Gethsemane Filipino Fellowship (GFF) has been a ministry of the Gethsemane B-P Church since 2001 to reach out to Filipinos in Singapore with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Right from the beginning, GFF has made evangelistic efforts to win Filipinos for the Lord and nurture them in sound biblical faith. Through the members of GFF, GBPC has been led to the Philippines to begin 5 mission stations (Cebu, Bogo, San Antonio, Bohol and Pangasinan). All the pastors and preachers labouring in those stations were once part of GFF, who upon being trained in FEBC, had returned to serve the Lord in those places. We also remember, before the Lord in prayer, scores of Filipinos who have either returned to their native places in the Philippines or migrated to other countries, that they will continue to love and serve our Lord Jesus fervently.
We praise God that brothers and sisters in GFF continue to be a zealous group of believers in our midst. We pray that they will persevere in their faith and love towards Christ and towards one another, despite the hardships and temptations that each of them is faced with. Their participation and contributions to the ministries of our church are praiseworthy, and may the Lord who worketh in and through them be praised. Two from GFF, Dn Norefel Resuma and Bro Jordan Ballega, serve as full-time staff of GBWL, a ministry arm of our church. Let us thank the Lord for all who are part of GFF, rejoicing and serving the Lord as they grow in the Word, prayer and fellowship.
On Sundays, GFF meet at 3:30pm, where they are instructed from the Word by the preachers of our church. To further foster their fellowship and the knowledge of the Word, they meet every first Friday of the month for Kababayan Bible Study (Kababayan means ‘countrymen’ in Tagalog). Pr Jeremiah Sim ministers God’s Word to this monthly fellowship gathering. They also frequently attempt to bring the Gospel to their countrymen who gather in the Orchard Road area.
As a word of exhortation to all our dear Filipino brethren, I quote the inspired words of the apostle Paul to the church in Thessalonica: “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost” (1 Thess 1:2-6).
