Evangelism – Kallos

How to follow Jesus on social media

Kallos Team — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 05:07:00 +0000

Digital creator STEPHANIE PHUA explores how we can keep Christ at the centre of our social media use.

There’s a lot I don’t like about social media, so I’ll admit it: when God called me to work in the social media space, I was a little upset. And annoyed. Maybe more than a little.

For a bit of context on my career — I run an advertising agency that focuses on creating content on social media. As the years have gone by, I have had more and more experience creating content both on my personal platform and for my clients. But the truth is that some days, I struggle to find meaning and purpose on social media.

It has been an interesting journey, especially as someone who was born into a world where the Internet hadn’t existed yet. The convenience of access to the interwebs now has thrust our generation into having to navigate a whole new world. It’s scary that a channel that reflects our identity and makes it accessible to the rest of the world is so easily available through a smartphone that exists in our pockets.

THE BEST THING THAT I CAN DO IS TO FOLLOW JESUS. EVEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

Taking a look around every time I step into a public space, especially on public transport, it wouldn’t be surprising to see people glued to their screens scrolling through one of the many social media platforms — TikTok, YouTube or Instagram. It often amazes me how much has changed!

Being an introvert and someone who enjoys deeper conversations with people IRL, and who is disinclined to broadcast my life on social, I’ve had to press in deep on what it means to navigate this space as a believer. As I’ve journeyed through this, I have come to realise that just as with any aspect of my life, the best thing that I can do is to follow Jesus. Even on social media.

DON’T FORGET YOUR IDENTITY

Social media has a way of trying to rob you of your identity and redefining it. The Internet says you’ll be more ‘liked’ if you take nice photos, edit them well, have flawless skin, and do a mean TikTok dance. You’ll get more attention if you have an opinion that is loud, strong, and divisive. You’ll be more accepted if you share the sentiments of the echo chamber.

It’s easy to get swept up and link your identity too closely to the numbers online; it is crucial to have the discipline to remind yourself where your identity lies. You are a daughter of Christ. You are loved, you are chosen, you are redeemed — no matter how many followers you have on your platform.

As we are called to be salt and light in a world that needs them to taste and see the goodness of God (Matt 5:13–16), you are an influencer no matter how many or few followers you have. There is no need to chase numbers. There is no need for likes to validate you. See yourself how God sees you, not through the lens of others.

Your Father loves you for who you are and it is He who has also given you this platform for your voice to be heard Because of its proliferation, social media is a powerful channel that can be used for outreach, which leads me to the next point — that it’s crucial that we see it as a gift that should be stewarded well.

STEWARD IT WELL

Jesus says in Matthew 5:15 that nobody lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl: “instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” In the same vein, I do believe that social media can be a “stand” we can leverage to give light to those around us, “that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

I used to take to Instagram stories as an outlet for my emotions: if I was tired, feeling angsty or annoyed in general, it was an easy way for me to rant to others, get validation from my friends, and move on with life. It took a fellow believer to point out that my social media platform should be treated as a sacred space, especially so if I felt called to

YOU ARE AN INFLUENCER NO MATTER HOW MANY OR FEW FOLLOWERS YOU HAVE.

ministry in this space. Were we not called to “do everything without grumbling or arguing” (Phil 2:14)? If I aired such emotions on my public platform in such a self-centred and negative way, was I painting a positive picture of what a Christian should be?

WHAT WOULD JESUS POST? DOES WHAT YOU POST GLORIFY GOD?

That made me a lot more intentional about the content I was posting. To ensure that what I’m posting sets a good example of Christian living, I’ve set certain guardrails to examine the condition of my heart — a heart check, if you will — before posting anything, anywhere:

Why are you posting? For connection? Affirmation? Pride?
What has God called you to steward in this space? What topics should you lend your voice to?
What would Jesus post? Does what you post glorify God?
How can you love others through this channel?
How can we amplify the truth of what we know through this channel? Is it always right to keep quiet about certain topics? Count the cost of speaking up or staying silent.

DRAW BOUNDARIES

Proverb 4:23 states, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Let’s get real — social media is one of the distractions that has easiest access to your heart. What is it you reach for, first thing in the morning? When both the Word of God and Instagram exist on the same device, I’ll be honest in admitting that I often struggle to choose the Bible over social media. Beyond time spent idling on the platforms, another way the enemy could rob us of quality time with our Father would be getting us to be invested in the lives of influencers or celebrities. Here’s a great question to consider: should you be limiting your screen time so that you don’t allow these things to become idols? Create your own boundaries for when, where, and how long you use social media, so that you can choose to guard your heart with the wisdom of God.

ARISE, SHINE

Just as I had to learn that there should not be any distinction between my identity at church and my identity elsewhere, living authentically in Christ means that there should also not be any distinction between my identity online and my identity offline.

In a space that glorifies appearances and champions cancelling, we need to be a generation that dares to be counter-cultural, so that others can experience the goodness of God through our channels.

Let us commit to staying in step with God as we journey through life and learn about our identities, our unique voices, and our callings. Let us live our lives authentically in Christ, no matter where we find ourselves — in our homes, workplaces, churches, on social media, the metaverse, and beyond.

How Do I Engage With Friends Of Different Religious Views?

Jackie Hwang — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 14:58:00 +0000

It’s never easy to start a conversation that may end up in disagreement, especially when it comes to matters of faith. How can we do it in a respectful way? JACKIE HWANG relates her experience of sharing the gospel with those with different religious views.

You might have heard of the Great Commission which tells us to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:18–20). This is Jesus’ command to share the gospel with those who do not know Him. For some of us, this command may be difficult because we don’t know how to engage with friends who already have different religious views from ours.

I vividly remember the time in secondary school when, in response to my history teacher’s critique of Christianity,

THE EVERYDAY ENCOUNTERS OF GOD’S GOODNESS ARE USUALLY THE MOST RELATABLE AND CONVINCING.

I defended my faith, something that led to my classmates making fun of me. At the time, I felt embarrassed and confused. Later, in my university days, there was another awkward encounter when my Jewish friend, with a smirk, turned down my invitation to a Christian event. You may have had similar experiences of feeling at a loss for words with friends who have different religious views from yours. So how are we supposed to share the gospel when it seems so difficult to talk to them about the Christian faith?

START WITH A CONVERSATION

Looking back at these two episodes, I would probably say to my younger self, “Be patient about sharing the gospel. Start first with a conversation about other things.” We see that Jesus did this in His encounter with a Samaritan woman (John 4:1–42). He started the conversation with a request for a drink of water, which led to a deeper discussion, and only then did Jesus talk to her about spiritual topics. In the same way, we can slowly work toward a level of understanding and trust with others that makes it possible to talk about deeper things such as our belief in God.

You can start simply by talking with your friend about things you have in common. In one of your conversations, you may find a natural point to share about God. It could be an experience where God has answered a prayer or something tangible that they can relate to. It doesn’t have to be a miraculous event or a well-rehearsed gospel presentation. The everyday encounters of God’s goodness are usually the most relatable and convincing.

BE WILLING TO LISTEN

Another thing that I would tell my younger self would be to listen to the different religious views out there and think about how to connect them to God’s truth. The Bible story that offers us a good example of this approach is found in Acts 17:16–34. In this passage, Paul engaged the Greek philosophers at Athens using their own religion. What he did was, in taking notice of their worship of an “unknown God”, he used this void in their religious belief to proclaim to them the true God of heaven and earth.

What Paul did may seem too difficult for us, since after all, Paul was well trained in religious ideas and a great missionary. However, the lesson we can take from Paul is to start by listening to our friends talk about what they believe. If we are willing to listen, we can understand their belief systems better.

A simple way to start could be to ask and listen to why and how they celebrate certain religious holidays or engage in certain practices. This may not lead to any gospel sharing, but it would build a “gospel bridge” — a connection to talk to friends about religious matters even though you have different views.

As you learn about the religious views of others, think about which aspects are similar to or different from our faith. It could be that you realise there are things about Christianity that confuse you, and it might be necessary to consult a pastor or Christian leader who knows more. But you will slowly build up the knowledge needed to have meaningful conversations with friends about different religious views. Eventually, you will develop a comfort level in knowing how to find an entry point for the gospel. And it all starts with the act of listening to them.

BE CONFIDENT BUT NOT JUDGMENTAL

Returning to my experience when my classmates mocked my Christian faith, I would also tell my younger self to remain confident in my Christian faith but not be judgmental or too defensive toward others who disagree. Having a wrong attitude will erect barriers for conversations with people who have different views. At the same time, my faith does not need to crumble under their criticism.

In the two Bible stories mentioned above (John 4:1–42; Acts 17:16–34), both Jesus and Paul confidently shared the gospel with those who believed differently without being judgmental or defensive, even when some rejected their message. Jesus and Paul offer us good examples of how to stand firm in our faith without becoming hostile toward those who believe differently.

It is important to keep this principle in mind especially when you face the more controversial issues for which the Christian position is called into question. These could be questions on the validity of Bible,

HAVING A WRONG ATTITUDE WILL ERECT BARRIERS FOR CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS.

the Christian position on LGBTQ+, or the ethics of abortion. Remember that you can agree to disagree whilst remaining clear about what you stand for and being respectful of others’ different views.

LET YOUR LIFE SPEAK

Finally, the way we live often speaks louder than our words. Authenticity matters! It is important that we live out godly lives which are consistent with the gospel message that we want to share with others. Note that this is not a holier-than-thou or no-room-for-error life. Rather, the point is to live honestly with our shortcomings, to be humble about our need to depend on God, to be sincere in the words we speak, and to be compassionate to the weak as God is.

If we can live a life where God’s transformation in us is visible to our friends, our lives will speak about the authenticity of our faith better than any convincing arguments we use. So, living a God-centred life is our witness. Therefore, combining a credible witness with our willingness to listen, to enter into conversations, and to not be judgmental in presenting our positions will be a winsome approach to engage our friends who have different religious views from us.

Beautiful Feet

Jiamin Choo — Sat, 01 May 2021 03:35:00 +0000

“Is there really a God? What is love? And why would God love me?” Kazuma, a fourth-year engineering student, asked me, with a look of curiosity and a tinge of sadness in his voice. I wasn’t expecting these questions to come at one go, but something in my heart broke and I understood why God had brought me from Singapore to this university in Japan to meet Kazuma.

It was my first mission trip to Japan as a freshman, in partnership with a local Christian student ministry. I had gone there as part of a Singapore team during my university holidays, because of what Sophie, my discipleship group leader, had shared about her mission trip to Japan previously.

Many know Japan for its amazing nature, technology, culture, and cuisine. It’s also one of the world’s most populous nations with 127 million people, and is one of the world’s richest and safest countries. Yet many may not know that Japan’s suicide rate is alarmingly one of the world’s highest, with over 20,000 Japanese ending their lives every year, with all hope lost. Most Japanese wouldn’t know Jesus, as they haven’t even heard of His name. With less than one percent Jesus-followers in Japan, and with the majority of worshippers and pastors being in their old age and passing on, many churches are struggling to survive, especially in rural areas where many churches have less than ten worshippers.

Impacted by what Sophie had shared, I signed up for the next trip to Japan, desiring to support the Japanese Christian students in their campus ministry. And that was how I ended up meeting Kazuma at a university’s English club gathering.

That day, together with my Singapore teammates, we sat down with Kazuma. We opened the Bible and searched for the answers he was looking for together. It was the first time Kazuma heard the good news of God’s kingdom and Jesus, and I was thankful to be part of the team that brought it to him. I realised this all happened because of Sophie, who encouraged me to go to Japan, and I could only have gone because my home church gave their blessings and supported me prayerfully and financially. And I could only share the gospel with Kazuma because others had shared that same good news with me in the past, such that I too had become a Jesus-follower.

It was like Paul’s words in Romans 10:11–15 coming alive:

As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

In writing this letter to the church in Rome almost 2,000 years ago, Paul was reminding them that the good news of Jesus is for all, not only for a privileged few. God has made a way for every tribe, tongue, and people group to be reconciled to Him when they respond in faith through Jesus. But for this message to be made known, someone needs to bring it. Someone with beautiful feet because they are willing to go. Today, according to the Joshua Project, an organisation that highlights the ethnic groups of the world with the fewest followers of Christ, the Japanese remain the second-largest unreached people group in the world. There are various ways we can be a part of bringing this good news to the nations. We can pray for these countries. We can give financially to support mission workers and send them out. We can also go, and be part of the next generation of workers with beautiful feet who will bring this good news to all people. What will be your response?

PRAYER

God, Your name is great and worthy to be praised. I long to see the good news of Your kingdom and Jesus made known in every place, so that all people will worship You. Give me a heart for the nations, that I may bring Your good news to others in this generation. Amen.

REFLECTION TIME!

1. Who first shared the good news of God’s kingdom and Jesus with you?
2. To what extent are you willing to pray, give, send, or go, for the purpose of bringing the good news to the nations?

DELVE DEEPER

Read and reflect on these passages on “Bringers of Good News”:
o Isaiah 6:1–13
o Luke 4:14–30
o Acts 8:26–40

HANDLES

To help process what you learn through your Bible reading, try journalling your thoughts, feelings and questions. It can also provide clarity when you re-read your journal entries and trace the growth in your faith journey.

Living Hope

Jiamin Choo — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 07:50:00 +0000

Come with me to the place where it all happened. Imagine the dark before the dawn, the heavy footsteps and tear-filled eyes. Two days before, the Jesus whom Mary Magdalene loved had died. Betrayed by a disciple and put on an illegal and unjust trial, Jesus was sentenced to die on a cross at Calvary outside the walls of Jerusalem. He was abandoned by His followers and scorned by the soldiers. Jesus was no more, buried in a tomb. All of Mary’s hope was gone.

Mary had been saved by Jesus. He had cast out seven demons from her and restored her life (Luke 8:2). But that’s not all. This was Jesus, the promised Saviour of the world. The Son of God, whose birth was sung over by angels and witnessed by shepherds. The Miracle Healer who touched the leper and made the blind see. The Teacher who preached God’s kingdom with such authority that many repented of their sins and believed. The Son of Man, who said He is the only way to come to the Heavenly Father. Many rejected Him. Yet many loved and followed Him, including Mary.

Walking toward the tomb where Jesus lay, Mary was in for a surprise. A violent earthquake hit as an angel came down from heaven. He rolled back the stone of the tomb and sat on it saying, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee’” (Matt 28:2, 5–7).

Entrusted with this good news, her grief turning into great joy, Mary started running off to tell the other disciples when suddenly, Jesus appeared before her and called her by name. Little did Mary know that she would be the first person to see Jesus alive. Little did she know that she would be the first witness to testify that Jesus had risen from the dead. “I have seen the Lord!” Mary told the disciples, but they did not believe her (Mark 16:11). They only believed after seeing Jesus themselves (e.g., John 20:24–29), and then they gave their lives to share this news because Jesus had become their Living Hope.

These historical accounts have been recorded in Scripture so that we too may believe that Jesus is the Saviour, the Son of God, and that by believing, we may have life in His name (John 20:31). Although I have not witnessed these events with my own eyes and they may seem like foolish made-up stories in the eyes of the world, I do believe that Jesus lived, died, and rose again. He is my Living Hope, having triumphed over sin and death. And because I believe, I desire to share this good news with others who have yet to know it, especially those who live in communities where there are few Jesus-followers.

This Good Friday and Easter, may you be encouraged to reflect on Jesus’ life and death, know the power of His resurrection, and like Mary, who was filled with joy, share this good news of our Saviour with those around you: “Jesus has risen, just as He said!”

PRAYER
God, how great is Your mercy and love, that through faith in the risen Christ, our sins are forgiven and we can enter Your kingdom and be called Your children. Empower us by Your Spirit to share this good news about Jesus with others. Amen.

REFLECTION TIME!
1. To what extent is Jesus your Living Hope?
2. Who is one person you can share with about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus?

DELVE DEEPER
Read and reflect on these passages on “The Risen Christ”:
o John 11:21–27
o Acts 13:26–48
o 1 Corinthians 15:1–22

HANDLES
To discover what the Bible says about life’s big questions, consider asking yourself, “What does this Bible passage say about God, Jesus, or His plan? What does this say about humans? What am I doing well, and what do I need to change?”

*Check out the Discovery Bible Study method at www.dbsguide.org to find out more.

10 Books To Inspire You

Hannah Leung — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 01:10:00 +0000

There are some books that give you new insight every time you read it, and here are 10 books that do just that for us! Whether you’re looking for inspiration, life lessons, or a relaxing holiday read, we’ve got you covered!

1. The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
When God thinks of us, He thinks of us with love. When the devil thinks of us, he thinks of… what? Through the imagination of C.S. Lewis, we get a glimpse of how the devil works. Through imagined letters that a senior demon writes to a junior demon on how to corrupt and tempt a man, The Screwtape Letters encourages us to recognise how hard the devil has been working to do what he does best: kill, steal, and destroy.

2. Chasing the Dragon by Andrew Quickie and Jackie Pullinger
In 1966, Jackie Pullinger boarded a boat from England with no money and no plan, but was filled with faith that God would tell her where to get off and start sharing the gospel. This classic about her work in the Kowloon Walled City — a lawless labyrinth of haphazardly built buildings in Hong Kong where crime was rife — is sure to inspire you to take courage in unabashed obedience to Jesus. Fun fact, she still lives and serves in Hong Kong!

3. What Is A Girl Worth? My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics by Rachael Denhollander
Immediately after finishing the book, Kallos writer Hannah dropped a friend a text and said, “I’m shaking.” In spite of her personal trauma and the frustrations of bringing Larry Nassar to justice, Denhollander’s grit and grace is unmistakable. While the fight against injustice is often fueled by bitter revenge, she is motivated by love — for the victims and all the young gymnasts that could suffer in the same way — and this makes her story both refreshing and empowering.

4. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
The most sobering reflections seem to come in the face of the threat of death. When Dr. Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, he began thinking deeply about what a meaningful life looks like. You may not be facing death currently, but in thinking about death, it may inspire you on how to live life to the fullest.

5. The Scars That Have Shaped Me: How God Meets Us In Our Suffering by Vaneetha Rendall Risner
We always hear people talk about overcoming suffering, but very rarely do we hear someone talk about enduring it. Risner’s story is heartbreaking — she contracted polio at a young age, went through multiple miscarriages, lost her infant son, and her first husband left the family. Yet, in the face of great adversity, she learnt an invaluable lesson — how to taste the goodness of God even in suffering. Read her story to find out how her suffering not only boosted her faith in God, but cemented her hope in Him.

6. You and Me Forever by Francis and Lisa Chan
One of the best pieces of relationship advice that we can give is this: Don’t wait till you’re attached to figure out what a godly relationship should look like. Dive into Scripture with the Chans and let this book guide and shape your ideas about romance. Be prepared; it is going to look quite different from what we’re used to seeing on the big screen!

7. Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World that Loves To Be Noticed by Sara Hagerty
The title says it all. In a world that loves to be noticed, have we forgotten the preciousness of desiring the praise of God above the praises of man? When the things we do seem unnoticed, are we still willing to do them in service to Jesus? Laugh and learn with Hagerty through her stories of learning to see the beauty of a life hidden in God.

8. Mentoring Paradigms by Edmund Chan
If you’re in a position of leadership, this book is for you! In chapters no longer than four pages, Pastor Edmund Chan provides helpful ways to think about how to mentor, lead, and disciple those under your care. With such short and punchy lessons, no one can say that they are too busy to pick this up!

9. Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers
This bestselling series of novellas is Rivers’ way of putting herself in the shoes of the unlikely women in Jesus’ family tree. Immerse yourself in the worlds of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. We assure you that you will see their stories in a light you never have before!

10. Katie Weldon series by Robin Jones Gunn
Gunn’s unique writing style guarantees that even though you will never be able to meet the fictional Katie Weldon, she will feel like a friend you’ve gone through life with. Join Katie as she navigates college life, finds love and loses it, and has an unexpected African adventure… You will laugh at the mishaps she gets into, cry with her in her heartache, and savour the lessons of faith she picks up amidst the challenges of school, friendship, and romance. Available on www.kallos.com.sg!

The Great Joy of Christmas

Jiamin Choo — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 04:00:00 +0000

It was a December so different from what I had grown up knowing. I wasn’t singing Christmas carols with my church youth choir, nor strolling down Orchard Road to admire the pretty illuminations. Neither was I helping my mum decorate the artificial Christmas tree at home. I was away from all that was familiar in Singapore, serving on board the missions ship Doulos docked in Sri Lanka, and assigned to run a Christmas programme with some ship friends at a local women’s prison. As I heard there were two Chinese inmates in the prison, I brought my Chinese Bible along.

When our team entered the prison, a Chinese woman dashed across the courtyard to avoid the heavy rain. I hurried to meet her and invited her to join us for the Christmas programme. Her name was Xueling*. As we began the programme in a room where a hundred Sri Lankan women sat cross-legged on the dusty concrete floor, I was glad to see Xueling walk in with another Chinese girl. As I was the only Mandarin speaker on the team, I sat next to them and tried my best to translate the Christmas story and the good news of Jesus in my long-neglected Mandarin.

The verses in Luke 2:10–11 came alive in that moment. Just as how God had sent angels to announce the birth of His Son Jesus to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks, God had sent my team to share the same message to these women kept behind bars in Sri Lanka. The good news of the great joy of Jesus’ birth is truly for everyone. No one is left out.

When I asked, “Do you know who Jesus is?”, Xueling said, “Yes, He is the Saviour of the world. I worked in Israel for ten years. I even visited Jesus’ birthplace and resurrection site. If I can return to my country, I’ll definitely become a follower of Jesus.”

I asked, “Why wait till you return home? Why not now?”

Xueling replied, “Because I don’t know how.”

I was struck by how even though Xueling knew about Jesus, no one had explained to her how to receive Jesus into her life. And God had placed me on the team, so that I could share with Xueling the answer that she was searching for. God hadn’t forgotten her in prison, and now she had another chance to call on Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.

I turned to Xueling and asked, “Do you want to receive Jesus as your Saviour?” Xueling looked at me, and nodded. Just to be sure, I asked again. She said, “Yes.” With childlike faith, Xueling prayed line by line after me, admitting she was a sinner, acknowledging Jesus as God’s Son, believing He died on the cross and was resurrected, and gave her life to Jesus. Right there in prison, Xueling became my sister-in-Christ. I gave her my Chinese Bible and explained she could start reading from the Gospel of John to grow in her faith.

I went back to the ship, pondering over what took place within the prison walls that day. Even though it was a Christmas programme with no festive decorations, gift exchange or beautiful singing, it was the one which touched me the most — we witnessed a miracle, the salvation of one soul, and the angels must have been rejoicing too. And this is the greatest joy I could ever experience, to share the story of Jesus’ birth and to bring glory back to Him.

*Name has been changed for privacy.

PRAYER

Dear God, thank You for the gift of Your precious Son, Jesus. Grant me opportunities to share about His birth with friends who do not know the true meaning of Christmas, and may You receive all the glory. Amen.

REFLECTION TIME!

1. What does Christmas mean to you, and how do you celebrate it?
2. This Christmas, who is one person you’d like to share the joyous news of Jesus’ birth with?

DELVE DEEPER

Read and reflect on these passages on “The Great Joy of Christmas”:
o Isaiah 9:6–7
o Luke 2:1–40
o 1 Timothy 1:15-16

HANDLES

Is there a Bible story or passage that recently left an impression on you? Meditate on it throughout the week, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal deeper insights so that His Word can transform your heart.

Spotlight: Joanne Kwok Influences With A Difference At Thir.st

Quek Shiwei — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Joanne Kwok, or Jonk as she is known to her friends, is the creative producer at Thir.st, an online Christian site that addresses a range of topics from faith, to relationships, to studies, and doing good. Since its launch in December 2016, it has averaged more than 300,000 visitors and 1 million page views each year.

With such an established platform with a great deal of influence, I felt apprehensive yet excited to meet the woman behind the inspiring content of Thir.st. But in the span of a few minutes, Joanne’s outgoing personality made me feel right at home! In this digital age with plenty of influencers, she is a shining example of what an influencer ought to be — confident yet humble. Joanne’s main message? We all have influence, and we should be real and authentic as we use it for good.

Hi Joanne! What are the first three words that come to your mind when I say the word “influence”?

Responsibility, creativity, authenticity. People are gifted with influence and it’s their responsibility to steward that influence well. Secondly, people are looking for creativity in story-telling that impacts and compels someone into action. Lastly, authenticity is key. It is easy to manufacture aesthetic photos and compelling stories. But if people think, “you pitched it so high, I can never achieve that,” then you’ve missed the point.

When did you first realise that you had influence?

When I was in school, people followed what I did and I got into trouble. My teacher would call me out and say, “You need to watch what you say and behave because everyone is following you”. I would get confused because I got into trouble for being the “instigator” of things I didn’t even intend to make others do! Those small instances made me realise that I had influence of some sort.

But the first time I was fully convicted of my influence was in university when I made a video for a project on dreams. When I presented it in front of project owners from different companies, one of the judges was crying so badly [because she was so moved] and the whole room was silent. The video was put online and it got me invited to speak at 2012’s TEDxYouth. I don’t know whose lives I changed the day I spoke but that was probably the first brush of influence that I had. I wasn’t trying to prove anything but I feel like influence was given to me.

How do you balance between acting in a certain way because you know eyes are on you and being yourself on social media?

I strongly believe that if you are in the thick of your grief or still processing a situation, you should not short-circuit that by speaking or writing about it yet publicly. It’s kind of like dunking something that’s cooking into cold water and it just stops it right there. The lessons you could have learnt could have been so much deeper. But because you were in such urgency to influence others, you have short-changed yourself and compromised your own process of growth.

I’ve actually started composing posts, then deleted them and told myself, “You know what? You’re not ready. You just want to write this for someone to see your pain, and someone can read this sad emo thing and ask if you are okay. Or you want the person you are actually writing about to see it.” Sometimes we get clouded by justifying, “So many people could be impacted by this and it would be so great for them to hear this”. But only you will know your heart’s intention for putting it out there in the first place.

KNOWING THAT I CAN SEPARATE MY WEIGHT FROM MY WORTH HAS BEEN HUGE. YOUR WEIGHT CAN CHANGE, BUT YOUR WORTH IS UNCHANGEABLE.

What would you say to girls who look to you as a role model?

Role models, in any stage of life, are super important. People need to see the truths of the Bible ‘walking’, they need to see what a surrendered life looks like. They need to see that someone doesn’t have it all together but the journey is worth it.

Honestly when I was younger, I went through a very difficult time. I’m pretty sure I had some kind of depression; I was crying every night. I had many body image issues, and I would trace my body out and wonder to myself, “Why do I look like that?” I would tell myself, “Other girls have their prime and you’ve already missed yours. You’ll never get there.” I remember this so clearly though: One night, I told God, “If one day you can let me tell other girls my age (I was 12 then) who are going through the same things that I am [that they are not alone], this suffering would make sense”. I’ve just turned 30, so for this interview to happen now, I feel like it’s an answered prayer to share this with Kallos’ readers.

I’m no supermodel. I’m sure you can tell that at a glance. But knowing that I can separate my weight from my worth has been huge. Your weight can change, but your worth is unchangeable.

Should a person’s influence have any effect on the kind of content we create and upload on our social media platforms?

I have been asked, “Should I care about what people think of my content? I have no control over them; if they don’t like my content, then whatever.” And that seems like logical thinking, like, “I am not my brother’s keeper” (Gen 4:9). But you totally are your brother’s keeper!

If people reading your content are your church friends, pastors, parents, siblings, and you know that what you post might affect them, how can you say that you are not your brother’s keeper? Just because you don’t see their true reactions doesn’t mean people didn’t get stumbled or misled, and people can go away with a message passed down a “broken telephone”. You need to weigh it very carefully.

EVERY YOUNG PERSON, PURELY BY HAVING A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, HAS INFLUENCE. EVEN IF THERE ARE ONLY TEN PEOPLE FOLLOWING YOU, ONE STORY CAN INFLUENCE THEM.

As Christians, how should we use the influence we have wisely?

Two years ago, a friend contacted me out of the blue. She said, “I’ve been going through a tough time recently and you always write about your faith and how difficult it can be. I wanted to ask, how do you keep faith?” I was puzzled at her question because she used to be so anti-Christian, but she’d actually accepted Christ over the years we’d lost contact! This experience taught me that being authentic about your life is like being a lighthouse. Most days, people don’t care about lighthouses. But when they are about to smash into the rocks, it matters. If you’re a lighthouse that is always shining, people will remember that faithful lighthouse when they need direction. I don’t mean you need to portray some perfect life. Your life has rocks too; you’re in the thick of human experience, with good and bad days. Authenticity is so important.

Final piece of wisdom about “influence”?

The social media platform is an extension of your life — it’s not like a random third arm that you use as and when. What you post is literally you and who you are. That’s why your testimony needs to flow into those spaces as well! The way you live and have been taught to live as a Christian has to be the same way you live in those spaces. You cannot say, “This platform is for my frivolous self” minus the whole Christian part of your life. If you are trying to live your regular life talking about Jesus, I don’t see why it disappears the moment you use a social media platform just because “I have never used my Instagram for this before”. Don’t compartmentalise your life.

Every young person, purely by having a social media platform, has influence. Even if there are only ten people following you, one story can influence them. Invest in these ten people; compel them to action to reach another ten. Don’t compare your influence with that of someone with 100 followers. At the end of the day, the effort and the heart behind it is all the same: to live a life that draws others closer to their encounter with God, both offline and online.

Take The Evangelism Challenge

Quek Shiwei — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 04:00:00 +0000

CHALLENGE RULES

1. Find a prayer buddy who can cover you in prayer during this challenge.

2. Write out a 5-minute testimony on how and why you became a Christian.

3. Practice sharing the gospel until you are familiar with it and confident of delivering it without notes.

4. Try to be conscious of how you can share your faith in everyday conversations.

5. Seek out one friend whom you can pray for in person, and one friend (it can be the same one) to share your personal testimony and gospel with.

6. Have courage, and have fun!

Challenger: CHARMAINE KHOO, 19

3 Fun Facts:

1. I keep my utensils in the fridge
2. My go-to game is solitaire
3. I smell my dog’s paws

INITIAL THOUGHTS

Honestly, when I saw the challenge assigned to me, I was EXTREMELY scared. The thought of evangelising is something that has always been very daunting to me. Reading through the demands of this challenge, I was also sceptical about whether I would even be able to execute it. However, I decided to see this challenge as an opportunity to share the gospel with people around me — there’s always a first time for everything!

To be frank, as I reflected about when was the last time I shared the gospel, I realised that I do not actively share the gospel. I do not consciously think about it as much as I think I should. The last time I talked about why I was a Christian was a few weeks ago over lunch with a few of my friends, where I shared what Christians believe in and how our morals and values may differ from that of other religions.

Conversations like these, and evangelism as a whole, leave me feeling awkward and uncomfortable because it can be deemed as a “touchy topic”. At times, I worry that my friends may not actually be interested in what I have to say and are just listening out of courtesy. Even though I have never encountered any negative comments from my friends when I share my faith, I still fear that I will get rejected badly or ridiculed for sharing my testimony, or that my friends would choose to distance themselves away from me.

Thinking about it deeper, I think that the root cause of all these fears could be because I lack trust in God. Ultimately, my stories and sharing can only do so much, but it is God who can truly move the heart of the pre-believers. I hope that throughout this challenge, I will be able to put my faith into action!

MY TWO WEEKS OF EVANGELISM

Throughout the challenge, I knew that I had to be more intentional in my conversations. I tried to be intentional in listening to what my friends were sharing, and when appropriate, steered conversations toward talking about God. It was not as difficult or hard to achieve as I thought. From merely listening to my friends share and brushing aside their complaints of how “sian” school is or how they find no meaning in certain aspects of their lives, I chose to dig deeper by asking them more questions and encouraging them in small ways. It made me realise that my everyday conversations can be a platform for me to evangelise and speak into my friends’ lives.

I am not gonna lie though — this challenge was definitely awkward! It was quite difficult to bring up Christ in conversations and to find the right opportunity to share my testimony. I wanted it to be natural as well. I felt pretty scared, and when I finally managed to find an opportunity to share my testimony, my mind was racing with questions! “Will she think I am weird?” “Does she feel awkward?” “Is she starting to zone out?” However, something that kept me going was knowing what God has placed on my heart for my friend. It helped me to see how the Father wanted to reach out to her and that was a huge motivation in ignoring the awkwardness and continue to talk about Christ.

When it came to praying for another friend I had, it was definitely something out of my comfort zone. This is something I’ve never done before as I would normally say a prayer for my friends when I get back home in the privacy of my room. However, I decided to ask my friend if I could pray for her in person. To my surprise, she did not reject me but agreed! I honestly felt really happy because my fears of rejection did not come true. But even if my friend had rejected me, I think that I would have been fine with it. Of course I would feel a bit embarrassed but I know that the act of offering to pray would have meant something to her.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Although both of my friends did not respond with wanting to know more about Christ, I do believe that something was planted in their hearts. As a form of follow-up from this challenge, I want to continue to have intentional conversations with both friends. For the friend that I shared my testimony with, I intend to have more of such similar conversations and hopefully through me, she will see Christ. As for the friend that I prayed for, I intend to journey with her more intentionally on her struggles she shared with me and to give her godly advice and perspective.

This challenge has certainly challenged me to take every opportunity to share about Christ. It has also helped me to see that the fears I used to have were not actually founded. As I practise bringing Christ into more of my daily conversations with my friends, I realised that the fears became less significant overtime. God has opened my eyes to see that evangelism is the responsibility of every Christian. He has encouraged me through the opportunities with both of my friends and I now know evangelism can be a part of my lifestyle!

Easy Ways To Share The Gospel

Do you struggle with talking about your faith openly and naturally? Here are some simple things you can use to share the gospel!

1. Prepare your personal testimony
1 Peter 3:15 exhorts us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Writing your personal testimony allows you to do just that. Find tips on how to do so on The Navigators’ website: https://bit.ly/2K3ZJLT

2. Download GodTools
This handy app is all you need to share the gospel message on the go. Best of all? It’s free! One of the simple but effective ways to share the gospel story is through the Four Symbols: ♡÷? Details on how to use it and more is on the GodTools app.

3. Memorise and use One-Verse Evangelism
Share the complete gospel using Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Read all about it here: https://bit.ly/2mDNEPX

Take The Migrant X Me Challenge

Quek Shiwei — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Challenger: ANNE ZENN TAN, 18

3 Fun Facts about me:
1. Most days, I’m pescatarian
2. Olaf is my favorite Disney character
3. As a kid, I was allergic to Oreos

INITIAL THOUGHTS

When I first received the challenge, I was really excited to finally be able to attend a Migrant x Me session. I first found out about the programme through Instagram but never really got the chance to sign up for it.

To be honest, whenever I see migrant workers in public spaces, I usually ignore them and try my best not to get in their way. However, an encounter with them made me want to connect with them better. I was on one of my solo photography adventures when I bumped into a huge group of migrant workers by the beach. I helped them to take some photos together, talked to them and observed how they interacted with fellow workers. I always had the assumption that the workers would only hang out with people of their own nationality. Hence, I was quite amused when I saw the Chinese, Indians and Bangladeshis hanging out together! It led me to think that if they can hang out like this, surely, I can hang out with them too!

CHALLENGE: PART 1 (The Migrant x Me Session)

On the day of the session, I had mixed feelings. I have always wanted to visit the migrant quarters in Singapore and get to know them better. The opportunity to be able to do so made me very excited! However, my excitement soon became fear. Being the youngest in the group of participants was slightly daunting for me. Nonetheless, I told myself to just go with an open heart and mind. True enough, I had such an eye-opening experience!

Entering the dormitory made me feel like I was entering a brand-new town! In that compound alone, the migrant workers had access to everything we also have in our neighbourhoods — supermarkets, ATMs, salons, coffee shops, laundry services, phone shops, recreational spaces etc. At this sight, I thought to myself: “How bad can it be to live here?”

However, in my conversations with Rahman (a Bangladeshi migrant worker I befriended during the session), I realised how wrong my assumptions were. Rahman shared with me that in his dorm of 12 workers, only him and another guy are from Bangladesh and the rest are from China. Due to the language barrier, Rahman occasionally feels left out. Out of curiosity, I asked if the workers are allowed to hang out in their friends’ room. Sadly, he replied that that is not allowed and they are only allowed to stay in their own dorms. Due to certain restrictions like this and more, Rahman barely has any friends.

He also shared with me that the dormitory caters food on a daily basis for the workers, but the food gets delivered at 5pm daily. By the time they return after a long day of work, the food is cold, bland, and has sometimes already gone bad! There was also a period of time when Rahman was told to stop working after he was injured. Because he had no money due to his temporary absence from work and no friends to share the costs of cooking with, Rahman could only continue eating the catered food daily without complaints.

Despite all the risks that may potentially threaten his life, Rahman continues working because he hopes that whatever amount of wages he gets will be able to provide his family a better life back home. He shared too that his father, whom he affectionately calls “Baba”, will call him every day without fail to chat with him and check on his safety.

CHALLENGE: PART 2

After the session, the second part of my challenge was to find a migrant worker, give him a ‘Thank You’ card that I wrote, and bless him with some food and drinks. I noticed that there was a lot of construction going on in different parts of my school and I managed to spot a few migrant workers sitting on the grass patch outside my school.

I approached one of them and asked about his work, how long he’s been in Singapore and got to know him a little more. He seemed confused and fazed that a student like me would approach him to have a simple conversation. I proceeded to explain that I wanted to thank him and his friends for working in my school. I showed him the card I had written and he rejected my card thinking that I had a hidden motive. I hurriedly explained that my friends and I had put together some cards to thank people like him who work at our school. After my explanation, he smiled and accepted my card and the snacks and drink I bought. We then had a little laugh over how bad my drawing on the card was (I really tried)!

When we said our goodbyes after the short conversation, I felt a little sad that he and his friend felt so intimidated by my simple intention to bless them. Perhaps it was because it isn’t common for young people to walk up to a migrant worker and have a simple conversation like we do with others.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Getting to know the struggles that the migrant workers face on a daily basis — from not being able to contact their family, having to miss big events (weddings, funerals etc.) back home and struggling financially — made me respect them more than I ever have. Putting myself in their shoes really did humble me! The ages of the migrant workers are not too far from mine but the privileges that I get to enjoy are worlds apart from them. It broke my heart when I realised that the migrant workers who build our homes don’t get treated as fairly as they should be.

If not for this challenge, I would not have understood a small glimpse of what it is like to be a migrant worker in Singapore. Through this experience, I have been educated on a deeper level and also challenged to be more intentional in my interactions with migrant workers the next time I encounter them. Remember, a kind act from us makes a world of difference to them!

INTERESTED IN MEETING MIGRANT WORKERS IN SINGAPORE?

Or have you always wanted to understand the challenges that they go through?

Join Migrant x Me, an educational and experiential learning journey, as we explore the experiences of these workers, and discover their resilience through their personal stories! The journey includes:

o A guided walk around our partner dormitory
o Break out sessions with the workers o an exclusively designed starter pack o dormitory food tasting

For more information or to sign up, go to: tinyurl.com/migrantxme.

Follow FB / Instagram: @migrantxme

Dig Deeper: How Do I Talk To My Friends About Jesus In Today’s World?

Benita Lim — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 04:00:00 +0000

“Why do Christians hate gays?” “Why do I need Jesus when I’m a good enough person on my own?” Have you ever encountered tough questions like these from your friends and couldn’t find an answer? I used to marvel at Paul’s eloquence whenever I read his sermon at Mars Hill (Acts 17:22–31). It seemed so easy for him to respond to those who disagreed with him. All he did was to go to the courts where religious matters were addressed, stand up and speak about God — and people listened.

Many controversial topics have arisen around us lately, such as economic equality, social justice, religious and LGBTQ issues. Wouldn’t it take someone with brilliance, guts and a gift of the gab like Paul to convince and convict people? What if we aren’t like him? Remaining silent doesn’t seem to be the right way forward as we called to be salt and light for Christ (Matt 5:13–16). This is where we can learn from Paul.

Paul didn’t remain silent, but he wasn’t reckless either. Here are three thoughts to consider when speaking to your friends about Jesus:

Listen and understand first

When difficult issues come up, don’t be afraid to ask questions (gently!) to clarify what your friends are saying; listen first to what they have to say and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what’s really on their minds. Paul didn’t simply barge into the Areopagus and spill facts for no reason. He was actually invited to do so (Acts 17:19–21)! Before this, Paul had gone down to engage Jews and Gentiles every day. He was observing, listening, and understanding — he was present. This surely helped him to address the people of Athens meaningfully (vv. 23–31). If you find yourself in the middle of a heated debate, helpful questions could include, “What makes you feel this way?” and “What was your experience with [the topic] before? Tell me more.” Remember: what we may know as the “right answer” may not always be the best answer for that moment.

Love them

Continue to love your friends as people — don’t just focus on the issue! Those whom Paul spoke to rejected his content, not his person nor the time he spent with them. You may disagree with your friends on certain issues of faith, but you are still in the best position to love them the way Christ would. This is where we practise the Great Commandment of loving our neighbours! Loving our neighbours doesn’t start with making them follow our law — that is precisely what the Pharisees were condemned for (Matt 23:4). Loving our neighbours is being with them in their brokenness and caring for them as a fellow sinful human being (Luke 10:25–37). Do your friends know you as someone who cares for them, or someone who is only concerned about “looking right”? When they know you care, they’re more likely to listen to what you have to say.

Let the Holy Spirit speak

Perhaps we have an uphill task today because Christians are better known for what we are against, rather than what we are for. When someone shares their sexual struggles with a Christian, they’re probably expecting them to start judging what they’re doing right or wrong. We don’t have to (and probably shouldn’t) do that. In fact, it’s a great privilege that someone would share their deep struggles with you. Just as Christ meets us in our sins and failures, we should do likewise with our friends, while praying that they may experience His love for them through us and that we may be given the opportunity to have important conversations with them. Finally, remember: After all that, it’s not our responsibility to win the argument and make them change their minds. It is their responsibility to respond, and it is the Holy Spirit who will do His transforming work!