Lord’s Day, Vol. 1 No. 7

(1) Our First Christmas Praise Service (24 December 2013)

Thank God for our first Christmas Praise Service. It was also our first bilingual service. Preacher Kelvin Wong was at hand for Mandarin translation. Elder Paul Tsao was our worship leader, leading us to sing Christmas carols with Mrs. Siow playing the organ. The Christmas message was entitled “Unto You a Saviour is Born” taken from Luke 2:1-20 rehearsing how our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ entered human history more than 2000 years ago. Thank God for the opportunity to preach the gospel especially to friends and loved ones still outside God’s kingdom. Sister Jane and Sister Rose contributed and prepared refreshments for our fellowship after our praise service. Thank God for a blessed time of Christian fellowship with friends and loved ones.

(2) Preaching Assignment in Kemaman

On 19-21 December, I visited Kemaman-Life BP Church on the eastern coast of West Malaysia (a mission outreach) of True-Life BP Church. It is a quarterly or half-yearly preaching assignment roster among several preachers and pastors.

I made my way across the Woodlands Causeway to take a coach from Larkin Bus Interchange in Johor Bahru at 9.45pm arriving in Kemaman in Kuala Terengganu at 3.45am. As in my past visits, I went to the Upper Room, a shop-house apartment on the third floor of Dn. Dr. Wee’s medical clinic, a leader of the church. I could not enter because I discovered there was an extra padlock at the gate. However, I waited as I prayed and thought what I could do. I hesitated to call Dr. and Mrs. Wee on the phone as it was in the wee hours of the morning. I waited for half an hour and sent a message on the phone to Mrs. Wee. The streets were almost empty, with some strangers loitering nearby and it began to drizzle. I looked up and suddenly saw lights switched on in the apartment. Who could be there? The apartment was usually unoccupied in my previous visits for the last 7 years. I shouted the name of Dr. Wee, asking if he was there? There was a man who identified himself as Mr. Chin who came out to unlock the padlock. He told me that his maid accidently locked the gate with an old lock. They were expecting my arrival from Singapore. Thank God for the comforts of a home away from home. Mr. Chin shared that he has been very tired cleaning his house as Kemaman had just experienced the worst flooding in 30 years. His family was stranded in 5 feet of water for 5 hours awaiting rescue teams to come. Approximately 80 percent of Kamaman was submerged under 6-7 feet of water and some 2000 families lost their belongings and some even homes.

In the morning, Dr. Wee came and brought me to his home. On the way, he showed me the devastation. He told me that the river overflowed due to torrential rain. Many smaller cars floated into the river. Many houses built in the last 30 years did not take into consideration the danger of flooding. Many homes of church members were affected. One member had his library of books destroyed.

According to Dr. Wee, on 29th November at the completion of this year’s Vacation Bible School (VBS), the rain started pouring. It did not stop until it flooded most of Kemaman. On 4th December, Dr. and Mrs. Wee and Meri Rosalina Sanam (their domestic helper) left Cukai for LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal). Meri was on her way home to Timor, Indonesia. In the night, they prayed for God to open the way for them. Indeed we left at 10.00 am and reached LCCT in time after passing 5 flooded roads. Sister Selene following them half an hour later, was not able to get through at Chendor but she made a detour through Paka, Santong, Trengganu Tengah, Ceneh, Jabor and hit the East Coast Highway. So on our return journey, they followed her route but got lost and landed in Air Jernih. They continued towards Kemasik. Air Jernih-Kemasik was not passable the day before. So they were very thankful God had opened the way for them. We were told there was no tap water or electricity in all Kemaman. But when they reached home, they had electricity and there was much clean rainwater for their use.

All along the journey they were unable to contact any church members in Kemaman as the communication towers had no electricity to function. They got tap water the next day much earlier than most people and were able to help others to wash their clothes. Before the flood, a Mr. Ang used to send them fish regularly. After the flood, he sent Dr. Wee so many fishes that his two freezers were full. Brother Tan Keng Guan also gave them lots of dressed chicken. God has provided all these food so that they could share them with friends. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Even the fruits on the papaya trees were ripe for them to share. Dr. Wee added, “When we think of the way God had led us and provided for us we cannot help but sing praises of Him like the hymn writer who penned – God Leads Us Along:

“Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.”

As I pondered the little inconvenience of not being able to get into the Upper Room for 45 minutes, I thank God for His protection throughout the journey. There was no rain except for a slight drizzle even though there was a forecast of heavy rain over that weekend. We had a blessed Combined Christmas Praise Service on 20 December. Rev. Lee Kim Shong spoke in Mandarin and I translated into English for the English-speaking brethren. Thank God for blessed time. Had blessed time of fellowship with Rev. Lee and Dr. Wee, sharing with them our work at Blessed Hope and receiving words of encouragement and advice. All praise to our great God!

(3) Dawn of a New Year

Our Lord Jesus told us that the days leading to His return to receive His church to glory at the rapture were likened to the days of Noah before the global flood in Matthew 24:37-39 – But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

These verses tell the certainty of His coming to receive His church to glory and how the world would be caught off-guard. The world continues their merry making at Christmas and in the New Year. But there is that fearful awaiting of judgment. Would the year 2014 be the year our Lord would return? May we be watchful and ready!

Yours lovingly
Pr Lek Aik Wee