Venue
The 21st Bible Witness Retreat, if the Lord permits, will be held at Pullman Hotel in Kuching, Sarawak (E. Malaysia). We truly thank God for providing us with this excellent venue at a reasonable cost. We chose Kuching as the location for the September retreat so that the participants from Singapore would have an opportunity to encourage the brethren of Calvary Kuching B-P Church, a work that the Lord has given to the care of our church, GBPC. However, due to the COVID travel restrictions and the recent surge of infection in Singapore and South-east Asia, we could not plan early to secure a venue in Kuching. We appreciate the timely help of Bro Jeremy Teo (from Calvary Kuching) and Bro Simon Chung (a Gethsemanean residing in Kuching) to find and secure a suitable venue in Kuching.
Topic
The retreat’s topic of study is the “Doctrine of Repentance”. We know that our risen Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, having ascended to heaven, does “appear in the presence of God for us” (Heb. 9:24). And there, “he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). His Word assures us that “if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 Jn. 2:1). This gracious Saviour lovingly urges us not to live in sin, guilt, shame, and broken communion with Him. He desires that “we confess our sins, (for) he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). Our Saviour is graciously disposed towards us, that we may come to Him in repentance and live in the joy of our fellowship with Him. That being so, should we not earnestly learn His counsels to put away our sins, and rejoice in His pardon and restoration?
Participation
More than 50 participants (from Singapore) have registered thus far for the 21st BW Retreat. We also expect 10 or more brethren from Kuching to join the retreat. Though more than the initially anticipated number of attendees have signed up, we encourage more to come and benefit from this opportunity to learn God’s Word, and to enjoy the Christian fellowship. If the Spirit of the Lord moves you to give for the support of this retreat (especially for certain needy brethren), please give towards “BW Retreat”. We also covet your earnest prayers for the blessing of the retreat.
(The following is an abbreviated version of reports received over the last two weeks.)
I praise the Lord for enabling us to use the temporary place of worship. The cementing of the floor is already completed. The workers are currently finishing the children’s classroom and fixing the doors. We praise the Lord for Bro. Jumar and Sis. Olive, who helped us to clean and prepare the place for the last Sunday’s worship. We had also put up the curtains to decorate the hall, and laid the electrical extension cords for the electric fans. Praise the Lord that the new worship place is very spacious and cooler. We praise God for this temporary provision as the present place cannot hold all the worshippers. Praise the Lord that we can have a good shelter for eating and fellowshipping as well. Indeed, after the worship, we had lunch together inside the worship hall.
We also thank God for a new family from the neighbourhood that joined the worship. God willing, this week, Bro. Renato Olarita will come from Valenzuela to live and serve with us here in Pangasinan. He will be coming with his wife, Sis. Marianette, and their 3 children.
Please pray for my wife Se Jin’s 5-year amendment to her ‘Permanent Resident Visa’. May the Lord enable us to serve Him as a family in this place. Se Jin also had to see the doctor, and we thank God for the normal blood-pressure and blood-sugar readings. The doctor has advised her to continue the medication, and will see her again after four months.
The Lord recently helped me to travel to preach God’s Word in Tactac, Sta Fe. There, I met Bro. Jomart and his wife. They came here from Singapore to visit their family members. Bro. Jomart requested me to share the message of salvation with more than 40 relatives who came to listen to God’s Word. Praise God for enabling me to preach from Romans 10:5-13.