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MARANATHA MESSENGER

Weekly Newsletter of Private Circulation Only

MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

17 September 2017

“Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28) Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore 509851

E-mail: maranatha.bpc@pacific.net.sg Sunday School: 9.45 am

Sunday English / Chinese Worship Service: 10.45 am Sunday Chinese Worship Service: 7 pm Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm

A Mission To The Glory Of God and Edifying Of The Saints

Acts 14:27, ‘And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.’

Introduction

This is a meaningful and most memorable mission trip from 5 to 11 September 2017 ordained of the Lord by the 7 of us (brothers Kelvin Chin, Francis Leong, Victor Lee, Deacons Ng Thiam Koon, Peter Ong, sister Han Kim Kheng and Pastor) from 3 churches including Life BP Church and Evangel BP Church. There are good reasons why we went on this 6 days mission trip. There is grave need to equip reformed pastors and preachers with sound doctrine for the wide harvest fields of Myanmar with about 60 million people and to encourage our sister churches. After some rest and morning devotion by Dn Ng Thiam Koon, we spent the next full day teaching, The History and Doctrinal Implications of the Protestant Reformation at the Biblical Reformed Seminary (BRS) as invited by Rev David Khobal, the principal. There were about 100 who attended the

classes including Chin State

pastors and leaders and members of the Yangon BP Church and the Evangelical Presbyterian Churches. By the higher hand of God, Dn Peter Ong arrived safely on the second day after a harrowing experience at the airport with some visa problems. The

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next day, we had the teaching of the Word by Dn Peter Ong on Reformed Evangelism at BRS with a Q & A session. Sound reformed books donated by someone were given to BRS library. Rev Salai has requested for permission to translate and print more gospel tracts from our Maranatha Resource Ministry (MRM) tract, The Greatest Rescue of All Times into Myanmese.

The next day, the mission team also conducted a VBS with about 20 children of Immanuel Evangelical Presbyterian Church with the teaching of the ukulele class by brother Kelvin Chin (with interpretation by sister Emily) while the Word was taught by brother Victor Lee (interpreted by sister Esther) and the spirited singing by brother Kelvin Chin. There were also interesting and challenging games by Dn Ng Thiam Koon and creative craft on the Armour of God by sister Han Kin Kheng. We could see that the children learnt much from the lessons taught and enjoyed the games as well. On Friday night, we visited the home of Elder Hrang’s eldest son where about 45 people attended. Brother Francis Leong shared the Word and the gospel to about 8 non-Christians who were gathered in the house. On Saturday morning, MBPC sponsored the 50 orphans to the Garden Park to see some animals and a good lunch and titbits. It was a real treat for them.

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We had a short meeting with Rev Paul and Rev Salai and his committee members. There was a request for assistance to build a proper metal gate for the orphanage for security reasons as presently, it is broken. By the grace of God, the mission team managed to raise about a $1300 and we prayed that it will be done in good time and to build a wall between the neighbour’s home and the sewerage system later. To help themselves to earn some income to support themselves, they also rear ducklings and 5 piglets to be sold in 4 months time (for about $200 each) to provide for some of the needs of the orphanage. We have suggested to them to plant some fruit trees like papaya or bananas and to have a vegetable field for common vegetables to supplement the food needs. They are grateful to the Lord for providing for their every need. 50 goodie bags (sponsored by a sister from Maranatha BP Church) were given to these orphans by Dn Ng Thiam Koon which was appreciated by them. A sister from MBPC gave some Christian children books to help the orphanage start a library on their own.

After a quick breakfast, the Lord’s Day was spent ministering the Word to 2 churches namely Yangon BP Church pastored by Rev Kim Khawl (they are supported by Presbyterian Missionary Union (PMU) and partially by Covenant BP Church, Perth) with about 100 attending chaired by Preacher Jeremy Lal Pek Liana and 30 goodies bags were given to the children there by the mission team. After lunch with Rev and Mrs Kim Khawl, we headed on to join them at the Immanuel Evangelical Presbyterian Church and Bethsaida combined services. Pastor and Rev Salai interviewed and briefed 6 pairs of parents who offered their children for infant baptism and Rev Lan Zal assisted in the baptism. Brothers Victor Lee and Kelvin Chin gave their testimonies of salvation at the two services

respectively and the mission team sang the hymn O Zion Haste and the Word was preached from Isaiah 9 on Life Changing Encounter with Jehovah with Rev Salai chairing and interpreting it. Our prayer is that the Word will challenge their hearts to deeper

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consecration and faithful stewardship in the Lord. Thank God for preserving the team members with good health, strength and safety in our commuting. Conclusion

The final night ended with an appreciation dinner hosted by the leaders of the Evangelical Presbyterian Churches for all of us. We praise and thank God that Maranatha BP Church and our mission team partners can play vital roles in ministering to the reformed churches in Myanmar. There is still much to be done and we pray that more will be burdened to come and reach out to these growing churches in neighbouring countries and equip and nurture them to evangelise and minister effectively. By the grace of God, the

BP churches can do more to pray, help and support reformed churches in the region. We need to do our part while there is time in the last perilous days. Let us invest in eternity and spend and be spent for the Lord before the Lord comes again. Soli Deo Gloria! Jack Sin ++++++++++

Myanmar Mission Trip 5 – 11 September 2017

Pastor Jack led our 7-member Missions team to Myanmar : Dn Ng Thiam Koon, Dn Peter Ong, sister Han Kin Kheng, brothers Francis Leong, Kelvin Chin and me. Thank God for safety and sustaining us over the period. This was my first time in Myanmar. We visited the Bible Reformed Seminary (BRS), Immanuel Evangelical Presbyterian Church Orphanage (IEPC Orphanage), IEPC (on rented premise) and Yangon Bible Presbyterian Church. I am much encouraged by all in the team; in particular, the fervency and zeal of Pastor Jack’s teachings and sermons; by Dn Peter Ong’s sheer determination, in the midst of many obstacles, by the grace of God, still managed to deliver the workshop; the quiet demeanor of Dn Ng Thiam Koon’s service to the Lord. But I would like to highlight a peculiarity of the locals in the area of communication, from

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my observation during this trip. I was drawn to the hill tribe, Chin people on their language. We are inclined to have the understanding that if a local belongs to one region, within that same region, they will speak the same language just with different accent and dialects. So, when sharing the Gospel in their common language, we are able to have a wider audience. However, I was wrong in my simple assumption. Amongst the Chin people, different tribes speak their own language which differ one group from another. Besides the different spoken languages, the Chin tribe also have their different written language although they are basing on the same Burmese alphabets. Of all the peoples of Myanmar, Chin has the highest percentage of registered Christians nationwide, yet they are small in terms of population number across the nation. So, the Chins have different Bible. I encountered a couple of youthful Chins who are ever ready to serve the Lord as missionaries because their fathers encourage them to dedicate their lives to serving God. I am encouraged by this news. I want to bring about this awareness that there are many people who need us to reach out to them with the gospel message of salvation, and there are people needing our support in order that they can help themselves to reach out to their own people. Some background on the Chin: there are about 53 types of Chins in Myanmar. They are generally known or called by the city / town / state they came from. For example, the Falam Chin are from the Northwestern town of Falam. The Hakha and Thantlang Chin are from the capital of Chin State, Hakha. So is the Mizo Chin from neighbouring India. A total of 10 different Chin locales. The task ahead of any evangelical Christian is humongous. People in Singapore will not be as effective in bringing Gospel to all the 53 types of Chin. But we can be effective to bring one or two different ethnic Chins by giving our support. They need our encouragement and support to bring the Gospel to their own people that in time to come, they can be effective in bringing Gospel to more Chin tribes. My travel to Myanmar helped me to understand the Great Commission a little better : Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”. The English translation for the Greek text “panta ta ethne” which is translated as “teach all nations” are oftentimes mistakenly treated to be referring to the different geographical nations. But ethne is meant to be ethnic group or people in plurality. Therefore, the Greek text, “panta ta ethne” is suggested to mean, having gone (on a mission), therefore, disciple all the ethnic group/people. Jesus’ commandment to His people is to reach out to as many if not all the ethnic group and people of different language first before we go far away frontiers to other countries. God’s people need to be willing to reach out to as many ethnic group and people as possible and allow the Lord to give the increase. May all glory be to God. Victor Lee +++++++++

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Thanksgivings We are so blessed by the wonderful preaching by Rev Jack, group song by Mission team from Singapore and testimony by brother Victor Lee. May God bless you for His glory and Kingdom. Preacher Jeremy Lal Pek Liana Yangon BP Church ++++++++

Reflections on the Myanmar Mission Trip

I want to thank God for the opportunity to observe how Maranatha BP Church runs its mission programme while pursuing missions opportunities for Life BP Church on the sideline.

First of all, I was much encouraged by the fact that there is a thriving reformed community through the Biblical Reformed Seminary and Church under the leadership of Rev David Khobal as well as the group of churches under the Emmanuel Evangelical Presbyterian Church umbrella under the leadership of Rev Salai in the land of Myanmar. It is indeed the hand of the Almighty God who has preserved for Himself a faithful remnant in the midst of a nation that is shrouded in darkness of unbelief.

Secondly, I am touched by the love shown to the children of Immanuel Children Development Centre. Bringing the children to the park for a day’s of outing is indeed a concrete way of showing love to those who have been deprived of parental love and I am sure they have thoroughly enjoyed themselves that day as seen by the smiles on their faces. May these children find true love in Jesus and may they grow up to love our Lord.

Finally, I have been blessed by the opportunities to work together with new friends with singleness of mind and purpose as well as opportunities to make new friends from the larger Christian family in the local churches. At the end of the day, it is God’s mercies and grace that have enabled us to accomplish the mission objectives. To God be the glory!

Francis Leong Life BP Church ++++++++

Theme for the Quarter :

Developing A Biblical World View

English Worship Service

Rev Dr Jack Sin speaks on

Growing In Grace And Knowledge Of God Scripture Text : 2 Peter 3:15-18; Responsive Reading : Colossians 1:9-29

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