst all the uncertainty, these precious words brought peace.

The difficulties of the path ahead soon revealed themselves. I was fearful of moving as I didn’t want to worsen the leaking. Enforced bed rest was also a difficult adjustment. I lost my physical freedom, the comforts of life, my “modesty”. I needed to depend on nurses to help me with all my basic needs. I had always been the main caregiver of my 2 older children, and was frustrated that I could not take care of them, and frustrated to see how my family members had to struggle to take care of them, and shuttle to and from the hospital to see me.

Doctors advised that there was nothing they could do to save a foetus at this gestation age. The baby was deemed pre-viable. The pregnancy had to be sustained till 24 weeks minimum for there to be any hope for this baby.

At that time, in the 18th week of pregnancy, 24 weeks seemed like an impossibility.

I felt discouraged and frustrated by the helplessness I felt. Clinging on to those precious words that all things work for good, we trudged on, and I soon realized that it was to be a season of rest and waiting on God. The enforced bed rest gave me much time to read and reflect on God’s Word. I started to read the Psalms. Psalm 4, a psalm of David, verse 4: “Stand in awe and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still…” encouraged me to persevere in the adversity, and to purpose in my heart to not have a sinful response, but to be still before God. Several psalms later in Psalm 22:10, another psalm of David, where he proclaimed unto God, “thou art my God from my mother’s belly…” – these words brought me much comfort because they reminded me that God is the God of the baby in my womb, and He will watch over him.

In this first hospitalization, there were many other problems. For the first 2 weeks, Jack still had work commitments, including 24-hour overnight shifts and the care of the children would be a problem. But truly, day by day, God's grace was sufficient. And we had no lack. There were times where at the last hour, Jack would be relieved of his night duties and released to go home at 6pm. His subsequent night calls were also assigned away to other colleagues so he only needed to go in for the day's work, and could return home in the night to manage the children, and even bring me some supplies from home. Some time back he had already planned to clear long leave for the entire months of July and August and this worked out perfectly, enabling him to take care of the children.

Day by day God provided everything that we needed, and we truly experienced the sufficiency of His grace.

At this time, I was greatly encouraged by 1 Peter 4:19, “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” I rested in God’s faithfulness, and slowly counted the days as they crawled by…

With much prayer, God sustained us for 5 weeks, and I even managed to be discharged home for 2 weeks for a short reprieve from the hospitalization. We were hopeful as we approached the 24th week – the golden age of viability.

In the wee hours of the morning of 24 July, at 23 weeks and 6 days of gestation, at the brink of foetal viability, I was awakened by contraction pain and bleeding from the womb. We went back to KK and I had to be hospitalized in preparation for a possible premature delivery. The neonatologist came to see us, and advised that while baby was at an age where it was medically acceptable to resuscitate him, severe neurodevelopmental deficits would be expected in the babies that do survive. He advised that the outlook would be much more favourable if the baby could make it to 26 weeks of gestation.

Medically, it was a tumultuous week. I had recurrent episodes of contractions and was sent to and from the labour ward for monitoring for the onset of labour and imminent delivery of the severely premature baby. Many of these episodes happened when I was alone, sometimes in the dead of night when there was no one I could turn to for help or support, because close friends, and husband were asleep. Spending many hours at the labour ward also meant no visitors except for my husband who came when he could, no proper rest because of the constant monitoring and frequent doctors’ rounds.

It wore me out physically, and emotionally I felt defeated.

After 4 trips down to the labour ward within the first 72 hours of admission, I had a final blow that required me to be sent down to the labour ward for the 5th time that week.

I was back in the general ward and was taking a quick shower when I started feeling giddy and close to losing consciousness. I felt helpless but thankfully, I did not lose consciousness, and managed to dry myself and get back quickly to bed.

Because of this near fainting episode, investigations were performed and revealed an abnormal heart rhythm, and I had to be sent down to the labour ward again for close monitoring and a cardiologist review. I lay there for many hours watching the cardiac monitor which displayed long runs of an abnormal heartbeat which I could feel as a discomfort in my chest. I recognized that I had been having these abnormal sensations for the past months of pregnancy, but had not recognized that it was abnormal.

All this while the struggle had been for the survival of my baby, but this new diagnosis that there has been something wrong with me was a great blow. And I understood how frail and weak I was. It was the final blow to an already very battered confidence.

At this time, I drew comfort from the words in the hymn “How Firm a Foundation”, for the hymn reflected the words from Isaiah 43:1-2, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

God was teaching me not to be afraid.

With those events, the 24th week slowly and painfully went by. And we continued to wait on God, and prayed to reach 26 weeks.

On 10 August, at 26 weeks and 2 days of gestation, things took a drastic turn for the worse. I developed a high fever, and had regular contractions. Womb infection was the likely cause and it was clear that it was time, and the baby would need to be delivered quickly.

I underwent an emergency caesarean section and our baby was born that night. His scores were very poor at birth, but God preserved him in the initial 12 hours of his life while I struggled to recover from the general anaesthesia and post operative blood loss and pain. I managed to go and see him in the ICU. Soon after, he succumbed to overwhelming infection and had massive bleeding in his brain and lungs and he passed away. I managed to see and hold him as he took his last breaths.

When he died, I was deeply saddened but I had peace in my heart. What I went through in the preceding weeks of seeking and waiting on God’s will and timing, pleading in prayer for this baby, contemplating different permutations of bad outcome, and reflecting on the hand of God in our lives, receiving comfort and instruction from God’s Word and receiving God’s goodness and grace day by day, and the eventual unspeakable peace that God gives, has led me to the undeniable conclusion that this is God’s will and His will is perfect.

The testing was severe, but the journey has been blessed in many ways. God had provided wonderfully along the way and I have so much to be thankful for. I have no time to go into the details but God was with me, and we truly had no lack.

He knew my weakness and gently led me and provided for me each step of the way. He took away all the crutches I had in this life, whether material comforts, personal freedom, solace from family and friends, health and life itself, and led me to the lowest point, so that I could see clearly, and experience the fullness and sufficiency of His grace and love. And today I can say to you: God is love. He gives peace. His timing is perfect. He knew everything. His will is perfect.

To my dear family and friends, and especially my brother Ern, I know many of you grieve with us. Take heart, for we do not grieve as those who have no hope. For the Bible tells us that his soul is with God, and though we do not have a chance to be together in this transient earthly life, we will see him again in heaven for all eternity. This child has been spared the toil of this earthly life, and he is in the presence of God.

To brethren who are facing fearful uncertainties, I want to encourage you not to lose heart and not to be afraid. We are fearful because we do not know what lies ahead, but God knows, our paths have been determined and His will for our lives is perfect.

To brethren who are suffering while waiting – When I look back at the past events, I can see how they have been orchestrated so well, every single step.

Our baby was born at a time when we had the full support of our family. God provided for Jack’s long leave these 2 months (which was planned way before anything happened), and my parents who had an unplanned travel cancellation exactly in this period and have been available to help. As someone who is usually slightly obsessive with planning, I am truly humbled by how impeccable God’s timing is. And so I want to encourage you to be patient and wait upon God’s timing. His timing is perfect. I have truly experienced this.

To those of you who do not know Christ – I believe with all my heart that there is a God who created us, and who holds our lives in His hands. And He gives peace and security amidst the storms of life. And I hope that everyone can experience this too.

When I left KKH on Tuesday, after 8 tumultuous weeks, I had peace in my heart. I thank God for everything that He has given us, even life itself, health and strength, being able to get into the car and go home, being able to sit at the table to eat, seeing how the 2 children have grown in my absence, how God has preserved them, and me.

All we have is by the grace of God and He has given me new eyes of thankfulness.

We didn't have a name for the baby when he died, and only named him after. I wanted to name him wen xi - for 喜乐. Joy, for the joy that he brought us, and the joy he has in the presence of God right now.

But we changed it to 文悦 - 悦 for 喜悦 which has the same meaning of joy. Most of you know our two older children by their English names, but their Chinese names are actually 文杰 and 悦祈. So Wen Yue has one character from each of his siblings’ names. He will always be a part of our family, and the memory of him will live in our hearts.

This child was a precious gift from God. Even though he did not live long, 26 weeks and 2 days in the womb, and 2 days in the world, his short existence has shown me how God's will and timing are perfect, and a powerful reminder of God's grace and tender mercies. I will never forget these past 8 weeks, all those days and nights I struggled and waited, where for me and that little baby in my womb, we had no one and no help but God alone.

His life was not given or lived in vain. My child has now been promoted to glory, and my faith in God is strengthened.

All glory be to God.