Blessings of Evangelism

A report on the work of the Evangelistic Band by Dn Charles Kan

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom 10:13-15)

We praise and thank God for the evangelistic work of True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. In August 2004, Bro Lok Kwok Wah (now a deacon at Gethsemane BPC) together with 10 brethren started the door-to-door evangelism at Clementi HDB estate in the vicinity of the Clementi MRT station. Subsequently in November 2004 under the leadership of Dn Tai Mern Yee, the Lord led them to Bukit Panjang HDB estate, which is about 20 minutes by public transport from RELC. In August 2007 when Dn Mern Yee was posted to Germany for work, I was appointed by Session to lead the Eband. There are over 300 residential blocks at Bukit Panjang HDB estate. Thus far we have covered a good portion and are left with about 20 blocks. We are now seeking the Lord’s guidance as to where we should go next.

Thank God for the blessings of brethren who help in the faithful packing of tracts in plastic folders for evangelism. We thank God also for faithful and committed members, even children who follow their parents for evangelism.

On the last Sunday of every month, the E-band would gather at the void deck in the afternoon at 2.30 pm. We begin with a word of prayer for the Lord’s leading even to grant us opportunities to share the gospel and for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of people unto salvation. We are then grouped in twos or threes to tract door to door. At the end of each evangelism session at about 4.15 pm, we gather for a time of sharing so as to encourage one another and pray for those whom we have met and spoken to.

We praise and thank God for every opportunity presented us to sow the gospel seed and the privilege of leading souls to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord. I am reminded of a young boy whom I have not seen for a very long time but met him again at a wedding dinner and he was already a young man. He told me that he has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. He reminded me that I was the one who shared with him the gospel when he was four years old in my family’s old house in Chinatown. Truly the Lord will use some to sow the gospel seed, some to water and others to reap the harvest in His divinely appointed time. Truly, “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jon 2:9).

I am also much encouraged to have in our midst those who have been prompted by the Holy Spirit and are willing to make a commitment to serve the Lord in this work of reaching out to the lost. E-band also has the privilege of reaching out to children, inviting them to the Vacation Bible School every year during the school holidays. Since 2008, E-band has been responsible in organising the Christmas Gospel meeting in conjunction with the Children’s Christmas party.

We, who have tasted the Lord’s goodness, must also be reminded of the great commission to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). May the Lord Jesus Christ help us to serve Him “while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work” (John 9:4). May the Lord Jesus grant us grace and willingness of heart to evangelise the lost and enable us to be fit vessels ready for the Master’s use.

Here are three testimonies from E-Band members of the blessings of evangelism. Sis Elizabeth Mok shares:
“Thank God for blessing the church monthly evangelism ministry which has seen a steady increase in the number of brethren co-labouring together to share the good news of salvation to others especially in these last days.

“Mark 16:15, ‘And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature’.

“I have been blessed and have gained important spiritual experiences through this work. I have learnt that salvation is truly of the Lord and not of men. People are saved not through our clever words of persuasion, good oratorical skills or intellectual reasoning.

“God is the one who prepares the heart and helps the individual to understand and embrace the truth. I have also observed and learned how hearts of men can be so hardened by idolatry, traditions and worldly sins that they reject the gospel. All these attest to God’s election and calling.

“Last but not least, I would like to personally testify and share how a simple act of tracting can be used by God to lead a person to Christ. I came to know the Lord through the Life BP Church evangelistic band ministry. A friend of mine received a tract while she was at the Toa Payoh Library one day. She read the tract and visited Life Church and then brought me and two other friends along. Though she has left Life Church, the other two sisters and I stayed on and became Life church members and are now worshipping at True Life. Thank God for His saving grace! Amen.”

 

Here’s one from Mrs Chan Kay Heem:
“It was only in April last year that I started participating in the door-to-door evangelism held every last week of each month. Prior to that, I always had had an excuse even though I was fully aware of my obligation to the Great Commission (Matt 28:19, 20). My fear had overcome my desire to obey the Lord. But, little did I know, our gracious Lord was not going to let me neglect my duty.

“One Sunday, by God’s providence, Anne asked me to go for evangelism after she found out how fun it was from Li Ann, a regular at these sessions. I was put on the spot; I had no biblical basis for saying ‘no’. So, clinging on to the Lord’s promise, ‘lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world’ (Matt 28:20), I braced myself and tagged along with Chew Ying and began my first door-to-door evangelism after much earnest prayer.

“It’s been more than a year since and I never regretted spending my Sunday afternoon once a month, sharing the gospel or just giving out tracts to the residents I met. The joy and peace that come from doing God’s will far outweigh the exhaustion, thirst and heat.

“My fears are not completely eradicated. But, each time it reared its ugly head, it was quickly countered by Matthew 28:20 and also by the encouraging words of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who said, ‘Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you … for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.’ (Matt 5:11, 12).

“Heavenly rewards aside, I am just glad that I can play a part in fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission to all believers. Praise God!”

Last but not least, Mrs Rosaleen Cheong testifies of the vow she must keep:
“Thank the Lord for His many blessings and mercies upon me and my family.

“I was informed in 2003 that I had slight glaucoma. I took it very lightly because the pressure was quite stable. I only needed one eye-drop per day. But in 2007 the pressure in both my eyes went up and kept on rising. The doctor in the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) increased my eye-drop dosage each time. Even when it was three per day, the pressure kept rising. In 2010, the doctor confirmed that I needed laser-treatment on my right eye or else I would go blind. That really frightened me. That night I prayed and prayed for the Lord’s mercy and deliverance. Being blind I would be dependent on others to help me always. The thought of it really frightened me. I prayed earnestly for the Lord’s blessing but that His will be done not mine for He knows best what is good for me. I promised my Lord Jesus that if He pitied me and spared me from being blind, I would follow the E-Band to evangelise for Him. I have always had this wish but did not know how, when and where to begin.

“With this trust and confidence in the Lord, I went to the hospital for my laser operation. To my surprise, the operation took only a few minutes. It was successful as the pressure went down immediately. I went home praising my Lord Jesus for his mercy on me. Two months passed. Before Christmas 2010, I was congratulated by the doctor who confirmed that my eye pressure had gone down. He even commented that I could enjoy my Christmas. Praise the Lord for His mercy and for answering my prayer.

“Since then, I have been with the E-Band during their visits to Bt Panjang and Tiong Bahru. I would want to carry on this evangelising work as long as the Lord permits. Praise be to the Lord for his mercy and goodness towards me and my family. Amen.”

Pastor’s Note: Let me encourage the E-Band to introduce a gospel correspondence course for those who express interest to know more about Christianity. Andrew Koh of Gethsemane BPC, now a full-time student at FEBC was won to Christ in such a way. God bless! JK