We are beholden to the Almighty Jehovah for four fruitful years of edifying ministry at Sovereign Hope Bible Presbyterian Church (BPC) since its inception on 4th February 2018 by the sovereign will of God.

 

The Church was started by about twenty likeminded believers in a home initially. Subsequently we have been worshipping in a suitable venue in the central part of Singapore, by the help of God. Four years have passed and by the faithfulness and steadfastness of God, church attendance has doubled to the praise of God. About half of the congregation attending the two Sunday school classes and the catechism class. We also have a regular evening virtual Chinese service with about sixteen participants from four countries, a monthly neighbourhood Bible class of twelve participants and the weekly prayer meeting with thirteen prayer warriors. The Lord is guiding and directing his own flock to persevere and to continue in the work of preaching the gospel, defending the faith, teaching the Word and building up covenant families in Singapore and in the mission fields of Myanmar, Indonesia, India and Country X. We thank God for his enablement in the building of a sound, vibrant and growing local congregation. 

 

 

What is our focus for the Church at this point of time?

 

Firstly, a heart to pray and a commitment from the members of the Church to seek God in sabbath church worship services in the house of God regularly and be zealous in supporting the ministry of the Church. It is encouraging to see the members and worshippers who are committed to serve the Lord and to build up the spirit of the church. When we have the Chinese evening service, Wednesday night prayer meeting, church cleaning, Sunday school, and the coming camp, will we make a conscientious effort to come? Will we be fervent to pray, serve and be a vital part of the work of the gospel ministry? May the Lord use us as equipped vessels in the Church’s growth, for his glory.

 

Secondly, pray for a fervent zeal and tenacity for gospel preaching and effective evangelism and discipleship. The Church is to be committed in preaching the pure and unadulterated gospel; be instant in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:1,2). How can we expect others to witness unless we be Andrews ourselves, bringing in “the Peters”, as the disciples of old (Mark 1:18-20)? There is a great harvest field out there in Bangalore, India and Country X with countless souls still outside the saving grace of Christ and do we have a burden for their eternity?

Pray for our brothers in their labour of love and preaching / teaching of the Word of God by our mission partners in Yangon, Myanmar and in Bangalore, India in the three Bible Presbyterian and reformed Churches and FBPC in Batam and churches in country X, to the saving of souls (including children and youths) in these perilous days. We thank God for the using of SHBC as a tangible gospel lighthouse in this spiritually darkened continent. They need our prayers and support, and it is our sacred duty to be co-partners in the advancement of God’s kingdom.

Matt 24:14 says, ‘and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come’. There are many out there who have not heard the gospel and are in dire need of a Saviour. Who will go and who will share their resources and who will be witnesses for the Lord? Who will serve in the evangelistic band to share the gospel of eternal life to the lost? We had a meaningful preaching and teaching ministry over the last four years, despite the pandemic, reaching out to souls and many Gideon bibles and tracts were given out to our migrant workers. We pray that we will have a burden for the lost.

 

Thirdly, there should be a spirit of brotherly love, cohesion, unity and closeness with one another in the Church. There should be warmth, a spiritual togetherness and a sense of oneness and solidarity in the family of SHBPC (Ephesians 4:1-4). Satan seeks to destroy and divide the Church. In the midst of this health crisis that has affected all of us in one way or another, do we make time to reach out and to get into deeper relations with one another? Are we willing to avail ourselves; to share and seek out one another in care and concern? When someone is sick or going through bereavement, can we be there to pray, encourage and support one another in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:24-25)? There should be a burden to come for the Church prayer meeting, for sabbath worship, Neighbourhood Bible Class, Sunday School, and a desire to reach out to another with God’s compassion for the spiritual nourishment of the worshippers and our covenant families.

 

Fourthly, the church should continue to grow, to be a Christ-centred and Bible based witness that knows and cherishes God’s Word (Jeremiah 15:16); defend and zealously guard and preserve sound fundamental doctrines and practices. Remember Paul in 2 Timothy 2:15 says, ‘Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth’. We live in a current ecclesiastical environment where false teachings and heresies abound. The Church of Christ needs to be vigilant and watchful against the inroads of modernism, new age movement, cultic and occultism and ecumenism. The Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:8-9 says, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We have a grave responsibility to our members; to warn them of false doctrines or unsound practices, which can even come from within or without the Church (Act 20:28-32) even denying the deity of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity. We need to earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). A fundamental reformed Church is one which upholds the Westminster Confession of Faith (1643-1647) in both creed and conduct and preaches the pure and unadulterated gospel, defending the faith with love and truth. A God-honouring, conservative Church upholds the inspired, inerrant, sufficient and verbally inspired, Word of God (Matthew 5:18; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17) with the proper administration of the two sacraments, fervent corporate prayer by members who search the Scriptures daily and apply them in their daily lives (Act 17:11). May we stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).

Fifthly, the Church should also be a God-honouring, caring and sharing community of saints. The Church members should go all out to comfort and strengthen one another in the Lord; i.e. when one is downcast, sick, bereaved or depressed or those who have backslidden (1 Thessalonians 5:14). The Church is also to be a spiritual hospital, where the spiritually sick and backslidden and weak can be nurtured and brought back to spiritual health and vitality. Members ought to learn to be caring and mindful of one another and reach out and practically care for one another in the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). This was the example of the early Church in Act 11:28-29 where there was famine in some parts of the Roman Empire, the brethren brought relief and physical supplies to meet the needs of the suffering saints in other areas. In this regard, the Church prayed, and supported missions in India and Myanmar in the last years with tangible love gifts and also cared for some of her members during recent bereavement with the death of our loved ones, for counselling with those who are depressed/distressed or going through the doldrums and the trials of life.

 

Sixthly, the Church should have a strong base of committed and energetic people who will be the driving force of the Church. A healthy growing Church should have a core of zealous and faithful stewards who will initiate, support and carry out the biblical aims of the Church in evangelism, discipleship, mission, fellowship, book and tracts resource ministry and outreach activities, and in other events like the reformation seminar among others. We pray for faithful men and women standing in the line for the continuance of this and other ministries.

 

Finally, there should be Bible-based God-fearing and caring stewards in the teaching ministry to nurture the flock in the fear of God. Thank God for committed teachers for the Worship Services, Sunday School and catechism classes and prayer meeting and for the faithful men and women continuing in this didactic ministry. Who will come forward to serve or learn in these areas as the word of God is the foundation of our faith? Our church is reformed and covenantal in our theology and we are Presbyterians in our Church polity, governed by the Board of Elders and (Titus 1:5-9) together with the Deacons (1 Timothy 3:13) in the Session.

 

In these perilous times of a pandemic, there is a grave social responsibility as citizens of heaven and also on earth temporally to do our part in protecting ourselves and our loved ones, with a willing prudent mind and a God-fearing spirit. A healthy growing Church is committed to building the spiritual lives of the flock in the Word, and the propagation of the pure gospel in local and foreign missions (though we are not able to go there physically we still support our missions tangibly and in teaching the Word and much prayer). Let us catch the spirit that the Apostle Paul exhorts in Romans 12:11, “not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord”. May the Lord continue to prosper, help, guide and direct us as we look up to Him for His daily mercies and sovereign grace in the days ahead.

 

We are living in the final moments of human history when Christ is coming again soon. The signs of the times (Matthew 23:1-24) are evident, with the recent wars, earthquakes, calamities, widespread pestilences including the present COVID-19 and the increasing persecution of God’s people as the gospel is preached Matthew 24:14 (as we witnessed in some countries recently). Are we ready to meet our Creator as Amos challenged us in Amos 4:12, “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel?” Let us be vigilant and earnestly share the gospel; fervently, pray and meditate and reflect on His Word by the sovereign mercies of the Lord.

 

By Rev Jack Sin (reproduced from Sovereign Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church Weekly
published 6 Feb 2022)

 

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