Inspiration – Kallos

Disconnect to Reconnect

Rachel Chan — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 04:59:00 +0000

Tired of living on screen time? RACHEL CHAN explores how we can disconnect ourselves from our devices and reconnect with life.

It is too easy these days to be constantly connected with the world through technology, but not truly be connected with anyone. When was the last time you allowed yourself to put your devices away and reconnect with real life?

If your answer is “a long time ago,” then it’s time to get started. Put away your devices (yes, including your phone!), leaving them out of sight and (hopefully) out of mind. When you don’t need them, leave them in a different room on silent mode. Better yet, set aside a specific time each day to leave your devices off or on airplane mode so that you aren’t tempted to use it. Start with 15 minutes a day and slowly extend it to an hour. You might be surprised at the difference it makes to your life.

Not convinced? Try it yourself! Challenge yourself to reconnect with the parts of your life that are often crowded out by noise and distraction.

Reconnect with God

It’s perfectly acceptable to use a digital Bible or utilise search engines to go in-depth into Bible study. However, our devices are more often a source of distraction rather than assistance as we are easily tempted to open another window or application.

Try having your quiet time using a physical Bible and notebook, with your phone in another room. When you meet a verse you’re unsure about, make a note to find out more about it later so you can stay focused on what you are reading now. Take uninterrupted time to pray, and don’t forget to sit and listen to God speak as well!

Reconnect with people around you

During meals or gatherings with family and friends, put your phone away and resolve not to use it. Be fully present. Instead of turning to a screen during a conversation lull, take time to pause and think about how you can encourage the person or be a better listener. Simple questions like “How was your day?” or “What are you currently excited about?” can spark meaningful conversations.

In quiet moments, spend some time thinking about your loved ones. Make mental or physical notes about why you love and appreciate them. Pray for them, and ask God how you can love them better.

Reconnect with yourself

Is there something you are struggling with emotionally? Don’t bury it under the carpet or distract yourself so that you don’t have to think about it. Face those emotions so that you can reconnect with yourself. Grab a journal and spend time processing your emotions with yourself and with the Lord in a healthy way.

You can also reconnect with your physical body. Exercise to keep yourself healthy. It doesn’t have to be vigorous — from a short time of stretching to a walk in the park, any type of movement gives you a better awareness and appreciation of your body. The endorphins released during exercise also helps to boost your mental health!

Finally, give yourself time to relax screen-free. Daydream. Think about things that bring you joy. Keep a gratefulness journal. Lie in bed and listen to the sound of waves on a beach. Sing like you mean it! Find something that works for you.

Reconnect with your surroundings

When your head isn’t bent down low and your eyes fixated on a screen, you may find yourself observing your surroundings much more. While travelling to and from school, look out of the window and see what’s new. While walking around, pay attention to the décor, or even the patterns on the wall or floor. Open your eyes to the needs around you and who you can pray for, such as the delivery riders outside a mall or a tired-looking person walking beside you. Who knows, you might even be inspired creatively or find new ways to serve God through observing your surroundings.

Spotlight: Charmaine Wee – “I Started a Care Portal for the Mentally Ill”

Kallos Team — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:52:00 +0000

How can Christians better support those struggling with their mental health? DOROTHEA WONG speaks with Charmaine Wee, founder of Mental Connect, on her journey of reconciling her mental health and her faith.

In 2012, Charmaine Wee was first diagnosed with psychosis, followed by schizophrenia in 2015 and schizoaffective disorder in 2018. What worsened the situation was the struggle Charmaine had reconciling her mental health challenges and her faith, especially when well-meaning friends in church gave her advice like “You should read the Bible more” or “Maybe you’re not praying enough or in the right way,” causing her to dismiss her genuine mental health conditions as little more than spiritual warfare.

Her journey toward acceptance and recovery has not been linear — it has involved relapses, hallucinations caused by schizophrenia, and side-effects from medication. However, her pain has not been in vain. Her struggle eventually led her to start Mental Connect with her fiancé, Alex. Read on to find out more about her journey and how believers can better support others like her.

How did Mental Connect come about?
On my recovery journey, I was on Google trying to find resources that were available out there to get help. However, I realised that there was no central portal with mental health resources for a person going through a mental health recovery journey, or for caregivers to access. My fiancé, Alex, and I wanted to create a service directory that would bridge a service gap in the mental health community. That was how Mental Connect came about.

What made you first suspect that you might have a mental health disorder?
The journey was not a straightforward one. I wasn’t aware that I had a mental health disorder. Back in 2012, I was hallucinating hard due to psychosis and it was observed by my then-cell group leader. He asked for help from our vicar and they got a general practitioner to review me. He advised them to get me warded in the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).

After I got discharged, I started attending a different church, seeking answers for my mental illness. Over the next few years, I was unfortunately told that I wasn’t mentally ill, but just needed deliverance from demonic forces. While this may have been well- intentioned advice, it was not helpful for me because it stopped me from recognising my real mental health condition. I just rejected the whole idea that I was mentally ill. I did not relapse for two years though, and that possibly convinced me and those close to me that I wasn’t really ill.

I REJECTED THE WHOLE IDEA THAT I WAS MENTALLY ILL.

In 2014, I started hallucinating again, and ended up getting warded in IMH for a month. However, I was still convinced that it was just spiritual warfare and was resistant to taking medication as the side-effects were quite severe for me. For the next four years, I would relapse year on year. Yet I would not accept that I was ill and neither did the community around me. The only people around me that were trying to convince me that I had a mental illness were my Christian psychiatrists and therapist.

In 2018, while being warded in IMH because of another relapse, God gave me a vision and revealed to me that I was indeed ill and that I should take my meds. I was defeated but convinced that I should start my medical care plan and came to accept that I was indeed ill. That sparked the start of my recovery journey. That was the last time I was warded, and prayerfully never will be again.

I still struggle with residual symptoms though. I have moments of recurring hallucinations and challenging Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) that can last from a few minutes to a few days. I am believing that God will heal me completely.

How did people around you respond to your condition?
Friends with good intentions have told me, “You need to pray more,” “You need to have more faith,” or “Maybe you have secret sins, that’s why you are sick.” They were talking to me about generational curses, and about being double-minded (about Christ) and more. They didn’t mean harm. They were just offering solutions based on the knowledge they had, but listening to these comments was not healthy for me at all. You don’t go to a cancer patient and say “Oh, too bad, you deserve the cancer because you have secret sins.” If you wouldn’t do that to a cancer patient, you shouldn’t do that to a mental health patient too, right? The brain is also an organ — it can wear and tear, and it can also break down. Mental illness is an illness, and should be treated as such.

MENTAL ILLNESS IS AN ILLNESS, AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.

How has your faith played a part in your mental health journey?
It’s been a source of strength and hope. When I questioned God about why He allowed me to fall sick, I felt Him say that it is a part of Him using me for His purposes.

While I am not saying God caused my mental illness, looking back, had He not led me out into the wilderness, I would not have gotten this close to Him and I would not have walked into all that I am doing now for His glory. I know it is He that sustains me.

Also, I hold closely the teaching that if He called me, He will provide. I’ve seen His hand of provision throughout my holistic recovery as He has brought the right people and resources to help me in my recovery journey. To name a few, getting psycho-educated at the Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation (APRS) and Caregivers Alliance, getting a job in a private mental health clinic, Promises Healthcare, being part of PSALT Care, a Christian mental health support group, and an accepting, empowering, and loving care group at the church I am currently attending.

He also gave me the grace to be able to comprehend all that I’m learning about mental health tying in with spirituality to walk out my recovery. He truly has been sustaining me with His grace and strength in this suffering.

Why do you think the church has difficulty providing support for those struggling with mental health?
There is probably still a general lack of equipped manpower and resources
on psycho-education (not just in the church). Also, no two persons suffering from mental illness are alike. There are some symptomatic similarities within the same categories but the journeys are different. It takes a lot of effort to journey with a person with love, intentionality, acceptance, and care, and to understand how to be a support for those who are struggling.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) indicates that there are eight dimensions to wellness: social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, and occupational. One needs to know that it takes a different combination of these dimensions for an individual to be healed.

Personally though, I do think the situation is improving in churches, based on the increased conversations, mental health equipping talks and conferences, and growing interest in the last few years.

STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CAN FEEL LIKE BEING AT THE BOTTOM OF A BLACK HOLE LOOKING UP.

What advice would you give to those whose friends are facing mental health issues?
Sometimes your best present is your presence, love, and acceptance. Struggling with mental health issues can feel like being at the bottom of a black hole looking up. Buying a cup of bubble tea over and just hanging out are simple ways to show us you’re there.

Be open to listen to our thoughts but don’t dismiss them. You don’t have to have experienced mental illness to do that. It also helps if you acknowledge how scary or difficult it can feel. Ask what we’d like you to do to help — we’ll let you know.
Don’t tell us to pray more because the Lord knows we probably pray heaps or can’t even bring ourselves to pray right now because the pain is so overwhelming. Keep us covered in prayer instead. Let us know you’re still praying for us from time to time!

Accept that we may behave differently because of the sickness. Sometimes, it can feel like we are defined by our sickness(es), but remind us that we are more than that and love us anyway.

Recognise that recovery is not linear. It can look like three steps forward and two steps backwards. For some, it can even look like two steps forwards and three steps backwards! Be patient, loving, and encouraging. Do not judge. Keep giving your empathic presence if you can.

Finally, get equipped or psycho-educated. There are some good courses by Caregivers Alliance that you can check out!

Flourishing in Faith

Kallos Team — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 13:36:00 +0000

It’s a familiar feeling I’m sure we’ve all had at the end of a long day. You’ve done everything you’re supposed to: school, house chores, your homework …. Yet, as you settle in for the night, you might feel a lack of fulfilment or maybe even a bit of emptiness. For some of us, these feelings have only been amplified due to the pandemic restrictions that seem to come back with a vengeance every time we make some progress — just when things feel like they’re going back to normal, more restrictions are put in place. One step forward, two steps back. Church in person, sports together, meeting friends at malls — the usual things that bring us joy are no longer easily accessible to us.

The constant back and forth of this season means that many of us feel like we are caught in a limbo of emotions — you’re not drowning, but you’re not thriving either. You’re not flourishing, just surviving. You don’t feel overwhelmed with despair, but you’re not feeling entirely optimistic. This doesn’t sound so bad if it happens for just a few days, but when it is prolonged, it’s a different story.

The New York Times found the perfect word for this season — languishing. When you’re languishing in this limbo of emotions for too long, without a sense of purpose or fulfilment, it can start to feel exhausting and hopeless. In these moments, perhaps you find yourself exclaiming the words of the Teacher in Ecclesiastes: “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

In these uncertain times, we can remember that the Teacher also says there is a time for everything (Ecc 3:1–8). There is a “time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (3:4). Though we prefer life to be rosy and free from hardship, and cannot claim to understand why God has allowed this pandemic, we can take heart that we will ultimately see that God “has made everything beautiful in its time” (3:11).

We can take this season as a gift, and use it to focus on what really matters. After experiencing and reflecting on all of life’s ups and downs, the Teacher concludes that only one thing truly matters, and that is to “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecc 12:13). Though our circumstances may change endlessly, we can flourish in faith as we look to God for our life’s meaning and purpose (just like Aarksara’s story on page 26, and Joyce’s experience on page 22!).

The past year has been tough for everyone. What can you do when you feel downcast? While it is healthy to grieve the loss of normalcy, will you continue to wallow in sadness, or will you choose to remember that the Lord is your joy and delight? You will flourish in faith as you put your hope in Him (Ps 43:4–5).

Reflection

1. When was the last time you felt excited to do something? What was it?

2. What are some things that usually bring you joy? How have they been compromised by the pandemic?

3. What are some things you have missed doing in the past year?

4. How have you responded when things haven’t been as you hoped?

5. Do you find it difficult to thrive in this season? Why?

6. What do you need to change so that you can flourish in faith rather than languish amidst life’s troubles?

7. Read Ecclesiastes 12. How does the passage encourage you to live life with God in mind?

The Friendship Test

Kallos Team — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:33:00 +0000

How did you overcome jealousy of each other?

WONG YUN XUAN, 25 (RIVERLIFE CHURCH): Growing up, I struggled a lot with identity. I looked around and saw girls who were emotional, warm, bubbly, and sociable, and I felt like I was serious and robotic in comparison. Charmaine was one such person — she was able to befriend people easily and talk about anything under the sun for hours!

She had close relationships with her friends and family and I would think to myself, “Wow, I really want that. Why do I not have that?” Those thoughts would spiral into self-pity, frustration and insecurity.

At 16, we embarked on a mission trip to Batam. Charmaine was supposed to share her testimony, but was suddenly hit with a high fever. I had not read her testimony before, but I was asked to share it on her behalf. After reading it, I was overwhelmed. I began to see how her family’s struggles shaped the way she loved others. The positivity Charmaine viewed life with were things I could learn, if I simply allowed myself to learn from her. It was a perspective shift that enabled me to get over the jealousy.

CHARMAINE BOO, 25 (RIVERLIFE CHURCH): When Yun Xuan became a cell group leader, feelings of inferiority started to sink in. I wondered why I was “not good enough” to be a cell leader and whether I had anything to offer. Eventually, I found myself becoming quite uninterested to meet Yun Xuan because she was having “cell leader problems” that I knew nothing about. It sounds so lame now but at that time I was really quite affected by it!

In addition, Yun Xuan had a mentor who was meeting her regularly on a one-
to-one basis. That was when I acknowledged that I was jealous of her, because

community and mentorship were things I had wanted for the longest time —
and she got it all because of cell ministry.

When I did an internship with Singapore Youth For Christ (SYFC), I had my first mentorship experience and grew in my understanding of God and His Word. I was taught how to read and study the Bible, share the gospel and use my giftings for God! God spoke to me from a passage in 1 Corinthians 12 about how the body has many parts and how we each have our own function. Verse 19 says, “If all were a single member, where would the body be?”

That was when the jealousy I had been experiencing went away, and I even asked Yun Xuan to join the internship with me so she could benefit in the same way I had!

How do you spur each other on in your walk with God?

JOANNE KWOK, 32 (BETHESDA BEDOK-TAMPINES CHURCH): I think the word for what we’ve found in each other since we grew closer from Seets’ cancer diagnosis is ‘refuge’. A safe place to be fully oneself — awful, wonderful, in despair or in hope — but always loved.

Seets has taught me so much about extravagant love, a love people often reserve for romantic relationships. It’s the kind of love that reaches out when you cross their mind, whether it’s to send you a meme to make you laugh or to check up on you because you’ve not quite been yourself. The kind of love that makes you brave.

I was going through a lot in my own life when Seets was undergoing chemotherapy. But it’s probably because she was suffering as well that pushed us even closer together. We call ourselves “sisters in the fire.” Who else could have really understood truth and hope forged in great, prolonged pain?

On bad days, it was her faithful friendship on brighter days that gave me the courage to ask her for help. In those moments, a true friend is the one who lends her voice and faith to pray aloud, to sing, to read Scripture until you find peace again. She has shown me what being loved by Jesus looks like.

CHAN SEE TING, 28 (3:16 CHURCH): Jonk and I often call each other ‘heart friend.’ I think it’s because we both carry each other’s heart so well. She’s become such a big part of my life that I really can’t imagine doing life — and faith — without her.

Honestly speaking, there are many painfully dark moments that I can’t share with most people because they haven’t experienced them personally, but with Jonk I know I can because she has gone through those valleys too and come out surer of who she is and most importantly who her God is. Someone like that can hold your heart, your pain, your fears and struggles well and bring you hope from the places she’s walked in with Jesus.

Having seen each other at some of our lowest and most difficult points of our walk with the Lord has created a safe space between us that can hold both our silly banter and serious conversations. That means I can be honest about how much I disapprove of her Crocs — and also how stretched my faith can get with the cancer.

On 23 February 2021, See Ting went home to be with the Lord following a battle with leptomeningeal disease. We grieve for the loss of her presence on earth, but rejoice that she is safe in the arms of Jesus in heaven.

How do you deal with peer pressure?

CELINE WONG, 22 (RIVERLIFE CHURCH): I stayed on campus in my first year at university, and being away from parents and Christian communities felt quite liberating because I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted. Drinking and clubbing is common at this stage of life, and I have to admit that it is tough not to get tempted to join in.

Occasionally, friends would ask me out for a couple of drinks to engage in ‘heart to-heart talks’ or to socialise. I knew I needed to learn how and when to say “no,” so I decided to set certain boundaries around drinking and clubbing. When my peers tried to pressure me into joining these activities, my response would be to turn them down or to order a soft drink while still enjoying the company of friends. My priority is to live a lifestyle that honours God, and these boundaries help to guard my heart in the pursuit of right standing with God. If I do not decide what I will or will not do beforehand, I will probably fall easily into temptation. University friends who know that I am a Christian usually respect my stand, but there are also times when I have to tolerate playful taunts for not drinking or clubbing. Despite this, I have learned how to stand firm on my decision while being respectful of others’ lifestyle choices.

If you are facing peer pressure, my advice would be to know who you are in the light of eternity, and to ensure your current lifestyle reflects Christ. As I am someone who likes to experience all that life can offer, I think it is important to be accountable to kingdom friends or a Christian mentor who will keep you grounded and remind you when to plug out from the world.

Fashion With A Purpose

Eunice Sng — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 01:11:00 +0000

Interested in sustainable or slow fashion? Perhaps you are a budding creative yourself hoping to start a business in Singapore. EUNICE SNG speaks to some of Singapore’s fashion up-and-comers to find out just what it takes to lead a purpose-driven business.

PARADIGM SHIFT LABEL BY AUDRIS ADABELLA QUEK
In the first year of operating Paradigm Shift, we were blessed with a growing audience and brand momentum. Thus, I was eager to launch new products. I was about to send out an email to our manufacturer requesting to begin production on the next product when the Lord convicted me. He asked me, “Who designed that dress and who decided to go ahead with production?”. I was dumbstruck and could not answer Him because I knew it was all me and God was not even given a chance to have a say in it.

He later gave me instructions to only sell the long black dress for a whole year. I was in shock! How would that sustain us? Then He convicted me, “What paradigms would you be shifting if you ran your business like everybody else?” At that point, I really did not understand, but I obeyed. One year later, I see the fruits of obeying Him above all logic and business sense. Because we only sold one item for that whole year, the brand can now speak with credibility and authority when it comes to talking about slow fashion and production because we walked the talk! It was an almost unheard of “business model” but hey, if the King says, it goes.

A challenge of identifying ourselves as a sustainable brand is that it automatically limits the kind of materials we can use. But this is always exciting because it forces me to work with what we have and to make the impossible possible, with God, of course! Sometimes it looks like charting new territories where others have yet to, and exploring new methods and ways of running a sustainable fashion business.

I wish to see Singapore’s fashion industry change from domination to empowerment, a shift from brand’s self-obsession to customer-centricness. Instead of brands influencing the masses in the fashion decisions that they themselves dictate, my hope is for brands to make decisions based on the customer’s needs. What good does fashion have if it is only about self-elevation? I believe in fashion for good; empowerment throughout its supply chain from start to end.

WILL & WELL BY ELISA LIM
The name Will & Well came out of the Lord speaking to me about the idea I had to design inclusive and functional fashion for all. He said, “If you have the will to do it, then I will make it well for you.” With that comforting understanding, I found the meaning for the brand as well. In the same vein, for our clients (who can range from stroke patients, to people with disabilities, to the able-bodied), if they have the will to live a good life, regardless of their age or physical situation, then we will make it well for them too through inclusive clothing so that it is easier for them to get dressed.

Everyone wants to look good, so the clothing needs to be attractive as well, not just functional. An example of that is our Unisex Drawstring Front-Zip Pants! We designed it as a customised piece for a lady who had a hip surgery, but I wear it too, and an 80-year-old granny does too! I think it’s really fun like that, when a garment is being worn by different age groups. People wear it all for the same reason, for the ease of us, for the comfort, for its classic look. Our Front-Zip Midi Dress is another piece that was birthed out of a conversation that I had with an elderly lady who lives alone. She was telling me that she couldn’t wear dresses anymore because she didn’t have anyone to zip the dress up for her and she can’t stretch that way. It just goes to show that regardless of age and physical ailments, fashion can still accommodate and beautify each customer.

Every single morning, I spend some time reflecting on what I have — everything is a gift from Him and He can take it away at any time. It can be business opportunities, family, church or friends. It’s a good reminder that nothing belongs to me and it helps me not to cling on to anything in this world too tightly — it’s an approach for living that allows us to make decisions based on His will and His values and His principles. Then, He will make whatever He placed in our hands well for us to fulfil!

ELIZABETH LITTLE BY EILEEN TAY
My brand is called Elizabeth Little — named after my daughter because she was really tiny compared to her brother. She is definitely my inspiration! Children have endless ideas and they are not restricted by the same things adults are, so it’s really great fun to create with her! For example, she’s turning six and is currently into fairy princesses — thus, all the sleeves I do now have to have sleeves that puff up!

I started a slow fashion brand because I wanted to leave a legacy for my children that encourages them to value quality over quantity. Slowness has a negative connotation, but to me, ‘slowness’ also means taking time to just wonder, admire, and appreciate what other people make with their hands! I suppose it also ties in with biblical values because it’s really about being contented with what we have, and also about patience.

As a Christian in the creative industry, social media is extremely powerful. There are so many negative influences these days, thus, as a Christian, it is important to post positive messages. With every social media post, I take time to think and pray that it will be uplifting. We also try to incorporate Christian messaging on our packaging. With every dress order that we get, we send out a postcard with penned down Bible verses for every customer — Philippians 4:4 is my favourite. Sometimes, we get feedback that the recipients were encouraged — even if they weren’t Christian — because everybody loves being blessed!

When the COVID situation happened back in March, three of my stockists closed down and I had a whole office filled with extremely expensive Liberty fabric shipped in from Italy. Thus, I was stuck with a super high inventory cost and there was no way we could utilise the fabric because all the fairs I was supposed to participate in got cancelled. Thankfully my mentor prompted me to start making masks and when I posted pictures of the samples, the feedback was phenomenal. However, I didn’t want to profit from something like this during this period, especially because masks had become an essential item. God gave me the idea of donating one mask for every mask sold, and that was what I did! To date, I think we have donated about 15,000 masks!

Covid-19 Crashed My Wedding! Isabel Phua Shares Her Story

Quek Shiwei — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 08:15:00 +0000

On 24th March 2020, Isabel found her head spinning as all her wedding plans had to be changed due to a new Covid-19-related government measure that restricted all social gatherings to ten people and below. This was the final of many obstacles on the long journey to her wedding ceremony — on the 4th of April, the wedding went off without a hitch. Through it all, her cheerful attitude and trust in God kept her going.

SAYING YES TO THE DRESS

Her wedding preparations started with the hunt of her wedding dress. “Having been a bridesmaid twice and accompanying friends to go on bridal dress shopping trips, I realised that it’s so difficult to find a modest dress. Quite a number of people told me to just let it be because it’s just that hard to find one, but it’s something that I didn’t want to compromise on.” She “found” her perfect dress when her sister-in-law decided to have some clothes tailored on a family trip to Vietnam, and she spontaneously decided to personally design her wedding gown, down to the neckline and details and had it tailored in two days for one-third the price of a gown in Singapore!

FROM 800 to TEN GUESTS

With dress in hand, and months of planning, she was all ready for her wedding, but her plans hung by a thread as the Covid-19 situation kept worsening. Her future parents-in-law were working in Kazakhstan and barely managed to take the last flight out when the government there abruptly announced a lockdown. Next, on 20th March, it was announced that all events in Singapore were to be restricted to 250 guests. She recalls, “We had to inform many guests that we had to retract their invitations. We felt sad because we had to cut many friends and family friends who had seen us grown up. But, we smiled at this challenge because we still had our loved ones to celebrate with us.”

However, things took another turn: “Just four days later, the government said that social gatherings must now be kept to ten people and below. When Chen Hao (her fiancé) and I received the news, our heads started spinning. He was thinking of the money involved while I was thinking, “What is our backup plan?” But as we prayed together, I felt God telling me to take time to grieve. And that was when I cried for the next two hours! Yet, while we were sad, there was so much peace and hope in the midst of it.” Eventually, they decided to go ahead with a small family solemnisation ceremony.

“IT”S ABOUT THE MARRIAGE, NOT THE WEDDING”

When the wedding was first restricted to 250 guests, they felt God was preparing them for their future together. “As we sense God is calling us out to the field for cross-cultural missions in the future, we felt God was teaching us to be adaptable to change. When I found out I had to further cut my guests to only ten people, I was crying in a car and we both kept quiet for some time. I then asked Chen Hao, ‘What do you think God is speaking to you about?’ and we realised God was speaking to us about the same thing — ‘It’s about the marriage, not the wedding.’”

“We were looking forward to the celebration, but God was stripping away all the unnecessary elements of a wedding, and reminding us to keep the main thing, the main thing. What matters is the solemnisation vows made before God and our family, and to commit to one another, ‘till death do us part.’”

“IT'S ABOUT THE MARRIAGE, NOT THE WEDDING.”

DYING TO SELF

When Isabel first told me her wedding date a year ago, she laughingly said she had wanted an unpopular date so it wouldn’t clash with their many friends’ weddings. “0404” (4th April) would be considered as unlucky by many as it sounds like ‘’Die Die’’ in Cantonese. Her “Save the Date” and wedding invitations had played up this date with jokes about “Error 404”, the message that appears when a webpage can’t be found online. Two days before she got married, she shared with me, again with a laugh. “Now this is a joke because our wedding literally can’t be found! But, on a serious note, we chose this date as the ‘4s’ mean ‘death to ourselves’. We hear that relationships are about sacrifice, and God is asking us to die to ourselves, to our desires of the wedding we wanted, and [look to] what God wants instead. The funniest thing is our new house’s unit number is 08-404. We will never forget this lesson our entire lives!”

THE BIG DAY

Just one day before their wedding, “circuit breaker” measures were announced to start on 7th April, which meant that Registry of Marriages would suspend solemnisation of marriages from that date. Needless to say, Isabel and Chen Hao were grateful they could still get married! Finally, the 4th of April arrived. Isabel presented Chen Hao with two letters that she had written to her future husband before they started dating, one of which was written on an exchange programme in Birmingham, UK.

“I was surrounded by friends who were playing games like ‘Never Have I Ever’ and who made a lot of sexual references. It was so easy overseas to have the urge to have a one-night stand with somebody you don’t really know. I felt God speaking to me about purity.” She ended up writing to her future husband that she was praying for not just for her purity, but also his, and that they would save sex for marriage.

Chen Hao shares with a note of wonder, “I felt touched because five years ago, she wrote about the temptations she faced to date a non-Christian guy, and to let other guys touch or kiss her, but she wanted to give them up for me. She had no baggage, and all her discipline paid off. It’s like when you train very hard for a race and end up on the podium. It was a feeling of victory. I felt I loved her ten times more.”

With a third letter containing her wedding vows, the couple was ready for the ceremony. They live-streamed their solemnisation ceremony on Instagram and from the looks of it, relished every moment. With the restriction of ten guests, they ended up having their ceremony in Isabel’s brother’s office. Her friends redecorated the hip-hop-styled creative studio and she was only allowed to take a look when she walked down the beautiful makeshift aisle. She was surprised to see the office transformed into a carnival-like venue, with pom-poms everywhere.

She later shared, “It was actually the wedding I wanted. I had always wanted a more cosy and DIY feel. I was less nervous than if we had 800 people and I was feeling very chill, enjoying everything with no rush.”

Little did they know that this was not the end. The wedding day ended in a surprise when they found a thumb drive from their friends in their hotel room. It contained a 50-minute recording of the wedding programme they had planned but had to cancel, including wedding speeches, songs, a skit, and even a flashmob. “We were totally floored, and felt so loved by God. It really felt like God was the producer of our entire wedding.”

"IT WAS SO EASY OVERSEAS TO HAVE THE URGE TO HAVE A ONE-NIGHT STAND WITH SOMEBODY YOU DON’T REALLY KNOW. I FELT GOD SPEAKING TO ME ABOUT PURITY."

BACK TO REALITY

Having successfully married, Isabel was forced to hit the ground running the very next day. As news of Covid-19 clusters in foreign workers’ dormitories broke, she was busy at work reaching out to them. Instead of going on their cancelled honeymoon to Hainan, China (due to travel advisories), she was creating a new learning portal to keep the workers connected and engaged during their quarantine.

On the marriage front, due to the circuit breaker and social distancing measures, she says, “I have to get used to being with someone 24/7,” and has found herself spending a lot of time cooking and cleaning in this new transition. Two of her hits have been banana mango ice-cream and braised chicken wings, while she was upset with mushy fried rice and a dropped plate of vegetables.

In an Instagram post put up the night before her wedding, Isabel said, “May I long for the return of Christ as much as I’ve longed for this day to come. He is the true Bridegroom.” Indeed, their longed-for “0404” wedding, unconventional as it was, reminds us that in the midst of a pandemic, we are called to die to ourselves and serve others, because we have a Bridegroom who loved us and gave Himself for us (Gal 2:20).

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

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

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

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

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

MIRACULOUSLY ALIVE

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

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

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

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

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

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

But it wasn’t always like this.

GROWING UP AS THE PASTOR’S KID

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE MIRACLE OF THE CROSS

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

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

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

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

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

Spotlight: Audris Quek of Paradigm Shift Label

Quek Shiwei — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 04:00:00 +0000

In today’s society where instant gratification is all the rage, Audris, founder of Paradigm Shift Label (PSL) has chosen to challenge this norm. As we chatted, one thing was apparent to me — she strongly believes in producing ethical products because God loves the makers behind these products. Instead of choosing products solely based on low cost and convenience, she chooses to re-examine the supply chain and question the origins of products. Now 25, Audris is set on shifting the paradigms of consumers, one dress at a time.

Hi Audris! What does PSL stand for?

PSL is an ethical fashion label and its vision is to clothe people with strength and dignity — whether they are the makers of the products or the consumers. I hope that people will associate themselves with the ‘Paradigm Shift Lady’: she breaks social norms, carries powerful influence, and evokes positive change. Beyond fashion, the brand is about people and empowering the makers and consumers to be catalysts for change.

What does fashion mean to you?

When I was younger, I used to think that fashion was just about chasing trends and dressing to look good. The way I used to dress would say something like “Hey, look at me! I’m fashionable. I know what’s in and what’s not.”

But really, fashion can become one’s identity and people use fashion to make a statement. So, to me, fashion is an expression of yourself and your identity.

Fashion today promotes wearing shorter and tighter clothes, and to show more skin. In birthing PSL, God impressed the word “modesty” upon my heart. I gradually realised that fashion has subtly stolen many young women’s identities. Fashion “dictates” us to dress in accordance with what’s in-trend or gets more attention. I hope the apparel from PSL can clothe women in styles that are modest, modern, and enable them to feel confident and contented. What we wear can “beautify” us, but beauty truly comes from within! Our body is a temple of God and we should glorify Him with it.

Could you share how you started PSL?

When I was 14, my class was asked, “What is your dream?” I wrote down three things: to design my own products (clothing), have my own business, and use the money to help the less fortunate. However, I completely forgot about this dream till I was 22. I left my job in the events industry due to burn-out. All I had was just a diploma in events management; there was not much else that I could really branch into. Out of desperation, I asked God,

“Where can I go from here?” I had a call for missions and I wondered, “God, is the time now?” I heard nothing.

I then asked myself, “Audris, if there are no limitations in the world, what would you want to do?” I was reminded of my dream at 14, but I discounted it as an unreachable dream since I had no background in fashion or arts. But I sensed that the Holy Spirit said, “Who do you think put that dream in you?” I was shocked; I always thought that fashion is a worldly thing and that dream came from my flesh. I realised that God cared about fashion!

Within two weeks, the Lord opened the door for me to step into the fashion industry to learn the ropes of how to manage a fashion business. A month later, while chilling in my room on a weekend, the Holy Spirit dropped the words “paradigm shift” into my mind. I thought, “Have I been very prideful, and there’s something He wants me to see differently?” But God’s response was, “That will be the fashion label we will start in the future.” I found it hard to believe.

I WAS ASKING GOD, “I THOUGHT I WAS MEANT TO BE A MISSIONARY. WHY AM I DOING THIS BUSINESS THING? ” AND I FELT GOD SAID TO ME, “THIS IS BUSINESS AS MISSIONS.”

After nine months, I felt like God had given me the business’s blueprint and even inspired me with the products’ design! God challenged me to take a leap of faith to leave my job and to start PSL. But I told him, “God, why now? I don’t have enough funds.” He replied that He needed to start the fashion label when I had nothing, so that when people looked at the brand, they would know it was God who started it, because only God could make something out of nothing.

In the next two to three months, God also introduced the idea of building a kickstarter campaign, and I headed to Nepal for a recce trip. On the plane, I was asking God, “I thought I was meant to be a missionary. Why am I doing this business thing?” And I felt God said to me, “This is business as missions.”

Once back from Nepal, I praise God that PSL managed to raise almost $13,000 in 40 days from 155 backers. I finally had enough funds to move into production. And the rest is history.

What have been some of the highs and lows of PSL thus far?

Apart from supporting the makers, hearing stories from consumers about how PSL’s products have changed their perceptions of fashion and how they are now more aware of modest dressing also warms my heart. Another high was when I was able to pay myself with the profits from PSL. Starting PSL was uncertain in the beginning, so it was very fulfilling to be able to pay myself!

The lows would be about managing differing expectations from people. There are days when I would spiral into this hole of thinking, “I’m not doing enough” or “I’m not good enough,” and question if I am the right steward to run PSL. Thankfully, God assures and comforts me. He sends people to remind me that He wants me to steward PSL and press on. It is so important to not get caught up with what everyone says but to ask Him for creative solutions and plans.

ULTIMATELY, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD NEITHER EXPLOIT PEOPLE NOR OUR PLANET. IF WE CARE ABOUT PEOPLE, SURELY WE MUST CARE FOR OUR PLANET TOO!

Since PSL's heart is about being an ethical fashion label, how has that changed your buying patterns?

Ever since becoming an advocate for ethical brands, I have learned how to be a more responsible and thoughtful consumer. I used to think that if a product is cheap and convenient, I would buy it. Our generation goes for instant gratification, but being more aware of ethics and the people behind products has helped me to slow down and rethink my buying patterns. Now, I ask “Where was it made?”, “Who made it?”, and “How was it made?” I give more thought to the supply chain and not just the instant gratification of the purchase itself.

PSL started out with the aim of being purely an ethical label. However, I now see the importance of caring for our planet too and PSL is gradually moving towards becoming a sustainable brand too. At the start, we used natural material like cotton, linen, and biodegradable plastic as much as possible, but it was not a priority. However, I am now very intentional in the materials we use!

Our signature “Long Black” is made using an upcycled fabric from Nepal’s local market. That has really helped set the tone for moving into being sustainable. Ultimately, I believe that we should neither exploit people nor our planet. If we care about people, surely we must care for our planet too.

What do you think God is calling you to do with PSL in the near future?

One of the things God spoke to me clearly about is that PSL will bridge the gap between the developed and developing world. It has a part to play in alleviating poverty and to speak up for the defenceless. PSL will be used to shift paradigms in different areas — whether it’s shifting the mindset of a consumer who may have a certain view of trendy fashion to what modest fashion looks like, or the minds of people in the manufacturing scene as to how they view the makers of products.

PSL also aims to help the makers stand on their own two feet through job provisions and stable income. PSL is doing that now in small measures by partnering certain manufacturers but in the long run, we hope to effect greater change. All of this sounds overwhelming and idealistic at times, but I believe that if He is leading PSL there, He will provide every step of the way.

Spotlight: Sarah’s Story Of Redemption On Being Pregnant At 18

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

Looking at Sarah today, you would not guess that her story had a less than ideal beginning. She is an accomplished singer, a mother to her daughter, Ines, and son, Leon, and a wife to her loving husband Mark. Yet when she was 18, her life plans had been completely overturned when she found out she was pregnant — she even had to take her ‘A’ level exams while three months pregnant!

Our time with Sarah made one thing clear: God can take our brokenness and turn it into something beautiful. How did God redeem this story of brokenness and sin? Read on to find out!

Walk us through your thoughts when you first found out that you were pregnant.

I was with a friend and wasn’t sure what to think, but the first thing she said was, “Of course you have to keep the baby. I know you will be a great mum.” There was a lot of fear and a lot of anxiety, but it made a difference that the first person who spoke to me wasn’t someone who judged or condemned me, but one who spoke words of life over me.

How did people react to your news?

When I broke the news to my then-boyfriend and now-husband, Mark, he asked, “Are we getting an abortion or what?” It is normal to have this reaction when you are young because it feels like that is the only option. But I said, “No, we won’t get an abortion.” He replied, “OK, if that’s what you want to do, then I will support you.”

But there were a lot of consequences after that. I wrote a letter to my parents and faxed it over to their hotel (they were overseas then). They took an early flight back home and asked me, “When did this happen?” They were shocked, angry, and upset. They scolded me, called Mark, and scolded him. After quite a few meetings with our parents, we decided that the best thing to do was to get married and have the baby.

How did Ines get her name?

Mark felt that he wanted our daughter to be named Ines, which is the Spanish version of the English name Agnes. Agnes comes from the Latin word “agnus,” which means lamb, and the connotation of lamb is purity. Mark felt that that should be her nature, and despite all the circumstances leading up to her birth, she will be pure — and I think that’s who she is at the heart of it.

Why do you think you chose to be sexually intimate with your boyfriend?

I don’t think, having a Christian background, it was a conscious decision. Rather, it was a rebellious spirit that led to a series of wrong decisions at the time.

While my parents had said, “You’re not allowed to have a boyfriend,” my prideful self thought that I could handle it on my own in secret until I was “old enough” in the eyes of my parents. So our relationship had no accountability.

Often, Christian parents assume that just because you are brought up in church, you should know right from wrong and keep to the straight and narrow. But what’s really needed is open conversation and understanding from both sides. At the time, I would have loved to have guidance from my parents, but it seemed like I wasn’t even allowed to have that conversation, so the relationship stayed in the dark.

WE TRIED MANY TIMES TO BREAK UP AND REPENT IN ORDER TO DO THE RIGHT THING. BUT THE PROBLEM WAS [A LACK OF] ACCOUNTABILITY.

What would you say to those who are struggling with repentance over a particular area of their lives in which they have fallen?

We tried many times to break up and repent in order to do the right thing. But the problem was [a lack of] accountability. If you don’t want to be in this lifestyle anymore, you must tell someone you trust. When you are on your own, it will look like a lone sheep running away with a lion after it. You are away from the herd and no one can protect you — of course, the devil is going to go after you!

A common struggle is the inability to forgive ourselves. The devil wants us to live in our past with guilt, anxiety, and shame. But we know that God doesn’t come to condemn! He came to fulfil his Law and to give perfect love. Whatever it is, the healing process has to be walked through with someone.

What advice would you give to teen girls who are in a sexual relationship and want to end it?

I was one of those girls. The most difficult thing was that nobody knew about my relationship then and it was so easy to fall back into the same pattern of behaviour with my boyfriend. There is no hard and fast rule to do this, but if you are really convicted about wanting to end the relationship, you probably have to avoid seeing this guy for a long time. Not being physically around him is the most practical way! Use that time, however long it may be, to immerse yourself in the Word of God, serve Him, serve others — do other things! Build your identity, and build yourself up in the Lord.

It looks like everything worked out for you! You and Mark are still happily married and have a family together, and you know that God has forgiven you and redeemed your story. Does this mean that we can do whatever we want because God will eventually work things out?

Firstly, the Bible is quite clear that it was for freedom that Christ set us free — not the freedom to sin, but to do what is right. Secondly, sin always has its consequences, even if you repent and God has forgiven you. In junior college, my dream was to study overseas. I had an initial application to Oxford and a couple of universities in the States. However, the decision to keep the baby meant that I couldn’t go overseas. For Mark and me, the consequence of having a sexual relationship outside of marriage was that we became parents much earlier than we expected, which isn’t something to take lightly. Abortion wasn’t an option for us, but even if it had been, that would also have been an issue to deal with. It’s easy to say, “I could use a condom,” so pregnancy wouldn’t be a problem, but you know what? Sin will catch up with you in one way or another (Rom 1:18–32).

Thirdly, Mark and I have seen grace and redemption in our lives. The Bible is full of that kind of redemption; that as long as we decide to turn back to God, even messy things can still have a beautiful ending. Our parents came together, communicated, and supported us through the decision to keep the child and get married. But not everyone has this privilege. We know of two other couples who got married around the same time as us due to pregnancy as well, and now both sets of couples are divorced. We are not any better than them, but we have to recognise that it is really the grace of God that has allowed us to stay married these last 14 years.

So, don’t look at our story and go, “Oh, it turned out rosy, you married him anyway!” We don’t want you to misunderstand and think that you can get away with doing things that are outside of what the Bible says that marriage and sex should be for!

DON'T LOOK AT OUR STORY AND GO, "OH, IT TURNED OUT ROSY, YOU MARRIED HIM ANYWAY! "

Ines, how do you feel knowing that your parents did not consider abortion despite the difficulties they could face?

Ines: Happy. If they considered abortion, I wouldn’t be alive right now. I wouldn’t be able to know my friends and family, and know the joy of living!

What dating advice does your mum give you?

Ines: She gave me like 20 criteria of what I need to look for in a guy! He must pay for my dinner, he must go to church, he must be a connect group leader…

Sarah: [laughs] Did I say he must be a connect leader? I can’t remember.

I want her to know that friendship and fellowship comes before a relationship. You may be friends, but are you actually aligned in the Spirit? It’s easy to look at common interests, how well you get along, and other things on the friendship level, and that seems to be enough reason to get into a relationship. But in a long term relationship, you need to have fellowship, which is being brother and sister in Christ first, and knowing that in the Spirit you are actually aligned!

In late November, Sarah delivered her third child, Nadia Joy De Winne, at 27 weeks + 4 days, who went to be with Jesus while still in the womb. She and Mark continue to journey on with their children Ines and Leon as they trust God’s plans for their family.

Spotlight: Willa Jin’s Story On Redesigning The Bible For A Visual Generation

Quek Shiwei — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Do you love the Bible but sometimes find it inaccessible due to the way it is presented? The co-founders of LA-based company Alabaster Co, Bryan and Brian, had the very same thought, and desired to create a Bible with beautiful imagery and thoughtful design. The success of their 2016 Kickstarter campaign has led to the expansion of their brainchild to the Bible Beautiful series and a growing group of staff. The company’s name, Alabaster Co, was inspired by the act of the woman who broke her alabaster jar of perfume on Jesus’ feet. Whilst everyone deemed that act as a waste, Jesus deemed it beautiful.

Speaking with Willa, the first full-time staff in the company and the only female on the team, it is easy to see her passion for her work. Even though we were separated by a 12-hour time difference and computer screens, her bubbly personality and thoughtfulness in speech was larger than life! My short online interview with her made one thing evident — her life is beautiful and surrendered, just like the woman who broke her alabaster jar at Jesus’ feet.

Hi Willa! Tell us, what about the company’s vision attracted you to become its first employee?

I actually knew Bryan and Brian when we were in the same campus ministry. Then, they were wondering, “What if we could redesign the Bible to merge art, faith, and creativity into one product?” When they won the Kickstarter campaign in 2016, as a friend, I was so excited to see how their dream became an actual product. In 2017, they needed help with all the orders. They gathered a group of friends who helped to pack and ship all the orders. I was one of those friends in the warehouse packing all the orders and getting excited over a product that made me want to read the Bible and deepen my understanding of God. In 2018, when they realised that people actually really liked the product, they started thinking about building Alabaster as a business! So in 2018, I worked part-time with Alabaster (alongside my full-time job). I was answering emails, calls, and doing random things on the side till the beginning of this year 2019. That was when Bryan and Brian decided to go full-time with Alabaster. They happened to reach out to me. I was really dissatisfied with my job at the time and I wanted to see if there was anything out there that suited me better. And here I am — working full-time with Alabaster Co.

“Operations Director” sounds like a big role. Help us to understand what that means for you on a daily basis.

One of our main focuses in Alabaster Co is creating an excellent product. My role encompasses the daily operations of business: from systems, to work flow and ensuring things are running efficiently. I also manage shipping of orders to customers. Actually, I also oversee accounting matters and talent management. It seems like a bunch of roles merged together! But because we are a small team, everyone takes on a range of roles.

I FEEL LIKE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, I AM WORKING IN A PLACE WHERE MY VOICE IS HEARD.

How does such a small team do so much?

Right now, we have five people on the team — three are full-time staff and two are part-time. The nature of a start-up company means more responsibilities. However, what keeps us going is knowing what our common vision is: for all of humanity to experience God as good and beautiful. It may be a lot of work but it will be worth it eventually when our vision becomes a tangible reality.

What unique challenges do you have to overcome as the only female in your team?

Honestly, there’s not much of a challenge. I genuinely feel empowered in my job every day when I go to work! I feel like, for the first time, I am working in a place where my voice is heard and where people push and challenge me into greater roles and responsibilities. It actually makes me feel sad that feeling empowered hasn’t always been a norm for me at other workplaces — it feels so normal in Alabaster Co! That encourages me take on different challenges, make decisions, and be confident in myself in my role.

How did you become a Christian?

I grew up in a non-religious household. Growing up, I had a couple of experiences with Christianity, but they put me off. I went into college vaguely agnostic actually. I just wanted to explore and have fun. That led to a lot of partying in my first year of college. Eventually, that lifestyle took a toll on me and left me wanting something more.

I started thinking about whether there was more meaning to my life and who I am. My roommate was a Christian and part of the campus ministry. She invited me to Bible studies and gatherings. Eventually, she invited me to a conference that was specially for non-Christians. I ended up going on a whim, but I experienced a level of love and community that I never experienced before. It was also the first time I learnt about who Jesus was and what it really meant to follow Him. I gave my life to Jesus at the end of the conference. It felt like a sudden decision but looking back, it was really the prompting of the Holy Spirit that led to this decision. Thereafter, I joined campus ministry in college and started growing my faith ever since.

Having not been a Christian for long, what reactions did you get from friends and family when they found out you were planning to work in a Christian company?

Being the first believer in my family, my family didn’t know what to make of it. They thought it was a phase and I would get out of it. But they soon realised I was serious about my decision and got a little worried about what I was doing with my life. Towards the end of my senior year of college, I was actually considering going full-time with campus ministry or a missions organisation. My parents realised that Christianity wasn’t something I did on the side, but it was now my identity. I went through a rough patch with my parents when they didn’t really agree with what I wanted to do and who I wanted to become. I ended up not going into ministry to work things out with my family first.

I studied biomedical engineering in college and did that after graduation to make my parents happy. When a position with Alabaster Co turned into a full-time opportunity early this year, I knew I wanted to do that. There was definitely a lot of fear. I was taught that having a stable job and money are very important. Leaving a stable job to join a start-up was daunting. Ultimately, my parents care for me and want me to be happy even though they didn’t understand how joining Alabaster Co will be “good for me”. It’s still an ongoing process with them — both with my job and with me as a Christian.

Overall, I’m really grateful for where I’ve ended up; I know God has called me here.

What's next for you and Alabaster Co?

There are a lot of exciting things ahead! We are working on new books, product ideas, and creative content, through which we hope to continue expanding our vision — to see all of humanity experience God as good and beautiful.

I personally am inspired to be a part of that process. I know that there’s still a lot of growth ahead for me, so I’m looking forward to the challenges and joys to come!