On 12 September 2009, a team of nine young adults ventured into the land of Muar, Malaysia for a trip that would soon change their lives. Upon the team’s arrival, we were welcomed by warm hospitality of our Muar hosts. They brought us to our humble but clean accommodation and blessed us with delicious Muar food. The very same evening, we led a breakthrough evangelistic youth service. Harvest Christian Fellowship (Muar) regular youth member strength is 17, but about 42 people turned up for the service! Praise the Lord! A powerful word about Father’s Love encouraged many of the youth gave their hearts to Jesus in a full altar call.
We also spent some time to disciple the youth leaders by splitting ourselves up to personally impart to them. Many of the youth had great hunger to do something for God, but they are untrained and most do not have access to what our church is privileged with.
Thereafter, on the next day, we led a main service averaging 50 adults and children where a powerful message about investing our life talents in the kingdom of God was preached. Once again, there was a full altar call where everyone just knelt before the presence of God and the team laid hands and imparted to the Muar church.
We then followed the Muar church workers on their visitations and we were really impacted by what we saw and learnt. One of the most memorable visitations was one where Pastor Lilian stepped into a mobile shop to top-up her card, but really to reach out to the shop-owner. They introduced a new worship song to the shop-owner and his family, and after singing it, Pastor boldly shared the love of Christ with them and invited them to accept Christ. The shop-owner actually agreed and Pastor prayed for them right there and then in the shop premises.
Another unforgettable incident was one of the church workers Mei Zhu, having received a phone call from one of the church members, rushed down immediately to a non-Christian family consisting of an adult son and an elderly motherly who just suffered from a stroke. Mei Zhu simply asked if she could sing to the elderly lady in a semi-vegetable state, while explaining to her son that by singing to her it will encourage the elderly lady who still can sense people showing care to her. Just by simple singing of a Hokkien worship song, the presence of God filled the entire room and no eye in the room was left dry. Even her adult son had tears in his eyes, and was very grateful and open to the love of Jesus. When Mei Zhu and the few of the Singapore team members were leaving, they made arrangements to visit again.
 |
| PHOTOS: Liong Chee Pang |
Indeed, it was a great privilege to experience first-hand the boldness and the genuine love of Pastor Lilian and her team that is growing the Muar church! Qi Fang (18, Student), the youngest in the team, said: “I am greatly impacted by how bold the Muar church is. It has completely challenged me to step out of my comfort zone to reach the lost!”
It was a great challenge for the Singaporean team to overcome the barrier of preaching, praying, and ministering in Chinese. Every single one of us on the team took a step of faith. Cindy Teng (24, Working Adult), who took leave from her busy schedule specially for this mission trip says “If God wants to move, it doesn’t matter what kind of weakness of inadequacies we have, He will still use a willing vessel.” We had so much to learn, but we constantly reminded ourselves that God had sent us there to be a blessing.
From this trip, one of our greatest lessons is God really can use ordinary, willing people to serve His will in an extraordinary way. Who better sums it up than Zhi Peng (26, Working Adult), our team leader who preached in the adult service: “声音是我的，话是神的!” loosely translated: “The voice may be mine, but the word is from God!”
