REMEMBER THE DIVINE GOODNESS OF 36 YEARS (1985-2021)

Dear Members in Christ,

Remember the Divine Goodness of 36 Years (1985-2021)

The Chinese service of Calvary Jaya Bible-Presbyterian Fellowship was started about half a year later than the English Service. It began on the 10^th of March 1985 under the care of the late Mr Chew Fook Wah. Mr Chew Fook Wah was converted in 1975 out of idolatry. He was keen to know more of the Scriptural teaching after he was saved. He also actively witnessed to relatives and friends. He travelled around to bring the good news of Christ to others. A home prayer meeting began in his residence at SS2 area. His family members invited friends to pray regularly and study the Bible together. They prayed to start a public witness for Christ in Petaling Jaya town. Ministers of the gospel frequented this home prayer meeting. The Lord answered their prayers after 10 years and Calvary Jaya Gospel Mission was inaugurated in 1984. This is God’s doing; He moved His people to pray constantly for His work before we see the establishment of a church.

The Mandarin worship is at 8.30am every Lord’s Day. The Word of God is expounded every week. We pray that the hearers will understand God’s Word and do His will.

Since the pandemic Covid-19 lockdown last year, we have been broadcasting the worship service over the internet. This has helped some Christian friends in another country to worship together with us. They have expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to do so. Let us continue to pray for those who assist in facilitating such virtual gathering. May God help us to abide in Christ and not go astray. There are many people, Chinese and non-Chinese, who can understand Mandarin nowadays. May God use this means to reach out to many more people. May souls turn to the Lord for salvation and sanctification. “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11). On our part, may we receive the Word with meekness and let God transform our lives for His glory. May our lives be used to bring others to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We praise God for the weekly prayer ministry. Acts 1:14 "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." The work of God needs the grace of God. At best, human ability is limited. When we pray, God sends help. God also open doors to minister. We thank God for hard-hearted sinners are made humble to hear the gospel, repent and believe in the Saviour. This is truly amazing.  Who can do this except God Himself? With man, this is impossible. With God, this is possible. We also thank God for personal prayers. The church need intercessors who would kneel for the extension of God’s kingdom. Would you be one? Sidlow Baxter observed, “Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, despise our persons, but are helpless against our prayers.” We thank the Lord for those members who join us for the intercession. May God cause more to pray. Who knows how the Lord work through the prayers? The enemy trembles even when the weakest saint prays.

We have started a bi-weekly fellowship this year for the members to get to know each other better. It is held on every second & fourth Saturday evening of the month via Zoom meeting. It is important for members to meet for mutual encouragement to grow in godliness. We can also encourage one another in good works for Christ. Our congregation is made up of different age groups but this should not be a hindrance to fellowship. We can learn to understand each other and serve one another. We are fellow members in the body of Christ. We welcome new comers to our midst. We are glad to have the fellowship of our earliest members, Mr and Mrs Wong Hean Cheow who came back to our fellowship. They are related to Mr Chew Fook Wah and were brought to Christ by him. Mr Wong and his family joined other Christian churches later and served faithfully there. But the Lord had directed them to come back to the first church they attended. This is out of our expectation after more than 30 years. Mr Wong had been helping in the plumbing works in the Damansara Jaya and Section 17 premises. We are in good Christian fellowship. Thank God for bringing him and his family members to worship with us again. Let us pray that the Lord may use us to bring others to know Christ. We can invite those who are outside Christ to listen to God's Word.

Many people are living in fear nowadays. They are either fearful of losing their lives or their livelihood. May we help them to know the living and true God. Those who are living outside Christ need the gospel light to shine on them and help them to see the need for salvation in Christ. Men need to realise that without Christ, we are not fulfilling God’s purpose in our life and heading for eternal suffering. Christ came and deliver us from the eternal punishment due to our sin and reconcile us to God. Those who believe in Christ are blessed with peace and enabled to live a God-honouring life. John 3:14-15: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Let us give our suffering world the gospel of Christ. Christ is able to save them.

We began to reach out at Puchong 18 years ago and moved to our present premises in 2006 after much consideration. We have a few residents in the vicinity who attend this ministry regularly apart from those who are from Petaling Jaya. May we remember this ministry before the Lord. May God sustain His work and guide us in this challenging period.  God is with us and helps us in every trial. Times have changed and circumstances have changed but the Lord never changes. Malachi 3:6: "For I am the LORD, I change not…” Praise the Lord. This is a great comfort to us. Man’s extremity is the opportunity for God to work. We have seen God’s mighty hand in many challenging occasions in the past. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask and think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

In Christ,

Rev Lee Kim Shong