Providence - Eternal Life Assembly

被遗弃的婴儿，蒙召成为牧师并服事超过40年

Corrie Kew Jia Lin — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 16:10:29 +0000

我的名字是王娟娟，我是永生堂粤语堂的牧师。这是我如何活在耶稣基督救赎之爱的故事。

在我未满一个月大时，亲生父母将我送给别人领养。14岁时，养父母相继去世，我的世界瞬间崩塌。

我被送回亲生父母身边生活，而对我来说，他们几乎是陌生人。我挤在一个狭小的组屋里，与10个人同住，我曾经拥有的那份平静不复存在。

就在这混乱中，一位同学邀请我参加一个每周一次在学校后面举行的“基督青年会”聚会。在一场大型布道会上，我的目光被一幅巨大的横幅吸引，上面写着：“耶稣说，我就是道路、真理、生命。”

“耶稣说，我就是道路、真理、生命。”

这句话深深触动了我内心。当祭坛呼召，我情不自禁地走了上去。在1969年5月，我将我的生命交给了基督。

就在那一刻，我体验到一种难以言喻的喜悦。这是我一生以来一直渴望的爱。上帝那无比强大的爱，将我从绝望中带入了祂的上帝之家。我开始参加一个名为“永生堂”的教会。

然而，当我的母亲发现后，她向我下了最后通牒：要么待在家里并停止去教会，要么永远离开家。我选择了上帝，并与刚受洗的妹妹一起离开了家。

“我选择了上帝，并与刚受洗的妹妹一起离开了家。”

我开始在永生堂工作。我的第一份工作是挨家挨户敲门，派发福音单张，邀请人们来教会听福音。

在18岁时，我进入了圣经学院学习；23岁时，我回到了永生堂，成为一名全职助理牧师。

当我踏上这个新角色时，我的内心充满了兴奋和感恩。我热衷于帮助会众在信仰上成长，但这条道路并非没有挑战。
在教会工作并非一帆风顺。

就像任何组织或家庭一样，不同的人不可避免地会有不同的看法。有时可能会存在误解，有时也会感到沮丧。但我学会了如何顺服领导、选择合一，并接受试炼作为成长的机会。

在我26岁时，我与我的丈夫王大卫牧师结婚。我们共同事奉，一起努力发展教会。回应神的呼召，并非没有牺牲。我们的家庭生活简朴，随着家庭的扩大，我清楚记得维持生计的种种挑战。我从事兼职工作，并为学生提供补习，以确保我们有足够的收入来养育孩子

“回应神的呼召，并非没有牺牲。”

牧者的呼召并不是一个人的呼召，而是整个家庭的呼召。我感恩我的丈夫和女儿们对我在教会工作的支持。神始终信实，为我们提供所需的财务供应，也增添了我们一起度过的美好时光。

“牧者的呼召并不是一个人的呼召，而是整个家庭的呼召。”

在抚养年幼的女儿们的同时，我攻读神学，先后取得了圣经研究与教会事工的学士和硕士学位。

转眼之间，我作为牧者已经事奉了45年。从23岁到现在的71岁，每一个挑战、困难和试炼中，神都在塑造和陶造我，使我过上事奉的生活。事奉主从来没有一日是乏味的。这是我的荣幸和特权，能够事奉我的救赎主。

回首这一真理，我深深感悟：神永远不会亏待我们。一天，我接到嫂子的一个意外来电，她告诉我父亲已经奄奄一息。当我跪在父亲身旁时，我有机会在他平静离世前向他分享了基督的救恩。

在神的计划中，没有偶然的事情。尽管我小时候被送走，但神为我预备了一个养父母的家庭，让我在年幼时便通过圣经故事书认识祂。神将我从我的亲生母亲—一个深陷偶像崇拜的人身边分离开来，这是祂的安排，使我能够全心全意地拥抱对基督的信仰。

认识并跟随神的带领，让我的过去得以救赎，为祂的旨意所用。正如我被接纳进入神的家庭一样，我珍视这份牧养呼召，为那些同样被接纳进入这大家庭的人提供关怀和引导。

如果有人问我是否愿意重走这一切，我的回答将是一个坚定的“是！”

亲爱的永生堂家人，在我们结束2024年10月的“牧者感恩月”之际，让我们铭记，这并不是对他们表达感激或为他们代祷的结束，而是一个持续的开始。

我们祈祷，这个故事能激励你为永生堂的牧者们祷告，并与他们一同事奉。以下是一些我们可以记念牧者及其家人（家人在服事中同样有付出）的方式：

表达个人的感激之情:

抽出时间写一封真挚的信、发一条信息，或亲自感谢你的牧者，感谢他们的领导、教导、关爱与牧养。分享他们如何在你的生命或灵命旅程中产生具体的积极影响，这会极大地鼓舞他们。

为他们及其家人祷告:

支持牧者最好的方式之一就是为他们祷告。让他们知道你在为他们祷告，并询问他们有哪些特别的祷告需要，这样你可以具体地为他们代求。

提供实际的帮助:

事工往往充满挑战，牧者们常常默默承担着沉重的担子。让我们在灵命上成长，并主动参与服事，与他们一同努力推进神的国度。

感恩与行动:

可以举办一场感恩餐会，庆祝并尊重牧者的辛勤付出和奉献。同时，我们也可以主动联系他们，询问是否需要帮助完成某项任务。

尊重他们的休息:

鼓励牧者们休息并重新充电，体现我们对他们身心健康的珍视和感激。

The post 被遗弃的婴儿，蒙召成为牧师并服事超过40年 first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.

Abandoned as a baby, called to serve as Pastor for more than 40 years

Corrie Kew Jia Lin — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 16:07:52 +0000

My name is Winnie Ong, and I serve as the Cantonese Congregation Pastor in Eternal Life Assembly. This is my story of how I lived in the redemptive love of Jesus Christ.

As a baby less than a month old, I was given up by my biological parents for adoption. By 14 my adoptive parents had passed away.

My world shattered, as I was sent back to live with my biological parents, who were practically strangers to me. Cramped in a tiny flat living among 10 others, the peace I once had was no more.

In the midst of this turmoil, a classmate invited me to a weekly Youth for Christ club held behind our school. At a large evangelistic meeting, my eye caught a huge banner that read “Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life”.

Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life,

Something stirred deep within me, and I found myself walking to the front when an altar call was made. I gave my life to Christ in May 1969.

At that moment, I experienced an unexplainable joy. This was the love I had been longing for all my life. God’s overwhelming, adoptive love, brought me from despair into His family of God. I started attending a church called Eternal Life Assembly.

However, when my mother found out, she gave me an ultimatum: stay home and stop attending church or leave the house forever. I chose God and left home with my just-baptized sister.

I chose God and left home…

I began working at Eternal Life Assembly. My first job involved knocking on doors, handing out tracts, and inviting people to church to hear the gospel.

At 18, I went to Bible school, and by the age of 23, I returned to Eternal Life Assembly as a full-time assistant pastor.

My heart was filled with excitement and gratitude as I stepped in this new role. I was passionate about helping the congregation grow in faith, but the journey was not without challenges.

Working in church isn’t a walk in the park. Like any organisation or family, different people will inevitably have differing views.

Sometimes, there can be misunderstandings, and sometimes, we can be discouraged. But I have learned how to submit to leadership, choose unity, and embrace trials as opportunities for growth.

At the age of 26, I got married to my husband, Ps David Wong. Together, we served to grow a church. The call of God is not without sacrifices. Our family lived simply, and I recall the challenge of making ends meet as our family expanded. I took on part-time jobs and gave tuition lessons to ensure we had enough to provide for our children.

The call of God is not without sacrifices.

The call to be a pastor isn’t an individual call. It’s a household call. And I’m thankful for how my husband and daughters were supportive of my work in the church.

The call to be a pastor isn’t an individual call. It’s a household call.

God was always faithful and provided the finances that were needed and multiplied our time together. While raising my young daughters, I studied and achieved a B.A. and later a M.A. in Biblical Studies and Church Ministries.

In the blink of an eye, it has been more than 45 years since I’ve served as a pastor. Through every challenge, hardship, and trial, God has moulded and shaped me for a life of service.

Since age 23 to now, at 71, there is never a dull day serving the Lord. It is my honour and privilege to serve my Redeemer.

I reflect on this truth in hindsight: God will never shortchange us. One day, I received an unexpected call from my sister-in-law, my father was on his deathbed. As I knelt by his side, I had the opportunity to share Christ with him before he passed away peacefully.

There are no accidents with God. Even though I was given away as a child, God provided an adoptive home that allowed me to know Him at a tender young age through bible storybooks.

God had set me apart, away from my birth mother, who was steeped in idol worship. God’s arrangement allow me to fully embrace my faith in Christ.

Recognizing God’s leading and following His leading has allowed my past to be redeemed for His purpose. Just as I was adopted into God’s family, I cherish this call to pastor many others who have been adopted into this big spiritual family.

If asked whether I would do it all again, my answer is a resounding “Yes!”

Hey ELites! As we conclude Pastor’s Appreciation Month this October 2024, we want to remember that it’s not the end of appreciation or praying for them.

We pray that this story inspires you to pray and partner with our pastors here in Eternal Life Assembly.

Here are some areas where we can remember our Pastors and also recognise their families that serve alongside them.

Express Personal Gratitude:

Take the time to write a heartfelt note, send a message, or personally thank your pastor for their leadership, mentorship, love, and care. Sharing specific ways of how they’ve impacted your life or spiritual journey can deeply encourage them.

Pray for Them and Their Families:

One of the best ways to support our pastors is through prayer. Let them know you are praying for them and ask how you can specifically intercede on their behalf.

Offer Practical Help:

Ministry work can be demanding, and pastors often carry a heavy weight silently. Grow spiritually and step up to serve together with them to advance God’s kingdom.

Appreciation and Acts of Service:

Host an appreciation meal where we can celebrate and honour their hard work and dedication. We could even reach out to them personally to ask them if they need help in fulfilling a task.

Honour their Rest:

Encouraging them to rest and recharge shows your appreciation for their well-being.

The post Abandoned as a baby, called to serve as Pastor for more than 40 years first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.

From Belief to Believe

Michelle Chiang — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 09:37:24 +0000

While I knew about God, I never truly had a close relationship with Him.

I was born into a Catholic family. While I knew about God, I never truly had a close relationship with Him. I did not read the bible or pray, and only attended church on occasions like Christmas Day, Good Friday, and my birthday.

I came to Singapore in 2006 to work. A year later, my wife, Maidy, and our three children joined me from the Philippines. We led a similar lifestyle as we did back home – work, school, and family time. Occasionally, friends would invite us to church, but we would decline because we were Catholics. I also wanted to rest on Sunday, my day off from work.

All was well, until crisis struck. Maidy had a stroke. She lost part of her memory and could not remember the names of people she saw, or even her own name or address. Doctors told us that recovery would take two years or more, but there were no guarantees.

I was devastated and completely lost. I regretted not being more attentive to her earlier. A week before her stroke, Maidy had displayed unusual behaviour, such as sending indecipherable text messages filled with random letters, numbers, and characters like “$, %, @”, and perspiring even while sitting still. I wished I had recognised those signs.

I regretted not being more attentive to her earlier

Our children were nine, 15, and 18 years old then. They were very close to their mother, and I feared how this situation would affect them emotionally. With few friends in Singapore, I felt isolated and uncertain about the future.

In those moments of despair, God sent us his angels. The parents of my eldest daughter’s friend learned about our situation and offered to pray for us. I was unsure if prayers would make a difference, but I accepted the couple’s suggestion since I did not know what else to do.

The prayers were answered! Just three weeks after the stroke, Maidy began to recognise people and identify objects around her. The doctors were surprised by her rapid improvement. My children and I saw hope. This marked the beginning of our belief that God could make the impossible happen.

The doctors were surprised by her rapid improvement. My children and I saw hope. This marked the beginning of our belief that God could make the impossible happen.

The couple continued to pray for us, and we continued to witness God’s divine intervention. By the sixth month after the stroke, Maidy was 80% recovered. In the eighth month, she had to undergo heart surgery. The doctors warned us about the risks and possible complications, but none of these occurred.

Besides the fear of losing Maidy, I was also worried about the mounting hospital bills. However, God provided in unexpected ways. Firstly, as permanent residents, the hospital expenses were subsidised. Secondly, the bills were fully covered by my Medisave and company insurance without needing any additional cash payments. This was truly another answer to prayer.

Today, while Maidy has recovered, there are times when she still forgets what she wants to say. However, she remains deeply thankful for what God has done for her. I still worry about Maidy’s condition and our family’s future, but I have learned to trust in God’s plan. We may not always understand His timing or the reasons behind our trials, but I know He will never forsake us.

We may not always understand His timing or the reasons behind our trials, but I know He will never forsake us.

Having experienced God’s goodness, my family and I felt a deep desire to learn more about Him. After Maidy’s surgery, we went to Eternal Life (EL) Assembly, introduced by the couple who had prayed for Maidy and stood by us throughout that difficult period. We attended EL’s services regularly and joined a Life Group.

Being with the spiritual family in EL drew us closer to God. We learned more about His unconditional love and His gift of salvation for us, despite our imperfections. Our desire to declare our love for Him grew day by day.

After two years in EL, our family decided to be baptised. Each of us is now serving in EL’s ministries. In our own small way, we want to show our gratitude for all that He has done for us.

Looking back, I see that our journey has been one of transformation – from merely a belief that God exists, to having a personal relationship with Him. We know that God is always with us, and shows us His love in ways we could never have imagined.

God is not just a concept; He is alive and active in our lives. Our experiences have taught us that even in our darkest moments, we only have to believe in Him, and He will make the impossible happen.

God is not just a concept; He is alive and active in our lives

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. – John 3:16 NIV

Reflections:
How has your journey with God been? How has He revealed Himself to you?

Reflect on your relationship with God. Does He only have a part of your life, or is He your way of life?
Embrace God’s plan with faith and patience.Know that God hears your prayers and is always working for your good, even if we don’t see it.
Share this story with a loved one who needs to hear about God’s healing and hope.

The post From Belief to Believe first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.