My 4-fold Plea 29 May 2011 Elder Boaz Boon

Dearly beloved, in todays Heart-to-Heart chat I would like to share with you my plea with regards the FCM (Fundamental Christian Ministry), YAF (Young Adults Fellowship), Church-wide tracting exercise and Childrens Sunday Worship. Fundamental Christian Ministry FCM ministers to students in Singapores polytechnics and universities. We thank God for His providence in guiding FCM over these past 25 years (1986-2011) with bountiful blessings. Please get a copy of the Silver Jubilee commemorative magazine at the church reception table. Our hearts greatly rejoice as we read of the many lives which have been touched and transformed by the Holy Spirit through this ministry. And it is our ministry yes, Calvary Tengahs ministry. We took over the custodian of this ministry in 1998, from Calvary Pandan which was then under the charge of Elder Sim Siang Kok following his heart ailment. Thank God for enabling the team to serve Him together with unity of purpose and much joy. Indeed the joy of the Lord is our strength and the strength of the Lord is our joy! In terms of numbers, we are no match to the para-church groups like Campus Crusade for Christ, the Navigators nor the Varsity Christian Fellowship. But FCM is not a para-church group. It is a church-based ministry which stands squarely on the doctrine of Biblical Separation and the Verbal Plenary Inspiration & Preservation of the Word of God. Members are constantly encouraged to grow in the Lord and to evangelise, hence the motto, My Campus; My Mission Field. Its also heart warming to witness so many former FCMers from the various BiblePresbyterian churches moving on in life, getting married and setting up godly homes. Many are still serving the Lord faithfully in their respective churches. They are the next generation of leaders in the churches from which they come. My hearts cry to the Lord is for our Tengah members/friends who are studying in our local polytechnics and universities to participate in the activities of FCM and be a part of this ministry. It breaks my heart when we have invited, pleaded and prepared much spiritual blessings to be shared but it has been like water on a ducks back - rejected or ignored by some of our own undergraduates. The Polytechnic term has just begun....by Gods grace make a new start. May I plead with you again, come and join us in our activities at the Ngee Ann, Singapore, Republic and Nanyang Polytechnics. The Lords blessings await you, so do come and be part of this ministry. Young Adults Fellowship It has been my burden for a long time to cater to the spiritual needs of the young adults in our church. This group comprises those who have outgrown the YF but not married. Those who are married would have joined the various home Bible study groups. Tengahs YAF has gone through a roller-coaster ride. The current grouping would be our third attempt over several years. I pray for Gods sustaining grace upon this present group, which is meeting every Saturday and Sunday for Bible study and fellowship. It is important to nurture this group because many would be at the crossroads of life pertaining to studies in tertiary institutions, career and marriage. I have gone through that during my young adult days. Thank God for a strong YAF group in Pandan then. My wife Cheryll and I had the privilege to co-labour in the pioneering committee set up in 1983. Tengahs YAF Bible study led by our Pastor-Designate, Dr Paul Ferguson focuses on the life of Joseph, Ruth and Jonah, which are aimed at laying biblical foundations for them as they face the various demands and challenges of life. I am going through with them a series on the will of God adapted from the book by Dr Peter Masters entitled, Steps for Guidance in the Journey of Life. The attendance for each session fluctuates from 5 to 15. My plea is for all of us to pray for spiritual revival in this group and for you to encourage these young adults of our own church. If you would like to open your home to host the Bible Study sessions, please inform brother Alvin Lau or myself. This group is in its infancy and needs much encouragement. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word. With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments (Psalm 119:9-10).

Church-wide Tracting Exercise Sometimes I feel that this exercise may not be productive because many Singaporean households are averse to sales-persons knocking on their doors trying to sell one thing or another. However, from the reports of our tracting team over the past exercises, it seems the Lord has turned it into a blessing. Some have been saved, while others have been attending our worship services. The spectrum of people who responded ranges from teenagers to adults. This is very encouraging. However, our follow-up arrangements with these respondents need to be more passionate and consistent. We pray that our hearts will be constrained or arrested by the love of God to follow up on these precious souls for whom Christ died! Let us encourage ourselves with Gods Word, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58) Again, And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12) Notwithstanding, we should pray and reach out to the existing contacts which the Lord has given us in our families, neighbourhood, school, work and those we come into contact. They know us and in comparison to the so-called cold calls in our tracting session, this warm approach might yield better results. Nevertheless, given the opportunity let us sow the seed of the Word of God cheerfully and faithfully and let the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of these souls that in His own time they may come to know the Saviour as we do. Childrens Sunday Worship Tengah will have our very first Childrens Sunday Worship on 5 June 2011 at 2 p.m. In several ways, it will be different from the normal worship service. The focus is on reaching out to children and their parents/guardians. Let us invite as many children with their parents/guardians as possible to join us that Sunday. Let us go all out for the Lord as a church. During the tracting session last Lords Day, we have given out the invitations. This week, we can call and invite all those whom we know. May the Lord help us to be faithful in this outreach and may the Holy Spirit convict the young hearts of sin to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. This will be a combined English-Mandarin worship service. Our children have practised hard to present song items. The message will be on the salvation of Zacchaeus and the challenge for young children to accept the Lord Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord. We have ordered lots of icecream for refreshment especially for the children. Let us all do our part to reach out and may the Lords blessings be yours. In conclusion, I thank God for the privilege of serving Him. I owe the Lord a great Gospel debt that I can never repay. Let us all be encouraged to serve the Lord fervently because we love Him and for the love of Christ constraineth us (2 Corinthians 5:14a).