Issue 18 – Kallos

Confessions of a Mum

Kallos Team — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:00:00 +0000

I LOVE CLEANING UP MESSES I DIDN'T MAKE ... SO I BECAME A MUM

First Peter is all about how to live as a follower of Christ. Resist temptation; do good yet expect to suffer from it; love your enemy but do not expect any love in return. Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Yet after just four years of being a mother, I can somewhat relate to that — never give in to lollipops, clean and organise your child’s room, yet be faced with a temper tantrum for misplacing his favourite toy. Indeed, the occasional failure is inevitable, but as mothers, we open our hearts, and we love.

I grew up with the privilege of having my mum model what selfless and unconditional love is to my older brother and me. She gave up her job to take care of the both of us, and throughout my growing up years, she bore the brunt of household duties. She served us selflessly — taking on multiple roles as chef, maid, and chauffeur — without complaining or grumbling.

Raising two toddlers at home now has taught me that without a doubt, one of the hardest tasks of motherhood is keeping our cool when our children are out of line. When my boys display their spectacular fireworks of anger and frustration, I have to resist the strong urge to run out of the house, or worse, lose my cool and fire right back. Otherwise, I would end up wishing immediately that I could hit the ‘delete’ button and reverse time!

Looking back, I have vivid memories of my own ‘fireworks’, and yet I always expected my mum to remain calm, accommodating and forgiving. This, I suppose, is only the tip of the iceberg of what I expected from my mum.

A MOTHER’S LOVE NEED NOT BE DESERVED

Then came the glorious teenage years, when the frontal cortex of the brain (the part that helps us to plan, control our impulses, and reason) is still developing. Yes, I love it that therapists call this stage in life ‘developmental’ — it makes my own teenage years seem less repugnant and more pardonable. I recall my tumultuous teenage years before

I came to know the Lord. It was undoubtedly a trying period, particularly for my mum as my dad went overseas to work, and she had to handle the family affairs on top of my emotional meltdowns. I could be a logical, rational girl one moment, and an incoherent, emotional bomb moments later. The mental, physical, and hormonal changes that I experienced during this period made life confusing and incomprehensible at times.

When my mum tried to reinforce values, beliefs, and discipline through repetitive advice, I saw it as nagging and gave her the cold shoulder. Suddenly, following the crowd and fitting in was a lot more important than following Mum’s advice. Because my mum grew up in a poor family and could not afford education beyond secondary school, I started to feel contempt for her advice and thought that she “didn’t know enough” and “couldn’t understand me”. As I struggled to find my identity and independence while also desperately seeking love and acceptance, I stopped confiding in her and sought solace and gratification in my friends instead.

WHEN MY MUM TRIED TO REINFORCE VALUES, I SEE IT AS NAGGING

From being a ‘goody two-shoes’ in primary school, I became a rebel overnight despite being in a well-known secondary school with good values. I started hanging out at fast food joints after school with my seniors, and relished this new-found ‘freedom’ that I had. It seemed like life had just started for me. While I knew I made my mum a bundle of nerves every so often, she never ceased to be my pillar of strength — quietly supporting me, encouraging me, believing in me, and letting me know that she never expected more than the best I could do. Even when my grades fell and my teachers frowned, she cheered me on, and told me that doing my best was more than enough for her. When I was disrespectful and obnoxious, she grieved, but did not fight head on with me.

On hindsight, I realise how agonising and intimidating it must be for parents to have such tremendous influence over their children in the first decade of their lives, and then to have them pull away to become his or her own person as a teen. Sometimes, l wonder if I will have the same immeasurable patience and forgiving heart as my mum when my own children reach that phase.

A MUM’S HEART LASTS LONG AFTER SHE LETS GO

When I was an adolescent, I related to my mum through a lens. It was a lens of ignorance, selfishness, and ungratefulness. One of the things that children don’t see is the sacrifice parents go through to make life easier for them. In essence, there is no appreciation for the love that parents shower on them, at least not until they have children of their own. Likewise, I was only interested in how my parents could fulfil my needs when I was a teenager, and not how I could care for them. I thought to myself, “Why would parents have needs anyway? Aren’t they supposed to be perfect?”

Looking back at my growing-up years, I realise that I have taken many things for granted. I have always viewed the things my mum did as something every parent ought to do. Now that I am in her shoes, I see the enormity of her love, interwoven with inevitable human faults — faults that I myself make with my sons now.

CHILDREN DON'T SEE THE SACRIFICES PARENTS GO THROUGH

When I was young, there were a handful of things my mum made me do that I promised never to make my children do. Now, most of these promises have come back to haunt me. As my mum once told me (jokingly), her revenge will be her grandchildren, when she would be able to watch me make my children do all the things I didn’t like her doing to me! Yet, so great is a mother’s love that she will always be there, through the chaos of life, no matter how grown up her child has become.

So despite having the last laugh, she still loves me unconditionally. And if I could look at my once-teen self in the mirror again, I would say, “You have a great mum and you’d better cherish her!”

Take The Christmas Challenge

Quek Shiwei — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:00:00 +0000

CHALLENGE RULES

Gather some friends who are willing to bless elderly cleaners with you.
Set aside a budget as a group that you are willing to spend.
Discuss the items to include in the gift pack + the number of packs that you plan to give out!
Personalise the gift packs with notes or cards.
Go out and look for people to bless!

INITIAL THOUGHTS

Rachel Lim
I feel bad that they have to work in such tiring jobs at their age. I am happy to do this challenge because while I feel bad for them, after I finish my meal I leave and forget about it. This is a good chance to really reach out to them and bless them for once!

Jesslyn Koh
I usually feel indifferent when I see elderly cleaners at hawker centres because of how common this situation is. I assume they are healthy and still able to take up a job to support themselves financially. When I first heard about the challenge, I thought, “Aww, that’s nice!” Cleaners are usually taken for granted. It’s not that we don’t appreciate their work, but most people will say “thank you” to them, and that’s pretty much it.

Annabelle Foo
It saddens me to see elderly cleaners at hawker centres. At 60-80 years old, they should be enjoying their lives, but they are working instead. I am quite excited about this challenge because I can imagine the smiles on their faces when they receive the goodies we are going to bless them with. Sometimes, it’s the little things that make someone happy, so I am looking forward to that!

Hannah Quek
I am a bit nervous about this challenge because I’m not good in Mandarin or dialect! Additionally, I don’t know how the elderly cleaners will react to us. Will they accept or reject the gift packs? However, I am definitely excited because I get to bless them with my friends!

THE CHALLENGE

Jesslyn Koh
We started the challenge by deciding what to include in the gift pack. It was actually really difficult! We wanted the gift pack to contain healthy food that are suitable for the elderly, and there were so many choices! We spent quite a lot of time deciding exactly what to include, and in the end, we got them oats, bee hoon, milo, biscuits, and some healthy drinks.

Hannah Quek
Throughout the challenge, I had difficulty communicating with the elderly cleaners, but the highlight was when the elderly cleaners received the gift packs with huge smiles on their faces and even shared the joy with their colleagues whom we eventually decided to bless as well! I would definitely do this again and grab even more friends along! Other than the fact that it was really fun to do this with friends, the outcome of giving was so worth the time we spent. Seeing the happy, blessed faces of the aunties and uncles in the middle of a hot day reminded me that they deserve to be loved and cared for with the love of Christ. Even if they do not know about Jesus, the least we can do is to display His love through acts of giving. We would definitely recommend this challenge to everyone!

Annabelle Foo
As we embarked on the challenge, I started to worry if the cleaners would reject the goodies that we were going to give them. When we started giving out the packs, some of them responded by saying, “Money is not easy to earn, I won’t accept it.” That response was difficult for me to come to terms with. It made me think perhaps, they have been struggling with their finances for so long that they would rather earn their own money than receive help from others.

Rachel Lim
Like Annabelle, I felt pretty nervous that the cleaners might think we were trying to con them! But I was also excited to bring them some joy and love and let them know that they are not invisible, and we appreciate them. We had to convince them that we just wanted to bless them with the groceries, and in the end, I was really happy to see their eyes light up and soften when they felt safe to accept the gifts. We saw genuine smiles that showed they were touched and felt some love from us.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Being a blessing to elderly cleaners does not need to stop (or start!) with a Kallos Challenge. We come into contact with food stall owners and cleaners practically on a daily basis, but often are in too much of a hurry to realise that they are people with stories too! Make it a habit to thank them and ask about their day if the opportunity arises. It just might put a smile on their face, and yours!

TOP TIPS FROM THE TEAM

1. Do not be afraid! Approach the elderly cleaners with a smile on your face. Try not to come across as too forceful or overly enthusiastic.
2. Introduce yourself and pass them the gift pack. Explain why you are giving it to them and what is inside the pack.
3. If they seem open, ask them questions about themselves (How are you? What do you do in your free time? What is your favourite food? etc.)
4. Finally, be sensitive — do not probe about their families or why they are working as cleaners unless they offer to tell you.

Living Out Justice And Compassion

Jiamin Choo — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:00:00 +0000

“Erm … hi, do you need help to cross the road?” I asked the uncle wearing sunglasses and holding a cane. He smiled, “Yes, I need to get to the bus stop behind Somerset MRT.” I was going to be late for my dinner appointment, but decided to help him first. I introduced myself, and found out his name was Uncle Kasim.

He held onto my arm as I led him through 313@Somerset and cleared the path to prevent people from bumping into him. When we reached the bus stop, I waited with him until he boarded his bus home.

Even though the encounter with Uncle Kasim was brief, it left a deep impression on me. This seemingly small act of helping him cross the road opened my eyes to the needs of people with disabilities, and to be more intentional about extending justice and compassion to Those who may be forgotten, marginalised, and oppressed in our society. Growing up in Singapore, it’s been a blessing to enjoy the prosperity and peace of our nation.

But in the midst of growing affluence, cries for help remain. I think of the streetwalkers in Geylang who have been tricked or forced into the sex trade, the one-room rental flat dwellers in Toa Payoh who may not have enough to eat three meals a day, the foreign construction workers who labour in the hot sun and are housed in unsafe and overcrowded dormitories, and the domestic helpers who work all week, yet may be denied a weekly day off by abusive employers. I also think of the ex-offenders who cannot find work or a home because of society’s rejection of their past.

As followers of Christ, how should we respond? The book of Amos has a timely message for us — not only will He judge the nations for the things they have done wrong, He will also judge His own people, Israel, for their lack of justice and compassion in the midst of the suffering of others. While God had freed the people of Israel from oppressive slave masters in Egypt and called them to extend justice and compassion to others, the Israelites oppressed the poor, cheated in business transactions, and got rich at the expense of others. On the outside, the people of Israel appeared to love God by giving offerings and worshipping Him with songs, but God was enraged by the true state of their hearts filled with injustice and apathy. This is why God spoke through the prophet Amos to proclaim judgement on Israel, “Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:23–24).

Because justice and compassion are part of God’s character, as His people, we are to reflect these attributes of His nature as a testimony to the watching world. Having received the mercy of God through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we cannot go on living our life of ease, or to turn a deaf ear to the cry of the weak and needy. Having been blessed with plenty in Singapore, may we seek opportunities to extend justice and compassion to those around us. Remember the forgotten. Reach the marginalised. Speak for the voiceless. Release the oppressed.

Yes, this can be uncomfortable, and it can also require us to go the extra mile. But every little bit counts, no matter how insignificant it seems. As we fight for justice and compassion, we contribute to building God’s kingdom here on earth. Lives will be touched, and communities can be transformed. Never underestimate the power of what God can do through you!

REFLECTION TIME
1. Who do you think are the poor, weak and oppressed in Singapore?
2. What are some ways you can extend justice and compassion to them?

DELVE DEEPER
Read and reflect on these passages for more about living out justice and compassion!
o Psalm 146:5–10
o Luke 10:25–37
o Micah 6:1-8

HANDLES
Want to delve deeper into Scripture?

Use SOAP!
Scripture: What passage/verse are you studying today?
Observation: What do you think God is saying to you through this Scripture?
Application: How can this Scripture be applied in your life?
Prayer: Write down a prayer based on the lessons you have learnt!

Martha

Kallos Team — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:00:00 +0000

When one thinks about Martha of Bethany, the incident in Luke 10 comes to mind. Martha complained about her sister, Mary, who chose to sit at Jesus’ feet instead of helping Martha with dinner. Most Sunday school stories end with us wanting to be more like Mary than Martha — to not be distracted from listening to Jesus by the busyness of life. Yet there is more to Martha than being the distracted chef. John 11 concerning the illness of her brother, Lazarus, reveals more about her.

MARTHA, THE BELOVED CHEF

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (John 11:5).

Jesus was not a passing guest at Martha’s home. He had become a close family friend. Even with her predisposition to be distracted, Jesus loved Martha. And Martha knew it.

As her brother, Lazarus, lay dying in bed, all Martha could think of was Jesus — the one who could certainly heal him.

So the sisters sent a message to Jesus: “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”

But not long after the messenger left, Lazarus breathed his last and grief pierced their hearts.

The next few days went by in a blur. And when Martha heard that Jesus was back in town, she rushed out to meet Him in a mix of emotions.

“Why did he not come earlier? He was only a day’s journey away. It’s too late now. What could have been more important to him than us? Than Lazarus?”

But when she saw Jesus’ loving eyes, her frustrations melted into tears and all she could mutter through her sobs was, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21)

In times of frustration and grief, the beloved chef did not need to hold back her tears or her honest words. She knew that her Lord who loved her would hear.

Isn’t it great that our Lord who loves us, will hear us when we call to Him? If you are feeling like no one understands or that the sadness is overwhelming, call out to Him who loves you. He who loves you will hear you. Don’t hold back.

JESUS LOVED MARTHA. AND MARTHA KNEW IT.

MARTHA, THE BELIEVING CHEF

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (John 11:25–27, ESV).

In her grief, Martha was faced with a tough question regarding what Jesus said: “Do you believe this?”

Martha blinked furiously through her tears. “Do I believe? Why is the Lord asking this of me now? I believe that God will resurrect Lazarus and the faithful dead on the last day, but what does Jesus mean by being the resurrection and the life? I do not fully understand what He is saying, but I want to believe. I will choose to believe.”

“Yes, Lord, I believe,” she said, with all that was in her. “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God. I will continue to follow you.”

Little did Martha know that her belief would be confirmed in just a little while longer, when she saw her brother raised to life before her eyes!

When we cannot understand why things happen in life, we can continue to believe that God is who He says He is, and His love and promises are true even when it doesn’t seem like it.

Just like Martha, the distracted, but beloved and believing chef.

Female Education In Pakistan

Isabel Phua — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:00:00 +0000

STATISTICS

4.5 MILLION: NUMBER OF GIRLS WHO ARE OUT OF SCHOOL IN PAKISTAN (UNESCO)

18% OF PAKISTANI WOMEN HAVE MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF SCHOOLING

95.2% OF GIRLS IN SINGAPORE ARE LITERATE

ONLY 28.9% OF GIRLS IN PAKISTAN ATTEND SECONDARY SCHOOL

WHO?

The ones most affected by this discrimination are the girls in the Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan provinces, where the female literacy rate stands between just 3% and 8% (UNESCO). The poorest girls in these three provinces are known to be the most disadvantaged as more than half of them have never been to school. Out of a total of 14,000 lower secondary schools and 10,000 higher secondary schools, only 36% and 30% respectively are available for girls.

WHY?

Education is so important because when girls receive basic education, it empowers and enables them to gain skills, information, and self-confidence to become better parents, workers, and citizens. It also works as a social leveller to reduce gender inequality. Education is also beneficial for the economy and the development of the nation. According to UNESCO, literate Pakistani women earn twice as much as those who are illiterate.

HOW?

For all girls in Pakistan to receive equal access to education, many factors need to be resolved. Firstly, a shift in societal perception of women is necessary. Legally, the Constitution of Pakistan states that education is a fundamental right of both males and females, but patriarchal values and negative social biases still exist. Women are believed to be incapable of being good workers, and many Pakistanis still believe that women should stay at home as wives and mothers, leaving the men to be the sole breadwinner in the family. In addition, very little budget is allocated to education in Pakistan (only about 2.4% in 2012). Furthermore, the Taliban, an Islamic terrorist group, has been actively destroying schools that cater to women as well as attacking women on their way to school. Lastly, poverty is a huge contributing factor to the problem of female illiteracy. All in all, the problem is multi-faceted and difficult to solve.

PRAY FOR:
– Wisdom to be upon the government (1 Timothy 2:2) as they govern the country
– Protection over school girls whose lives might be in danger
– The murderous plans of attack by the Taliban to be ruined
– God’s blessings on the families and girls in poverty

Spotlight: Mercy Ho – Embracing Streetwalkers

Quek Shiwei — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:00:00 +0000

Mercy is a gentle and soft-spoken person, yet her passion and conviction seem to readily define her. It is no coincidence that her name itself embodies the heart of her ministry! Once a self-proclaimed ‘wild’ youth who indulged in worldly activities, she now serves the downtrodden of society with tenderness and, yes, mercy. Here’s her story.

Hi Mercy! How did you end up working at Tamar Village?

It’s a bit of a long story! Before I became a Christian at 21, I basically lived a life that was very similar to that of the street ladies — I drank a lot, clubbed a lot, smoked a lot, and had a lot of relationships. However, after my encounter with God, I wanted to know Him more. Within three to six months of being a Christian, I began to realise that I had a call to missions. I remember saying, “God, if you’re willing, I would like to work with ladies in prostitution one day.”

Years later, after working for a period of time, I went to a conference where they talked about human trafficking and it gripped my heart. After that, it took a year for me to reach the decision to quit my job and work in ministry full-time. It was at that time that I first heard about Tamar Village. I had not heard of the ministry before, but when I got connected with them, I realised that one of the two founders, Auntie Lois, was a good friend of my mum! Years before, when I met her and Auntie Shu Hui, the other founder of Tamar Village, and told them about my call to missions, Auntie Shu Hui had said, “It’s not time yet.” This time, she looked at me and said, “It’s time.” And the rest is history.

Describe your job in two words.

The first word is unconditional. Because of the work we do, we have to respect the ladies unconditionally. A lot of times we hear their reasons for being driven into prostitution — poverty, forced by their boyfriends or families, lack of education, etc. However, when we bring them into a restoration programme, we face times when they are not willing to change. That’s when we have to be like Christ and show them unconditional respect and love.

The second word is friendship. Jesus was friends with sinners. In my interaction with the ladies, I am challenged many times to be truly genuine as a friend — to truly humble myself and try to understand their point of view when they are struggling with things that will not be resolved easily.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

Tamar Village opens from Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm. We start the day by praying with the ladies previously from the street and giving them time to share their lives. After lunch, I occasionally check in on them to ensure that they are working on their allocated tasks, which is to sew and produce merchandise that will be sold to support our ministry!

For ladies who are Christian, we spend an hour every day going through discipleship material for new and growing Christians. Practical discipleship comes in when I take some of the ladies out with me to run errands during the day. Just the other day, I brought a lady to the MDIS (Management Development Institute of Singapore) campus and told her, “Look at all these courses. You have an ITE (Institute of Technical Education) cert, but you could possibly get a C6 for O-Level English and study something you like.” We try to open their eyes to practical things that can inspire them to dream beyond their circumstances.

I CAN GUARANTEE THAT NOT A SINGLE ONE WOULD SAY, "I WANT TO BE A STREET LADY AND LET MEN TOUCH MY BODY..."

What is one stereotype of streetwalkers that you have found to be untrue?

It would be: “These ladies love their job — they love to sell their bodies.” I challenge you though: take any lady selling her body on the street to a quiet place, get her some food and drinks. After she is relaxed and feeling safe, ask her, “If today you were 7-years-old again, and you are in a family that is stable, with working parents, and an education, what would your dream be?” I can guarantee you that not a single one would say, “I want to be a street lady and let men touch my body every night for money’s sake.” In my conversations with them, I have come to realise that they have dreams too, and their dreams are not low at all!

What are some of the most challenging situations that you have faced?

One time, one of the ladies came to a point of complete rebellion — she threw a tantrum and broke some glass on the floor. I just said, “We still love you.” She walked out. My team and I could only pray. Fifteen minutes later, she came back and apologised. Another time, a lady lost her house, and we had to look for a hotel or a place for her to stay. It was very hard to even find a room for rent because of the stigma against streetwalkers.

What is your heart for Tamar Village?

That one day, we won’t need Tamar Village anymore! I always tell the team that we are not working to expand, but working to close down. It will be a great day when we don’t have any more street ladies in Tamar Village, and with all our resources, we can do something else and help another group of people instead!

What does ‘social justice’ mean for you personally?

Edmund Burke, the British philosopher and politician, once said, “For evil to triumph, all it takes is for a good man to do nothing at all.” To me, you don’t need a ministry to do social justice. If you can find someone who is in need and experiencing some form of injustice (e.g. coming from an abusive home, or someone who has never had education, who is treated unfairly, etc.), you can start with that one life. Also, social justice is merely a tool to show who God is. Ultimately, social justice renders the gospel to be shared.

MY DREAM IS THAT ONE DAY, WE WON'T NEED TAMAR VILLAGE ANYMORE

Any final words?

I urge you to take time to ask God what He wants you to study. Social justice is not limited to full time Christian workers. We need doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, psychologists, and more! Also, God doesn’t need us to do social justice for Him, but He gives us the privilege of partnering with Him so that we can know Him more. Lastly, always remember to build lives, and not projects or ministries. We are not looking at quantity, but quality. Stop for that one person, meet his or her need, and let that experience bring you into a deeper relationship with the Lord — our ultimate goal and treasure.

Become a volunteer!

Tamar Village exists to reach out to ladies previously from the street in Singapore, choosing to walk alongside them as a friend and journeying with them into a new life.

To serve the ladies in a holistic fashion, they work not only with the ladies themselves, but also the ladies’ children and families! In addition, legal, medical, and other services are provided to those who need it.

Want to volunteer with Tamar Village?
Find out more at http://tamarvillage.org/

Why Justice Matters – Giving Voice For The Voiceless

Joanne Ong — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:00:00 +0000

Is your faith a private one? Are you comfortable getting by with your regular quiet times at home, worshipping God in church, and obeying (most of) His commandments?

Do you cringe when you see a photo or an article about injustice in the world, ‘like’ or ‘share’ the post, feel bad for a moment, and then move on without thinking about what you can do about it?

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfortable bubble and allowed yourself to be confronted with the reality of the abused and vulnerable in your society?

If your answers are “Yes,” “Yes,” and “I can’t remember,” then perhaps you have gotten too comfortable within the four walls of church and have forgotten about two of the key things that are close to God’s heart — that there is justice for all, and that His people be a voice for the voiceless.

OUR HEART AND HANDS

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. — Proverbs 31:8

‘Social justice’ has been a buzzword among Christians lately, but what does it really mean? The second half of Micah 6:8 is commonly quoted regarding this issue, and it does give us a blueprint for how we should carry out justice in society. The verse says: “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” From the italicised words, we can see that what God demands of us requires both our heart and our actions. The Hebrew word for mercy is hesed, which also means loyalty and kindness. This places an emphasis on right attitude. The Hebrew word for justice is mishpat, which also means fair judgement. This places an emphasis on right action.

Clearly, when we speak of social justice, our heart and our hands are distinct but inseparable parts of carrying out God’s call. As we live out our personal faiths, have we forgotten that the God we serve has always given special importance to social issues?

So why should we care about social justice? Why should we care about those who are weak and vulnerable? There’s just one reason that might seem simplistic, but is the most basic and fundamental reason nonetheless — social justice is in God’s character.

THE HEART OF GOD

Have a look at Psalm 146:7–9:

[The Lord] upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

Within this short passage, we can see how God’s heart is for the oppressed, and that His desire is to protect and defend the poor, the hungry, the lowly, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows.

This aspect of God’s character is consistent throughout both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, this is summarised in Deuteronomy 32:4: “He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” In the New Testament, God’s justice is embodied in the life lived out by Jesus, who exemplified His love, compassion, acceptance, and grace towards the poor, the marginalised, and the sinners, even when no one else thought he should (Matt 14:14; Mark 1:40–41, 2:13–17).

Throughout the Bible and all of history, God remains the same. He upholds the cause of the marginalised, and as His followers, we are tasked to do the same (Prov 31:8–9)! Truly, a concern for the poor and an involvement in social justice are fruits of our salvation, while a Christian disinterested in or indifferent to injustice in society shows that his or her heart is not in alignment with the Lord’s. Will we respond to His call to be a voice for the voiceless?

GOD'S HEART IS FOR THE OPPRESSED - HIS DESIRE IS TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THEM

HIS HANDS AND FEET

Saint Teresa of Ávila once said, Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.

As we have received God’s grace and mercy, so should we learn to extend that grace and mercy to others. Take some time to pray about the knowledge you now have about this issue close to God’s heart. May your heart not merely be burdened, but be moved with compassion and compelled to action.

BE A VOICE

Want to be involved in social justice but don’t know where to start? Find out about the voiceless groups in our society that need to be given their voice back. Here are just three groups that you can learn more about.

MULTI-STRESSED FAMILIES
The term ‘multi-stressed families’ covers a wide range of families. They could be struggling with a low-income, an abusive partner, or the stigma of being an unwed single mother, to name a few. Many of them lack access to basic services such as education or even housing. This can be further worsened by the perception that these families deserve what they go through because of the unwise decisions that they have made. However, the saying that “people are born into poverty” is indeed true, and while some have made unwise choices that have led to their current circumstances, a large number are simply stuck in a cycle that is difficult to escape.

MIGRANT LABOURERS
These people face the reality of being caught in a cycle of injustice. Like FDWs, they arrive in Singapore already in debt. They come to Singapore in hopes of building a better life for their families, but many suffer in order to do so. Some are forced to work more than 12 hours daily, some do not receive their wages for months, and others live in dangerous housing conditions. Companies may even work in cahoots with doctors to cheat injured workers in order to avoid incurring more costs. The majority of these workers do not know their rights as migrant labourers, and even if they did, there are loopholes within the Employment Act that employers can exploit. These labourers know they are facing injustice, but there is little they can do with the little power that they have.

FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS
For many FDWs, the injustice they face begins the moment they leave their country to work in ours. Many enter Singapore in debt, as they are forced to pay an agent huge sums in order to secure a job here. We would surely complain if we were forced to work from the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep, yet many maids do that every day because they have no choice. Many maids also do not get a day off despite it being legislated by the government, nor do they get compensated for working an extra day a week. It’s easy to condemn employers who physically abuse their maids and wind up in the news, but it is the unreported daily ‘abuse’ of maids emotionally, psychologically, and verbally that we need to start talking about.

Dear Kallos: I Know That I Can Turn To God But Sometimes It Seems That He Isn’t There

Alina Teo — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:00:00 +0000

“I feel that I cannot communicate with my Aunt and Uncle (I stay with them by the way). I have been doing badly in school and my Aunt and Uncle called me hopeless while setting even higher expectations for my grades. My friends in school don’t treat me well either. I feel that life sucks. I know that I can turn to God but sometimes it seems that He isn’t there. What should I do?” – Struggling

dear Struggling,

Hearing the many battles you face all at one time breaks our heart. You are not hopeless, and in fact, there is much to hope for in life.

For me, when I feel like God is not near, a chorus of a song often pops into my head that reminds me to place my trust in God:

“God is too wise to be mistaken / God is too good to be unkind / So when you don’t understand / When you don’t see His plan / When you can’t trace His hand / Trust His heart” — From “Trust His Heart” by Babbie Mason

For your relationship with your Uncle and Auntie, it helps when we see the intention behind people’s actions. I’m sure they want the best for you, but maybe they don’t know how to express that concern in the best way. Don’t stop trying your best to communicate with them even if it is hard. Tell them your struggles and show them in your actions that you are trying. For your friends in school, do they know that you feel this way? Perhaps sharing with them how you feel might improve the relationship!

We want to encourage you to persevere in trusting God through these tough situations and for transformation to happen. Remember that you can call to Him at all times, as He is a friend who is close by!

“Why do Christians pray? Sometimes I feel that it is pointless to pray. If God already knows our thoughts and our hearts, why do we still need to pray?” – Seeking

dear Seeking,

You are right that God knows our thoughts and our hearts, yet that does not mean our prayers are redundant. Prayer is so much more than just presenting our requests to God. To me, prayer is so important because it changes us and teaches us to surrender to God. When we pray, we are willing ourselves to give our cares to Him, especially the ones that we can’t control, knowing that He is a sovereign and good God whom we can trust. We are choosing His will instead of ours. We are choosing to praise and thank Him instead of focusing only on ourselves.

Furthermore, prayer builds our relationship with God. When we share with God what is on our hearts, we are choosing to be vulnerable and honest before Him. Just as any growing relationship is a two-way road, part of praying also encompasses hearing from God. Don’t rob yourself of the joy of this sacred communion with God.

Finally, prayer is part of how God has chosen to be active in our world and in our lives. He hears us, and He responds. Prayer isn’t pointless — keep journeying with God in prayer!