Quek Shi Yun – Kallos

Anne Ng: Prayer Warrior for Revival

Quek Shi Yun — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 06:58:00 +0000

When Anne became a Christian, God gripped her heart to see more on her campus live with radical faith. QUEK SHI YUN finds out how she is contending for revival in polytechnics in Singapore.

Anne’s passion for Christ is unmistakable. As she spoke fervently about her desire to see more turn to Jesus, I couldn’t help but feel excited by the fire in her. Together with a few friends, she has been championing a movement called Poly Revival, a network of polytechnic students inspiring the next generation to live authentically for Christ. As leader of the Singapore Poly prayer space, Anne gathers with like-minded Christians each week to worship and intercede for the move of the Holy Spirit. Read on to hear her heart for Poly Revival.

What does ‘revival’ look like to you?

It is really to see the move of the Holy Spirit. When we look at revival in the book of Acts, we see people getting baptised in the Holy Spirit and being empowered to live for the gospel.

How did you get involved in Poly Revival?

When Poly Revival first began, I started out by helping with the publicity for a big worship night. It didn’t really work out, but afterwards, as we were praying, we felt that we should go in the direction of creating prayer movements for the five different polys.

I felt the Lord prompting me to start one in Singapore Poly. And I was like, yeah, I have a heart for that! I became a Christian three years ago, and then COVID struck, so I didn’t really go to the church, but I read the Bible a lot. And in the New Testament I saw the apostles getting persecuted for their faith. As Paul says, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21).

I had been really excited to be a Christian in a polytechnic, because for the first time, that would be where I could live out my faith. But I saw Christians in my class who seemed like they were living in the world or it felt like there was this lukewarmness going on (Rev 3:15–16). So I thought, there must be more to

THERE MUST BE MORE TO CHRISTIANITY IF PEOPLE WERE DYING FOR THEIR FAITH.

Christianity if people were dying for their faith. There must more as students that we can do to harvest the field. And that’s where my heart developed to see a move of the Holy Spirit in the campus.

Has your faith journey influenced your desire to see revival and for more people to know Him?

The day that I accepted Christ was the day the Lord rescued me from the depths of hell. How I view the gospel is that it is more than a story that gets you to church every Sunday. It’s a story that rescues you from hell — it is a story that changes your life, that brings about transformation. And it’s just such a beautiful story. It’s one where you get to have a personal fellowship with the Lord.

So, I want people to know that living for Christ is something you live or you die for, you know? Don’t be lukewarm. You’re either hot for Him, or you’re cold. Personally, I have a heart for evangelism. One of my goals in life is to make everyone I interact with either love Jesus so much that they’re either willing to die for Him or they spit on Him. It’s either this or that. Don’t be stuck in the middle.

WE ARE HERE TO CHANGE CULTURE, TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST.

Why do you think this movement is needed on poly campuses?

Tertiary education is the season where people really craft out their identity. And what I noticed about poly culture is that it’s very secular, where it’s very easy to live like the world. What we want is to provide a platform to say, hey, there is more than just getting a diploma; there is more than just conforming to culture. We are here to change culture, to be more like Christ, to be a living vessel, and to be the salt and light to the people around us and on campus. We want this to be a place where believers can come together to strengthen and sharpen each other. We want to empower students to not just conform to the culture, but to be more than that and to live authentically for Christ.

Before someone enters poly, what would you tell them might confront their faith?

I think there is a pressure to be popular, to dress a certain way, or conform to certain worldly values. People will hang out with people who share the same values. And that can be tough, because when it comes to certain issues like abortion or LGBTQ rights, you will need to learn how to defend your faith [under such pressures]. But at the same time, you also need to learn how to win the person and not just win the argument, even as you might get challenged in your knowledge of God and the gospel.

YOU ALSO NEED TO LEARN HOW TO WIN THE PERSON AND NOT JUST WIN THE ARGUMENT.

It’s easy to talk about living out Christian values, but when everyone around you is doing something, it is hard to leave it, much less go against it, because that means that you might be persecuted.[In Singapore, it won’t be] biblical persecution where you get hanged [on a cross] or anything [like that], but you will not be well-liked [and even ostracised or bullied].

Do you have personal experiences of a situation where you had to defend your faith?

Being in design school, a lot of people in my cohort feel really strongly for the LGBTQ movement. When people ask me what I stand for, I do say that what I stand for is in the Bible. I do say that I love them as well, but for them, a huge part of their identity is their sexuality. If you don’t agree with them, they see it as rejecting them. So, because I’m a Christian, I get called homophobic, or don’t get treated as nicely because I don’t align with their values or ideology.

How do you deal with that?

What I can do is just be one-on-one with my friends, to show them that I love them. In John 13:35 it says that the world shall know we are Jesus’ disciples by our love [for one another]. And I think that is what we should do. We abide in Christ [together]. And then we grow the fruits of the Spirit and we love on others. Sometimes, it’s not about what you say, but it’s about what you do and how you show love consistently. And they can see how different you are.

Has being a prominent part of Poly Revival put you in a difficult position with friends who do not share the same faith or values?

When I was really involved with starting up the prayer space, I wasn’t there for multiple group meetings with friends. So I became the topic of the gossip. And at first, it was quite lonely. But I know that if the gossip is centred around my Christian values and not how I am as a person (for instance, that I am selfish), then it is a privilege to be able to embody Christian values. It was definitely lonely at the start, but I guess it puts you in a position where you understand just a glimpse of how Christ felt, or a glimpse of how the persecuted Christians feel.

What advice would you give someone who wants to see their campus transformed for Christ?

I will affirm them and say that the fire that you have, this desire that you have, the Lord is going to use it and it can inspire people around you. Practically, I would encourage them to get a mentor if they want to start a prayer movement in their school, and gather people with similar hearts. I would also encourage them to get connected with the wider praying community, such as Praying Schools for secondary schools, and Unity for those on university campuses. This community can journey with them to offer advice on how to start a prayer group and champion revival in their own spaces!

Janelle Yeo: I’m a pastor but I doubted if God was real

Quek Shi Yun — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 16:31:00 +0000

Who says pastors have it all figured out? QUEK SHI YUN sits down with Janelle, who shares her honest story of doubting God and growing her faith.

If I asked you to guess what a person might have done before becoming a pastor, I assure you, you wouldn’t even begin to guess anything on Janelle’s list. “I had a friend who was a model, and so she roped me into that. And I acted in Mediacorp, just small roles you know? I’ve been a waitress, I worked in retail… Oh! I even did Uber for a few months just so I could have a car!” Janelle’s energy was contagious, and I found that I couldn’t stop smiling while listening to her.

This was not at all what I expected when I simply asked Janelle what led to her becoming a pastor!

MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE GROWING UP WAS WONDERING IF GOD WAS REAL.

“I never set out to be a pastor,” was her immediate reply. While Janelle was raised in a Christian home, she did not really understand her faith. “I went to church out of habit. I served in ministry, I was in Christian Fellowship… but I didn’t really know if God was there. I even asked myself, what if Buddhism is what’s real? How would I know? I was born into this faith! My biggest challenge growing up was wondering if God was real.”

While her faith was growing, Janelle struggled at home and battled insecurities. Her parents’ rocky marriage was headed toward a divorce, and she questioned God’s goodness. However, a personal encounter with God when she was 18 years old kickstarted her journey of faith. During this time, she had moved to a different church where her cousins were at. It was there when she had the first sense that God was calling her to serve Him in a greater capacity during a service that year.

“I still remember being in the auditorium with about 1,000 people, and I felt a call to serve God and give Him the best years of my life. As the worship came to a close, the Senior Pastor came up on stage and said he felt led to pray for some people. He asked, ‘Is Janelle in church?’ I sensed in my heart that that was me. And as far as I knew, I was the only Janelle in church.”

The pastor prophesied that as people followed Janelle, they would turn towards God and follow Him. After the service, her leaders asked her how she thought that would play out. “I said I don’t know, maybe I’ll just be more involved in church. I brought more friends to church, but nothing really happened after that.”

RUNNING FROM GOD’S CALL

Janelle later felt led to return to her home church after five years and carried on serving God through her university days and early career. She eventually started her own company, and it was a success. She was riding the beginning of the #girlboss wave and enjoyed the hustle and glamour of being an entrepreneur.

So when God pressed in her heart the thought that He wanted her to serve Him in full-time ministry one day, she said no. She laughed as she remembered her response. “I just said, ‘Nope, I don’t want to!’” To compensate for her guilt in rejecting God’s call, she resolved to do more in church. By the end of the year, she was serving in five different ministries in church!

By 2018, she felt like she was in the prime of her life. She had just gotten the keys to her house and business was growing steadily. Her husband, Andrew, had just gotten a promotion, and a baby was on the way. “Everything was so so good, and we were so thankful for everything.”

But things suddenly took a turn in the middle of the year. At the end of June, they found out that their nine-week-old baby had no heartbeat. Andrew’s new job scope turned out to be different from what he expected. And shortly after, they lost their grandmothers in October and November.

“Before I could recover from one death, the next death happened, and then the next. We just couldn’t understand why this was happening.”

I ASKED GOD, WHY ME? … ARE YOU PUNISHING ME?

“I asked God, ‘Why me? You know we love children. You know we love our grandmothers. Why is everything happening at once? I have served you so faithfully and given you my entire youth. Why me? Am I being punished?’”

“That was the first time that my faith was shaken and I really wrestled with God. I couldn’t see how God was good.”

CHOOSING TO OBEY

Amidst her pain, she felt God urging her to go to seminary and really get to know Him for herself. By then, through a series of events and Scripture, she could no longer deny the call to change course and serve Him in full-time ministry.

“I did not want to give up the image I had built for myself — the glamour of going for events, the identity I had as an entrepreneur, and making a name for myself. But God showed me that this wasn’t what He wanted for me. There was something better if I chose to obey.”

During her time in seminary, God showed her why He allowed those things to happen to her and how He was still in control through it all. The week she found out she was pregnant, she was offered a shot at a supporting role in a long-term drama but had to turn it down due to the pregnancy. In hindsight, she recognised it as God’s protection, as He knew that the temptations of the entertainment industry would be too much for her to bear.

He also showed her how the business had puffed up her pride and it was a pride that God had to break down. “Without realising it, I was chasing after my own glory, not God’s.”

God used that season of mourning to show her an important aspect of His character — the depth of His love. Though she initially questioned if God was punishing her, she later came to a different conclusion.

“God allowed these things to happen, but He didn’t cause it. The fact is that we live in a fallen world and suffering does happen. But God can use our sufferings to draw us closer to Him. Instead of punishing me, God was protecting me the whole time. In His grace, He allowed all that to happen so that I could return to Him. He cares more about our holiness than our happiness because He seriously loves us so much. While I couldn’t see His fingerprints in the midst of mourning, God showed me that He was there all along, grieving with me. He didn’t abandon me.”

“Whatever He allows in this fallen world is not the end. This is not our home — the pains and sufferings remind us of that. We have a greater home in heaven.”

Janelle is now in her final semester of seminary, and has started work full-time as a Ministry Staff Worker, pastoring the youths — something she never expected although she now acknowledges that she sees how God had been preparing her for it all these years.

A LESSON IN FAITH

At the end of 2019, she was reading Hebrews 11, or the “Hall of Faith” as she calls it, and it spoke to her to have faith in God and rest in His faithfulness. She sensed God’s deep assurance that a child would come, and to trust in Him and wait on His timing. Then on April Fools’ Day 2021, she found out she was pregnant again. “God is very humorous!” Her son, Callen, was born later that year in November.

Her winding journey of faith has led her to where she is now. But while she sees how God has been with her each step of the way, her journey isn’t over. She makes sure to point out that even pastors have their own struggles and that having faith in God in every circumstance will be a lifelong journey as we submit ourselves to His moulding to become true disciples of Christ.

Her final encouragement is this: Keep seeking God, keep chasing after Him, and let Him lead you.

“What Jesus says in Matthew 11:30 is true. His yoke is easy, His burden is light. We don’t realise it, but it does get easier when we surrender and let God lead our life. Just trust and obey.”

Struggles of a second-gen Christian

Quek Shi Yun — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 16:12:00 +0000

As a second generation Christian, QUEK SHI YUN always doubted if she was really saved. She thought she needed a big emotional moment of conversion to be a real Christian, until God changed her heart.

“So, when did you become a Christian?”

It was a simple question, but one I couldn’t quite answer.

“Well, I grew up in a Christian home, and I’ve always been in the church … but I took my faith more seriously when I was a teen, and ….”

I stumbled my way through a response, and felt my face redden in embarrassment.

SEEDS OF INSECURITY

As I grew up, my parents faithfully shared the gospel with me and brought me to church each week. We did daily devotions together and I was taught to pray every day. Our home was filled with Christian books and music, and conversations over the dinner table consisted of talk about Christian values and what Jesus would do. I slowly developed a relationship with God and had some genuine encounters of His love that shaped my life greatly.

But as I got older, I felt my insecurities about my status as a Christian start to grow.

On a mission trip when I was 15, I vividly recall sitting in a hotel room with all the other girls, just talking about our lives. One of the girls sat on the bed hugging a pillow and started pouring her heart out: “I just love Jesus so much! I love Him so much! I just really, really, really love Him!!!” She started giggling like a girl who was truly in love. I sat there baffled. I had never felt such strong emotions about Jesus.

Also, as an avid reader, I read countless biographies of missionaries and giants in the faith who accomplished great things for God. Many gave or risked their lives to share the gospel, or faced severe persecution yet held on firmly to their faith. While I was inspired by their stories, I was also frequently discouraged. All of them had significant moments of revelation with God that led them on the path to doing wonderful things for Him. I didn’t have any such moment. While I felt that I loved God, the fact that my love wasn’t exuberant and overflowing made me feel insecure. And it made me feel like an inferior Christian.

WHILE I FELT THAT I LOVED GOD, THE FACT THAT MY LOVE WASN’T EXUBERANT AND OVERFLOWING MADE ME FEEL INSECURE.

RESENTING MY STORY

All my life, I have been called a “second-generation Christian”, which is a term used to describe a Christian whose parents are Christian. From this point of view, you could say that I have the special privilege of being a fourth-generation (!) Christian, as my great-grandmother was the first in the family to come to faith.

Yet sometimes, that privilege felt like a curse. Since Christianity was all I had known, I couldn’t say that I had ever made the choice to follow Jesus. While my friends from non-believing families had dramatic encounters with God that led them to Christ, I didn’t have such a story. I had no singular moment of conversion. I don’t even remember saying the sinner’s prayer. For some reason, not having that moment tripped me up greatly, and I was convinced that if I hadn’t been born in a Christian family and could hear the amazing story of the gospel for the first time, I would have that big emotional reaction to God’s love that I desired, and I would be a real Christian.

The thing is, even while I was having those thoughts, I was serving in church, sharing the gospel, and had a real conviction that the God of the Bible was real. I did not have doubts about who God says He is, but I constantly battled with this feeling that my faith was weaker than others’ because my journey of faith was so dull!

UNDERSTANDING SALVATION

Then, when I was in university, I met a young lady who had recently become a Christian. The more time I spent with her, the more jealous I became. She had story after story of how God had been so real to her, and when she spoke about His love, she glowed the way that the girl on the mission trip did.

One day, I told her that I was envious of her experience and wished that I was a first-generation Christian like her. With a stunned look on her face, she said, “Shi Yun, I wish I could have been a second-generation Christian.

I HAD NO SINGULAR MOMENT OF CONVERSION. I DON’T EVEN REMEMBER SAYING THE SINNER’S PRAYER.

If I had been raised in God’s ways, I wouldn’t need to have such a dramatic conversion story. I would have just known Him all my life, and I wouldn’t have gone through so much sin in order to know how much I need a Saviour!”

Her words have stuck with me ever since, as I started to see that my Christian heritage was truly a deep blessing. What I had seen as my boring story was actually rooted in so much of God’s grace, in that I could grow up always having known His love. Instead of resenting my ‘inherited’ faith, I could rejoice in my inheritance and thank God that in His kindness, He has let me know the goodness of His Word since I was born.

THE BIBLE SAYS NOTHING ABOUT EMOTION BEING THE PREREQUISITE OF SALVATION, OR A STUNNING CONVERSION BEING NECESSARY TO FOLLOWING CHRIST.

And what does His Word say? It says that if I confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that He has been raised from the dead, I will be saved (Rom 10:9–10). It says that it is by grace that I have been saved, through faith, and not by my efforts (Eph 2:8–9). The Bible says nothing about emotion being a prerequisite of salvation or about a stunning conversion being necessary to following Christ. It doesn’t say that I need to be on fire for Jesus at every moment to be a true child of God. All it says is that when I repent of my sins and receive Jesus as Lord, I am saved. And so I am.

RESTING IN GOD’S TRUTH

Today, I see clearly that all those years of insecurity and uncertainty over my status as a Christian were unnecessary, and the belief that being a second-generation Christian making me somehow inferior as a follower of Christ was an utter falsehood. I wish I could get back those years of anxiety, envy, and fear, as I questioned if I was truly saved. I now know that all those small moments of learning about Jesus and slowly building my faith were just as legitimate as someone else’s big moment of revelation about the grace of God. While growing up in a Christian home doesn’t necessarily make anyone a Christian, it gave me an incredible foundation of knowledge about God and His love for me. And as that knowledge of His Word has slowly sunk into my heart, it has transformed me.

I no longer look down on my faith journey. It might appear boring — just a steady, faithful plod along the journey of sanctification — but it is no less sacred. If you were to ask me today when I became a Christian, I still wouldn’t have a straightforward answer. But what I would say is this: I know that how and when I was saved is not as important as knowing that I am loved by God and am regarded as His child. Being able to rest securely in that truth has freed me from years of struggling as a second-generation Christian.

“Having Scoliosis Made Me Feel Different.”

Quek Shi Yun — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 05:24:00 +0000

As a teen, being diagnosed with scoliosis always made QUEK SHI YUN feel ugly and different. She shares her story of how her insecurity changed into a quiet confidence in Christ.

It all started with a routine health checkup in school when I was 13. I was told to bend over and touch my toes while a measuring device was placed on my back. The nurse scribbled a note in my health booklet, and I was given an appointment letter for a follow up check at a hospital.

The diagnosis was mild scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine. Six months later, the curve had increased so drastically that they recommended surgery to correct it. Metal pins and rods needed to be inserted permanently around my spine, which would cause major scarring on my back. The podiatrist (foot doctor) also revealed that my legs were of different lengths, my hips were uneven, and I had flatfeet. I remember lying in bed in tears that night, asking God why He made me so imperfectly.

My parents and I eventually decided against the surgery, but scoliosis continued to define most of my teenage years and impact on my self-esteem. The curvature in my spine meant that I walked “funny,” and often stood on one foot to balance my weight more comfortably. A classmate dubbed me a ‘flamingo’ because of that. My back would hurt under the weight of my schoolbag, I had difficulties running long distances during Physical Education classes, and sitting for long hours was a literal pain. One day, my crush even pointed out that one of my shoulders was higher than the other, and that it looked “weird.”

Throughout those years, I battled insecurity. I thought that my body was deformed and ugly, and even if I could look past how my body looked, the physical discomforts were a daily reminder of what was wrong with my body.

I don’t remember a definitive moment when my outlook changed and my self-esteem improved. Rather, it was a slow but steady journey of accepting that while my body is imperfect, it doesn’t make me any less loved by God. He didn’t get distracted while making me and forgot to give me a straight spine. It wasn’t a punishment for past sin. No! In the midst of brokenness about my bent body, God assured me of my identity in Him. In fact, Psalm 56:8 showed me that God “keeps track of my sorrows,” and the tears I shed were seen by Him. Through His word, He told me that I was deeply loved and accepted, and that He empathised with my suffering.

These days, the usual aches and pains still bother me. Things haven’t improved — if anything, it’s gotten worse with age. Yet they no longer make me feel different or unloved, because I am secure in God’s love and how He has made me.

Is It Weird To Not Have a BFF?

Quek Shi Yun — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:25:00 +0000

I have a confession. When I was growing up, all I wanted was to have a best friend, and I felt like a weirdo because I didn’t have one.

It was a trend in primary school to fill up ‘autograph books’ amongst your friends. The most important element for me was the ‘friendship ranking’ page, where you indicated who was your ‘100% friend’, ’75% friend’, and so on. This was my chance to secure a best friend! I asked a classmate if we could put each other down as 100% friends in everyone’s books and was thrilled when she agreed. But I was devastated when I realised she’d listed me as her 100% friend in my book, but at a lower percentage in another friend’s book! Well, so much for being ‘best friends forever’ (BFF)!

In secondary school, I tried to push a friend to choose between me and someone else, and give me the ‘best friend’ label I so desperately craved. Frustrated from all my needling, she finally said, “I know that you want me to say that you are my best friend, but I can’t. Both of you are important to me in different ways. Isn’t it enough to know that I value your friendship and want to keep investing in it?”

At the time, my answer was a flat-out “NO!” It wasn’t enough. If I wasn’t going to be assured that I was her best friend, I wanted to take my friendship elsewhere and invest in someone who would invest the same time, love, and energy in me.

I’ve long wondered why having a best friend used to mean so much to me. I had many good, godly friendships. I knew I could turn to them in times of need, and I knew that they had my back. But I didn’t want more friends. I wanted a best friend. More accurately, I wanted to be chosen as someone else’s best friend! I used to lie awake for hours thinking about what I had to do to convince someone that I was worthy of being ‘the chosen one’. I felt so insecure that no one had deemed me special enough to choose me.

I WANTED A BEST FRIEND. MORE ACCURATELY, I WANTED TO BE CHOSEN AS SOMEONE ELSE’S BEST FRIEND!

It soon dawned on me that that insecurity was what was fuelling my continued search for a BFF. Good friends had never been enough — I needed to be given that place of utmost importance. Little did I know that everything I craved, God had already given me. Even though He knew my every evil thought and bad side, He still loved and chose me (Rom 5:8). Jesus left heaven to give up His life for me; can there be a better friend than Him (John 15:13)? If I had any doubt that I was special, God reminded me through His Word that before I had even been born, He knew me (Ps 139:16), and He continues to delight in me (Zeph 3:17)!

It wasn’t a magical moment of realisation that changed things, but rather a journey that lasted years. At the end of that journey, for the first time, I was okay with not having a best friend. With that secondary school friend, instead of chasing after the BFF status with her, I focused on being a friend that could spur her on in Christ just as iron sharpens iron (Prov 27:17). No longer afraid of losing her friendship, I was able to heed the wisdom in Proverbs 27:5-6 and challenge her in love when I felt she wasn’t walking in God’s ways. Instead of indulging in my insecurities and pushing her to say I was her best friend, I concentrated on being the faithful friend to her that I hoped she would be to me.

One random day in university, she did refer to me as her best friend. Surprised and honoured as I was, it wasn’t the life-changing status I thought it would be. Our friendship didn’t change when she started calling me her best friend, because the foundation we had built was already solid, and the insecurities that motivated my search for a BFF were long gone.

Even if I didn’t have a best friend now, I don’t think I would be the desperate BFF-seeker I once was. Because I now know that even if no one calls me their best friend, I am no less valued, important, or loved — in Jesus, I am more valued, important, and loved than I could ever imagine.

Bullied, Bully, or Bystander?

Quek Shi Yun — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 01:10:00 +0000

There’s this girl we heard about. Let’s call her Lucy. Lucy was at the prime of her school life —16, the head of her CCA, and in, by Singaporean standards, a good school. She was popular and confident. Then one day, a bad decision made her fall from the good graces of her peers. She became the victim of bullying — she was ostracised and antagonised in person, and, more damagingly, was hounded and harassed online. Lucy started barricading herself in her room and isolating herself from everyone who loved her. She refused to go to school, even deferring her ‘O’ Level examinations. She started cutting herself, and at the peak of the bullying, even a trip to the nearby supermarket terrified her.

THE INTERNET CHANGES EVERYTHING
Are you perplexed by this story? Why would a so-called “simple” case of bullying lead to such devastating effects?

According to Ms. Joanne Wong, Head of TOUCH Cyber Wellness, there are some key elements that make cyberbullying so much more destructive than physical bullying. For one, cyberbullying is often anonymous, with perpetrators able to hide their identities or create fake profiles. Fear and paranoia can easily set in when you are constantly wondering if your bully might be physically near you.

To make matters worse, cyberbullies tend to be acquainted with their victims. Ms. Wong cites examples of cases where victims are in the same chat groups, schools, classes, or CCA groups as their bullies. The victims’ social media accounts are also visible and accessible to the bullies. “In such cases, the victims had to ‘live with’ the presence of bullies, which can seriously affect their ability to learn, focus, cope and, regulate their emotions.”

Having experienced physical bullying myself (Shi Yun) as a teenager, it’s hard to imagine just how debilitating cyberbullying can be. While I was tormented by my bullies every day in school, I always knew that I would be safe once I was home. But with the Internet, this isn’t so anymore. Cyberbullying can now happen any time and anywhere. Taunts and mockery go on regardless of where you are. Knowing that there is no escape, such bullying can cause perpetual anxiety in victims even when they are in what should be the safety of their own homes. What’s more, the fact that the Internet facilitates more witnesses and malicious comments means that the shame and humiliation experienced by the victim can increase exponentially.

It is no wonder that victims like Lucy feel helpless in the face of cyberbullying and overwhelmed by its effects!

CYBERBULLYING CAN NOW HAPPEN ANY TIME AND ANYWHERE. TAUNTS AND MOCKERY GO ON REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Lucy’s story isn’t a one-off case. Goh Wei-Shen, a counsellor with a social service agency, assures us that the effects of cyberbullying are very real. She’s counselled a 16-year-old girl who frequently complained of stomach cramps and feelings of nausea. These “excuses” for not going to school were really symptoms of the intense anxiety she was experiencing due to cyberbullying. In a different case, a 13-year-old girl became very withdrawn and would cry herself to sleep. She was self-harming and even attempted to end her life by overdosing on pills.

Hearing these stories just breaks our heart, and we hope it breaks yours too. But that isn’t enough to change things. So, what can you do when you encounter cyberbullying, whether you are the bullied, bully, or bystander?

TO THE BULLIED…
First of all, we grieve and stand with you. No one should be subject to the distress you have been through, and we pray that you know you are not alone. When we are bullied, it is easy to internalise all the lies spoken about us: “You’re ugly.” “You’re not worthy of love.” “You deserve to die.” These awful lies can take root in our hearts, no matter how hard we fight them. I (Shi Yun) was bullied at ten and even though the bullying eventually stopped, its effects stayed with me for years.

What saved me was a supportive family, kind bystanders who became friends, and going back to the foundation of my life — the Bible. I combatted each lie with God’s truth. God knows me personally (Luke 12:7; Ps 139:1–18). He sees my suffering and does not leave me alone (Ps 56:8; 9:9). He loves me to the extent that His Son, Jesus Christ, died for me (John 3:16; Gal 2:20)! It may surprise you that the verse that helped me break free from the pain of bullying was this command of Jesus recorded in Matthew 5:44 — “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

When the pain, anxiety and isolation overwhelmed me, I hid myself in His embrace. The emotions that come from being bullied are so very real, but so is His love. Rest in it.

TO THE BULLY…
Most of us wouldn’t want to think of ourselves as bullies. Yet, we may inadvertently be part of the problem when we choose to weigh in online with a mean remark here or a demeaning comment there, passing on gossip and baseless speculation.

Ask yourself: would you like to be at the receiving end of your unkind, intimidating words or actions? Proverb 18:21 warns us that the tongue has the power of life and death — in some bullying cases, this has turned out to be a terrible truth. Remember this: your words count, both online and offline, and the words you speak online have a real offline effect, even if you are able to remain anonymous. Pray this in earnest: “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Ps 141:3).

ASK YOURSELF: WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AT THE RECEIVING END OF YOUR UNKIND, INTIMIDATING WORDS OR ACTIONS?

TO THE BYSTANDER…
Our message is simple: don’t just stand by. STAND UP! Rev. Chris Lee (of “British Priest Reacts” fame) told a story of the time a classmate stood up in class and viciously said to him, “No one likes you, Lee. Does anyone like Lee?” I can picture the scene — a small boy, seated with his head down, not daring to make eye contact with anyone. But another classmate spoke up: “I like him. He’s a good guy.” And just like that, the power of the bully was broken. What a beautiful image of the power you have to stand with victims of bullying! Don’t be afraid to do what is right. Take courage, and act.

BECOMING AN ADVOCATE
We know that cyberbullying is a problem. Some have even gone so far as to call it a “cyber pandemic”. God has always been on the side of victims and against bullies (Prov 3:34). His Word constantly charges us to fight for justice (Isa 1:17; Mic 6:8, Jer 22:3), and speak for the voiceless (Prov 31:8–9). As daughters of God, we pray that you see the value and dignity in each person (Gen 1:26), going beyond the behaviour of a bully or a bystander to become an advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves!

IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF CYBERBULLYING
Here are Ms. Joanne Wong’s practical tips on what you can do if you are being bullied online:

1. Cut the bullies off. Block them online, disallow “follows” and direct messages from accounts you don’t follow, and remove them from your friends list.

2. Don’t delete the evidence — save it. Take screenshots of the online comments or private messages you receive as proof of the bullying, and monitor the frequency of bullying. See point 4.

3. Get help from a trusted adult. Keep them updated about how these incidences are affecting you personally so that they can give you the support you need.

4. Report it. With your parents, approach school teachers with evidence of the bullying. Schools in Singapore are well-positioned to jump in to protect and support you, as well as mediate between you and the bully.

5. In cases where all measures have been exhausted, you have the right to seek legal protection under the Protection Against Harassment Act. However, it is imperative to note that any legal proceedings can cause heavy mental and emotional burdens, and the family must be prepared to go through that.

Need more help? Call the TOUCHline at 1800 377 2252 (Mon–Fri, 9 am–6 pm). The helpline is manned by counsellors who will be able to assess the situation and provide the assistance and support you may need.

Review: The Album by Blackpink

Quek Shi Yun — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 01:09:00 +0000

I have a confession. Before reviewing this album, I have never heard a Blackpink song. I know, how is that possible?! They’ve broken the record for the most-viewed YouTube video in 24 hours (twice!), have two music videos with one billion views on YouTube, and their latest album has already hit a million pre-orders. I must have been living under a rock!

With their finely balanced mix of innocent sweetness (the pink) and a cool edginess (the black) complete with hip hop-inspired dance moves and a rap in every song, Blackpink is a band like no other. Their aesthetic fits right in with the age of girl power, which blends independence and self-assurance with the joy of being female, and truth be told, I see Blackpink’s appeal.

These are women who seem to exude confidence, and not because they have a man. In fact, on ‘Lovesick Girls,’ they declare, “Didn’t want to be a princess, I’m priceless/ A prince not even on my list.” On ‘Love to Hate Me,’ they stand up against those who try to tear them down, while their final track, ‘You Never Know,’ is an anti-hate anthem that encourages people not to judge. These feel-good messages encourage their viewers not to tag their worth to others’ words — instead, they should see the inherent value in themselves.

Yet at the same time, the confidence seen in their lyrics is accompanied with a not-so-subtle show of sexuality in their performances. With their sensual dance moves, revealing outfits, and suggestive lyrics, Blackpink isn’t all sugar and spice. ‘Ice Cream’ shocked K-pop fans with its sexually explicit lyrics, and ‘Bet You Wanna,’ a collab with Cardi B, is a flirty song rife with innuendo: “From the club to the tub/ You said you wanna / Give me an all-night hug.” There’s also a lot more swearing in English on this Korean-language album than you might expect, with the B-word casually tossed out throughout.

I’ve become a fan of their catchy tunes and powerful vocals, but I can’t deny a slight disappointment in the direction they’ve taken. I’m all for women having confidence, but I wish that “confidence” wasn’t equated to in-your-face sexuality, or even self-sufficiency alone. The Album plays with ideas of female empowerment, but it’s a far cry from a complete picture of femininity. Yes, we are called to respect ourselves and each other as we are all made in the image of God (Gen 1:27) and no gender has more privilege in Christ (Gal 3:28). But the confidence of a Christian comes in her identity as a child of God rather than her ego (Rom 8:14–16; Phil 3:3). Godly beauty doesn’t come from putting our bodies on display (1 Pet 3:3–4) — it comes from fearing the Lord (Prov 1:7; 31:30) and loving Him wholeheartedly (Deut 6:5).

Just as with their previous works, The Album sets out to inspire women to know their worth and get what they want. It’s a worthwhile message on the surface, but relies on popular ideas about strength and femininity that should warrant a second look. There is no doubt that Blackpink will continue to be a pop-culture phenomenon, and I’m hopeful for how they can use their influence in the most positive way.

Review: Is Sour Candy Worth the Hype?

Quek Shi Yun — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 16:19:00 +0000

There is no denying that Lady Gaga is a talented songwriter with an incredible voice. Her 6th album Chromatica is already the fastest selling album of 2020, and her collaboration with the hugely popular Korean band Blackpink has only added to its success. Chromatica is, in Gaga’s own words, her most authentic yet, touching on issues such as sexual assault, self-harm, and the journey of healing from past trauma. Through the album, she hopes to encourage those in similar throes of pain to forgive themselves, and move forward toward healing.

Enter “Sour Candy.” The song rests on heavy electronic beats and a fun pop rhythm. In classic K-pop fashion, the fan-made music video features Blackpink mostly in soft light, emphasising their dewy complexion and bright eyes. On the flip side, Gaga’s scenes are dark and disturbing in her revealing and over the top outfits. The visuals help articulate the song’s message, that even though someone with a hard, sour exterior may seem hard to love, it’s worth the effort when you reach the sweet centre inside.

The intent behind the song is admirable — Gaga stated in an interview that the song reflects her journey of realising that she is deserving of love despite being ‘damaged.’ But here’s where things get questionable. Through the song, she insists that even though she “might be messed up”, she should be accepted as she is. In fact, she goes so far as to say to her lover, “If you wanna fix me, then let’s break up here and now.” There’s also a double entendre in the song when Gaga encourages her lover to “unwrap” her and get a real taste. It’s a sexual advance, but also a reference to the fact that it will take time and patience for him to peel beneath her varied layers and get a real sense of who she really is.

While the premise of the song seems valid, her conclusion sadly isn’t, as there is no reason a person who knows she is flawed should reject help to be changed. It is a popular message these days — love me as I am, or not at all — but not one that we can accept as Christians. A healthy, godly, functioning relationship will always change us to be more like Christ!

Other songs on the album like “Rain on Me” with Ariana Grande justifies alcoholism, while “Stupid Love” speaks of being free from shame, finding peace, and receiving healing, but (like much of the album) gives little direction on where that might be found. At the end of the day, while the songs are reflective of Gaga’s authentic emotions and journey, it is still a journey that no doubt needs to continue to lead to a healthier conclusion. “Sour Candy” is definitely an earworm, but I hope its message doesn’t stick in your mind.

Hanging By A Thread: Sarah Lyn’s Journey From Life To Death

Quek Shi Yun — Wed, 13 May 2020 14:07:00 +0000

Sarah Lyn is what I would call a true extrovert. Even though we had only conversed via text before, the second our video call was connected, I was greeted with a cheery “Hello!” and the brightest smile I’d seen in a while. It took no time at all for me to feel like I was chatting with an old friend.

Sarah is the youngest of three children and realised her childhood dream of becoming a medical doctor. Her choice of profession isn’t surprising, given that her father is a doctor too. But another important event early in her life also shaped her decision to pursue a career in medicine — a day before her fourth birthday, an accident left her clinically dead.

She remains jovial as she recalls the incident. Sarah was playing at the back of a friend’s house when she somehow got caught by her neck on a nylon clothesline. By the time she was found, hanging lifeless from the clothesline, her skin had turned a dark blue, and she had no heartbeat, breath, or pulse. With no blood circulating to her brain for six to seven minutes, it was almost certain that even if she could be revived, there would already be severe brain damage.

MIRACULOUSLY ALIVE

Sarah was not expected to be the same ever again. However, through the eyes of faith, her parents firmly believed that God would heal her and her life would be preserved.

Miraculously, Sarah not only woke up from her coma, but made a full recovery just 12 hours later! She laughs when I asked what she remembers of that momentous event.

“It’s so funny because all I remember is waking up in the hospital with all these Barbie dolls and birthday gifts. I wondered why I was in the hospital and why there were so many people staring at me. I don’t remember the trauma. All I remember are the good parts!”

“Quite honestly, there was almost no chance would be brought back with the amount of time I was without oxygen. Now that I’m studying the complexity of the human body as a medical student, it just affirms that God is so much bigger than anyone can comprehend. He can actually command every cell in my body to do what it’s supposed to do. That just blows my mind.”

EVERYTHING I DID … WAS JUST BASED ON WHAT PEOPLE EXPECTED OF ME AND NOT BECAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW GOD.

With such a unique experience of God’s saving grace at such a young age, it seems a given that Sarah would have a firm faith in Christ. Indeed, she serves as a worship and small-group leader in her church, and as she talks animatedly about how knowing God has utterly changed her life, it is evident how much God’s love has captured her heart.

But it wasn’t always like this.

GROWING UP AS THE PASTOR’S KID

“Growing up, I was never just Doctor Phillip’s daughter, but also Pastor Phillip’s daughter (Sarah’s father serves as a senior pastor). I really didn’t have a good relationship with God at that time, so everything I did — like reading my Bible and stuff like that — was just based on what people expected of me and not because I wanted to know God. When I was growing up, I was just the ‘miracle’ people would invite to hear from. I just reiterated whatever was told to me about what happened and all the things Christians would want to hear [about God’s faithfulness], even though I hadn’t really believed it for myself!”

“I remember a time when I literally sat my dad down and said, ‘Why do we even try if we’re all sinners and we’re all going to go to hell anyway?’ I was like 12 at this time. He was shocked by that question because it was so full-on for my age. There were definitely times when I doubted whether God existed, and whether He wanted to do anything good in my life.”

I was surprised by the account of her lack of faith as a child. Wouldn’t the fact that she had been literally brought back to life by God’s grace be evidence of His existence and goodness toward her? She’s pensive as she considers this.

I KIND OF BELITTLED THE MIRACLE, AND THEN AFTER A WHILE I WAS LIKE, ‘OH, I WAS ACTUALLY DEAD!’

“Yeah, I think that my parents walked through that more than me, even though I was the person who ‘was the miracle.’ I didn’t necessarily get the outcome of faith that everyone else got. I was just the vessel.”

“I hadn’t really understood the weight of what had happened. I didn’t really think much of the miracle to be honest — I kind of belittled the miracle, and then after a while I was like, ‘Oh, I was actually dead!’ And it’s almost as if you can get familiar with the story and not comprehend how amazing it is, just like how you can hear the story of Jesus dying and get so familiar with it that you forget, and then something happens and you’re just like, ‘Wow, that is such a powerful and life-changing story.’”

So, what was the “something” that happened for Sarah?

“As a pastor’s daughter, I was constantly in the spotlight. It felt like everything I did was being watched, and I had to reach a certain standard. I left Malaysia at 15 to attend boarding school in Australia, and that was such a crucial time for me to find my own identity. I had the chance to do that without people telling me who I should be and what I should be. I actually found my relationship with God in Australia when I was alone, when I had no one else around me. But I think it was the most beautiful thing ever, finding God in the quiet and in the midst of the loneliness and everything.”

“Also, even though I had a rebellious outlook on faith, my dad just took the time to answer all my questions and pray for me. He was always there to subtly guide me towards God. It was never a push and it wasn’t a shove but always a hand-holding toward God. I really appreciated that because the choice was in my hands and it made me respect my parents a lot.”

THE MIRACLE WASN'T THE BASIS FOR MY FAITH — IT WAS THE CROSS.

THE MIRACLE OF THE CROSS

As we wrapped up the interview, I asked a final question: How has the miracle of her “resurrection” defined her faith?

“I can honestly say that I got to know God better outside of the miracle. When I forgot everything that happened with the miracle and I just focused on Him on the cross, that was the real miracle for me. Everything He did for me was a bonus after that. The miracle wasn’t the basis for my faith — it was the cross.”

“I still can’t, to this day, comprehend that God had saved me. I just don’t understand why He did, because I hadn’t done anything to earn it.”

I point out that what she says has a double meaning — God saving her life on her fourth birthday, but also saving her soul for all eternity. She laughs as she sees the connection.

“And I think that’s the beauty of a relationship with God and His love — no one’s done anything to earn it! I always asked, why would God save me? But then I came to realise this: everything that He does is not because we’ve earned it, but just because He is Love.”

Review: Kanye West’s “Jesus is King”; Should We Listen?

Quek Shi Yun — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 04:00:00 +0000

When reports first came out about Kanye West’s by-invite-only ‘Sunday Services’ and his seeming conversion to Christianity, I read them with a measure of scepticism. I wondered, is this just going to be yet another celebrity who jumps on the Christian bandwagon in order to advance his career?

Surprisingly, I’ve come to the conclusion that it probably isn’t. While the first half of Jesus Is King seems to focus more on Kanye than Christ, that is, in part, intentional. The album is meant to be listened to as a whole, with the first half reflecting his struggle with God and his faith.

However, the second half of the album after “Everything We Need” was a surprise. As his struggle with God seems to come to a resolution, his lyrics convey genuine faith and belief in Christ. For example, on “God Is,” he sings, “I can’t keep it to myself, I can’t sit here and be still/ Everybody, I will tell ’til the whole world is healed.” On “Jesus is Lord,” the lyrics come straight out of the Bible: “Every knee shall bow/ Every tongue confess/ Jesus is Lord” (Rom 14:11). On “Hands On,” he acknowledges his past wrongs, and calls out Christians who have judged him during his conversion. However, he also pleads, “But I have a request, you see/ Don’t throw me up, lay your hands on me/ Please, pray for me.”

As I listened to Jesus Is King, I was moved by Kanye’s sincerity, and couldn’t help but wonder what was the point of me doubting his faith. Luke 15:1–7 speaks of how heaven rejoices when even one sinner returns home — shouldn’t I rejoice as well? In many ways, Kanye’s faith seems genuine.

So, is the album worth a listen? I would say, sure, but with discretion. Kanye is clearly no theologian or worship leader, and neither does he set out to be. His album isn’t meant to be a worship album, though many of the songs are inherently worshipful as they praise the name of Jesus. If Jesus is King, then Kanye is just like all of us — a sinner in need of grace, on a journey of learning how to be more like Christ.

Instead of being cynical about Kanye’s conversion, perhaps it would be better for us to pray for Kanye as a brother, and ask God to let His name be lifted high for the world to see — even if it is through the unlikeliest of persons!