Trinitarian Magazine Issue 3/2011 by Trinity Christian Centre

Issue 03/2011

www.trinity.net

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“Get Up and Walk!” Envision

Project Divine Focus

Facing up to peer pressure

Live the Issue 03/2011

With position, posture and purpose

Celebrate Vision Month this September with your family, friends and carecell with powerful preaching, exciting games, irresistible freebies and mementos.

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Issue 3/2011

Real Life Miracle We Are Trinitarians Why Trinity is our home church

Project Divine 10 Reliving God’s faithfulness Live the Fulfilled Life 14 Position, posture and purpose yourself Be Ready! 34 Grappling with sharing Christ

“Get Up and Walk!” 24 From prayer shirker to warrior Trinitarian Hero Faithful and availing 66

The Pressure Test 30 Are you influencer or influenced?

iHOPE Revival Rally 2011

Tee Off for Charity CCSS-DFS Charity Golf

Be a Lifelong Learner! TCA College Continuous Learning Programme

Meet the Faculty TCA College’s teaching staff

Call to Breakthrough The triennial Church Camp

All for One, One for All Second Young Adults’ Games Day

Change of Heart At the Campus Camp

The Dawn of DefinYtion! IGNYTE’s revamped discipled track

Rescued by God’s Unfailing Love Assemblies of God Chinese event

Touching Children, Changing Communities Our sponsored Cambodian children

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We’ve Got Mail! Star Letter

The Trinitarian has very practical life references and the testimonies are inspirational. My favourite article in the last issue is Defying the Odds, where Jason and Kit Yee, parents of a child with dyslexia, trusted God to turn the situation around. I also find the article Connecting with Your Children very relevant for Singaporean parents. Due to work stress and peer pressure, most of us unknowingly assert pressure on our kids. For instance, instead of asking them, “Did you enjoy school today?”, my first question when I see them would often be “Have you finished your homework”? The article hence helped me, as a parent to self-reflect, and determine if what I have been doing was right or wrong. It was a timely reminder to spend quality time with my children, in order to understand their emotional needs better. Jazreel Ngan, internal audit executive .......................................................... The latest issue is smaller in size — the right size. It’s handier, easier to carry around, and not too heavy. I can sit back and enjoy this issue anytime, anywhere. The design and layout continues to carry the same simplicity, clarity and boldness that you guys do so well. We are all blessed to have such opportunities to hear personal stories and sharing from Trinitarians. Samuel Ng, executive director I have always looked forward to receiving the newest issue of Trinitarian. Each time when I read the testimonies and teachings, I am reminded of God’s goodness and faithfulness. Trinity is very blessed to be able to publish such a magazine. I have been passing copies of it on to my colleagues and friends! Tang Peng Peng, assistant director I could best relate to the article Not Married but Holidaying Together and have learnt important truths from it. I also like the fact that the magazine is downloadable from the web! Sylvia Kho, private school student

Advisor Pastor Dominic Yeo Chief Editor Pastor Janice Chng Editors Kevin Kwang Tan Rou’en Editorial Carol Lim Team Chen Xiufang Chia Ban Seng Diana Lim Gabriel Chu Han Mei Zhen Ivan Koh Moo Yubin Quek Yan Ying Sabrina Ng Sharon Lim Contributing Pastor Dominic Yeo Writers Cal-Lin Neubronner Jonathan Ho Lynn Koh Tan Kia Hua Thom Schultz Will Yong Contributing Andrew Chong Photographers Augustin Chiam Carol Wee Cherie Ong David Tan Eileen Lee Eugene Ng Faith Koh Gadapa Ramesh Babu Heng Meng Hee John Chua Jonathan Ho Joshua Tay Linda Ong Sam Yeo Simon Lim Theodora Fang Editorial Carl Tan Support Joanna Tam Matthew Tan Sarah Lau Woo May Yin Yeoh Jo-Ann Advertising Sales & Admin Sarah Lau For ad sales enquiries, Tel: 6304 7718 Email: sarahlau@trinity.org.sg Mailing Address Singapore Post Centre Post Office PO Box 616 Singapore 914021 Website www.trinity.net Email admin@trinity.org.sg

Win! Email connect@trinity.org.sg to tell us what you think of the Trinitarian and how you were blessed by it. This issue’s star letter gets a $50 Swenson’s voucher.

________________________________ ISSUE 3/2011 The Trinitarian is published quarterly by Trinity Christian Centre Company registration number 197802911H MICA (P) 102/03/2011 Designed and printed in Singapore by

Congratulations to these winners of the Bible Dads and Mums quiz: Andrew Wong • Diana Chia • Pearl Tay

The Print Lodge Pte Ltd License number L019/08/2011 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission is prohibited. Opinions and views expressed do not necessarily constitute the official stand of the church.

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40 years generation,

marks a hope to our neighboring a season. countries — particularly

At the start of 2011, we crossed over into the next 40 years — the season of fulfillment for Trinity and Trinitarians alike. God placed in my heart a message I felt is very apt for us all, regardless of where we are in life today. You will be able to read about these important truths and discover the life that God has in store for you in Live the Fulfilled Life, p 14.

their children. Today, we sponsor 688 children in India,Thailand and Cambodia. And it is in Cambodia that one Mission Impact Team experienced God’s open heavens as He used them to touch the less-privileged kids of Andong (read more in Touching Children Changing Communities, p 40).

Also, September is Vision As we experience the life Month, a month where we of fulfillment, we need to celebrate being Trinitarians. remember that there are So in this issue, find out people who have not heard why people call Trinity their the Good News. The Great home church (p 8). In the Commission is a standing same vein, read of how the order till our Lord returns, divine hand of God is upon and we need to catch a the entire Trinity@Paya glimpse of His passionate Lebar project (p 10). heartbeat for people (read Enjoy the read and be more in Be Ready, p 34). blessed! Beyond the shores of Singapore, we’re bringing

I was invited by a Trinitarian last October. I love the vibrant atmosphere and on many different occasions, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve met many Trinitarians who have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome here. Lye Hui Xian, lawyer

A friend invited me to carecell early this year. The carecell is very caring, and the vibrant services and prayer times are uplifting. Frankie Tan, senior manager

My parents brought me to Trinity early this year. I love the sound teaching and values imparted by my leaders and pastors. Benedict Ng, student My niece invited me to Trinity in 2010. There is depth in the preaching series. Trinity is well organized, systematic, focused and caring. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got great leadership and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a vibrant church! Cecilia Lim, retiree

I passed the church and decided to visit in May 2009. I love the worship services, the care and connect shown by the Carecell members, the preaching series and pastoral care in this church. Doris Lee, retired teacher

Every September, Trinity celebrates Vision month. Here’s how different ones have come through our doors and why they call Trinity their home church.

I was invited by a friend three years ago. The atmosphere, people and carecell have been very encouraging and I thoroughly enjoy the sermons every week. Victor Leong, account manager

I came early this year after an invitation from a Trinitarian. My son loves the Youth ministry and he is growing in God here. Eunice Lim, sales coordinator

I was invited by my colleague in August 2008. My kids enjoy coming to Trinity. It’s good seeing them grow in God and in their faith. Doreen Heng, childcare teacher

I listened to BE107 FM last year and so came to Trinity. I enjoy the sermons, worship and awesome Easter and Christmas events that we have. My carecell leader is also very encouraging. Suzie Mok, property consultant

Three years ago I came after I visited the website. I felt comfortable in the Carecell and we have a very good Children’s ministry. Vincent Wong, training development head A friend brought me to Trinity in 2007 and I have grown tremendously spiritually here since. Amanda Lee, management trainer

I was invited to Trinity by my neighbor in January. The services, people and place are simply awesome. Sylviane Sie, university student

As we near the completion of Trinity@ Paya Lebar’s payoff, we marvel, in retrospect at the hand of God upon His church. Like its other two centres, Trinity’s third facility serves to host His presence, His purposes and His people. By Diana Lim and Tan Rou’en I had it in my heart to build a house for the LORD…, and I made plans to build it, declared king David when he received a God-given vision. God gave Trinity the vision to do likewise. We have since come a long way from our nomadic past; today, Trinity is blessed to own three freehold properties in land-scarce Singapore. It is all because Trinitarians responded to the vision not merely through prayer. They had it in their hearts: embracing the vision, becoming active participants and sowing sacrificially into it. And the hand of God was evident throughout — in spite of world happenings, Trinity constantly experienced divine providence, favor and fulfillment. We followed not the world’s reports but set our eyes on God, believing that the Giver of the vision would see it come to past.

Asian financial crisis • Singapore’s economy dipped into a recession • People generally became more cautious about their spending, especially on big-ticket items and non-essentials. Economic crisis ensues • Singapore staggered out of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

1997

1999

Divine providence

• Decision to purchase the land a step of faith as financial markets were unstable. Divine bid • After much prayer, the Board came to a figure of S$19.1 million for the tender. It turned out to be a God-inspired bid — Trinity won the tender • The managing director of the property company appointed by Shell said, “Surely the God that you serve gave you this figure to win this bid.” It is just a whisker higher than the second-highest bid — we did not pay more than what is necessary to win it • We completed paying the building costs for Trinity@Lavender not long after and raised enough for the down-payment of the purchase of the land at Paya Lebar.

The vision for Trinity@Paya Lebar has. Senior Pastor Dominic Yeo says,“Since phase 1 of Trinity@Paya Lebar was completed in 2007 and the subsequent opening of the Sanctuary (phase 2) last year, we have seen more than 1,200 lives added to Trinity. It was as if God was waiting for Trinity@ Paya Lebar to be completed to fill His house with the harvest. Friends, there is a greater harvest in store and we must still faithfully give. We need to get the next store House — Trinity@Adam — ready.” 10 10

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World’s economies slow down • US economy went into recession. Asian markets slowed down • Singapore’s unemployment rate hit 4.7 percent, the highest in 15 years.

2001

SARS epidemic hit Singapore • Singapore’s unemployment level hit a record high of 5.5 percent.

2002

2003

Nicoll highway collapses • Construction industry practices changed; new regulations requiring to build deeper added costs to the building project.

2004

Divine favor • The change of zoning was approved. We were granted three separate plots — Institution (Civic and Community), Institution (Education) and Place of Worship. It was a miracle! • The development charges for rezoning were initially estimated to be S$4.5 million but because of God’s divine favor, the fee payable came to a complete zero.

Divine wisdom • God impressed upon the leadership to seize the opportunity to build another two levels of carparks in Phase 2 of Trinity@Paya Lebar • God sent people with the right expertise to design and execute these carpark plans, saving us millions of dollars • Board Member Danny Yeo recalled the night we opened Phase 2 for Christmas in 2009 — the carparks were packed to the brim! The risks and faith put in building additional carparks were worth it.

Divine provision • Our request for a higher plot ratio to maximize land was approved • We paid off the land loan for Trinity@Paya Lebar. Our bankers were very surprised because we had taken out a 10-year loan, but fully repaid it off in four years.

Divine contracts • We confirmed our main contractor to begin construction works at a very good price • Experienced difficulties getting a bank loan for the building as the amount was one of the largest lent to a church then. Only two banks were willing but we managed to secure the loan at a favorable rate.

Audacious fervor • The land at Paya Lebar was initially zoned under Sports and Recreation. Trinitarians prayed audaciously for its change of use to Church, Civic and Community and Education zones. 11

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Indonesian sand ban • The price of sand surged three to four folds. The construction industry was affected. World financial crisis hits Singapore • Nearly 10,000 people in Singapore stood to lose over S$500 million following the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers • Consumer spending lowered.

NKF saga • Singaporeans’ confidence in giving towards non-profit organizations were shaken • Churches came under the review of the Code of Corporate Governance.

2005

2006

2007

Divine confidence • Trinitarians kept their trust in the church leadership and continued to sow into the vision • Trinity passed the Commissioner of Charities’ review with flying colors.

2008

Extravagant giving • Trinitarians continued to give to the completion of Trinity@Paya Lebar • Board member in charge of finances, Khong Yew Cheong shared: “Every month when I see the amount of faith promises, tithes and offerings, I simply stand in awe of God. Miraculously, the giving never stopped, regardless of the downturn. Trinitarians even gave beyond tithes and offerings to give to the vision.”

Vibrant atmosphere • Phase 1 of Trinity@Paya Lebar was completed • Trinity was granted the Temporary Occupation Permit for the Education Hub • Trinity@Paya Lebar hosted its first event, which more than 3,000 took part in.

Divine favor • Phase 2 of Trinity@Paya Lebar needed the most sand for concreting • Where many contractors were pushing for 100% compensation for the increase, we managed to negotiate with ours for a 50 percent defrayal, saving us millions. It was another miracle of financial savings.

Divine positioning • The government announced plans to develop Paya Lebar as a commercial hub of the east • The Land Transport Authority announced its plans for the Circle line;Trinity@Paya Lebar is located right between the then-upcoming MacPherson and Tai Seng stations. 1

Divine increase • Our attendance surpassed the 5,000 mark • Phase 2 remained underway. 2

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Bullish market • Singapore government drew from its reserves to reduce the scale of recession and prevent a further loss of jobs.

2009

2010

Divine fruition • Trinity@Paya Lebar was officially dedicated to the Lord on 18 June • The event marked the fulfillment of a declaration of faith: back in 2005 when Pastor Dominic first became Senior Pastor, he “told God that [he] was not going to raise funds for Paya Lebar the rest of [his] life, believing that Trinity would be paid off in five years.” Determined faithfulness • Trinitarians continued to unceasingly give • Yew Cheong shared, “What amazes me is not just the few Trinitarians who give in hundreds of thousands, but the many Trinitarians who give of their ‘widow’s mite’, believing in the legacy they will leave for generations to come.” Divine increase • Phase 2 of Trinity@Paya Lebar opened for the very first time to Trinitarians for Christmas services • More than 6,000 people worshipped God in awe at the newly-opened 3,000-seat Sanctuary. 3

2011

Divine fulfillment

• We near the completion of Trinity@Paya Lebar’s payoff • Pastor Dominic shares in acknowledgment: “Years back, we took four years to pay off a 10-year loan for the purchase of land. This time round, we took a 15-year loan from the bank, but repay it all in four years. This would not be possible if not for the faith, sacrifice and audacious fervor of every Trinitarian. Thank you Trinitarians for giving to build a lasting legacy.” Divine timing • Banks are now very willing to partner with us in the redevelopment of Trinity@Adam • Board member Danny Yeo, who has been in the committee for all three church buildings says, “Every building project is a journey of faith. I know it has been God’s perfect timing in waiting till now to begin works on the redevelopment of Trinity@ Adam. We are believing for a higher plot ratio and change in the land zoning in order for Trinity@Adam to cater to growth.” New beginnings • Says Yew Cheong, “Continue to give and sow faithfully. I believe we are only at the beginning of Building Projects.We need to continue to trust in the leadership as they lead us in the direction that God is leading us. God has greater things in store for Trinity Christian Centre.” 1 Watchnight 2006 2 Phase 2 3 The Sanctuary

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Senior Pastor Dominic Yeo continues on from his Watchnight sermon to share three vital elements necessary in fulfilling God’s destiny in our lives.

any of us — whether we are in our 30s, 40s or even 50s — find it difficult to be content in what we do. No matter how established we’ve become, the achievements we have clocked up, there’s still that element of lingering doubt. We wonder whether there is more to life, more to work or even more to us. We wonder what we are doing with our lives. If you are feeling this sense of restlessness, wondering if there is more to life, understand that God is doing something in you. He is preparing you, fashioning and stirring within. God is doing what it takes for us to understand the importance of three vital elements to anchor our lives on, in order to experience a life of fulfillment.

Let us begin with the lessons we can take away from 1 Chronicles 12:32: Men of Issachar who understood the times and knew what Israel should do — 200 chiefs with all their relatives under their command. The significance of these men of Issachar cannot be understated. According to the Bible, the tribe of Issachar had joined up with David’s army even though it was among the tiniest of contingents. Their 200 chiefs paled in comparison to the thousands others had! Yet, the tribe was described in so much detail their importance to David’s army and his fulfillment. In order to live a fulfilled life, we need to, like the men of Issachar, know our Position, Posture and Purpose. 15

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Position

all by exposing the secret sins different ones of us kept — in a man’s voice. Out of fear, no one dared to step forward, but our team leader did.

The word ‘men’ in the Hebrew context means “warriors”. These were not boys; they were men, seasoned warriors even, and their maturity was emphasized in the Bible.

As she rebuked the demonic spirit in the lady in the name of Jesus, the lady responded by listing our leader’s sins. But she cut the woman short. She said, “I shut your mouth because all of these [sins] are washed under the blood of Jesus.” In the midst of confusion, she took authority.

“Men of Issachar...”

Similarly, all of us need to mature spiritually and grow in God’s grace to walk in our God-given authority. This is a necessary process as it would allow us to understand our position of authority in Christ — a position that is granted to everyone the moment we invite Jesus into our lives. Let me explain this notion of authority using an incident I had witnessed. In 1982, during a prayer rally I attended in Singapore, a small-sized woman suddenly, and literally, flew out of her seat over and started slithering on the floor like a snake. When the prayer-counseling team, of which I was a member, tried to pray for her, the lady shocked us

Friends, our authority is founded in Christ Jesus. Jesus died on the cross, washed our sins away and today we stand holy, righteous and victorious. Inevitably, there will be times when we’ll struggle with sin. However, as the example above showed, our authority in Christ is not lost or diminished because of our sins. Besides the position of authority, we should also recognize our position of privilege to be called sons and daughters of God. In John 1: 12, it is stated, Yet to all who receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. It is noteworthy that the phrase men of Issachar when translated into Hebrew, actually reads sons of Issachar. They were not slaves, but sons! Because God has adopted us and brought us into His family, the privilege, luxury even, of tapping on Heaven’s resources is now available to us. When my daughter or son ask for something, my heart goes out to them. In the same way, when we call out to God our Father, He responds — not because we deserve it but because of our God-given privilege and His grace.

Who am I in Christ?

These are verses that reinforce our position and identity in Christ.

I will not be at the bottom for I am the head and not the tail. Deuteronomy 28:13

I am not abandoned for I am precious, honored and loved by God. Isaiah 43:4 I am not defeated for I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. Romans 8:37

I am not forgotten for I am the apple of His eye. Psalm 17:8

I am not condemned for I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the blood of Christ. Ephesians 1:7

I am not ugly for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I am not incapable for I can do all things through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:13

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Posture

“...who understood the times...” Knowing our position of authority and privilege is not enough for fulfillment, though. We need a posture of being able to understand the times. Understanding means to have an intimate knowledge of God and His insights. The men of Issachar understood this point well; they adopted a posture of receiving God’s revelation. The greater the time spent in intimacy with God, the more complete our revelations will be. Most Asian fathers are ‘silent types’ in their parenting, not the kind who would expressively demonstrate their love. However, if we would draw near to them, we realise that they will, slowly but surely, open their hearts to us. Similarly, in your Time Alone With God, learn to linger rather than rush so that He may open His heart to you.

The tribe of Issachar also had a posture of discernment. They “understood” the times with the insights received from God. We, too, need a posture of discernment to see beyond mere facts, and see the truth of God’s work in the world. To use an illustration, a salesperson may have a good product and know it well, but may not be discerning in knowing the needs of his or her customers. This is what I mean by ‘understanding the landscape of our world’ — to be discerning and acutely aware of the circumstances of our times and surroundings. My point can also be emphasized in the domain of family. Our kids live in different times as when we were children. Having an insight into the times keeps us relevant in speaking into their lives. In short, to be discerning is to understand the times and seasons we live in. This understanding will help us make sound decisions in our family, work and the other areas of our life.

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Purpose

“...knew what Israel should do.” Like the men of Issachar, we must know our purpose. The Bible tells us that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10) and to let your good works shine so that men may glorify the Father above (Matthew 5:16). We are called to give Him glory. We do not only need to know the purpose of our call, but we need to know the purpose of our function. Each of us has different functions in life. Many of us tend to allow our function to determine our identities. What do I mean? For example, I am a pastor, so pastoring is my function. However, being a pastor or pastoring does not define me. What defines me is that I am a King’s kid. And, through my function as a pastor, I fulfill the call to give Him glory.

What s’ your purpose? Discover your purpose in your different functions. In your local church • Know your function in your church, whether you are a carecell member, spiritual parent, carecell leader or a sectional leader. • Simply attending church without knowing your function, inadvertently causes a loss of significance and purpose. This is why people who go from church to church without really being involved, lack a sense of connectivity. • When you serve in your function, you render glory unto God, and attain spiritual vitality. When you serve as a traffic marshal, tell yourself, “Today, I am a TM — that’s my function — and as I do that, I will direct traffic so that every Trinitarian has a Godexperience as they drive in, so I can give Him glory.”

Without finding meaning in our function, we will face a sense of restlessness because we cannot find meaning and significance in what we do. Understanding who we are and the purpose of our call to glorify Him gives us fulfillment.

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In your workplace • Many just clock in hours, live for their next pay check, or climb the corporate ladder; there is no sense of purpose or fulfillment in their work. • Know that God has placed you in your profession. Understand your function and how this contributes to society. Work for the glory of God.

• If you are a teacher, endeavor to impact your students. If you are doing insurance, seek to improve the lives of your clients. If you are a business person, bring success to your company and contribute to the Kingdom.

In your home • Whether you are the head of the household or not, you are ministers at home. If you are young, you are still God’s minister at home, whether your parents are Christians or not. Be a good testimony, bringing love and speaking wisdom into situations at home. • Husbands and wives, you are ministers to each other. Make every effort to criticize less and encourage more; remind each other about God’s Word and faithfulness. • Parents, you are ministers to your children. Tell them who God is, what He has done in your lives and what you trust that He will do. Create an atmosphere of faith and unconditional love at home.

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Passion/zeal to serve

Purpose Contentment

Posture

Position

Life of Fulfillment

Blessedness

By constructing three interlocking circles, let us then examine how position, posture and purpose come together to guide us to a life of fulfillment. Position + Purpose - Posture = Passion, but that does not last Knowing our position in Christ and our purpose gives us the passion and zeal to work and serve. However, even with position and purpose, we will grow weary without posture, without the ability to receive revelation and discern truth. Without revelation, we cannot sustain the passion and zeal to do His work as there will not be meaning in the things we do. Position + Posture - Purpose = Blessedness, but not being a blessing When we have both position and posture, then we are confident of our position in God’s Kingdom and we can hear God’s voice when He speaks to us. Though revelation is such a blessing, those who do not understand their purpose cannot learn to be blessings themselves. Without purpose, therefore, there is no fulfillment, for fulfillment comes through receiving blessings and being a blessing unto others.

Posture + Purpose - Position = Contentment, but without a true sense of worth When we know our purpose and possess a posture of revelation, we would know that everything we do in life is to glorify God and can delight in His revelations. Initially, this makes us content. However, without recognizing our position in God’s grace, we will make the mistake of defining ourselves and our position in worldlier terms — our job, our abilities and our achievements.

Position + Posture + Purpose = A Fulfilled Life As you have seen, all three elements — position, posture, and purpose — are needed in order for us to lead the life God has set out. I urge you to live out this promised fulfilled life by understanding the three Ps and aligning your life in accordance to His plans. T Were you blessed by this article? Tell us about it! SMS ‘Trinity<space>your comments’ to 79777 or email connect@trinity.org.sg This sermon can be heard online at www.trinity.net/sermons.htm

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Life Skills seminars Smart solutions for balancing busy lives

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Life Skills seminars Smart solutions for balancing busy lives

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02/09/2011 6:21 PM

Life Skills seminars Smart solutions for balancing busy lives

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> REAL LIFE MIRACLE

Get Up and Walk! In a season of God-orchestrated events culminating in a prayer that caused a man to walk again, 39-year-old Janet Lee is transformed from one who strolls to now sprints in the spirit. By Tan Rou’en

t used to be all about the money, work, and family in that order, for finance executive Janet Lee.

Saddled with financial commitments, which include having to send her father-in-law for frequent kidney dialysis and meeting the needs of her three young children, she tried to bring in the money by putting in “very, very long hours in the office”. Needless to say, attending carecell meetings was not her main priority. In fact, a ‘regular’ attendance to her meant being there twice a month but there were also periods of time when she would be absent for months on end. Janet would also shy away from all ministry responsibilities, particularly those that involved praying. So adverse was she to prayer that once, when her Spiritual Parent, Bee Leng,

invited her to Trinity’s prayer meeting, her immediate response was, “Not free. Bye bye.” In carecell, Janet also built up a reputation for “siam-ing” (Singlish for ‘avoiding’) prayer. “When it was my turn to pray, I would keep silent. I was well-known for siam-ing prayers. I didn’t want to pray so much that I siamed to the children’s carecell,” she recounted. It was an avoidance that was tiring at best, and crippling at worst: avoiding praying reinforced her inability to pray. Those days are finally behind her, though, thanks to a series of what can only be described as God-orchestrated events and experiences that have unshackled Janet to become a passionate follower of Christ.

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2 1 Receiving an MIT claim 2 With the finance team

Fresh Start Previously working at an infocommunications firm, Janet had to give up her position and took eight months off work to tend to her family. When the time came for her to look for her next job, a former colleague whom she had lost touch with called her up out of the blue and asked if she would like to work in Trinity Christian Centre. It was an option she had never contemplated. That wasn’t her only option though, as another company was offering her a position that promised higher prospects, better benefits and even an accounting course that would be sponsored for if she took it up. It seemed an irresistible offer to her at the time.

However, during an interview with the prospective company, Janet was tongue-tied and after struggling through an awkward five minutes, turned down the job and left, red-faced. Following this, she decided to go for the interview with Trinity, but not without much trepidation. To her surprise, she got to Paya Lebar without a hitch in spite of her bad sense of direction and had a smooth-sailing interview. A few days later, the church called to offer her the job and she accepted. “Even though I stay in Jurong West, the travel distance doesn’t bother me. To this day, I still don’t know where this conviction to work in church came from,” shared Janet.

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A Dream Revisited Having settled into her new workplace, Janet discovered that part of her job involved sorting through the accounts of returning Mission Impact Teams (MITs). While processing these claims, the various treasurers from each team would share with her how God worked through them to bless the communities and the way the MIT members’ lives were transformed. The amazing thing was that all the testimonies she heard were from first-timers and how they all tried to avoid going to India initially. Why? It’s because one day in 2006, Janet had asked God where to go for missions “out of curiosity”. That same month, she had a dream: that she was in a country with a hot climate and the local people had dark skin. When she woke, she knew the place was India but refused to recognize the authenticity of God’s calling.

“I rejected it immediately then as I knew I could not stand the scorching weather, harsh environment and spicy food. Not India, Lord!” Janet exclaimed. That wasn’t all. On the weekend after her dream, the sermon again mentioned India, but she continued to ignore the prompting within. “I dared not pray about MIT anymore,” she said. But the reminders from the various testimonies she heard stirred something within her. In the end, Janet made a commitment to “go wherever God wants me to go”. Four months later, the administrative staff in the church office received an email from HR on the MIT they were allocated to. This was part of the church’s staff development initiative. Some were assigned trips to Cambodia and Indonesia, others to Philippines and Taiwan. Janet? India, of course. She knew then, without a doubt, that it was a divine assignment and promptly signed up for the trip.

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God at Work 3

Ahead, Roadblocks Her resolve to go would not go untested though. One week before MIT training, both her TV sets broke down and she knew to replace them meant eating into her income, which she was very protective over. “In the past, my first instinct would be to withdraw from the trip but, this time, my mind was made up,” she said. The challenges didn’t abate. Janet’s husband, Dickson was having a hard time then seeking approval for his project, failing which would mean a huge blow to the family’s income. When he asked if she would still go even if their finances took a hit, she gave a determined “yes”. Beyond finances, the health of Janet and her family were also tested. Before one MIT training, she came down with a high fever so bad she couldn’t get out of bed. The next morning, her eldest daughter Pei Xuan suddenly complained of a quickened heartbeat and had difficulty breathing; she was later hospitalized. Janet texted the MIT leader and mobilized her carecell to pray. Despite the challenges, Janet made the India trip where more miracles awaited.

During the first couple of days in India, Janet avoided any and every opportunity to pray. On the third day, at Camp 2 — the dirtiest of three medical camps where the team dispensed advice and medicine — the villagers turned out in full force seeking medical attention and prayer. It was then that Janet met a 20-year-old man whose legs were very thin and could not walk. With nowhere to run, she had no choice but to pray for him. Janet recounted: “As I prayed, I felt something shift inside me. I felt authority come into me. I started praying louder and louder.” By then, a crowd had gathered around them, intrigued by what was happening. When she finished praying, she told the young man, “Get up and walk!” It took her and her teammates by surprise. “The usual me would have said something like ‘can you stand up please?’” she explained. Obeying, the young man tried to get to his feet with help from his father, but Janet quickly chastised both of them saying, “Do not touch!” Her tone of authority transcended any language barrier. To their amazement, the man managed to stand up and walked towards her “like a baby taking his first steps”. Janet then pointed to an entrance 10 meters away and said, “Walk there.” Eyeing the crowd, she added, “Make sure nobody helps him.”

How can God use me? I can’t even pray.

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“It was really beyond me. ‘Normal’ Janet would have said ‘Are you okay? You can or not?’” Yet, all I said to the man was, “If you believe in Him and pray, you will definitely walk.” Tears of joy flowed down the man’s face the whole time. Janet cried then. “I felt so different. I thought, “Why did God use me? I can’t even pray’.” That changed, though. Immediately after, Janet said her fears and feelings of inadequacy about praying disappeared. “God is the power behind our prayers and I need not fear [that He will not listen to them],” she said. “My mindsets about prayer have changed completely. It’s a major breakthrough...now, I love praying for people!”

Heart of Obedience Janet’s priorities have also shifted. “Previously, finances took precedence. Now, God is first.” Bee Leng can attest to this change in her attitude: “Janet is on fire for God and committed to carecell. She knocks off punctually from work every Friday so that she can make it on time. When there is no one to look after her children, she will bring them all to carecell. Nothing will stop her now.”

For those who are going through similar struggles she went through, she opined, “When God calls you, obey. Breakthrough happens through obedience.” By way of parting, Janet added: “I’m very thankful God did not say, ‘This girl, really buay tahan (colloquial for being incorrigible), I want to give up on her.’ I’m so glad He sees the potential in me and gave me this tremendous breakthrough.” T

5 3 & 5 The MIT to India 4 Janet with her carecell

Attain spiritual vitality! What better way to reinvigorate your spiritual life than to serve. Here’s three ways to consider. 1. In carecell: feel the pulse of this church as you play an active role 2. In ministry expressions: be a Celebration Host, Traffic Marshall, Pastoral Support Volunteer, or avail yourself to the Children’s Ministry or Creative Ministry 3. In MIT: sign up and witness for yourself the miracles of God!

Proverbs 11:25 says, He who refreshed others will himself be refreshed. Nothing flexes your spiritual muscles more when you serve!

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> YOUTHS

Your friends want you to join them for some “serious shopping”.You know that Gina goes gaga over designer clothes and spends big bucks.You like to wear nice clothes, but your budget requires modest purchases.You: (a) “Borrow” your mother’s credit card. (b) Feel angry at your father for not raking in the big bucks like Gina’s father does. (c) Have a great time at the shopping centre, realizing Gina likes you for who you are.

It’s easy to feel left out when the crowd goes one way while you go another. Take this quiz to see how peer influence affects or doesn’t affect you.

You go to a friend’s house. At the spur of the moment, someone decides to surf the internet for pornography sites. You have been taught not to read or watch pornographic materials. Someone teases you by saying, “I bet you’re just scared your parents will find out”.You: (a) Go with the flow and try to forget about the images you’ve seen. (b) Tell your friend to grow up. (c) Tell your friend you wouldn’t blame your parents for finding out. “How can I expect them to treat me like an adult if I’m not brave enough to face the music?”

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It’s your second date and already your date is pressuring you to have sex.Your date treats you like a weirdo because you’re a virgin. The pressure’s on. You: (a) Wait till marriage.You believe that God won’t fail or forsake you. (b) See how far you can get your engine revved up. (c) Ignore the emotional, physical and spiritual consequences because being accepted is more important right now.

A group of your friends light up a cigarette and ask you to smoke it. They know you’re a Christian and the jokes start. “This sure beats IGNYTE! What’s the matter, John? Afraid Jesus will zap you for having fun?” You: (a) Lapse into a panic. (b) Tell them you’re a Christian and so you want to honor God with your life. (c) Mumble something about not wanting to destroy your lungs.

How did you handle these pressure pulls? You won’t find some clear-cut ways to stand up to the pressure. But some responses are better than others. The best way to handle these situations are: 1(c); 2(b); 3(b) and 4(a). 31

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> YOUTHS

How do you react when you’re faced with tough decisions that put you between your friends and a hard place? Have you ever found yourself in any of these situations? Thom Schultz discusses how you can take a stand.

Hard Place #1

Your parents are out of town for the weekend, which means you have the house to yourself. That’s good! But your parents said you can’t have any friends over while they’re gone. That’s bad!

Hard Place #2

Lately your friends have been wearing some outfits that you wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing. They think you’re strange because you won’t try something new. In fact, you notice they’ve stopped hanging out with you. What will you do?

Two of your friends really want to party on Saturday night and with your house ‘available’, they beg you to invite the others over to party.You don’t think it’s a wise idea, knowing it would involve drinking and possibly hanky panky amongst your friends and their partners. Some of them are getting mad at you. If looks could kill, you’d be dead. What will you do?

Welcome to the unavoidable world of peer pressure! Make no mistake, peer pressure is pure pressure. It causes you to behave according to group standards. It’s the pressure of having your friends push you to do things they want you to do.

Making Right Choices

How can you make wise choices in handling negative peer pressure? The wrong way is to give in to the group, compromising your own beliefs and identity. Here are a few suggestions that may help you find the right way:

Examine yourself Think through your values and make a list of the things you will not do under any circumstances (things such as “I will not go drinking with my friends” or “I will not use drugs”). Keep this list of personal promises handy in your room and read it often. It may be helpful for you to memorize it.

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Pray Ask God for strength to keep your promises. Pray for guidance in every situation and for help to do what’s right. Maybe part of your prayer can be like David’s in Psalm 139:23-24. Be selective in choosing friends It’s great to try to be a friend to everyone, but spend your time with people who have good values.You can’t write on your list, “I won’t smoke”, then constantly hang out with your school’s biggest users.Your promise to yourself will soon crumble. Be prepared Often your ‘pressure points’ will come suddenly. When you feel pressured to do something you don’t believe in, suggest other things the group can do. That’s another list you need to make. Write down all the good things you enjoy doing with your friends and by yourself. If the crowd votes down your alternative plans, be ready to do something on your own.

The Flip Side

Before you tune this out as ‘just other peer pressure lecture’ think of it this way — peer pressure can be something to say yes to. For example, if you say no to drugs, you’re actually saying yes to yourself, your health and your Christian values. If you say no to gossip, you’re saying yes to showing Christian love and being a good friend. So, yes, peer pressure does have a positive flip side. Here are other ways saying no means saying yes. Yes to the challenge to do good. “Anytime peer pressure motivates people to constructive actions and sensitivity to each other, it’s good,” says Dr. Charles Lewis, director of counseling at Wheaton College in Illinois. Peer pressure can help you get your studies done. For example, the night before a test, you and your friends can get together to revise and advise each other.

Yes to taking a stand. When you believe in something or make a decision, stick with it. Of the 12 spies Moses sent to Canaan, only two, Joshua and Caleb, believed the Israelites could conquer the Canaanites.Their report didn’t make them celebrities. In fact, the Israelites threatened to stone the two of them to death. But Joshua and Caleb believed God would go with them and not forsake them (Numbers 13-14). And God came through. Yes to yourself. As you develop your own set of moral values, you’ll become more confident. You’ll become an independent and responsible decision-maker, ready to handle the pressures you face. When you feel pressured to do something you know is wrong, remember that God promises to give you victory if you follow His lead.

You are not alone

Peer pressure is nothing new. Even Jesus’ peers (religious leaders) pressured him to do things their way. Jesus had a choice: He could give in to the pressure to do and be what others demanded, or he could do what was right. Jesus, of course, chose to stand for what was right. And it cost Him His life. Likewise, if you stand by your values, you may lose a few friends. But the benefits of handling peer pressure outnumber the friends you may lose. By not crumbling to the crowd’s whims and wishes, you’ll find the real you and establish a true identity. You’ll do thing that will make you feel better about yourself.You’ll also lose some false friends and find friends who will accept you for who you really are. And that’s the kind of acceptance everyone wants.

Adapted and used with permission for local church use only from Making Friends-Keeping Friends, Copyright © 1989 Thom Schultz, published by Group Publishing, Inc. 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538, www.group.com 33

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efore we turn to the Word, I want to start the count on the Mortality Counter on my iPhone and at the end of this message we will look at the tally. The counter registers the number of people who pass on into eternity, either to heaven or to hell. It is estimated that every 1 second, 1.8 persons die.

In a fitting tribute to the times, Senior Pastor Dominic Yeo shares four fundamentals which we need to be prompt in acting upon.

I want you to know that I’m doing this because these numbers represent souls, souls which correspond to the Kingdom of God. The scripture for my message is from John chapter 4. We all know the story well. While journeying across Samaria, Jesus stops at the Jacob’s well for a drink and His disciples go off in search of food. A Samaritan woman is at the well, drawing water, and Jesus tells her that He is the Messiah. He speaks to her of God and of worshipping Him. As the woman goes off to tell the townspeople of the Messiah, the returning disciples urge Jesus to eat some food. He replies, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” He tells them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.” In speaking to the Samaritan woman, in spreading God’s Word, Jesus satiates his true appetite, not for food but for fulfilling the will of God. Being Asian, we have a great appetite for good food. Being Christian, let us also have a ready appetite to spread God’s word. Everywhere today, there are signs of the Lord’s Coming, just as the Bible tells us in Matthew 24:6 Wars and rumours of war … famines and earthquakes in various places.

None of us knows when the Second Coming will be, but what matters is that we are ready — in our focus in life as well as in our appetite for the Kingdom of God. So, believers, be ready. Recognize the four important, basic things that you need to always be ready to act upon:

Be ready to pursue the will of God.

John 4:34 My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work. We are all so busy pursuing our different agendas that sometimes we forget that God has an agenda. Jesus says, “Come, follow Me”, and as His disciples, let us follow in His footsteps, in His appetite to pursue God’s will. In pursuing God’s will, Jesus did three important things that you can strive to do as well: Jesus preached the Kingdom of God, and so can you. The world is your pulpit. Let your environment — the cab you drive, your desk at work, your travels, your contacts — be your greatest pulpit; let it be the arena from which you share about Jesus and the work that He has done in your life. Jesus ministered to people around him who were in need, and you can do the same. Every day, you can find a need and meet the need. Seek out those who are going through hardship, who are feeling pain. Minister to those who are in need and — like Jesus — be the love of God wrapped in skin to them.You can change someone’s life forever by pursuing the will of God.

Be ready to preserve the harvest.

John 4:35 Do you not say ‘Four months more, and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. It is important to preserve the harvest, not just wait for it. When a tree starts to bear fruit, the fruit must be tended. Otherwise, as the fruit grows and then ripens, it will fall prey to birds. By this time, the untended harvest has become a broken harvest. The harvest never comes into its full potential. There is no more harvest. We must therefore cultivate the harvest. We need to protect it, in very much the same way farmers use scarecrows to protect their crops. Act now. Understand that there are people in your life — people that God has placed in your life — that you need to be responsible for. Protect them spiritually by ‘cultivating’ them and praying over them.

Be ready to perceive the needs of the harvest.

Jesus says, “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” By urging His disciples to look, our Lord Jesus also promises revelation. To protect the harvest, we must be ready to look at it with the vision of God and perceive it with the revelation of God. I have a story to share about this. I love animals, and awhile ago, I bought myself a chinchilla. Because having a chinchilla means having to buy all sorts of chinchilla supplies, I began to go to the same pet store often. After some time, the shopkeeper and his girlfriend came to know that I am a pastor. On each visit to the store, before I left, I would ask if I could pray for him and I did. This became a tradition between us, even though

he is not Christian — in fact, he was an atheist. Still, I would visit the store several times a month and pray for him and his business. I made it a point to drop by to say hello whenever I was in the neighborhood, and I would pray for him. One day, I decided to return to the pet store with Pastor Kelvin so that, together, we could share the Gospel with the shopkeeper. However, when we arrived, we found out that he was now of another faith! I asked him what had prompted the change. He revealed that, in a moment of need, some people had come into his store and passed him a tract. He read it and began to engage with them. Every day, they came and ministered to him. Today, he is of their faith. I had failed to perceive his needs — I had always prayed for him, but I had never asked if he wanted to know Jesus. I had always assumed that he was not ready. I lost an opportunity. At this moment, 2,992 persons would have just passed into eternity, according to the Mortality Counter. The figure would have hit 3,000 even as you finish reading this line. You enjoy the presence of God and His blessings, but do you sometimes fail to recognize the needs of your loved ones? In failing this, you miss an opportunity to share the Gospel and the harvest is broken. Be ready to perceive the needs of the harvest, so that you will never miss an opportunity — in fact, you will seize opportunity — and you will help to keep the harvest from being broken.

Be ready to partner with others in the harvest.

John 4:36 Even now, the reaper draws his rewards, even now, he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper will be glad together. As believers, we are never alone, having experienced the Source of Heaven, eternal life, and God’s blessings. As Jesus’ disciples, we cannot keep all these to ourselves. Evangelism is a basic tenet of Christianity. Share the Gospel with people you care about, and remember that you are not alone in your efforts — help and be helped by other Christians as you spread God’s word. Someone once said to me, “Evangelism is like one beggar telling another where the free food is.” No one should ever go hungry — think of evangelism as a way to satisfy the hunger of others in their moments of need, while satisfying your own appetite for God’s work. Be mindful that you can do something for the people in your life, and ask God for the opportunity to share with them your experience of His love and His blessing. T Were you blessed by this article? Tell us about it! SMS ‘Trinity<space>your comments’ to 79777 or email connect@trinity.org.sg This sermon can be heard online at www.trinity.net/ sermons.htm

Revival Redemption Resurrection

For two spirit-filled nights, Rev. Joe Jackson, former professional NFL player, shared the message of hope in an eternal God, redemption by a relentless Saviour, and revival by a resurrected Christ. By Will Yong

everend Joe Jackson cuts an imposing figure on stage. A former American football pro turned evangelist from the Phoenix First Assembly of God, the authority in his booming voice is unmistakable.Yet, it was clear that his message was not centred on the forcefulness of his speech but on the strength of an omnipotent God. Speaking for two nights during the Revival Rally on August 25 and 26, the

Sanctuary was packed with Trinitarians, members of the Assemblies of God churches and their invited friends and family. On the first night, Rev. Jackson shared the story of the resurrection of Lazarus: God has the power to resurrect not only people, but also dreams and hopes that have died â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in fact, the trials and disappointments are opportunities for God to show His glory.

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The following night, Rev. Jackson urged the congregation not to fall into the trap of bitterness and in doing so, give up too easily. “Don’t let your past bleed into your present and pollute your future!” cautioned Rev. Jackson. Sharing about his days in professional football, a single victory, “one win, one time,” can eradicate a history of defeat and failure. Rev. Jackson exhorted the congregation to press on and not abort God’s

The Ready Harvest

plan for their lives by dealing with bitterness at its source and surrendering it to God. Responding to his message of hope and revival, many people were touched as they came forward to the altar to seek prayer for overcoming disappointment, bitterness and for salvation. Of the 200 first-time-visitors, 76 received Christ into their hearts. Praise God for a powerful rally!

Invited by their friends, they came, they experienced God, and they invited Him into their hearts.

The Facebook connection I grew up a Christian and my father was a cell group leader, but when I was in high school, I ended up walking away from Jesus for the next 17 years. I knew my friend Bernard through Facebook and he always encouraged me with God’s Word but I would reject him when he invited me to church. However, because of certain events in my life, and because of my parents and friends who have been speaking to me, I finally asked to come to church on Sunday. When I came, I saw the iHope flyer and told Bernard, “I’m coming!” Janice _____________________________ The message was for me I understood what the speaker said, and the message spoke right to my heart. I feel that what he said is true and I believe that Jesus can change lives. Nick _____________________________

Just waiting to be invited When my friend asked me to come to iHope, I was just waiting to be asked because I immediately said yes. God spoke to me as there were many stories that the preacher shared that touched my heart. I was not feeling good inside, but felt much better after coming. Mindy ___________________________________ Mother and daughter saved! My daughter Shannon was invited by her swim mate Gabrielle and Gabrielle’s mother Susie, so I came along. Janice

(Janice, visibly touched by the presence of God and the warmth of her inviters, was tearing throughout).

___________________________________ My God, my Healer My friends Pin and Eunice asked me to come to this event and I saw that God is a God who helps people. I was having a lot of problems with my studies, emotions and relationships but God has been healing my heart. When I meet trouble in the future, I will lean on Jesus instead of relying on myself. Jia Ning ___________________________________ 1 Nick (right), with inviter Christopher 2 Janice (leftmost, in white) and daughter Shannon (in uniform), with inviters Susie and her children

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Touching

Children Changing

Communities

et the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these (Mark 10:14). Many of our children or the children we know have the privilege of knowing Jesus, reading His Word, and even attending children’s church. They have all that they need for them to develop into Godly young men and women that we envision them to be. The basic belief of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is that every child has a right to develop to his or her own full potential. However, for most of us, and our children, it is a given, and we could pay little attention to it. The UNICEF also reported that out of the 2.2 billion children in the world, close to half are in poverty, and have a childhood starkly different from the ideal we aspire towards.

When you touch a child, your reach extends beyond him to open heavens and change the community around him. Sabrina Ng finds out how your giving has impacted Trinity’s sponsored children and their community in Cambodia.

Trinity, in partnership with trusted churches and organizations, currently sponsors 688 children in Cambodia, India and Thailand. This includes a new sponsorship this year of 522 children from two slum schools and one children’s home. Sponsorship covers school fees, educational materials, food, as well as hygiene and medical needs. In a recent Mission Impact Team (MIT) to a school in Cambodia, from 28 June to 2 July 2011, the team had the opportunity to meet and bless our sponsored children. The team also saw a multiplication of their efforts. As they extended God’s love to the children, their families were drawn in and doors began to open for the team to reach others in the community. The team rejoiced as they witnessed salvations and healings first hand. Read on for the team’s report and snapshots of their experience.

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es, listening ed like sardin ck a p , ts u h e gospel in small m shared th of a te m a e te th s a a d y le on was ntly expectantl t ortant questi ronner rece p en b m w u -i e ll m N a a e te in h e L Th sus?” Calwith them. T slum school. t to follow Je n g a e n o it w p D u n es o d y A , o e n “D 10 to th the childre e room, then asked, a blessing to all around th for y d sl ce u n eo ie n er ta p n all out to be nd ex touched and and spo Holy Spirit experience a e f h o T ! ck p la u t r . ei th ying with cles hands wen God of mira that after pra e ch th su es s lv rt se ea r them convicted h iles upon thei sm e id w , ig b w ified smiles them, we sa f these test o and friendly e n gs o n ti le ee ly g n gr si Cheery peace mbodia in Ju faces. Every om, joy and r team to Ca d u e o d e re fr ed so lt m n o fe co p el y w rinity-s that the right-eyed T fter prayer. oms as they ro ss 2011. The b a cl r mediately a ei im th m o fr d re to do ers to usher children pee God wanted r their teach t a fo y y th b rl ll ed a ge t ct o ea u sn waited shops cond Our team But that wa ve-day MIT. g hygiene work n fi e so rt th o e to sh th e h em it th th ons and an w through of 45 salvati e lessons beg l h ta T ll . to a ; m a a es y te to jo r ou ngs take s and reaped in culous heali e ulders, knee a o th ir f sh o m d e 7 n 1 lu a f a o d v “hea as the lady who saw a total s”. With this of very eyes! A re r u ca o e re k o ta ef belong to Jesu b to t ll healing place f received fu children learn w of footwear, a e d y ll ia rt lessons, the en told ho was pa the why and ch that she ev in su r es rs ei a lv e th se r g e in em h and th sh in both as overjoyed ands and bru h w s r o ie h ei it w th iv r g ct o a in st , a wash e games her local p e. Villagers gh interactiv er his volum s felt w er lo b to em g, teeth. Throu m in m a n received laugh drills, the te ergy blurred visio en d h ce n ig h ie e er th p and hygiene t breathing ou who ex lagers with they carried il s V a t. in ed h h ig ce tc n es ie re st per reaths perfect ey ith their inex k in deep b f o w o to d d n a ly en e e s, e n th fr o chests. less , by problems ions in their ren. However ct d il rs ri u ch st te n a to co g m a n y healed of relati without an same group ments were is il a th e y, ch a th a d l m in o o y o st the sch , especiall e the Lord! Those with professionals alked. Prais w e m la e were close to and th ildren. eyes of the ch giving rkshops and o w e en gi y h the elp kick-start Other than ries bag to h et il lso to a n re jective was a the child ur team’s ob o s, it b a h their new n’s to the childre to reach out community. families and me gs, simple ho in en ev e th In y and bless visits to pra s ’s household the children i-evangelistic became min bors gathered rallies. Neigh

Thank-you cards from our sponsored children

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3 1

Tabitha Ko, student: “The team shared love and brought new hope into the lives of the people. I believe that there was a great outpouring of God’s love in the village.” Steven Say, IT director: “Never before had I witnessed salvation after salvation everyday, and literally from household to household.” Toh Hong Giep, IT manager: “The children learnt the values of orderliness and to serve others, where the older children served the younger ones during mealtimes. In addition, the school was able to provide free meals that met the families’ basic needs of feeding their children. It was amazing how God was using the school to tangibly demonstrate his love and provision.”

6 5 7 42

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Thank you Trinity Christian

Centre...

ressed his The village’s local pastor exp ntre for the Ce ian thanks to Trinity Christ n in the dre chil 246 se the sponsorship of y grateful ver was also He ge. villa Cambodian limited one n bee that our partnership has not ians tar ini Tr ere wh but to financial blessing, t with the were physically presen nister to mi d an ch tea to children nity in a mu them and the slum com s has made Thi y. wa ive culturally-sensit m. the to a big difference

The ripple effect of blessing the nations starts with each gift we bring before Our Father, and ever y prayer that we pray. Pray for the children:

12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Welcome to my family! You taught me to pray... And we prayed together... You taught me to serve... So I can serve too... We did coloring together... We decorated our pails... Thank you Trinty! Thank you for the food Thank you for the fun! See my pretty pail! Goodbye and see you again!

Calling – Know God intimately and to fulfill their God-given destiny Character – Live lives that demons trate the fruit of the Spirit Competencies – Grow to full maturity – physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually Caregivers – Godly people to bring them up in the ways of the Lord Companions – Friends to spur them to lead Godly lives We will tell the next generation abou t the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His migh ty wonders... So each generation should set its hope anew on God... Psalm 78:4-8 (Prayer pointers are found in Face s of

The State of the World’s Children 2005,

Gratitude)

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNIC

EF)

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Missions at a Glance

An overview of the span of Trinity’s Missions from January to June 2011. By Gabriel Chu and Woo May Yin.

4 91 5 4 183 29

Evangelistic and Humanitarian Trips Countries (Cambodia, India, Indonesia and Taiwan) Trinitarians

23 8

Evangelistic MITs Humanitarian MITs Decisions Miraculous healings

Teaching students about personal hygiene and going on an excursion with 100 children. Sounds like a school holiday program or camp? This was what some Trinitarians did for children in Cambodia and India. In the months of April to June, Trinitarians were able to tangibly share God’s love through evangelistic and humanitarian Mission Impact Teams (MITs), as well as our missions giving. The MITs continue to bless the nations through both evangelistic and humanitarian efforts. Three evangelistic and three humanitarian MITs were able to minister the passionate heartbeat of God in MITs to Taiwan, India, Cambodia and Indonesia. In Cambodia, an MIT visited a slum school sponsored by Trinity to teach the students about proper personal hygiene and cleanliness. Another

688 16 2

Training and Consultation Trips Trips Countries (China, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, Taiwan, USA) Give Sponsored children in Cambodia, India and Thailand. Ministries given love offerings Crisis relief efforts

MIT blessed a group of about 100 destitute children in India by bringing them to a water theme park. In Padang, Indonesia, an MIT blessed other children and their families by building three wooden houses, bringing the total number of houses built there to six this year. These houses will not only provide shelter to needy families, but also the environment to grow their family bonds and build a home. Trinity was able to come alongside with trusted partners to assist with crisis relief and rebuilding efforts in Japan as well as the recent tornado in the United States. We are also able to give towards the needs of destitute children in Philippines and sponsor another 50 children from a children’s home in Kurnool, India. In the arena of training and consultation, Trinity was given the privilege to work with various churches from Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Taiwan and the Philippines which have committed to the TCC cell church model.

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Tee Off for Charity

Charity Golf – VIP Flight 1 From L to R: Rev. Dominic Yeo, President of CCSS, Mr Y C Boon, Group Country Chairman Jardine Matheson (Singapore) Ltd, Lee Bee Wah, Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, Mr Alex Tay, Regional Director of Dairy Farm South Asia

On 7 July, 2011, over 140 golfers took to the fairways of Raffles Country Club in Jurong to help raise funds for Care Community Services Society (CCSS). Ivan Koh learns more about the efforts of CCSS and its supporters.

Charity Golf – VIP Flight 2 From L to R: Mr David Ho, Chairman of Citystate Travel, Rev. Naomi Dowdy, Founder of CCSS, Mr Victor Chia, CEO of Cold Storage Supermarkets

This was highlighted by Rev. Dominic Yeo, President of CCSS at the Care Community Services SocietyDairy Farm Singapore (CCSS-DFS) Charity Golf Tournament. Speaking at the tournament dinner, Rev. Yeo emphasized that CCSS’s success was dependent on the strategic partnerships between individuals and corporations, working in unison to impact the community. He shared an example of how CCSS helped a woman in prison regain hope through counseling and support. After her release, CCSS extended financial support to help fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse. The woman’s successful rehabilitation was the cumulative result of individual efforts over time — through staff and volunteers — combined with the resources provided by CCSS’s donors and corporate partners. 46

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Dairy Farm Singapore (DFS) is one such corporate partner and long-time supporter of CCSS. Since 2004, DFS has provided resources and championed events for CCSS, including the annual CCSS-DFS Charity Golf Tournament. This year’s Charity Golf Tournament saw a total of 145 participants, including notable guests Lee Bee Wah, Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, Rev. Naomi Dowdy, founder of CCSS and Mr Alex Tay, Regional Director of Dairy Farm South Asia.With good weather and enthusiastic participants, the event was a success, raising a total of over $200,000 for CCSS.

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n reality, even a seemingly small contribution to help others can have a far-reaching and lasting impact, when it is part of a larger effort and vision.

It’s my third time participating in this charity golf event and the important thing is that this is for a good cause. CCSS has organized this well.

Er Lee Bee Wah, MP, Nee Soon GRC

02/09/2011 6:29 PM

Be a

Lifelong Learner!

e all take care of our physical body, but God wants us to feed our spirit too. Here’s an incredible opportunity to do so!

The Continuous Learning Programme (CLP) offered by TCA College gives students the opportunity to learn and study in depth God’s Word in the college without the requirements of multi-year degrees or diplomas. Students can pick and choose modules to suit their learning needs. Through the CLP, • Gain a strong foundation in your knowledge of the Word • Grow in an in-depth understanding of Christian theology • Garner crucial skills that will equip for ministry • Grasp the ability to interpret the Bible, understand the nature of the church and apply biblical principles to practical life situations!

Who is the CLP for? This programme is for anyone interested to study at his/her own pace, and without needing to graduate with the paper qualification. The basic requirement is to be a born-again believer with a genuine desire for Christian service. 48

What are the different modules offered? TCA College allows students in the CLP to take most of the classes offered by the School of Divinity. As audit students, you will not need to meet the stringent entry criteria of the college’s formal programmes. How is the CLP different from TENet? We should all be taking TENet courses to grow in our skills, ministry and the Word. However, if you desire to go deeper and take more time to delve into the Word of God, then the CLP is for you. CLP classes are equivalent to the regular bachelor and masters-level classes taught in the college. A typical course can take up to 13 weeks to complete, or three full days for block courses. Visit www.tca.edu.sg for more information or to register! Alternatively, pick up a term brochure from the TCA College office reception or the Level 2 Information Counter .

“

Through the CLP programme, I was able to know about God on a deeper level. The more I knew Him, the more my faith grew, and that spurred me to take even more classes. I took mostly the block classes which spanned three days, and thoroughly enjoyed them. I definitely recommend the CLP as you will certainly benefit from knowing more about God!

“

TCA College’s Continuous Learning Programme (CLP) offers the opportunity to experience quality education without the rigours of course assignments or needing to meet stringent entry requirements. Gabriel Chu discusses frequentlyasked-questions.

Antoinette Wang, polytechnic administrator

Kuna. L-R Potter, Joy Tsai, Lily Lim. Nuan, Esther Wong, Sam Teo, Richard Goetz, Dylan Anita Chia, Leong Siang id, Dav l Pau h, Go Row 1: Joseph Tan, Wilson ny Dan , u Immanuel, Dennis Lum Row 2: Bernard Koh, Bab

Meet the

Faculty

Trinitarian introduces the teaching staff at TCA College and reveals a thing or two about them!

Wilson Teo, EdD, School of Divinity The President of TCA College and Deputy Senior Pastor of Trinity Christian Centre, his teaching interests are in Homiletics Leadership Development, Pastoral Ministries, and Discipleship and Mentoring. Did you know? He loves playing competitive badminton and jogging long distances weekly.

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Dennis Lum, PhD (studies), School of Divinity A pastor for over 10 years, his teaching interests are in Pentecostal and Charismatic studies and pastoral ministry. He also preaches regularly in Trinity. Did you know? He is a fervent supporter of Everton Football Club.

Joy Tsai, DTh, School of Divinity A former Dean of Students at the Assemblies of God Seminary, Taiwan, her professional interests include lecturing on both the New and Old Testament, Homiletics, Wisdom Literature and Hermeneutics. Did you know? She loves cooking, reading, writing articles, and watching movies.

Paul David, DMin (studies), School of Creative Arts

Sam Kuna, MA Counselling, School of Counselling

A former musician at Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, his professional interest include Band Dynamics, Biblical Worship, Pastoring the Artiste, and Worship Leading.

The former executive director of Teen Challenge (Singapore), his teaching interests include Addictions, Marriage and Family Models and Therapy, Youth, Professional Ethics, and Abnormal Psychology.

Did you know? He loves Manchester United and the culinary arts, and is keen to learn to play the saxophoneone one day.

Did you know? A doctor once told him he would die young…Yet, he ran his first marathon at 53, and still runs 20+ km each week now! 51

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Anita Chia, MDiv, MA Counselling, School of Counselling A former pastor, her teaching interests include ageing population and elderly issues, and faith and spirituality in the practice of psychology. Did you know? She is an animal lover and has a keen interest in handicraft.

Babu Immanuel, PhD, School of Divinity

Bernard Koh, DMin, School of Divinity

Formerly a professor of New Testament at South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore, he is currently working on a commentary on the Book of Acts.

A major in Chinese Culture studies and biblical studies, he has produced a journal on Chinese Culture and Christianity in Festivals.

Did you know? He loves soccer (he thinks Man U is the best club!) and reading books. He also adores playing and listening to different genres of jazz guitar.

Did you know? He has a thing for Hong Kong cuisine, “especially the roast duck and goose”.

Danny Goh, PhD, School of Counselling Formerly the Founding Dean of the School of Counselling in Singapore Bible College, his teaching interests are in Building Strong Families and the Integration of Psychology, Theology and Spirituality. Did you know? He enjoys badminton, and would love to beat Pastor Wilson at it but says “he’s too swift and cunning”!

Dylan Potter, PhD, School of Divinity His teaching interests include the interface between ancient and modern theological assumptions, and the expression of Christian leadership in the church and marketplace. Did you know? He enjoys cooking Italian food, but not the washing up “after I’ve used all the pots and pans in the house!”

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Esther Wong, M.Soc.Sci., School of Counselling A former executive director of St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifestreams, she was also founder and president of Society Against Family Violence. Did you know? She once had ten tanks of tropical fish in her house. Now, she mostly rears aquarium fish and collects seashells such as conches, cowries and clams.

Joseph Tan, Th.M, PhD (studies) In full-time ministry for over 15 years now, his teaching interests lie in the Old Testament exegesis of the narrative texts of the Bible, in particular to the historical books. Did you know? He is crazy about comedies, especially those from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Leong Siang Nuan, PhD, School of Divinity Her professional interests are in the Book of Revelation, the Gospel of Mark, the socialhistorical background to the Bible, survey of the Bible, and Koine Greek. Did you know? She enjoys all things investigating-related: lessonpreparation, social-historical backgrounds, personality profiles, and beating Pastor Steven in mastermind!

Lily Lim, DMiss (studies), School of Divinity Her professional interests are in studying interreligious interactions in a multi-religious and multiracial world, especially from an Asian perspective. Did you know? She likes observing and studying peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily interactions and behavior.

Richard Goetz, PhD, School of Divinity Former Adjunct Professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (USA) teaching Systematic Theology, Apologetics, Ethics, and Church History. Did you know? He loves solving all kinds of Sudoku puzzles, taking exploratory travels, trekking around Singapore, leading discussions and preaching. 53

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Call to Breakthrough They didn’t travel over 1,500 km just to have fun. Trinitarians traveled to Pattaya to listen to the heartbeat of God for this church and were challenged to defy their status quo and break out of their comfort zones. Chen Xiufang experiences the move of God. Our fourth triennial camp on June 6 to 9 welcomed a staggering crowd of over 1,500 to Pattaya, Thailand. We have broken the attendance record! Hearing that this was the final camp for the church as a whole, the congregation’s response was overwhelming. BELIEVE: Breaking Out, Breaking Through was this year’s theme. Pastor Dominic challenged campers to break out of our ‘Egypt’ to break into God’s presence, and to break through into the fulfillment of God’s destiny in our lives.

Check out our fully donned Bee-liever!

We were tremendously blessed by the powerful messages of Pastor Wayne Alcorn and Pastor Ong Sek Leang that left many lives touched, many wounds healed and many hearts inspired.

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1 A coach on-route camp! 2 Breaking barriers: Pastor Dominic opening the camp with a big bang

02/09/2011 6:30 PM

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It was my family’s first church camp. Such a memorable experience.We are thankful for the faithful and dedicated service of the camp committee. Richie Choo, businessman

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Pastor Ong testifying of God’s prom ises in his lif e

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In March, I was disappointed that my leave application was rejected. When the days drew closer, there was a turnaround. Thank God for answering my prayer and for the four days of feasting on His Word. I have been refreshed by the powerful messages! Grace Hee, executive secretary

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asizing Pastor Wayne emph unity of nce the importa among believers

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There was powerful impartation from the Word of God through the speakers. These messages resonate with me for this season. What I am thankful for are the soft touches that the camp committee made so the camp was smooth and pleasant for each of us. Truly walking the talk of a church that cares. Allen Loh, senior vice president

”

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I could feel the presence of God strongly and moving across the convention hall every time, touching peoples’ lives. His presence was so intense that tears couldn’t stop flowing and I just immersed myself and lingered in it. I found my peace and decided to take that leap of faith to go for water baptism. Yusna Lee, finance executive

”

“So amazed the way God spoke to us individually and encouraged to see Trinitarians hunger for God and their faithfulness. I’m blessed by the messages, especially “Seasons of Life” by Pastor Ong. My faith has definitely grown stronger. I also enjoyed the bonding time, getting to know each other better and meeting new friends. Faye Tian, designer

”

orting everyone Pastor Dominic exh through to arise for a break

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When I answered the altar call, for the first time in my life, I felt the strong presence of the Holy Spirit in me. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I felt a sense of peace and joy. The bonding of our carecell was also made stronger by our late-night sharing sessions. Jean Tan, product development and marketing officer

”

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The fellowship and great time of catching up with different ones are most valuable and enjoyable for my family. The warmth and joy of God’s family made an impact on my pre-believer mother-in-law. It is a great testimony of God’s love! Chua Peck Hoon, teacher

”

“

God had refreshed me and reminded me of the importance of being in the spiritual family. Through the message from Pastor Ong, God affirmed the season that I am currently in and this makes me brave to move forward as I know He is with me! Peis Liew, food technologist

”

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I got a job right after camp

_________________________________________ Pauline Chua, client service executive

In mid-April, my dad had to go through a heart bypass operation. I requested for unpaid leave from work to settle family matters but this was rejected. Left with no choice, I decided to leave the company as my dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health was more important to me than anything else. During camp, while worshipping, I felt reassured that I would be able to get the job I wanted upon return. Back in Singapore, I received a call from HR, and was given an offer way better than previous jobs, plus it was for a full-time position. It seemed as if everything happened for a reason: my fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operation, leaving my previous job, staying at home to help with the chores for the next one month and going for church camp. God is certainly good and His timing is perfect!

3 Engaging with the Word of God 4 DL children soaking in the presence of God 5 Beach attack during District Time 6 Experiencing local transport in Pattaya 7 Proud winners of the BELIEVE Race

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02/09/2011 6:31 PM

in me and I invited my mother straight away, and promptly booked her ticket.

My Mother Received Christ at Camp ______________________ Zhan Chun Lei Bob, PhD student

I have been a Christian for 10 years. Since then, I have been praying for my parents’ salvation. This year, this desire to see my parents get saved got stronger. God reminded me constantly to pray for my parents. In February, my mother came to Singapore to stay with me. In May, during one of the Leaders’ Community Empowerment meetings, Pastor Sabrina encouraged us to go for camp. I had already signed up and thought my mother would not be interested to go. Then, Pastor Sabrina shared that someone’s pre-believing mother-in-law attended church camp in 2008 and there accepted Christ. I struggled, telling myself perhaps my mother was not ready yet.

Through the ministry of the Word, the games, as well as the new-found friends she made, I noticed that my mother’s barriers were slowly coming down. I asked God for camp not to end without my mother accepting Jesus. After the service on the second night, Pastor Sabrina came up to me after a service and said that God had constantly reminded her about my mother, and that she would like to share Jesus with her the next morning. That night, I went back to my room and spent time praying for my mother. The next morning at service, my mother initially sat down during the worship but stood up later on. I think that song ministered to her even though she did not understand English. After service, we met Pastor Sabrina and she shared Jesus with her using the bridge illustration. Throughout, I was praying in my heart. When Pastor Sabrina asked my mother if she wanted to cross over to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior, my mum said “Yes!” At that moment, I was filled with thanksgiving to God and could not help bursting into tears. My mother and I are now both believing for my father’s salvation. I have faith that He will make it happen! All glory to God!

Three days before camp, I received an SMS from my sectional leader saying that someone could not go and would like to bless another person with his package. The Holy Spirit stirred

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02/09/2011 6:32 PM

Nearly 400 young adults gathered in Trinity@Paya Lebar on 17 May 2011 for a morning of fun and games aimed at fostering closer relationships and a spirit of cooperation. By Han Mei Zhen and Moo Yubin

All for One

o man (or woman) is an island. Each of us is part of a larger community and purpose, and must learn to serve others around us. This was the central message behind the various team-building activities organized by the Young Adults (YA) ministry. Some games required participants to act as fictional characters, such as mimicking the dance moves of the animated creatures from Madagascar and Chicken Little; as Pirates defending their ship; and even as water-bomb wielding ‘Angry Birds’ — based on the popular mobile game — coming against the playful pigs who stole their eggs.

There were also modified versions of familiar games, including “Captain’s Odd Ball”, where each group had to take care of their ‘handicapped’ players; “Teddy Bear Skipping Rope” which required members to coordinate their jumps; and “Human Battleships”, where teams threw foam balls over a wall to hit their unseen opponents. Participants also engaged in thought-provoking puzzles, such as moulding plasticine to pass a secret message to their team-mates, which resulted in much laughter as various ones struggled to make sense of each other’s

One for All 4

1 A “Captain’s Oddball” team and their ‘handicapped’ players 2 No peripheral vision? No problem! 3 Faith and skill in action — Who needs raincoats? 4 We do! 5 Moving to the beat of the Chicken Little ‘Numa Numa’ song!

creations. Throughout, the recurring theme was the need to work together to achieve a common goal.

to the activities and company, especially during the amusing plasticine ‘talking mould’ game!”

Our young adults and their invited guests took on each challenge with exuberance and determination. Although quite a few were drenched by water bombs by the end of the day, spirits remained high and many enjoyed themselves through the games, and the making of new friends.

The day was capped with a time of sharing and praying in small groups, as participants reflected on their experiences and the lessons they had learnt about team-work and caring for one another. The pastors and leaders encouraged the young adults to apply these values to their daily lives, to care and connect with others, and be blessing to their communities. T

Stephanie Lim, who invited her exschoolmate to the event, shared, “Initially my friend was hesitant to participate in the challenges, but she warmed up gradually 59

> CAMPUS

Change of Not satisfied with just physical improvements, participants of the Campus Camp invited God to look within for the ultimate transformation. By Tan Kia Hua

t was our first-ever camp since the inception of the Campus District in January this year. On 19-22 July, more than 70 full-time campers gathered together at Costa Sands Pasir Ris for Campus Camp. Taking place shortly before the commencement of the new academic year at local universities, it was a time that the Campus Ministry came together as a district to encounter God. The first day kicked off with a slew of orientation activities for the various groups. During the first night service, God’s presence was so evident as He convicted many in the congregation of the various ‘gods’ and idols we had allowed to take first place in our hearts, and brought us to a place of repentance. One of the highlights of camp was “The Composition”, an interactive activity which saw campers taking part in activities in stations scattered around Pasir Ris Park. The themes were exceedingly familiar to our campers, such as “School”, “Church” and even “Investment”, leading many to reflect on their priorities in life. On the final day, the floor was open for the campers to share their experiences during the camp. Many testified of how God spoke during the camp through the services, group discussions and activities, and of the change that had taken place in them. As the camp drew to a close, we left with a renewed vision and purpose to see not only ourselves, but our campuses transformed for the glory of God.

I didn’t want to go for Campus camp. It just wasn’t my thing. But at camp, God spoke to me not only through the preaching of His Word, but also through my fellow campers. A week has barely passed since the end of camp and I’m already looking forward to next year’s camp! Joel Koo, NTU Year 3, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering I came to camp with a heavy heart, weighed down by problems and doubted if God could really use me. At one night service, while worshipping God and declaring His goodness, I suddenly felt a change in my voice. I began to speak with authority. I felt the same authority that I had read in the Bible. I now know that God can use me despite my problems as He has given me the authority to overcome them. Grace Ang, SIM-UOL Year 2, Business Before camp, I felt I could not manage school commitments well and serve in church at the same time. During Camp, at the altars, God spoke to me and I felt the collective heartbeat of Campus Ministry — that we were so hungry for God and willing to serve Him. I realized that it is more than worth it to sacrifice for this ministry. My faith has increased to just serve and lean on God for strength. Michael Goh, NTU Year 2, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

At camp, God removed the idols of my heart and I felt a deep peace. At the altars, I experienced the care and love of my leaders who prayed fervently for me. God also healed my hardened heart and gave me a fresh zeal for life. I learnt to find deeper meaning in a God who cares deeply about the details of my life. I thank God for holding me, shaking me and giving me a ‘kick in the bum’! Yee Jiahao, SMU Year 3, School of Economics I’ve received a revelation that evangelism does not stop at bringing my friends and loved ones to church. I realize we are called to partner with Him and continuously sow into the lives of our oikos. I now yearn not only to share the Good News, but also to be a positive influence to my friends and loved ones. Delia Ng, SMU Year 4, School of Social Sciences This camp was a true wake up call for me to seek God’s purposes for me in campus. By the end of camp, I was no longer the same — God had transformed my attitude towards school. I now know that He has called me to shine for Him wherever He has placed me. Giselle Goh, NUS Year 1, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

> YOUTHS

The Dawn of

Two months following the launch of DefinYtion, Trinity’s discipleship track for youths aged 13 to 20, more than 600 of our youngsters have been digging deep into the Word of God. Of these, over 60 are first-time-visitors who’ve since come on board IGNYTE. Here’s a peek at the fun, friendships, and spiritual feasting taking place!

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1 What youths desire out of DefinYtion 2 Pen, paper and a ready heart 3 Penning down nuggets of wisdom 4 Starting it all off with a Gel 5 ‘What I gleaned today...’ 6 Tackling relevant issues 7 DefinYtion rocks! 8 We love DefinYtion too!

Rescued by God’s

Unfailing Love A crowd of over 1,500 people packed three service venues at Trinity@Paya Lebar to hear the life-transforming testimonies of MediaCorp artiste Chew Chor Meng and two former drug addicts from Breakthrough Missions. Chia Ban Seng recounts some of the highlights and his takeaways from the July 22 Assemblies of God event. esus does not need such cumbersome methods to heal!” exclaimed Chew Chor Meng amidst roaring laughter from the audience as he recounted how a ‘quack’ doctor had tried to heal his back injury by rolling a huge winter melon over his body . There were many other moments that night when Chor Meng brought the house down as he shared in characteristic humor about his life’s journey. As he spoke about how he had spent his early years pursuing worldly ambition and had repeatedly rejected Christ, I marveled at the extent of God’s love, grace and patience. God’s divine orchestration was evident from the many people who shared the Gospel with Chor Meng at critical moments in his life, which allowed him to eventually receive and experience God’s love. In 2008, when Chor Meng was given less than a year to live after being diagnosed with a rare muscular dystrophy illness, God displayed His faithfulness by sustaining Chor Meng’s health. 64

In addition to Chor Meng’s testimony, two ex-residents of Breakthrough Missions, a halfway house for drug addicts, also shared about how God redeemed and changed their lives. One recounted how his mother never gave up on him, despite his repeated imprisonments. Impacted by his mother’s love over the years, his life was transformed when he eventually followed her in receiving Christ. The other former drug addict testified of God’s unfailing redemptive love by declaring “Once I had no hope, but today I have a wife, a home and a car!” I was encouraged to see Psalm 103:4-5 fulfilled in this man’s life; that God had truly redeemed his life from the pit and satisfied his desires with good things.

Many in the audience were similarly impacted by the heartfelt testimonies and a total of 41 people chose to receive Jesus Christ that night. Trinitarian Rebecca Ng, who saw both her parents receive salvation, shared that she was initially hesitant to invite her parents to the event due to their poor receptivity to the Gospel in the past. As she took the step of faith, not only did her parents agree to attend, they were ‘coincidentally’ seated next to some Christian relatives they had not met in several years, which helped to put her parents at ease. I was amazed that God, who had divinely orchestrated circumstances in the lives of Chor Meng and the former-drug addicts to reveal His love for them, was able to do the same for Rebecca and her parents that night. We serve a God of unfailing love! T

> TRINITARIAN HERO

Garrett Tan, civil servant

As working parents with three young children, Garrett and Claire have their hands full. In spite of this, Garrett continues to serve faithfully as an associate leader in a carecell. This June, they decided to attend the Believe Church Camp despite Claire being pregnant, and having to manage their other children without a domestic helper — just to be with their carecell! Moo Yubin speaks to Garrett about his Passionate Honor for God. Nominate your Trinitarian Hero! Email connect@trinity.org.sg to tell us why you think this person best espouses the vision and values of Trinity.

What motivates you to serve?

Seeing lives changed for God’s purpose. Frankly, I did consider ‘taking a break’ at times. However, during Pastor Dominic’s sharing at the recent Leaders’ Community Empowerment meeting, I was convicted to carry on the race that God has called me to. Regardless of my role in the carecell, I can be a blessing to others, simply by being physically there.

Share about an adjustment you had to make in order to serve. Scheduling. For example, the reporting time for celebration hosts at the 5pm service on Saturday is 4.15pm, which is the time my children usually take their nap. I will take public transport earlier to church, while my wife will arrive later with the children in the car.

How would you encourage other young parents in Trinity?

I believe both parents need to establish a common understanding. My wife and I believe in giving priority to God, followed by our family and God’s work. We organize our schedules and responsibilities around these priorities.

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Christmas Cantata 2011

Nightof the Father’s Love n on it dowendar, k r a M cal your miss this don’t -day only two ntation! prese

ri, Dec 22-23 Thu-F @Paya Lebar ty Trini

What people say about 2010’s Christmas Cantata: “I’ve been in Trinity for over 20 years and this Christmas Cantata is very good!” – Rosy Goh, accountant

“We came as a family. The songs and the live ensemble were wonderful.” – Craig Chan, interior designer

“It was awesome. The atmosphere was fantastic.” – Abraham Moh, student

“It was my first time coming. The atmosphere was great and I loved the performance.” – first-time-visitor Li Wen Chan

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