FUNDAMENTAL CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

(A ministry by Calvary Bible Presbyterian Church (Tengah)

to NIE, NTU, NUS and Polytechnics)
NEWSLETTER VOL 2/2003 (April-June)
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GOD’S PROVIDENCE
by
Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo
Academic Dean Far Eastern Bible College

God is in control … because He is still on the throne.

What is Providence? Providence is all about God and His Creation. The Westminster
Confession of Faith (5.1), states, “God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct,
dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by
His most wise and holy providence, according to His infallible foreknowledge, and the free
immutable counsel of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice,
goodness, and mercy.”
In other words, providence is God’s care of His creation and control over the affairs of
man in high and low places, in small things and big things, so that whatever happens on earth
and in history will ultimately fulfill His predetermined plan and glorify His Holy Name.
Providence simply tells us that God is in control because He is still on the throne. God is
Cosmic Overseer and Supervisor. Nothing escapes Him, nothing happens by chance. There is
no such thing as luck. Do not thank your “lucky stars”!
Where do we see God’s providential hand at work? We see it in His providential (1)
maintenance of His Creation, (2) protection of His people, and (3) preservation of His words.

God’s Providential Maintenance of His Creation

We are not frozen nor fried
Deism teaches that God, after He created the universe, got so tired that He took a long
nap and never woke up. Such a concept of God is indeed laughable; yes, even heretical! The
Bible teaches an omnipotent God who is still very much alive and awake, and very much in
control. The Psalmist wrote, “Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded,
and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a
decree which shall not pass” (Psalm 148:5-6); “Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who
prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to
the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry” (Psalm 147:8-9). The God who
made the heavens and the earth continues to sustain His creation and His creatures.
Consider the fact that planet earth is hanging on nothing, suspended in thin air, and
moving around the sun. Why does it not drop off the sky, or stray off course from its orbit? Is it
not amazing that the earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours at a speed of 1,000 miles an hour,
revolves around the sun once a year at a speed of 66,660 miles per hour, and yet stays on
course? The earth is not like an uncontrolled spinning top. God is in control. He not only causes
the earth to spin, but also controls its movement. The earth would either freeze or fry if it were
just a fraction off course in relation to its distance from the sun.
We echo the words of Isaac Watts:
Jesus shall reign where-e’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run,
His kingdom spread from shore to shore
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

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Is not God’s providential maintenance of His creation perfect?

God’s Providential Protection of His People

We are not starving nor unclothed
As Christians we are the most happy people on earth. This is so because we have a
Father in heaven who takes meticulous care of all our needs. “Your Father knoweth what
things ye have need of before ye ask him … Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought
for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall
put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the
air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly
Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought
can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the
lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto
you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if
God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven,
shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying,
What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For
after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye
have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:8, 25-33).
God assures His people “that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). God knows the
future. God knows what is good for us. Even when evil (illness, accidents, bereavement,
retrenchment, failure, etc.) befall us, He knows how to work things out for us. He only asks that
we love and trust Him 100%.
Only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him now;
He will save you, He will save you, He will save you now.
Nothing at all can separate us from the love God has for us. So, why worry!
Do we doubt that God’s providential protection of His people can be less than perfect?

God’s Providential Preservation of His Words

We not only have all of His doctrines but also all of His words
Jesus quoting Deut 8:3 said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Every word of Holy Writ is vital for
godly living. As such, God makes sure that every single one of His words is preserved “by His
singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages” as stated in the Westminster Confession of
Faith (1.8). This is in keeping with God’s promise to preserve His words even to the jot and tittle,
“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in the furnace of earth, purified
seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this
generation for ever” (Psalm12:6-7). “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35,
Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33).
God’s providential hand in the preservation of His Word and words is seen in the
canonization and transmission of Scripture. All the inspired NT books were completed by the
end of the first century when the Apostle John wrote the last book of Revelation, and God
warned against adding to or subtracting from His Word in Rev 22:18-19. However, we know that
in the first few centuries, there were uninspired men who penned spurious writings and passed
them off as Scripture. Some of these were the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Nicodemus, the
Epistle of Barnabas, etc. Nevertheless, none of the inspired books of Scripture have been lost
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or obscured in the canonical process. By the providential guidance of the Holy Spirit, God’s
people were led to identify the 27 books to become our NT Canon, no more, no less. There was
a terminus to the canonization of Scripture at the Council of Carthage in AD 397.
In like manner, the Lord allowed copyist errors to enter into the transmission process through
the pen of fallible scribes. Nevertheless, His providential hand kept His inspired words of
Scripture from being lost. In light of God’s providence that nothing happens by chance and that
history is under His sovereign control, in the fullness of time—in the most opportune time of the
Reformation—when the true church separated from the false, when the study of the original
languages was emphasized, and the printing press invented (which meant that no longer would
there be any need to hand-copy the Scriptures thereby ensuring a uniform text)—God restored
from out of a pure stream of preserved Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, the purest of all Hebrew
and Greek texts—the texts that underlie our King James Bible—that accurately reflect the
original autographs.
The same powerful God who inspired His words to the jot and tittle, is He not powerful
enough to preserve His inspired words in
like manner? If God’s providential keeping
of His creation and His people is nothing
short of perfect, how then can the
providential preservation of His very own
words be anything but perfect? “Yea, let
God be true, but every man a liar”
(Romans 3:4). As God is immutable, so is
His Word. “The Law of the LORD is
perfect, converting the soul” (Psalm
19:7).

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted

’Midst the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.
The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands.

What a powerful and wonderful God we have! He is in control! He is still on the throne! Jesus
Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever! Glory to His Name!
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“Bible Baffle”
1. Name the three persons other than Jesus whose names are recorded in Scripture and
who were raised from the dead.
2. Who had a vision which helped him understand the writings of Jeremiah and Moses?
3. Which book says that being busy in your work prevents the sadness arising from having
too much time for reflection?
4. Who discovered a plot against the life of King Xerxes or Ahasuerus?
5. According to church tradition, which apostle was martyred with arrows?
6. Who was cured of seven demons by Jesus?
7. In the parable of “The Lost Coin”, how many coins or pieces of silver did the woman
originally have?
8. Who was the mother of the present day Arab races?
9. For what activity was Dorcas admired?
10. Who were the second set of twins recorded in the Bible?

Answers on page 8.

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 What are you seeking after?
What is the purpose of education? Why did you enrol in the polytechnics or the
universities? Is it to obtain a passport to a better job and security of economic prosperity? This,
by itself is nothing wrong but to pin our hopes entirely on this prospect, at the expense of
pursuing godliness, is a mistaken and illusory goal.
“Why?” you may ask. Well, how many have forgotten a large amount of what they have
studied after the exams. Worse still, they get disillusioned when they realize they could not
apply what they have learnt in their jobs because they might work in a seemingly unrelated
profession. Some only need to apply a very specific aspect of what they have studied. In
addition, they still need to equip themselves with deeper and wider knowledge. Hence, the
many post-graduate studies that takes up so much time, money and effort. Pause for a while
and begin to think what you are seeking for in your years in tertiary education.
The world’s education cannot guarantee you true happiness and
satisfaction. Heed the Word of God, “Happy is the man that findeth
wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13). Why
do you seek for those prestigious certificates? Isn’t it for you to be able to live
a relatively happy life in the future? Do you pin your hopes on those
certificates or on God? At the end of the day, what is happiness? Is it an
attainment of the worldly goods and temporal security? But you need to seek
godly wisdom. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and
with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7). Remember, “The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do
his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psalm 111:10). What is understanding?
“The knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10b). If you seek such holy
understanding, you can echo with the psalmist, “I have more understanding than all my
teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.” (Psalm 119:99). And “How much better
is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!.”
(Proverbs 16:16).
As a Christian student, you are different and should be separated from the rest. They
may seek the world “but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt 6:33). The prestigious certificates may be good
and even essential in Singapore’s competitive environment, but they cannot guarantee you
happiness, and certainly cannot guarantee you a desired employment in this gloomy global
economic environment. In such times of uncertainty, you need to depend on God. That makes
you completely different from your friends who have not tasted of the salvation in the Lord Jesus
Christ.
God cares for you. This assurance is especially important to those of you who will be
graduating this year. “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall
eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more
than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are
ye not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26). Are you worried about employment?
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the
things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34). God is in
absolute control and that includes your life and your future. So, while you are seeking the
prestigious certificates (or degrees), remember that your most important goal is to seek first the
kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all the things that you need in this life shall be
added unto you. Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and
obey.
~ Elder Boaz Boon ~

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 FCM Combined Meeting February 2003
The FCM Combined Meeting for this semester was held on the 28th February at Calvary
Bible-Presbyterian (Pandan) Church. Personally, I was looking forward to the combined meeting
for several reasons. Firstly, the combined meeting was to be the first ever FCM combined
meeting I attended. Hence, I was naturally curious to see how it was conducted. Secondly, it
was also a chance to meet up with the other FCMers from the other tertiary institutions, whom
we haven’t seen for a long time. Thirdly, the Combined Meeting serves as a welcome respite for
me during the term break from my work and studies. Some of us also took advantage of the
opportunity to have some physical refreshment by having some activities and games at West
Coast Park before the meeting. Indeed, what better way of enjoying the term break then to
fellowship with one another and to learn about spiritual lessons from God’s Word? I can think of
no better alternative and I am sure many FCMers share the same sentiments as me
I would like at this point to thank our brethren from the NUS (Arts) group for being such
wonderful organizers. Without them, we would not have been able to enjoy a sumptuous dinner
before the singspiration and message. The dinner was the chance for us to catch up with the
people from the other FCM groups. From the discussion of mundane matters and spiritual
things over table, we were able to get an update of each other’s lives, as well as to encourage
and exhort one another. It was also heartwarming to see the rest of the other FCMers
spontaneously helping out to set up the tables and chairs, as well as to wash the cups after the
dinner. How marvelous is such selfless love! Indeed, it is by loving one another that all men
know that we are the Lord’s disciples (John 13:35). While the world is moving in the direction on
the focus of individualism, let us do the opposite by uniting together in the bond of Christian
love. “Behold, how great and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is
like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s
beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the
dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the
blessing, even life for evermore.” (Psalm 133)
The theme message for the meeting was on “Christian Psychology” by Rev Jack Sin,
pastor of Maranatha Bible-Presbyterian Church. There are some churches in the world today
that are employing psychotherapy or other psychological methods to help in their ministries as
well as to serve as an attraction for church growth. However, are such methods Biblical? In an
earnest and direct manner, Rev Jack Sin showed us that the inherent foundations of psychology
are actually in contradiction with that of the doctrines in the Bible. To put it simply, the term
“Christian Psychology” is really an oxymoron. The two simply cannot co-exist. This message
serves to us a warning to be discerning regarding the teachings of men. Indeed, we should
learn to be Berean Christians and search the Scriptures daily to check constantly whether such
teachings are in accordance with that of the Bible (Acts 17:11). This is true even in school
where we are often bombarded with a myriad of theories and systems of beliefs that are often
different from what is written in the Holy Word. The situation in the world now is exactly what is
described by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having
itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto
fables.” This brings to mind the lessons I learnt recently regarding the Corinthian Church.
Divisions were rocking the church of Corinth when Paul wrote the epistle of 1 Corinthians. Part
of the reasons why the divisions occurred was due to false doctrine in the church that was
promoted by the people’s love for the philosophy of man of that time. Paul, formerly a Pharisee,
could have talked about such philosophy with the people in Corinth and may have been able to
gain their respect for his knowledge on such matters. Yet he chose not to engage in “enticing
words of man’s wisdom” (1 Corinthians 2:4) but was determined not to know anything among
them “save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Paul reasoned that the
wisdom of the world would come to nought (v.6). Instead, our faith should not stand in the
wisdom of man, but in the power of God (v.5). Let us all take heed of Paul’s example.
After the message, we had a time of sharing and corporate prayer within our own FCM
groups. Although time was running short, as it was late into the night, we still managed to have
a time of sincere sharing and prayer. With prayer and trust in God, all things are possible, so
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long as it is within the will of God. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much.” (James 5:16)
In short, I truly enjoyed the combined meeting. Will be looking forward to the next
meeting where we can all meet again. Let me end off with Paul’s advice to the Colossian
church:
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in
him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have
been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
May we continue to press on and persevere in our Christian walk till we
meet again. Amen.

Humbly In-Christ,
Clement
NUS FCM (Science)
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JOY is found in where HE leads:

Looking for a Fulfilling Career
By the end of this semester, many of our FCMers would be shoved out into the working
world, regardless of whether one’s spirits towards this upheaval change in their lives is
embraced with great eager and anticipation or with great reluctance. And it doesn’t help to ease
our graduating FCMers hearts at all with all the air of uncertainty around us so thick and
suffocating. Such is the situation right now: widespread economic gloom which may persist for
quite a long while more, fears that war in Iraq may trigger the anguish of terrorism already
lurking in various pockets of the world, the scene of increasingly overly-qualified taxi-drivers who
once held strategic positions in their former companies, the newspapers articles reporting of
surviving university graduates starting up their very first enterprise (chicken porridge stalls) while
the less fortunate ones sends twenty-over resumes every week. Can we then anticipate joy in
the careers we embark on? (This is provided if we can get a job once we graduate, not to speak
even of getting the job that we have been faithfully preparing for in the 13 years of formal
education we have had from primary to tertiary education)
Then where is the Joy this article promised to speak of in its title- “Joy is found in where
He leads?” since I have started on such a note of vivid despair?
Even though I’m not yet graduating with a year more to go in the National Institute of
Education (fondly known as NIE), but 3 years ago, I was likewise, in all anxiety and uncertainty
very much like what you are going through too. You probably would be thinking: here is
someone who has an ‘iron ricebowl’ and she’s here to share with us where she found her joy.
The use of ‘joy’ in this article is not synonymous to the size of remuneration the job brings or the
degree of security the job promises. It refers to the unspeakable joy one experiences first-hand
when one sees God’ faithfulness in their lives. Especially so in the earth-shaking changes in
your lives when one officially ‘grows up’ in the eyes of society and needs to take on financial
responsibilities.
I recalled the time when I had to indicate my choices for university courses after the
release of the A levels. I remembered how I would speak to different people in their various
professions, hoping that the conversations with them would somehow steer me towards what I
hope to do with my future. I’m sure most of us recognize that the degrees we chose to do
indicate the path that our future would probably take. Among the choices, one of the least
expecting course that I thought I would get was a degree in NIE. Perhaps it is because of pride
and the thought that my life would be better used for professions that are more prestigious like
businesswoman, professions related to mass communications or are IT-related, the news that I
was selected for an NIE course came as a shock to me. However the vast difference between
what I thought I would want to do with life versus what was given to me, one thing that kept me
to my choice was the fact that I had prayed very hard about my future and for what God wanted

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me to do. Although I must admit the thoughts of giving up the NIE course and doing private
businesses courses were constantly lurking in my mind, somehow I prayed very hard that God
would give me the faith and the strength to accept what was given or rather what God provided
since I had asked of Him. I don’t mind teaching as I regularly give tuition, but a long term
decision to stay in teaching seems to be a very scary thing. Moreover the economy was rather
good at that time, so doing an NIE course seems rather an unpopular choice. Now, I guess
most people coming in to NIE would see it as a life-saving float but it was far from this situation
then.
It was really by God’s grace that I continued the procedures of becoming a trainee
teacher. It was a very serious matter to become a civil servant. Getting a guarantor, signing the
bond, looking at the hefty amount I had to repay if I were to break the bond… I knew then that
this was it! Once I signed it, about a decade of my life would be given to MOE. (4 years of
training to be a teacher as well as doing my degree, another 4 years of bond after NIE) It was
rather a frightening thought for a girl of merely 18 years old to make such a serious
commitment. And since I’m trained in NIE, if I were ever to change my mind about teaching, it
would hardly be possible as my degree might not be recognized in other fields? Certainly not in
business. So the faith asked of me was the faith that concerns very much my future- To trust
God’s plans for me in NIE would be the best plan for me for the rest of my life in the aspect of
my career.
As I thought back, I recognized my spiritual weakness in praying that God’s will be done
versus accepting God’s will. I recalled how my faith in God wavered during the first year at NIE.
I didn’t seem to have an aim- I was just attending the lessons and doing the assignments. Many
times I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing at NIE. I even contemplated on taking a sabbatical
break to come to terms with what I wanted to do. These feelings came in because many of the
courses were classroom related, e.g. classroom management, creativity in thinking, etc, and
unless one finds the meaning learning these theoretical things, taking such courses can
sometimes be a pain. It was exactly what James 1:6-8 describes- “But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of sea
driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that
he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double-minded man is
unstable in all his ways.” My heart was in turmoil and my mind
was confused. All because I had asked God for wisdom to choose
the right course but I did not follow up my prayer with faith. I had
done the first part of James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him
ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraidedeth
not; and it shall be given him.” but forgot the second part of
trusting totally in God. At that point of time, what I had clearly missed out was trusting and
believing that God had a plan for me and that plan was the best for me! It was only in the
second semester of Year One that I gave up the fight and accepted God’s will for me. It was
only when I started to accept God’s plan for me and aimed to do my best for God in NIE (as we
are called to do in obedience to God), that I realized teaching is what I want to do all along! It
was as clear as the sky is blue and it became clear to me that I had fallen in love with teaching.
This taught me many things: one of which was that God knows me so well that even I
myself would not dare to say that I truly know myself. Indeed God knows our hearts more than
we know ourselves. This gives us more reasons to put our trust in His plan for us even though
we may not recognize that it’s the best for us at that time. God had provided in many ways- I
was receiving a salary even as I was studying for the first two years in NIE, I need not pay for
the tuition fees which I saw many of my peers were struggling to pay, I absolutely enjoy what I’m
studying (doing) right now and when I’m out of school, I have a job waiting for me. There’s
nothing more that I can ask for. I thank God for these material blessings He has given to me.
But among all these blessings, it was the spiritual lessons I’ve learnt that I treasure the most.
For me, this became my spiritual milestone to depend on Him in every aspect of my life- family
life, financial issues, spiritual growth, etc. When my faith starts to waver, I look back at this part
of my life and am reminded of God’s faithfulness. Of course, I’ve still a lot to learn in trusting
God.
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 The men of great faith in the Bible have a habit of naming the place where they
encounter God to remind them what they have learnt in their spiritual journey- Abraham named
the place where God provided a ram in place of Isaac as a sacrifice “Jehovahjireh” (The Lord
will provide) (Genesis 22:14); Jacob when on the run from Esau’s wrath, encountered God and
the gate of heaven was shown to him, named the place “Bethel” (God’s house). He made a vow
to God that if God will be with him to protect and provide him, then the Lord would be his God.
(Genesis 28:19-22)
As for me, I would name mine- “Providence”. Have you named any place in your own
spiritual journey where you have encountered God so that you can think back and be reminded
of God’s blessings? When the road ahead seems hard for us to put our trust in Him, we can
always depend on these ‘encounters’ with God to help us recall His faithfulness. Together with
God’s strength and grace, to receive His Plan for us, trusting in Him becomes a less daunting
thing to do.
For those who are graduating soon, you may be wondering what lies ahead for you. I
pray that you’ll continue to seek God’s will. God will provide in the least likely way you expect
Him to provide. Continue to do His Will whatever it may be. Perhaps you have been studying
business or science all these years and God is calling you to do something else (like teaching?
☺). Rest assured that where He leads you is the best for you even if you don’t see it.
Lastly, the signs of the last days are becoming more obvious with the passing of every
day. Let us view the job that we do (or are going to do in the future) as the job that God
graciously provides. May it not take more stress or anxiety than it ought to take in our lives. For
Jesus said in Matthew 5:31-33 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or
What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For all these things do the
Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall
be added unto you.” Moreover, James reminds us that all our preoccupation with our job is
futile for we know not what happens tomorrow. James 4:13-15 says: “Go to now, ye that say,
Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and
sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not shall be on the morror. For what is your life? It is
even a vapour, that appeared for a little time, and then vanished away. For they ye ought
to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
May the Lord lead us and guide us according to His Perfect Plan; and may we be found
faithful in the things God has called us to do. God bless.

In Christ
Serene Lee
NIE/NTU FCM

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Answers to “Bible Baffle”:

1. Lazarus (John 11:43-44), Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12) and Dorcas or Tabitha (Acts 9:36-40)
2. Daniel (Daniel 9:2; Daniel 9:13; Daniel 9:20-27)
3. Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)
4. Mordecai (Esther 2:22)
5. Jude
6. Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9)
7. 10 (Luke 15:8)
8. Hagar
9. Her sewing. (Acts 9:39)
10. Pharez and Zarah (Genesis 25:23-26; Genesis 38:27-30)

How many did you get correct? ☺

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 Updates from NIE/NTU FCM

Hi brothers and sisters in Christ. Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus! I bring to you
much joy that NTU/NIE FCM has thrived greatly this semester. Although most of the NTU
FCMers are graduating, the Lord has been merciful in bringing new people to join us for a time
of bible study and sweet fellowship.
Currently, NTU/NIE FCM is being held in Elder and Mrs Sim’s master residence at Hall
11. We really enjoy the great comforts of a nice home and Thank God that they have so
graciously opened their house for us to hold our NTU/NIE FCM meetings. The Lord has really
been good to NTU/NIE FCM. Previously, we had our bible study in a tutorial room and at times,
when that room was occupied, we had to vacate and find another new room. However, since
Elder Sim and Mrs Sim returned to Singapore from his sabbatical leave, they have offered to let
us hold our meetings in their master residence. Elder Sim is a Hall Counsellor and an Associate
Professor of Mechanical and Production Engineering (MPE). He also used to be in charge of
Poly FCM of a few years back.
Yes, indeed, now our FCM meetings have progressed from nomadic ways of searching
for tutorial classrooms to a warm and homely place at Hall 11. During the school semester, we
meet at Canteen 11, 5.30pm for dinner. Do come and join us especially if you are
working/studying in NTU/NIE.
Rev Wee Eng Moh and Aunt Helen from Berith BP Church have always been so faithful
in coming down to NTU to lead us in the
book study of Revelation. Thank God for
their faithfulness and their love for God’s
people! Revelation is an insight as to what
will happen in the end times. As the end is
drawing nearer, we should all be vigilant
and even have a burden for lost souls. We
are entering into perilous times and
should strive to be good testimonies for
our unsaved love ones. If not, they may
end up being cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:15 “And whosoever was
not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire.” The study
of Revelation is coming to an end with 2
more chapters pending. Following that, we
will proceed to do a book study of
Proverbs.
Every Wednesday morning at 7.45am-8.25am, we meet in tutorial room 72 for a short
time of morning devotion. It is important to get up early and start off our day remembering our
Creator and meditating on His Word. Since we, students, are facing much trials and stress from
our workload, it is apt that we gather to even remember that “ …He is my refuge and my
fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Ps 91:2. We have proved to be a constant spiritual
support to each other, bearing one another’s burdens and uplifting one another in prayers. It is
also important to remind ourselves that “...the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21. We need to thank God for his blessings but if it is
within his will to allow trials in us, may we always be assured that it is within God’s permissive
will, and that at the end of the day, we are still able to praise and thank God.
However, this semester also sees us meeting up more often to study the word of God.
Brother Jun Sheng has kindly offered to lead us in the book study of Judges. We meet also at
tutorial room 72 on wed but at 1330-1430. Judges was the time where “In those days there
was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” ~Judges 21:25.
A few lessons I had learnt and was applicable to me were that the wife should not be usurping

9
the role of the husband, but rather submit to him and the husband must lead the family
spiritually.
Matthew 19: 5 says “ … For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and
shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh.” In Judges 9, Jotham, one of the
sons of Gideon, accused the people of Shechem for being in favour of Abimelech killing his 70
other brothers. Furthermore, Abimelech was the son of his father’s concubine (Judges 8:31),
and was not of direct blood. After Jotham quoted a story on Mount Gerizim and voicing out his
unhappiness, he fled away. (Judges 9:21) Jotham was afraid of what Abimelech would do to
him. There is a lesson to be learnt here and that is to stand firm for the Lord especially during
persecutions. We should not run away like Jotham. We are also encouraged in Matthew 5: 11
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner
of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” If other people badmouthed us, we will be quick to
jump to our defences, surely if others speak ill of our Heavenly Father, shouldn’t we all the more
stand up for the Lord? Do take note that the word ‘you’ was mentioned in the verse and it is our
individual responsibility to speak up for the Lord.
So my dear brethren, let us all continue to be good testimonies for the Lord in these end
times. May we glorify God in every area of our lives as we grow in grace and knowledge of our
personal Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Liken unto Heb 10:24 –25 “And let us consider one
another to provoke unto love and to good works; Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much
the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Agape,
Lyanne Yang
NIE/NTU FCM
========================================================================
MISSION TRIP TO CAMBODIA
(24th - 29th March 2003)
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of
the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest” (Matthew 9: 37-38).

“You must come and see for

yourselves the work that we are
doing” - these words echoed loud
and clear through our minds as we
boarded Flight MI 602 on the
morning of 24th March. Some two
years ago, we had met up with Rev
Moses Hahn for lunch at Novena
Square. He shared with us
concerning the Lord’s blessings
upon his mission work in the port city
of Kompongsom, Cambodia, and
showed us pictures of the various
outreaches. Encouraged by his
missionary zeal, we responded with
words to this effect: “OK, God
willing, we will come and visit you
one day.”

How the Kompongsom ministry began

After completing his theological training at FEBC, Rev Moses Hahn (MDiv) desired to serve
in China. For three years he waited, but the doors remained firmly shut. Then Jimmy Rim came

10
from Cambodia with news of the great harvest fields there. Moses immediately felt the call.
With the blessing and support of Life BPC, he left for the Cambodian mission field in August
1997.
Moses focussed his attention on Kompongsom, a seaside town. While serving in a local
church, he taught English at a secondary school in the evenings. However, he soon left the
church as he could not accept their Charismatic ways as well as the leader’s lifestyle. He then
started a Bible School with seven students. This was followed by the inauguration of
Kompongsom B-P Church in June 1998. Moses taught Bible classes whilst his wife, Grace,
taught English and ran the children’s ministry. Visiting lecturer, Dr Chan, helped by teaching
Bible classes on a short-term basis.
Initially, Moses and Grace faced many difficulties. Life was hard. Due to the civil war, the
country was unstable - burglars, thieves and gangsters were major threats. Constantly troubled
by gunmen, the family endured many sleepless nights. Attempts to officially register the Bible
School met with one obstacle after another from the government’s religious department. The
only thing to do was to pray and wait on the Lord. Finally the permit was given some 12 months
later.
It has been close to six years since Moses and Grace first stepped into
Cambodia. The Lord has richly blessed their ministry, and opened Gospel
doors to other cities/villages in Cambodia including Pailin in the north
(2000), Kokong in the west (2001) and Stungtreng in the north-east near
the Laos border (2002).

Mixed feeings
Mention Cambodia, and Singaporeans think of poverty, backwardness and
violence. So when the Lord led us to help out in the mission work of the
Hahns in Kompongsom, we had mixed feelings as we prepared for the trip. Having heard about
the dirty water, the unruly traffic, and high crime rate, we had expected the worst. While the
thought of serving the Lord in the Bible School thrilled us greatly, we were a little apprehensive.
How would we adapt to the living conditions? What would the Bible school students be like?
How about their level of English? Would our lessons be “over their heads”? We committed our
concerns to the Lord and prayed for grace to adapt, and wisdom to be effectively used of Him.

Culture shock
Driving out of the airport with Samnang (a senior Bible School student) behind the wheel,
we received our first culture shock - the chaotic traffic conditions in Phnom Penh. There seemed
to be hundreds of motorbikes, zooming in every direction. The motorcyclists in Cambodia need
neither a licence nor a crash helmet! There were hardly any traffic lights, and simply no rules!
Steering through the disorderly mass of vehicles was an exercise in intuitive driving. At one
point, Samnang was trying to turn left (our minibus was a “right-hand drive”) by first crossing the
oncoming lane. Imagine our horror when we were confronted by a sea of motorbikes coming
directly at us! Then a “miracle” happened! The bikes instinctively gave way, opening a path for
our vehicle, and there were no mishaps. Noticing our shocked expressions, Grace calmly told
us that Cambodians drive by “sense” and not according to safety rules. Thank God for His
preserving grace.

Mission House
Traffic conditions aside, our four-hour drive from Phnom Penh to Kompongsom was
pleasant and scenic. We admired the beautiful countryside dotted with rice fields and thatched
huts.
For the next five days, we stayed at The Mission House at Sihanoukville, a small town near
the sea. The Mission House was clean and comfortable with ready water and electricity. We
were told that, for the past few days, the taps had been dry. But on the day we arrived, the
water supply was restored, and we were able to take a much-needed shower. The water was
slightly brownish but we adapted quickly. We were grateful to the Lord for His kind and timely
provision.
11
Sweet fellowship
We had sweet fellowship with co-
labourers in the Mission House - Grace
Hahn, Pr Chang and her husband (the
Singaporean couple that runs the Chinese
service in the Mission House), Rev and Mrs
Choi (the Korean couple in charge of the
music ministry in the Bible School), and their
four-year-old son, Young Chan. Rev Moses
Hahn was not with us as he had returned to
Korea for much-needed rest and
recuperation from physical exhaustion.
We thank God that our faith in Him
transcends all barriers. Despite the fact that
we are from different countries and speak
different languages, we are one in Jesus
Christ, our Saviour. We serve the same
Lord and Master Who has given to each of
us a special calling for the work of the ministry: “Having then gifts differing according to the
grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion
of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or
he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that
ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12: 6-8).

Our teaching ministry in the Bible School

The main purpose of our Mission Trip was to teach the students in the Bible School. As
short-term teachers, Helen and I had to conduct intensive courses. We are grateful to the Lord
for His grace. There was so much to teach but the Lord granted us wisdom and strength to
accomplish our goals. We thank God for a meaningful and fruitful ministry. All glory be to Him!
The Kompongsom Bible School is located on a mountain, about 15 minutes’ drive from the
Mission house. There are 58 students altogether - 21 senior and 37 junior. The regular lecturers
are Rev Moses Hahn and his wife, Grace. The Hahns lecture to the senior students whilst
Bhopa and Lydia (Cambodians graduates from FEBC last year) take the junior class.
Occasionally, visiting lecturers (like Dr Chan from Singapore) conduct short-term Bible courses
for the students. They help relieve Moses and Grace of their teaching duties, thus enabling
them to visit their churches and mission stations.
Our classes began on Tuesday morning. I taught the senior students the book of Zechariah,
whilst Helen taught English Grammar in the mornings, and exhorted her students in the
afternoons. Lectures sessions were from 8 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. As I had
much to cover, I also conducted two additional evening lectures from 8 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Our impression of the students

The students impressed us with their interest, enthusiasm and diligence. It gladdened our
hearts to see their love for learning. In Helen’s class, for example, the students asked discerning
questions that revealed their strong English foundation: “Teacher, can you teach us
‘Countable/Uncountable Nouns’ and ‘Definite/Indefinite Articles’? And when do we use ‘shall’,
‘will’ and ‘going to’?”
They were not inhibited when it came to singing. At Helen’s request, her cheerful students -
aged about 16 to 25 - sang “Jesus loves me” - complete with appropriate actions - in both
Khmer and English, most enthusiastically and loudly. Helen was sure that the whole village
could hear them!

Interesting notes about the Bible School

As most of the Bible students are from the rural areas, they do not pay any school fees. To
help support the School, some of the senior students take on an added responsibility. Every day
12
at 4.30 p.m. after the lectures, they faithfully leave the Bible School to teach children English in
the Mission House. Their classes end at 7.30 p.m., after which they return to the Bible School
where they are sometimes required to attend night lectures. The fees they collect from the
English classes are used to meet part of the expenses of the Bible School.
Electricity is very expensive in Kompongsom. As a result, its use in the Bible School has to
be restricted. The school generator operates only from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. For the rest of the
night, the students have to study by candlelight.

Visit to Smachdang B-P Church

After our morning lectures on Wednesday, we visited Smachdang B-P Church, which is
under the care of Jesse and his wife, Naomi. When we reached there, Naomi was conducting
an English class for the village children. Jesse, a graduate of the Bible School, briefed us on the
ministry. The church was started some two years ago as a Gospel outreach to the children in
the village. Jesse took over the pastoral oversight after his marriage to Naomi in November last
year. Initially, the couple faced much persecution from the hostile villagers. To show their
displeasure, they often kicked the front door of their house late in the night, thus disrupting their
sleep. However, the English classes they conducted for the children soon softened the hearts of
the people. With the digging of a well to provide clean water for the community, the villagers
became more receptive to the church.
Through visitation and evangelism, many villagers including children have been converted.
Currently there are 150-200 children in the Sunday School. The worship service is attended by
about 40 - 50 adults, many of whom were baptised by Rev Moses Hahn. A few students from
the Bible School help by teaching the Sunday School. One of the village girls, Shulamy, will be
coming over to study at FEBC this July.

Visit to Ottreth Christian School/Church

On Thursday,
we visited Ottreth,
an isolated but
beautiful village near
the sea. Ottreth
Village initially
comprised about 15
families living in
thatched huts.
Subsequently ten
more families came
to settle there. The
villagers are too
poor to send their
children to school,
the nearest of which
is many miles away.
To meet the
educational needs,
the Bible School students visit the village to teach both Khmer and English to the children.
About 40 children attend the Sunday School run by the Bible students. Joseph, one of the
senior students, was assigned to take care of this outreach.

Other outreaches
The Lord has blessed Rev Hahn’s ministry, and opened doors for him to other cities/villages
in Cambodia. These new outreaches are under the care of graduates/senior students of the
Bible School. The following are some of the churches that have been started. Please pray for
these churches as they are weak and need much care.

13
 Pastor/Graduate/
senior students Sunday School Worship service
in charge (attendance) (attendance)
Oil Palm Church Bory & SrayPou >100 15-25
ChungKou Church Amos/II Timothy >120 13-18
Vealthom Church Joshua 80 15-25
Bosemoan Church Caleb 60 5*
Bakrong Mission Station Issachar 60 15-20
Ookyaheng Church Peter & Sokom 80 15-20
Smackdang Church Jesse & Naomi 150-200 40-50
Ottreth Church Joseph 40
KBS Mission House Rev Moses Hahn 25-40 25-40
KBS Mission House
(Chinese Service) Pr Chang/Mr Lee - 20 - 30
Ophram Mountain Rev Moses Hahn } 35-45 70-80 (Adults - morning)
(Bible School) } 65-70(Youths - afternoon)

*Reduced attendance because the church members moved into BiKrong Village to earn a living.

The outreaches in other provinces are :

1)Pailin (under Chay) - Ottavao Church & Ottavao Primary School. More than 100 children
attend the school. Other outreaches include Border Village, Pohui Village, Yat Mountain Village
and an Orphanage.
2) Battambang (under Paul Sokha)
Battambang is the second largest city (larger than Kampongsom) in Cambodia situated near the
northern border with Thailand.
3) Stungtreng (under II Kim Nang Roth)
4) KoKong (under Nehemiah)

Note: Chay, Paul Sokha, II Kim Nang Roth and Nehemiah are graduates of the Bible School.

Pray for the Hahns and their ministry

Relieved of her teaching duties in the Bible School, Grace left on Tuesday morning (25th
March) to visit the mission stations at Battambang and Pailin, both near the Thai border. We
were told that to get there, she had to travel for many hours along difficult and lonely roads,
taking local public transport. We marvelled at her courage and commitment to the work of the
Gospel. Do pray for her as she not only
helps Moses out by visiting the
outreaches (some of which are very
remote) but also returns regularly to
Singapore to attend to their three
school-going children - Paul, Timothy
and Titus. Please uphold the Hahn
family and their co-labourers as they
serve the Lord in the Cambodian
mission field.
About 60 Bible School students are
now being trained for the work of the
ministry. The graduates of this School
are sent to take charge of the various
outreaches. A few are sent for further
training in FEBC, Singapore. May the Lord use His servants to sow the Gospel seed and extend
God’s kingdom in this predominantly Buddhist country. Truly the harvest is plenteous but the
labourers are few. We covet your prayers and support for this worthy ministry.

Rev Wee Eng Moh

Pastor, Berith B-P Church Singapore
14
 UPCOMING EVENTS!
FCM CAMP 2003
Date: 19th May – 24th May 2003
Theme: “Christian Leadership”
Day Speaker: Rev Das Koshy
Night Speaker: Pr Ho Chee Lai
Venue: Calvary Bible Presbyterian Church (Pandan)
Address: 201 Pandan Gardens, S(609337)
Contact Desmond at hp: 94578622 or
E-mail at nightsky_@hotmail.com to register now!
Camp Fees: Full-time: $30; Part time: ~$3/meal, $1.50/Breakfast

Announcements
FCM Kemaman Mission Trip
Date: 27th May – 31st May 2003
Continue to pray for the team of 7 as they will be ministering to the brethren up in
Kemaman and Kuantan. Pray for revival and strength.

SMS Broadcast Service

SMS broadcast is a new service provided by MyTengah IT ministry to enable members and
friends to receive news and updates via Short Messages through their handphones.
To subscribe to the service, please follow the instructions below:
For Fundamental Christian Ministry News write "FCM" and send to 96341214. It is FREE OF
CHARGE.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I unsubscribe from the SMS Service?
To un-subscribe simply type "QUIT" and send to 96341214. Your handphone number will be removed
from all the above Broadcast groups. You should then proceed to re-subscribe to only the specific
group which is relevant to you.

2. Will my handphone be spammed by junk messages?

This will not happen since the access code is only accessible to responsible people designated by the
church Elders. In any case you can always unsubscribe from the service by following the instructions
above.

For more updates and announcements log on to

http://www.mytengah.com/FCM.
15
Overall FCM Coordinator: Elder Boaz Boon (Calvary BP Church (Tengah))
Tel: 6892 2865 (H) 6823 3546 (O) 9824 7681 (HP)
E-mail: boaz.boon@capitaland.com.sg or boazboon@mytengah.com

Nanyang Technological University/ National Institute of Education

1. NTU/NIE Group
Comprising students in all the faculties of NTU & NIE
Bible Study Leader : Rev Wee Eng Moh (Pastor Of Berith BP Church)
E-mail: emwee@pacific.net.sg
Student Coordinator : NTU/NIE: Cen Zhihui [9741 4915(Hp)]
E-mail: emmanuel_cen@hotmail.com
Meeting Place : Hall 11, Blk 54 #04-1049
Meeting Time : Every Monday, 6.30pm
Dinner : Canteen 11, 5.30pm

National University of Singapore

2. Science Group
Comprising students of the Science, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Information & Computer
Science Faculties
Bible Study Leader : Pr. Mark Chen (Youth Preacher of Life BP Church)
E-mail: mcchen@pacific.net.sg
Student Coordinator : Desmond [9457 8622 (Hp)]
E-mail: nightsky_@hotmail.com
Meeting Place : Science Block 16, 5th Floor, NUS Science Faculty
Meeting Time : Every Friday, 5.00pm

3. Arts/ Engineering Group

Comprising students from the Arts, Engineering, Architecture, Building & Real Estate, Law &
Business Administration Faculties
Bible Study Leader : Rev Ronny Khoo (Pastor Of Tabernacle BP Church)
E-mail: ronnykhoo@yahoo.com.sg
Student Coordinator : Daniel Tee [9636 2255(Hp)]
E-mail: tees@pacific.net.sg
Meeting Place : Engineering Block 1, 6th Floor, NUS Eng. Faculty
Meeting Time : Every Friday, 6.30pm

Polytechnics

4. Polytechnics Group
Comprising students from Ngee Ann, Singapore, Nanyang and Temasek.
Bible Study Leader : Pr Ho Chee Lai (Deacon of Gospel Light BP Church)
E-mail: cheelai@starhub.net.sg
Student Coordinator : Phoebe Goh [6560 9186(H)]
E-mail: pho_water@hotmail.com
Sharon Ng [ 9173 1821(HP)]
E-mail: ngcatz@hotmail.com
Meeting Place : Life BPC
Meeting Time : Every Wednesday, 7.00pm
Dinner : 6.00pm

16
 Hi, let me introduce myself. I’m Desmond, a 2nd year physics student at NUS. I worship at Calvary
BPC (Jurong), and I’m part of the science FCM bible study group in NUS. Well, what is FCM? FCM
stands for Fundamental Christian Ministry, and it is an outreach to tertiary students around Singapore.
We have weekly bible studies in the various tertiary institutions.
So how did I come to join FCM? Well, it all began when I attended my first FCM camp in 2001.
That was just before I entered NUS. I did not know anyone then, but I came to the camp because I had a
desire to understand what it means to live as a Christian and to find a group of friends that can share and
face together the challenges of Christian living as a student in the university. By the end of the camp, I
have got to know many like-minded Christians, who are not willing to drift around and live a laid-back
Christian life, but have a strong desire to live according to God’s word.
So why did I choose FCM? Of course I was aware of other Christian groups in campus, and like
many of the Christians in these groups, we share a common desire to live a life for Christ and bring the
gospel to our unbelieving friends. But I realised that their non-separatist stand leads to over-tolerance in
some areas, and from a little knowledge of church history, I can understand how grave errors usually start
from seemingly minor compromise. So I thought it’s better to be led by God’s word than by personal
preferences or friendships. Though sometimes I feel it’s a bit difficult to take such a stand, I just try to put
feelings aside, and encourage everyone to do the same.
So I invite all tertiary students, and especially if you are awaiting entry into a university or
polytechnic, to be part of the FCM family. If you are looking for a group of Christians who are actively
interested in the Christian faith and unwilling to compromise the teachings of the bible, then you will find a
sense of belonging with us! Also, like myself and many others, I hope you will find this FCM camp fruitful
in helping you know the FCMers well and integrate into the FCM family.
This year, the camp theme is “Christian Leadership”. Now, this is going to be a theme that is
relevant to everyone whether or not we may be in any appointed leadership position. We will probably
encounter at least some small area where such principles of leadership will have to be learnt and applied,
whether now or in the future. As you grow, older Christians will have to lead younger ones, husbands will
have to lead his family etc. Realise also that the many instances where principles of leadership are
recorded in the bible, they are not just for leaders to know, but also for everyone to understand the criteria
in selecting leaders (especially during church elections). Last but not least, principles of Christian
leadership must also be applied when one leads others in the secular world so that our light can shine
forth before men.
So what can you expect from the camp? Every morning, there will be messages by Rev Das
Koshy followed by discussions. Then in the afternoons, we’ll have various activities like mission
awareness program, video show, tracting, case studies and bible quiz. There will also be a time for each
bible study group to meet up and a 4 -hour workshop by Sis Lye Chan (counsellor of Calvary Jurong YF).
In the evening, we’ll have prayer meeting and night messages by Pr Ho Chee Lai.
Having said all these, I hope you’ll all be here for a fruitful time of learning God’s Word. Do pray
for a blessed FCM camp ahead! God Bless.
In-Christ,
Desmond

Please detach along this line.

Contact Desmond at 94578622 or email nightsky_@hotmail.com for more info!
Application form
Name: _____________________________ NRIC: _______________ Church: __________________
Home Address: ________________________________________________________________________
Contact Number(Hp/Pg): ________________ Allergies: __________ Camp Status: full-time / part-time

Indemnity Form for Campers under 21

I,__________________ parent of ________________ will not hold the FCM camp committee,
or the church responsible for any mishaps that should occur over the duration of the camp. I also
understand that the camp committee will try to take utmost care of my child in the absence of my
supervision.

Signature of Camper: Signature of Parent:

________________ ________________
17