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Dear Friends,

As you prepare to go forth on this mission trip (5–10 August 2025) to our sister churches in the Philippines, I write to you with deep affection, prayerful support, and solemn expectation. This is no ordinary trip! It is a spiritual assignment, a sacred privilege to stand alongside fellow believers, to strengthen the weary, to proclaim the unchanging Gospel, and to serve the body of Christ in a time of both trial and opportunity.

Your visit comes at a particularly “weighty” season. Our dear brother, Rev. Reggor Galarpe, the supervisory pastor of the congregations of Gethsemane B-P Church in Cebu, Bogo, San Antonio and Bohol, is facing a severe affliction in the form of lymphoma. This trial has troubled us all, yet we know that such “valleys” are not void of God’s presence. In fact, they often become holy ground, where Christ’s strength is made perfect in human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Your presence among the brethren during this time is not merely supportive; it is providential. God sends you as ministers of comfort, joy, and Gospel hope.

You also go as heralds of the Gospel, bringing the light of Christ into homes, hearts, and streets that need to know the love and lordship of Jesus Christ, the only Saviour whom God has sent to the world.

May your words be seasoned with grace, your service marked by humility, and your lives reflect the fragrance of Christ in all things. 

I commend each of you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and equip you for every good work (cf. Acts 20:32; Eph. 4:12,16). Go forth in the power of His Spirit, consecrated for His purpose and prepared to serve Him in the beauty of holiness. May this mission bear lasting fruit—for the strengthening of the church, the salvation of souls, and the glory of our great Redeemer.

Soli Deo Gloria – To God alone be the glory.

In Christ’s service,
Your pastor,
Prabhudas Koshy

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Report from GBI, Vizag

Dear Pastor,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

We thank God for another semester at GBI, India. By God’s grace, our full-time students from Meghalaya and Odisha have returned to continue their training at GBI. This semester, we have three new students: two pastors from Vizag city and a brother from Odisha. 

The addition of Bro. Jonathan Hendricks to GBI, Vizag, to assist in teaching and preaching is very helpful, and we thank God for graciously leading him to us. He is now staying at the Kotapadu campus with the students. 

Thank you, Pastor, for taking time to address the students and faculty on Tuesday. Your exhortation served as a good reminder for all of us to be content and responsible with the appointments God has given to each of us. 

We look forward to the start of the Elementary Hebrew classes next week. Eleven students have registered for the course this semester. Thank you so much for dedicating your time to teach Hebrew to our students (Monday and Friday). Our students are also registering for your GBI Online courses on 1 Peter, Isaiah III (Wednesday evening), and Paul’s Missionary Journeys by Pr Cornelius Koshy (Thursday). Additionally, some students have enrolled in FEBC online courses as well. We are very grateful for all the opportunities to learn God’s Word.

During the holidays, we completed the mud-filling and borewell digging work on the newly purchased land. Thanks be to God for the help from Bro. Thomas, Sis. Melanie, and Dn Gan in drawing up the building plans and designs. We are planning to submit the drawings for building permit approval soon. Please pray that the Lord will grant us the necessary permits to resume the construction work. May the Lord continue to provide for the building fund through His people.

In Christ,
Pastor Sujith Samuel

Beloved in Christ,

On August 9th at 3 pm, when we gather for a special season of singing hymns together, let us be reminded that it is a time of sacred singing by believers united in heart and voice, to glorify the Lord and to edify one another. Such sacred congregational singing is God-ordained. 

Scripture commands it:

Colossians 3:16—“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:19—“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”.

Psalm 95:1—“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 

Scripture also models it:

Jesus and His disciples sang hymns together. According to Matthew 26:30, “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives” (cf. Mark 14:26).

In small groups and large groups, believers sang (Romans 15:9; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Hebrews 2:12; James 5:13). Sometimes, even in the midst of their afflictions (Acts 16:25), they sang as a spiritual expression of truth, joy, and unity in Christ.

Singing spiritual songs, hymns and psalms is not a mere tradition or emotional exercise—it is a biblical expression of unified worship, and a spiritual discipline appointed by God for the good of His people.

As the apostle Paul exhorted in Colossians 3:16, Christian singing is to be Word-filled, grace-driven, and Christ-centred. It is not for entertainment or performance, but for glorifying our Redeemer and for building up the body of Christ. Through sacred song, truth is proclaimed, hearts are stirred, and unity is deepened.

As we sing hymns together, we proclaim the Gospel, we rehearse sound doctrine, and we stir one another to faith and hope. Singing together reminds us that we are one body—many voices, yet one heart in Christ.

The need for such singing is especially great in our time. We live in a noisy and distracted world, where the melodies of grace are often ignored and neglected. Rejoicing and singing together is drowned out by the clamour of our culture and care. This effort at sacred singing as a congregation will help reorientate our hearts to what is true, eternal, and God-glorifying.

The purpose of our singing is, first and foremost, unto the Lord. We sing to glorify Him who has redeemed us. But we also sing to one another, teaching and encouraging one another as we lift our voices. Good hymns nourish the soul and help us remember what our hearts too easily forget.

Let our manner of singing reflect reverence and joy. Let it be thoughtful, not careless; heartfelt, not hurried. Sing with understanding, with gratitude, and with expectation that the Lord will inhabit the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).

May this special time of hymn-singing draw us nearer to Christ and to one another. May our voices rise as one, testifying to the grace that has saved us and the hope that sustains us. “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1).

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A Pastoral Letter of Comfort and Encouragement

Written to the Cebu Congregation as they celebrate their 21st Anniversary

To the beloved saints at Gethsemane B-P Church, Cebu,

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As you mark the sacred milestone of your 21st Thanksgiving Anniversary, I write to you with both sorrow and rejoicing in my heart. The news of your dear pastor’s lymphoma has grieved me deeply, and yet I am also stirred with thankfulness for your enduring testimony as a church planted and upheld by God’s mighty hand — through the labours of your pastor these past two decades.

Your under-shepherd, who has faithfully laboured among you in word and doctrine, now walks through a valley where faith is being tested. Yet I thank God for graciously enabling His servant, his family, and the church to find strength and courage amid affliction, resting in the everlasting arms of His providence and love. “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed” (2 Corinthians 4:7-8). This illness has not taken God by surprise. He who appointed Pastor Reggor over you to care for you as God’s flock, has also appointed this affliction for His glory.

Let your love for your pastor be fervent. As Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands in the battle, so hold up your pastor now — with prayer, with compassion, with practical help. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Above all, let your dedication, faithfulness, and zeal for the Lord and His Gospel work flourish; this will surely encourage your pastor. In doing so, you will demonstrate to the watching world your Christ-centredness.

Let us serve with thanksgiving. Twenty-one years of God’s faithfulness is no small thing. Think of the souls converted, the saints edified, the children catechised, the Gospel proclaimed, and the churches planted. You are witnesses to what Paul once declared: “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). What God has begun in your midst, He will complete. Give Him the glory.

Let this anniversary be both a memorial and a vow — a memorial of past mercies and a vow of continued faithfulness. Renew your commitment to sound doctrine, to joyful worship, and to bold witness. In days of uncertainty, be sure of this: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).

I urge you to pray not only for your pastor’s healing, but also for the strengthening of his soul. Pray also for one another. Suffering has a way of purifying a church. May this season be a holy fire that burns away all worldliness and impurities, bringing you forth as gold refined.

The mission team from GBPC Singapore, led by our dear Elder Mah Chin Kwang, will soon be among you. We give thanks to the Lord for this opportunity, and pray that their presence among you will be a source of rich encouragement and spiritual refreshment. May their fellowship cheer your hearts, strengthen your hands in the work of the Lord, and deepen the bond of unity we share in Christ across the nations.

Johnny Rey, who has been trained in GBI Cebu since 2018, arrived here early this week from your midst. He is residing in my home. Each day, he accompanies me to the Gethsemane Media Centre (GMC) and other areas of ministry, that he may learn through close observation and active participation in day-to-day ministry work. He has expressed much joy in the fellowship shared with preachers, staff at GMC, church leaders, and fellow brethren. Let us continue to uphold young Johnny Rey in our prayers, that he may be thoroughly equipped in the Word and in the work of the ministry, growing to become a faithful and fruitful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God raise more young men and young women to serve the Lord full-time!

Finally, I urge you to rally together to press on in faith and holiness for the future. Be strong. Love one another. Uphold your pastor. Preach Christ. And know that “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28).

Beloved, the Lord is with you. 

With love in the truth,

Pastor Prabhudas Koshy

(On behalf of the Elders, Preachers, Deacons, and Congregation of GBPC, Singapore)

“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10). By those words, the psalmist testified that worship time in God’s house is the best time of his life, and that the house of God where the worship was held was the best place he would love to be in. To a child of God, no activity or place in this world is as wonderful as the time and place of worship of God. 

Firstly, about the psalmist’s presence in the house of God, he says that there is no time like the time spent in God’s house! “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.” One day in the house of God (“thy courts”) was more beneficial than living a thousand days elsewhere in this wicked world! So, the psalmist said, “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God”. Even serving the Lord at the door of God’s house is a very great and delightful experience. 

Our minds are drawn to His greatness and goodness when we are in His courts. In such times, our minds are filled with reverence and awe for His greatness, and gratitude and joy for His goodness. We also delight in remembering His wonderful and mighty works in His house. Thinking of His works grants us confidence and courage. 

Today, when we come to the Lord’s house, which we call “church”, we are blessed by hymns, prayers, and reading of the Scriptures. The opportunity to meditate on His glorious truths revealed in His Word helps us to increase our knowledge of His will, which will guide us to live in accordance with His purposes and for His glory. Then, through the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion, we rejoice in the blessed communion with our Saviour! How wonderful it is to draw near to God in His house!

So, David said that even serving at the door of God’s house is better than enjoying luxurious pleasures offered in houses of wickedness. “God’s (so-called) worst is better than the devil’s best!” God’s doorstep affords a happier rest than the majestic pavilions of sinners living the high life and pursuing a lifetime of luxury!

It has been said, “Time spent in worship is time best spent.” Indeed, “a day in thy courts is better than a thousand”, that is, than any number of days elsewhere. The blessedness of dwelling in God’s house is incomparable to any other place of people’s gathering.

Let every child of God esteem the worship of God very highly, and prepare daily to be in the place of worship. Let us look forward to delighting in God’s glory, grace, and truth proclaimed on the Lord’s Day and other solemn gatherings of His people before His presence.  

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Additional Testimonies of Participants of 23rd BW-GYF Retreat

Samuel Teo (Kuching)

I thank God for the opportunity to join the 23rd BW-GYF Retreat in the Philippines. The retreat brought me great spiritual encouragement through the faithful preaching of God’s Word, as well as the sweet fellowship with the Filipino and Singaporean brethren. The five sermons on the theme “Prepare to Meet Thy God” – in Salvation, in Sanctification, in Chastisement, in Rapture, and in Judgment, drive home the importance of living our lives sanctified, holy and separated unto God. This is so that we may be prepared to meet Him here in this present life as we serve and live for Christ, and also when we meet Him when He comes again. 

Visiting the mission churches in Cebu, Bogo, San Antonio and Bohol, and witnessing the various great works and missions in places across the Philippines made me rethink about how I can serve God more here in my hometown – Kuching. Truly, there is more to be done for the Lord’s kingdom here on earth, as “…The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). 

I pray therefore that the Lord will help and guide me in my spiritual growth to be prepared for His service, according to His divine calling until the day He returns!

Noel Resuma

I praise and thank God for the rare opportunity He has given me to join the recent BW-GYF retreat in Cebu, the Philippines (18-22 December 2023), together with my eldest son Norefel, his wife and children. Since this was my first time attending a retreat, I was very excited about it. To me, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience because of the following: 

1) It was a “heart-pricking” experience and a wake-up call after hearing the five messages from our pastors and preachers about preparing oneself to meet God in salvation, sanctification, chastisement, rapture and judgment. 2) It allowed me to visit and see different places like Bogo and Bohol in a short time. 3) I was quite amazed at how well the activities went, and also at the discipline, active participation and cooperation of all the participants in moving about to the different meeting venues (with everyone, young to old, sticking to the timetable). 4) I had tears of joy hearing the wonderful voices of the choir singing beautiful hymns of praise and worship, which made me feel God’s presence during that time. 5) Lastly, I was touched by the sincere fellowship among the Filipino and Singaporean brothers and sisters, as if we have already known one another for a long time. 

Thank God for the 5 days of fellowship but as the saying goes, “there is always an end to every good beginning”, and I was saddened to see our brethren departing to return to their homes in Singapore and other parts of the Philippines (Cebu, Pangasinan). Moreover, I’m saddened that my son and his family have to leave me without knowing when we will see one other again. But I find comfort in the Lord Jesus Christ by reading 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” May the Lord bless us all.

Elder Eliezer Ortega

The Lord be praised for the recent BW-YF Retreat. It was a time of spiritual nourishment and showers of blessings. The messages during the retreat were great blessings and have better prepared me to meet God. I thank God for enabling the preachers to preach the Word of God for our learning and edification.

Blessed be the Lord for the apt and fitting messages of the hymns and carols sung by the Gethsemane B-P Church Choir, Youth Choir and Children’s Choir of Singapore. The Cantata was a time of great contemplation on the condescension of the Lord Jesus Christ. And how my heart greatly rejoices of the blessings of “Good Tidings of Great Joy”! Equally rousing is the message from John 1:1-14, preached by Pastor Koshy. All glory be unto God! Praise the Lord for how He has enabled the members of the choir to sing the hymns and carols despite their coughs, colds and sore throats. The Lord is good and He is to be praised in using every member of the choir for His glory. Thank God for the strength, patience and wisdom upon Pr Cornelius in leading the choir. It was indeed a great blessing to have attended and heard the Christmas Cantata, as what one septuagenarian Christian visitor exclaimed after the Cantata in Bogo, “Never had I heard such a moving and wonderful Cantata!”

All glory be to God for the wonderful and blessed time of fellowship with all the brethren, both “new and old faces”. I praise the Lord for the presence and fellowship of the brethren which have given us great joy and encouragement. Praise the Lord for all the words of encouragement and blessings!

Truly, how great Thou art, LORD!

As announced over the past few Sundays, our church’s ACM 2023 will be held today at 4p.m. in SingPost L5 Auditorium. The ACM documents have been uploaded to our church website for all the church members’ perusal. I urge all church members to be present, as this meeting is to be held, according to our church constitution, at least once annually to consider our congregation’s affairs.

How to Prepare for the ACM:

Pray for reverential and orderly conduct by all participants of the ACM, for the Bible instructs us concerning all church meetings, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). 

Please plan and make necessary arrangements to attend the ACM, and come to the venue 15-20 minutes early to sign in to enter the auditorium. This would help towards the counting of participants and the determining of the quorum to proceed with the meeting.

Let us pray for the Pastor and Elders (office bearers of the church), that the Spirit of God would empower them to conduct the meeting with wisdom, and present all reports of the past year as well as plans for the upcoming year faithfully and skilfully. 

If church members have any questions on the reports or plans, please submit the questions early for the office bearers to provide studied answers. 

Though ACM is a business / administrative church meeting, we must be mindful to do all things according to the counsels of God’s Word with great reverence and thanksgiving to God, who has blessed the church spiritually and physically. Let us all gather together with boundless praise for the Lord. “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31). May our thoughts be about His goodness. Let every heart rejoice and give thanks unto the Lord. “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7). 

The church leaders and members must participate in the meeting with mutual love and respect. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). We must avoid all belligerent, fault-finding, slanderous, provocative, and quarrelsome attitudes. 

Let us not forget the biblical admonition that we should be “endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). “A house divided cannot stand.”

Our recollection and evaluation of the past year’s ministries (local and overseas), as well as our awareness of the needs and burdens of the present and new ministries, must create within us a humble and ready spirit to serve the Lord faithfully and fervently in the coming year. May we renew our commitment, and consecrate ourselves to serve Him joyfully and enthusiastically.

May the Lord bless our gathering together. May we acknowledge and carry out our stewardship responsibilities faithfully, as we joyfully seek to serve our God out of hearts full of gratitude in thanksgiving for the indescribable gift given to us in His Son!

Biblical Guidelines for Orderly Worship

Paul has laid down much-needed principles for orderly worship services. Sadly, the Corinthian church had been conducting their worship services as they felt best - a kind of free, spontaneous worship service where anyone could sing a hymn, prophesy or speak in tongues. However, Paul sharply rebuked such a disorderly, chaotic conduct of worship and instructed the church with some guidelines. Paul insisted on orderliness and purpose in the church’s public gatherings, as attested to in 1 Corinthians 14:26-40.

Worship must not consist of free-for-all, spontaneous activities: The Corinthian church had not maintained order when they gathered for worship. Everyone did as he liked – hence, Paul asked, “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying” (v. 26). Our conduct should not distract other worshippers from truly worshipping the Lord in spirit and truth.

Worship services must be edifying: Everything done during public worship must be intended to bring about the building up of the church. Promoting spiritual growth and maturity of the church must be the chief concern of all in the worship services. Nothing should be done with personal promotion or prominence in view but with others’ edification. “Let all things be done unto edifying” (v.26b).

Worship services should not be haphazardly put together: Even if several people have the same spiritual gifts in a local church, Paul did not permit them to exercise their gifts simultaneously. Paul urged that each service element should not be haphazardly thrown together with no order, but with meticulous deliberateness so there will be no confusion (vv. 29-33). We are reminded that “God is not the author of confusion but of peace.” Disorganised services can distract the worshippers from fully focusing on God. Those who plan the worship services must deliberate on what they include and how they order them.

Worship services should be led by those in the church leadership: Women in the church are advised to submit to men of leadership and not to speak in public worship (vv. 34-38). The principle of prohibiting women from questioning their leadership applies to all the leadership realms of the church, especially regarding the worship service. Neither men nor women in the worship should challenge or disrupt the church leaders who lead the worship service. Public worship services and other church activities must be planned and led by church leaders, and all worshippers and members should respect and submit to their authority regarding the worship service.

Worship services should be Word-focused: In vv. 36-38, Paul emphasised the declaration of God’s revelation. Today, the divine revelation received through prophecy is complete and is given to us in the Bible (cf. 1 Cor. 13:9-10; Rev. 22:18-19). So, the declaration and practice of the Word in the church worship service are paramount to God-honouring worship service.

Gethsemane Filipino Fellowship (GFF) has been a ministry of the Gethsemane B-P Church since 2001 to reach out to Filipinos in Singapore with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Right from the beginning, GFF has made evangelistic efforts to win Filipinos for the Lord and nurture them in sound biblical faith. Through the members of GFF, GBPC has been led to the Philippines to begin 5 mission stations (Cebu, Bogo, San Antonio, Bohol and Pangasinan). All the pastors and preachers labouring in those stations were once part of GFF, who upon being trained in FEBC, had returned to serve the Lord in those places. We also remember, before the Lord in prayer, scores of Filipinos who have either returned to their native places in the Philippines or migrated to other countries, that they will continue to love and serve our Lord Jesus fervently. 

We praise God that brothers and sisters in GFF continue to be a zealous group of believers in our midst. We pray that they will persevere in their faith and love towards Christ and towards one another, despite the hardships and temptations that each of them is faced with. Their participation and contributions to the ministries of our church are praiseworthy, and may the Lord who worketh in and through them be praised. Two from GFF, Dn Norefel Resuma and Bro Jordan Ballega, serve as full-time staff of GBWL, a ministry arm of our church. Let us thank the Lord for all who are part of GFF, rejoicing and serving the Lord as they grow in the Word, prayer and fellowship.

On Sundays, GFF meet at 3:30pm, where they are instructed from the Word by the preachers of our church. To further foster their fellowship and the knowledge of the Word, they meet every first Friday of the month for Kababayan Bible Study (Kababayan means ‘countrymen’ in Tagalog). Pr Jeremiah Sim ministers God’s Word to this monthly fellowship gathering. They also frequently attempt to bring the Gospel to their countrymen who gather in the Orchard Road area. 

As a word of exhortation to all our dear Filipino brethren, I quote the inspired words of the apostle Paul to the church in Thessalonica: “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost” (1 Thess 1:2-6). 

David wrote in Psalm 23:6, “…and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” David was a man who always desired to be “in the house of the LORD”. There, he rejoiced in the goodness and mercies of the LORD. Worship, singing, rendering of testimonies, meditation of His Word, prayers, and all such activities in the LORD’s house granted him the greatest joy he had ever experienced in this world. In Psalm 5:7, he uttered, “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.”

David often spoke in his psalms about his desire for the LORD’s house. He prayed in Psalm 26:8, “LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.” In Psalm 27:4, he wrote, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” His pious heart could not find a greater, nobler, sweeter experience than hearing the praise, honour and glory of God in the place of worship. No wonder the psalmist exclaimed, “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God” (Psalm 84:1-2).

Furthermore, the psalmist said in Psalm 84:4, “Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.” He also declared in the same psalm: “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (v. 10). In the same vein, David counted being “in the house of the LORD” as the most blessed experience of a man’s life. So, he wrote in Psalm 65:4, “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.” 

It was David’s irrepressible desire to rejoice in all the activities conducted in the LORD’s house in worship of His name. His heart’s most cherished ambition was to be with God’s people in His house, thinking of the LORD’s goodness and mercy and serving Him. The desire for the LORD’s house was so great that he wanted to dwell there for ever. Obviously, nothing would fully satisfy his longing heart except heaven, where he shall dwell forever with the LORD!

Dear brethren, thank God that He does not refuse to let us in when we come to His house to seek His blessings and protection over us. He welcomes us to be like David, that we make His house our “dwelling place”. The LORD’s house is a place of asylum in times of our troubles, and also our happy dwelling place when our lives are joyous and blessed. 

Let us never forsake our assembling together in His house. Do not miss any opportunity that we have to come into His house. May the church be your “home, sweet home”.  Let us always say, “God’s house, My house!” Then, we too can say like David, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem” (Ps. 122:1-2).

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Photo News From Cherrapunji, Northeast India

Pastor Jied has reported that the construction of the Church and Bible Academy building has restarted after two months of delay caused by the rainy season. The concrete for the first level has been completed, and the construction of the second level of the building is about to begin. Pray that the construction will progress smoothly and be completed by early next year, as they desire it to be ready for use by February 2024.

Psalm 2:11—“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”

When we make ourselves available to serve God sincerely, feelings of joy mingled with fear would fill our hearts. Divine service often engenders many emotions and virtues in the hearts of His servants. Here the psalmist speaks of fear, joy and trembling as the expected and most suitable feelings and experiences of the LORD’s servants.

Fear and joy may appear to be two contrasting feelings, yet they co-exist in the hearts of those who serve the LORD. Both are necessary feelings of those who come into the awesome presence of God to serve Him.

Scripture reminds us in Psalm 89:7, “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” We must not only have great reverence for the LORD’s majesty, but must also possess great fear of His wrath against disobedient conduct in the midst of divine service. The LORD should be served with awe; all the teachings of God’s Word confirm this. His majesty, power, holiness, justice are to be greatly feared.

Such fear of the LORD makes His servant exceedingly cautious and diligent as he renders himself to the LORD’s work. The fear of the LORD makes him wise unto holiness, faithfulness and fervency, which are essential to the LORD’s work. It will drive away reluctance, slothfulness and sinful habits from the heart of His servant and will fill him with readiness, zeal and obedience for solemn service before Him.

The fear of God is never detrimental to one’s spiritual joy. It is rather a forerunner of joy in the LORD’s service. Those who serve God in godly fear will find themselves filled with joy unspeakable in the presence of God. Their reverential fear of the greatness of God dispels hesitancy and gloom to serve Him. Cheerful, happy service then freely flows out of their hearts, which are filled with the glory of the sovereign LORD. The service of God begets the highest joy that a man has ever known. When the hearts of His servants are overwhelmed with such earnest and sombre emotions, they would even be overcome with “trembling”! Unlike the carnal and worldly rejoicing that produces a puffed-up attitude, the spiritual joy of service evokes solemn inner impulses of humility and devotion, which are referred to here as “trembling”. The LORD’s servant is girded with humility and submission as he reverentially and joyfully renders his service.

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Greetings Received

Rev. Reggor Galarpe

Dear Pastor, elders, deacons and all our beloved brethren,

Greetings in the Blessed Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! With praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, I wish you all a “Blessed 35th Anniversary!” 

We rejoice together with you as you celebrate the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness upon the church in blessing all her labours in the ministry of the Gospel all these years.

On this happy occasion, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for all your prayers and support. Also, please know that your commitment, zeal and enthusiasm for the Lord’s work have been a great encouragement to us here in Cebu. 

We thank the Lord for His faithful under-shepherd, our beloved Pastor Koshy, who has faithfully laboured in nurturing God’s flock – not only in Singapore, but even among the mission churches and many others in different parts of the world, through his teaching and preaching ministry made available on the internet.

We also commend the Board of Elders and the deacons in their commitment to serve alongside Pastor Koshy, together with the preachers and faithful co-labourers serving in various capacities, as well as all our fellow brethren. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

May the Lord richly bless you and continue to prosper your labours, and enable you to do even greater things for His glory.

Blessed 35th Anniversary!

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Rev. Donald dela Cruz

Dear Pastor Koshy,

 The hot weather has officially started here in the Philippines. The weather is currently very dry and hot. The scorching heat is now felt especially during noon time. Rain is also very rare. The hot weather is still felt even late at night. I have advised the brethren to stay hydrated and be careful against heat stroke. May the Lord protect the brethren from any sickness.

 I praise the Lord for the provision of transportation for the brethren from Binday. Though most of them have their own motorcycles with sidecars, they are lacking drivers. Sometimes, there are Sundays when some families are not able to join the worship service because their drivers are not available. Praise the Lord for bringing one employee of Bro Kyt to serve as a driver. His name is Roel. He has been attending the worship service regularly. Bro Kyt had earlier asked him if he was interested to ferry people, which he happily agreed. He is driving Bro Kyt’s minivan. Our jeepney, which we previously used to fetch people, is still functioning but we have no driver. God willing, we can let him use the jeepney after some inspection. Surely, if God can answer our prayer about the provision of a driver, I told the brethren that God is also able to provide for the needs of His work, as well as their personal needs. I encouraged them to continue to trust the Lord, for He is faithful.

 Furthermore, I praise the Lord for enabling the church choir to learn and sing praises unto the Lord. Singing in harmony (in 4 parts), with “SATB” voices, is not common here. Most of the brethren are not even familiar with that. Nevertheless, the sisters singing in alto have adjusted very well, and I am very thankful that the brothers singing in bass are slowly catching up.

 Last but not least, I praise the Lord for sustaining Gethsemane BP Church, Singapore for the last 35 years. The Lord has used the church in so many ways that cannot be numbered. There were many struggles, but the spiritual blessings eclipse the difficulties. Praise the Lord for strengthening you to anchor the work of the mission stations. On behalf of the brethren here in Pangasinan, I wish you all a “Blessed Anniversary!”