Michelle Chiang - Eternal Life Assembly

Shaped for Mission – At Every Age

Michelle Chiang — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:00:08 +0000

“Missions begin when we recognise that God has already been at work in our lives – shaping our stories, using our gifts and experiences for His redemptive purposes. Every believer has a role to play in His mission, both locally and across the globe.”

Rev Dr Daphne June Lau

In 2025, Eternal Life Assembly’s (“EL”) Missions Committee organised 14 mission trips and outreach events to share God’s love and spread His word in Singapore and beyond.

A total of 212 intergenerational ELites – children, youths, adults and seniors – answered God’s call to “do the good works which He has prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

Let us hear from eight of them what prompted them to step out in faith, and what they experienced while serving.

Q: Which mission trip did you go for?

Bernard (aged 76, English Congregation): Cambodia Care Centre.

Declan (aged 18), Gordon (aged 23), Alythea (aged 21), Hannah (aged 20) and Zanna (aged 24) (Youth): EL Cambodia

Junxiang (aged 34, Mandarin Young Adult): Outreach to migrant workers at Tuas Recreation Centre.

Frank (aged 33, Mandarin Young Adult): EL Tanjung Pinang.

Q: What prompted you to sign up for the mission trip?

Bernard: I felt God call me to step out of my comfort zone and serve others.

Declan: Honestly, my flesh was unwilling at first. But I knew that a heart of service, love, and sacrifice must be lived out through action. Cambodia, far outside my comfort zone yet hungry for God, felt like the perfect place for my first mission trip.

Gordon: I’d heard that mission trips are eye-opening experiences, so I wanted to experience one myself. I’ve received blessings throughout my life and wanted to give back.

Zanna: I had not been to Cambodia since my first mission trip in 2017. Hearing how much had changed encouraged me to go because the people there are on God’s heart.

Junxiang: Migrant workers build our homes and infrastructure, yet they are often overlooked. I joined the Tuas South outreach to show appreciation and share the love of Jesus.

Frank: I did not say “yes” immediately. After praying about it, I sensed God prompting me to step out of my comfort zone. That gave me the confidence to go.

Q: What impacted you most on the trip?

Bernard: The faith and joy of the people despite their circumstances. Many had little materially, yet their gratitude, generosity and trust in God were remarkable. I went thinking I would give, but I received far more – renewed gratitude and a deeper awareness of God’s presence.

Declan: Same here. I was blessed! Cambodia may appear “lacking” to many, but to me there was abundance – of faith, hunger for God and heartfelt worship. Seeing believers sacrifice so much to serve Him reminded me to keep God at the centre of my life.

Gordon: It has to be EL Cambodia’s love for God. The leaders served sacrificially while juggling school and ministry, yet always with joy. And even though many of the team members fell ill before the trip, God carried us through. It reminded me to trust Him fully.

Zanna: Indeed, God was with us all the way. I was supposed to preach with notes on my iPad, but it couldn’t connect to Wi-Fi. After a quick prayer, I spoke without a script, and ideas kept coming as I spoke – even demonstrating “being the light of the world” with a headlamp. It reminded me that God equips us when we rely on Him.

Alythea: I was deeply moved by the believers’ hunger for God despite persecution from friends or family. Their sincere worship and bold faith showed me what genuine faith looks like – trusting God even when it is costly.

Hannah: Missions are not limited to overseas trips. We can reach people around us in Singapore who have yet to know Christ. I want to continue bringing God’s love to the people around me – to be the salt and light wherever He places me.

Junxiang: I learnt that sometimes a simple act of service opens doors. Offering to take a photo for two migrant brothers led to a friendly conversation.

Frank: The people we met made the biggest impact. Even though we were together for only a few days, the bond felt deep. It reminded me how God’s love connects people beyond differences.

Q: What would you say to someone considering going on a mission trip?

Bernard: Don’t wait until you feel ready. Missions is not about ability but willingness. God will work in your heart as you serve.

Declan: Go for it! Even when doubts come, trust that God will provide. Missions bless not only others but it also allows God to enrich our spiritual lives.

Gordon: Go! Stepping outside our “little red dot” helps us see how God is working beyond our familiar surroundings.

Zanna: Mission trips allow us to experience God’s empowerment for His kingdom purposes.

Junxiang: Missions does not always mean going overseas. There are many opportunities in Singapore to bless others and share God’s love.

Frank: Step out in faith. God works powerfully through willing hearts, and the experience will transform your faith.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10

Eternal Life Assembly thanks every ELite who has answered God’s call to carry out the Great Commission – spreading His love in Singapore and beyond.

Age is no barrier. We are all SHAPED FOR GOD’S MISSION.

Step out in faith today. Click here to find out more about EL’s missions and indicate your interest for the upcoming mission trips in 2026.

The post Shaped for Mission – At Every Age first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.

A Lifetime of Service, A Heart for God

Michelle Chiang — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 03:59:00 +0000

“Christianity is for the Westerners. We have our god and ancestors to worship!”

My grandmother exclaimed when she discovered that I was attending Sunday school near our home in Penang.

But nothing could stop me.

At five, I looked forward to listening to bible stories, singing children’s songs, playing games and having snacks; they were the highlights of my week.

My parents were less resistant. They even enrolled me in a convent school nearby. Still, growing up in a Buddhist household, the thought of ever becoming a Christian seemed almost impossible.

That seed of faith, however, never stopped growing.

Years later, while studying nursing in the United Kingdom, Christian friends encouraged me back to church. There, the gospel became personal. I received salvation and was baptised.

After graduation, work took me to Hong Kong, and there

I met Pastor Daniel Wong, the man who would later become my husband and my partner in ministry.

Many people have asked me what it is like being a pastor’s wife.

Truly, it is a privilege to serve God together with Daniel.

He loved visiting members, encouraging them, and praying for them. I often went along and my nursing instincts blended naturally with pastoral care, especially when tending to the sick.

Of course, ministry came with challenges. Some members wondered why I couldn’t always be at church, not realising I was on nursing shifts.

Others expected me to preach or disciple like a pastor. But I was not gifted in that way. Instead, I served in ways I could: a listening ear, faithful prayers, and practical care.

Sacrifices were also part of our journey.

Once, mid-dinner, we rushed out to pray for a dying relative. And when Daniel was posted to a church in Macau, I remained in Hong Kong with our young son, Benjamin, and became a single parent for three years.

In 1998, our family moved to Eternal Life (EL) Assembly, where Daniel pastored the Cantonese congregation. Together, we continued visitations, encouraging members, helping them grow, and building bonds that went beyond Sundays.

Then, in 2022, my world shattered. Daniel went home to the Lord. After more than 40 years of marriage, the empty chair at the dining table, his clothes hanging in the wardrobe, the quiet side of the bed, painfully reminded me of his absence.

I missed his voice, his laughter, our conversations and I missed my partner in ministry.

In those dark days, God’s Word became my anchor:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18)

And He sent “angels” in the form of family, friends, and the EL community to walk with me, pray with me, and support me through grief.

Out of that sorrow came a new conviction: to continue Daniel’s work.

Despite not being able to read Chinese, I stepped up to teach Sunday school in the Cantonese ministry. Praise God for technology! The Cantonese Bible app became my lifeline.

The visitation ministry continued, even in Daniel’s absence.

Together with dedicated church members, I spent time with elderly congregants

Reading the Bible, offering encouragement, and praying with them. For many who live alone or face health challenges, these visits became a source of comfort, hope, and a tangible reminder that God has not forgotten them.

One elderly sister I remember well had been hospitalised for a long time.

Discouraged and fearful, she asked me quietly, “Will God help me?”

Such doubts are not uncommon. And each time, my mission is the same: to remind them of God’s unfailing love.

I gently reminded her of 1 Peter 5:7:

“Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

Then I shared my own story of how God carried me through Daniel’s passing. Personal testimonies always open hearts. She listened, prayed, and surrendered her fears. Not long after, she was discharged and is now a faithful member of church again. Glory to God!

Looking back, I see how God planted that tiny seed of faith when I was just a child.

In His time, He watered it, equipped me, and led me to serve Him in ways I could never have imagined.

Certainly, there are sacrifices to make and doubts to overcome. But these are nothing compared to what Jesus went through for us.

I am now 76 years old. As long as I am able, I will keep serving Him, for it is the greatest privilege of my life.

As long as I am able, I will keep serving Him, for it is the greatest privilege of my life.

Eternal Life Assembly thanks Catherine and every ELite who has dedicated their time, gifts, and resources to serve faithfully, spreading God’s love in Singapore and beyond.

Step out in faith today. Serve in your family, community, or church, and share His love with those around you.

Age is no barrier. Just be willing to offer your time!

Opportunities abound in EL (find out more here).

The post A Lifetime of Service, A Heart for God first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.

When Love Waited for the Right Time

Michelle Chiang — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Love at first sight it was not.

Though Chris and Teresa were in the same circle of friends, they hardly interacted with each other, until an occasion when they spoke one-on-one.

Chris, single and seeking at that time, was attracted to Teresa. But when he asked her friends for her contact number, they declined his request.

Getting into another relationship was the last thing on my mind

“They were protecting me,” explained Teresa. At that time, she had just gone through a divorce. “I was still healing, still unsure. Getting into another relationship was the last thing on my mind,” she added.

Teresa’s first marriage had ended in heartbreak due to deep differences in beliefs and life direction. It was a decision wrapped in agony, self-doubt, and fear.

“I wondered if I had disappointed God, if I had failed,” she shared. “I couldn’t even tell my father. Divorce was a heavy word in my family.”

I experienced a love that reminded me of God’s – steadfast and redeeming.

However, God, in His mercy, softened hearts. When her family eventually learned of the situation, they responded not with condemnation, but with love.

“It was such a relief,” Teresa said through tears.

“They assured me that no matter what, they would stand by me and continue loving me. I experienced a love that reminded me of God’s – steadfast and redeeming.”

God’s redemptive love found me in my darkest moments

A year-long job assignment in Japan soon followed, a divine pause, as Teresa would come to see it. That season gave her the solitude and space to process, to grieve, and to heal.

“I had to confront the lies I believed about myself – that I was unworthy, that I was broken beyond repair,” she recounted.

“But as I meditated on God’s words and received the prayers and care of my friends in Eternal Life (EL) Assembly in Singapore, healing began. God’s redemptive love found me in my darkest moments,” she said.

Meanwhile, Chris – though his romantic interest had been gently rebuffed, remained a quiet, consistent presence.

At times, almost supernaturally, he would call just when Teresa needed someone.

“One time, she was in a supermarket struggling to communicate with the staff. I somehow sensed that she needed help, so I called her. As I could speak some Japanese, I interpreted for her,” Chris recalled fondly.

“I can’t explain why I seemed to have that telepathy with Teresa. Was it fate? Or was it a prompt from God? ” he mused.

When Teresa was back in Singapore, Chris continued pursuing her, but with little success because Teresa was often busy with church activities.

Chris was not attending church regularly then.

“I felt unworthy to be in God’s presence,” he admitted. “Although I longed to know Him more, I wasn’t sure if I was living fully according to His will and deserving of His love.”

Still, he was drawn to Teresa’s commitment to her faith. So one day, when Teresa invited him to attend a service at EL, he readily agreed.

That turned out to be a divine appointment. The warmth and faith of the Filipino congregation wrapped around him like family.

I felt welcome. I felt at home. Through the church, and through Teresa, I found my way back to God

“I felt welcome. I felt at home. Through the church, and through Teresa, I found my way back to God,” Chris said.

He had explored other churches, but in the end, EL became his spiritual home.

As their relationship progressed, Teresa, still cautious and healing, suggested a cooling-off period for each of them to seek God’s direction.

“I needed to know that my healing was complete, that I wasn’t rushing ahead of God.

“I remembered what Pastor Bob, Senior Pastor of EL, once told me: ‘Heal first, and when the time comes, the love of the Lord in your heart will melt away all the pain.’

And that’s exactly what happened – God had healed me. So I entrusted my journey ahead to Him.”

Heal first, and when the time comes, the love of the Lord in your heart will melt away all the pain.

As for Chris, Teresa was more than someone he loved; she was his turning point.

“She’s my guardian angel,” he said. “She reconnected me with Jesus and helped me grow in my faith.

I realised that God’s love is unconditional. Even though I had been distant, he did not forget me, but led me back to him.

I learnt to place my trust fully in God, seek Him first, and surrender every aspect of my life to Him.”

I realised that God’s love is unconditional. Even though I had been distant, he did not forget me, but led me back to him.

This God-centred love between Chris and Teresa is a firm foundation for their enduring relationship.

The couple married in 2017 and now have a 6-year-old daughter, Cassy.

Life is never a bed of roses. Yet no matter the circumstances, this couple place their faith and trust in God.

In response to God’s redemptive love, Chris and Teresa dedicated their lives and marriage to God and got baptised together in March 2025.

This story of Chris and Teresa is not just about second chances in love, but about the God who restores, rebuilds, and redeems.

Their story is a testament that even in our most broken moments, God is at work, weaving beauty from ashes.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

The post When Love Waited for the Right Time first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.