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from the pastor's desk | beyond our shores | nl-voices | past events-home
VOICES to Read Below:
Indonesia Calling My Life Before and My Life Now Mission Trip to Cambodia Daniel's Report Real Encounter with God
INDONESIA CALLING... by Dorcas Sim
April 2010
When Ps Simon said he was invited up to the chuch in Jakarta, Paul (my husband) and I knew we just had to go because something in us jumped. So the day came and a very small team accompanied Ps Simon and Ps Ping to Jakarta. The moment we arrived we were swept off our feet by the warmest and most thoughtful hopsitality of City Blessing Church. Ps Marganti and his pastoral team made us feel so at home.
We spent Good Friday with all the combined churches at their service where Ps Simon spoke. There was such an excitement in the air and God was doing His thing (if you know what I mean) in the churches there.
There's a special work being done (and needs to be done) in Indonesia and we know God is calling us into stronger partnership with them. It's going to be exciting to see what God has in store for both churches. So I'm signing off until my next report on this...bye for now. |
ME LIFE BEFORE AND MY LIFE NOW
Update by Daniel Leo (Missionary to Cambodia)
July 2009
Hi Everyone,
its been really great what God has been doing in my life now, which i will carry with me for the rest of my life. A quick comparison would be: I am set free, more hopeful, spiritually stronger and alive! which i wasn't before. |
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| Well I'm still learning to totally surrender to him, one experience was when i fell seriously ill recently and in my heart I wanted to get well right away but my body was trying to fight it for me. It's when we experience the tough times then we truly see if we can totally surrender it all or not. I recovered later and I thank God.
I also praise God for the reimbursement of my insurance claims, even when it seemed impossible to claim anything but our prayers were answered. God provides and He did it up front. I'm so thankful for a trip back to Singapore because I was able to measure my growth.
Yes I've grown alot thanks to the Lord! His Holy Spirit working in me. Another thing I want to glorify God is the breakdance ministry that has grown rapidly after my return from Singapore. We have about 20 students now! Praise God! God is moving! I thank God for what He is doing in my life and what He will do in future.I'm willing to go the distance with Him for He has gone before me. Amen!
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MISSION TRIP TO CAMBODIA by San San
It’s always been in my heart to go on mission trips. Last year, God spoke to me to go to Cambodia to serve and to bless the people there. When Ronald announced a Cambodian mission trip for IMPACT this year for our youth group, I immediately signed up.
God has blessed me so much I want to bless others in return |
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I traveled with 5 huge luggages with me. But only 1 was for my personal use. The other 4 were used to contain stuff we collected to bless the orphans and children at risk in Cambodia.
During the worship time at the Youth Outreach on Saturday, God taught me to pray and intercede for people in a new dimension. I kept praying for whatever God put in my heart. He gave me such a compassion to pray for the Cambodians.
Sunday morning, Debbie and I led a group of 6 youths to preach in a village church. When we reached there, we were shocked and amazed. We were expecting a church with young people but it was full of older adults and the elderly. They were so hungry and thirsty for God. They kept on persisting and pressing forward to pray in the spirit. God’s presence was so strong. I started to prophesy by giving words of encouragement to an elderly woman and a group of mothers. After that, the elderly woman told me God spoke to her through me. I was very encouraged. I know that all I need is to be obedient in whatever God calls me to do.
The villagers lead a very simple life and do not have much for themselves. They may not even have enough food to eat, yet they shared their fresh fruits with us. Their simple act of sharing really left an impact in my life.
I count my life a blessing from God. I want to appreciate it, treasure it and use it for God’s glory. I want to live my life to the fullest and finish running the race for Jesus. I want to fly high and reach out to the sky for God.
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Contribution from Jeremy Zane Hon
This trip to Cambodia was my first mission trip ever. I didn’t know what to expect, my aim was to grow closer to God and to make a change in the Cambodians’ lives. Now that I am back, I realized I have exceeded my own expectations. I definitely grew closer to God and learned from many experiences.
I used to have the mindset that we worship God to see miracles happen and expect things from Him. But I learned that true worship is not about us but God. We worship Him because He is our Savior and King. I also learned that when we worship Him wholeheartedly, He would bless us. We don’t need to have nice sound system or the best instruments to worship God. When I went to a village church in Samrong Yong and to the guy's dormitory, we worshipped God with only an acoustic guitar but we could feel God's powerful presence. We serve the same God in Singapore and in Cambodia. When we worship Him with an expectant heart, He will meet us wherever we are. Now when I worship God with all my heart and spirit, I get connected with Him very quickly because I now understand what praise and worship is all about.
I also caught the fire and desire for God through the Cambodians in the New Life Church. I observed how they dedicate their lives and depend wholeheartedly on God. It really hit me that they had such strong faith in God. Everything they do they try and do it for God. Sometimes we think that without God we still can live a good life. But I realized that without God, I am nothing.
Another important factor I learned was servant leadership. While helping to decorate the resource room and fix the tables and chairs for the English classrooms in the village church, I learned the true meaning of serving others. I saw how the people needed our help and we just did our best for them. There was a purpose in our work.
This mission trip has really changed my life in a big way. I have grown a lot closer to God. I also got to know the youths on this team better.
I hope I can spread this fire and desire for God to my family, friends and also the youths at IMPACT.
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Report from Daniel Leo - our missionary to Cambodia - who is there for a year.
February 17 2009, Tuesday
Hi Church,
Just an update of how I am doing. It's the third week and I'm adapting well to the livings conditions here. I wake up 6.30am everyday to have my personal time with God then at 8am have quiet time or devotions with Surith and sometimes Eric will join us too. It’s totally different here. Meeting with God everyday, under the guidance of the Hansons is just a blessing( I love them like my parents ) and working with Godly people(staff in the ministry) is great.
The people are different here. They really need to be set free but those who already know God are true and real. So far I've seen and understood their history, culture, government, poverty, education and work-lifestyle and the traffic! It’s crazy compared to Singapore! I've got my bike and started riding it on short rides down my street. Slowly I'm getting the feel of the bike.
It’s just amazing how God is working in my life. I've been reading His word everyday, praying everyday - just being obedient. I work out every week too. I'm disciplining mind, body and soul. Now I have more self control over my weaknesses. I am discovering that God is already working in me even in a short time I've been here since. There is growth. He is revealing to me relevant things that only my spirit can comprehend. I thank God that all is good.
When the Impact Team comes over, they can celebrate my birthday on the 21st - so I'll be expecting presents! lol...just kidding. But I might want something like Singapore food! haha. Will let you know on that soon. Tomorrow we will be having 3 days youth retreat. I am one of the speakers, little nervous but I believe I'll do just fine. I pray and believe that God will do a great work during our stay there and that we will be more intimate with the Holy Spirit.
Thanks all for the support and prayers. I love all of you!
Daniel |
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MY REAL ENCOUNTER WITH GOD by Sandra Chan
I want to share my personal experience with the Lord. I want to give HIM glory and also let all of you share this JOY with me as I felt I was 're-birthed' again. This actually happened on Sunday, 7 Dec 2008. It was our usual Praise & Worship and I prayed for healing from the Lord as I was not feeling right. I was feeling down (don't know why but the only thing in my mind was that things did not run smoothly over the week) but one thing for sure is that I knew I would be "disturbed" during our P&W if I did not pray. |
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So I prayed to our Lord:
"Dear Heavenly Father, I don't feel good this morning...
Father, I pray for healing. Let your will be done in my life.
Father, we are not created to fear or depression, but to live life fully.
Father, I pray that any negative feelings in me be removed, and I reject any hurts in me that I've experienced in the past weeks.
I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN."
Suddenly, during Praise & Worship, I felt someone touching my forehead and a certain 'heaviness' came upon my forehead. I was then "brought" to an open space, during evening time. I could see the sun setting and I was kneeling down and I told our Lord, "Forgive Me, Lord."
I was then brought back to reality. I asked, "Is that you, Lord?"
I heard a voice that said, "I am here to heal you."
I then asked again, "Is that you, Lord?"
The next thing I heard was the church singing, "You are stronger. You are stronger. Sin is broken."
I finally understood what the Lord was telling me, "He has forgiven me and healed me. He has made me stronger."
I then broke down. Tears just came rolling down my cheek, which I could not control. (Something which had never happened to me before.) This was the first time tears rolled down non-stop.
At the end of the Praise & Worship, I felt lighter and brighter because God healed me completely. At the same time, I was deeply touched by God's love. HE's with us always and forever; HE will never leave us, and HE will never abandon us (Hebrews 13:5).
Everyone else may abandon us but God will never abandon us because HE is with us always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
This was an experience that was definitely REAL. In fact, till now, I am still amazed, simply amazed! |
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