Missions – Kallos

Louder than My Unbelief

Kallos Team — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 09:01:00 +0000

When ANGIE LIM was called to a year of missions, she knew that convincing her father to give her his blessing would be no simple task. She shares the faith it took to worship louder than her unbelief.

When I was growing up, my father and I were not emotionally close, but everyone could tell he doted on me. In terms of personality, I was my father’s daughter, self-confident and outspoken just like him.

My dad was an agnostic, self-made man. Yet ironically, he was instrumental in my spiritual development, as he would constantly persecute my family for our faith in Christ. He would tempt my siblings and me with permission to watch cartoons if we chose to stay at home and not follow our mum to church. On occasion, when my parents fought, he would taunt me with questions about God that were too difficult for my young mind to process. But his efforts to draw me away from my faith often made me think more deeply about why I wanted to follow Christ.

I ASKED GOD, “WHAT’S NEXT?” I DID NOT EXPECT TO HEAR THAT THE MISSION FIELD WAS NEXT.

After I graduated from polytechnic, I asked God, “What’s next?” I did not expect to hear that the mission field was next. I sniggered, telling God that my dad would never allow it, as if God did not already know. Then at a youth camp that same month, the guest preacher prayed over me that my time was NOW, not years later — not in my old age but now. That preacher did not know me or what God was calling me to do, so I knew that word was from the Lord.

THE ULTIMATUM

With fear and trembling, I wrote a letter to my dad telling him that I wanted to serve in the mission field for a year, and that I would like his blessing to go. I thanked him for giving me a privileged life, but I also opened up about how I often felt the need to tiptoe around him for the expression of my faith. My tone indicated that I no longer wanted to live my faith in fear of his persecution. I placed the letter on his bedside and went overseas for a week. When I came back, my dad did not talk to me. I didn’t dare face the eruption I knew was coming. The silent tension went on for a while.

One night, I had a dream that my dad was seated alone at the dining table, flipping through the sports section of the newspaper. The dream was so vivid I even remembered the angle of the coffee mug to the right of the newspaper. I brought up the topic of missionary work and he said harsh words to me. The next morning, I woke up late, and my dad, the newspaper, and the coffee mug were in the exact position I dreamed about.

I knew I could not drag on our silent war any longer, so I asked what he thought of my letter. He widened his eyes at me with anger and started shouting the exact harsh words I dreamed he would say. I stood there, crying, and did not respond. But he saw the steadfast resolution in my eyes. He then said that he would give me two months to think about it. By 10 pm of 10 March 2004, if I chose to go without his blessing, he wanted me out of his house and to never come back.

I KNEW WHAT MY EARTHLY FATHER WAS SAYING CONFLICTED WITH WHAT MY HEAVENLY FATHER WAS SAYING.

BETWEEN MY TWO FATHERS

I went to my room and cried and prayed. I felt so stuck, because I knew what my earthly father was saying conflicted with what my heavenly Father was saying. As I prayed, I realised that while my dad reacted exactly as I had dreamed, no part of the dream showed me actually leaving the house. An overwhelming peace came upon me. It gave me the strength to trust in God’s faithfulness to make a way when there seemed to be no way.

I went on to pass the missionary interview process and signed up for training in faith. I told my church leadership team that at the end of two months, if I did not get my father’s blessing, I might have to withdraw from the programme. The pastors were understanding and journeyed with me as I exercised my faith.

During those two months, many concerned church and extended family members asked me to reconsider my decision. Their words did not cause me to waver, because God kept assuring me that this was the season for me to step out in faith. The only weak moments I had was when I saw how torn my mother was, standing between her husband and her child.

WAITING ON A MIRACLE

Nine o’clock at night came on 10 March 2004. My pastors texted me, offering to come over to my home if mediation or refuge was needed. With confidence, I texted back that there was no need for refuge. I didn’t so much as pack a toiletry kit, even though I knew my dad was a man who always kept his word. But by 9.30 pm, with no miracle in sight, I desperately asked God to intervene.

At 9.45 pm, my dad came to my room. He knew that my decision had not changed. Neither had his. I remember the hurt in his eyes as he said, “Fine. Pack up now.

ALL I COULD DO WAS WORSHIP LOUDER THAN MY UNBELIEF.

By 10 pm, I want you out of my house.” As I sat there in a daze, a line from a sermon came to mind: “When you’ve prayed all you can pray, cried all you can cry, all that’s left to do is worship.” I reached for my guitar and played worship songs as tears rolled down my face. There were no more words left to pray — all I could do was worship louder than my unbelief.

All this time, my mother had kept silent. But after she heard what my dad said, she plucked up the courage to challenge his decision. Then at 10.15 pm, my dad stood at my bedroom door again. For the first time, I saw him in tears. He said I had his blessing to go. I had never seen such a soft look on my dad. I was speechless, and in my heart, I thanked God. The miracle had come!

REBUILDING OUR RELATIONSHIP

Even though I had my dad’s blessing, our relationship remained tense. He did not see me off at the airport. I knew he was sad and was coming to terms with the first time I was choosing my faith over fear of his opinions.

The year away from my earthly father unexpectedly gave me space to heal and encounter God the Father in a deeper way. By the time I finished my missionary stint and came back, it was with wounds to heal but victories to boast of as well.

My dad and I did not talk much after my return. It was not for my lack of trying; I feel I got the best my Asian dad could give at that time. I knew I was not going to hear “I love you” or receive a hug, but he showed his love in other ways. He went out of his way to buy my favourite food and would often let me use his car even at his inconvenience. He chose to run his errands earlier, so he could come back and silently place the car keys on the table, then watch TV as a sign that he was done with the car for the night.

It was three months later at a dinner with family friends that I heard him boast about my experiences on the mission field — they were stories that he had heard me tell other family members about. When the family friends praised me for my courage to step out at such a young age, he beamed with such pride. After that night, we spoke amicably like old times before my missionary stint. In His faithfulness, God brought reconciliation that I did not think was possible.

LOCKDOWN ON A SHIP: MISSIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Kallos Team — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 05:11:00 +0000

The Covid-19 pandemic brought much a world to a stop, and many of us found ourselves hunkered down in our homes under lockdown. Hear Priscilla Lee share her story of missions with ANGEL MAE and SHIWEI QUEK, as she endured a months-long lockdown and pandemic onboard the missionary ship Logos Hope, journeying the seas for almost two years.

Meeting Priscilla on Zoom, we were struck by the world map above her bed, a fitting reminder of her two years travelling the seas aboard the Logos Hope ship. From September 2019 to August 2021, Priscilla served as a community-engagement volunteer and graphic designer, doing missions work like teaching English to Brazilian kids, street evangelism, interacting with homeless people, facilitating international showcases onboard the ship, and assisting in operating the world’s largest floating bookstore. She rattled off a list of countries she visited — Barbados, Brazil, St. Lucia, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Curaçao, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago. They sounded like honeymoon destinations and conjure up images of Pirates of the Caribbean! Straightforward and sincere, Priscilla felt like an old friend whom one wants to catch up with, after living out an adventure of a lifetime.

Why did you choose to serve God in missions on board Logos Hope?

I actually received a prophecy from a pastor’s daughter who said that one day, I would share the gospel on an international scale. I have kept that in mind since I was a teenager. I didn’t know about the ship, but I let myself be exposed to opportunities relating to evangelism and missions to see for myself whether this prophecy was actually from God. In 2018, at the GoForth missions conference, I learnt about Operations Mobilisation (OM) and Logos Hope. Interestingly, one month before I went to the conference, I had a friend who received a painting. It’s a scene of the sea, and in the middle, there’s a full moon, and a boat. When she gave me the painting, I asked her, “What is this for?” She said, “I don’t know, I only know it’s for you.” When I was reflecting on what I had taken away from the conference, suddenly the painting came into my consciousness. And the question that popped up in my mind, as if God was asking me, was, “Do you want to consider going on board the ship?” Yeah, so that’s how it started.

What was it like doing missions on board Logos Hope?

It was a great, great, great challenge, but I matured a lot. I started off my time on board on a difficult note because I was struggling with my purpose on the ship. Other than one week a day when I got to interact with the locals, I was just working in the ship kitchen, scrubbing the pots and pans, sometimes preparing food for the ship crew members. There were 400–500 people on board before the pandemic, and we had to prepare three meals a day.

When the pandemic hit, I experienced a lot of grief for nearly a year because my close friends left the ship one after another. When the pandemic started, the airports stayed closed or countries were waiting to lockdown. So whenever there was an opportunity to get chartered flights from their countries’ embassies, they quickly seized the opportunity to return home. It was always very sudden. Some of them gave me two weeks’ notice, or even left in a day. The worst was a friend who left in two hours. On top of that, there was no ministry work. I was really struggling with my purpose there and the overwhelmingly difficult emotions.

How did the pandemic change things?

The greatest hit was on the book fair. Before the pandemic, a lot of locals would come on board to buy books and interact with the international community because it was very rare for them to meet international people. The books are cheaper than local rates, so it gives them an incentive to come on board. We had to close the book fair for 16 months before we moved it on shore so it was convenient for locals to buy books. But even then it wasn’t, of course, as big as the book fair on the ship. We also waited for seven months to finally be able to have weekly ministry work.

But God is working mightily during the pandemic, even today. For more than a year, He kept 250 to 300 crew members on the ship safe from the Covid-19 virus. I think that is a miracle, because there were so many of us, and if one person gets it, the whole ship can get infected because ventilation is poor. Last year, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines government provided free Covid-19 vaccination for the ship crew members. That continued to keep us safe, which is not something that comes along easily. We were in the Caribbean area for 20 months and we thank God there wasn’t any danger from pirates. We had funding issues due to the pandemic, and there were times when we didn’t have enough food. We had to ration our food because of shipping container delay issues, but God made sure that we had enough till the containers came in. There were times we almost ran out of water when we were locked down in Jamaica, but thank God He provided adequate water throughout the two years.

I WAS REALLY STRUGGLING WITH MY PURPOSE THERE AND THE OVERWHELMINGLY DIFFICULT EMOTIONS.

What kept you going during the tough times on the ship?

The first three months while we were in lockdown, it still felt alright because we still had a routine and continued to work in our departments. There were times when my mum asked me, ‘’Do you want to come back home and go back to the ship when the situation is better?” Some of my friends decided to shorten their time on Logos Hope. I had to decide for myself what to do. “What should I do during these remaining months on board?” That caused a lot of anxieties for more than a year and lot of helplessness. I felt quite depressed as well. I was homesick and after a year I slipped into a stage where I didn’t feel emotions anymore. I’m very grateful to God that He gave me a strong conviction and also adequate finances to stay on board. If not, I would have given up and come home. I had close friends on board that I could confide in, which is really a blessing, because it’s not easy to find friends that one can easily click with. I often forgot that they are from another country because we could be so real with each other. My mum also initiated more catch-ups with my family. The internet on the ship was really quite bad, so the times I could do video calls with friends and family helped a lot.

What impacted you most on the ship?

We learned some basic eye check-ups that we could do for people, and I was in charge of giving out prescription glasses with the degree that fit their level of eyesight. In St. Lucia, what hit me was seeing the smile on their faces after receiving a simple pair of glasses. I asked them, “How will this actually impact your daily life?” The context is that they went through a hurricane in September 2019,

IN THE HURRICANE, THEY LOST THEIR EYEGLASSES, FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, THEY COULDN’T SEE PROPERLY.

and right after that, the pandemic hit, so it was a double blow for them. They lost their jobs, family members, accommodations, and their children couldn’t go to school for more than a year. In the hurricane, some lost their eyeglasses. For more than a year, they couldn’t see properly. With the glasses, they now had the ability to go back to their jobs and lifestyles before the hurricane. It was quite a significant improvement. Through this ministry work, it hit me that I really want to be equipped with a particular skill to bring practical help to people. I was talking to a friend who does social work, and she told me, “You’re very suitable to do social work.” I’m slowly entering into the social sector because of the impact of the ship’s eyeglasses ministry and have enrolled into Singapore Bible College’s School of Counselling.

What is the one thing you hope our readers take away from your story?

No matter how difficult the situation is, when everything comes to a stop and we are not sure how things will turn out, we may long for the past, but in fact something new is birthing. We can still hang on and go through the process with the daily grace and mighty strength of God.

My Classmates And I Raised Money For Unwed Mothers

Kallos Team — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 15:15:00 +0000

In Singapore, unwed mothers are doubly disadvantaged — they single-handedly bear the burden of parenthood and also shoulder the stigma of being unmarried with child in our society. How can Christians better support single mothers? FRIEDEL WONG speaks with Laura Lang and Eve Tan, students from Methodist Girls’ School who helped raise funds for single mothers via giving.sg.

How did this idea to bless unwed mothers come about?

Laura: In December 2019, I attended a youth camp at Barker Road Methodist Church. One of my pastors shared his experience where a group of them decided to bless sex workers in Geylang and give them roses on Valentine’s Day. This made me reflect on females who are stigmatised in society such as sex workers, unwed mothers etc. I confess that initially I had the stereotype that unwed mothers were “impure” or that they had sinned against God and that I shouldn’t associate myself with them. However, upon reflection I realised that we are all the same — sinful in nature. They may have done something unacceptable, but we should still love everyone as we are all God’s precious children. A few months later, I remembered the testimony shared by my pastor and had a spontaneous thought to do something to bless and support unwed mothers on Mother’s Day, and I got my classmates on board.

What is Mother’s Day with A Twist?

Laura: Mother’s Day with A Twist was an initiative to bless and support single mothers on Mother’s Day. With this intention in mind, my Sec One classmates and I did some research and found out that Catholic Family Life (CFL), a registered organisation, befriends and helps unwed single mothers, providing them with baby essentials, and other support they might need. We thought we could start up a fundraising campaign for them.

I had a spontaneous thought to do something to bless and support unwed mothers on Mother’s Day.

That is when we organised Mother’s Day With A Twist back in 2020, an online fundraiser using the giving.sg platform. To promote our fundraiser, we did a video performance. Eve sang and I played the guitar to express our well wishes to mothers. Our classmates contributed drawings and cards. The fundraiser was a success — we managed to raise $5000!

The fundraiser was a success – we managed to raise $5000!

We brought Mother’s Day With A Twist back in 2021. This time, we sold products to our schoolmates and continued to donate the funds raised to CFL. We sold scrapbooks, jewellery, star jars, candles and other accessories, which doubled as Mother’s Day gifts. In the week leading up to Mother’s Day, we also folded origami flower bouquets to present to the beneficiaries of CFL.

How did your classmates get on board with the project?

Laura: Something that was very heartening to see in the first year was that when I asked our class for volunteers, a lot of them were very enthusiastic about it, very passionate, and willing to serve. And I think it was precisely because of everyone’s support and initiative that we managed to raise that amount. When everybody put in the effort, we were able to make a significant positive impact on others.

Eve: For Mother’s Day With a Twist II, quite a few of our classmates volunteered as well. It was during our home-based learning week when we didn’t have to go to school, so many of our classmates turned up at this particular Carl’s Jr at a nearby mall to fold origami paper flowers together for Mother’s Day. That was really cute.

What was most memorable to you?

Laura: In 2021 when I presented the origami bouquets to CFL, the person-in-charge thanked us very sincerely and it really touched my heart. When we were doing it online in 2020, we didn’t get to interact with the beneficiaries or even the foundation very much. So when I got to see the impact we made, it was really great.

Eve: For me it was when the beneficiaries gave us goodie bags at the end of the year to thank us for fundraising, even though the event had happened a few months back. That was really heart-warming. That made the project a lot more meaningful because at the end of the year, they still remembered us. It reminded me that our actions made a difference.

How has your faith played a part in your journey of Mother’s Day with a Twist?

Eve: Around 2020, my Christian journey wasn’t the best and I had strayed from God. When circuit breaker hit and there was no physical church, no school devotions, and I felt even further from God. It was then that Laura initiated this project and I saw it as a great opportunity to serve again and glorify God using my talents.

Laura: Mother’s Day With A Twist helped me to understand that whatever God has blessed us with, such as musical talents, we should use that to help other people. Something I had a revelation about was also the fact that no one is perfect, and yet we judge those that we think are not perfect, such as single mothers! Instead of judging them, we should use whatever we have to help and support them.

How has this experience shaped your opinions on unwed mothers, and what can we do better to support them?

Laura: Unwed mothers actually experience a lot of stigma for being unmarried with child in a society that encourages having kids in the context of marriage.

Eve: I agree, and other than donating or supporting them financially, it’s also a mindset change that a lot people need to have — to reduce the stigma that Laura mentioned against unwed mothers and to be more accepting of others.

Any word of advice for young women who want to help other women in need?

Eve: Just go for it. If you’re in school, your teachers can offer some guidance, so if you’re passionate about something, the best time to do it is now! You can also volunteer at various charities or donate. No matter what situation you’re in, you can always help and no matter what gifts you have, you always have something to contribute, so why not use it now?

Laura: There isn’t a specific time or circumstance that you should start your project. If you have an idea, just do whatever you can to bless people. If you keep making excuses and procrastinating, you will never start. When challenges come up, just remind yourself to stick to your goal of what you want to accomplish and keep going.

YEN: From Living In Vice To Working For Christ

Aarksara Foo — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 05:27:00 +0000

When I first met Yen, the founder of BlessedBe, a Christian home decor and gifts company, I saw a woman who has joyfully entrusted her whole life, business, and family into the hands of the Lord. Yet, her journey with God was not a bed of roses. Hearing her life story, I was inspired by the ways in which she hasd wrestled with God and the life lessons that have led her to being in an intimate relationship with the Lord today.

LEADING A LIFE APART FROM CHRIST

In Yen’s growing-up years, she would have never imagined that she would become a follower of Christ, or someone who would set up a business dedicated to Him.

Yen was born in communist Vietnam, with little to no exposure to Christianity. Yet, she always had a gut feeling of a higher being, someone she would call out to in her times of loneliness or trouble, such as when her sister was hitting her and she longed for someone to protect her. However, years down the road, she forgot about this connection she had with the higher being. At the age of 19, her parents gathered what little money they had to send Yen to the United States to further her studies.

No longer bound to family, Yen was free to explore the ways of the world in her teens. She shares, “I was young and deemed myself as successful. I had a good education, I was earning good money, I dated around, and had fun.” She recounts hopping into her friend’s sports car at 11 pm after her part-time shift at a restaurant and partying until the wee hours of the night. She didn’t just party hard, but worked hard too. After one year of working in the States, she earned enough to buy her first car, and after three years, bought her own house. The chase for material success seemed fun and filled her with adrenalin. However, this novelty soon wore off and as day after day ended with partying, she found herself feeling empty with a gaping hole in her heart.

MY DAYS FELT VERY EMPTY. IT’S LIKE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING, BUT YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR.

REALISING HER BROKENNESS

All the partying and overworking not only took a toll on her emotional health, but also her physical health. She soon developed a severe stomach ulcer that landed her in hospital. Coupled with a break-up with her then-boyfriend, it felt as if her world was crashing down. “After a while, it didn’t feel like success. I was very empty on the inside. My days felt very empty. It’s like you’re looking for something, but you don’t know what you’re looking for. You just want to fulfil that lack of something.”

All the things that had brought her happiness and ecstasy felt so short-lived and fleeting. Her heart was aching for something permanent, something that had constancy. And this was when the Lord showed up through the Christian friends placed in Yen’s life.

One of these friends had been trying to invite her to church on several occasions, but Yen had been too preoccupied with her own life to care more about what they had to offer. But then she came to think that she would give visiting the church a shot.

It was a normal church meeting, but that night, God used a simple service to turn Yen’s life around. The speaker preached a timely message which spoke deeply to Yen. Making reference to the veil of the temple being torn in two upon the death of Jesus on the cross (Matt 27:51), the speaker took a knife and slashed it across a curtain. “Somehow, when she used the knife to cut through the curtain, it opened my heart. I wasn’t sure what the Lord did. But when the preacher did that, it opened up my heart and my eyes to see the love of God.”

GOD’S TIMING IS REALLY PERFECT. HE WILL MAKE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME.

At that moment, she was reminded of her childhood connection with the higher being, and everything seemed to make sense. Her longing for something everlasting was satisfied in Christ.

ENTRUSTING HER LIFE WITH GOD

Even though Yen gave her life to the Lord, life was not all rosy. After she got married, Yen and her Malaysian husband were not sure which country to settle in, but she felt God leading her to move to Singapore. After wrestling with the Lord, Yen ultimately chose to obey Him and settle in Singapore despite her longing to be back in her hometown in Vietnam. Upon the birth of her first child, she quit her job to take care of the child. Initially, the loss of a stable source of income threw her young family into rocky waters. However, the Lord impressed upon her heart that He would make everything beautiful in His time (Ecc 3:11). This promise would comfort her yet again when she lost her second child, who was stillborn, just nine days before she was due. She knew that the Lord was in preparation of something beautiful for her, so she readied her heart and waited for a sign from God.

MOUNTING UP WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES

In 2020, before a visit back to Vietnam, Yen had a brief interaction with a Christian bookstore owner in Singapore who had foundout she was Vietnamese and asked if she knew of any suppliers for handicrafts to sell in his store. Yen decided to help him source for suppliers in Vietnam out of goodwill. Then one night, as she was at the dining table with her mother in Vietnam, the Lord spoke to her and told her to start a handicraft business for Him.

“I really didn’t plan for BlessedBe. I never expected myself to start a business. I was an insurance broker. I knew nothing aboutbusiness. But I had courage, because the years of waiting taught me that when the season is right, the Lord will multiply our capacity. He will grant me favour for His will.” Because Yen had been waiting patiently for the Lord for so many years, her heart was tender and obedient to His will, and she gave Him her “yes” despite the uncertainties that lay ahead of her.

“God’s timing is really perfect. He will make everything beautiful in His time. And when we wait upon Him, we will mount up with wings (Isa 40:31).”

It was precisely His perfect timing that led Yen to found BlessedBe Home Decor and Gifts Galore. BlessedBe’s products are thoughtfully designed and prayerfully crafted by a team of God-loving Vietnamese Christians. It serves as a platform to spread the gospel and love to both the crafters and the buyers. Yen’s life is a testament to the Lord’s faithfulness. Her life story teaches us what it means to obey Him and live for Him.

The Power of Saying ‘Yes’ to Jesus

Dorothea Wong — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 08:27:00 +0000

When you look at Joanne, you might think that she is just a sweet but unassuming young woman. However, even a superficial conversation with her will reveal otherwise. Her heart for the underprivileged shines through in every interaction, and my interview with her was no different. It is no surprise therefore that Joanne and her husband Melvin are unselfish about everything they own, including their matrimonial home that they have opened up to strangers in need.

THE FIRST ‘YES’
In truth, Joanne never envisioned herself as someone who would open up her home to host strangers. It all started when Joanne went on a mission trip to Indonesia and stayed with a missionary family for two weeks.

“It was my first time experiencing such hospitality. We started off as strangers, but became friends. Through our conversations, they shared that whenever they came to Singapore to renew their visa, they often had difficulty finding an affordable place to stay.”

Upon hearing that, Joanne then casually said, “When I get married, you can just stay with us.” Who knew that her casual offer would actually catapult her and her then- fiance Melvin into something else!

The pair made good on their word. As their flat was purchased six months before they got married, they ended up hosting two missionary families in their home before they even lived there themselves.

“WHEN I GET MARRIED, YOU CAN JUST STAY WITH US.”

Soon, the couple started to host some youth in their church that needed a place to stay, and eventually, they decided to take the bold step of hosting strangers in need that they found out about through social workers or friends who knew of people who needed a temporary place to stay. The pair have hosted single mothers with infants or school-going children, widows, and families with children thus far. The stays have ranged from two weeks to six months!

“God presented the opportunity to us. We always knew God was present in the process. He is the one who started us off with missionaries we knew personally, then to youth whom we also knew, and now strangers of all ethnicities and walks of life. It’s really a journey that God is orchestrating and writing, and we’re just obeying Him with each step.”

LOOKING DEEPER WITHIN
Joanne recognises that this way of life isn’t for everyone, and God definitely matured her faith over the years to prepare her for this radical mode of service.

Growing up, she listened to sermons by Francis Chan and was inspired by how he modelled doing family life in a missional way. Together with his wife, they invited people to stay in their home, and their children grew up observing them loving their neighbours. They also adopted a teenage daughter, giving her a forever home. The way Chan shared and lived out his faith made Joanne see that her life could be used to serve more than just herself, and that her understanding of the gospel was so limited.

“WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE SACRIFICIALLY, TO LOVE THE FOREIGNERS, AND THE DOWN AND OUT? “

“When I was younger, living out my faith was focused on simple daily things, like not gossiping, not cheating, and so on. But as I grew older, my view of the gospel was sharpened and widened. Like, what does it mean to love sacrificially, to love the foreigners, and the down and out? How do I live my faith out practically? Now that I am a young adult, I guess God is challenging me to live out my faith by giving my house up to others.”

The decision to use her house as a blessing to others was also largely shaped by a season in her growing up years. When her parents sold their flat and the family had to stay in rental flats for a few years, Joanne found herself shifting from home to home every year. Each rental contract usually spanned a year as the family had hopes that in that year, they would find a permanent place to shift into. However, the market then was so bad that they found themselves in limbo for three to four years.

Like every other teenager, Joanne desired her own personal space, and since she didn’t have it, she often didn’t feel like going home. With a wistful look on her face, Joanne commented, “Even though it was a tough time, I knew God was using that season to mature my faith and my walk with Him. At the end of the whole “sojourning” (or shifting from place to place), I realised that God was actually teaching me a lesson. That experience made me see that I am just a sojourner on this earth.”

LIVING THE LESSON OUT
As such, Joanne holds on to her earthly possessions lightly, including the house she now owns. She is convicted that her house, as with all her possessions, can be a blessing to others. God owns everything, and she is but a steward.

This conviction did not begin only when she bought her house. It was a conviction fostered throughout her teen years.

“For example, if I had extra pocket money and there were worthy causes or people in need, I would think about how much I could give. I would ask, is God nudging my heart and challenging me to spend it on something or someone who needs the money more?”

“ANYONE CAN BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS. SMALL GESTURES GO A LONG WAY!”

She was quick to point out that finances are not the only way to bless others. “You can give of your time to build relationships with people. For example, after giving tuition, I used to stay back for awhile to have dinner with the family. It’s really about the small simple ways of giving in ordinary moments. I tried my best to value people and make them feel dignified.”

She firmly believes that anyone can be a blessing to others. Small gestures go a long way!

“Remember that whatever possessions (money, time, etc.) you have are all given to you by God. What are some possessions you have that you should be holding loosely? I really believe that when you ask God this question, He will speak to you and show you. It’s just a matter of obedience.”

KEEPING THE FAITH
Today, Joanne still firmly believes in the power of small ‘yeses,’ She points out that she did not start out housing strangers from the get-go. Instead, saying a small ‘yes’ each time God convicted her to do something slowly led her to say a bigger ‘yes’ to Him.

So, what can a teenage girl do with the little that she has? Joanne pondered this question and replied, “Perhaps you can start off with $10 to bless someone or a cause. And then, as God slowly stretches your capacity to bless, you can increase what you give [whether it is time, money, or your skills]. Each time you obey and say yes to God, your capacity and conviction grows. This is what I personally experienced. So don’t undermine each small ‘yes’ you say to God. It adds up and goes a long way.”

Isabelle Lim: Deaf but Not Disabled

Quek Shiwei — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 07:18:00 +0000

Prior to meeting Isabelle, I was worried that parts of our conversation would be lost in translation as I do not know sign language. My worries were uncalled for. Her mother, Isabelle’s sign language interpreter, joined us and I watched how Isabelle’s mother patiently and swiftly signed Isabelle’s responses to my questions. Sometimes, she even completed Isabelle’s sentences before Isabelle finished signing. The close bond they share is undeniable; Isabelle teased her mum’s photo-taking skills with eye-rolls, and her mum would retort back playfully. While Isabelle and I could not converse verbally, her heart and passion for photography was heard loud and clear. Isabelle might be small-built, but she definitely has a larger than life personality. If I could describe her with two words, they would be “tenacious” and “inspiring.” Read on to find out more!

What are the earliest memories of your childhood?
My life started with an eight-month stay in the hospital. I have plenty of memories of hospital stays, visitations, check-ups, and different therapy sessions. But it’s not a painful memory as my parents gave me a happy childhood.

My parents sent me to different courses to learn art and drama. One of my happiest memories is an art course that I attended from four to ten years old. I felt like I was transported into another world full of creativity.

Have you been treated differently because of how you look or because you can’t hear?
I have eight fingers but people don’t realise it at first glance. My arms can’t be fully extended too. With new people, often times, the conversation starters are about my physical challenges and photography journey. I think because I do many things like others — writing, typing, eating, walking, photography — my disability isn’t that obvious.

DEAFNESS IS AN INVISIBLE DISABILITY.

What are some of the most awkward situations you have been in because people didn’t realise you are deaf?
Deafness is an invisible disability. Also, I don’t wear a hearing aid, so it isn’t obvious.

I have to use my phone to communicate my food orders. Sometimes I get wrong orders when I try gesturing, especially to elderly servers who don’t understand gestures or read English.

When people ask me for directions, they often say “Sorry!” and walk away when I tell them I’m deaf and I may need them to repeat themselves. There’s nothing to be sorry about; just text or write it out and ask me again.

I LEARNT NOT TO BE AFRAID OF MY DISABILITY... IT CAN BE MY STRENGTH.

When I meet new people, it can be a little awkward when they speak to me or speak without looking at me. I can attempt lip-reading but I may miss parts or most of the message. It’s even more challenging now with Covid-19! With people wearing masks, I can’t rely on lip-reading at all. Sometimes people also forget to gesture despite knowing I’m deaf.

Was befriending others in school a struggle for you?
Not really. As the only deaf student attending art classes with a small group of hearing students, everyone learnt together. Perhaps the children were young then and didn’t see any difference between us. I attended Singapore School For The Deaf in my primary school years. Everyone could sign so it was easy to understand each other.

I was thankful that in secondary school and LASALLE College of the Arts, I was never bullied. I was thought to be easy-going and approachable. Initially, classmates didn’t know how to approach me. I had to show them by typing, writing, or phone messaging. I had to break the ice first.

In secondary school, I was also thankful that there was a small group of deaf people spread out across different year groups. All of us could help each other.

How did you grow to become comfortable and confident in your own skin?
I had to accept myself first before others could accept me, and love myself before loving others. I learnt not to be afraid of my disability. It is not only my weakness, it can also be my strength. It just depends on how I view my disability; I don’t allow others to define my disability.

How did you turn your disability into your strength?
Sometimes I forget that I am deaf; I see myself as the same as others. But when there’s something I cannot do, then I realise that I am different. But that doesn’t stop me from trying to find a way to do it. My parents also remind me that I am uniquely different. They sent me to different courses like art, drama, dance, and sports for exposure. Every experience boosted my confidence. I stopped viewing my disability as a weakness but I started seeing the strengths I had, such as in photography. If it weren’t for the confidence built up over the years, I might not have been that adventurous to pick up photography in my later years.

I also cling on to the verses in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. I’ve always remembered the phrases “My strength is made perfect in weakness” and “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” It’s pretty much my life motto, and reminds me to depend on God for all things.

What inspired you to pick up photography?
I was inspired by my deaf primary school teacher. He was a photography hobbyist. He would show our class photos from school events after major examinations. We would all be laughing at the candid and “unglam” moments; it brought so much joy to our class.

Photography started out as a fun hobby but gradually, I started volunteering as an event photographer in school. I also participated in photography competitions and won an award. I started to post my photos on Facebook. One day, my uncle asked my mum if I had been looking though photography books. He told my mum that one of the very simple images of raindrops I captured was similar to a photo he saw in a museum taken by a renowned photographer! He told my mum to watch out for me as I might have some talent in photography.

Why did you decide to pursue photography as a career?
I remember school events where plenty of people were talking and I felt out of place and excluded. However, through taking photos, it felt like I was entering their world and I could connect with them and “hear” their conversations.

After attending the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), I was at a crossroads. Should I go to a polytechnic to pursue a diploma in accounting and have a stable job, or go to LASALLE for photography despite being unsure of where it would take me? I was praying to God to help me choose which path to take, and I experienced this peace when I chose to go to LASALLE. I wasn’t so keen to work from 9-5. I like to move around on the job. My job now gives me that freedom and I love that every job I take is unique. I believe God knows all that was on my heart, hence He led me to LASALLE to hone my skills.

PEOPLE SEE MY ABILITIES THROUGH MY PHOTOS; MY DISABILITIES AREN’T VISIBLE TO THEM.

After graduating from LASELLE, I started shooting. From 2016 till pre-Covid, I was mostly doing event photography but was moving towards family, portrait, wedding, and maternity shoots too.

What are some challenges you encounter on shoots since you aren’t able to communicate with your subjects verbally?
In some shoots where a lot of subjects are present, it does get overwhelming because there are many things to take note of. Before shoots, I will liaise with my subjects through text messaging or email to get to know them better. I prepare photo references and go through them with my mum. I will highlight key words of what I want to capture.

During the shoot, I sign the keywords to my mum. She roughly knows what poses I want and communicates that to the subjects, saying things like “Issy is going a little closer to you,” “Stay in your poses while Issy shoots a few more photos,” and more.

What is the most fulfilling part of your work as a photographer?
Making my clients smile when they look at the images I capture. When I did event photography, clients did not realise that I am deaf and that I was the one taking the photos. In a way, people see my abilities through my photos; my disabilities aren’t visible to them.

Fill in the blank. “To me, God is ____.” Why did you choose that word?
Faithful. Because His love and faith in us is unending. There are times we doubt ourselves. But God knows our abilities best, even better than our parents on earth! He is the author of our lives. How can we doubt God’s faith in us?

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Cherlyn Oh: Just An Ordinary Girl

Quek Shiwei — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 08:54:00 +0000

What do you think of when you hear the word “missionary”? Brave? More spiritual than others? A “superior Christian”? Cherlyn Oh, a missionary in Bangkok, doesn’t see it that way. Initially located in Chiang Rai for two years, a visa issue eventually led Cherlyn to an opening in Bangkok to do student ministry, where she has now been for five years. As Christian students are the minority in Thailand, she saw the pressing need to help university students grow in their faith and fulfil their call to be a salt and light, such that they can be a big positive influence in the society. Read on to find out how this “ordinary girl” left the shores of Singapore to be a missionary in Thailand!

Hi Cherlyn! How did your interest in missions begin?
It was actually from my dad. He used to serve on the Operation Mobilisation Logos ship before he got married. When I was a child, he would bring the family on the ship when it docked in Singapore. I also read books on Hudson Taylor, a British missionary to China, and my curiosity was piqued. After taking my ‘O’ levels, I went on my first short-term mission trip with my church to Chiang Rai. That grew the desire to find out more about Thai culture and missions in general.

How can a regular individual get involved in helping to abolish human trafficking? What did you do to prepare yourself for mission work?
I was actually trained as a social worker! When I worked as a social worker, I managed my cases using counselling theories and social work tools, and while they were useful, I was not able to openly share about Jesus in a secular environment. At one point I thought, “Actually, Jesus is the only one who can bring true healing to these families I am working with.” I wondered how I could integrate my faith and skill sets to meet people’s needs in deeper ways. Missions seemed like a platform for me to do that.

I became more involved in my home church, read more about missions, and talked to missionaries I knew. After I resigned, I went to Bible school. In the process, I had opportunities to get more contacts about possible places to go to or agencies to join. I continued to go on short-term mission trips and prayed about my next steps. I talked to family, pastors, and missionaries about what they thought. I also asked them, “What are my strengths?”, and “What should my direction be?”

I WONDERED HOW I COULD INTEGRATE MY FAITH AND SKILL SETS TO MEET PEOPLE’S NEEDS IN DEEPER WAYS.

What convicted you to “take the plunge” and commit to it entirely?
Eventually, several people (spiritual leaders and mentors) affirmed my decision. Since I studied Thai in university, I decided to go to Thailand.

My parents are Christians, but they weren’t super keen about me becoming a full-time missionary even though my dad was the one who “triggered” the missions desire. They suggested for me to go for short-term trips instead but not physically relocate there.

There were two things I was praying for as confirmation that I was making the right decision. The first was for my parents to give me their blessings. I was also praying that someone would take over my role in my home church. When I was finishing Bible school, I talked to my parents and they reluctantly gave their blessings with the condition that I was with a trusted organisation and was contactable. I went for a short trip to India thereafter and some hiccups occurred. I missed my connecting flight from Mumbai to Singapore and had to stay overnight at the airport with five Indian men in the same plight. My mum was worried because the New Delhi gang rape that happened in 2012 was a big news then. But God used those five men to take care of me well. They looked out for me, and one of them talked his way into getting us on board a Singapore Airlines flight at 10.30 the next morning instead of having to wait 24 hours for the next flight.

When I came back, I overheard some church aunties saying to my mum, “Aiya, why did you allow your daughter to go to India?” My mum responded, “God will take care of her.” I was touched that God was giving my parents peace. He also sent someone who willingly volunteered to take over my ministry role! With God answering both my prayers, it was a sign for me to go ahead.

HONESTLY, I WASN’T 100% SURE BUT IT LOOKED LIKE GOD WAS ALLOWING ME TO TAKE THIS NEXT STEP INTO MISSIONS.

How did people respond when you told them your decision?
There were mixed responses. Christian friends felt a little sad that I would be absent in church. Pre-believing friends were confused because it was the age to build a career instead.

Spiritual mentors and those in the mission field concurred that it was a great idea. But some in church commented, “We would rather you serve in church.” Some challenged me with, “Are you sure God really called you to go? Which Bible verse did you receive? Why are you so sure?” Honestly, I wasn’t 100% sure but it looked like God was allowing me to take this next step into missions. Enough people were supportive for me to not waver and to proceed.

What are some misconceptions about missionaries that you’ve realised are untrue?
I thought that I would be going to the market daily and giving out tracts to people. But such methods are not appropriate in Thailand. People are more open to relationship building before listening to what you say.

People often think missions is about going to a rural place, staying there alone and doing everything yourself. My dad also thought that I had to preach every Sunday. I don’t. We believe in partnering and discipling the local church or even teaching English or music to pre-believers and forming bonds with them.

The 21st century mission field is different from the past. Missions can also be helping to home school missionaries’ kids, manage financial accounts, or helping the missionaries with publicity to mobilise greater traction.

What is it like being a single woman in the mission field?
When I was in Chiang Rai, I underestimated the value of community. In Singapore, it was naturally available to me. It took me a while to realise I was lonely. I missed having my family around, friends who asked me out spontaneously, and even speaking Singlish with people in the same culture. I didn’t realise that all these nuances mattered!

I was also the only single in the team. In team meetings, the men would plan strategies and the ladies would talk about kitchen adventures or their children. I didn’t know if I should sit with the men or the ladies, or where I would fit in better. I felt out of place.

I was relatively young then so people in the village thought, “She’s just a girl and isn’t married yet.” I don’t get taken as seriously as an older man or a married woman.

During my loneliness, it made me wonder if I should settle down and find a husband. Whilst I was open to that, I was more aware that I am ultimately complete in Christ, regardless of my marital status.

GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE LIKE ME TO FULFIL HIS PURPOSES IN EXTRAORDINARY WAYS.

What final encouragement do you have for our readers?
I once went to share about missions at a local church and the pastor commented that I looked like an ordinary girl. Some people thought that wasn’t a nice thing to say.

But I knew what he meant and he was right. I am really am an ordinary girl, and God uses ordinary people like me to fulfil His purposes in extraordinary ways. As long as you are willing and available to follow His leading, He can and will use you for His glory and to be a blessing too!

WHAT SHOULD A TEEN GIRL DO TO PREPARE HERSELF FOR LONG-TERM OVERSEAS MISSIONS?

1. Pray and take steps to find out about the specific burdens you have for a country, people group or certain social issue.

2. Talk to people who know you and spiritual leaders who can give you honest feedback on the journey leading towards a possible future as a missionary.

3. Go on short-term mission trips.

4. Be involved locally in the meantime if that people group is already present in Singapore.

The Great Joy of Christmas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*Name has been changed for privacy.

PRAYER

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

REFLECTION TIME!

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

DELVE DEEPER

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

HANDLES

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

Spotlight: 19 And In Africa, Millenial Missionary Belva

Quek Shiwei — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Hi Belva! Was being a missionary ever part of your plan?

My parents were missionaries so I was pressured to follow in their footsteps. People always asked me when it was my turn to go to the mission field and I would just say “No”! I wanted money and a comfortable life instead. But I think God slowly opened my eyes to see that that is not what life is about and I am not the centre of the world. Slowly, God brought me on a journey of discovering missions. I don’t know where He is leading me to eventually but I have faith that God will speak when He deems it necessary.

How did you end up deciding to spend a period of time in Africa?

During my time in Polytechnic, I spent my holidays going on mission trips. My first trip was to Guam for two weeks. Next, I went on the Logos Hope for a month and following that, I went to East Asia for two weeks. During my time on the Logos Hope, God revealed to me that missions was something I was going to be involved in but I didn’t know how! There was so much I didn’t know and God was nudging me towards some form of training school. When I was 19, I decided to enrol in Operation Mobilisation’s (OM) Mission Discipleship Training (MDT) in Africa for five months, and then extended it by another two months to serve in a non-profit organisation called Impilo Centre. Though there were other places that offered the same training, I wanted to go somewhere that was way out of my comfort zone, hence I chose to go to Africa.

What two experiences impacted you the most?

My outreach team consisted of 21 people of 11 different nationalities, and yet in five months it felt like we had known each other forever even though we had just met. I actually felt like I knew them even better than my friends back in Singapore! Perhaps it was because we were all in such a vulnerable position and were very open with each other. There were so many nights when my roommates and I would just sit on our bedroom floor after a long day to share what we had learnt, what God has placed on our hearts, and cry together. We really built each other up like the members in the Acts 2 church; it was so beautiful because it gave me a glimpse of what it will be like in heaven when everyone from different nations come together.

The second happened towards the end of my fifth month when I was about to graduate from the training programme. I was just so drained and I didn’t feel God’s presence; that was very scary to me! How could I serve God when I didn’t even feel connected to Him? I took a prayer walk and in my frustration and arrogance, I questioned God. “God, you said in Hebrews 13:5 that you will never leave me nor forsake me. I cannot feel you. How can this be a promise when I feel so forsaken and so alone?“

However, that night during worship, a Swedish girl went up to the front and said, “I don’t know why I’m here with the microphone but I feel like God wants me to say something to someone in the room. God is saying to you that He will never leave or forsake you, He is constant, faithful and is always there”. I just broke down because I knew it was for me directly! No one else knew about my struggles, and yet God used her to speak to me so directly about all my frustrations. In that moment I knew that God heard my prayer, and clearly, I wasn’t left alone. With that, I carried on into the remaining few months with a heart so fully certain that He will never leave me nor forsake me.

IN THAT MOMENT I KNEW THAT GOD HEARD MY PRAYER, AND CLEARLY, I WASN'T LEFT ALONE.

After living abroad for seven months, what were some difficulties you faced when you had to transition back to life in Singapore?

It wasn’t easy coming back. Everyone kept on preparing me for re-entry back to Singapore but I didn’t understand why! I was on a “high” for the first month — I kept on saying that I was going to be the best missionary, attend all the prayer meetings, share all my stories, and mobilise all the youth. However, I didn’t realise I was so burnt out. I spiralled into depression for about 2 months. I felt like no one understood what I was going through and that there was no reason to live. I felt very hypocritical because I had experienced so many amazing things overseas, so why was this happening? Blessedly, God sent a lot of people alongside me like my parents who didn’t offer any condemnation, and friends who voice-messaged prayers to me. It was an unexpected experience that gave me another tool for ministry — to understand and empathise with others in the future should they also undergo similar experiences. Since then, I have picked myself back up and am back on track with God, focusing on school, and helping to mobilise people for missions.

How are you applying all that you have learnt to your life back in Singapore?

Missions goes beyond just leaving your country or culture — it is essentially about living a missional lifestyle by sharing the gospel whenever, to whoever. When I returned back to Singapore, one of my anchor passages was Acts 4 where Peter and John were accused of spreading the gospel and told to stop, but that did not deter them. Instead, they spoke with so much conviction.

They could not help but to speak about their time with Jesus (v20). People were also astonished at their courage despite them being uneducated common men, and noted that it was because they had been with Jesus (vs 13)! My desire is that people can see how I am not great, but God can use my experiences to bring glory to His name wherever I am.

MISSIONS GOES BEYOND JUST LEAVING YOUR COUNTRY OR CULTURE — IT IS ESSENTIALLY ... SHARING THE GOSPEL WHENEVER, TO WHOEVER.

What are you currently doing?

I am a first year student in NTU in Wee Kim Wee School of Communications. I am just trying to keep on track with my school readings, and serving in church in the missions committee. It’s back to a normal and regular Christian-girl life in Singapore. Sometimes I still look back at my time in Africa and wondered if it was even real because it seemed so surreal!

Any encouragement for our readers?

Prayer is a lot more powerful than you realise — it can move mountains, open doors and soften hearts. Not knowing where you are going now is very normal so there’s no need to freak out. But keep desiring to know God! That is very beautiful because it shows how much you are willing to let Him take full control. Seek God’s purposes rather than your own. Also, finding a like-minded community is very important too! It is very easy for the fire to be quenched when you are in an environment that doesn’t share the same heart as you do. Lastly, keep a consistent quiet time; draw near to God’s voice and let Him speak to you.

Spotlight: Jemima Ooi’s Story On Missions In The Congo

Quek Shiwei — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 16:00:00 +0000

As a 14-year-old, Jemima already knew that her life’s journey would not be an ordinary one. Fast forward 16 years and she is living a life few Singaporeans would imagine: sleeping in mud huts on hard-packed earth with rats crawling all around, making fires every night because there is no electricity to speak of, running for her life from rebel armies… these are but a few experiences she’s had in her past seven years as a missionary.

Besides her primary work in the Congo with Justice Rising, Jemima currently oversees two slum schools in India, is helping to develop a large refugee settlement in the central Kenyan desert while working with survivors from the genocide in Rwanda, and is supporting a Burundian refugee community. With such an array of experiences, we know she’s got stories to tell!

Hi Jemima! Was going to the mission field always a part of your life’s plans?

I’ve always liked helping people, but I had a life-changing encounter when I was fourteen. I was on the upper deck of a bus that was going along the Farrer Road flyover. I looked out of the window and suddenly all I could see was red clay soil, white tattered refugee tents and an older version of me working with the refugees! I was freaking out because I didn’t know what this meant then. The image came and it left and I was suddenly in the bus again. I went home immediately and told my mum, “I feel like my life isn’t going to be ordinary”. My mum responded by telling me to hide this in my heart. From that day, I knew that my life was going to be different. It was only after I graduated from university that God specifically started to call me out to the mission field.

How did your family react to your decision to enter the mission field?

My parents had their own journeys to go on. They needed to hear from God for themselves, that He was calling me to the field, and I wasn’t merely fantasising. I knew that I needed to demonstrate wisdom for my parents to trust me. I decided to work with my parents for two years in their restaurant and I endeavoured to show my wisdom and maturity in all my undertakings and dealings with clients and customers. I believe that gave them some peace of mind in releasing me; knowing that I would be prudent, not reckless or ditzy and end up in unnecessary danger.

I had done well in school and people questioned whether I was more suited for the marketplace instead. I also had family friends who were talking about my decision and in my first year in the mission field, I was really discouraged when I came to know of their doubts. Words like “She’s not going to get paid for this; she’s throwing away her life. She has so much potential, she did so well, why would God want her to waste her life away?” weren’t easy to swallow.

What about your friends?

They were reluctant to see me go, but what touched my heart was when they said that they knew God was doing something in my life and they wanted to share me with the world. God also spoke to my senior pastors’ wife and said to her “This one (Jemima) is set apart for me”and she blessed me to go ahead as well. It was tough because I was just starting out on my missions journey and I struggled to provide answers for everyone. But I knew God had called me to this and He will provide the time and space for people to slowly understand my decision. It was probably only after the third year that tangible fruit could be seen, and people realised that this was truly God’s long-term call for my life and not just a phase.

SHE HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL, WHY WOULD GOD WANT HER TO WASTE HER LIFE AWAY?

When you first became a missionary, what did you not expect to be difficult but actually was?

The realisation that we are so sheltered in Singapore! I’m not just talking about living conditions. But when I go to the United States to train missionaries-to-be, I hear about how 8 out of 10 people have been raped or sexually abused. When there are rape cases in Singapore, they appear in the papers and there are court cases. But there, victims don’t report them because such news is no big deal anymore. This realisation gave me a desire to learn how God can heal a broken heart and soul. This was critical for me to know and learn before I was even able to reach the refugees that I was called to serve.

The other is not being able to shower when I feel dirty! Once I was caught in a drought and I didn’t have much water to shower with for weeks! My wet wipes became a black market commodity. Even if I wanted to bathe, I could only do so with two 1.5 litre water bottles. I had a friend who didn’t shower for six weeks!

I'M NOT AS INTERESTED IN THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE AS I AM ABOUT THE PRESENCE-DRIVEN LIFE.

In spite of all these difficulties, what keeps you going?

Definitely God, without a doubt. Many missionaries go to the field for different reasons. However, I have learnt over the years that good works can be addictive but they can only get you so far. What if the people you serve are just too broken to appreciate you? Or what if they take you for granted? Only God can keep you pushing onwards. I am actually an introvert and I love just being in constant companionship with God. You will often find me in my hammock, or in a contemplative space just talking to God about anything and everything – the good and the bad.

Is there anything you would do differently in this journey?

Often times on the field, I’m running from pillar to post and it can be quite intense, but I honestly love being on the field and I don’t want to change anything about that.

What will you say to girls in this generation who are contemplating going to the mission field?

To let God love you — live in the fullness of His affections for you. We are so busy trying to love other people and trying to prove to God that we love Him back that we are working from our finite strength and we are not in the flow of God.

Also, life is not about finding your purpose. I’m not as interested in the purpose-driven life as much as I am about the presence-driven life. Once you walk with God every step of the way, you will always fulfil your purpose. And you will do it with joy and love — you will be a happy missionary leaning on your Beloved, and you will not burn out easily.

Lastly, weigh your life in light of eternity. Only two things cross into eternity: my relationship with God, and the lives of the people He leads me to. I never expected myself to be in Congo but as I walked with God, He gave me His heart for the people there. Don’t be afraid to dream big for God and allow Him to seed His dreams in you. Let’s make this life count for eternity.