STEP-Fast Love - Jonathan Lau

This post is special; this is the only post I have put a photo in, and I am dedicating this to STEP. :)

On Friday, we graduated! Yay! It was an intense yet fun three weeks. To the pastors-in-charge, really want to thank you all for organizing this. It is fun, enriching, exciting (especially the first day^^) and great experience to many things that we probably wont explore. Appreciate you all,and especially after pastor Joshua Woo shared about how he had to call here and there for speakers.

To all the speakers, thank you for taking time to come down to speak to us:) It was really enriching hearing about stuffs like christianity in southeast asia, christianity and science. And also for all the theological lesson, calvin and what is it to be theologically educated.

And for what we call ourselves, the STEPers (so much pun), thank you for all the devotions that you all led, it is super applicable. Thank you all for sharing your laughter and joy with me. Without you guys, I think STEP would be quite quiet:) Fun fact: I am an introvert^^ I also thank you guys for joking around and really I am still very amazed by how God brings all of us from different churches together and make a STEP out of it!  

 

Firstly,as I looked back, wow, I wouldn’t have join STEP if Grace didn’t tell me about it. I was busy finding a job to earn money, but somehow, I couldn’t find a job suitable for me. Those suitable for me dao me -.- and then I realise that maybe I could join STEP, and when I actually look at the timetable, I was like 'let's go man'. The thing that caught my eye was the theology of worship and sacramental theology, but throughout the three week, I learn that theological education doesn’t separate both the theological knowledge and the practical part. 

Anyway, the point is that I believe that everyone in STEP is not by chance. We were chosen to learn and fellowship with one another. We were CALLED to be here for a purpose for God's mission. We could have been doing other stuff but we chose to join STEP, and that is one point I really cherish in this program, that all of you are not here by chance, but God putting each and everyone of you in my live. And I could say the same of all of you too, right?

I pray that even after STEP has ended, we will still continue to hold on to one another, always keeping in touch. And of course, we must hold on to God. As we depart to our future journey, let these memories always be in our heart, cause there will never be much opportunity for us to fellowship with other church's brother and sister. Let us continue to serve God, to help people and to fellowship with one another.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Jonathan Lau

The Mission Of God - Jonathan Lau

We have reached the last week of the STEP program and I guess it is kind of sad that it will end soon. Maybe next year STEP program can be a little bit more than 3 weeks? (Idea!) Looking back, I find it hard to really bond with 25 over people, and from so many different Presbyterian churches in such a short amount of time, but I guess God really work in amazing ways. Firstly, all of us had a goal in mind,that is to learn about God's words. Secondly, all of us really love and cherish the time of fellowship-ing with one another. That short lunch and dinner break, and the trip to botanic garden, everyone wants to get to know each other well and that is so amazing.

In that short amount of time, I have learnt a lot about how God works in many different people's lives. It doesn’t require a lot of knowledge of theology (although theology is important too), all you need to do is to see that problem and 'bang!', that is where you need to go, just like the Samaritan in Luke 10. The Onesimus farm is a place I have never been to or known about,and the first impression it gave me was WHY IS IT AT SUCH AN ULU PLACE!(Cause I have to go there myself :'( ) I like the fact that they uses the simple farming things to convey spiritual message, and how they appreciate small little plants that are growing as a blessing. The Onesimus farm helps to transform many people's live, for e.g. drug addicts.

Also, we went to Aljunied learnt about HealthServe. I was a bit reluctant to go to HealthServe initially as it clashes with the discipleship lesson I had in my church, but still went due to peer pressure. But the amazing thing was that when I stepped into HealthServe again, I actually realize more stuff than the last time. (Maybe I was daydreaming the last time.) HealthServe serves the migrant worker, work as a clinic for them. Then after, we broke up into groups and had dinner with a migrant worker. The one that was following my group was a guy whose one eye is blind. He had an accident and a nail struck his eye. He hasn't receive any compensation yet, even though his accident is closed to a year now. Due to his blindness in one eye, he is going to go back to his country. It is rather sad to hear about his story and I just pray that he will continue to hold on to God as he return back to his home. After that, we went to walk around Geylang red district. It was my first experience and it makes me wonder about why they are doing this. Some for money? I don’t know.

Through Onesimus garden and HealthServe, God opened my eyes to see that there are many people in the society, or rather in the world, that need help. What are we, as Christian, doing? 1 Peter 4:10 'As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace' Then I ask myself, what am I doing? How easy it would be if God can just tell me the direction. And that is something I struggled this week with.

The talk on missional church and missional discipleship was very interesting and refreshing. God is the missionary and we are involved in the mission of God! Never have I thought of God as the missionary, but it is true. He wants us to spread the gospel, spread the good news and we are living testimonies for him! From the past few days of exploring different social work, the area of mission is everywhere! The mission of God is a holistic mission! So what are we doing with our live now! 

For me, I really feel that missions in important, but there is one obstacle in front of me, which is whether I am willing to commit long term. People helping in healthserve and those in onesimus farm never fails to amaze me, because they had given their live to God. They have answered God's calling for them. And I am wondering, whether will I obey God's calling. Well it is really an eye opener to see the areas that I can help in, and I will slowly pray to God for his direction.

Jonathan Lau

God's Sovereign Grace and Our Christian Living - Jonathan Lau

All of us interns went back to our own church to find out about our church history. Guess what, I don’t even know much of my church history. How the 5 years plan of Providence Presbyterian Church helps to build up a church, with few congregation to a large number now. I really saw the sovereignty of God, how God works in Church and bring more people into it. I heard about other church history, which is quite amazing. Some of the churches had difficulties finding space to hold their service, yet God gave the church abundant grace and the church is still under God's care! Thank God!

In the afternoon, we had a talk on christianity and science. He talks about how science cannot disapproved theology or rather God. Science is just a tool for God's natural revelation.

Rev. Tan came to talk again,this time on Calvin's doctrine of Christian living, about how we,as christian, should sustain our christian living. One thing that struck me was that he said christian shouldn’t be trying to gain a perfect life, but rather maintaining Christ in us. christian living should be union with Christ. This reminded me of the phrase 'in Christ'. We are living in Christ, not on christ or what, we should take Jesus Christ as our role model when dealing with our christian living.

Afternoon, Preacher Gideon came down to talk about biblical counseling, about how we should counsel people at the same time not betraying our morality. We must love, know, speak, do. The most important step that I feel is love, because if we don’t love the people we counsel, there is no way that we will be able to understand them,and also that we are not displaying the image of God in our life. Also, we must let people know that we are not perfect and that we need God in our life. Always point people towards God when counselling. :)

Jonathan Lau

Knowing God's Words and Works - Jonathan Lau

Another enjoyable week with fellow interns. We went to bethel presbyterian church for a talk by Rev Tan. He talks about the reformation and john calvin. Then after that, we had sharing from three amazing youths. Their commitment in evangelizing is so amazing. They are so young too, reminds me of the verse from 1Tim. 4:12, "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." It makes me wonder whether I can really commit my life to evangelise, to do missions, basically God's Works.

Bethel Presbyterian Church's roadmark is 道路，真理，生命。

Next day, Rev. Tan Tiong Ann talked about the theology of worship. He talks about how the Roman Catholic Church observed the Mass, which actually objectified grace into a medium. So only through a medium is our life effected by grace. 

As Christians, we should not be finding ways to gain salvation through different mediums, but we should live out our life in ways that God desires. He talks about how we can worship anywhere. During the Old testament period, they don’t have sound systems etc, but they are still worshipping God, so how can we say that some churches has better worship than some? It reminds me that, as a worship leader, I shouldn’t keep comparing how I lead with how other people lead. As long as we are praising God, as long as we are glorifying him, that is worship!

Then after he talks about the sacraments, what John Calvin said about the sacraments, which is a symbol of our faith in God. He used an analogy of why we must partake in holy communion even though it is just a symbol. The analogy is when we wants to get married, why must we register under R.O.M.? Holy communion is a teaching of Jesus and it is important because it shows our full content of our faith and our acknowledgement of our salvation through Jesus Christ.

Jonathan Lau

Day 3 & 4 - Jonathan Lau

Day 3, we met up at Trinity Theological College for learning and touring. We learn the importance of theological education for church ministry and social engagement. One thing that reminds me was that we must have a theological reason behind everything we do and that includes social issues. I learn that pragmatic reasons to do social work such as saving souls, to be helpful and to be a responsible citizen are just doing to gain commendable work. If we do it that way, we would be doing it as duties or just like to show other people our good works. If we do it theologically, doing good works to reflect the image of God, which is life-giving towards each other, then we will express our Christian hospitality wholeheartedly to both Christians and strangers. Also, I learnt that as a church, one way or another, the church has to be involved in social issues aka gay marriage etc.

After that we had a tour of TTC library and other rooms. After lunch, we had a talk on old testament, how to study OT. There are 4 ways to study old testament, the genre, linguistic study/analysis, the historical context and the literary context. Then after that, we had a new testament talk. The old testament is revealed in new testament, while the new testament is contained in old testament. I learn that new testament function in many ways like it shows us that our sins which leads to death is dealt with by Jesus Christ, also it tells us about our new relationship and covenant with God.

Day 4,  we visited Singapore bible college, and the first lesson we had was Christianity in south-east Asia. We learn how Christianity hits the different countries. Its definitely God's sovereign plans for his gospel to be spread around. Then after, we had talk about what it meant to be theologically educated,how the Singapore Bible College works and youth ministry, ways to know the youth problems in church.

Overall, this week brings me a lot of insights on how Presbyterian, or rather Christianity is being spread around the world. Its amazing to link up how The gospel spread and looking at the wonderful work of God. Friends from different Presbyterian churches add up to the excitement in this program. It allows me to see the different perspective of questions. It is indeed a fruitful week. Looking forward.

Jonathan Lau

Day 1 & 2 - Jonathan Lau

On the first day, all of the youths from different presbyterian churches came together for our first day of internship. We started off with a message by the Synod Moderator Rt. Rev. Leow. 

Then we have a short orientation to get to know one another better, like sharing about what you do and each other background. Its coincidental that most of us are actually link one way or another, like indirect relationship with friends etc. It is definitely amazing how God bring over 20 people from different churches to come together, to fellowship, to know his Words and to spend the next few weeks together.

After lunch, we had team bonding games of BollaBolla. A very dangerous game yet it is fun. Worth the sweat. That is all we did on the first day. Getting to know one another was the objective. Looking forward for the second day.

Day 2, we went to the synod office and my group were leading devotion. A short worship followed by a short devotion on fellowship and unity. One in Christ.

Then after, Pr. Joshua Woo went to talk about an introduction to presbyterian history and distinctive. He mentioned that the first church in Singapore is the Cathedral of Good Shepherd (1882). The 'Big Four' of the National Council of Churches Singapore (NCCS) consists of Presbyterian, Anglican, Lutheran, and Methodist. Also, we learn about Rev. Benjamin Keasberry, who was the founder of the first presbyterian church (now known as Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church). He was also a missionary of London Missionary Society, which is now Council of World Mission. Andrew Melville was another person he talked about. He was the 'Father of Scottish presbyterianism' and the principal of Glasgow University. He was the guy who invented syllabus in our exam now. We learnt about the 4th century's marks of church, of being one, holy, catholic and apostolic. Presbyterian don’t believe in apostolic succession. Overall, Presbyterian distinctive is focused on missions and church planting, literacy and education, as well as reforming on the scripture.

After that, Pr. Willy Lau shared with us about Presbyterian churches in Singapore and the Synod. He talks about the logo of Presbyterian  and that Presbyterian believes strongly in the sovereignty of God.

After lunch, we had another talk, on Presbyterian movement in colonial Singapore. He talked about the geographical background where missionaries enters through trading ports and spread the gospel to the Chinese. Also, he talks about how the first church was a Malay church and slowly we continue to build for English church and Chinese church. It was a day of history background on how Presbyterian is formed,what is its distinction from other denomination and how Presbyterian came into Singapore.

That concludes the first and second day. It is really amazing how God leads the Presbyterianism to Singapore through various means. 

Jonathan Lau