Back from "Charis Mission" (2007)

"Mission exists because worship doesn't exist" This was the quote by one of the famous missionary john piper. Mission exist when worship in that place does not exist and the gospel is needed to be brought across to these people who needs to have a fair share in the joy of the gospel.

In my team for the local Charis missions, I do have the benefit and chance to co-lead for this team who strive to bless the little pillars of hope for Singapore, the children's ministry. For this trip, I have learned to focus on 3 things that are essential and only be found during mission.

Firstly, many practical applications can be made both in the team and also to the children back in the student care center. Learning and studying on fishing all along doesn't make you a great fisherman right? Applying these skills points brings about many lessons that is attach along with it... like while you are trying to lead a team of people into helping them to make decision, you are not just training yourself on the field of assisting, but also on learning to make decision yourself too!

Secondly, many a times I've overlooked that children are all along a different "set" of people. You see, you will need a great deal of knowledge to pass on certain life value to a kid more than a youth for an example. But it is a different set of teaching all along, but being with kids, one need to learn to control himself and to really understand the coming point of your message and also how you deliver it. It is not easy as little ripple of mistake to us may form a wave in the child's perception.

Lastly, I face a lot of struggles and difficulties from the trip. One of the valuable application steps is to really seek God. Being in a situation where you find yourself away from your usual spot, you will find that seeking God is different while you are in your "comfort zone", and that itself helps me grow a lot in relying on Him more and more and to really appreciate the "moldings" that comes along my way.

I am really thankful that I was being place in a well blend of talents that take cares from food to daily activities. People who could take the front-line to backstage people, these people paint a wonderful picture. How can scenery be nice when there are flowers and large trees? The greeneries of course! These peoples not only compliment the main lead but also provide a chain of learning opportunities as we transits from role to role.

Ultimately, I will also like to thank God for many big areas like seeing everything through smoothly, allow us to think of creative and fresh ideas. Not just that, but also the slightest things like being able to have food daily, safety of my fellow mission mate and myself for the whole trip and also providing a shelter for us.

By Simon (RP graduate)

Being a disciple & discipler

My life has personally been impacted and changed by my SM and that's why I was personally challenged to want to be a SM too! I am humbled to have a chance to help the girls grow to be women who run after the heart of Jesus. Being a SM is rather challenging at times, but its through constant surrendering and prayer that I am able to depend on my heavenly Father for strength to press on. And when I see the seeds in the hearts of the girls begin to grow as the time pass, all I can say is that the joy is overwhelming within my heart = )

So ESMs (Emerging Spiritual Mulitpliers) out there! If God has challenged your heart to be a SM right now, take a step of faith and allow God to mould you into someone more like Him! Be amazed at how much He can use you to impact lives out there! =)

By Chin Wan Teng (RP Year 3)

EA Mission (2007) sharing

This EA trip is indeed a very rewarding one! Let me share all the thanksgivings =))

1)I had to ask my dad for 10 over times to go for this trip! And during the process of asking my dad, God's assurance and His encouragements to me through different ways never fail to amaze me. He reminded me that He has a reason for delays to happen in life and that He is in control of my situation. And my dad finally allowed me to go during commissioning night! It was a touching moment as I experience God's faithfulness in my life and I rejoice together with many!

2)God's protection is upon our team during the trip! There was once when the 3 girls (including me), went to climb a mountain with our contacts and we got lost. Sky was turning dark and there was absolutely no one on the mountain. Just when I was praying for help, God sent an uncle on his bike who guided us safely out of the mountain!
When we were flying to East Asia, our plane experience terrible turbulence on our way to Beijing. Unknown to us but there was actually a snow storm going on in Beijing. Thank God that He brought us safely there despite the terrible weather.

I can never thank God enough for all the things that He had showed and blessed me with through this trip. But I'm indeed humbled and in awe of His love for the lost. In deed the harvest is ready and plentiful but the laborers are few. Thank You Jesus!

By Wan Teng

Metamorphosis!.!

'Meta' camp is a camp which really transformed my life from inside out. During this camp, we listened to messages and attended workshops. They do not merely equip me with knowledge but also skills that effectively drew me closer to God. Lots of personal testimonies shared during the messages really ministered to my heart. It really helped me to understand the meaning of not conforming to 'worldly' world. We need not do things to satisfy what people want to see but what instead what is pleasing to God. Life is no longer all about me but God.

On the third day, we had street witnessing. I was amazed by how God worked through me. He used my mouth to share the gospel confidently. It was really a fulfilling experience for me, praise the Lord!

Every night I slept at about 3am and woke up at 7 but never did I feel lethargic because I believe God's strength sustained me.

I also gained some lessons that the I'd never learn in school. For example, to love everyone by faith especially people whom somehow do not seem pleasant in our sight; and to fully rely on God every minute, every second of my life.

By Qiu Yun (RP Year 1)

Project X

"Expect the Unexpected. That was what 'Project X' – the street evangelism part of Metamorphosis Camp - meant for me. As a first timer who was not trained yet, it was a very scary experience. I was very worried and many thoughts came to mind. Throughout the whole journey from PGP (NUS) to Bedok, I was sharing the 4 SL (Spiritual Laws) with my teammates hoping to equip myself as much as possible before the start of the "battle".

Just before the whole "battle" started, I felt a need to pray and to surrender my fears to Him. After a prayer walk with my partner, we approached many people and managed to share the gospel too. My partner and I would pray for the people we saw before approaching them and kept praying where ever we went.

God showed us miracles and it was totally awesome. We approached 2 girls whom were waiting for their buses. We had actually only a few minutes to share the gospel with them before their bus came. Halfway through our sharing, I saw the bus approaching and whispered a short prayer praying that God would 'blind' their eyes not allowing them to see the bus. My prayer was answered and I was so happy!

We continued sharing until I saw another bus turning in. I whispered the same prayer to Him and to know that my prayer was answered again. This time I was really excited.

We managed to share to the 4th law (receiving Christ) when they saw their bus coming and soon ran away. Though we were disappointed that they did not receive Christ into their life, we thanked God for answering our prayers and sowing seeds in their hearts.

I have never prayed so much in my entire life before and it was Project X that kicked start the prayer-filled life in me now.

Project X has taught me the importance and how powerful prayer can be."

By ~estella~

Selangor Mission (2007) sharing

Hi all! I'm glad to be able to share what I have learnt when I went on mission to Multimedia University@Selangor and hopefully, it will be able to help you in one way or the other!

For me, although having been to Thailand and East Asia, this mission trip to Selangor is definitely unique in its own ways! For instance, can one ever imagine 16 people cramping into one apartment along with the constant visits from the mosquitoes? That is definitely one unforgettable experience!

But what was the most important thing that I have learnt during the trip was that during my quiet time, God showed me a passage in 1 Kings 18:16-38. In this passage, Elijah was shown doing great works for God. However, the prophet that God was using so strongly on one day, choose to run away into hiding because of a woman's threat on the second day! Yet, as I read on, I realized that God does not scold Elijah for not leading a triumphant life but instead, God gives Elijah food and rest even though Elijah keeps complaining!

I have learnt that we as Christians live on a spiritual battlefield and sometimes we do get wounded (Psalm 56:8)! But Matthew 28:20 says, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." What a promise God has promised us!

Just like Job, when Job was faced with circumstances beyond his control, he draws strength from the knowledge that he has been faithful in the things that he can do something about because that was all he could have ever done.

Therefore, I believe that no matter what and I mean literally no matter what, God will never leave us nor forsake us and that is better then anything else that we deserve.

"When we arrive at the end of our strength, it is not defeat, but the beginning of tapping into God's boundless resources. It is when we are weak that we are strong in God!"

'Prayer' - a lesson learnt

Project: Australia, Melbourne Campus Mission (2-21 March2008)

Name: Cheryl Tan, Year 01

Even before I went for the trip, looking at the place I’m going it looks and sounds easy. But it wasn’t so, it seems to be a first-world country that I’m going to do mission but after experiencing it, it was actually in a first-world country doing a third-word mission. So, I think one of the things that I learnt is that the importance of Prayer. This is because for myself after a few days I felt very drained out physically, emotionally and spiritually. So after reading the bible, I was reminded that I shouldn’t be leaning on my own strength but leaning on the strength on God. What I realise is that to rely on the strength of God is only through prayer, seeking the help from God. So without fail I will pray every morning and night to ask God for strength and wisdom, and also a fresh touch from heaven every single time when I seek him so that I could be a good testimony for Him for the lost souls out in the mission field.
It was also during this entire trip that my quiet time and prayer life really improved. It was no longer only quantity time spent with God but good and better quality with God.