As we recall God’s bountiful blessing and goodness upon this ministry to the Lions Home for the Elders (Bedok and Bishan) in the year 2017, we look forward to yet another year of fruitful Gospel ministry in 2018. Indeed, we count it a joyful privilege to serve the Lord among the elderly. Every Lord’s Day, after our church worship and Bible study (now GBI class), we would set out to visit the elderly people in the Lions Home.
The primary purpose of this ministry is to declare the Good News and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that the seniors whom we visit will come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This is a very challenging ministry as many of the old folks in these homes are physically impaired, and some also suffer from dementia. Not a few of them have come to think of life as futile and meaningless. To minister in such circumstances, we also need the Lord’s strength and comfort to patiently attend to them with the Gospel. We believe, as it is written in 2 Corinthians 4:7, that “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
We rejoice in the Lord that several old folks have received the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. We exhort them during our weekly visit to continue to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith (Hebrews 12:2). All glory be to “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
God willing, two more elderly folks who have trusted in Christ will be baptised soon. They are Miss Lee Lai Kuan from Bishan Home and Mr Tan Tiang Poh from Bedok Home. Sis Lai Kuan accepted the Lord as her Saviour a few months ago and has been joyfully attending our meetings regularly. Bro Tiang Poh, who believed in the Lord a few years ago, had been isolated from us due to surgery and ill health. He could not attend our meetings for quite some time now that he is completely bedridden. However, the Lord has been gracious and good to him, and he now seeks baptism. We thank God that permission has been granted to us to visit him and also to baptise him. By the grace of God, I have been visiting both to prepare them for baptism through biblical exhortations. Both of them joyfully look forward to their baptism, which certainly bring tremendous joy to the team of brethren who labour every Lord’s Day to bring the Word to the residents of the Lions Home for the Elders.
Let us continue in our service for the Lord, with full assurance of His guidance and enabling. “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8). We continue to seek the prayers of the church, that through this ministry, our Lord will be greatly praised. Amen.
A Note of Appreciation
(Hearing that our preacher Eld Eliezer Ortega, who is serving in the mission churches of Bogo and San Antonio, has to urgently pay arrears to the housing authority in order to avoid eviction and also to have the option to purchase it through an instalment payment scheme, our Session decided to request the brethren (during last Tuesday night prayer meeting) to offer their help to Eld Eliezer. The required amount of S$4,500 has been promptly received from the participants of the prayer meeting on the same night – through gifts and promises. The amount was duly transferred the next day (Wednesday, 17 Jan 2018). Helping those who are really needy honours and is most pleasing to God. Proverbs 19:17 says, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” A note of appreciation received from Eld Eliezer is published below.)
Dear Pastor Koshy,
Praise be unto the Lord for His great mercy and abounding grace! The Lord is ever gracious and merciful.
On behalf of my family, I would like to thank you and the brethren in GBPC, Singapore for your love and care for us. We know that God has sent His blessings to us through the loving care and support of you all. As a result, the Lord has tremendously helped us to stay in our rented house through the help received from the church in Singapore.
I was informed yesterday by Sis Sharon about the transfer of funds. As soon as possible, I will confirm with the bank and then go to the housing authority to settle the amount we had owed them for rental.
Thank you very much, Pastor and all the brethren in GBPC, Singapore, for your prayer and generous support for my family and the work here.
Elder Eliezer Ortega