My Dear Readers,

Easter Family Bible Camp

We had our 19^th Easter Family Bible Camp last weekend, and by all accounts it was a tremendously edifying one. The speaker, Dr Gary G Cohen, a professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity International College – South Florida Campus (formerly Miami Christian College), taught us on The Book of Revelation – 22 chapters in 6 sessions! The contents of all sessions, Sunrise Service and The Lord’s Day messages were electrifying and great. Obviously, as we all like to know the future, we were attentive and showed special interest. Literally, we were on our toes! Dr Cohen gave a clear concise and intelligent account of each chapter, and we were impressed by his exposition of that portion of Scripture on prophecy. Of course, Dr Cohen does not know when this will happen. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Mt 24:36). We had also recorded his messages on CDs and if you would like a copy please let Dn David Yeo know. You will be impressed. Dr Cohen had said that if we want to know more and study further The Book of Revelation we could purchase his book “Understanding Revelation” from http://www.amazon.com/

Resurrection Sermon Message

Dr Cohen, in his message on The Lord’s Day, brought out a clear link between the Old Testament (OT)’s atonement sacrifice for the Israelites and New Testament (NT)’s once and for all sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for all men.

In the OT, Lev 16:7-10 “And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat, And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.” Note what happened to the scapegoat – it was released unharmed into the wilderness.

In the NT, the governor Pontius Pilate introduced Barabbas and our Lord Jesus to the crowd of people stirred on by the chief priests and elders (Matt 27:20). Governor Pilate hoped to release our Lord Jesus in exchange for Barabbas, but the people cried out for Barabbas to be released (Matt 27:16-26; Mk 15:7-15; Lk 23:17-25; Jn 18:39-40)! As a result, Pilate delivered our Lord Jesus to be tortured and crucified on the cross, where His blood was shed for the remission of our sins, and then died. Our Lord Jesus, on whom the LORD’s lot fell, was thus offered as the spotless Lamb of God, as the goat for sin offering, so that we can have eternal life. What happened to Barabbas, a man who was cast into prison for sedition and for murder (Mk 15: 7; Lk 23:19)? There was no further mention of him at all. Nobody knows what happened to him. He was allowed to go free into the “wilderness”.  Barabbas, whose name means “son of the father”, was the scapegoat! Our Lord Jesus who is “The Son of God the Father” became the goat to be sacrificed as a sin offering to God. Is this mere coincidence that Barabbas means “son of the father” and our Lord Jesus is “The Son of God the Father? Of course, it is not. The connection between the OT and NT is striking!

Dr & Mrs Gary G Cohen & Hopefuls

All Hopefuls met and many had wonderful fellowship with Dr Gary G Cohen and his wife, Mrs Marion Cohen, for the first time. Some invited them out for lunch and dinner, and we praise God for these Hopefuls who were generous with the Lord’s people. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (Phil 1:3). We were encouraged by the witnessing, love, dedication and service for our Lord Jesus Christ of Dr & Mrs Cohen. Mrs Cohen is a sister of Rev Bob Vandermay, whom we know well. She had such a wonderful voice when she sang in praise of God “Open the Gates of the Temple” during the Worship Service. Some of us had the opportunity to learn astronomy from Dr Cohen when we went to look at the cloudless clear night sky on the beach at Victor Harbour. Let us remember them in our prayers as they serve the Lord, and their ministries in the United States, and South Korea. We would like to thank Rev Edward Paauwe, and the Session of Bible-Presbyterian Church of Western Australia, for introducing them to us.

Salvation in the camp

This year’s Family Camp broke all records in attendances and overnight stayers. We had 16 brethren from our interstate and overseas sister B-P churches, and 1 brother from Hong Kong. The weather was perfect, the camp attendants were well behaved, and one young girl came to the Lord! Let us pray for this young girl that she may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Lk 15:10) 

Future Family Bible Camps

For 19 years, we have never had a Resurrection (Easter) Sunday Worship in our church building. Some people have raised the issue that there should be a service in our home base on that most important day. There have been people, mainly visitors, coming to our church on Resurrection Sunday and finding that there is no worship service! Then there are some of us who are unable to travel the distance to the campsite. Their concerns do raise matters for discussion and these should be addressed.

The Camp Committee is having increasing serious difficulties looking for a good campsite for the Easter weekend. All the good campsites for that particular weekend have been booked out for years ahead. Camp and catering costs are increasing and are especially costly on the long Easter weekend. The camp costs that we paid are heavily subsidised by our church, and the subsidy gap is increasing at a rate that may require the camp fees to be increased substantially. Camp fees are purposely kept low so that everyone can attend, and we do want everyone to attend. We do not want to increase the camp fees that would cause hardships for many. To maintain our camp fees at a relatively low level, one alternative is to have the Family Bible Camp on weekdays, during the school and university vacation in April.

All these should make us pray and think about our future Family Camps. Let us have a rational discussion about this.  

Thank you.

I would like to thank God for Dr & Mrs Gary G Cohen for their ministry in Hope B-P Church, and Dn David Yeo, Camp Master, and the members of the Camp Committee for organising this year’s camp. There are a few of the committee members, and camp participants, who have been doing a lot for this camp – more than what is required of them - sacrificing their precious time, labour, and talents – and I would like to praise God for their love, faithfulness and dedication for Him. People may forget what you have done, but God will reward you, which is more satisfying and important. Heb 6:10  “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister”.

Hope B-P Fellowship, Kuching, and Cambodia Missions

Recently, Bro Jeremy & Sis Niki Teo, and Bro Lip Kah Teo, after much prayer and encouragement, took the bold step to start a small Bible Study Fellowship in Kuching, Sarawak, East Malaysia.  Please remember them in your prayers. God willing, this fellowship may become a B-P church in a few years from now. Pastor Ki will travel to Kuching on his way to Cambodia next week to give the Teos much needed encouragement and support.  In Cambodia, Pastor Ki will meet Bro Samnang & Sis Shulamy, to start our direct involvement there. Please remember this Cambodian couple in your prayers as well.

Team Missions to Cambodia

As announced recently in Lively Hope, God willing, a missions team will go to Cambodia, 14-27 January 2008. A Medical team may be included if we have enough doctors, medical students, pharmacists, nurses and other allied health workers. If you are interested please inform me as soon as possible.

May God bless you all.

Elder Michael D Lee

More Lively Hope

© Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
14 Bedford Square, Colonel Light Gardens, South Australia 5041