SALVATION OF THE OLD FOLKS
Jenny Kan
“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.” (Ps 150:1, 2).
We want to praise our heavenly Father, and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for His mighty work in the hearts and lives of the old folks at the St John’s Home for Elderly Persons.
We thank the Lord for His wonderful words of life given to these old folks, even the gift of eternal life. It is truly a privilege for Deborah Mae, Sok Sin and I to witness the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the old folks even in their evening years. We thank the Lord for his grace towards Madam Ong Ng Tee (85) and Madam Wong Hun Foong (96) for saving them out of darkness into His marvellous light. It is amazing to see how the Lord worked in their hearts and see them come to trust him sincerely. Madam Ong Ng Tee confessed the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour in early January and asked for baptism. Her family are unbelievers and had from the beginning refused to give their consent, thinking that she might not know what she was doing. However, Madam Ong continued to attend the Tuesday fellowship with us and we prayed to the Lord for His intervention. The Lord answered our prayers most wonderfully. The family members later called the manager of the home, Mr Goh, on 25 January 2013 and gave their consent for their mother to be baptised.
By God’s grace, arrangements were made and on 29 January 2013, Pastor Jeffrey Khoo, assisted by Deacon Philip Goh, baptised not only Madam Ong but also Madam Wong Hun Foong. Madam Wong confessed the Lord Jesus as her personal Lord and Saviour in November 2012 and has been attending True Life BPC for about two months. On the morning of 29 January 2013, when she realised that Madam Ong was to be baptised, she asked if she could be baptised too. She had already a desire to be baptised but had not made it known to us, but the Lord already knew, and opened the way for her.
Pastor Jeffrey Khoo preached from John 3:13-15, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Brother Ng Yew Chong of Truth BPC interpreted the message into Mandarin. The service was attended by about 40 and I am sure all have been blessed by the Word. The joy of these two elderly ladies was visible as they praised the Lord Jesus continuously. We are so grateful for Psalm 19:7-9, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.” The Holy Spirit has indeed convicted and converted sinners, made wise the simple, enlightened and caused the old folks to rejoice in their salvation. Although they are away from their family and loved ones, they have experienced the love of God in their hearts.
We thank the Lord for moving the heart of Mr Goh, the manager of the home, to call on us whenever he needed us to give the gospel or to check if the old folks had truly understood and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. He most readily made all the arrangements in contacting the families of the old folks who were seeking baptism or permission to worship at True Life BPC. He also gladly arranged for the use of the St John’s Chapel for the baptismal service. We are thankful to God, our Heavenly Father, for making the path smooth for us, to remove every obstacle in order that His chosen ones can come to Him freely and be saved. We acknowledge that all the good that has been done in the lives of these precious souls is solely the work of the mighty hand of God. We are so grateful that the Lord has blessed us in allowing us to witness His wonderful work. Praise the Lord God almighty!
SALVATION TESTIMONIES
Madam Ong Ng Tee
Long time ago, when I heard about Jesus Christ I was very happy but did not understand many things. Whenever I heard stories of Jesus Christ I was very glad. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord. Jesus always helps me, whenever I was sick or sad I would pray to Jesus for help. I am not educated, so all I can say is ‘Jesus help me’ and whenever I pray this, my heart is at peace. When nobody listens to me, I pray to Jesus and
He will always hear me.
Madam Wong Hun Foong
I want to thank Jesus Christ for taking care of me and helping me to believe in Him. When I hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, I believe in Him. I am very happy to be baptised because it is my heart’s desire. I am so happy to believe in Jesus and to be baptised.
THE PRICELESS WOMAN
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” (1 Pet 3:1-4),
Praise the Lord for the Ladies’ Fellowship. It was the first fellowship group of our church formed at the instance of Mrs Ivy Tow. Deborah Mae, Judith D’Silva, and Jenny Kan and others have served most lovingly and cheerfully since 2004. Their 9th anniversary was celebrated on February 6, 2013 at RELC Room 602.
Pastor preached from 1 Peter 3:1-4 and spoke on the kind of woman that God values. The woman who is well-loved and highly esteemed by God is the woman who knows her god-given role in the family and in the church, who is chaste and God- fearing, who pursues inner beauty which is holiness, and not outward vanity.
John Calvin, the great Reformer, found such a woman of great price. She was Idelette, an Anabaptist who fled persecution in her native Holland with her husband. Both found refuge in Strasburg. In Strasburg, they came under the pastoral care of Calvin. Idellete’s husband later died from a severe illness and Calvin conducted his funeral. Calvin at that time was looking for a wife. He shared with his good friend Farel what he thought would be the ideal wife for him, “… I am none of those insane lovers who embrace also the vices of those with whom they are in love, where they are smitten at first sight with a fine figure. This only is the beauty which allures me, if she is chaste, if not too fussy or fastidious, if economical, if patient, if there is hope that she will be interested about my health.” Idelette fit the bill precisely, and Calvin saw in her that “ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” Calvin married Idelette in 1540. She took good care of Calvin and attended to his needs so well so that he could give himself totally to his pastoral and teaching duties.
Idelette was Calvin’s wife for only nine years. After she was called home to be with the Lord, Calvin shared how much he missed her, “I have been bereaved of the best companion of my life, who, if our lot had been harsher, would have been not only the willing sharer of exile and poverty, but even of death. While she lived she was the faithful helper of my ministry. From her I never experienced the slightest hindrance.” May our young ladies strive to be a 1 Peter 3:4 woman, and may our young men when looking for a wife will look for such a priceless woman. JK
