Emmanuel - God is with Us

vol.9 issue 1

A Newsletter of

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

Matthew 1:23

2 Gambas Crescent #10-05, Nordcom II, Singapore 757044 [12 mins walk from Sembawang MRT] Tung Ling Productions Pte Ltd I This Nucleus Newsletter is copyrighted. No part may be copied or reproduced in any form without the written consent from Tung Ling Bible School. For internal circulation only.

WISHING ALL

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WHAT LASTS Give FOR ETERNITY

The ministry depends fully on the generosity of kingdom-minded believers and well-wishers.

• Your financial pledges or donation will enable the School to continue to bring in top-notched lecturers and support a competent team of dedicated faculty and staff to equip the body of Christ.

• A portion of the giving will also go towards helping to provide scholarships or subsidies to less fortunate but worthy students who cannot afford their tuition fees.

• Through your giving, it will enable the School to bless the churches locally through organised lectures, workshops and seminars. a leadership article that I read recently, Carey Nieuwhof, the author states that in life and in leadership, there are a series of ‘wins and losses.’ Most of us as leaders, recognise our ‘wins’ but stuff or bury our ‘losses,’ pretending they don’t matter. Especially when you lose an important member of your team. The team didn’t perform well. Or when a trusted person disappoints you. A long-time member leaves the church. We tell ourselves it doesn’t matter!

In reality, if the matter or person means a lot to us, the ‘loss’ hurts. We need to realise that if we don’t deal with the loss and come to terms with it, we will be carrying the scars or baggage of loss even though we may deny it.

In this issue, you will read more about God with us through the testimony of Caleb, and the lives of other TLBS alumni - Pastor Kryukov in Kazakhstan; the mission trip to Kalimantan; and the TLBS special ‘Internship programme’ in Korea. Emmanuel, God is with us.

• Monthly pledge to TLBS • Bank transfer or GIRO to our DBS account no.: 012-003312-5, Account Name: Tung Ling Bible School Ltd • Cheque donation payable to: Tung Ling Bible School Ltd • Log into PayNow app and enter our UEN number: 198403071C

Dean Philip and I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

OR • Scan the QR code:

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I am grateful thinking about the love of God coming down through the gift of little baby Jesus for humanity’s sake. I am thankful and thrilled to receive the gift of

We invite you to be part of the kingdom-ministry at Tung Ling Bible School through your financial giving.

Dean

As I reflect on my ‘loss’ in recent months, including the passing of our dear friend Joseph Chean, the healing balm for me is the word, “Emmanuel - God is with us,” which is the theme for this issue of the Nucleus. What an assuring word to wrap up a difficult year for myself.

A great reminder that God is with us, no matter what happens. With Christmas around the corner, the glitter and glamour of the season is about Emmanuel - God with us. It never fails to bring a sense of cheer and gives me a ‘win’ in my heart!

God’s only Son, Jesus Christ for salvation’s sake. I am healed and liberated from any sense of loss when I appropriate the mighty work of Christ’s forgiveness, His redeeming grace, and being restored into His likeness.

Indeed, God is with us in spite of our fallenness, failures, and faithlessness.

Here are some ways you can contribute to the ministry:

On

g & D e an J u

2 Gambas Crescent, #10-05 Nordcom II, Singapore 757044 • T: +65 6345 4353 • F: +65 6345 4639 • E: Admin@Tungling.org.sg

• By way of bequests to TLBS, please email to admin@tungling.org.sg or call the office at 6345 4353 to discuss.

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CHERYL CHONG WEI XI Graduate of SOM Term 2, 2019, SOL 2022 Bethesda Cathedral

The opportunity to seek Him wholeheartedly truly brought clarity of His call in my life.

BLESS THE LORD, O MY (Seoul) SOUL

I still remember it was in Israel in December 2022 that Dean Ju had asked if I was interested in an internship program with Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea, the largest church in the world The Global Elim Internship Program where they aim to raise global leaders. This internship would require me

to take 8 weeks (8 March - 23 April 2023) from work to attend. My answer was simply, if my Senior Pastor allowed it, I would go.

With that, I asked for his consideration and he simply said, “Go”. In my mind, I hadn’t thought that he would have agreed so quickly, given the commitment needed - even without checking if I had to take leave, or if I would have to take a sabbatical, etc. As I sought the Lord, I sensed that I just had to be there, and confirmed through one of my mentors, as we prayed.

Arriving in Korea, the pastor overseeing the internship shared that their desire is that we would encounter God in a measure that we would have the clarity of our callings and what God desired of us. The emphasis on prayer and hearing the voice of God was clear from the start - a culture that Yoido Full Gospel Church is widely known for.

The internship program was intentionally designed such that we were exposed to theological lectures, the ins and outs of the operation of the

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world’s largest church, and the opportunity to serve in the various departments of the church (ushering, audio-visual, broadcast, worship). Of course, not forgetting the weekly trips to the prayer mountain, where we spend the entire day in the secret place of fellowship with the Lord.

More than the program, the people that we encountered and met, the pastors that served with us, and the fellow interns whom we now call friends have each left an imprint upon my life as we shared the 8-weeks in fellowship with one another and in the presence of Christ. The prayers that were uttered, the words released, the exhortation, and most importantly, that we received from Christ as we seek Him have drawn me deeper into Him. There’s a quote that goes “When things don’t add up, subtract yourself”. Maybe it’s the distance away from home/office back in Singapore but being in Korea had

brought a sense of clarity to some of the situations that I could not make sense of back home.

That geographical separation has allowed me the space to see these situations from a new vantage point with a better understanding of my role and responses. It allowed me time to pause and process everything before the Lord, without rushing. So many times, the things we see physically can be distractions and the Lord has been reminding me that many problems, battles, conflicts, etc are the works of the flesh yet we are not to war against the flesh, but in the Spirit.

From a distance, the things “unseen” seems to glare out much more. It’s like our visual sight had become a distraction to the actual issues that we ought to be contending for the Lord’s way. The Lord has been recentering my focus back unto Him in the midst of the noises in my life. It brought a sense of clarity to the battles I was meant to fight.

One of the revelations that I have received and was reminded of while I was in Korea is that it is the anointing that breaks the yoke.

So many times, I try to fire-fight problems as they arise (or simply put, as I see and understand) but really, it was just a distraction from building up my faith and cultivating the anointing to carry and host the very presence and power of God in my life instead.

From the beginning of the program, I have been thoroughly blessed, simply enjoying and soaking in the sights and sounds of the new environment and all that it has to offer through my observations. The interactions with the many new people that we have crossed paths with, whether in the church or along our way, also brought much joy to my soul.

The spiritual disciplines and foundations that I saw in each of the pastors really served as a constant reminder and inspired me

to rebuild that level of discipline within me - one that sometimes gets lost in the midst of busyness.

When I watch the way the pastors prepared, served, and responded to one another in the various situations that I’ve come across also inspired and caused me to reflect on my own ways and habits as a leader back home. Some situations felt like déjà vu, whether in a good or not-so-pleasant sense.

This introspection allowed me to grow in humility and maturity of character.

The messages at the various services have also built up my faith and understanding of the way of the Lord with its message emphasis.

To be honest, I’ve never attended so many services, and had so many prayer times, in such a consecutive amount of time. Yet I do not feel tired, nor dread it, rather, it had been refreshing for my soul. A constant reminder that we need to constantly be filled as we pour out.

Only for selected TLBS students below 35 years.

An 8-week Global Elim Internship Program in Seoul, all expenses paid (except airfare) by Yoido Full Gospel Church to be exposed to the vision, ministry philosophy, structure and leadership of the local church.

I am reminded of a question once asked of me: Does passion come first to compel us towards action or does faithful actions fan into flame a passion?

This was the reflection taken at the mid-point mark of the program.

Over the 8-weeks, I encountered the Lord in a depth that I hadn’t before.

The opportunity to seek Him wholeheartedly truly brought clarity of His call in my life. Through this, I continue to learn to be still before the Lord and to walk in step with His spirit in obedience and in accordance with His rhythms of grace and mercy.

I pray that there will be the sustenance of a growing passion for knowing Christ as I keep my focus on what truly matters to Him even as I serve.

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An Interview with PASTOR IVAN KRYUKOV Graduate of SOL 2018 New Life Pentecostal Church, Almaty, Kazakhstan

2. What are some of the miracles you have experienced this year?

DEEPLY ROOTED

Last year, our church opened its doors to host the remarkable Youth Conference. It brought together approximately 1,000 young people from across the region. Witnessing the sight of these passionate young souls wholly dedicating themselves to God and the mission was profoundly moving. This year, the conference saw an even more substantial turnout, with around 2,000 attendees. The event was hosted in one of Kyrgyzstan’s largest venues and was organized by youth from various countries under the banner of TWOCA (Youth Leaders of Central Asia). The shared aspiration within TWOCA is to engage and involve 2 percent of the youths in the region. As a church, we remain wholeheartedly committed to actively supporting the endeavors of these emerging young leaders in the region. This is indeed a miracle because, in the past access to such vast venues and opportunities were limited. Now, we can host events that have a profound impact on the lives of many young people, changing the trajectory of their lives. It is our fervent belief that the

life, there was a crisis, and the Lord instructed him to anoint the prophet Elisha. It may seem that Elisha spent only a short time with Elijah, and then he immediately received the anointing.

However, this wasn’t the case; it took 12 years before Elijah passed on his ministry. There was a season of great prophetic ministry for Elijah when he could pray, and the heavens would open and close. Then came a season when they served together, and finally, Elisha stepped into a double portion of the anointing.

This underscores my belief in the connection between generations.

The older generation must invest in the younger generation, while the younger generation must be open and willing to walk alongside for years, just as Elisha did with Elijah. I believe in the importance of this mentorship and the transfer of wisdom and anointing from one generation to the next. I seek your prayer support, as there is a deep desire in my heart to build a youth center where we can train and equip young people from the region to follow God’s calling.

Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of young leaders in our region.”

4. Give us an insight into how you and your wife are raising 4 beautiful children. What are some family habits you practice, what are some values you establish at home to build up their faith, and what are the fun things all of you enjoy doing together?

Our family consists of two sons and two daughters, each with a significant age difference. Our elder sons are now 29 and 25, while our younger daughters are 8 and 10.

These distinct age groups represent different seasons in our family’s journey. Looking back to the years when we were raising our older sons, I often had to travel for work, and my wife dedicated herself entirely to our children’s upbringing. We resided far from the church, but our children were always present during church services. We made a conscious effort to instill in them a deep respect for the church.

Today, as our elder sons have families of their own, we are confident that they will continue to prioritize their connection with the church no matter where they reside. Our daughters

IN FAITH, LOVE, TOGETHERNESS

1. This year, has been 5 years since you graduated from Tung Ling Bible School.

You mentioned that your biggest desire is to see 1000 young leaders pastor 1000 churches. Therefore, you want to be a builder of people first. How has this vision developed since then?

Over the course of the last five years, we have witnessed a profound transformation within our country and region. There is a discernible shift, as an increasing number of young people are turning to Jesus. This shift is attributed to

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the emergence of a new generation of young leaders and missionaries. In response to these changes and to further our commitment to nurturing the leadership potential among the youth in our region, we took the initiative to organize a Mission-Bible school for youths this year. The driving force behind this endeavor is our unwavering belief that investing in the development of young leaders is instrumental in shaping the future of our local churches. As we reflect on the journey of the past five years, we remain dedicated to our vision of build and equip young leaders.

impact of these events goes beyond mere numbers; they signify a spiritual awakening and empowerment of the next generation. As we reflect on these achievements, we are filled with gratitude for the opportunities we have been blessed with, and we are committed to continuing our ministry in the region.

3. Share with us what the Lord impressed in your heart and how we can come alongside to support that vision.

The Lord has revealed to me a new perspective through the stories of Elijah and Elisha. In Elijah’s

I believe in the importance of this mentorship and the transfer of wisdom and anointing from one generation to the next. I seek your prayer support, as there is a deep desire in my heart to build a youth center where we can train and equip young people from the region to follow God’s calling.

eagerly anticipate Sunday mornings, excited to attend church services. Our family thrives on shared experiences, whether it’s spending time together, enjoying outings to the park, or embarking on mountain hikes. These activities strengthen our family bonds, create cherished memories, and allow us to marvel at the beauty of God’s creation. Through these shared moments, we continue to uphold the core values and faith that have been handed down through generations, ensuring that our family remains deeply rooted in love, faith, and togetherness.

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say, “Go back to your room and don’t come out, until God speaks something to you.” Since I was 7-8 years old, my mom and dad would say things like, “Nicky one day you will preach the word and stand before thousands of people. You will write books, and you will travel the nations.”

1. Describe what a Christmas celebration in your home in South Carolina looks and smells like.

We love Christmas. It is a wonderful mix of both worlds for us, especially having grown up in India and then moving to America. My mom usually spends an entire week making lovely seasonal Christmas goodies like fruit cake, rose cookies, chewda, donuts, plum cakes, and karanji.

We usually have about 100 plus guests at our home for Christmas dinners and they love my mum’s biryani specialty.

For example, my two younger brothers, Ricky and Josh, and I would often go on ministry trips with our parents. There were many times when we drove in heavy rain, and dad would ask us, “Do you believe that if I pray, God will stop the rain?” We would usually say, “I don’t know.” Then he would pray, and the rain would stop instantly. While it was mindboggling, we realise the power of prayer. More importantly, God actually wants to hear us and this helped us desire to connect more with God.

In India and many countries, people go to church on Christmas Day. However, in America, families usually stay home, exchange gifts and watch movies. We are an exception in our entire city as we figure that we might as well celebrate Jesus’ birthday at His house on Christmas Day.

2. Share with us a memory from your childhood when the presence of God was revealed and how you responded to Him. I grew up in a family where my parents were pastors and we have over 32 pastors in our extended family. As kids, we were encouraged to follow after God. Hence I have many stories of God encounters since I was 10 years old. I think the most memorable ones were with my dad.

Featuring our lecturer, Pastor Nicky Raiborde.

He teaches on the topic of “Empowered Leadership” in the School of Leadership (SOL) & “Empowered for Ministry” in the School of Ministry (SOM)

3. How do you cope with times of waiting before a new season takes place?

I don’t think anyone likes waiting for anything. So we need to learn to wait in a healthy manner.

Waiting implies a confident attitude of expectation that God will reveal Himself and He will accomplish His Word in our lives.

Meditate on the promises of God’s Word while waiting and He will renew our strength. This develops the discipline of patience and submission; patience because we know that the good we wait for will not be granted before God’s timing; submission because we know that it is in God’s power to grant or withhold and that our only hope is in Him. Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me and heard my cry.

Firstly, I meditate on the promises of God’s Word on waiting to stay

focussed and not act hastily.

Secondly, I focus on the prophetic words given to me and pray intensely for the Holy Spirit’s instructions for me. Thirdly, the great biblical characters like Noah waited 120 years to witness God’s promise fulfilled and I am not impatient if nothing happens within a week.

4. What brings you joy?

Wow, that’s a hard question to answer with no specific context.

Among many things that give me great joy is eating a chocolate gelato. But the ones that consistently top the list would be when I get the opportunity to preach and see people understand God’s Word and being confident of what God has for them. Certain relationships that God has put in my life also give me great joy.

5. You have spent your birthday away from your family for many years while teaching in TLBS. We appreciate you and would love to know why you love TLBS.

and the room that they have created for the work of the Holy Spirit. I don’t feel like a guest lecturer, but I feel as if I’ve been given the opportunity to uphold the TLBS vision. I think both Dean Phillip and Guek Ju have done an amazing job in facilitating that atmosphere by the way they lead their students and the way they run the school. I’m most impressed with them and have the highest respect for them, as they are people who have the fear of God, walk in humility, and honour God in all their ways.

6. How has being born into a family that has served the Lord across generations impacted your life?

I’m most grateful to be in a family that serves God. Being born in a family of multigenerational Christians has given me the privilege to know and understand the things of God from a young age.

Growing up, whenever I came out of my bedroom, my dad would ask, “What did God say to you today?”

If I didn’t have an answer, he would

Prophecy, the power of the Holy Spirit, and things of the supernatural were quite commonplace in my family and among relatives. This upbringing made it easier to respond to my calling and assignment in life after encountering God at age 12 and age 17.

7. Which superhero do you relate to the most and why?

I watched cartoons and loved all the comics while growing up, especially Superman and Flash.

However, I didn’t relate to them.

My dad is my greatest influence.

I know God as a Father because of him. My dad taught me the discipline, NBNB, which means “No Bible No Breakfast”. You learn to put God first, and God will put you first. My dad taught me how to hear God’s voice daily; pray impossible prayers and know the power of praying in tongues daily.

Dad taught me how to work with people’s strengths and not let their weaknesses get in the way, write things down and journal.

My dad is my super hero.

8. Our focus for next year is Press Pause, what does Pressing the Pause button mean to you?

That’s a great practice! I have been in ministry since the age of 17. I

press the pause button every 4-6 months in my life. I take the time to reflect and ask questions in 10 areas of my life. I do this to ensure that I’m healthy, that I have time to refuel, and that my eyes are on the right things and that I’m headed in the right direction. These are the questions that I reflect on as I press pause. It would be good to look through these areas in our lives too.

1. FAMILY • How are they doing?

• Where are they going?

2. FUTURE • What will I do?

• What can I do?

3. FINANCES • Is there consistent income?

• Am I ready for God opportunities?

• Am I leading my faith or fear?

• Do I need to gain an education?

4. FAILURES • What did I do wrong/right?

5. FRIENDS • Do I need to let go of some and welcome new ones?

6. FAITH • Am I walking by faith?

• Has my faith capacity grown?

7. FATHERS • Who are my mentors?

• Do I need to invite new ones?

8. FITNESS • Eating/exercise/rest 9. FOCUS/FULFILLED • Am I happy?

• Where will I be?

10. FEAR OF LORD • What are the measurements to see how I have grown in the fear and awe of God?

Since age 17, it was always on my heart to one day, start a Bible school. When I was 27 years old, I received an opportunity to come and teach at TLBS and have been teaching here for the last 17 years.

Most of the time, I teach towards the end of the term which happens to fall on my birthday.

So, I have spent most of my birthdays at TLBS because I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing and it’s also one of the things that brings me great joy.

I teach in several Bible schools, but I really enjoy being at TLBS mainly because of the leadership

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CALEB TAN TECK JUAN Graduate of SOM Term 2, 2023 Corrie Ten Boom Centre His quest and love for money and power continued unabated. The prison doors became revolving doors for a very exhausted but unrepentant Caleb.

By Lotus Tan

ROCK BOTTOM

Someone suggested that marriage could save him. He married a Filipina but it led to a sordid life of more drugs for both.

I THANK GOD FOR MY

SCARS

Caleb is forever grateful, “I thank God for all my scars because they remind me of how great God is!”

Fleeing to the Philippines to start a new life, Caleb found himself cast out by his then wife and in-laws. Alone and living in poverty, he shared his daily meal of broken rice grains and a small slice of fatty pork with his dog.

At rock bottom, he consumed two boxes of rat poison and over 80 anti-depressant pills.

He was disappointed to wake up the next day, with rashes on his skin.

He heard God twice in his deepest despair, “I didn’t create you for this. Go back to Singapore!”

COMING HOME Caleb spent nearly 10 years behind bars.

Stepping out of prison for the last time on 21st September 2010, he was welcomed at The Hiding Place. Tearing, Caleb recounted the day he finally surrendered himself to God. At a service two weeks before the accident, he was moved by the story of a little girl who asked the usher to lay the offering bag on the floor.

The spinning stainless steel beater of the industrial mixer continued its relentless attack, diving into his body as Caleb Tan screamed for help in utter panic and agony.

No one was in the kitchen that day except a deaf-mute fellow resident at The Hiding Place, a Christian home for the rehabilitation of anyone who is in need of help. He heard nothing and went about his work.

Suddenly, he heard an urgent voice in his ears, “Shut down the machine. NOW!” He ran for the switch, flipped it and the mixer stopped spinning. To his horror, there was Caleb with his body on top of the drum of the mixer that was filled with pineapple jam. Caleb was bloodied and barely breathing.

26th November 2010 is a day that Caleb remembers vividly because he carries these scars on his body.

Caleb was dragged into the machine when his shirt was caught by one of the protruding parts of the mixer and it pierced his body, crushing five of his ribs and caused the collapse of his right lung, missing his spine by inches. The flesh of his left leg, which was caught against the steaming hot exhaust pipe, was cooked.

That day, the two men experienced Emmanuel, “God is with us”.

THE HOURS AFTER

Caleb miraculously survived the ordeal of his life.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force took nearly four hours to extricate him. He was rushed to

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the emergency unit of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital where the medical staff fought to save his life.

The doctors managed to save part of his right lung even though this reduced the overall capacity of his lung. Moreover, they succeeded in saving his leg despite the rotting flesh because his bone was miraculously intact and skin grafts could be used.

The medical establishment was astounded and there was an unofficial acknowledgment that “Someone was helping him”.

More importantly, for the first time in Caleb’s life, he felt loved and supported when the cofounder of The Hiding Place, Pastor Philip Chan, said to him, “Caleb, don’t worry. God is with you.

I will take care of you if anything happens to you.”

Caleb felt the incredible peace and presence of God during the painful recovery process. The lyrics of “The Joy of the Lord” gave Caleb solace and hope in God despite having to endure 14 more surgeries over the next six months.

At 36 years old, the near-death experience was the beginning of Caleb’s healing.

ALWAYS THE BULLY AND NEVER THE BULLIED Caleb grew up embittered and angry.

Standing on the bag, she offered herself to God as she was penniless.

With all his worldly possessions comprising three luggage of dirty laundry, Caleb tearfully prayed, “God, I have nothing. I offer You myself.” That was the day he chose to renounce his worship of money, a choice he rejected repeatedly over the years when presented with Matthew 6:24. He finally chose to worship only God and serve Him.

THE FATHER HEART OF GOD

Today, Caleb is joyful, kind, and generous. Caleb is serving as the chef at The Hiding Place and he mentors the residents there.

He is grateful for the love and support of the late Pastor Philip Chan and Mama Choo Neo. They helped him turn his life around by being the family he never had.

Yet God continues to heal Caleb’s heart.

At TLBS recently, God unveiled the hidden pain in Caleb’s heart during the Father Heart of God module by the late Brother Joseph Chean.

Never having had a father, Caleb couldn’t grasp the extent of His love.

During ministry, Caleb was paralysed with fear and anxiety as he secretly blamed God for not healing his physical pains completely.

On a profound level, he still hated his mother for abandoning him even though she was instrumental in believing by faith that her son was a transformed man in Christ despite his life of crime and drugs in 2006. She accepted Christ on her deathbed, holding firmly to her faith in God. And her son. Caleb recounted tearfully, “I was scared and was frozen on the spot until Dean Ju held my hand like a mother and walked me to a lady who prayed with me.

I started weeping.”

That day was a milestone for Caleb who needed reassurance that his Heavenly Father loves him unconditionally.

Above all, he could express his deepest grief and mourn his loss and was set free to realise his mother loved him and he loved his mother.

EMMANUEL – “GOD IS WITH US”

Caleb has grown to know Emmanuel intimately.

Like Caleb in the Bible, he wants to live by faith in this great God who has chosen to be with him, and with us.

Caleb is forever grateful, “I thank God for all my scars because they remind me of how great God is!”

As joyful Christmas carols resound during this season, may you rejoice that Emmanuel is with you and will be with you all the days of your life.

Abandoned at birth, Caleb never knew his parents until he was 12 years old. His grandmother had to advertise in the newspapers to locate his mother as official documentation of his mother was required before the authorities could issue Caleb his National Registration Identity Card.

The rejection he felt led to years of intense hatred for his mother. His life of drugs and crime was a response to his desire to hurt his mother for hurting him.

At five years old, Caleb remembers being stripped to his underwear and humiliated by a gang of young thugs. Crying bitterly, he vowed he would always be the bully and never the bullied. Growing up, he pursued money and power obsessively. Nicknamed “711”, after the well-known 24-hour convenience store franchise, Caleb was basically the “drugs on demand” supply guy. Caleb was the bully. He had the power. He thought he had the controls.

“I WAS A MILO AND BISCUITS CHRISTIAN”

He first encountered God in 2000 at a Good Friday service because an ex-addict friend assured him that he just needed to acknowledge he was a sinner after the pastor preached.

Then he would get some Milo and biscuits. Caleb wryly admitted, “I was a Milo and Biscuits Christian.”

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REVELATION 7:9-10 (NIV)

TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH CHEAN

GOD GETS THE GREATEST GLORY OUT OF MY LIFE

By Lotus Tan

Our lecturer, Joseph Chean, was called home to be with the Lord following a road accident in Istanbul on Wednesday, 15 November 2023. He taught the “Father Heart of God” and “Go Forth Mission” modules in the School of Ministry (SOM).

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After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Everyone was filled with anticipation when Joe invited us to go with him on the journey of visualising how this awesome final scene will look like one day in God’s great throne room. It is God’s end goal. And ours too.

Ever the consummate story teller, step by step, scene by scene, he walked us through to the moments when the throne room started filling up, rising to a glorious crescendo.

We held our breath as we walked with Joe. In our minds’ eyes, we saw

the throne room bursting into a kaleidoscope of colours, dance and music in worship onto God. Our minds and hearts exploded with excitement and joy as Zulu warriors, Xhosa warriors and the diverse tribes from Africa, the North and South American tribes, the Japanese, the Koreans, the Europeans, the nations of the Pacific islands, the tribes and nations across Asia, etc burst on to the scene. Tribe by tribe, nation by nation, they were dressed in their regalia and worshipping God in their own unique ways.

reach out to the nations, carrying His message of salvation and love.

He asked us what would be on God’s face that day. It blew us away.

THE AUTHENTIC AND COMPASSIONATE TEACHER

And then, we were on holy ground, as we knelt in prayer. In the powerful holy silence, we committed ourselves anew to live that life worthy of God. Many of us have been reinvigorated to live intentionally missional lives daily. Some have gone on longer term missions, to Germany, to Wales, to Mozambique and many other places with God.

Joe’s passionate words resonated in our hearts that day and thereafter, “This is the end picture.

God is far more worthy of my everything. If there’s anything I want to live for, I want to live for this end goal and God gets the greatest glory out of my life.”

Many have called him the strategic and visionary leader, wholly dedicated to God and his goal was to touch the world for Christ by creatively mobilising many to live their best for God. As Rev Daniel Wee said in his tribute, “His (Joseph’s) life was one long missions trip”.

Indeed, this is the massive jigsaw puzzle coming together one day, and each one of us holds a piece to this puzzle as we obey God and

To us, he was also the passionate teacher. He was a charismatic communicator and he connected with us in class, painting captivatingly

vivid pictures we could see and feel. He made complex concepts real, relevant and applicable and helped us close the distance between our heads and our hearts towards God, so we could rise in faith and love.

For us to run the race with our best, we would need a deep restoration of our hearts towards God and to know how much He loves us. In the “Father Heart of God” module, we were struck by how real Joe was in sharing his broken past and how God turned that pain into wholeness and set him free to whole-heartedly run the race set before him.

Joe knew the pain first hand. He understood how past painful life experiences with our parents, family and loved ones impacted our view of God’s love. Hence he led the time with us with such gentleness and compassion.

Many of us were healed of our distorted views of our loving Heavenly Father. That few days saw us turning our hearts back to Father God, restoring sons to their

fathers, daughters to their fathers and many to our loved ones.

Forgiveness and love paved the way to freedom for us as we surrendered our past at the foot of the Cross. It truly gave many of us a new beginning in our relationships with Father God and our loved ones. Knowing how deeply He loves us also sets us free to embrace our identity and destiny in Him.

“TEFLON HEART”

Perhaps one of the most enduring lessons Joe taught us was to develop a “Teflon heart”. He was no stranger to extravagant praise as accolades had been poured on him in his lifetime. While he acknowledged that these were good, he said that having a Teflon heart means that both criticisms and praise would not stick on to nor define him.

His desire was that God gets the greatest glory out of his life.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

It has been truly our privilege to have spent those few days with Joe and many of us are still living out the impact of the time in TLBS.

Bye for now, Joe! We look forward to the day when we meet again, where we join you and the multitudes from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and the Lamb.

That will be a spectacular time of worship to the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

Until then, we have been inspired by your exemplary life and we want to run the race with love, joy and perseverance, bringing our piece to the jigsaw puzzle, and making sure that God gets the greatest glory out of our lives.

“This is the end picture. God is far more worthy of my everything.

If there’s anything I want to live for, I want to live for this end goal and God gets the greatest glory out of my life.”

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REMEMBERING

JOSEPH CHEAN CYNTHIA SNG

SOM TERM 2, 2023 It’s remarkable how just five, halfdays with a person, can leave one changed.

He didn’t mince words. He was tough love.

His module on missions was our final module before graduation.

“Many like to quote Jeremiah 29:11,” he said on the last day of class. “Did you know that those plans were God’s plans for Israel to go into exile?”

“But I’ll tell you who has plans for you. The enemy has plans for you.

Once you walk out of your graduation service, he’s waiting with plans to steal from you, kill, and destroy.”

HO KOK KOON (CALEB)

He also lived the life he taught.

His stories were authentic and changed me. The Holy Spirit once

CAROLINE NG

SOM TERM 1, 2023 Brother Joe’s “Father Heart of God” module at TLBS inspired me to discover the beauty of God’s unconditional love, leading to a newfound freedom to confidently embrace my identity as a cherished child of God.

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GOD WITH US -

SOL 2022, SOM TERM 1, 2023 The “Father Heart of God” module was a highlight for me.

In being open with his own painful past and encouraging us to do the same, Brother Joe gave us permission and courage to confront our own issues and facilitated deep conversations with Father God. It was a time of outpouring of the Abba Father’s love for all of us.

prompted Joseph to buy an extra packet of lunch. “Thank you,” the old lady collecting cardboard said, “My stomach had just been rumbling from hunger.” Joseph’s reaction was, “That’s it God?” Should I have at least scratched a cross on the styrofoam lunchbox so she knew Who this was from?”

BEYOND BORDERS

Living Waters Village (LWV) – is home to more than 700 Dayak children in the heart of the West Kalimantan jungle.

LWV recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and it all started with a God-given vision birthed through Pastor Ronny and his wife Kay who left their home in Australia to answer the Lord’s call to love and care for 1,000 abandoned children and to provide an education for over 2,000 children. LWV village in our eyes was truly a miracle zone!

This story emboldened me to simply obey God and not worry about outcomes. This led to many conversations with strangers in the lift, and the inexpressible joy of having said yes, why not!

May you be blessed and encouraged by our spiritual journal of this God-filled encounter in His mission at LWV!

“How would we guard what had been deposited in our lives?” he challenged us. All that we had received here, if it were as life changing as we professed, how would we defend it against the realities of life and the enemy’s agenda against us?

The answer was action. It moved me to live what I learnt, and teach what I was taught. Far from being stolen, as we reproduce truth in others, it will take root in our own lives.

Andrew Lim Graduate of SOL 2023 Christ Methodist Church

This year’s mission trip was a very special one for the following reasons: • This was the first time that the Principal and Dean of TLBS have joined the LWV mission team!

• It was the largest cohort from TLBS comprising 33 people.

• The youngest and oldest team members ever were part of our team (age 12 and 70).

OCTOBER

16-24

It stopped my own fixation with having results to show for everything I do. I’m not striving anymore to help God. If I just to obey from moment to moment, I would already be moving God’s kingdom agenda forward. Because that agenda is love.

This faithful disciple’s life was an outpouring of God’s love which naturally overflowed to touch the lives of all who know him.

Let us honour his memory by becoming vessels of Father God’s transformative love to those who are lost and seeking around us and in the nations.

ALBERT YEO

God to stay on much longer before you took this up to go.”

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’” Isaiah 65:1NIV

I was blessed with his affirmation that missions is rewarding, that God will use us when we live and obey His assignments so that many can know Jesus and be saved.

SOL 2022, SOM TERM 1, 2022

When Brother Joe said that while I was in SOM, I heard that as God’s message to me.

He said to go for missions for 30 days and I was joyfully prompted to go for 60 days.

In the debrief with the team after our 30 days, he said to me while I was still in the refugee camp in Germany, “You must have heard from

I happened to be at his missions class in the recent SOM term. He introduced me as the one who heard and went for missions to Poland and Ukraine. Encouraged by him, I am now a missionary wherever I am. I thank God for having him bless so many of us with his encouragement so we can in turn bless so many more.

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OCT

THE WEIGHT OF BURDENS

16 There was a sea of luggage bags at the Changi airport – 34 pieces to be checked in on top of our hand-carry 10kg backpack. That was a lot of weight, and the burdens were gradually showing on our faces.

But we witnessed many of our members stepping up to help one another to carry each other’s burdens - from checking in to loading and retrieving the bags in the cabin space, at the baggage counters and onto the bus taking us to the mission house where the team rested for the night.

But why would we want to “carry each other’s burdens”? Apostle Paul said “in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Our obedience to love God and our neighbour is manifested through our actions. (Mark 12:30-31)

OCT

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CULTURE SHOCK

Our team visited the different miracle

zones of LWV. Everything there that we saw and touched was a witness to the miracle of God turning this place from a dense mountain forest into a training centre, medical centre, homes, bakery, sewing room, workshops, and schools! One can only imagine what a culture shock it must have been for Pastor Ronny when he first arrived.

OCT

19

OCT

THE CHILD OF HUMILITY

22 The Sunday in LWV was no ordinary

one. People came in their Sunday best and gave their all to worship in awe of the Almighty God.

Our team was deployed to undertake various tasks around the Village including plucking weeds at the garden, taking out rusty nails, recycling timber, cleaning the kitchen, and stripping paint marks left on water pipes. Tough jobs!

Jesus experienced culture shock too - as a King coming down from heaven and humbling himself to become a servant on this earth to die so that we may live!

At every mealtime, we witnessed and felt the heart of the LWV children working in the dining hall. This was NOT child labour, but a value of humility inculcated so that they laboured out of love and joy in serving everyone. We saw this joy of the Lord in the faces of everyone in the village while they were doing their own work with excellence.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather,

Jesus said “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” (Matthew 18:4-5)

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GOD

The book of Revelation ends with a vision of God’s kingdom on earth. At the end of time, history’s completion is illustrated as a gathering filled with people of every ethnicity, language, and nation, singing together in a beautiful chorus of praise to God. We saw a glimpse of what that looks and feels like in LWV.

OCT

THE JOURNEY OF FAITH

24 It was time to bid farewell to LWV. The

kids woke at 3am just to be able to send us off. These moments will be forever etched in our memory.

What is next after Tung Ling and our trip to LWV? These experiences are key milestones in the journey of our faith. We must not forget to continue our pursuit to fulfil the Kingdom assignments that God has called us individually.

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10)]

OUR

Spiritual JOURNAL

OCT

17 Our team began our10-hour long

journey from Kuching to West Kalimantan. The road was wrought with many challenges, but God led us through each one.

• The bus had a flat tyre and arrived an hour late. But we put our trust in our one Hope and arrived just in time for dinner at LWV. • The bus had maxed out its horsepower and was struggling to ascend the steep hills. But we prayed as one Body and God boosted our bus to overcome the hills.

• The aircon in one of the buses was super weak and made the journey uncomfortable.

But the fire from one Spirit made us strong and kept us going.

• The small little wooden truck taking us to LWV encountered heavy rain and baptised us thoroughly. But strangely, we felt shiok even when we were soaked. We were all immersed in one Lord!

The word “one” was used 7 times in Ephesians 4:4-6 and the Message version puts it aptly, “You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.”

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OCT

THE ONENESS OF GOD

20 Friday in LWV was a special day where

everyone fasted a meal in the evening and prayed together. They fasted in a way that we had never seen before. People were hungry to pray for everything, big or small - healing for the sick, ministries for outreach to the villages, individualised prayer needs for the sponsors, rich nations to bless the poor ones, prayer for Israel and Palestine, etc.

he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8) Part of our culture shock included showering using scoops of cold river water - all inside a squat toilet accompanied by flying insects and crawlers. But culture shock has a purpose: to stir the hearts of men to embrace the heart of God to bring others to His Kingdom.

OCT

THE HOUSE OF PRAYER

Foregoing a meal may mean little to us in Singapore, but for LWV, every meal is precious.

One may think that by being poor, there would be nothing to give. Instead, the people in LWV were so rich in spirit that even out of the little they had. Fasting a meal meant not spending Rp 5,500 per meal x 900 people or 5 million Rupiah each week. They would instead use those funds towards those who were unable to pay for hospital bills and for ministry needs! “these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah56:7)

OCT

21

THE FRUIT OF THE GOSPEL

Some of us were sent to work on the

vegetable farm at LWV, clearing the weeds and tilling the soil. The effort may have been 90% perspiration, but the 10% inspiration to see the garden bear real fruit was worth every drop of sweat!

THE COMING OF JESUS

23 We concluded our final day of work

with a time of fellowship with the LWV missionaries. The evening time was filled with so much fun and laughter with the children learning how to say and write 神就是爱 (God is Love). Our team could not resist the ever-flowing tears and hugs of “never say goodbye” from these children of God. They were not merely touched by what we did here for them; but the number one hit song “Sungguh Indah” which they sang day and night reminded them how beautiful they are in eyes of God.

“… In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.”

(Colossians1:6)

When the disciples witnessed the Lord’s appearance after His death and His ascension to Heaven, they must have felt the same way as the children of LWV, longing for the return of many who have touched their lives, including our Lord Jesus Christ.

It was so encouraging to see how the gospel was bearing fruit in LWV. Through this experience, we understood God’s grace with a deeper revelation through the eyes of these children who were: • once lost but now are found • once poor but now are rich • once despised but now are revived

God is saying to us to be watchful, do not lose sight, do not waste time, keep your eyes upon Jesus. Be ever ready. Do not live like there’s no tomorrow. Do the things that matter most for eternity, for the Lord will reward us according to what we have done for His Kingdom.

(Revelations 22:12)

“Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith…” (Hebrews 12:2) Therefore, let us keep our eyes upon Jesus so that we stay focused. Just like in LWV, the daily walk back and forth from church to the training centre required effort. This is what it will be in the journey of our faith. Turn that mountain of fear into a mountain of joy just as Jesus did for us all.

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NIGHT OF WORSHIP Now is the time to worship in Spirit and in Truth

Night of Worship on 16th November 2023 in collaboration with That’s Worship.

More than 300 worshippers including TLBS Alumni turned up for a wonderful evening of celebration of worship.

CHANGING PATHS, AFFIRMING LIVES

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Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31