I left the Jurong East MRT station at 6.20am and my flight was 9.30am. I was confident I would reach Terminal 2 two hours before my flight. As the train announced the next train station of Commonwealth, it dawned on me that I had left my sling bag behind at home. My heart raced. I perspired. My mind dashed between two options: go to Bangkok, get the church camp message files and slides uploaded from my email, and buy medicine from the pharmacy. Or take the train back and ask my wife to bring the bag to Jurong East MRT station. I opted for the latter. Thank God it all worked out well, and I was able to check in at the airport ahead of time.
It was the second time I forgot important things this week. A few days before, I had missed my medical appointments and flu jab. I have to watch the progression of this forgetfulness thing.
I also noticed the power of words. I was talking with the lead pastor, Andrew Foo, about Thai food, and he mentioned a common Thai staple: minced pork with Thai basil in fish sauce with rice and a fried egg. His wife Sok Hiang, mentioned a popular soap brand called Madam Heng. After we checked into the hotel, we searched for lunch in a food court at Seacon Mall. I walked past all the food stalls and went back to the stall selling minced pork with basil, rice and a fried egg. And later in the night, we chanced upon the ladies at Madam Heng’s small pop-up shop at Paradise Park, and I bought two boxes of soap bars.
That is an example of the power of words.
And I was allowed to preach the word of God in six sessions to 20-plus campers from River of Life Church. In reliance on the Spirit, words that are mine explain, illustrate and apply God’s word to the hearers. If words about temporal matters like food and soap can initiate action, surely words anointed by the Spirit would have a deeper spiritual impact and bring about changes in the lives of the hearers! With God’s grace, I delivered the messages based on the theme of “Times of Refreshing”. It looked like this:
REFRESHED BY THE GOSPEL: The gospel is not merely for accepting Jesus but for the sustainable spiritual health of the believer.
REFRESHED BY REST: Tending to our need for physical & soul rest.
Small group discussion & prayer.
REFRESHED BY PRAYER: Jesus’ way of prayer refreshed him and will refresh us as well.
REFRESHED BY STAYING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY: Tending to our emotions in times of suffering and loss keeps us refreshed.
Questions & Answers session.
REFRESHED BY REFRESHING OTHERS: When we reach out to others, we ourselves are refreshed.
The small hotel was located about 20 minutes by car from the airport, and a ten-minute walk from two large malls. When we wanted a larger, more happening mall, we went to Mega Bangna, about 20 minutes away by car. The camp fee covered all the breakfasts and one special seafood dinner. Lunch and other dinners were at the campers’ expense. This was a good arrangement, as they would have free and easy afternoons from 12pm until the 8pm night session.
The church members were warm, friendly and generous. Having meals with them was meaningful, and I got to know some of the incredible and interesting stories of the members and pastors. I learned that they have two missionaries in Africa, one of whom was featured in Salt & Light stories. Another missionary was empowering volunteers and reaching out to sex workers in different parts of Thailand. The church has also supported and developed a network of church plants and an education centre that provides primary and secondary education for the poor in Indonesia.
They are faithfully doing their part in the Antioch vision of the Singapore church. I cannot but praise God for how the charismatic outpouring of 1972 has empowered so many churches to reach the unreached in S.E. Asia and beyond.
It is interesting how different churches organise their camps. The common elements for most camps are the spiritual input of Word and prayer sessions, and longer hours for people to relax, spend time together over meals, get to know one another more deeply, and enjoy different activities together.
The camp began on Thursday and ended on Sunday. Friday and Saturday were packed with six sessions. Thursday was for flying in and settling down in the hotel and surroundings. Sunday was for people to fly off at different times, with some additional shopping and enjoying delicious, value-for-money meals.