A Journey of Service

Swee Fay — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 09:51:00 +0000

In 1994, my then-girlfriend, Linda, invited me to church. Joining a new community is always scary—especially when you are new and very introverted. Being good with my hands, I figured the best way to connect with the church community would be to serve in the Sound Ministry.

It was initially daunting. I had no technical experience, such as setting up microphones and mixing sound. I will never forget those early mornings of fumbling with cables and feeling the pressure of getting everything right before Sunday Service started. Yet God always provided experienced members from the sound team to guide and support me.

Over the next 16 years, I grew to know God more and served diligently in the Sound Ministry. During this time, I married Linda and started a family.

In the same year, two of my friends and I decided to start a business. We worked hard to build a successful business. In my drive to succeed, I directed all my focus to work and eventually spent less time with my family and even compromised attending church services on Sunday.

After 12 years of building the business, a crisis struck. Disagreements soured the partnership and our company faced potential closure.

I felt a great sense of loss. Years of effort hanging by a thread. Close friendships dissolved. Life’s purpose and direction were in complete disarray.

It was in the depths of this crisis that God’s words from Matthew 6:26 came to mind: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

Suddenly there was a realization of how much I had strayed from God in striving to succeed and provide for my family. God invited me to trust that He would provide and be my guide.

Suddenly there was a realisation of how much I had strayed from God in striving to succeed and provide for my family. God invited me to trust that He would provide and be my guide.

I clung to this promise and made the difficult decision to empty out 12 years of company earnings to buy out my partner’s shareholding and save the company.

During this turbulent time, I received a nomination to serve on the Church Board. This came as a huge surprise to me.

Firstly, I’m a very low-profile person (comfortably hiding behind the sound booth). Secondly, I felt spiritually inadequate. Thirdly, I was a businessman struggling to keep my company afloat.

As I struggled with the nomination, God brought to mind a vision I had years ago. In that vision, I was standing in the church’s classroom. I had felt God’s call—a promise that He would use me for His kingdom.

So despite my self-doubts, I stepped up and was nominated to the church board. Guess where board meetings are held? The same classroom that I saw in my vision!

In the two years that followed, I witnessed God’s incredible ways. Not only was my business restored to greater heights, but my sense of purpose and destiny in serving God was also strengthened.

After serving on the church board, God led me to serve in Missions. Again it was another new arena that I’ve no experience in. But God never once wanted my abilities. He only wanted my availability.

Over the years, I’ve been on 15 mission trips. Seeing how God used me to build our Cambodian church is such a privilege and humbling experience.

God continued to place me in various ministries which were unfamiliar to me such as Communications & Media, Potter’s Place Community Services, and the Healing Room.

I began my journey in Eternal Life Assembly wanting to be connected. Today, God has placed in me a greater passion to connect others to God and this spiritual family.

There are many areas in our church that we can put our hands to serve God in. 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 tells us: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow…”

This verse has reminded me time and again that our role is simply to be willing to sow the seed, give of our time, and our hands, and trust that God will bring about the growth and fruition.

Brothers and sisters, I encourage you to give of yourself to God wherever He has placed you. We never need to worry about our capabilities—what matters is our willingness to be used by Him. Where He leads you to serve, His grace will enable you to excel.

The post A Journey of Service first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.

From Seeds to Potted Herbs : A Journey of Gardening, Faith and Community

Swee Fay — Fri, 24 May 2024 06:24:00 +0000

My heart has always been for charity and supporting mission work, but my job didn’t allow me to travel much for overseas missions. While I contributed to our EL Cambodia Missions through finances and prayers, there was always a yearning to do more.

In late March this year, during a chat with Eve, one of my Life Group (LG) members, I shared an idea to sell 100 potted herb plants to raise funds for the Cambodia Missions.

The plan was to do it with Asher, my 11 year old son, and to have a leisurely bonding time of gardening over eight months. Yet, this project turned out anything but leisurely!

Eve, who also loves gardening, jumped on the idea and suggested we do it together as an LG project! I’ve always told my children that they are unique and need to exercise their God-given talents which He will bless and multiply.

Suddenly that same advice spoke to me. Could my simple passion for gardening be a God-given talent that God could use and multiply?

Could my simple passion for gardening be a God-given talent that God could use and multiply?

While excited, I worried about the project’s execution. Where would I store 100 potted herbs with enough air and light to grow? How would 100 plants sell in a short time frame?

Within five days, without seeking help, a friend offered to sell potting soil in bulk at a discount. Another friend offered space at the monthly HortPark event—Gardeners’ Day Out. I was convinced this was His plan, and He provided what we needed.

When the idea was mooted to my LG, everyone was excited and ready to act. I felt relieved by their enthusiastic support.

Many turned up at my home to help with soil potting, planting, and labelling. I was happy to share my passion for gardening and to see the LG experience the joy of serving and gardening together.

While we could pot the plants, their growth rate was beyond our control. Would the plants grow fast enough, big enough, or well enough in time for the sale event at HortPark?

Each time a worrying thought came, I prayed and surrendered it to God, claiming His promise in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7:

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

It was a daily journey of letting go and letting God take control of His project.

After three weeks, every single pot flourished, and none perished! This had never happened to me before, as it is common to have some pots die away.

During the sale event at HortPark, many of my LG members helped with the sales. With their enthusiastic selling, every single pot was sold out! We raised $1,282 for EL missions.

Initially, the goal was to raise funds, but in the end, my LG and I received much more. By bringing our five loaves and two fishes, we experienced the love and joy of being part of the LG community:

“then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” (Phil 2:2)

By bringing our five loaves and two fishes, we experienced the love and joy of being part of the LG community

God used this project to strengthen my faith in Him. No passion or talent is too small for Him to use.

God was leading this gardening project, and his favor was evident from soil to pot, from seed to plant, from LG to the sale event. I just needed to be obedient to His calling and to trust Him in my journey.

Don’t underestimate your God-given talent; don’t underestimate the power of a team (our LG) working toward a common vision; and remember, where God leads, He provides.

The post From Seeds to Potted Herbs : A Journey of Gardening, Faith and Community first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.

Swee Fay - Eternal Life Assembly

A Journey of Service

From Seeds to Potted Herbs : A Journey of Gardening, Faith and Community