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2025 Church Camp Messages

This year’s church camp (2nd–6th June 2025) will have two series of messages. Rev. Mark Kim (Principal of Bible College of East Africa) will preach the first series on “Churches & Missions”. I will preach the second series on the theme: “Stand Guard Against Last Days’ Seduction”.

Rev. & Mrs Kim have been serving the Lord for 35 years in East Africa. They serve in BCEA Nairobi, Kenya, providing theological and practical training for individuals engaged in Gospel ministry. The Nairobi campus is home to a vibrant church, community outreach initiatives, and a kindergarten programme. In 2006, BCEA expanded to Tanzania to train men and women for Christian ministry, and in 2017, a campus was established in Rwanda. It will be a special joy to hear Rev. Kim sharing precious biblical lessons that God has taught him in the mission fields of Africa. May the Lord use His servant to illumine us to shine even more brilliantly for His glory.

An extreme shift in the cultural and spiritual landscapes has occurred in recent years. This phenomenon reflects a growing departure from Biblical truth, luring many into a web of deception. We are witnessing the rising seduction of the last days, as prophesied in the Scriptures – “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1).

The rising seduction of the last days poses a significant threat to the church, individual believers, and their families. We must analyse and understand these increasing deceptions and how they occur, so that we may guard ourselves against these perils.

The perilous traits of the last days, described in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, paint a picture of a society characterised by moral decay, self-centredness, and a departure from Biblical values – “… in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God”.

In the light of the Biblical depiction of the last days, we perceive more ominous signs of deception – (1) an increase in false teachings, (2) distortion of the Gospel message, (3) religious pluralism, (4) moral decline and acceptance of sin, (5) spiritual complacency, (6) cultural pressure to conform, (7) persecution of true believers, and more.

We can no longer ignore the warnings of last days’ deceptions, as the signs of our times increasingly align with Biblical prophecies. They have infiltrated both the secular and religious spheres. No church shall be spared from their influence. Many are already swayed by their enticing messages within the church and worldwide. Christians must recognise such subtle invasion and resist these deceptive influences!

With Biblical warnings echoing through the ages, we must anchor ourselves in God’s Word, be receptive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and be steadfast in our commitment to live by the Biblical counsels. Only by doing so can we withstand the tides of deception and uphold the faith, ensuring that we remain faithful amidst the challenges of these perilous times.

Amidst a world that increasingly embraces the seduction of the last days, we need to be equipped with the insights the Bible provides to safeguard believers living in these perilous times. Let us prepare for this year’s church camp with prayer and enthusiasm, to learn to “Stand Guard Against Last Days’ Seduction”.

Stand Guard Against Last Days’ Seduction

Mission Reports

Dear Pastor, the Board of Elders, and all the members of the Church,

Greetings to you all in Jesus’ name!

I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for the faithfulness and goodness of our Lord upon all of you. We all believe with firmness the doctrine of God’s providence. Therefore, I am compelled to say again that all the good things that have happened in my life, family, and ministry are indeed from the mighty hand of God. To Him be the glory alone. I play no part in them. I plan not, nor do I expect them. Yes, I prayed unceasingly. It is the Lord then, in His sovereign will, who answered the prayers.

Therefore, I thank my God for His unchanging promises and loving kindness. At the same time, I thank God for all of you, dear saints. The way He does things is beyond my imagination, in a way that amazed me! Dear saints, you have become a blessing from the Lord. He moved you to support the work over here. Your generosity and support humbled me, and I will always be grateful. Your reward will come from the Lord. Dear saints, eternity will tell, and you will be remembered for all the sacrifices you’ve joyfully endured to extend your helping hand for the Lord’s work in our place.

Your care for us is an example to follow. I have learnt from you all. A desire to have the same zeal to bless others the same way you’ve blessed me stirs in my heart. The Lord did provide through you. We praise God for whatever He has done. Blessed be the Lord, O my soul. Brethren, we remember you all very dearly in our hearts. We do that through our unceasing prayers for you; that’s all we can do for you now. We pray that the Lord will help you in your Christian walk, so that you may “shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). The Lord will also provide for all your needs, as promised in Phil 4:19 - “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Brethren, I don’t know what will happen to me tomorrow. The ministry is very tough here. But I take that as a privilege. If it is His will, I want to wake up each day to serve Him, or if it is His will that I should go to be with the Lord, then I want to die serving Him. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). I know that planting the seed of the Gospel will not go in vain. Pray for boldness and strength, not to believe in the lie that the ministry done in the Lord’s name will always go smoothly.

Thank you for the Christmas gifts, continuous support, the calendars, etc. Lastly, please pray for the work in our town and another village. Pray for this whole year’s outreach programmes. We will be travelling to various villages and markets to preach the Gospel. Pray that the Lord may give us the grace to serve and to be faithful.

We wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year. The Lord be with you all. Amen. SOLI DEO GLORIA!

Pastor J and family

Dear Pastor and Gethsemane BPC,

Every day, the challenges grow heavier, the opposition stronger, and the road steeper for God’s people in India. I, too, face such trials and feel the weight of these struggles daily. Yet, we stand firm, not by our own strength, but by the grace of our Lord. The battle is real, the trials are many, and the cost of faithfulness is high—but our hope remains unshaken.

I desperately need your prayers. Pray for endurance in suffering, courage in confronting opposition, and unwavering faith in the face of trials. Pray that the light of Christ will shine ever brighter, even in the darkest moments. Your prayers strengthen, uplift, and remind me that I am not alone. Keep me and all God’s people in your intercessions, for the days are growing difficult – but our God is greater still.

Pastor K and family

A Fresh Call to Action: Advancing the Global Mission

Our sovereign and gracious God has faithfully guided our church in its 37-year history, leading us to engage in numerous Gospel mission frontiers. We are profoundly grateful for His providence, which has enabled us to train, commission, and support many faithful servants in the mission fields He has opened before us.

By God’s grace, we continue to prepare and equip those called to the ministry in these mission fields. The Gethsemane Bible Institutes (GBI) overseas remain devoted to training scores of men annually for the ministry. These institutions represent a vital part of our commitment to the Gospel.

The Lord has also blessed us with opportunities to provide monthly support to pastors, teachers, preachers, and students in need. Through the generous giving of our members and friends, we have rented and built facilities, including properties purchased to advance Gospel missions. Over the past 25 years, millions of dollars have been joyfully invested in these projects to sustain and expand the work of His kingdom.

Today, we have a fresh opportunity to further the Gospel. We must act swiftly to secure a one-acre plot of land for a new GBI campus and church. The deposit has been paid, but $100,000 more is urgently needed by the end of January 2025 to complete the purchase.

We urge you to pray earnestly and give cheerfully as the Lord enables. Your support will advance the Gospel and glorify God among many abroad. Please watch for updates during Sunday announcements, and let us respond quickly, trusting God to use our efforts for His glory. As 2 Corinthians 9:13 reminds us, may this work prompt many to “glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men”.

Daily Vacation Bible School 2024 Testimonies

Annabelle Lim
I thank God for the opportunity to attend this year’s DVBS on the theme, “Joy Unspeakable”, held at Gethsemane Media Centre from 27 to 29 November 2024. Actually, I had been afflicted for several weeks with an unspecified headache, which made me seriously doubt if I would be able to go through the DVBS lessons. Thank God for His sustaining grace and the occasional relief from the medicine. I wish to share some thoughts I had gathered through our preachers who taught us.

Day 1 Morning Lesson: Joy in Salvation (Text: Luke 15:1-10)
I learnt from the parables of the “Lost Sheep” and “Lost Coin”, taken from Luke 15:1-10, that every soul is important to God. When one soul is saved, the whole heaven rejoices! Jesus is delighted to save sinners. When we are saved, we are joyful because we have escaped hell and inherited the promise of heaven. Moreover, we receive true joy (a fruit of the Spirit) that can never be destroyed. When an unbeliever is saved, we should be delighted that another person is added to the kingdom of God!

Day 1 Afternoon Lesson: Job Overcame Sadness (Text: Job 1)
I learnt that everything goes according to God’s own will and purpose. For example, from the life of Job, God’s purpose for his sufferings was to prove to Satan that Job was a just man. I also learnt that whatever happens to us, we cannot blame God. Job was a just man and he did right in the eyes of God. However, when Satan desired to test his faith, God allowed it. Satan took away his wealth, possessions, and children. But that was not the end of it. Satan also struck him with boils from head to toe. Job was sad, but he maintained his integrity and worshipped God. Even through this painful time of suffering, he did not blame or curse God. Instead, he endured it. God gave him a wonderful and blessed ending. He had twice of the wealth he lost. In summary, God does things for a good purpose (Romans 8:28). When heartbreaking situations come in life, we should not doubt God’s goodness, but keep trusting Him to find strength to overcome our trials.

Day 2 Morning Lesson: Joy in Service (Text: John 13:3-15)
I learnt that as Christians, we must serve God with humility, obedience, and joy (Colossians 3:23)! We must serve God wholeheartedly, with reverence, not to please men, but to please God. We must also serve Him with much gladness, knowing that we are saved to serve (Psalm 100:1-3). Jesus used Himself as an example. He was the Son of God, but He showed great humility when He came down to earth to die for us. In John 13:5, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, and He was joyful! We must serve God happily and faithfully because He has saved us. Jesus can help us to serve God with a joyful spirit amidst problems.

Day 2 Afternoon Lesson: Jeremiah Overcame Sadness (Text: Book of Jeremiah)
I learnt to overcome sadness from the life of Jeremiah. He was appointed by God to declare God’s judgment against God’s people. When the prophet Jeremiah knew that, he was sad and afraid, but God comforted him and told him that He would be with him. After Jeremiah declared God’s Word to the people, false pastors, priests, prophets, and even to the king, he was hated and many people wanted to kill him. They placed Jeremiah in a deep dungeon, which contained no water. Jeremiah was very dejected and it looked like there was no hope for him (cf. Jeremiah 38:7-10). But God delivered him out of the dungeon. In summary, I learnt that we must cast all our cares on God, for He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). We must always turn to God when we go through times of sadness.

Day 3 Morning Lesson: Joy in Suffering (Text: Philippians 4:4-8)
I learnt that we must rejoice in the LORD always. The Book of Philippians is one of Paul’s prison epistles. He was in prison, and yet he told the Christians in Philippi to rejoice in the LORD always! He wrote this letter to the church because he wanted to comfort the Christians in persecution, and to rebuke strife and disunity. In Philippians 4:4, he commands us to rejoice habitually (being glad and cheerful). Joy gives us spiritual strength. We should also rejoice because Jesus is coming again which gives us hope and comfort (Philippians 4:5b). Studying God’s Word also brings us joy. As 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 tells us, Paul had gone through deep suffering. Yet, he urged Christians to rejoice in the LORD. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul mentioned that he was suffering from a disease. But he said, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” In summary, we should always rejoice in the LORD, whether in good or in bad times.

Day 3 Afternoon Lesson: Jesus Overcame Sadness (Text: Mark 3:1-5)
I learnt that we should not be arrogant, refusing to do the right thing, despite knowing that we are supposed to do it. The cause of Jesus’ sadness is because of the hardness of the people’s hearts. When Jesus entered into the synagogue, He saw a man with an injured hand, but the people standing beside the man did not help him. Jesus was “grieved for the hardness of their hearts”. He was saddened by the people’s refusal to do good on the Sabbath. He asked them, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?”, but the people kept silent and they did not bother. He was sad, but He overcame the sadness by healing the man and doing that which was good. In conclusion, I learnt that we can only be joyful when we do the right thing in God’s sight. Sin brings sadness, but obedient faith brings happiness.

God has provided us, through His Word, many real examples of God’s people being joyful despite their troubling circumstances. We too must take a leaf out of these saints’ lives – Christians have no excuse to be depressed. I pray that I will keep God’s Word in my heart as I navigate through my own health issue. May God’s name be magnified by the way I respond to life challenges.

Ruhamah Resuma
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalm 34:8).

Firstly, I thank God that I could attend this year’s DVBS, on the theme: “Joy Unspeakable”.

Secondly, I thank God for Teacher Jonathan Hendricks who taught the primary class in the morning sessions on the main theme, and for Pr Ho Kee How, Pr Jeremiah and Pr Kelvin who taught on the topic, “Overcoming Sadness”, from the lives of Job, Jeremiah and Jesus respectively.

On the first day, I learned about “Joy in Salvation” from two parables (the “Lost Coin” and the “Lost Sheep”), that how even the angels rejoice when a sinner repents. On the topic “Overcoming Sadness”, I learned from Pr Ho through the life of Job, how God allowed Satan to take away his children and possessions, smite him with a skin disease (which eventually resulted in his wife telling him to curse God and die), so as to try and test his faith in his God. But Job endured all the sufferings and kept strong in his faith. As a result, God blessed him with twice as much as he had before. We too should be like Job, enduring the tests that come our way. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation” (James 1:12a).

On the second day, I learned about “Joy in Service”. I learned how Jesus, though He was God, humbled Himself to be a man and washed the feet of His own disciples. We, being His followers, must follow His example. Christians should not be lazy or proud, but always be humble and ready to do God’s will. The Bible says, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15). In the afternoon, I learned from Pr Jeremiah about how the prophet Jeremiah endured much suffering because he preached against sin. I learned that Christian victory rests on Christ alone – “casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

On the third and last day, I learned about “Joy in Suffering”. Even though Paul has suffered much, he was joyful even in prison, because he was serving the Lord. He encouraged the Philippian believers to rejoice – “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

And the last lesson in this year’s DVBS was taught by Pr Kelvin. I learned about the life of Jesus and about how on one Sabbath, Jesus saw a man with a withered hand and was angered and saddened because the Pharisees did not want to help the man. Instead, they waited to accuse Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. Jesus overcame His sadness by doing the right thing. “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42b). The cause of sadness is sin, but the source of true happiness is Jesus, “whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

Thirdly, I thank God for the teachers, singspiration leaders, activity leaders, the art and craft team, the refreshments team, and all others who helped make this year’s DVBS a blessed and fruitful programme for us children.

Lastly, I thank God for all the children who attended from Gethsemane BPC and from other churches, and even those who were invited by our church members. All glory, honour and praise be to God.

Reuel Resuma
“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

This year’s DVBS, being my last, was very special to me. I have been attending DVBS with my brother since I was 3 years old, and I thank God for Pastor and all the teachers, preachers, aunties, and uncles who faithfully served in the DVBS. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

The theme of this year’s DVBS was “Joy Unspeakable”. In the morning sessions, Teacher Jonathan Hendricks taught us from this theme, and in the afternoon, Pr Ho Kee How, Pr Jeremiah and Pr Kelvin taught us on the topic, “Overcoming Sadness”, from the lives of Job, Jeremiah, and Jesus.

Teacher Jonathan taught us three important things: “Joy in Salvation”, “Joy in Service”, and “Joy in Suffering.” On the first day, I learned from about the parables of the “Lost Sheep” and the “Lost Coin” (Luke 15:1-10), which talk about how the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner who repents. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10).

On the second day, I learned that Christians should joyfully serve God and not to allow themselves to be sluggish and lazy. “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2).

On the last day of the morning session, I learned from the experience of the apostle Paul that even though he was harshly persecuted and put in prison, he joyfully served God and even encouraged the Philippian Christians to rejoice in the Lord! “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

In the afternoon sessions, I learned from Pr Kee How on the first day that even when Job lost everything and was afflicted with a skin disease, he never gave up his integrity and believed in God’s promises. In the end, God blessed Job. “So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:12a).

On the second day, Pr Jeremiah taught us that the prophet Jeremiah was prepared and ordained by God for the ministry. He faithfully preached God’s Word to the Jews, which resulted in persecution from the unbelievers. He was whipped, and thrown into a dry well and was left to die. But God sent Ebed-melech to plea to the king to save Jeremiah’s life, and he was pulled out from the pit. Even in persecution, and sorrow, Jeremiah never doubted God’s promises, and fully trusted in God – “casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

On the last day, Pr Kelvin talked to us about Jesus’ ministry. Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and was angered and saddened when no one helped a man with a withered hand, because of the hardness of their hearts. Seeing this, He rebuked them, and healed the man. Sin brings sadness, but faith brings true happiness and joy. When a person sins, he will face the consequences of his sin, and he will be sad. But when he repents and believes in Jesus, he will have joy. “The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!” (Psalm 21:1).

Finally, I want to thank God for all those who led in singing, art and craft, and games. I also thank God for those who helped prepare the food for the children. I thank God for all the children who attended, including familiar friends from our church, and new ones from other churches, as well as those who were brought by their friends.

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). All glory be to God!

Greetings from East Africa

Beloved brethren,

Warm greetings to you in the glorious name of our Saviour from Nairobi, Kenya! My wife Carolyn and I arrived here on Tuesday afternoon, after completing eight blessed days of ministry in Ethiopia.

We are grateful to God for the continued prayers and encouragement from our elders and staff back in Singapore, who have faithfully kept in touch via WhatsApp concerning the ministry’s progress. Their dedication to the Lord’s work and intercessions for us have been a great source of comfort and strength.

We praise God for His enabling grace upon our preachers, who have ministered His Word faithfully in all the church’s meetings. May the Lord continue to bless and edify you through their diligent service.

8 Days of Ministry in Ethiopia

Our days in Ethiopia were both challenging and rewarding. The high altitude took a daily toll on me, causing persistent sickness. Yet, God’s presence and gracious strengthening were evident throughout. He faithfully provided timely relief from physical distress, enabling me to teach God’s Word to the GBI students for four hours each day.

Carolyn’s supportive presence and care were a source of great comfort. Additionally, the local servants of the Lord—Rev. Ephrem, Pr Engida, Pr Imane, Pr Bayera and Pr Bedada—were incredibly attentive to my struggles and extended their assistance with kindness and thoughtfulness. The families of Rev. Ephrem and Pr Imane, who reside on the church and GBI campus, also contributed immensely to our well-being. They prepared nourishing and suitable meals daily, ensuring that we were cared for physically, as I focused on ministering spiritually. Through it all, God’s grace and the love of His people sustained us.

Teaching the 26 full-time students of GBI was a joyful experience, as all of them were eager to learn God’s Word. Not all students could communicate in English, so Rev. Ephrem, Pr Engida and Pr Imane helped them interpret my lectures. They also helped in the Q & A sessions, which the students greatly appreciated.

Likewise, Pr Bayera and Pr Bedada helped Carolyn to interpret her teaching of God’s Word to the children who came daily to the Gethsemane Children’s Ministry. About 110 children attend classes held from 8.30am to 12.30pm. Ten teachers, led by the preachers and Sis. Gete, care for and teach these children. Through this ministry to the children, preachers find opportunities to visit families in the neighbourhood with the Gospel, and invite them to the church.

Last Sunday morning, the Addis Ababa congregation came to Alem Gena for joint worship. We praise God for the many familiar and some new faces we could fellowship with. Rev. Ephrem led the worship, the young people’s choir sang Amharic worship hymns, I preached the Word from Ephesians 2:18 on “Our Access to God through Christ”, and the sisters provided a sumptuous lunch for all the worshippers.

Dear brethren, it has been almost 20 years since God opened the door to Ethiopia before us through Rev. Ephrem. This work has been strengthened by fellow labourers joining him to spread the Gospel and teach the Word. The works in Addis Ababa and Alem Gena must be further strengthened with our prayers and support. Upon my return, I desire to share more of the ministry needs and opportunities with you. Your prayers, generous support, and visitation to this mission station have not been in vain, for it continues to bear many fruits that will last for eternity. May God bless and strengthen this Gospel frontier opened to us!

4 Days of Ministry in Kenya

This East African mission trip was not part of this year’s ministry plan. It was unplanned until late October, when the Lord began to burden my heart through a call from Rev. Mark Kim, the principal of Bible College of East Africa (BCEA). Rev. Kim invited me to join him and his co-labourers for the College’s 59th Graduation Service, scheduled for 23rd November 2024. When he called me, Rev. Kim was facing many challenges in a new Gospel work in Rwanda, another East African nation. He has been labouring in Rwanda for the past few years, establishing a mission station. Through his efforts, the Gospel was proclaimed to thousands, and by God’s grace, over 800 people began gathering regularly for worship. However, recent government restrictions have forced the church to cease operations. This has been a deeply challenging and disheartening time for Rev. and Mrs. Kim, and their eldest daughter, Sis. Ha Young, who have laboured tirelessly for the Gospel in that mission station.

Feeling compelled to visit and encourage them during this period of great trial, I sought the counsel and approval of our church elders. They unanimously supported the plan and encouraged me to undertake this journey from 11th to 26th November 2024, accompanied by my wife. They recognised the importance of her presence and support during this mission.

Rev. Kim returned to Nairobi from Rwanda on Monday to supervise and attend BCEA’s graduation. At the same time, his wife and daughter stayed back in Rwanda to support the ongoing work, such as the daily children’s ministry and other administrative matters. During his absence in Nairobi, the work of BCEA has been managed by Rev. Eben Yoon, whose family work with him. He is ably supported by a team of full-time and part-time lecturers, including Pr James Tan and his wife, Sis. Charmaine (both graduates of FEBC and members of Tabernacle BPC, Singapore).

Presently, BCEA (Nairobi) has 76 students undergoing theological training. I have ministered God’s Word to them on three occasions in the last three days. I’m also supposed to preach God’s Word during the graduation service on “Spirit-Separated Men for the Ministry”, taken from Acts 16:1-3.

The Lord has sustained this tremendous work over the past 59 years. The early 25 years of BCEA were under the leadership of American Bible-Presbyterian missionaries sent by the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions (IBPFM). Since 1990, this has been under the faithful and fruitful leadership of Rev. Mark Kim. The BCEA has set up a ministry in Arusha, Tanzania, where Rev. Park Seung Kyu and family (FEBC graduates) serve with two other BCEA graduates. We are glad to see Rev. Park’s family in Nairobi as they have also arrived to join the graduation service.

Rev. Ephrem and Sis. Gete, our Ethiopian missionary family, had graduated from BCEA (Nairobi) before coming to Singapore for studies in FEBC. Rev. Ephrem is also joining us in Nairobi and on our scheduled trip to Rwanda. After spending Sunday and Monday with the brethren in Rwanda, we plan to return to Singapore, God willing, on Tuesday.

We praise the Lord for your prayers and support in sending us forward on this journey after a godly sort. May God help us always to do well, according to His Word, for the Gospel mission works everywhere.

Joyfully in His service,
Your Pastor

Communications from Mission Stations

From Rwanda:

I am in Rwanda! We’ve experienced the hardest of times as thousands of churches were shut down. Our campus church was also closed down. Please pray for us.

Rev. Kim

From Ethiopia:

Dear Rev. Koshy,

Greetings in our Lord’s blessed name! How are you doing in God’s work with your entire beloved family? Praise the LORD that all the brethren are kept safe as we serve God. We hope that God’s good hand will preserve your dad and mum. We are praying for them.

God willing, we are going to have our Mission Church’s 18th Anniversary Thanksgiving and GBI 8th Graduation Service on 1st September 2024. Pray for God’s blessing and provision. Please convey my regards to your family and the church.

Rev. Ephrem

Our reply:

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in abundance!

With heartfelt gratitude, I reflect upon the Lord’s immeasurable blessings bestowed upon Gethsemane BPC, Ethiopia, for the past eighteen years. His steadfast protection and guidance have been our constant companions. We also praise the LORD for eight years of GBI ministry. May the Lord’s work spread across Ethiopia and even to other nations of Africa, through faithful men trained in GBI.

As you eagerly await the Thanksgiving Service on September 1st, we will join you in spirit to recall and rejoice in the Lord’s faithfulness. Our fervent prayer is for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s power to revitalise all our ministers of the Word and the members.

Please convey our heartiest greetings to all the brethren who gather for the Anniversary Thanksgiving Service.

Heartily in His service,
Prabhudas Koshy
For Gethsemane BPC, Singapore

Rev. Ephrem’s Reply:

Many thanks, Rev. Koshy. Praise the LORD for the uncountable blessings we have received through your ministries. I will convey your greetings and wishes to the congregation. Remain blessed in Christ!

From Pangasinan (the Philippines):

Dear Pastor Koshy,

The construction of the worship hall is almost done. The plastering of the walls and rooms is done. The workers are currently framing the windows and the doors, and God willing, they will be installed in the middle of the week. After this, they will work on paving the way from the street to the worship hall. The excavator will be available next week to dig the ground for the toilet’s septic tank. The excavator will also flatten the kitchen area.

Thank God for the support and love gifts from Gethsemane, Singapore, so that we can complete the building. We will move our household things from the Mission Station soon after the rainy season to the house we’ve built near the church because the Mission Station (the rented house) is scheduled to be demolished in January to give way for highway construction. I praise the Lord also for the unity of our Session to support our poor and needy brethren. We’ve prayed and desire to make our help to the needy long-lasting and tangible. Praise God for the wisdom to develop the project to aid some of our college-age teenagers. We’ve noticed in our midst promising and talented students, but their parents or guardians cannot financially support them to study in college. We even have some orphans who are left in the care of their relatives, who are unable to support their further studies. The Session is currently finalising the criteria for choosing the eligible students.

Another ongoing plan is to hold an evening service every Sunday in San Fernando, La Union. I talked to the family of Bro. Eddie and Sis. Luz regarding the matter. They are attending a Baptist church, though not regularly. They willingly offer their place to start the work. After the construction of the worship hall, we will visit them and find a suitable place there for a long-term ministry. God willing, we will start the work in October. We are earnestly praying that the Lord will send a man of His choosing to take care of this flock. While waiting, we can care for them under Gethsemane B-P Church, Pangasinan.

Donald dela Cruz

From Vizag (India):

Dear Pastor,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! Last week, we held the second Pastors’ Meeting in Araku Hills, a tribal area around 100 km from Vizag City. Thirty-five pastors serving in various churches joined this meeting. As the place is near the border of Odisha, some pastors from Odisha also joined the meeting. Some travelled around 80 km to join the meeting.

We only planned for a one-day meeting as it was difficult to arrange accommodation for all pastors attending this meeting. In the meeting we conducted in May, we offered sessions on “Justification” and “Sanctification”. In this latest event (Friday, August 16), the topics taught were “Total Depravity” and “Perseverance of the Saints”. These topics were taught by Bro Seraph McGregor (the morning session) and me (the afternoon session). Pr Bujji Babu and Bro Bhagavath helped translate the messages into Telugu. We also visited a church in the evening and conducted a prayer meeting. All the residential students from GBI, Kotapadu, also joined this meeting. We managed to arrange a hall and some rooms for our stay in a hotel in Araku. Thank God for providing a good place for our stay during the night.

The following day, we visited a Christian mission hospital in Odisha, Asha Kiran Hospital (which is 60km from the meeting venue), to see the land we have purchased with the help of Malayalam Fellowship in 2018. As the roads are in good condition, we could reach the hospital within one and a half hours. We had the opportunity to spend time with Dr Mathew, the director of Asha Kiran Hospital. He is currently doing four online subjects in the FEBC distance-learning programme. He also shared with us how he came to faith, and even to embrace the Reformed convictions. He is very grateful for the opportunity to study theology through online courses. He also shared the testimony of other missionary doctors who came to serve in tribal areas and to start the hospital. In earlier days, there were no churches in the whole area. But now, there are churches in many villages around the mission hospital. He shared with us the great need for training rural pastors, as many of them are men with little training in theology. After lunch, we visited the land we purchased here, and realised villagers regularly cross it to get to their homes as it has no proper fence or compound wall. We need to construct a fencing or compound wall around the land.

Though our return journey to Vizag was long (7 hours) due to heavy traffic, it was safe and uneventful. We are deeply grateful for the journey mercies we received, and for your continued support. The travel through Ghat roads (through the mountains) can be quite dangerous, and we are thankful the Lord has kept us safe.

Many pastors who joined the meeting asked us to conduct such theological training sessions at least once a month. For now, we are planning to conduct such sessions once every three months. If they come faithfully, we hope to increase the frequency of these meetings. God willing, we are planning to conduct the next training in November. If you could also come to preach in the next meeting, it will be a great encouragement for these pastors.

In Christ,
Sujith Samuel

20 Years of Our Mission Church in Cebu, the Philippines

In July 2004, the Lord opened a door for us to spread the Gospel in Cebu City, the Philippines, through Reggor Galarpe, a then recent graduate of Far Eastern Bible College. He was ordained in 2007, during our 2nd Missionary Conference, to be the pastor of Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church in Cebu. To this day, the Lord has graciously strengthened Pastor Reggor to continue ministering faithfully and fervently in the ministry of the Word. Like all dedicated ministers of the Gospel, he has laboured diligently to care for the flock that God has brought to Gethsemane B-P Church, Cebu. Despite various personal and ministerial challenges, the Lord has enabled Pastor Reggor to provide pastoral leadership to the congregation in Cebu and to oversee the ministries that the Lord has opened in Bohol, Bogo and San Antonio, where Pr Edsel and Eld Eliezer are currently ministering the Word.

Today, the brethren are gathering in Cebu for the 20th Thanksgiving Anniversary Service. Let us, as a united body in spirit, join them to praise our God of salvation for the many Gospel doors He has opened over the past 20 years through the work begun by Pastor Reggor. Let us also pray for his family, co-labourers and the brethren of Gethsemane B-P Church, Cebu, that they will continually bear a good testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ through holy living and faithful preaching of the Word.

Below, we include Pastor Reggor’s recollection of the beginning of the work in Cebu, and an article, “Suffering Minister of Christ”, to stir us to remember and uphold, in our prayers, Pastor Reggor and all other servants of God in the Philippines and in all our mission stations around the world.

Pastor Reggor’s Recollection

As I ponder how the Lord has called me into the ministry, I cannot help but look back to 1999, when the Lord led me to a Christian drug rehabilitation centre. There, I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as my Lord and personal Saviour. It was also there that I first met Pastor Koshy, who came for a visit after a mission trip to Leyte in the year 2000.

While I was about to complete my one-year rehabilitation programme, a door was opened for me to go and study at the Far Eastern Bible College in Singapore. It was the ministry leaders who encouraged me to be trained and equipped for the ministry. Upon my arrival in Singapore, I started attending church services at Gethsemane B-P Church and was subsequently baptised by Pastor Koshy. I then became a member of the church on 17th September 2000.

As a Bible college student, Pastor Koshy ensured that I was involved in various church ministries. I praise God for all the opportunities to serve in different areas, from ushering to teaching and preaching God’s Word in different fellowship groups. These experiences helped me understand and appreciate the work of the ministry.

In 2001, the Gethsemane Filipino Fellowship started, opening another opportunity to serve. It was during that time that I began to have a serious burden to reach out to people, especially to my fellow countrymen working in Singapore, share the Gospel with them, and lead them to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. From this ministry came the burden of bringing the Gospel to my country through a Bible-Presbyterian witness.

After completing my studies in 2003, I came back to Cebu with the zeal to start a mission church, but only after my one-year commitment to serve in a Christian drug rehabilitation centre where I came from. With much prayer and encouragement from Pastor Koshy and the “mother” church in Singapore, I was commissioned to be Gethsemane B-P Church’s missionary to the Philippines. And by God’s grace, the mission church in Cebu was inaugurated in July 2004.

I thank the Lord for His grace when, in November 2007, I was ordained to the pastoral ministry, together with Rev Ephrem Chiracho (Gethsemane B-P Church of Ethiopia), during the 2nd Missionary Conference held in Cebu City, the Philippines.

I praise and thank the Lord for His leading and guidance upon me and for blessing the church with a fruitful harvest of souls and a flourishing ministry, which includes The Gethsemane Care Ministry and Gethsemane Bible Institute. I am also thankful to the Lord for raising up faithful men to co-labour with me in the ministry. Praise and glory be unto His Name!

(An edited version of his testimony in our 25th Anniversary publication.)

Suffering Minister of Christ

Ephesians 3:13 – “Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”

Herein, we witness the thoughts of a faithful and compassionate pastor deeply concerned for his flock’s spiritual well-being, even amidst his own afflictions. Paul wished that the Ephesian believers, upon hearing of his imprisonment and sufferings (Eph 3:1), would not be distressed or weakened in their faith and service to the Lord. This reflects his tender and caring pastoral heart, which prioritised the spiritual progress of God’s people above his own relief from personal burdens and troubles.

Though Paul was a prisoner, he thought and wrote as a free man. In his heart, he was indeed the Lord’s free man. Although the enemy confined him, they could not suppress his godly desires and prayers for God’s flock.

To many believers in Ephesus, Paul’s arrest and subsequent imprisonment seemed like a significant setback for the church and the cause of the Gospel. They grieved over his prolonged imprisonment and intense, ongoing suffering. Paul’s mind was consumed with concern for the steadfastness and progress of the church in the Lord’s work. He earnestly desired that they would not lose heart because of his tribulations. Even in his afflictions, Paul thought and acted as a loving, responsible and fervent pastor of God’s flock. His heart reflected the same concern for the church as that of Jesus Christ. What an exemplary model for all ministers of Christ, especially in these times of declining pastoral ministry!

Two expressions denote the purpose of his suffering. The phrase “my tribulations for you” indicates that a significant portion of his sufferings, both before and during his imprisonment, was for the benefit of the Ephesian believers. Just as it pleased God to save them through the suffering and death of His Son, Jesus Christ, it pleased Him to minister divine truths, nourishment and comfort to them through the sufferings of His servant, Paul. In 2 Corinthians 1:6, Paul wrote, “And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.”

The second expression, “which is your glory”, portrays his sufferings as having an exalted dignity that reflects glory on the believers. Paul was saying that his sufferings were permitted because God regarded them as worthy of bestowing honour and glory upon the church. Although suffering in itself is not glorious, suffering on behalf of Christ and His people holds a special honour due to His glorious purposes. God mightily uses His servants, who willingly labour and endure many afflictions, to bestow spiritual blessings upon His people. Let us give thanks for all His faithful and fervent servants everywhere who endure their many afflictions to nourish and protect God’s people, so that they may be presented to Christ as a glorious church.

Report on the Installation of the Session in Gethsemane BPC, Pangasinan

Report by Pr Kelvin Lim

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

The LORD our God is faithful! He has established a witness for Himself in Pangasinan, the Philippines. For the last decade, the faith of the saints there has been strengthened by the preaching and teaching of His infallible and inerrant Word through the labour of Rev. Donald dela Cruz.

The 10th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of Gethsemane B-P Church, Pangasinan, was held at the function hall of Trish Hotel. More than 90 people came to witness the LORD’s faithfulness in sustaining this Gospel work for 10 years! The joy of the people could be seen from the smiles on their faces. They rejoiced heartily with songs of thanksgiving in worship of the LORD. The church choir also presented a hymn to the glory of God.

Rev. Reggor Galarpe, pastor of Gethsemane B-P Church, Cebu, was the Lord’s messenger for this blessed occasion. He exhorted the congregation from Acts 6:1-7 on the topic, “The Church and Its Deacons”. Next, he installed the elected deacons (Bro. Jumar Balicao and Bro. Kyt Bince) in their office, and thus inaugurated the Church Session. After which, there was an infant baptism. Pastor Donald baptised baby Daniel, the son of Dn Kyt and Sis. Charlene. The service ended with a benediction.

After the service, buffet lunch was served. The people continued to fellowship one with another, praising God for His goodness unto all. Indeed, it is a blessing to witness the bond of the brethren. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).

As for me, I am very thankful unto the LORD just to be there. I am grateful for the hospitality of Pastor Donald and Dn Kyt. Dn Kyt picked me up from the airport on my arrival and bought me dinner before sending me to the hotel, while Pastor Donald hosted me for lunch before sending me to the airport for my departure. During my stay in the hotel, I was glad for the company of Rev. Reggor. We talked into the morning like we used to when we first met 24 years ago. We recollected the goodness of the LORD, and encouraged each other to press on in the work of the Gospel. Finally, I was surprised to see Bro. Jordan and Bro. Julius—they came specifically to rejoice with the brethren on this blessed occasion! This reminded me of what the psalmist said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalm 122:1). All glory be unto the LORD our God!

Report on Combined Youth Conference 2024

Report by Bro. Rayson Tan and Bro. Titus Ho

This year’s CYC took place from 18th to 21st June, with its theme (in the form of a question), “Ready to Reap What You Sow?”, taken from 2 Corinthians 9:6 – “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

Morning Theme Messages

During this four-day conference, youths from our church (Gethsemane BPC) and fellow Bible-Presbyterian churches (Blessed Hope, Calvary Pandan, Calvary Tengah, True Life, Truth), along with other invited friends from non-BP churches, came together to study the Word of God. We thank God for His wisdom and grace upon Pastor Koshy & Rev. Samuel Joseph, as they preached 7 theme messages that challenged the youths to reflect on the type of “seeds” sown in their lives thus far. Are they sowing seeds of worldliness, or are they sowing things of spiritual and eternal value?

Message 1 introduced the theme question, expounding on 2 Corinthians 9:6 and highlighting the principle of “proportional reaping”, with the exhortation on always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Message 2 (based on Hosea 10:1-2) emphasised the importance of being Christ-centred in our service. Using Israel’s unfruitfulness attributed to their lack of commitment to the LORD, we were warned to have the right focus when serving the Lord.

Message 3 reminded us, through Proverbs 22:8, on the potential youthful bad decisions that lead to negative consequences. As even small compromises can grow into significant issues, hence Galatians 5:9 stresses the need for wisdom in our decisions and actions.

Message 4 exhorted us, from Romans 12:11, to maintain a sense of fervency and passion in serving the Lord, which comes when we remember the Gospel and what Christ has done for us on the cross.

Message 5 warned of ungodly men and false teachings that should invoke vigilance in us to conscientiously guard ourselves. Galatians 6:7-10 urges us to be continually discerning “sowers” of sound doctrine, that we may remain steadfast even in this sinful world.

Message 6 taught us, from Matthew 9:32-38, to resonate with the burden of being an effective soul-witness for Christ, through the talents He has uniquely bestowed upon us. The spirit to serve isn’t dictated by one’s proficiency of talents, but a humble attitude to learn and serve for God’s glory.

Message 7 warned us, from 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, to eradicate a legalistic thinking when doing the Lord’s service, for it is by faith that we render our spiritual gifts for the Lord’s service.

Afternoon Activities

Together with the messages being expounded in the morning sessions, each day’s afternoon segment was correspondingly filled with a time of discussion and activity. The youths were allocated groups, that were facilitated by an adult leader and a mature youth. Through this, the youths had a chance to recount each day’s theme messages to be applied accordingly in their lives.

Day 1 - Ice-Breaker Activity

During the afternoon of CYC Day 1, we thank God for an enriching ice-breaker session, where the youths went around to interact, via a questionnaire that request information (specifically related to each youth) on key characteristics of church ministries and even the CYC committee.

Day 2 - Forum Sharing by Full-Time Ministers & Workers

During Day 2’s afternoon session, a selected panel of full-time ministers and church workers were invited to share the Lord’s calling for them to serve full-time. This forum gave the youths insights on the careful preparation when it comes to such service of the Lord. One biblical admonition from Romans 12:1-2 stood out – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Truly, may the youths continue to be consecrated Christians in the various callings of life that our Lord has placed them in, be it in school, work, or at home.

Day 3 - Recording Activity

On Day 3, the CYC attendees had the opportunity to witness the Lord’s work done through the productions of Bible Witness Media Ministry for BWTV. Through this brief hands-on exposure, the youths (alongside their voices and musical talents) were able to produce an item within each group itself through a song / skit! Thank God for the initiative of the group leaders that was complemented with the spontaneous ideas of the respective teams, allowing them to effectively record their presentations within a short span of practice!

Day 4 - Final Day of Conference

To reiterate the truths learnt over the past 4 days of CYC, the youths came together again to record the theme song, “Have You Counted the Cost?”. Through the technical help rendered by the Bible Witness Media Team, a couple of musically-inclined youths were able to (within short notice) arrange the music for the hymn, and conduct the singing for recording purposes. With much meditation and hope, we sang this hymn of consecration as our prayer for the years ahead.

Following that was a time of “guided” testimony (with the help of prompt-questions). The conclusion segment of the CYC was led by Pr Joshua Yong, who gave an exposition (from Ecclesiastes 11), on the essence of seizing every opportunity to serve the Lord. At the end of our lives, it’s not about the secular benefits we have accumulated that would grant us happiness, but the ultimate fulfilment that comes from knowing that we have given our best to the Lord’s work.

Indeed, all glory and praise be unto the Lord for the blessed 4 days of the Combined Youth Conference held at our Gethsemane Media Centre. With Gethsemane being the host church for CYC this year, there were also many opportunities for our youths to serve in. Be it ushering & welcoming, preparation & serving of refreshments, management of the AV, even the daily post-clean-up sessions, it was a joy to see the youths’ fervency in service and active application of what they have learned. Clearly, we have seen much evidence of the Lord’s grace and providence even in the preparation and execution of the CYC. We pray that all of us will continue to serve and sow bountifully for Him. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Supporting the Poor and Needy in Mission Churches

The authoritative Word of God in Deut 15:11 commands, “For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”

The gracious Lord has provided for and sustained our church, Gethsemane B-P Church, Singapore (GBPC) throughout our existence over the past 35 years. He has, in different ways, blessed and increased our resources progressively. GBPC has always expended these resources judiciously, especially in extending ad-hoc financial support over the years to brethren (both in Singapore and in our mission churches) in times of their great personal need. These critical needs have resulted from different exigencies, for example, untimely hardships from sicknesses, afflictions or natural calamities.

Right across all the mission churches that GBPC supports presently – namely the two churches in Ethiopia (located in Addis Ababa and Alem Gena), the five churches in the Philippines (located in Cebu City, Bohol, Bogo, San Antonio and Pangasinan) and the church in Vizag, India – there are some extremely poor and needy brethren. Owing to their extreme poverty and other family circumstances, the leaders and their mission churches extend small but meaningful financial gifts and support to these brethren from time to time. These gifts would typically help towards providing for food, medicine, transportation and children’s schooling needs (for families with young children).

We praise the Lord for moving the hearts of our Pastor and all in the Board of Elders, with the conviction that it is now expedient for our church to step up the effort to financially support more of such needy and deserving brethren in these mission churches. In the BOE meeting held on Monday 28 August, the BOE unanimously approved a proposal to implement a Charity Programme in the various mission churches listed above.

It is envisioned and hoped that this initiative would not be a one-off event, as the matter of poor and needy brethren “shall never cease” (Deut 15:11a). To ensure sustainability of the Charity Programme, several elements of administration will be instituted. These relate to the matters of Programme ownership, support by the mission churches’ leaders, ease of administration, and accountability. The administrative efforts associated with the Programme will be structured with these factors in mind.

The Lord commands, as we read in the latter part of Deut 15:11, “I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.” May we all render our support in giving, and in praying fervently for the poor and needy in our mission churches.

Elder Mah Chin Kwang
(On behalf of the Gethsemane Mercy Ministry)

BW Israel Study Tour Group @ Alem Gena, Ethiopia

It was indeed with joy and gratefulness to the LORD that we took this opportunity to visit our mission station in Ethiopia. Nobody from our church has visited Ethiopia since 2018, mainly due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions. However, we managed to have Rev. Ephrem and Pr Engida come to Singapore to attend our various meetings. When we were organising the BW Israel Study Tour, we looked at the possibility of going through Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to visit our mission station. We then planned to use the 11 hours of transit at Addis Ababa to meet with Rev. Ephrem and his team at Gethsemane B-P Church, Ethiopia, in Alem Gena, about 20 km from the airport. We were joyfully received by all the full-time workers, their families, and some of GBI’s present and past students. After a walkabout in the premises, we met in the church building for worship and fellowship, followed by a sumptuous Ethiopian Lunch.

Our Commitment to Global Missions

The words of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ – “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15b) – should always bear rule on our hearts. It is our Lord’s mandate to His people that His Gospel is to be offered to the whole world. The Lord, in His divine sovereignty, has ordained the means of salvation of all His elect in all nations of the world through worldwide preaching of the Gospel of Christ.

Those words of Christ give the Gospel work a global scope. The Gospel of Jesus Christ must be extended beyond all boundaries, divisions and classes. The whole world is to be reached with the Gospel. When it comes to our commitment to spread the Gospel, it should not be subject to limitations of country, distinctions of culture, barriers of ethnicity, or restraints of language. Wherever there is man, Christians should attempt to bring the Gospel. Our Lord has commanded us to constantly expand our vision for the Gospel outreach.

It is gross disobedience to limit our attempt to spread the Gospel beyond our region. We must be ever ready to forward the Gospel to new frontiers. No one who takes the words of the Lord seriously can remain passive about the global advancement of the Gospel. World missions being entrusted to the church would mean that we send men with the Gospel to people far and wide (Rom. 10:14–17).

Christians must know that they are commissioned by their Lord and Saviour to be wholly involved in the global movement for the Gospel. They must join forces, as God has enabled them, with the rest of the church to send forth the Gospel everywhere. Every Christian should be involved in this divine global endeavour. Though not every Christian is called to be an evangelist or missionary or preacher, every Christian and every church must joyfully yield to advance the Gospel across the world.

Christian mothers and fathers must teach their children the importance of global missions. They must in their homes pray for the missionaries and mission works. The parents must discuss with the children how they can be involved or play a part in the mission works of their churches. Pastors and elders must make sure that their congregations are part of church-planting ministries around the world by sending and supporting missionaries.

The preaching of the Gospel is the greatest work that Christ has entrusted to Christians. Therefore, all true Christians must enthusiastically give themselves to making Gospel preaching a worldwide movement. It must be their joy to be part of the Lord’s grand plan for redeeming sinners, and for gathering them as His saints for the eternal celestial home which He is preparing. The apostle Paul asks us, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15).

Our Lord says to us, “Go!” Will we then answer Him, “No, we will stay back or hold back…”? Our Lord’s charge is that we must always be committed to spreading the Gospel. Let us arise then and go to preach the Gospel to the uttermost part of the world. Let us do our part for global evangelism.

Prayer & Global Missions

Prayer is very vital in the fulfilment of Gospel missions. This is because firstly, world evangelism is God’s plan. Moreover, it is God who acts through His servants, who proclaim the Gospel to save and make disciples from every tongue, tribe, people, and nation, that churches may be established everywhere. Without God, we can do nothing in the work of the Gospel everywhere. “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7).

When we pray to God for global missions, we acknowledge Him as the true Architect and Builder of missions. We pray to Him for missions, humbly acknowledging that we are depending on and yielding to His plans for the salvation of souls in all the world. Prayer has a great deal to do with missions. The success of all real missionary efforts is dependent on prayer.

An important part of our church prayer meeting on Tuesday night is given to seek the Lord’s help and blessings for our church’s various missions around the world. I urge you to be there for the prayer meeting, and to give yourselves in prayer for this great work of global missions.

Report from Pangasinan, the Philippines

I praise the Lord for sending people from the neighbourhood of the new mission station. The Lord brought 5 teens and 3 adults from Macayug last Lord’s Day. Most of the children attending the Junior Worship over the years have also come from that neighbourhood. In fact, some of those children, who have grown up, are now attending our adult worship services. At present, 12 out of 15 children who are regularly attending the Junior Worship are newcomers.

Last week, God has enabled us to visit the homes of brethren who come from Binalonan and Asingan. Thank God for the strength and provision to share God’s Word with them.

Incidentally, I noticed that many from the cultic church of Mormons are making frequent home visitations in Macayug. They usually conduct their studies on the weekdays and Sundays. They visit the homes of poor people, especially those with disabilities. May the Lord help me to warn the people about their lies and introduce the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I praise the Lord for the labour of Bro Jumar and Bro Kyt in fetching the brethren using their own vehicles. Bro Kyt is bringing our brethren from Binday while Bro Jumar is ferrying the brethren from Villasis. They did not require the church to pay them for the service. Thank God they are very happy serving the Lord in this ministry. However, with the recent higher costs of diesel and gasoline, I gave them a fuel subsidy of PHP2,000 to help them with the surging costs. God willing, the subsidy will be given to them monthly as a token of thanksgiving for their labour.

Jesher (my son) is now in the last stages of his Primary 1 studies. They have only three weeks left for this school year. We are planning to transfer him to another school because his school is only Christian in name. I feel very uncomfortable when the teachers introduce worldly songs and activities to the class. Most teachers are also not Christians, but from Roman Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness and Iglesia ni Cristo (another cultic church) backgrounds. May the Lord guide us to find a good Christian School for him.

(Pastor’s Note: Pr Donald dela Cruz updates us frequently with reports of the Gospel work in the Pangasinan area of the Philippines. The above report was sent to us last week. We thank God for brethren like Jumar and Kyt, whom the Lord has blessed with spiritual fervour and faithfulness while they were working here in Singapore. Having returned to their homes in Pangasinan, they now fervently serve the Lord, along with Pr Donald. Let us also remember and pray for Pr Donald’s wife, Sis Se Jin, and their son, Jesher).

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