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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.

Full-Time Ministry Is a Privilege, Never a Sacrifice.

Philip Sng — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 04:12:52 +0000

The Fearful Boy Who Found a Real God

Pastor Robert Lum, affectionately known as Pastor Bob, was like any other boy, active and curious. But at age ten, he witnessed a neighbor fall to her death.

From that day, fear gripped him. He turned to religious idols, hoping for peace and protection from ghosts.

One day, his elder brother invited him to Sunday school in a small church beneath their apartment.

There, Robert encountered a power greater than the fear of ghosts. He discovered Jesus and gave his life to Christ.

That night, for the first time since the tragedy, he slept peacefully. To Robert, God wasn’t a concept. He was real. And that reality has shaped every day of his life since.

Called by God

At 17 years old, God spoke to Robert during his devotion time through the hymn “I’ll go where you want me to go”.

The call to full-time ministry was clear. He was prepared to take a leap of faith and enter ministry after completing National Service, even if it meant disappointing his parents who had high hopes for his future.

After seeking counsel from Pastor Winnie Ong, Robert sensed God’s leading to further prepare himself.

At that time, Assemblies of God (AG) pastors were often looked down upon for lacking academic qualifications, and Robert felt the need to be both called and equipped.

He then pursued a degree in Business Administration, believing that the knowledge gained would one day be useful in missions.

For five years, he worked diligently in banking, holding God’s call close to his heart. Finally, in 1985, he made the leap, resigned and enrolled in Bible school, which heralded the beginning of his full-time Christian work.

Ministry and Faith Lessons

In 1988, Robert joined Eternal Life Assembly (EL) as a staff under Pastor John Lee’s leadership.

Then in 1992, after just four years, Pastor Lee asked Robert to take over as Senior Pastor – a weighty responsibility upon his shoulders.

Things became even harder when, in 1994, unexpected leadership changes left him without key staff. The burden nearly led to Robert falling into depression.

But God provided. Pastors Peter, Alvin, and Annie stepped in as faithful co-laborers, and they remain as pillars in the church till today.

In 1995, EL had to move out of their church premise at Pasir Panjang when the ‘change of use’ could not be renewed.

Robert spearheaded the five-year journey for a permanent church site that culminated in securing EL’s current premise at Bukit Timah Conference Centre, with the property fully paid up. The nomadic season was over. A new chapter had begun for EL!

Missions was always central to Robert’s heart. He led EL in establishing a ministry in Cambodia, starting from scratch to raise funds and build infrastructure.

“EL didn’t have the money,” Robert recalls. “But when God gives a vision, He also gives the provision.”

Indeed, God provided almost double what was needed. Today, EL Cambodia is an established growing church that is a light to the community and a school that provides certified education to children aged 5 to 18 years old.

During the 2020 pandemic, despite budgets cuts happening globally, Robert witnessed God’s abundant provision.

EL was not only able to provide for its own staff, but the church’s financial resources experienced surpluses which were channeled to bless itinerant and retired ministers who had lost their income during the challenging period. Heaven provided and the church became a channel of hope.

Experiencing God’s Miracles for the Family

In 1999, Robert’s father, who had earlier accepted Christ, suffered a stroke and fell into a coma.

Robert asked the church to pray as he and his wife rushed to the hospital, fearing the worst. But when they arrived, they saw his father awake, alert and able to talk as before! God had healed him, and this miracle was witnessed by his family.

“God never forgets the prayers of His children,” Robert reflects.

For years, Robert had prayed for his mother’s salvation. In 2003, those prayers were answered. She accepted Christ and was baptized!

When God Answers Differently

In 2016, Robert faced one of the hardest seasons in his life. His first granddaughter was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart defect whilst still in her mother’s womb.

The family rallied in fasting and prayer. But the healing they hoped for didn’t come. She was born with the defect, endured a major surgery at five weeks old, and another at age two, both followed by long ICU stays.

Notwithstanding these perilous episodes, God has watched over Robert’s granddaughter. Today, she is an active and cheerful 9-year-old!

“Sometimes God doesn’t answer the way we expect,” Robert says. “But He remains sovereign and faithful no matter how hard it gets.”

A Life Still Advancing: Parting Reflections

Ask anyone who knows Pastor Robert, and you’ll hear: Kind. Gentle. Accommodating.

From playing the accordion in Sunday School to writing musical scripts, preaching the Gospel, and mentoring pastors, Robert believes there’s room for every person to grow – spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually.

He never saw full-time ministry as a sacrifice. To him, it has always been a privilege, a sacred call filled with joy, surrounded by grace, and a front seat to seeing lives transformed for the glory of God. Though retired as Senior Pastor, he steps into a new season.

“God is not done with us, and He’s not done with me,” he says. “We must leave the past behind and boldly advance to take hold of what Christ took hold of us for.”

And if you ask him what he’s learned after 40 years of ministry?

“Were there sacrifices? Yes. But God has never short-changed me. Not once.”

Let’s celebrate Pastor Robert Lum! A life well-lived, and a legacy still unfolding.

Ask: Is God’s calling you to full-time service?
Consider: What is God asking you to surrender—not as a sacrifice, but as a privilege?
Be Grateful: Where have you seen God provide, even when the odds were against you?

The post Full-Time Ministry Is a Privilege, Never a Sacrifice. first appeared on Eternal Life Assembly.

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.

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