Touched by God’s Word

Praise and thank God for answering my prayer! I had been looking for a good church. After my sister Helen and brother-in-law Francis Maniam visited Bethany end of 2007 to talk about Gideon’s Ministry, they told me about Bethany Independent Presbyterian Church.

On the first Sunday of January 2008, I told my husband Leong Ming Chan (MC) that I would like to go to Bethany to worship and to serve, as my spiritual life and service had come to a standstill. As MC still preferred to worship at our previous church, the first three Sundays, I attended Bethany alone and I enjoyed Sunday School (SS) and Worship Service (WS) from beginning to end.

But God works in mysterious ways. When the Bethany Family camp notice came out, I checked with MC whether he would like to join me in attending the camp. If he did, he would have to attend Bethany Church with me. Before the fourth Sunday of January, I was very surprised to hear MC telling his SS teacher, Dn Jacob Chacko that he will be attending Bethany instead. After both of us attended SS and WS, we were hooked on to Bethany - there was no turning back. We were not only well-fed with Pastor Charlie’s spiritual food as well as physical yummy food prepared by Pastor’s wife, Aunty Sally, and her cooking team but our hearts were wonderfully blessed through worship and fellowship. We also enjoyed the Sunday bulletin which is so detailed and interesting with Meditation, Bible Memory Work, Daily Devotions, encouraging notes/testimonies and so on, that I kept every copy. Although we are very new to Bethany, we are not strangers anymore as every member made an effort to make us feel welcome and at home.

The Family camp was very intensive and Pastor Charlie went all out to make all the campers understand the camp theme “The Secret Place”. Pastor Charlie is like an eagle held aloft by a source of power, full of energy and strength (Isaiah 40:30-31). Although it was a wet and rainy camp with lots of “showers of blessings”, MC and I had a renewal of our faith, spirit and commitment in the Lord. We were refreshed/challenged with God’s Word, Life Testimonies shared by some Bethany members that touched us so much. We had never enjoyed a camp so well run and supported by all the Church Leaders. Although we were freshly acquainted with our sisters and brothers who flew in from our sister churches in Perth and Chennai to the camp, the fellowship was so strong that it was as though we had known them for a very long time.

Then came Good Friday and Easter. Our SS put up an item for the concert. Wow! We were to sing as a group to the congregation – MC and I had never sang/knelt on stage before. We were glad our song Via Dolorosa touched the lives of many. The Easter Worship Service followed by lunch was very well attended. Many were touched by Pastor’s Easter Message and the songs sang by the different groups of church members.

Every Sunday morning, MC and I also attend SS which starts at 8.30 am but we were very surprised to find such good attendance so early in the morning. Everyone was so enthusiastic to worship/learn His Word and to serve. I also enjoyed my Sunday School teacher, Alicia’s lessons. Despite her busy schedule with family/work she still finds time to prepare her lessons and to teach us. I thank our Heavenly Father for dedicated servants and pray that I will learn from their examples.

I told myself that those who have attended Bethany from the beginning are really blessed to learn from Pastor Charlie’s teachings. Although I have been attending Bethany for only four months, it is still not too late to learn and grow in my Christian walk so that I can touch others with His love. I appreciate the oneness, enthusiasm and support in Bethany. Thank you Pastor Charlie, pastoral staff and all support workers who have made Bethany … God’s kind of Church… where God is touching lives… and people care for people.

Mrs Leong
Aug 2008