CONNECT Issue 04 (Jan 2011)

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WITH GOD WITH ONE ANOTHER The Newsletter of Covenant Evangelical Free Church JANUARY 2011 ISSUE NUMBER 4 MICA 214/07/2010 “To forsake Christ for the world, is to leave a treasure for a trifle ... eternity for a moment, reality for a shadow.” WILLIAM JENKYN CONTENTS CLOSE-UP Redeeming Our Time 1 WIDE ANGLE Looking Back; Looking Ahead 4 Covenant Worship Through The Years 6 The Next Lap 9 A Time of Great Harvest 10 RECENT & UPCOMING EVENTS 12 GOD AT WORK Significant Moments in 2010 12 Redeeming Our Time W ith a loud thud, Dr Luis Pantoja Jr’s body crumpled into a lifeless heap at the bottom of the stairs. Rev Edmund Chan dropped everything and started CPR on his unconscious friend. But at approximately 6pm at the Mesilau Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Dr Pantoja was pronounced dead. “I’ve only known him for two years, but you don’t need to know someone long to love them deeply,” says SP. Dr Pantoja was pastor of Greenhills Christian Fellowship, a 7,000 strong church in the Philippines. Theirs was a bond born of a “shared passion for theology education, leadership development, discipling and a love for God’s Word and the people of God”. >>> 2010 seemed to be all about Singapore’s roaring economy, but Robin Yee discovers that the year held a pivotal moment for Covenant’s Senior Pastor REVEREND EDMUND CHAN. Whilst on sabbatical in 2010 10 page

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Transcript of CONNECT Issue 04 (Jan 2011)

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W I T H G O D W I T H O N E A N O T H E R

The Newsletter of Covenant Evangelical Free Church

JANUARY 2011 ISSUE NUMBER 4

MICA 214/07/2010

“To forsake Christ for the world, is to leave a treasure for a trifle ... eternity for a moment, reality for a shadow.” WILLIAM JENKYN

CONTENTSCLOSE-UP

Redeeming Our Time 1

WIDE ANGLE

Looking Back; Looking Ahead 4

Covenant Worship Through The Years 6

The Next Lap 9

A Time of Great Harvest 10

RECENT & UPCOMING EVENTS 12

GOD AT WORK

Significant Moments in 2010 12

Redeeming Our Time

With a loud thud, Dr Luis Pantoja Jr’s body crumpled into a lifeless heap at the bottom of the stairs.

Rev Edmund Chan dropped everything and started CPR on his unconscious friend. But at approximately 6pm at the Mesilau Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Dr Pantoja was pronounced dead.

“I’ve only known him for two years, but you don’t need to know someone long to love them deeply,” says SP.

Dr Pantoja was pastor of Greenhills Christian Fellowship, a 7,000 strong church in the Philippines. Theirs was a bond born of a “shared passion for theology education, leadership development, discipling and a love for God’s Word and the people of God”. >>>

2010 seemed to be all about Singapore’s roaring economy, but Robin Yee discovers that the year held a pivotal moment for Covenant’s Senior Pastor REVEREND EDMUND CHAN.

Whilst on sabbatical in 2010

10page

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Close Up

Spirited singing as they minister to the locals.

• started training in martial arts at 13 because he was robbed by five boys older than him when he was 12?

“Theotherpastorswentintomycomputerandransackeditforphotos.Theyfoundoneofmeinmymartialartsuniform.Oneoftheunknownthingsofmylifebecameknown.”

• loves chocolate and fried chicken?

“OneChristmaseverybodygavemechocolatesandmyfridgewasfullofthem.Thenextmorning,itwasemptyexceptforonebox.Annhadgiventhemallawayandsaidtome,‘Don’teattoomuch.’Ihaveagoodwifewhoknowswhat’sgoodforme.”

• shares the gospel everywhere? PastorKayKiongsaid,“At

immigration,hewilljokethatiftheofficerasksifyouhaveanythingtodeclare,declarethatJesusisSaviourandLord!”

Did you know that Ps Edmund ...

“These common joys and passions knitted us together.”

SP reminisces on all the extended times he got to spend with this “spiritual giant” during his last days, and counts it as the grace of God. “He was one of the most humble pastors I know.”

SP had to regretfully miss Dr Pantoja’s wake, as he had earlier agreed to minister in Nepal. “But knowing Luis, he would have wanted me to go to Nepal. So I told the church in Nepal that I was there with them to honour a friend who had died, and another who had died for them — Jesus.”

Thankfully, he was able to offer his condolences soon after, when he was invited to speak in the Philippines from 20–21 November at the launch of the Luis Pantoja Foundation. “That was closure for me, and closure is important.”

Thus closed a chapter on a defining moment of not only SP’s one-year sabbatical, half of which was spent in ministry as he fulfilled speaking and teaching engagements, but his entire life.

“I had asked the Lord, ‘Why was he taken and I left behind?’ He answered, ‘Because your work is not done yet.’ So I feel like I live on borrowed time.”

“I decided to reinvent and live more intentionally and redeem the time for the rest of my life.”

What this means for him is to:• Repair his past• Repack for the future• Re-prioritise his present• Revitalise his walk with God

NEW DECADE, NEW VISIONIt’s not surprising, therefore, to see even more urgency in his vision for Covenant in 2011 and beyond. His two aims are global missions and mentoring the next generation of leaders.

“We must swing behind the global movement of the 10/40 window, as that is on the heart of God. Our vital contribution in Covenant is to champion the trumpet call for intentional disciplemaking and the establishment of intentional disciplemaking churches for the strategic engagement of global missions,” he says.

It was a point driven home even more strongly when he visited The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity during his sabbatical, and asked its COO, Tracy Cotterell how many disciplemaking churches there are in London and the rest of Europe.

“None,” was her reply.“That was why January’s pulpit roster

intentionally revolved around four mission messages. The last of the four, ‘Let God be God’, is about the fact that God is the

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“We must SWING behind the GLOBAL MOVEMENT of the 10/40 WINDOW, as that is on the HEART OF GOD.”

ASALOVEROFbooksandthewisdomoftheauthorswhoshapeandsharpenhisreflections,SPseeshimselfas“oneoftheworld’smostreluctantauthors”,alabelthathiswife,PastorAnn,echoesinherforewordofhisbook,MentoringParadigms.

HowthendidSPpublishfivebooks?HesaystheywereallpromptedbyGod,andthatiswhyeachofhisbookswerewrittenwithinthreeweeks.Headds,“I’mwritingfivebooksrightnow,butIdon’tintendtopublishanyofthem.Idoitformyowngrowthanddevelopment,andtoclarifymyownthinking.”

TheReluctantAuthor

“He who loses money,

loses much; he who loses a friend, loses much

more; he who loses faith, loses all.” ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

director of world missions and therefore our engagement in prayer is crucial.”

On mentoring the third generation of leaders, he is targeting those aged between 25–35. In this, too, God has not only prompted him, but opened a door.

SP recalled how after Dr Pantoja’s passing, he was suddenly awoken at 4am one morning. He started praying and told God how much he missed Luis (he shaved off his trademark moustache as a sign of respect) and wished he could have answered his request to be mentored, something he would gladly have done.

“Then the Lord spoke to me, ‘Don’t grieve over the loss of a potential spiritual son, because I have given you another.’”

After SP finished praying, he checked his email, and found an email addressed to someone else but sent to him by mistake. It was from Joey Asher Tan, a young pastor who had tried to meet with him a year earlier.

After arranging to meet him that morning and speaking with him, SP decided that Joey would be “the first in his generation that the Lord has set my heart upon to mentor”.

SP may not have known it then, but Joey had decided to enter full-time ministry because of an IDMC conference he had earlier attended.

And so, as a chapter of SP’s life closes, another opens.

With his able partner in ministry, Ann Chan

It’s Bart Simpson time!

At the Eiffel Tower with his wife, Pastor Ann Chan, and daughters, Amanda (L) and Belicia (R)

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Wide Angle — A Column By Covenant Staff

Looking Back; Looking Ahead

Oscar Wilde said: “In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants and

the other is getting it”.Many people lament when they do

not get what they want, thinking they will be happier if they did. But things are not what they seem.

In church, this paradox also exists. People look for a good church. When they find it, they realise the church is not what it seems and are disappointed. Church becomes a spectator sport rather than a community.

I am amazed that Jesus died to

redeem and establish us as the Church. Covenant is not perfect but it has a distinct calling and destiny that I will give my life to.

LOOKING BACK ON 2010With Senior Pastor on his sabbatical, Reverend Tony Yeo led Covenant with many faithful staff members and lay leaders. These are some of the highlights:• Super Saturday (SS): The monthly SS gathered the

community for equipping and prayer. While attendance at SS was good, it was difficult to meet the different equipping needs. After our review with the Zone Mentors, we decided that monthly SS would focus again

Reverend Tan Kay Kiong reflects on the year that just passed, and shares with us his heartbeat for 2011 and the next five years.

Discipling the

next generation

about missions

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on prayer and praise. We are also preparing the next phase of men’s/women’s training to complement our IDT curriculum.

• Outreach: We were very blessed to have

Dr Andrew Goh and Dr Freddie Boey at our Easter and Christmas evangelistic outreach events.

• 40-Day Prayer: God stirred deep passions in many of

us to pursue Him and reach the lost for Jesus during our 40-Day Prayer in August. We want to continue taking each believer deeper with God.

• IDMC: God blessed the delegates

tremendously through our Senior Pastor’s teaching. Since IDMC 2011 is fully booked, we are organising an in-house IDMC conference only for Covenanters this March.

“THE TIME IS SHORT. The task is urgent. The labourers are few. WILL YOUR EYE BE SINGLE FOR THE LORD?”

• Missions Launch: With Elder Tan Lian Seng on board,

missions began in 2010 with a two weekend emphasis featuring Dr Martin Goldsmith. Covenant will be a missions-sending church engaging in global missions.

LOOKING AHEADCovenant must think globally but act locally. Over the next five years, Covenant will establish a global IDMC movement through our Senior Pastor. In addition, under the leadership of the Lead Pastors in each centre, we will continue to strengthen the local church through our transformational strategies.

The three broad aims for the next five years are:A. Build Upon Our Foundation Covenant values Grace, Growth and

Godliness. Hence, we champion Authentic Discipleship and Intentional Disciplemaking. Covenanters should aspire to become disciples of “a certain kind” in four arenas of life and ministry: (i) posture of meekness and

brokenness;

At a booth during Missions Week

It’s all about You, Jesus

(ii) perspective in wisdom and principle-centred living;

(iii) pragmatics to serve and lead effectively; and

(iv) power of the Holy Spirit.

B. Concretise Our Vision The process of Win, Disciple and

Send enables everyone to be mature in Christ. You can achieve this by walking faithfully through our six transformational strategies: Love Me–Change Me–Use Me–Train Me– Empower Me–Multiply Me. We have planned various opportunities for spiritual revival and preparation for eternity to bless you this year. Engage in one of these strategies this year.

C. Mentor the Next Generation The battle is not won in this

generation but in the third and

fourth generations. Our children are bombarded with distractions that lead them astray from the truth. Unless we disciple them at home and in the Church, we will lose them to the devil. Covenant is therefore raising and discipling more full-time staff and lay leaders for the next generation ministries.

CONCLUSIONSo fellow Saints and Soldiers of the Cross, the time is short. The task is urgent. The labourers are few. Will your eye be single for the Lord? (Matt 6:22–23) Join me in this great adventure to serve a risen Saviour!

Each believer deeper with God

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Worship Ministry

Covenant Worship Through the Years

Covenanters worship each Sunday at one of two acoustically-engineered auditoriums equipped with professional digital audio

systems. A wide array of microphones ensures that each instrument resounds evenly while every whisper remains crisp to the ear. Lyrics and graphics dance with crystal clarity on hi-resolution LCD screens, multiple cameras zoom in on a tear or smile, and coloured lights illuminate each singer’s face. Hands are raised and hearts warmed.

Worship is simply, spectacular.Yet, long-time worship leaders and

husband-and-wife team Karen and Keng Yeow recall a time when worship was “simpler” — in the late 80’s when the

congregation numbered 150 at 721 Bukit Timah.

“Those were the days of transparency slides and overhead projectors. There was no stage. There was a microphone or two and we sang from the front row seats,” Karen recalls.

The expression of worship differed as well.

“We were uncomfortable with the engagement of emotions and distrusted anything that appeared like emotionalism, so worship was mostly cerebral. We were happy to sing about God, not so much to God. We couldn’t identify with ‘over simplistic’ lyrics and raising of hands was largely unnatural,” Keng Yeow explains.

He also remembers a different breed

of musicians as well. “We were really amateurish then. If I auditioned today, I’m not sure I’d make the mark. Back then there was no band; just a pianist who was a Singapore Bible College student, ‘on loan’ to the church, and who played every week. Then there was a drummer and I on guitar. We went about things quite simply, with no chords charts, no rehearsals.”

One wonders if the concept of an unrehearsed worship would be acceptable in the increasingly prevalent culture of “spiritual consumerism” that every Covenanter knows well to avoid.

SPIRIT-LED WORSHIP “I find the great extent of ‘scripted-ness’ in worship rather unfortunate,”

WORSHIP is the first thing we do when we step into church. Just how has Covenant’s worship services evolved over the years? Covenant’s longest-serving worship leaders Lim Keng Yeow and Karen Phuah share their views with Adrian Lim.

Coming back to the heart of worship

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“IF WE LED LIKE KING DAVID and we have a congregation of worshippers like King David... CAN YOU IMAGINE THE POWER OF WORSHIP?”

NAMELimKengYeowAGE44NUMBEROFYEARSINCEFC23NUMBEROFYEARSASWORSHIPLEADERINCEFC20HOWIBECAMEAWORSHIPLEADERTherewasnooneelseavailablethatparticularSundayandIwastheonlyoneavailableasafill-in!FAVOURITEVERSEANDREASON“WhomhaveIinheavenbutyou?AndearthhasnothingIdesirebesidesyou.Myfleshandmyheartmayfail,butGodisthestrengthofmyheartandmyportionforever.”Ps73:25–26.(Itismyfavouriteversebecause)itisareminderthatHeismySourceofperspective,purposeandperpetuity!FAVOURITEWORSHIPSONGANDREASONNoneinparticularWORSHIPIS…ourresponsetoWhoHeisandHisresponsetoourresponseAGOODWORSHIPLEADERISONEWHO…worshipsferventlyandsincerely,andleadseffectivelyandauthoritatively

InAWordKeng Yeow laments. “Sometimes I deliberately lead with just the starting song in mind — then learn to follow the Spirit’s leading. I’d hope for a bit more of this in Sunday services. Not to the extent of deliberately not planning, but to emphasise preparation of the heart above planning and rehearsing.”

Despite the improvements to worship services, Karen is glad that some fundamentals have remained unchanged.

“The heart of Covenant’s worship does not change. We want to lead a worship where the Lord is glorified and exalted and one that He is pleased to reside in (Ps 22:3). We want God’s people to be led into an uninhibited worship to the Lord. If we led like King David and we have a congregation of worshippers like King David... can you imagine the power of worship?”

A worshipper’s heart like King David’s is what Keng Yeow feels is necessary among members of the worship ministry.

“I like the fact that while we desire musical excellence, we are not overawed by talent. We have always held that having the right spirit is more important than having the right skills and our worship ministry is not a breeding ground for prima donnas jostling to showcase their talent. I believe we’ve established a culture where ministry is not a place where we draw attention to ourselves; it is a place of humble service.” >>>

Worship Service at Woodlands Centre

Presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice

Let me be a sweet, sweet

sound in Your ear

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Worship Ministry

And humble service is what Karen and Keng Yeow have modelled for the church.

Why the humility? Karen will be first to admit that for her, worship leading is no “walk in the park.”

LEADING FROM A POSITION OF WEAKNESSBy many counts, Karen is not your typical worship leader. She was the only female worship leader in the English service until recent years. She remains the only worship leader who does not play a musical instrument. Yet she confidently leads a worship team, and 20 years in the ministry has not seen her taking a back seat. In fact, she recently transferred from WDL to lead in BPJ despite inconveniences.

Yet, behind this air of confidence lies a woman who struggled with deep insecurities about her ability to usher God’s people into worship.

“When I was growing up, I was convinced that I am not good enough and would not amount to anything significant. I also had a traditional church upbringing where I learnt that a woman’s place was not to lead in public worship.”

“Often I would contend with the Lord that I was really the least of all the

worship leaders because I was not as skilled. The Lord challenged my foolish thoughts — so what was it to me if it pleased Him to use the ‘foolish and weak things’? He had always more than compensated me for all my lack and I have never felt I was leading alone.”

NO SUCH THING AS “RETIREMENT”Despite having left the worship ministry to serve the intercessory ministry, Keng Yeow never saw himself as “retired” from worship leading.

“I don’t lead a regular team right now, but I’m always open to filling in for someone or being assigned a particular event. Though I lead less now, I’ve never fully stepped down,” Keng Yeow declares.

He also reminds us of the vital role of the worship leader in the life of the church.

“In worship services, he does what even the preacher may not be able to. The two roles are complementary, and to me, of similar importance.”

BALANCE“Today we’ve become a place that believers from different Christian backgrounds can worship in. We have come to gain a greater sense of

NAMEKarenPhuahAGE43NUMBEROFYEARSINCEFC22NUMBEROFYEARSASWORSHIPLEADERINCEFC10HOWIBECAMEAWORSHIPLEADERLongstory.Butitmaynothavehappenedifnotformyhusband’ssupportandencouragement,myown“RoadtoDamascus”experienceinSydney,andasurprisevisitbyPastorEdmundChanwhileinSydney.FAVOURITEVERSEANDREASON“AndtheLordistheonewhogoesaheadofyou;Hewillbewithyou.Hewillnotfailyouorforsakeyou.Donotfearorbedismayed.”Deut31:8.Thistruthhadbeenproventimeandtimeagaininmylife.FAVOURITEWORSHIPSONGANDREASON1.“GivemeJesus”byFernandoOrtega.IfIamlookingforasongformyfuneral,thiswillbeit.Despitemystruggles,myinsecurities,mylack,IwanttolivemylifewellforJesus.2.“MyRedeemerisFaithfulandTrue”byBobbyMichaels—areminderthatGodismycomfort.WORSHIPIS…beinginthesweetpresenceofGod.AGOODWORSHIPLEADERISONEWHO…encounterstheLordanddesirestoleadtheworshipteamandthecongregationintothesameencounterandmore.

InAWord

‘balance’, where we integrate both loud, joyous celebration in worship, and quiet contemplative stillness in worship. Neither is any less biblical,” Keng Yeow notes.

“Balance does not mean taking the middle ground. Be fully sensitive to the Lord and the leading of His Holy Spirit and be fully grounded in the Bible, the Word of God.”

In other words, worship Him in spirit and in truth.

“THE LORD challenged my foolish thoughts — so what was it to me IF IT PLEASED HIM to use the ‘FOOLISH AND WEAK THINGS’”?

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8am. As Singapore awoke to the new year, a familiar voice echoed through an auditorium of worshippers along Jelapang Road. Hearts

were ready to hear God’s burden for Covenant’s next lap.

Senior Pastor Rev Edmund Chan (SP) led a Leaders’ Empowering session on the first day of 2011, starting with an inward journey of personal renewal. In the only Psalms Moses wrote, Psalm 90, he wrote about our fleeting days. Reflecting on Psalms 90, numbering our days and living with intentionality require us to apply four things: 1) Repair our past (releasing and

receiving forgiveness, repentance); 2) Repack for our future (simplify, de-

accumulate); 3) Overhaul present priorities; and 4) Revitalise our spiritual passion.

We need to enter a season of spiritual renewal before embarking on God’s outward call.

The next lap for CEFC is engagement in global missions. SP jokingly asked, “Which part of ‘global’ and ‘missions’

do you not understand?” This is the season of engagement not just for Covenant, but all churches in Singapore. God is on the move, and we are called to partner Him.

SP described missions as a sniper with a single bullet and a single aim, i.e., missions not in a single place but done in a certain way. Global missions is not about programmes but multiplying the “certain kind” who are disciples of Christ. Missions does not just involve adults. We also need to engage the next generation for missions. God provided Elder Tan Lian Seng as the missions director to lead us in global missions.

I once heard a remark that Covenant was not a missions-centered church. I

feel differently. Having been in Covenant for a few years, I have heard the missions heartbeat from the leadership. I teared as I heard SP lead Covenant into global missions because this resonated deeply. Disciple-making has everything to do with missions. I am tempted to eagerly run ahead and allow good things to replace the God-thing. But global missions is neither trivial nor comfortable. It requires the “certain kind” to have a firm foundation in Jesus Christ. It requires an urgent spiritual revival.

The sniper’s life depends on that single bullet and aim. Many lost souls out there may just be waiting for us to hone our marksmanship. Are you ready to answer God’s call for you?

“GLOBAL MISSIONS is neither trivial nor comfortable. IT REQUIRES THE CERTAIN KIND to have a FIRM FOUNDATION IN JESUS CHRIST.”

The Next LapSenior Pastor Rev Edmund Chan shares his heart for what’s ahead at our recent LEADERS’ EMPOWERING. By Andrew Koh.

Leaders Empowering

Worshipping in

community

Our church leadership

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Event: Christmas 2010

A Time of Great Harvest!

December was a season of celebrating Christ, in the best way possible. Over 600 Covenanters rallied together to bring

the message of the gospel to pre-believing friends and family. We served together at Bag-teria — a multi-media play; Mandarin, Hokkien and Cantonese outreach events; KidzCamps at Bukit Panjang and Woodlands; and the Christmas Carnival.

God was on the move. Friends we invited turned up, manpower shortages were filled up, and most importantly, God showed up! Praise God for the 210 people who received Christ during these events.

At Bag-teria, Woodlands Centre was abuzz with activity as more than 900 people packed the foyer each night,

chatting and mingling over coffee and snacks after the play. Having raised many thought-provoking questions, the play and the message by Dr Andrew Goh served as a springboard for many meaningful conversations about Christ. During the three evenings, 53 people came to know the Lord.

Our Sunbeam children, together with their invited friends, took a walk through “The Secret Garden” at the KidzCamp. Through games and activities, the children learnt of three gardens – the Original garden made for us to enjoy with the LORD (Eden); how sin and the fall resulted in our Saviour praying one night in another garden (Gethsemane); and a third Garden in the restored earth. Many heard the Good News for the first time. Altogether, 103 kids from both Centres gave their lives to Jesus Christ.

CHRISTMAS 2010 was an exciting time for Covenant. Khoo Wei Lii reports on all the action that took place and testifies of God’s goodness to our church.

The Bagheads of Bag-teria

A capacity crowd at Bag-teria

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These joyous harvest scenes were seen once again at the Mandarin, Hokkien and Cantonese outreach events, with another 44 people being ushered into God’s kingdom, through the concerts, caroling and movie screenings.

Such a harvest was unprecedented in all of Covenant’s history. This truly was a glorious response from the Father to the prayer-soaked and persevering efforts of Covenanters. It was a time of celebrating God’s love and goodness, and giving Him all the glory for His mighty works.

The Christmas Carnival was another wonderful opportunity for us to share the love of Christ to the community, amidst sweet candy floss, delicious snacks, colourful balloons, games galore, entertaining performances and an exciting lucky draw. A special treat was the family portraits for 50 of the families. Kudos goes to our youths who served enthusiastically and sacrificially. The Christmas Carnival would not have been such a success without their sense of fun. On their own accord, they even

formed balloon parades to welcome and usher people into the carnival tents!

As we rejoice at what God did during the Christmas season, we also believe this is just the beginning of a new season of harvest for Covenant. God is at work, and invites us to join Him in harvesting lost souls.

The Chinese New Year and Easter outreach events are coming up. Let us not miss out on the opportunity and joy of partnering with God. Let us endeavour to bring our pre-believing friends to the various outreach opportunities. Let us roll up our sleeves and get involved through serving. Most of all, let us get down on our knees to beseech the Lord of the Harvest. God is on the move. Will you join Him?

“The angel fetched Peter out

of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel.”

THOMAS WATSON

“FRIENDS we invited TURNED UP, manpower shortages were filled up, and most importantly, GOD SHOWED UP!”

Guests enjoying themselves at Bag-teria

Volunteers serving with joy

Henry Chong captivated the audience

Dr Andrew Goh

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Recent & Upcoming Events

God At Work: Significant Moments in 2010

Look out for our next

issue in March 2011!

5 Feb Mandarin CNY Concert WDL 13 Feb Mandarin CNY Concert BPJ

16 Feb Hokkien Outreach WDL

6 Mar AGM BPJ

17–19 Mar A Certain Kind Conference WDL

Date Event VenueCREDITS

EXECUTIVEEDITORSandraChi

MANAGINGEDITORChanSueMing

COPYEDITORSKatieChung,YvonneCheongEdwinPang

WRITERSRobinYee,AdrianLim,KhooWeiLii,RevTanKayKiong,MaggieNg,AndrewKoh

PHOTOEDITORArielWee

PHOTOGRAPHERSPaulLiew,JasonBok,PaulSamuel

ARTDIRECTION&DESIGNChristianSubrata

[email protected]

OUROFFICE167JalanBukitMerahTower5,#17-10Singapore150167T.+6568926811F.+6568921502www.cefc.org.sg

PRINTERYungShungPrintradePteLtd

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Moving back to stay with my family and 75 year-old mum was the most significant event. In 2010, I realised that the servanthood of Christ involved reconciliation. My moving back to stay with my mum was a result of this.

JEREMY KOH

I am thankful that God paved the way for me to travel for three months with my mother, something she loved doing but couldn’t do on her own. I am thankful for His perfect timing as my father’s health was deteriorating then and the trip might not have been possible later. I am also thankful that God reminded me He is more interested in my being than in my doing.

MIE TAKATSUJI

During Pastor Ed’s closing message at the 2009 IDMC, God asked me to do the one thing that I had been running away from. In obedience, I took up the challenge to be the Camp Commandant of the March 2010 Women’s Breakthrough Weekend. Through it, I experienced God’s help, friendship, prompting and love! I would have missed all these if God had not given me the grace and faith to confront my fears. He is truly a good and faithful God.

STEPHANIE GO

My husband and I had been praying for a child and God answered our prayers in August when I discovered I was five weeks’ pregnant. This was despite a condition that caused irregular menstrual cycles and increased the risk of miscarriage. I had to go to my gynaecologist for injections twice a week during the first few weeks of pregnancy to help sustain it. Friends and family supported us in prayer, and this helped us weather those uncertain times. I have since advanced into my second trimester and our baby’s growth has also been on track. We give thanks to the Lord for His faithfulness and goodness.

LYNN TEO

My journey with God in 2010 ended on a triumphant note. I shared the gospel with my aunt on Christmas Day and she accepted Christ! Though my faith was little, God used me to reach out to her in His timing. My aunt passed away three days later and though I am grieved, I trust that she is now in a better place where she is restored to wholeness with our Lord.

EMILY TAN

God brought me through a faith journey of prayer and trust in Him. He showed me that His faithfulness prevails and He will answer my prayers in His time.

ADRIAN TAN