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From 4th to 6th Sept 2024 (Wed – Fri), the 25th BW Retreat was held in Gethsemane Media Centre. 71 adults and 17 children participated in studying the theme: “God of Covenants”. While four children’s teachers – Mrs Abigail Koshy, Mrs Leanne Joseph, Miss Crayson Wong, Mrs Gracia Chew – faithfully taught the theme from God’s Word to children, Pastor Koshy expounded the Scriptures to the adults who gathered to learn about the theme. Every afternoon, the participants met together to pray. We thank God for the blessed time of learning and fellowship, which is gratefully recollected in the testimonies below.

Dominic Kwok and Beng Hwee

We are so blessed to have Pastor Koshy, who is so dedicated to feed the flock, to teach us much about God’s “Biblical Covenant” during this Bible Witness Retreat. Thank God for enabling Pastor to prepare and preach nine messages over the three days of retreat. 

We are grateful for God’s mercy and grace through His redemption work, and His patience with us as we still struggle with sin daily. It is a journey which He continues to refine us for His service. Also, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness – one such striking lesson is that we are assured that God is a Promise-Keeper. There are times we get discouraged in pleading with God daily for our children’s salvation. But knowing that He is a Promise-Keeper has helped us to continue trusting in Him! We were also touched when we learnt about the plight of the hymn-writer who wrote “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”, which is a timely encouragement for us to trust God despite setbacks and struggles. We have a sovereign God who is in control of everything – so let us hold fast our faith!

Finally, the retreat allowed us to have wonderful fellowship with the brethren, and to know them better. 

Jane Koh

Thank God for the 3 days of Bible study at the recent Bible Witness Retreat, on “The God of Covenant”. Thank God for Rev Koshy for teaching us God’s Word and for encouraging us to walk close to Him. Thank God also for many brethren who came with their children to study and listen to His Word. All praise, glory and honour to our Heavenly Father.

Dns Diana Chan

The God of Abraham be praised for the 25th Bible Witness Retreat! Indeed, Jehovah, the great I AM, is also the God of love.

Praise the Lord for Pastor’s preaching of nine messages on “The God of Covenant”. Thank God also for Dn Lok and brethren in GBWL for their labour of love in organising the Retreat. I was blessed by the messages. I have gained a deeper understanding of the meaning of covenant, how God reveals Himself through His covenant, a believer’s relationship with God in His covenant, and the attributes of God in the covenant.

The covenant of God is a promise, oath, vow, bond, agreement or commandment of God with His people. God initiates the relationship with His people. God chooses His people. God reveals Himself to His people through His covenant as the God of Redemption and Restoration. He shows His grace to us by forgiving us of our sins, redeeming and restoring us to Him by the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus Christ. Only then can God establish His relationship with His people. “I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” (Isaiah 43:1b).

The covenant is not an assumption. It is the declaration of God. It is unilateral. It is not a two-party agreement. We do not negotiate with God the terms and conditions of His covenant. It is singularly and sovereignly administered by God. He is the great I AM. The components in God’s covenant are His promises, blessings and curses, conditions, signs and sacrifice of the blood. An example of a promise of blessing when there is obedience, is in Exodus 20:12 – “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” There is also a curse if there will be no obedience – “And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 11:28a). So, the covenant with God denotes a personal relationship between God and the believer. It is a bond, as emphasised by God in Genesis 9:15a, “And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you”.

In establishing covenants with His people, God also provided signs, as highlighted in the Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic and the New Covenants. An example of a sign in a covenant is the rainbow in the Noahic Covenant. After the flood, God sent a rainbow as the sign of His covenant with Noah, that He would not destroy the earth again with a flood. I thank God for the rainbow in that whenever I have the opportunity to see a rainbow, I am reminded of God’s mercy and grace, His assurance and promises.

The covenant of God also reveals that God is the Creator and Sustainer. He is the God of design and order, God of moral and ethical order, God of providential and personal order. I praise and thank God for His covenant between Him and me. He is “my shepherd”. He decides and directs the providential and personal order of my life. He “leadeth me … for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3b). 

Therefore, may we, His covenant people, “know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9). All glory and praise be to God!

Carolyn Koshy

I thank God I’ve attended all the sessions of this retreat, through which I’m much convicted after learning from the exposition of Pastor’s clear teaching of “The God of Covenant”. Truly, God’s covenants have been at work from the time of Adam and Eve in the Old Testament, right up to even now in our time, beyond the New Testament, until He comes to reign on earth and ushers His people into heaven. God’s covenants offer us the bond of a most loving relationship with Him in Christ; this we must trust and appropriate as our way of life. His covenant is steadfast and the solid foundation for our lives. God never lies, and His covenantal words are His oath to us. It is now up to us to confess our sins, receive by faith His salvific promises, and submit to all His precepts, including the Ten Commandments, for our blessing.

Pastor’s exposition of 2 Peter 1:3-4 has strengthened me further in God’s “great and precious promises”, because they shall be accomplished in me and all believers by our all-powerful God, who would not fail. These divine promises shall equip us in our lives to be virtuous and glorious. To encourage all of us, Pastor sang us the song with these lyrics: “Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here. Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear. He whose heart is kind beyond all measure, gives unto each day what He deems best. Lovingly is part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest.”

Nathan Resuma

The 25th Bible Witness Retreat was a great blessing to me and my family. I praise and thank God for His timely provision which allowed us to attend the retreat. I thank God for Pastor who preached on the theme: “The God of Covenant”, and for the many lessons I have learned.

• I learned about how God revealed Himself through His covenants, that we may know who He is, for on our own we cannot know Him. And that God revealed Himself through His Creation, His Word and through His Son, Jesus Christ.
• I learned that God establishes His covenants with His people so that they may know Him as the Great and Almighty God, and nothing can diminish His glory. And that we can always trust Him because He always keeps His Word. Moreover, God’s covenants are revealed progressively, one after another, with Christ as the central theme.
• I learned that God’s covenants are unilateral and sovereignly administered by God Himself, which reflect His attributes and have all His perfections. God exercises authority over His covenant, and enforces its blessings and curses which no one else can do.
• I learned that God is a God of design and order, for He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and He establishes the order of creation, the moral and ethical order, the worship (or spiritual) order, as well as the providential and personal order. Truly, we cannot make our own order that is not according to God’s order revealed in His Word.
• I learned that God’s covenants show that He is gracious and patient, for His grace is evident at the inauguration of every covenant. Certainly, His gracious patience is seen in His administration of every covenant. Also, He has shown, and continues to show, grace and patience to Israel and even to all of us until the end.
• I learned that redemption and restoration are essential in God’s establishing His relationship with man. God acted with the purpose of giving us redemption through Jesus Christ, who was promised in the covenants.
• I learned about how God has kept, fulfilled, and continued to keep His promises, and how He, as the perfect Promise-Keeper, keeps all His promises perfectly.
• Finally, I learned that we, as Christians, are to respond to His covenants through prayers of confession, submission and faith in His promises. Such responses include patient endurance (as a sign of our abiding faith and submission), having strong consolation in God (when we remember His commandments), fleeing to Him for refuge, and holding fast the promises of Him (who gives all things that pertain to life and godliness). All glory be to God!

Peggy Lee

Thank you, Infinite God, for the 3 days of careful study of Your words.

Thank you, Incomprehensible God, for giving Pastor Koshy a deep understanding of Your covenants and the wisdom to explain Your promises to us. 

Thank you, Invisible God, for having progressively revealed Yourself – so that we, finite beings, can know You. 

Thank you, Unsearchable and Unfathomable God, for wanting to establish a relationship with Your people. 

Thank you, my Heavenly Father, for giving me a heart to know You as my God and for making me Your child. 

Thank you, O LORD, for giving me the understanding that You are the ‘I AM THAT I AM’ – the self-existing, eternal and unchanging God.

Thank you, Merciful God, for unilaterally and sovereignly conceiving and initiating Your covenants. 

Thank you, Gracious God, for sovereignly extending Your covenants to whomsoever You will. 

Thank you, Omnipotent God, for sovereignly exercising Your covenants, and fulfilling all Your covenants. 

Thank you, Immutable God, for being the Creator of design and order, as portrayed in all the created beings, and for sustaining them. 

Thank you, Holy Father, for making known Your Moral Order to Your people.

Thank you, Faithful God, for accomplishing Your covenants by the sending of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Thank you, Longsuffering God, for all your Grace and Patience towards Your creation. 

Thank you, Only Just God, for extending Your New Covenant to us while we were yet sinners, and redeeming us. 

Thank you, Loving God, for the many exceeding great and precious promises given by the Holy Spirit to Your people. 

Thank you, Only True God, for being true and faithful to keep all Your promises. 

My Heavenly Father, help me to grow in faith and love for You, the All-Sufficient and All-Powerful God. May I, without worry or fear for tomorrow, undoubtfully trust You to lead me in Your truth, till I reach the promised land. All glory be to the Only Great God!

Dn Lim Ah Sang

Thank God for the blessed 25th Bible Witness Retreat held recently in GMC (4th-6th September 2024). It was a “foretaste” of heaven, where 70 plus participants gathered to praise and worship God, to pray, and to learn of the many aspects God’s wonderful truths concerning “The God of Covenant”, as well as to have fellowship one with another in Christ.

This retreat serves as a good spiritual stimulus for me to be enlightened of the deep doctrines on our covenantal God – the great I AM who is sovereign and faithful in His covenants, in His perfect redemption plan for man through Jesus Christ progressively revealed in the Scriptures, and in His gracious, exceedingly great and precious promises which are “yea” and “Amen”. 

Knowing that we are the sons of the most gracious “God of Covenant”, may we persevere in the faith in these troublous times, and be faithful witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ till His soon return. 

Indeed, the good LORD be praised for sustaining and enabling Pastor Koshy in his faithful teaching of the nine messages during the retreat. Thank God also for all who have laboured and contributed towards the retreat. All glory be unto the one living and true God!

Rev. Reggor B. Galarpe

I praise and thank the Lord for the recently concluded 7th Missionary Conference of Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church that was held in Malaysia from June 10-14, 2024. Having attended all the previous missionary conferences – the very first being held in Malaysia (2005), the second here in Cebu City (2007), the third in Ethiopia (2011), the fourth in Singapore (2014), the fifth in Kuching, East Malaysia (2017), and the sixth held “online” via Zoom at the height of the Covid pandemic (2021) – I praise and thank the Lord for the opportunity to join the seventh, together with my family!

As with the rest of the participants, especially the pastors and missionaries from different parts of the world, we returned home bringing with us abundant blessings – as we have been: 

1. Refreshed by the warm hospitality, love and generosity of our brethren in the “mother church” (GBPC, Singapore). From our arrival until our departure, there’s warm fellowship throughout! We have been well taken care of, both in body and soul, with the brethren opening their homes for us, as well as bringing us out for fellowship over meals. Our souls were further refreshed through the many opportunities to hear God’s Word at the conference meetings, as well as during the Lord’s Day services at Gethsemane BPC, Singapore.
2. Reunited with old friends and like-minded brethren. Indeed, it is just so wonderful to be able to meet and “catch up” with fellow labourers in the Lord’s vineyard, and also with brethren whom we’ve known and been friends for many years since the time I was still studying in FEBC. Moreover, we have the joy of meeting new “additions” to the ever-growing number of labourers in the harvest! I thank the Lord for our brethren from various parts of India whom we’ve met for the first time, and the opportunity to hear of their testimonies. Not to mention the privilege of taking part in the ordination of one preacher into the pastoral ministry.
3. Rejoicing in the Lord as we listened to reports and testimonies from missionaries. Evenings at the conference were spent in hearing mission reports, where we got to see how the Lord has worked in and through the missionaries from various mission fields. It is comforting to hear our “co-labourers” testifying how the Lord enabled them to overcome their respective challenges, and thus to press on with the work.
4. Renewed as we listened to and learned from God’s Word. I thank the Lord for the many opportunities to hear the preaching of God’s Word through the various speakers’ exposition on the theme: “Proclaimers of Faith Under Fire!” Thank God for the very appropriate theme as it gave us the opportunity to examine our own spiritual condition in relation to the ministry that the Lord has entrusted unto us. I have been greatly ministered to by the insights and applications that Pastor Koshy shared with us. Praise God!
5. (Last but not least) Recharged to be able to continue in the work of the ministry. To me, missionary conference is always a time to be re-charged, whereby you “rest awhile” from your daily routine and take some time to be fed and nourished in the Word, in prayer and in fellowship among the brethren. Yes, the assurance from God’s Word, the prayers of God’s people, and testimonies of God’s servants, are just so overwhelming that you will be “stirred” or “fired” up to continue in the work of the Lord.

By God’s grace, my family have returned and arrived safely home (as with the rest of the participants) – and yes, we have been greatly blessed! All praise and glory be unto God!

Elder Eliezer Ortega

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:1-2).

All glory and praise be unto the Lord for the 7th Missionary Conference. It is a great blessing for me and my wife to join the conference. It was indeed a time of spiritual nourishment and outpouring of blessings, both physical and spiritual. 

The Lord be praised for using Pastor Koshy and various ministers of God’s Word to preach to us the respective theme messages. It was a great and blessed time of learning from God’s Word, which stirred our minds and hearts. It was a great opportunity for our spiritual learning and exercise. It has greatly strengthened my faith and love for Jesus. It has also renewed us to a joyful and zealous service for the Lord.

Praise the Lord for the respective missionaries’ reports. Thank God for how He prospers the work in different regions of the world, including our small churches in Bogo and San Antonio, which are part of God’s work in the saving of souls. The Lord’s strength and help in the different struggles and challenges of the missionaries and pastors have assured us of God’s timely help and sufficient grace for our own struggles and challenges.

I thank God also for the opportunity to meet and fellowship with old and new brethren. It was a blessed time of fellowship. Praise the Lord for the brethren who had taken good care of each and every missionary, through their hospitality and gifts. Thanks be unto God also for our hosts, who lovingly welcomed and cared for us in their home.

Thank God also for Pastor Koshy, the Board of Elders, and all those who have laboured hard for the 7th Missionary Conference. Praise be unto the Lord from whom all blessings flow. All glory be unto God!

Written by Pr Jeremiah Sim

The Word of God says in Psalm 106:1, “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Indeed, with much thankfulness and gratefulness to God for His unfailing mercy, love and care to the brethren in the Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry (GSM), we rejoice with an overflowing exultation to commemorate GSM’s 19th Anniversary Thanksgiving, in conjunction with a retreat which was held at Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Penang, Malaysia (17th-20th April 2024). We thank the Lord for a total of 61 participants. 

The Lord’s providence and help towards us were evident from the beginning of the planning of this Anniversary Thanksgiving Retreat. Behind the scenes lay laborious, careful efforts in the planning and logistical preparations. For that, we thank God for brethren who had laboured with much love and unity in the smooth execution and running of the whole event. Our sincere appreciation to  those brethren who had taken time off from their work to join us and render their sacrificial service in this retreat.

The day arrived for our departure on 17th April at Singapore Changi Airport. There were 3 groups of participants travelling at different flight timings. We could see that our seniors were excited as many had to get up exceptionally early on that day to make their way to Changi Airport. With the Lord’s enabling aid, the brethren, who were assigned to lead and care for their respective groups of seniors, safely and smoothly brought them to Penang Airport and then to Evergreen Laurel Hotel, as well as saw to their safe return to Singapore after the retreat.

It was encouraging to see quite a few of our seniors prayerfully trusting the Lord and attending this retreat in spite of their frail health. We witnessed the Lord’s goodness in taking care of each and every one of them. This brings to our remembrance, Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” 

We had a blessed time studying and learning God’s Word on the theme, “A House Built to Last”, taken from Matthew 7:24-27. Pastor Koshy exhorted us through his 5 messages to dedicate ourselves to serve the Lord fervently, even in our old age. Pastor enlightened us that we are likened to the wise and foolish builders, who see a need to build their houses. Both the wise and foolish builders build differently, though they would face the same rains, floods and winds. Truly, what houses we want to build would largely depend on our responses and attitudes. The wise builder digs deep into the foundation, invests his time and energy to trust and depend on the solid rock and persevere to the end. However, the foolish builder makes a fatal error, lives a superficial or pretentious lifestyle (being complacent / compromising), and did not stand firm in his belief, so much so that he cannot withstand the trials and tribulations in life. What a timely message to encourage us to focus on the Lord Jesus in building our spiritual house, that we may not become weary and despondent  in the face of various trying circumstances in life! We pray that our Seniors would cling strongly to the Lord’s promises, and be wise builders in building their spiritual lives to last, and leave a legacy for their loved ones and friends. 

Throughout those 4 days, the seniors put into practice what they have learned by encouraging one another in the Lord and extending their hands of fellowship. Many of them were helpful, cared for and assisted those who were feeble and not so mobile. Certainly, we thank the Lord for His protection throughout in our travelling. Truly, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength” (Isaiah 40:29). All praise be unto God!

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Testimonies from Seniors' Retreat Participants

Lee Kim Lei

‘A House Built to Last’ – that’s the theme of our Seniors’ Ministry Retreat (taken from Matthew 7:24-27). Thanks be unto the Lord for using Pastor Koshy to teach the 5 lessons which are clearly organised and expounded.  From the passage, an important lesson was drawn from two different builders – one wise and the other foolish. In the building of a house, it is essential that its foundation be strong. The wise builder will endure the hard work, persevere, and press on to the end (despite the difficulties or even in the face of others’ mocking). But the foolish builder would normally choose a much easier way in his building work.

I learnt of the two houses which the two men built. A strong house with a strong foundation is built upon the rock, whereas a weak house is built upon sand. When calamities or trials come, the house on a strong foundation will stand firm while the house on sand will crumble.

I learnt that I must be like the wise man so that:

• my house (which is my faith) will not collapse;
• I will be repentant of my sins;
• I will have greater longing for God’s Word;
• I will have more holiness in me;
• I will see the beauty of heaven and be more Christ-like.

I learnt that believers are like lively stones (1 Peter 2:4-8), where our Lord Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone of our house. We are to build up our spiritual house and become a holy priesthood. As a spiritual house built upon the Lord Jesus, we are to:

• offer spiritual sacrifices unto the Lord;
• render sacrifice of praise;
• do good and communicate (helping others).

I also learnt of the 3 important factors to do spiritual sacrifices unto the Lord:

1. Be holy;
2. Be spiritual;
3. Be acceptable to God.

Such rich and blessed spiritual feeding unto my soul and unto the seniors who feedback with much praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord. In my 12 years of service with the Seniors’ Ministry, I have witnessed several who were taken home to be with the Lord in peace, as well as quite a number who continue coming to our seniors’ meetings in joy despite their sick and deteriorating bodies. I am much blessed and encouraged by their testimonies. May the Lord continue to use us seniors to be a channel of blessings to others. Truly, “I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation” (Psalm 40:10). 

Julie Skariah

I thank God for the opportunity to join the 19th Anniversary Thanksgiving & Retreat of Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry (GSM) in Penang. For the past one year, Sis Gina has been encouraging me to attend the weekly GSM meetings in GMC. After prayerful consideration, I started attending their meetings in recent months, and was subsequently moved to register for this retreat. During this retreat, I was greatly blessed by the faithful preaching of God’s Word as well as the sweet fellowship with the seniors and other brethren. Thank God for strengthening Eld. Mah, Pr. Jeremiah and Pr. Daniel to plan and coordinate this retreat. My heart rejoiced to see many “younger” brethren joining this retreat to help and assist the elderly believers. Thank God for the safety and protection upon all the seniors throughout the retreat, though many are weak and fragile. I am certainly encouraged to see their faith and joy in the Lord. 

Praise the Lord for enabling Pastor Koshy to preach five messages on the topic, “A House Built to Last”, taken from Matthew 7:24-27. These were timely reminders for us to build our lives upon our Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to offer our life as a spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God. God has chosen us to be part of a spiritual house to serve Him for His glory (1 Peter 2:5). I pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen me to serve Him joyfully for His glory. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24). All glory be to God.

Thomas and Melanie Tow

In his sermons on the topic, “A House Built to Last”, Pastor Koshy challenged us to examine our faith and how we are living it out in our lives. Are we like the wise builder or the foolish builder in Matthew 7:24-27? A firm foundation in Christ is not built easily, but requires hard work, patience and perseverance, as we dig deep into God’s Word and let its truths transform our lives. Progress takes time, but the results are lasting. 

In the hymn, “The Solid Rock”, we sing, “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand - All other ground is sinking sand…” If we adopt only the outward rituals of the Christian faith, never submitting to the Holy Spirit to transform us, we may appear to be religious. But the shallowness and pretentiousness of our faith will be revealed when we face the storms of life and especially death.  All will face the same end: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Thus, we can never take our salvation for granted. We must continually “desire the sincere milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2). “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning” (2 Peter 2:20). This is a stern warning to guard our lives and the choices we make. 

1 Peter 2:5 reminds us, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” Paul further beseeches believers to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). Our bodies are not to be instruments of sin, but rather consecrated to do His will. Through our praise and thanksgiving, we offer to God sacrifices of praise. We are also to help others, “to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). We are called to share the Gospel and to participate in the ministry of the church and its outreach through our giving. We can say, as Paul said to the church in Philippi, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). 

We praise God for Pastor’s timely messages. We were also very blessed through our fellowship with the other brethren. No matter how old or feeble we may be or become in the days to come, we will aim to fulfil our calling to be Jesus’ “lively stones”, bringing life and light to the many souls who are still in spiritual darkness. It is Jesus who makes us lively and useful.  We may think we are useless, especially as our health fails and we become dependent on others. But we do not cease to be part of the church, the gathering of God’s people and part of His spiritual house. May our lives bear witness to the firm foundation on which we stand, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Edeliza Ballega

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Indeed, I thank God for His grace and provision that enabled me to participate in the recently concluded Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry (GSM) 19th Anniversary Thanksgiving & Retreat held in Penang (17-20 Apr 2024). I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I reflect on the time of spiritual feasting and fellowship, being enriched by the faithful exposition of God’s Word by Pastor Koshy. Truly, it was a rejuvenating experience, surrounded by senior brethren and vibrant young adults, all under the watchful care of our Almighty God. 

Truly, praise the Lord for His sustaining grace over the past 19 years, preserving and blessing GSM as a beacon of His goodness and wonderful works. Our church’s dedication to ministering to brethren in their golden years is a testament to His faithfulness. I am grateful for Pastor Koshy’s leadership, Eld Mah’s steadfast oversight, Pr Jeremiah’s dedication to taking care of the flock, and Pr Daniel’s linguistic talents, alongside their supportive spouses who tirelessly serve with the faithful men of the ministry.

The theme of the retreat, “A House Built to Last” (Matthew 7:24-27), resonated deeply within me. It reminded me of the importance of actively participating in God’s work and building up His kingdom. Just as the wise man builds his house upon the rock, I am called to build my life upon the firm foundation of Christ, lest I be like the foolish man whose house crumbled upon the sand. 1 Peter 2:4-5 echoes this sentiment, describing believers as “lively stones” being built into a spiritual house. As followers of Christ, we are called to be lively stones, firmly attached to Him, offering our lives as spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. This requires complete surrender to His will and transformation by the renewing of our minds, that we may discern and fulfil His perfect will (Romans 12:2).

May GSM continue to flourish, serving as a source of strength and support for all involved. May each member be empowered to live as “ lively stones”, rooted in Christ and dedicated to His glory. All praise and glory unto our faithful God, who sustains us and builds His house to last for eternity.

Miriam Wong

Thank God that my father (Uncle Wong), Tika (his maid) and I were able to join Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry (GSM) 19th Anniversary Thanksgiving & Retreat in Penang this year.

Incidentally, my parents and I were one of the first few participants when GSM first started. To date, if my memory does not fail me, four among that first group have departed into glory. Looking at my parents’ health, I also don’t know how long more my father could still be joining us. (My mother could no longer join us already due to her ill health.) Thank God Pastor Koshy saw the need to start this work, assigning Pr Jeremiah and Pr Daniel to minister among the seniors.

Soon one day, whether young or old now, all of us would need to put our tasks down. Yet, when we choose to remain faithful to the Lord, He will make sure His work continue, with or without the founding members of the church or GSM. As God’s saints, we are called to be lively stones, being built up as a spiritual house. May our gracious God grant us grace to be faithful in following His leading. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Cheng Han

Thank God for the committee members who organised this Thanksgiving Retreat to Penang, for keeping Pastor Koshy in good health to deliver the messages, for safety and protection in our travel and stay in Penang, for a blessed time of learning God’s Word and mutual encouragement and sweet fellowship of the saints. In particular, I have been blessed by the hospitality and kindness of many brethren at the retreat.

Most of all, there were many spiritual lessons from God’s faithful servant on the topic, “A House Built to Last” (Matthew 7:24-27). The house built on the rock needs a lot of time in its construction, and cannot be done speedily. The house built on sand would be faster and easier, and so the builder can quickly finish the job. But behold the different outcomes after both houses have been completed. For the 1st house, when “the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock” (v. 25). For the 2nd house, “it fell: and great was the fall of it” (v. 27). Both houses face the same situations. One remains strong, the other fell. What makes the difference?

The wise builder digged deep and laid the foundation on the rock, which is not easy but wise (cf. Luke 6:48). But the foolish builder built upon the earth (less difficult but foolish) resulting in a house without a foundation (cf. Luke 6:49). Digging deep in rock needs hard labour. We are to dig deep into God’s Word and apply Bible truth into our lives, and knock off sins in our lives, though it is not an easy thing to do. Some people in church do not want to “dig deep” in their spiritual life. They prefer a happy and easy life. They are unwilling to deal with and to confess sins deep in their lives, and so have no peace. Hearing God’s Word can be painful. Jesus looks into our hearts. We need to check if our spiritual foundation is well built. Jesus hates sin. He does not want us to continue in sin. It is for our sins that He died for us. If we don’t let God’s Word transform us, we are like a foolish builder. True seeking and doing of God’s Word will lead to exposing our hidden sins, to repentance, to reconciliation, to real joy, to increased holiness.

Finally, may the Lord continue to bless the Gethsemane BPC’s Seniors’ Ministry and all its ministries to the glory of His Holy Name. Amen.

Lara Wee

In 1968, when I was 11 years old, a teacher hired a van to fetch my sister and me, together with other students, out to church. I attended the church (Zion Church) with my sister. After attending many services, we were very joyful and blessed. We decided to get baptized. Since then, we have attended the church without fail. I also invited my parents to join us, and they were also saved. Praise God for His saving grace unto the rest of my family.

After I got married, I attended Elim Church regularly. Later, when my children and their spouses attended Gethsemane BP Church, the Lord led me to follow them to attend GBPC. I was joyful and blessed to be in GBPC. I have been attending GBPC regularly. I am also blessed to have many new friends at GBPC.

Kevin Tai

Decades ago, my life took a drastic turn when I was diagnosed with a head and neck cancer Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (also known as NPC), which is a rare tumour of the head and neck originating in the nasopharynx. At that time, I was working in Hong Kong, and the specialist doctor, whom I consulted there, told me that my survival rate was only 30%. Only 1 out of 3 persons with this cancer has a chance to survive. I was advised to undergo 6 weeks of intensive radiotherapy. After my radiotherapy treatment, I was introduced to a Singaporean friend who also worked in Hong Kong. Knowing that I am not a Christian, he invited me to go with him to a church service. I felt obligated and attended the services reluctantly (as Sunday morning was usually my “badminton day”). 

After a few weeks, he asked me whether I wanted to accept Jesus as my Saviour. I accepted the invitation to receive Jesus as my Saviour. I then joined a cell group that met near my place of stay. After many months of numerous medical appointments to treat my cancer, I was told that I was cleared of cancer. I believed God had healed me by His grace and mercy. 

But my problem did not stop there. Due to the less advanced medical technology and method, the radiotherapy that killed the cancer cells damaged my physical body severely. It had resulted in an irreversible nerve damage from my chest upwards. My body gradually started to show other side effects, even ten years after the radiotherapy. A person has four main blood arteries, two in front of the neck and two behind the neck, which supply blood to our front and back of the brain respectively. Damages to two of those main arteries and nerves caused by radiotherapy had prevented proper blood supply to the back of my brain since then. 

It resulted in a mild stroke ten years later, and I  was warded. When the neurologist did a scan on my front neck, he was shocked and told me: “Mr. Tai, I cannot find your 2 main front arteries! You should not be here anymore!” I pointed my finger upward to indicate that it was my God who has done this wondrous “miracle”. Due to the stroke and nerve damage, I began to lose my ability to speak properly and to hear well. My eyes were also affected and I started to have double vision, necessitating me to wear specially prescribed prism-lens spectacles. But all these afflictions did not stop my faith in God and my Lord Jesus, whom I follow till this day. God kept me alive for His purposes, despite my debilitating health problems.

I desire to continue to serve God according to His will, despite my deteriorating physical health. I have been serving the Lord in the prison ministry and “halfway houses” for more than ten years. I am willing to offer my service whenever, and wherever God calls me, as long as I live and am able. Following are some Bible verses that cheer me to serve Him: 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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.” 

Romans 14:7-8 – “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” 

2 Corinthians 3:5 – “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God”.

Esther Tan Hui En

I was brought up in a Christian home since birth, and had received much of what my parents and the church taught about God and the Bible as the truth. Yet, for many years, much of this remained as mere knowledge without true spiritual rebirth. I was actively serving in Calvary Pandan BP Church during my teenage years, and while outwardly in church I appeared to be fervent for the Lord, I was more motivated by pride and self-glory. Concurrently in my school life, I was a completely different person – lazy, irresponsible and rude to authorities.

I remember distinctly a classmate remarking in great surprise when she found out that I was a Christian, and told me bluntly that I did not behave like one – those words pricked through my heart and made me realise the hypocrite that I had been. I turned to the Lord in repentance and received baptism in 2014, but my knowledge of God was still weak and lacking, and many worldly influences continued to distract me throughout junior college. It came to a point when although I was still attending church regularly, I was estranged from many of my church friends, causing me to be rather depressed. The Lord moved my heart to seek Him during this period, and I came across Psalm 34:8 – “O taste and see that the LORD is good”. The verse described a true and intimate relationship with God, to know His presence and to walk with Him – one that I had not yet truly known. That became my turning point to seek and desire what it truly meant to know the LORD. 

I was convicted through multiple portions of Scripture (e.g. Rom 10:13; 2 Tim 1:12) regarding my salvation, as well as the teaching of the “Five Points of Calvinism” in my church Bible study in 2016 that further solidified my understanding. I began to understand my own total depravity, my deep need for a Saviour, and how now I stand before God only by the merit of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Since then, though I’d failed the LORD time and time again, the LORD has always been merciful to pluck me out of my sin, so that I may serve Him.

I have been led by the LORD through not a few events to seek membership in Gethsemane BP Church, and my heart is filled with joy to worship and serve Him here. May the LORD be pleased to use my life as His instrument, for His kingdom and His glory. “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

Gladys Lim

The first time that I heard about Christianity was in my primary and secondary school days in a Catholic school (CHIJ). I remembered having to worship a God that I did not know at that time, in a fervent and repetitive way that was taught to us. I had since developed a habit of prayer – to some supernatural being – that I thought could help me with my grades and relieve my stress. Except for my mother, my other family members are non-religious, and thus I did not make my “prayer” habits known to them. My mother worships according to her ancestral teachings of Buddhism. Not knowing any better, I was also influenced by her, and I “prayed” to her gods too.

After a long struggle with mental illness, by the grace of God, I met Yong Wei, who first talked to me about the true meaning of the Gospel. Along the way, I struggled to understand some teachings of the Bible, such as “wifely submission” and “not being unequally yoked with an unbeliever”. I also had some deep pre-existing biases against Christians whom I had encountered before, who were rather disrespectful and demeaning to other people. I was upset with them for advocating (with their mouths) kind and respectful treatment of others, but (with their actions) actually hating people.

These Christians’ double standards stumbled me: “Why do I worship God if I were to hate His people?” Gradually, I begin to understand that all men have sinned and come short of God’s standard. I can only say that it is truly by the grace of the Lord through the Gospel that I have come to a realisation of my own sins, and I acknowledge Christ to be my only Saviour and Lord. The Lord is truly good, and I do understand now by His mercy, that the faith that I had once misconstrued, is indeed the truth of God which I now submit to follow. I must bear the cross as a Christian, even if some would use angry words against me for my faith. My comfort lies in Jesus Christ, and the peace that He gives unto me. 

I am grateful to Pastor Koshy, the elders and the congregation, for their kindness and hospitality that have made me feel welcomed. I can see that Gethsemane is a God-fearing church. I also am very appreciative of Yong Wei who continues to encourage me in my walk with Christ, as well as other church members who have taken time to talk to me. I do hope to continue to read and learn from the Bible, so as to strengthen my walk with Christ.

God’s promise of the spiritual progress of His people is unambiguous. Consider the words of Psalm 92:12-14, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing”.

O, how refreshing and reviving are those assuring words in the Scriptures! Our progress in our pilgrim journey is not an unrealistic expectation, but a reality that God has promised. Like the palm trees and cedars of Lebanon, which steadily grow in their differing climatic and soil conditions, God’s redeemed people will grow where God’s providence would plant them. Even if their circumstances are hostile, like the arid and barren wilderness, they will flourish like the fruitful palm trees in the desert. 

Each day of our life in Christ is meant to be a pilgrim’s progress!  So let us not give ourselves to despondence or doubt, fatigue or fear. The great thing we must strive for is growing perpetually in the Lord, even amid hostile circumstances. Learn increasingly how good and great the Lord is, by increasingly trusting the Lord and casting your cares on Him. As Scripture says enthusiastically to all believers, “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18).

In the new year, may we desire to grow in the Lord. Let us desire more grace and knowledge of the LORD. Let us seek the LORD always. Then, in the new year, we shall flourish and yield more spiritual fruit for the Lord’s glory. Blessed New Year!

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A Report of God’s Blessings on the 23rd BW-GYF Retreat

Report by Pr Cornelius Koshy

We thank God for a wonderful gathering of about 160 brethren who gathered in three cities in the Philippines, from the 18th to 22nd December 2023, to hear God’s Word being preached (on the theme: “Prepare to Meet Thy God”), to visit brethren in Cebu City, Bogo City and Tagbilaran City, as well as to sing at the Christmas Cantatas held in these three cities. 

As dawn broke on the morning of Monday (18 December), about 120 participants arrived in Cebu City from Singapore, as well as from different cities in Bohol, Negros and Luzon (Pangasinan and La Union). It was a joyful reunion of many brethren whom we had not seen in a long time! After a much-needed rest from a night of travel, we moved to a larger hotel where the five meetings of the Bible Witness Retreat would be held. Rev. Reggor Galarpe, Rev. Donald dela Cruz, Pr Edsel Locot, Pr Eliezer Ortega and myself preached a sermon each on the theme: “Prepare to Meet Thy God”. We thank God for many local brethren from Cebu City who joined us for the retreat.

On Tuesday (19 December) night, many more came to attend the first of three Christmas Cantatas entitled, “Glad Tidings of Great Joy”. These are family members and friends of brethren from Gethsemane BPC (Cebu). We thank God for preparing 42 singers from the Gethsemane Church Choir, Youth Choir and Children’s Choir with good health and the voice to sing. These singers diligently practised in the weeks preceding the retreat and, together with the Bible Witness Media Ministry, we thank God we could present six medleys under the themes, “How Great Thou Art!”; “How Great Our Joy!”; and “How Great Thy Coming!”. Pastor Koshy, who was with us in the retreat, exhorted us on “10 Wonders of Christ”, taken from John 1:1-14.

Wednesday (20 December) was a day of much travelling by land. After a sumptuous lunch prepared by brethren from Cebu church, followed by a quick visit of their worship premises at 13 First Street, Happy Valley, a convoy of three 45-seater coaches travelled about 100km northward, to Bogo City. Because of heavy traffic during the Christmas season, our journey by coach took about four hours, and we reached the meeting place in Bogo just in time for the start of our second Christmas programme. We were delighted to meet some brethren and many of their relatives and friends who patiently waited for our arrival. That night, though the choir members were tired from the day’s travelling, God strengthened the singers and musicians who sang and played in the second Christmas Cantata! In his sermon, Pastor Koshy challenged all to consecrate themselves to Jesus who condescended for us. After some fellowship with the brethren, we had to quickly travel back to Cebu City, and we thank God for a much faster journey back.

We started Thursday (21 December) bright and early! By 6am, we were all up, preparing for our ferry ride to Bohol Island. We thank God for clear skies and for an uneventful 2-hr sailing to Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Upon arrival, we travelled another 1½ hrs by coach, for lunch and some sightseeing of God’s beautiful creation at The Chocolate Hills – a geological formation of over 1,000 small green hills. Many climbed up a long flight of stairs to enjoy the panoramic views from a high vantage point. We then returned back to the city to rest at the hotel, in preparation for the third and final Christmas Cantata. We thank God for the Bohol brethren, and some others from Trinidad BP Mission Church (a church supported by True Life BP Church), who joined us. We thank God for Pastor and the choir who once again ministered to all of us. 

On the final day, Friday (22 December), the team returned to Cebu City. After lunch and some rest in SM Seaside City Cebu, the team bade their farewells to the brethren from Cebu – some greeted us at the mall, while others came all the way to Mactan-Cebu Airport. 

Truly, “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (Psalm 126:3) All glory be to God for this golden opportunity we have enjoyed to fellowship with and minister to our brethren in the Philippines. We thank God for the Bible Witness Team, the Gethsemane Youth Fellowship Committee and Auxiliary Committee, in organising and executing the plans; as well as for all who gave cheerfully to expenses of this retreat, for all who joined us, and for all who prayed for us!

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Testimonies of Participants of 23rd Bible Witness-GYF Retreat

Elder Alan Choy

This year GYF-cum-BW retreat in Cebu (from 18 to 22 December 2023) was a blessed time of feasting on God’s Word and celebrating Christmas with the brethren in the Philippines mission churches. It was a great joy hearing all the preachers ministering God’s Word to us, and testifying of God’s wonderful works in their lives. “Prepare to Meet Thy God” is a most timely topic in these last of the last days before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot continue to carelessly live our lives without preparing to meet our God.

Praise God for a good number of about 100 brethren from Singapore visiting the mission churches in Cebu, Bogo and Bohol (via plane, coach, ferry) to see God’s hand upon the work in that part of the mission field. It was a testimony of the Lord’s goodness. The brethren in all these mission churches had invited their friends to come to hear our choir sing Christmas carols and the Gospel message by Pastor Koshy (taken from of John 1). May the uplifting singing by the choir and the Gospel messages preached, turn many to Christ in time to come. It was good to see our youths having good time of fellowship with the youths in Cebu, playing games and communing with one another. The Lord’s name is to be praised.

I had a good time of fellowship with the TGCM brethren in Cebu. What a great testimony of God’s working in transforming some of them from their broken past to a joyous life in Christ! Thank God for our missionaries and TGCM brethren, who worked hard to ensure our smooth transit from point to point and see to all our basic needs being met. Thank God for good weather and journey-mercies for the entire delegation during the trip, including the ferry ride to Bohol. Blessed be His name. 

Eng Huat and Beng Yan

Praise and thank God for safety and good weather in our travelling to various places during the trip.  We are blessed by the faithful preaching of the five messages which are a timely reminder to us to be prepared for the Lord’s return. We are encouraged by the diligence and hard work of the choir that sang beautifully and joyfully to glorify the birth of Christ. Pastor’s Gospel messages that were preached – in a quite different yet refreshing manner – remind us of God’s precious gift of Christ and His salvation grace, which make Christmas very meaningful for us. 

The long trips between the different venues in Cebu city, Bogo and Bohol showed us the difficulties and hardship that our brethren in the Philippines face each week as they serve the Lord in worship. Thanks to all who planned the trip so well, and to all who took care of the logistical arrangements. Everything was carried out very smoothly. Praise and thank God for the sweet fellowship that we had with brethren from Singapore and the Philippines. All praise and glory to God in the Highest!

Judy Chan

I want to praise God for a very memorable retreat, this being my first time joining the youths! It’s an honour to be able to sing with the youths and the children! I also praise God for helping the choir to sing assuredly, trusting in God’s help for His glory! Upon watching the recording shown during the Christmas service on 24 December 2023, and hearing Pastor’s preaching, I can only give praise to God for sustaining the choir to sing effectively for Him amidst ‘challenging’ circumstances (long travels, lack of rest, etc.). We can sing because God helps us to sing for His glory. All glory be to our great God! 

We praise God for His enabling grace upon Pr Cornelius to effectively lead the choir, our wonderful pianists, and the brethren who did the set-up / recording, as well as Bro Yeh Wen who prepared countless ‘MIDI’ so we could learn and prepare to sing! The youths were so helpful in helping me to understand the scores, especially Sis Mehetabel and Sis Jesimiel who recorded some parts to help me learn. Moreover, by God’s providence, I only became sick after the third presentation. That resulted in me having to be ‘transported’ with another sister-in-Christ who was also unwell, which granted me an opportunity to fellowship with her! Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all brethren a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year, one which is filled with peace and joy from the Lord!

Jeff Joish
Growing up in a Christian home with Christian parents and relatives, I have regularly attended church since I was young. I also had the privilege of attending Junior Worship and Gethsemane Children’s Ministry. Through these services, I learnt that I must believe in God and was taught many Bible truths. I also learnt that Jesus is the Son of God, who came to earth to save us from our sins. I believe that Jesus is my Saviour who died on the cross and rose again on the third day, defeating death and giving us everlasting life.

During the start of my first year in secondary school, I had difficulty making friends. I saw that my new classmates constantly did ungodly things that contradict the Scriptures. However, I sought God’s advice by praying, and I eventually discovered other Christians in my school. Through regularly attending worship services, singing hymns, praying every day and listening to God’s Word being preached by Pastor, I realised that God was testing me if I would give in to temptation and follow ungodly ways. However, God guided me and led me not to succumb to temptation, but to follow godly ways.

I thank God that He opened a way for me to attend the Catechism class. I thank Him for my loving and godly parents who brought me to church regularly and taught me about the Gospel. I pray that I can always bear a good testimony for Christ. I pray that God will continue leading me to worship and serve Him to the end.

Joel Tan
The Bible teaches us to worship in a church and to be a regular part of its membership and activities, so that we may progress in our Christian journey: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). Likewise, the Bible also teaches us – through the examples of various characters, such as Nathan the prophet, John the Baptist and our Lord Himself – to seek strong and sound preaching, and apply their lessons, as a remedy against sin and falling by the wayside in our walk with God.

I was born in a Christian home; my parents knew the Lord and regularly worshipped in Bethesda Frankel Estate Church. Like many other Christian parents, they brought me to church. I attended Sunday School and the Junior Youth Service. Having had special-needs issues since I was young, it was difficult to focus and sit by myself. One of my parents had to sit with me. As we grew up, the schedules of me and my elder sister changed frequently, and my parents had to find a church that could accommodate our rapidly-changing schedules. Hence, for a time, we attended the Saturday service of Trinity Christian Centre. However, due to my hearing problems, I could not tolerate the loud music and their way of worship.

I was blessed with knowledge of Gethsemane BPC’s doctrines and practices even before I stepped foot in Gethsemane. While my parents were looking for a solution to my problems, Sis Cecile let me listen to Bible Witness Web Radio and read Bible Witness Magazine. When Sis Cecile brought my sister to her tuition classes in Raffles Place, she also brought me to the former Bible Witness Bookroom in Chinatown while waiting for her class to finish. We would read some of the books there and browse through others. Eventually, she asked my parents if she could bring me to the “Scripture in Song” musical in 2013, and they agreed.

Since coming to Gethsemane, I have greatly benefited from the spiritual nourishment through the strong preaching of God’s Word. It is truly the case that I have learnt the “great and mighty things” of God (Jeremiah 33:3), through the sermons and exhortations that I had not known before coming to Gethsemane. While the preaching and exposition of God’s Word in Gethsemane can prick souls, I am grateful for the constant reminders to live by God’s Word and not fall into the trap of sin. In the modern world, it is very easy to lose sight of the ultimate prize that awaits every believer at the end of time, and do things the way we want and not what God would have wanted.

I also thank God for the many blessings I have received during my time in Youth Fellowship. While the preaching is just as strong, it is also quite relatable to me as the preachers seek to show how God’s Word can be applied to address issues faced by youths and young people of today, such as problems that come from academic studies and by ongoing trends in the modern world.

I praise God for the fellowship that I have experienced in both the Main Service, as well as the Youth Fellowship. Despite my condition, the congregants have come to accept me as I am, and not pass judgment or make fun of me. I am blessed by the concern and mutual encouragement shown to me by congregants and committee members alike, both in conversation with them as well as in presenting our prayers and requests to God.

In conclusion, I have truly benefited much from my learning in Gethsemane. May God continue to guide me and help me to walk close to Him even amid the trials I face now, and those that have yet to come. All glory and honour be to the Lord. Amen.

Nehemiah dela Cruz
Born into a Christian family, God had always been the centre of our house. I was granted the privilege of being born into a missionary family that served in the mission stations in Bogo and San Antonio. This allowed me to grow up witnessing the power of God’s saving grace first-hand, and seeing how God was the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God. However, I was still young and immature in the faith, and never really took the messages and devotions I heard seriously until much later.

When I was three years old, my father passed away, and the incident instilled great grief within my family. I was too young to understand the situation then, but when I grew older, I gradually understood it. This caused my mum and I to move back to Singapore. When we came back to Singapore, we started attending Gethsemane BPC. My mind was soon filled with doubts and questions. Why did this have to happen to me? What did I do wrong?

The question in my head soon caused me to, unfortunately, doubt God’s goodness and grace. I started to lose trust in God and His will for me. However, the messages preached in the church and in the children’s ministry reminded me that God is always in control, and that all are according to His marvellous will and plan. As I grew in age and went to public schools, I began to feel the world’s influence on me. However, I am glad for the strict reminders from my family and the preachers of the church that managed to keep me on the straight and narrow path through all the various temptations.

Although I cannot remember the exact date of my salvation, I am glad that I have been called from darkness into God’s marvellous light. I am thankful for the bountiful grace God has shown to me by sustaining me and my family. I am also glad that I can now confidently declare that I am a sinner saved by grace. My prayer is that I will continue to grow in the Lord, and serve my Saviour fruitfully in the years to come.

Ryan Skariah
By the grace of God, I was born into a Christian family. I thank God for godly parents who taught me God’s Word daily. From a very young age, I started to attend Gethsemane Children’s Ministry and Gethsemane Children’s Choir. I thank God for helping me to learn about Him and to understand that Jesus died for us to save us from our sins.

I thank God for my Junior Worship teachers and my GCM teachers, who taught me God’s Word faithfully. After listening to the Sunday sermons preached by Pastor and the regular GYF messages preached by Pr Cornelius and Pastor Koshy, I was convicted that I was a sinner and that all have come short of the glory of God. I realised that I had not been walking close with God, and that I did not pray to him with a true spirit. I have been attending church worship services and fellowship meetings regularly, but still did not obey God’s Word, and I was constantly sinning. I thank the Lord for Pastor Koshy’s messages that rebuked me, which made me ask the Lord for forgiveness for all my sins. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). I prayed to the Lord for grace and strength to be able to walk closer with Him. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour and decided to go through the Catechism class.

Through the Catechism class, I was able to further understand the doctrines of the church, the Bible and God. I thank God for Elder Choy and Elder Francis, who taught us on these important topics. I pray that the Lord will help me grow spiritually and love Him even more. I pray for strength to serve Him and worship Him wholeheartedly. All glory be to God!

Titus Lim Rui Heng
I was raised in a Christian family from the day I was born. My parents brought my sister and I to church from a very young age. Throughout my childhood, I had the privilege of hearing numerous sermons and attending Vacation Bible School camps where I learned about the concept of salvation, such as the ABC acronym - Accept, Believe, Confess. I also learned many Bible verses, e.g. Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”; and 1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
In 2019, during one of the youth camps, a question was posed during one of the invitations - “Raise up your hand if you know that you will be in heaven if you were to die right now.” This question left me deeply conflicted about the certainty of my salvation, and I approached my pastor for guidance after the service. He shared with me that if I was saved, the Holy Spirit would be the One who confirms and grants me inner peace about my salvation. We prayed together, but I left that evening still wrestling with doubt. It was during my devotion that night that I realised I was still a sinner in need of salvation. The many years of following my parents to church and the many sermons preached to me did not mean I was saved. That night, I confessed my sins and accepted Christ as my personal Saviour.

From 2019 to 2022, my family continued to attend church regularly, but it eventually became a routine for me—going to church on Sunday mornings and then heading home. Youth meetings were scarce, and my spiritual growth stagnated.

In mid-2022, my mum talked to me about our spiritual growth in the church, and asked if we wanted to visit another church where we could grow and serve God effectively. By God’s grace and providence, my family came to Gethsemane BPC through Aunty Annie’s invitation. Listening to the sermons and attending the many weekly activities, such as the YF, rejuvenated me and aided me in my spiritual walk with the Lord. I also thank the Lord for allowing me to attend this year’s Church Camp, where I learned about cultivating spiritual mindedness and living for Christ in these last days.

Earlier this year, my family and I attended the Catechism classes, where we delved into various topics, from God’s creation to Christ’s second coming. Coming from a Baptist background, I notice differences in practices between the Baptists and Presbyterians, such as infant baptism, baptism by sprinkling, and open communion. However, through the catechism class, I understood and accepted these differences, and have been assured that my salvation is only by faith in Christ. What is more important is the mutual love and respect we show to one another in the church, and not causing divisions so that we may all grow as one body in Christ. I pray for the Lord’s continual working in my life so that I may serve Him in spirit and in truth.

Phoebe Lim Jun Yu
I was born into a Christian family, and since our respective births, my brother and I have faithfully attended church at Ambassador Baptist Church with our parents. During the children’s Sunday School, I was curious and eager to learn more about God’s Word concerning creation, Ten Commandments, and Jesus’ parables. However, I did not understand much about salvation, and I had many questions pertaining to repentance from sins and being born again as a Christian.

In 2016, during the youth camp at Maranatha Baptist Church, I was deeply moved by the preaching on “Life’s Greatest Choice”, taken from Matthew 6:24 – “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” I realised that we were created by God and our allegiance should be to our Heavenly Father (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). I raised my hand when the preacher asked if any unbeliever was interested in learning more about salvation. It was at this moment that a fellow sister-in-Christ approached me, prayed with me and shared the significance of salvation and the importance of repentance.

• Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
• Romans 10:9 – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
• John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
• John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

As I went home to ponder about it, I realised how sinful I was, and that my current way of life was filled with fleshly desires, which God hates, and would only lead to an eternal separation from God in the lake of fire. I cried out to God during that night, acknowledging that I was a sinner and asking Him to come into my heart to save me. I understand that doing good works doesn’t save and that I am a sinner in need of God’s love, forgiveness and mercy. Salvation is freely given to all those who genuinely believe and trust in Jesus. Only by faith through Him can I be free from the bondage of sins. As Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

From 2016 to 2022, my family had been attending church regularly, but over time it started feeling like a routine for me. Youth meetings were scarce, and I faced a period of spiritual stagnation, where I felt that I wasn’t growing much as a young Christian.

In mid-2022, my family and I were extended a warm invitation by Auntie Annie to Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church, where we have been attending since then. Through my time in Gethsemane BPC, I felt that the church was of biblically sound doctrine, and was a God-fearing and God-honouring church. I was deeply encouraged by the warm fellowship, unity and encouragement of the brothers and sisters in Gethsemane BPC, and their yearning to learn and seek the Lord and serve Him in the different areas of service! I was immensely thankful that my brother and I were able to attend this year’s Church Camp, where we learned how we ought to be spiritually minded – to put off our fleshly desires and to put on the new man, which is to live by God’s desire and purpose for our lives. It reminded me of the importance of daily prayer and having a close walk and relationship with Him.

My prayer is that God will guide me, help me grow in my faith, and deepen my trust in Him as I continue to serve Him and be a beacon of light to the people around me in my words and actions. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Report by Pr Samson Hutagalung

Introduction

Recollecting God’s blessings and giving thanks for all His benefits reflect our humble desire and gratitude to honour and praise God. Scripture admonishes us in Deuteronomy 26:11, “And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house…” We take this opportunity to consider God’s abundant goodness and blessings in leading His servants to do what He has laid on their hearts in bringing God’s truths all over the world through a systematic and in-depth study of the Word made available online. The Lord has graciously used Gethsemane BPC in various ways to carry out Christ’s Commission to His church in Matthew 28:18-20. The task given to the church involves preaching the Gospel to the unsaved, and teaching and equipping those whom the Lord has redeemed to serve Him faithfully and effectively. GBI-Online, as a ministry of our church, is tasked with equipping Christian men and women globally through the expository study of God’s Word.

Background

The inception of GBI-Online came about because of the burden that the Lord has laid on Pastor Koshy to provide free online learning of God’s Word for God’s people globally. By setting up GBI online, and slowly and steadily enhancing it over the past 9 years, the Lord has enabled us to grant hundreds of people worldwide access to serious, systematic study of God’s Word. 

When I first came to Gethsemane BPC in 2013, Pastor Koshy shared with me with great enthusiasm about his desire to start an online Bible Institute to offer Biblical courses that would help the students of Gethsemane Bible Institutes in Ethiopia and the Philippines (now also in India). Having heard from Pastor his desire and plan, I felt stirred in my heart to offer my service. With God’s continued help, I laboured to learn the Learning Management System (LMS). At that time, we learned that the Moodle platform was most helpful to set up online distance learning. After much hard work, we introduced the GBI-Online Website (www.gbi-online.com) and its platform for learning God’s Word during the 4th Missionary Conference (2014) held in Singapore. For a start, two courses were offered: First, The Names of God; and second, Jonah: Divine Conquest of a Defiant Heart. They were Pastor’s messages preached during the Bible Witness Retreats.

Inception of Night Classes

GBI-Online started night classes on Wednesday, 21st January 2015, at TGCM premises. This night class was started with a twofold purpose. The first aim was to record the videos of courses on theology and expositions of Bible books by Pastor Koshy. The second was to allow Gethsemaneans and friends keen to learn those Biblical subjects to attend Pastor’s lectures that were being recorded. The first lecture, Systematic Theology 1: Theism, had 34 students who cheered one another in studying God’s precious truths. The video lectures were recorded and edited, and subsequently made available on the GBI-Online website.

GBI-Online Courses

For a period of time, the TGCM premises had been a venue for night classes (2015-2017). By the end of 2017, Pastor had completed teaching six courses on Systematic Theologies: Theism, Bibliology, Anthropology, Soteriology, Ecclesiology and Eschatology. All these classes were attended by members of Gethsemane BPC, and there was not a time we were lacking students. The classroom was full to the brim. Some students who could not attend the night classes could follow the lessons online through the GBI-Online website.

In order to accommodate a bigger number of students, starting in 2018, the GBI-Online class was moved to SingPost Auditorium every Sunday at 9.00am. Pastor Koshy taught the Book of Revelation, attended by nearly 100 brethren. Subsequently, he taught the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the same venue till the end of 2019.

January 2020 was the beginning of a new phase for GBI-Online. This was due to God’s gracious provision of the Gethsemane Media Centre (GMC) to our church. Truly, it was a great blessing from God as it was so well-timed to meet our desperate need for a place for administrative matters of the ministry. Because of the availability of the new place, the GBI-Online class held on Sunday morning was shifted to 6.00pm on every Lord’s Day, under the new name: “Evening Teaching Service”. 

In addition, the Wednesday Night Class, which had been stopped for a while, was resumed. Praise be to the Lord for all His lovingkindness. With the addition of Wednesday Night Class, GBI-Online courses have entered yet another progressive phase. Now, we have been enabled to provide more recorded courses for those who desire to learn God’s Word.

26th July 2023 is another milestone date in GBI-Online. The Lord has so graciously strengthened Pastor and Pr Cornelius Koshy to teach courses on Biblical Language Familiarisation (BLF: Hebrew & Greek). We see how the Lord has moved the hearts of our church members and their friends to join these night classes. 53 students attend BLF: Hebrews, and 62 enrol for BLF: Greek. For the Wednesday night classes on 1 Corinthians taught by Pastor, 112 students have registered. Praise be to the Lord! 

In addition to the above classes, Pastor Koshy leads a group of preachers from different Asian countries for in-depth study of various theological topics. This programme is called “Pastoral Biblical Studies” (PBS). The participants of this course are preachers and missionaries serving the Lord in various mission fields of Gethsemane BPC. This semester, Biblical Covenant Theology (Part 3), is the topic of study. On Monday, after PBS classes, Pastor also teaches – online – the students from GBI-India (Vizag) and Soli Deo Gloria Academy (Cherrapunji, NE India). The Lord has opened all these doors for the GBI-Online ministry to equip many (locally and overseas) with His blessed truths. 

Shall we not praise God for all His bountiful blessings to our church for using GBI-Online to equip God’s servants? Truly, the Lord is good. Next year will be the tenth year of the GBI-Online ministry. Our hearts are thrilled to see how the Lord has used GBI-Online to educate and edify God’s people everywhere. 

GBI-Online now offers several courses that you can take at your own pace: (1) Systematic Theology 1: Theism; (2) Systematic Theology 2: Bibliology; (3) Systematic Theology 3: Anthropology; (4) Systematic Theology 4: Soteriology; (5) Systematic Theology 5: Ecclesiology; (6) Systematic Theology 6: Eschatology; (7) The Book of Jonah: Divine Conquest of a Defiant Heart; (8) The Names of God; (9) Theology of Prayer; (10) Divine Adoption; (11) The Book of Revelation; (12) The Book of Ezra; (13) The Book of Nehemiah; (14) The Books of Haggai and Zechariah; (15) The Book of Ezekiel (Part 1); (16) The Book of Ezekiel (Part 2); (17) Pneumatology: Doctrine of Holy Spirit (Part 1); (18) Doctrine of Holy Spirit (Part 2); (19) The Kings of Judah and Israel; and (20) 1 Corinthians.

May the Lord continue to bless GBI-Online. As of today, 250 students have registered on the GBI-Online Website, learning God’s Word from different countries. As the Lord commands us to grow in the knowledge of His Word, let us take advantage of the opportunity provided through GBI-Online, to nourish ourselves in God’s Word. Please pray for all who labour (our GBWL staff, Pastor Koshy, Pr Cornelius, and myself), and support this ministry generously. To God be the glory! 

Dns Diana Chan

Glory be to the Holy One of Israel, our Redeemer! I thank God for His grace, mercy and strength in enabling me to join the Bible Witness Israel Bible Study Tour 2023. The main reason for me joining the tour is that I would like to visit Gethsemane BPC, Ethiopia, which was our transit point on our way to Israel.

When we were in Ethiopia, it was a joy to meet Rev Ephrem, Pr Engida, and the other preachers and their family members, as well as several of the church brethren! It was so heart-warming to see how the brethren were so formally attired, so cheerful and ready to receive us in the church in Alem Gena. I praise God that both the brethren from Ethiopia and Singapore could congregate for fellowship and worship led by Pastor Ephrem. Pastor Koshy preached the Word of God in that meeting. Pr Cornelius led our Church Choir members in the team to give a song presentation. 

Thank God also for the Christian hospitality of the Ethiopian brethren who hosted us to a lovely lunch.

I thank God for Pastor and Dn Lok for their labour in planning and organising the tour, even having to make ad-hoc changes during our journey. Thank God for His grace, good health and protection throughout the trip. Praise God for the unity, encouragement and care for one another. It was encouraging to see the stronger adults helping and supporting our senior brethren, especially in manoeuvring difficult terrain and steps. Special mention must be made of the young adults who constantly availed themselves, ever ready to provide additional help. 

Praise the Lord for the lessons learnt from GBI on the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah, as well as 1 Samuel. Biblical history was brought to life as we journeyed through the land of the Old and New Testaments. The various sites, such as the wilderness of Judea, Ziph, and Gibeah, brought to mind how David and his six hundred men had to flee from King Saul and his three thousand soldiers in the wilderness, desert, hills and caves. Praise God for preserving His servant, David, and his loyal men. Indeed, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Almost every morning, before embarking on the journey, we would assemble in quietude in a room. Pastor would lead us in singing, devotion and prayer, and remind us to focus our minds on God in the Bible Study tour. I also thank God for the culminating point at the end of our tour, which was our worship in the chapel at the Garden Tomb. We had Holy Communion, in remembrance of God’s plan of salvation for mankind through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, for our sins. May the remembrance of the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, continue to spur us to love the Lord, trust in Him and serve Him.

To God be the glory, great things He had done!

Abigail Koshy

I really thank God for a wonderful time in Israel as part of the Bible Witness Israel Bible Study Tour 2023. It was a blessed eight days in the Promised Land, tracing biblical events in God’s promised land for Israel. Visiting the Promised Land has always been my earnest desire, and I am thankful to the Lord for the answered prayer to go as a family this year. God has provided for all our needs along the way, and given us the strength to carry the little ones in all our travels. Praise the Lord for endurance, safety and good health. Each day was fast-paced and filled with many places to see – from Joppa (near Tel Aviv) to the Sea of Galilee and the surrounding towns where Jesus had ministered. Enroute to Jerusalem, we crossed through the Judean wilderness (present-day West Bank), walked through the old city and the city of David, and visited significant sites around the Dead Sea. 

The Bible indeed comes alive! Most places we visited were archaeological excavations of biblical cities, and various locations of biblical events. I was struck by the beauty of the land: the olive trees and palm dates, vast lakes and bountiful springs, as well as the rolling wilderness and arid weather. I loved its topography: vast hills and valleys, deserts, plains, lakes and seas – places which our Saviour trod and travelled across during His earthly ministry. Above all the sights, most of which are overrun by sheer idolatry and vendors seeking the tourist dollar, one thing stands out clear to all who believe in the Truth: “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

Finally, I thank God for our very knowledgeable Jewish tour guide who, along with Pastor’s daily devotions, made the trip an in-depth Bible Study in a moving “classroom”. May our continual prayer be: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces” (Psalm 122:6-7).

Pr Cornelius Koshy

I thank God for the grand opportunity to go through Ethiopia and visit the brethren who serve in the Gethsemane Church and GBI campus in Alem Gena. Ethiopian Airlines’ resumption of the route from Singapore to Tel Aviv (through Addis Ababa) was just in time for the BW Study Tour to Israel – praise the LORD! As Paul says, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal 6:10). We seized this opportunity to show our love to our fellow Ethiopian brethren (cf. Rom 12:9a – “Let love be without dissimulation”), and to spend time in worship and thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness through the past 17 years! I also thank God for nine GCC singers who cheerfully sang the encouraging hymn, “He Leadeth Me”, bringing a part of Singapore-style singing to brethren in Ethiopia. The whole team was treated to a sumptuous spread of authentic Ethiopian cuisine, which was concluded with live-roasted, ground and brewed Ethiopian coffee! 

The bus ride back to Bole International Airport for our connecting flight to Israel was a test of faith! We did not anticipate an afternoon traffic congestion, and many of us were anxious because we had only about two hours to travel back to the capital (Addis Ababa), get our luggage and check in to the next flight. Some urged the driver to “go fast!”; others tried to contact the airline. Everyone prayed earnestly, and when we finally reached the airport, Pastor led us in a prayer of thanksgiving, and the team moved quickly as one unit to the gate. We praise the Lord for truly, “He leadeth me, O blessed thought … By his own hand, he leadeth me!”

On a personal note, I thank God for this third visit to the Holy Land, which strengthened my geographical knowledge of the biblical accounts. At each site, I was transported back to its biblical narratives, and my heart was encouraged by the spiritual lessons and promises attached to each location. There was also a renewal of eschatological anticipation for Christ’s return during this trip. Apart from visiting Megiddo, where the nations’ armies would gather to battle Christ (Rev 16:16), we spent an hour in a private garden in Gethsemane, on the western slope of Mt Olive. This was a special booking made possible by the tour agent. Gethsemane (church) was in Gethsemane (cf. Luke 22:42)! Pastor exhorted from Zechariah 12-14 and we contemplated Christ’s second coming, which would unfold in the very space and land where we were. Such contemplations, made in meaningful places, tend to be etched deeply and enduringly in one’s mind. 

May the joys of living in Christ and our love for Him endure all the way till He calls us home, or when He returns! All glory be to God! 

As God’s people, our lives must be dedicated to His glory. We are chosen and saved, “that we should be to the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:12a). We are to yield ourselves to be instruments of His honour, glory and praise. 

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:20). Christians’ bodies are God’s temple, and a temple is for worship. All things done in the temple are unto the glory of God. Our bodies, therefore, are only for the purpose of God’s glory and honour. 

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Even in the most mundane routines of life, like ordinary eating and drinking, we must seek to honour and glorify our God. His glory is to be our life’s commitment. It is the purpose of our whole life, which now belongs to the Lord because we have been “bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:20; cf. 7:23). Not only when we eat or drink, but in whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of God. 

The first question and answer in The Shorter Catechism are: “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” The most honourable and commendable thing a Christian can do is to be totally absorbed in doing all things in life for His glory. That is the perspective of the true worshipper, the one who truly glorifies God. 

It is to encourage and help us to glorify Him that God gave us His promises - “For all the promises of God in him (Christ) are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Cor. 1:20). All the great and precious promises are given so that we may be stirred in our hearts to live for His glory. As a church and as individuals, let us remember: “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:21). 

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A Thanksgiving Note from Pr Engida Tefera

Dear friends in the Lord,

By God’s will, I have returned to my family and church in peace on Wednesday morning (14 Jun 2023), after spending time in Singapore and Indonesia for the church camp of Gethsemane BPC, Singapore. May God bless you for the love you have shown me while I was with you.

I was very happy during my time in Indonesia hearing the Word of God being expounded by different preachers, especially the messages under the topic, “Be Spiritually-Minded”. Our pastor’s lessons were touching and alarming to many of us. The fifteen points he shared with us from the Scriptures are so wonderful and helpful for our spiritual growth. I also decided that I would share the blessings I received through those messages with our church members in a series of sermons during our Sunday worship services. Indeed, the recent camp was a wonderful church gathering. May God bless all who shared the Word. 

I also want to thank Pastor Koshy and his family, who welcomed and hosted me in their house, and treated me as their brother. May God bless them. Again, I thank all of you who have shown me your love in different ways. 

Finally, I thank the Lord for helping me to share His Word with you. All glory be to the Lord!

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9th Anniversary Thanksgiving of Gethsemane BPC, Pangasinan

(A brief report compiled from the letters of Pastor Donald dela Cruz)

I praise the Lord for enabling and sustaining the mission church in Pangasinan for the past 9 years. We celebrated our 9th Anniversary Thanksgiving last Lord’s Day with a simple get-together. We ordered catered lunch and shared the meal in the worship hall. The rain was pouring in the morning, but stopped during lunchtime. Praise the Lord for enabling us to have fellowship!

Please view a video clip of the anniversary occasion in the link below. The video shows God’s faithfulness, as testified by the recent events in the mission station. We showed the video to the congregation last Lord’s Day. The video was prepared by Bro Jumar and his wife, Sis Olive. I praise the Lord for enabling them to produce this video clip: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TTsWgaVMsa4GQihgYWM7EwqqXNlRfldp/view?usp=drive_link

I praise the Lord for enabling my nephew to graduate from senior high school. My mom came from Negros to attend his graduation. We also attended his graduation ceremony yesterday to show our support. We have been helping my nephew in his studies here in Pangasinan for the last two years. His parents can hardly support his studies, and I praise the Lord for enabling my family to help them. He will be going to Manila to attend college, and will stay in my younger brother’s home … 

 Meanwhile, I praise the Lord for helping me and my family prepare for ministering God’s Word in Melbourne. I will preach in the Youth Camp of Bethel BP Church. We will be leaving on June 29, and will return on July 12. 

My last trip to the Philippines was four years ago. Visiting our mission churches in the Visayas region of the Philippines had been a burning desire for some time. By His grace, after boarding a midnight flight last Saturday, my wife and I reached Cebu on Sunday at 5.30am. We were joyfully received at the airport by Pastor Reggor Galarpe. He took us to a small, cosy hotel near our church in Cebu City. We quickly freshened up and had breakfast. Bro Allan Ebarle came in his car at 9am to take us to church for the morning worship service, which starts at 9.30am. The congregation was seated and ready for worship when we entered the church. Soon, the worship began with Pastor Reggor leading the service, and I was called upon to minister the Word. After the worship, we had a wonderful time of fellowship with the Cebu brethren.

Praise God that most members have continued in the faith and service of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord also added some new brethren to the church. We are grateful for Pastor Reggor’s labour for the Master in the ministries of the church, TGCM and GBI.

By 1pm, Rev Reggor drove us in the new church van (from an anonymous giver) to our next worship service – San Antonio – where a combined service of the two small congregations north of Cebu Island was arranged by Eld Eliezer Ortega, who ministers God’s Word among them. On the way, we visited Eld Richard Tiu, who had undergone surgery to remove a tumour from his liver. Seeing that God has graciously given him much recovery and relief, I exhorted him to serve the LORD faithfully. After the warm fellowship extended to us by his family, we journeyed north with some brethren from TGCM, who joined us in the church van for the trip to San Antonio. Four other families from the Cebu church drove up in their vehicles to join the combined worship. All arrived safely by 4pm, and soon the worship service began. I ministered the Word during the service. We were much encouraged to see that the brethren have been steadfast and persevering in their faith and service amidst the many trials they face in life.

After a sumptuous evening meal prepared by the brethren in San Antonio and a blessed time of fellowship, we started our journey back to Cebu at about 7.30pm. Everyone returned safely to Cebu by 10.15pm. The Lord granted us a good night’s rest for our tired bodies.

The next day, Monday morning, at 9am, Bro Allan fetched us, together with Pastor Reggor, to the ferry terminal and sent us on our journey by sea to Bohol Island. Pastor Reggor joined Carolyn and me on this visit to Bohol. Though there was a gale warning (maritime weather warnings) due to a typhoon passing through that region, the Lord gave us a smooth journey to Bohol. We spent time in the mission church with Pr Edsel, his wife Sis Juvy, and their daughter Eunice (19 months old). We heard their testimonies and reports of the various outreaches in far-flung places like Anda, Candijay and Trinidad. We thanked God for sustaining and using them for His glory. Sis Juvy served us lunch, which she had so lovingly prepared. We were much nourished and refreshed! We then checked into a nearby hotel for a short rest and returned to the mission church at 5.30pm for the fellowship meeting. Almost all the members arrived by 6.15pm. In the meeting, I exhorted them from the Word to bear unashamed testimony for the Lord. We rejoiced in communing with one another, and enjoyed the post-fellowship meal with the brethren.

Early next morning, at 4.30am, we left the hotel for the ferry terminal to travel back to Cebu City, and then to the airport to return to Singapore. We were thankful that the ferry was allowed to leave as the previous night’s ferry was cancelled due to a gale warning. However, our ferry ride was not without incident. Soon after leaving the port, the boat ran into powerful waves. When huge waves kept slamming against the boat, it started to lean more and more towards one side. The boat was considerably slow and battered by the waves for a while. There was great fear in the hearts of many on board, from whom screaming and loud prayers could be heard. On the other hand, we thank God for the peace and safety throughout the several minutes (probably about 20 minutes) of tremulous experience during that voyage. Providentially, I was led to think of some experiences in our Christian life and ministry as being like the rough and violent period of that two-hour sea voyage.

Brethren, I urge you to continue to pray for God’s servants who lead the work, that they will remain prayerful and faithful to Him. Their life and ministry have been tested by many difficult circumstances over the past four years. Pray for the younger ones (children of the first generation of members) that they will resist the world and be overcomers. (By the way, our Youth Fellowship is looking into the possibility of having a retreat in Cebu or Bohol in December. Pr Cornelius and Eld Low will visit Cebu next week to recce for the retreat. Remember them in your prayers.)