I am so glad that Granny is willing to come along with me to Bethany.
She actually started attending Bethany before my daughter Jamie was
born, that is, about 9 years ago. I could not have done it alone. I
thank God that He has brought many friends and teachers at different
points in time to encourage my husband Janssen and me.
Friends we hardly knew rose to the occasion to talk to Granny when she was in church. I was just so encouraged. She feels happy coming to church to meet warm people, and that's crucial! Friends like Pastor Charlie, Aunty Sally, Pastor Mitch, Mr & Mrs Ho, Mr & Mrs Ng, Lay See, Teacher Carol, Andrew Ng, Peng Hui, Siew Tiong, Veronica, Benjamin Tan, Penny, Dyan, Hui Leng, Edwina, Cherine, Eileen Ang, Raymond, Josephine, Pauline ...etc. would just start talking to her. The folks from the bilingual worship service were particularly warm. Other than Sunday services, Granny also attended the celebrations at Shangri-La, AM Bethany meetings, Chinese New Year get-togethers and Church Camp. In and through these, friendships developed.
I have been praying with both my children Jamie & Jeremy for Granny's
salvation. We hope that she will come to know the Lord before He takes
her home. I learnt from Pastor Mitch that while I wait upon the Lord for
Granny to be converted, I can also learn to cultivate good relationships
with my children and other members of the family. I was strongly
reminded from Pastor Charlie’s message during a Chinese New Year
get-together that Granny has taken care of me in the past, and now it's
my turn to do my little bit for her. I mentioned to Teacher Carol that
some members of the extended family are not pleased with my bringing
Granny to church. Teacher Carol encouraged me to look at things from the
perspective of eternity, to weigh the cost of being ‘unpopular’ against
the value of Granny’s soul, and then to take up the cross and follow
Christ.
I try to do what I can for Granny to help her to know our great God and
His Word. I am encouraged by
Colossians 3:23 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the
Lord and not to men.”
Joan Cheah
Aug 2008