Back from China

I have been to three cities in China to visit and encourage friends and to look for opportunities to serve. Here are some of my impressions of the cities I was in though I must admit to spending short 3 – 5 days in each place.

Lijiang was the most beautiful and scenic. An old town (800 years old) that has been made a World Heritage site,  and a new town that grew as a result of the tourism boom. The air was fresh, the skies were blue and it was not so crowded. The economy doesn’t seem to have suffered but in the underbelly of this boom there lies the insidious attrition of marriage and family life. Many families have both parents working and tied down to long hours and hard labor. In one child families most of these children tend to be spoilt by as many as six indulgent adult parents and grandparents. A recipe for future disaster. We spent some time with a few couples and a single mother in our team shared about keeping marriages fresh and protected. We also went into the country to look at an organic chicken farm project and visit a family that we had helped several years ago. Nothing like getting into the homes and seeing the real thing and the way people lived and related and the kind of problems they faced.

Next was Lanzhou. We ascended a high hill that overlooked the city and prayed for the Hui people, the unique Chinese Muslims. Right at the time we were praying for an outpouring of the Spirit upon this dry spiritual desert, we saw water spraying out from a nozzle among the trees browned by dust, and a mini rainbow was immediately visible. A sign from heaven!  This city is dismal with grey skies and winds that carry microscopic sand from who knows where but there is hope. I salute those friends who stay in this rather polluted place to serve people for so long. We visited one of the families that received sponsorship for studies. It was a poor migrant worker single mother. She rented a tiny two room quarters and she hawked food in the morning to support her family. The reality hits you and you wonder how many more struggle and eke out their living in similar poverty. I also saw how successful businesses can actually be run when there is clear focus, good opportunities and division of labor. My friends have this vision of planting seeds of faith, hope and love in young hearts that may take decades to come  to fruition. If you want to partner with them financially, contact me.

The last city was Chengdu and Pengzhou. By this time I was getting tired of noodles and Szechuan peppers. At Pengzhou, we visited some friends in a center that helped victims of the last great earthquake of Szechuan. The one that killed over a hundred thousand people. There I met the products of China’s revival in the 50’s, seasoned Christian leaders that still have the fire burning in them. As I heard them speak, I think of the Back to Jerusalem movement. It began in the 1920’s with a brave missionary band sent from a Bible school in the north west to evangelize the nations between China and Jerusalem. The band died out and the vision was entombed awaiting as it were, a resurrection.

After the communist takeover, and the revival that broke out in different parts of China, this forgotten vision was called forth like Lazarus, out of its tomb. The gospel came from Jerusalem. Now it needs to be brought back. Through all the countries between China and Jerusalem. This spans the Buddhist world, the Hindu world and the Muslim world. Many house church networks have committed themselves to this. Many have already died for this. The church outside China is helping equip people dedicated to this missionary impetus and supporting them financially.

We were shown a huge concrete bridge that was broken up and lifted many meters high during the last major earthquake. Its been made into a tourist site, a testimony to nature’s fierce wrath. We visited a organic farming training center and a welfare home. In fact we had meals with these handicapped and abandoned people in the home. They were well cared for. They even ate food from the organic farm with its organic pork and chicken and vegetables.

By the time we had our final stop in Chengdu, I have had enough of noodles and Szechuan peppers. We gravitated to Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and MacDonald’s. Felt like home. And we went to Capital Mall China Trust’s “Raffles City” in Chengdu, a huge shopping mall and service apartments and office complex, built and managed by Singaporeans. We met and were hosted by friends Moses and Yoke and were blessed with their Malaysian folksiness. “Aren’t you going to Malaysia to vote?” I asked.  No, they said, and since I was not willing to pay for their airfares back to Malaysia to vote, I kept my mouth shut.

The trip was successfully concluded with a smooth 5 hours flight home. I estimated we were in the airplane or in the airport during transits, etc. for close to 24 hours in total throughout the whole period of 11 days. Thank God for good company, wonderful friends and hospitality and the grace of God and prayers of the church.

I just heard over the TV news a summary of the charges against City Harvest Church folks. Do pray.

 

 

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Flight to China

This past two weeks were like a packed luggage bag.

There were the preparations and co-ordination for the Annual General Meeting that ended this afternoon. We wanted to amend some parts of the church constitution. The meeting was peaceful and there were good questions raised that needed to be raised. It went well. The constitution amendments proposed were accepted by the general body.

I had to catch up with my pre-campus readings for my MTh program under AGST Alliance. This particular module on Educational Leadership required me to read two books. One is the Kouzes & Posner’s classic,  “The Leadership Challenge”. The other is “Leading Congregational Change” (Herrington, Bonem and Furr). Not exactly books I would read had it not been for the course.  I had to hand in some reflection papers and so I tried to complete the required readings for the two weeks when I would be away in the western part of China to visit some friends of the church. There are two more readings to do and it should not be hurried and they are meant to be reflected upon for application. I have brought them with me in my Galaxy Tab, now a cannot- live- without item in my life. Four hours flights and transits are good reading and reflection periods.

The sermon this Sunday morning also needed to be worked on and I could only complete it on Saturday evening. Missed my Saturday morning trek this time round.

Due to this trip and the 10 days I would be away, I needed to clear stuff and do some work ahead of time. No complaints. This is part and parcel of the Singapore life. Still some stuff left undone.

Then there is packing. I hate packing. Somehow this time the grace was present to get it done.

So tomorrow at 5.30 am I leave for Changi International Airport bound for Kunming.

Pray for me and the team.

Flight to China can have other connotations too.

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New Horizon Church: great hope for small churches

This church is a model of hope for small churches. Two small churches merged into a unified larger body and out of that union, a new fellowship emerged, aptly re-named, the New Horizon Church.

Ministry at New Horizon

I was invited to preach at their facility at Wing Fong Building, Guillemard Road. It was a mere 10 minutes drive from the church where I serve.  Euclid Tan, who spent a year in Bill Johnson’s  School of the Supernatural in Redding, accompanied me. Extra firepower! The worship hall was pleasant, and the congregation looked about 200. The worship leader led with enthusiasm, and the receptiveness of the congregation was gracious, and they warmed up as the message developed. I preached about the characteristics of God’s love. Yes, I added some ingredients to a used message. I micro-waved “God’s Love Tattoo”, and served the Word with a fresh spirit. Then we prayed for the sick and released prophetic words. The Spirit manifested himself and we were all blessed.

How the two churches merged

What happened? How did the two churches get together? I see the finger of God and the wisdom of seasoned ministers at work in the merger. The Herald Assembly of God church pastor was retiring. Out of discussions with Rev Lawrence Koo, then senior pastor of Agape Community Church, emerged the possibility of a church merger.

What followed were many meetings and a master plan that stretched to a year or more. Planned discussions by pastors and key leaders of both groups were held.  They organized a combined church camp, many joint services and church events where they got to know each other, like in dating and courtship.

They allowed a lot of internal discussions and time for each group to process the idea of a merger, to envisage what it would look like, and to imagine and live in the new feelings in the new state. Perhaps it was at the same time a necessary period to surrender preferences,  grieve and say goodbye to their respective former histories and identities. Thankfully, the decision over who would be the senior pastor was a no-brainer. The tough call was probably the name and the place of worship and the new identity and vision of the unified body.

In the end, all ended well, and they got married, and I wish I can say, and they had lots of children and lived happily ever after. I cannot so all readers are urged to lift up a prayer that this new entity will move from strength to strength;  and is able to fulfill its new destiny; and provide a beacon of hope for small churches.

Ps Lawrence Koo with me

Rev Lawrence Koo

I first heard of this process of merger from Rev Lawrence Koo, a veteran pastor with the Assemblies of God.  Besides being the senior pastor of Agape Community Church, he is a council member, a respected minister in his denomination, and the founding chairman of Global Leadership Summit.  Together with his wife, Nettie, during their Bible college days, they actually planted what is now a dynamic church in Seremban . Lawrence made regular trips to USA, particularly to Willow Creek Community Church. I got to know him when I joined him in one of those trips. During that trip, we also attended the Toronto Airport Church for a conference, and visited Jim Cybala’s Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. Occasionally he took my pulpit.

Tough to be small church

This promising merger will be a great hope for small churches because it’s tough to be small in Singapore. We are a well-connected tiny little red dot of an island. People are educated, exposed, sophisticated and want the best for their families. They are more consumer-oriented in their decisions than they realize. They compare; they shop; they look for what meets their needs best. The small church, like the old provision shop, finds itself marginalized by the large church “shopping mall experience”. A small church of below 30-60 finds it tough going. But if they go over 100, they struggle less financially and are more stable. Closer to 200, there is even better synergy and resources. Anything above that is a good size to be in: good for disciple making, strong community, and having sufficient resources for resilience and advancement. It’s tough to be small in Singapore but if small churches can merge like what New Horizon Church has done, there is great hope for helping small churches to move ahead in the Lord.

Help!

Perhaps larger fellowships (denominations) like the Assemblies of God have the resources and experience to make available and encourage and facilitate the merger of small churches. There are wise spiritual fathers and mothers respected by younger pastors and the many small churches. These veterans can help prod, probe, explore such mergers without trampling on the dignity or passion of small church pastors and their dedicated, battle-hardened troopers. Maybe this is apostolic work too.

There is always a new horizon when small churches dare to risk an intentional merger.

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Christian Gospel Mission: tutored in grace for a mission at hand

Christian Gospel Mission

The church opposite former Keat Hong Camp

The former Keat Hong Camp was where national servicemen collected their soldier uniforms, caps, socks, belts and boots. As I stood at the worship hall of Christian Gospel Mission and looked out across Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1, I saw a large spacious bare land. Keat Hong Camp had been flattened. In its place, the Housing Development Board will be building thousands of apartment units. The harvest is coming to where the church is.

The Christian Gospel Mission, which first began in Jalan Cheng Hwa in Bukit Panjang, had relocated here, and has remained here for decades now. It is part of a stretch of shop-houses opposite what was once Keat Hong Camp. They are a church, a kindergarten and a student care center. They are Mandarin-speaking but the children of the original church congregation, have grown up and are mostly  effectively bi-lingual. They are about 70 members and with a good mix of young and old and middle-aged. They have a new pastor, a former teacher, and he has taken over from his father, Choo Fah Chong. He is pastor Kevin Choo and he preaches the message of radical grace. The church is currently adjusting well as they sit under teachings that bring a new perspective to the outworking of the Christian life.

Discussion during Sunday serviceGrace-based, bi-lingual, interesting service

The unique thing about this church is that besides being “grace-based” and bi-lingual, the church’s Sunday service has an interesting format that my Christian education director would have been proud of. After the singing, the offering and announcements, the church would break into discussion groups after the pastor gave them some directions. The fruit of the discussions of each group would then be shared, and the pastor would teach the word, using and referring to the input as he delivered the message. This is learning that is interesting, engaging, interactive and dynamic.

Teochew muay

Since I was a guest preacher they did the usual traditional order of service. I had an interpreter Joseph, who translated my message for the Pastor Kenny's message translated into Mandarincongregation. I spoke about “God’s Love Tattoo”.  One of the sermon illustrations I used was about Teochew muay. It tickled them so much that I heard this Easter service they had that after the service. They have a retired hotel chef, so their Teochew muay must have been plus, plus. I brought along a Pastor Kenny, Pastor Kevin Choo, Euclid, Josephfriend, Euclid, who had been trained for a year in the School of the Supernatural in Bethel.  He was a great help during ministry time when we prayed and prophesied over people who came forward with needs.They were friendly and hospitable and after the service, we lunched at a coffee shop nearby: Teochew muay…well almost.

Being equipped for a great mission

I left the place thinking of its potential: the congregation experiencing new beginnings in the gospel of grace; the vast numbers of new families that will have new beginnings in the apartment blocks that will be built within four years. For such a time as this, the congregation is being tutored and equipped in the truths of grace, and I pray the Lord’s word will prosper and bear fruit through their faithful stewardship of the gospel to the new harvest field in front of them.

 

 

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Lawyer back from the dead, and more….

 

The Straits Times on Sunday published an inspiring story of how a lawyer who was brain dead woke up. The Hong Kong medical specialists advised the husband to pull the plug. But something …or Someone held him in check….and God did a miracle through the prayer of His people. This is apt for Good Friday and Easter when Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

“Lawyer Suzanne Chin is convinced that what happened to her four years ago is nothing short of a miracle. The mother of two was living and working in Hong Kong when she suffered a heart attack, was hospitalised in a coma and declared brain dead. The head of the intensive care unit, two neurologists and a cardiologist told her husband to prepare for the worst. Soon, he was advised to take her off life support because, simply put, there was no hope. Then, three days after she was admitted, she woke up from her coma. She recovered within a week and left the hospital. Today, she is living in Singapore, still working as a lawyer, still a wife and mum. She is well, and she is alive. Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon recalled her remarkable story in a speech earlier this month on euthanasia and assisted dying. When The Sunday Times contacted Ms Chin for her story, she agreed only to answer questions via e-mail. Her husband, private investor John Alabaster, described what he went through too and said one thing was clear to him throughout their ordeal: “I did not talk to my children about switching off the life support simply because it was not an option for me.” But first, this is what happened to them in April 2009. April 20 started out as just another morning in their household. The usual scramble to get the children off to school before Ms Chin took off on her usual morning hike with her dog. But a few minutes after leaving home, she returned. She was in no pain but felt something was amiss. It was after she showered that she felt something was wrong and alerted her husband. “The last thing I remember was expressly forbidding him from calling an ambulance,” she said. She was taken unconscious to hospital and sent to the ICU. She had no history of heart problems, but had suffered a cardiac arrest. It was a huge shock for her husband. One day, everything had been normal for the couple, both in their 40s, and their children then aged 12, and seven. The next day, she was in a coma and it looked very bad. The specialists told Mr Alabaster she had suffered brain stem death and he had to prepare himself for “letting her go”. “In their opinion – and they were very firm – there was absolutely no chance of any sort of recovery,” he recalled. The next day, a doctor asked him if he had thought about it because his wife was neurologically lifeless, a valve in her heart had been severely damaged and there was no point keeping her alive. Things looked “worse than bleak” but he refused to say yes to switching off his wife’s life support, even though the doctor had been well intentioned. “But his demeanour when I told him of my decision to reject his opinion was one of patronising incredulity coupled with an unsaid ‘oh, you’ll come around’,” he said. On the third day, she revived. Ms Chin opened her eyes to see her husband bending over her, then she realised they were not at home, and noticed the wires and tubes stuck all over her body. “I realised that I was in a hospital and with tears in his eyes, my husband said that everything was going to be all right,” she said. “Within a very few hours, I was able to grasp a marker pen and I was able slowly to converse with the people around me.” What remains vivid is what she described as a recurring vision during the lost days when she was in a coma. She said: “I saw myself lying on a bed unable to move or speak. A man appeared by my side. He did not seem overtly threatening in any way but something in me sensed that he was not good. “He told me that if I wanted to move or speak, all I would have to do was to follow him. I demanded that he leave me alone, but he would not go away. Over and over again I repeated this. I also prayed without ceasing. “After a while, the man faded away. This vision repeated several times, but on what turned out to be the last occasion, the man started to get angry. He threatened to ‘take’ my daughter if I refused to ‘follow’ him. Again, I was resolute and unyielding, telling him he had no power over me as I was a child of God. “It was at that moment that I woke from my coma to see my husband John standing by my bed.” People she has related this to have asked if it might have been a dream. She said: “What is amazing is that this happened at a time when medically, I had been pronounced as being brain dead.” Ms Chin’s recovery from first opening her eyes to sitting up with her feet over the side of the bed took just 36 hours. “Not one doctor who treated me while in hospital or subsequently any specialist that I have seen since, either in Hong Kong or later in Singapore, has been able to account for the speed of my recovery or that I was able to come back from that hopeless position at all,” she said. “There is no doubt that I had suffered massive brain damage resulting in brain stem death. If one looks at the situation rationally and logically, there is no explanation for what happened. I truly believe that this was a miracle from God and that I have been blessed with a second chance.” Ms Chin and her husband said that while both are Christians, neither was committed or active in church at the time. It was her brother, Dr Alan Chin, a Singapore doctor and a fervent Christian, who flew to Hong Kong, prayed with Mr Alabaster when she appeared the worst and believed that she would pull through. Dr Chin told The Sunday Times he was shocked to find his sister diagnosed with brain stem death. “My medical training told me there was no hope, but my faith in God said that there was hope in Jesus Christ,” he said. Mr Alabaster recalled mounting pressure from the medical staff treating his wife to “put Suzanne – and ourselves – out of our misery by switching off machines that were keeping her alive.” Even when she made an occasional twitch, they quashed his hopes by insisting that it was purely a reflex. Their talk always returned to “saying goodbye” and “letting go”. “I, on the other hand, hopefully and prayerfully saw in these very slight movements a base from which to see further progress,” he said. They made him wonder if his brother-in-law could be right, that she would be healed. What was also distressing was that as news of Ms Chin’s sudden illness spread, many of her friends from Hong Kong and elsewhere began arriving at her bedside, and Mr Alabaster knew that from talking to the medical staff, they too expected the worst. What was hardest for him though, was talking to his daughter and son about their mother. “I had told them that Mum was sick and in the infirmary – that was understandable to them as they had both been born at the same hospital,” he said. He tried to put up a cheerful front and hoped to slowly break the news that they might lose their mother. But soon friends and family were arriving and he had to tell them she was seriously ill. But he never told them about switching off the life support. “It wasn’t that it was a choice I did not want to face, it was just not something I could or would ever sanction. The point was not that the person on that bed connected to all those austere machines was my wife. “It was more fundamental than that… If that machine were to be turned off, all hope would vanish and I only had God and hope to rely on.” Then, as suddenly as she had taken ill, Ms Chin made a recovery that astounded the doctors and nurses. “But their confusion and bafflement was juxtaposed with the amazement, relief and total ecstasy that my children and I were feeling as, by God’s grace, we had got our Suzanne back. “Ten days after the attack she was as good as new. The tear in her heart valve that was so obvious on several ECGs and the ensuing poor heart performance was totally healed. This restoration, I am told, cannot happen without open heart surgery as heart valves do not repair by themselves. “Suzanne’s brain activity was totally back to normal and from that day to this has never had even the slightest relapse.” In the days that followed her recovery, Ms Chin learnt about all that had happened and how her doctors were convinced there was no hope and it would be best to let her die, but her brother was so sure she would live. She said: “It pains me to think about what my husband, my children, my family and friends went through. It was a tremendously difficult time for all of them. Yet when faced with such a difficult decision, they chose to fight for me. Without their faith, I would not be here today, able to recount this story.”  (vijayan@sph.com.sg)

Suzanne Chin shares her story

And if you are interested in another story of a member from our deaf congregation who also came back from the dead, read I VISITED HEAVEN for more.

What are we to do with advanced medical directives now?

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