From the 10 to 13 September, 11 members from City Harvest Church ministered at Ipoh Harvest Church, Kampar Harvest Church and Taiping Harvest Church. The mission team led by Jimmy Yong set off for a grilling 7 hour journey to the Perak State of Malaysia at 10pm on 9 September, Tuesday and arrived at Ipoh at 4.50am the next day. Lian Choon Wah, Senior Pastor of Ipoh Harvest Church, along with two of his members Kenny Chee and Ronnie Yap welcomed the mission team up and brought them to eat the local’s famous dim sum for breakfast. The whole afternoon was spent with the team practicing and translating their testimony and offering message into the Chinese language, which the locals are more fluent in. The mission team also had a chance to practice with Ipoh Harvest’s worship band. The first service of the week was at another City Harvest Church’s affiliated Church; Kampar Harvest Church. There, Lily Azariel Mok from the mission team presented her testimony to the congregation.
It touched the audience so much so that one of the listeners later revealed to Mok that she teared while listening to her testimony. Asta Samantha Koh, from the mission team, encouraged the people to put their treasures with God in her offering message. Following that, Reverend George Ong from Harvest Christian Fellowship preached on ‘How to add value to your life’ which ministered to the congregation tremendously. On the next day, the team attended the 8pm service at Ipoh Harvest Church. It was akin to the Harvest family reunion as there were representatives from City Harvest Singapore, City Harvest, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh Harvest, Kampar Harvest, Taiping Harvest. After the Praise and Worship, Joyce Ho from the mission team challenged the congregation to sacrifice their best to God in her offering message and Reuel Eugene Tay from the mission team shared his testimony. Steff Toh and Tay also performed a song item ‘禱告’ (Prayer).
Following that, Ng Jie Lin from the mission team shared a dynamic message on ‘How to keep the Love for the Holy Spirit alive’. The congregation was mightily blessed by the Word of God. After the service, Pastor Lian invited everyone present at the auditorium to his house for dinner and to bid Sophia, Lian’s daughter, farewell as she departs for Moscow to study medicine for 6 years. On Sunday, the team woke up early to prepare for the 9am service at Ipoh Harvest Church. Ng reminded the congregation on the blessings of the Church in her offering message and Toh shared a heartwarming testimony about how God found her and accepted her as she was. After the performance by Toh and Tay, Yong preached on ‘How to overcome shame’. There was a mighty move of God as he laid hands and prayed for the musicians of Ipoh Harvest Church. After the service, the team took a 1 hour journey to Taiping, the first capital of the state of Perak. At Taiping, the mission team ministered at Taiping Harvest Church. Tay gave an offering message about ‘Giving your five loaves and 2 fish to God’ while Gabriel Cheong from the mission team presented his testimony on how God never given up on him even when he strayed from God. Yong ministered the Word and taught the people on keeping their relationship with God strong.
Many people were prayed for as Yong asked for those who want to love God more to step out of their seats and come forward. Abraham Chee, 17 reflected, “While we were ministering at our affiliated Churches, I was very encouraged by the fervency of the members. I learnt that at the mission field, we need to be very dependent on the Holy Spirit so that we can minister well!” Alison Yap, 32 also mused, “This mission trip made me realized not to take for granted what we have back in Singapore. I will definitely sign up for another mission trip soon.” The mission team came with the intent to minister and was ministered at the same time by the members’ fervency for the Lord.
