The years were 1977/8

The Place: Jesus Saves Mission, Bkt Ho Swee, Tiong Bahru, Singapore

One evening after Sunday Worship we found out we had no money. No money to take bus fare back to SOM (School of Mission) in Admiralty Road, Sembawang

Both Paul & myself were from Malaysia. With S$80 for monthly allowance for food, expenses & transport we usually run out of money half way through the month

Rest of the time we live by faith

And so on this night we found ourselves with no money

But we had faith. Faith in the Invisible Living God

So lifting up his hand Paul prayed. Then I prayed

Dear Almighty God

Thank you for the wonderful time of Preaching & Teaching today. We rejoice in this time of Thy visitation in revival

Now your servants got need. Please help us and provide for our fares back to SOM

About 30 km distance away is our destination

Between that we had no money but only Faith in Him

30 km will be a long walk after serving God in Soul winning (12 noon) Adult Bible Study Class (3pm), Worship Service (4pm to 6pm) on a happy but tired day

As we walked towards Tiong Bahru to take the bus there. Almost more than halfway God sent His “angel” of deliverance in the person of bro Eng Thye (Now Rev Tan Eng Thye)

He paid for our fares just at the most crucial moment

Another Sunday evening and this time both Paul & I were in dire straits again. No money in our pocket. Not even one cent left.

This time I prayed and told Brother Paul to close in prayer asking for God’s deliverance

And this time we were led to take the Bus from Lower Delta Road which is only 2 minutes away from the Mission just across the Road

Just as we arrived at the Bus Stop God in His Divine Timing sent His “angel” in the person of Sis Rhoda Khoo. She ran after us and paid for our bus fares in the nick of time

GOD IS A GOD OF WONDER INDEED!

God moved people in mysterious ways to help us in the very crucial moment of time

We will always remember HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD

Psalm 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

 

An early photo of bro Paul Chiew

Below is the recent photo of Brother Paul Chiew

Today known as Brother Yong San the Man of Faith

Brother Paul with Brother Poh Aun currently minister to a small group of Brethren through whataspp contacts

 

Coming up next article

Living by Faith on God’s Provisions or LMD

LMD? What is it?

Brethren please pray for us

Thank you in Jesus’ Name

 

Calvin Tan

 

While BHS JSM has Student’s Club on Saturday PK JSM has direct outreach to the Schools nearby

Young people are more open to the Gospel & every means & opportunity is used to reach out to them.  During School days I was invited by Bro Bee Hin to speak to Students of Vitoria Secondary School. Here we meet at the HDB Flat staircase as our Bible Study or preaching Avenue.

After the Bible Study I showed Brother Bee Hin my GCE result slip. Ha! I got 6 credits and he said I qualify to go up to Form 6th in Victory Junior College. Did Satan tempt me? Not really as the Call of God was on me. Then when the full GCE Cert was ready I returned to KL to collect it from Cochrane Road Secondary School. After collecting the Official GCE Cert I left for EVANGEL BOOK CENTRE as usual. I put the cert at the Cashier counter and browsed the  Christian books with delight. After quite a long while I went to look for my Certificate. Ha! It was gone. I asked the Cashier, “Did you see my GCE Certificate which   was placed on the Desk? She said, “No. There is no Certificate but here is a Greeting Card. Do you want the Greeting Card?” Dumbfounded I left.

Now God has really burnt all the Bridges and no turning back.

This happened to Elisha who voluntarily burnt all the Bridges by Slaughtering his bullocks & also used the Plowing Instruments as fuel to cook a feast to say farewell to the world.

I also remembered JSM conducted Bible Study in the Premises of Rev. Huang’s FISHERMEN FOR CHRIST CHURCH.

Among the Students was a Christian Jew called Allison. I looked up to God and gave thanks that one of Abraham descendant is a convert to Christianity.

Again those were misty years over 45 years ago.

One fine day while attending Mt Calvary Baptist Church in Singapore in walked Bro Hock Heng. He said, “Do you remember me?”

“Yes of course,” I replied, “You are Bro Koh Hock Heng from Kim Seng Road School.

I remember fondly those times of Bible Study in Kim Seng Road School with a handful of  students and Brother Hock Heng faithfully turn up for all the Meetings. I remember there were days when he was the only one student that turned up for Bible Study

Fast forward 45 over years later

See

Photo from JSM webpage: In striped blue/black/white shirt front row sitting near center is Rev Koh Hock Heng (Pastor of JSM)

And when I received this song on tape I shared with the Kim Seng Road School Boys first

Here is that song

GOD RAISE UP A STANDARD

By Rev Cliff Hunnicutt of Harvest Baptist Mission

1. God raise up a Standard

By thine own holy power.

God raise up a Standard;

Meet all our needs this hour

God raise up a Standard;

O Holy Spirit come;

Not by power and not by might

O Holy Spirit come

 

2. God raise up a people

Peculiar treasure thine

God raise up a people;

Whose will is lost in thine

God raise up a people;

O Holy Spirit dine.

Feast our bodies, soul and mind;

O Holy Spirit dine

 

3) God raise up a witness;

A Church with vision true.

God raise up a witness;

And purge us through and through.

God raise up a witness;

A Church constrain by love.

Filling us and sending us;

O Holy heavenly Dove.

 

 

4) Melt my heart with love LORD;

A broken spirit give.

Melt my heart with love LORD;

Not I but Christ should live.

Melt my heart with love LORD;

Subdue my stubborn will

Fill to over flowing LORD

O Holy Spirit fill….

 

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a Standard against him (Isaiah 59:19b)

 

Amen and Amen

 

 

Among the first few opportunity was in school Student Bible Study Group and in particular the Student club held every Saturday in BHS JSM

Here are a nice group of Young Students very open to the Gospel

See

Standing 1st from far right is Sister Betty Soh (Mrs. Bethany Khng)

And standing last row 1st from left is Rev. John Khng

Between them are a brood of Young people of the Student’s Club. After more than 40 years many are now Pastors, Elders & Deacons of JSM, Baptist, Bible Presbyterian & other Independent Churches.

And this was the message given one Saturday. Though over 40 misty years have gone by the contents of the Message is as vital today as then

7 REASONS WHY WE OUGHT TO READ THE BIBLE

1. THE BIBLE IS FOOD FOR THE CHRISTIANS

² As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2). A growing child needs milk because it has life. A toy child does not drink milk as it has no life. Every new born Christian with spiritual life has a hunger for the Bible. If not he/she has no life and is still dead in sin.

A Christian should grow up to take more solid food or else his growth is stunted.

¹⁴ But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14)

D.L> Moody was once questioned or words to that effect , “How come the Bible is both Milk & Strong Meat at the same time” D.L. Moody looked out the train window & saw cows grazing on the grass and he said, “See those cows were eating the same grass but how they turn into hoof, horns, bones & flesh? So is the Word of God.” Just feed on the Word of God if you want to grow.

2. SEED FOR THE SOWER

Matthew 13: 3-9

13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying,
Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side,
and the fowls came and devoured them up:

13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth:
and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched;
and because they had no root, they withered away.

13:7 And some fell among thorns;
and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit,
some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

The Bible is Seed for the Sower

Early I spoke to Mohd Sdolehuddin mother who was an invalid. Because I was not well versed in Chinese I could only memorised some Gospel Versus in Chinese and shared with her. To my surprise I heard she was a devout Christian later and spent lots of time praying

It was not my intellectual discourse on Science or proofs. It was just simple Bible versus which were seed sown that germinated

So it is no use sowing the field with intellectual pearls. It is the seed that we must sow.

And the Bible is seed for the sower

 

3. SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

The Bible is food for the Christian. Seed for the Sower.

The Bible is also our Weapon

¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:(Ephesians 6:17)

3 times when Satan came to tempt & test Jesus 3 times Jesus fought back with Scriptures

³ And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

⁴ But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

⁷ Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

¹⁰ Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

The phrase “it is written” was mentioned 3 times & three times Jesus quoted the Bible from the Old Testament the Word of God which is “THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT” & defeated the devil

So if we want to be victorious we MUST have the Word of God

“I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”

 

4. PATH TO SUCCESS

⁸ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

God made sure all who Kept His Word will have success

Success is finding the Will of God and doing it.

 

5. LAMP TO OUR FEET

 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.(Psalm 119:105)

In ancient time people use lighted lanterns as lights in a dark night

We must walk in the light one step at a time. The Bible is like a lamp, not a sun in daylight.

So we must walk in it to see the next step ahead or we might walk astray and grope in darkness

R.A. Torrey said “Truth obeyed will help us to see further truth. Truth disobeyed destroys the capacity in us to see further truth”

We repeat this very vital point, “TRUTH OBEYED WILL HELP US TO SEE FURTHER TRUTH. TRUTH DISOBEYED WILL DESTROY THE CAPACITY IN US TO SEE FURTHER TRUTH”

In other words we must always obey what the Holy Spirit shows us from His Word or else we will not be able to receive more as we have blocked the access to see further light by our going astray.

May we never forsake the Bible but read it, love it all the days of our lives

 

6. THE BIBLE MAKES US LIVING EPISTLES

² Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

³ Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

⁶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The Bible makes us into Living Epistles

The world might not want to read the Bible. But every Christian should live out the Bible by life, lips and conduct. In every School, Office or home where Christians are they should be open Bibles for men to know and read

If we profess to be Christians but live contrary to what the Bible teaches then we have failed to be Living Epistles

May God help us to live true to His Word as Living Epistles

 

7. The Bible will be our Judge both in this life and Life For Forever

All books written by men in the world will perish. Only the Bible is an Eternal Book

Because Almighty God wrote only one book – THE BIBLE

⁸⁹ For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven(Psalm 119:89)³⁵ Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.(Matthew 24:35).

At the end of this simple message was a challenge to read & honor the Bible

Many many raised their hands. And many started to purchase their own Bibles

All Glory be unto our LORD Jesus Christ

Amen & Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My dear friends

Our last question few posts before

But how was the Sermon prepared?

See the quote in its context

One night Rev. (Dr) Peter Ng was in KL for preaching

His message was on Esther, Mordecai & the wicked Haman

Never have I heard such a powerful, piercing and penetrating sermon before.

The words came forth like a sharp sword piercing into the very innermost soul

I was astounded, speechless & humbled under the mighty power of the Word!

¹² For the word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.(Heb. 4:12)

From whence cometh such power?

The words came not in word only, but also in power & in the demonstration of the Holy Spirit

Later I attended the All Night Prayer from 10pm Friday night to Saturday 4am (a 6 hour marathon of earnest prayer, interspersed with singing praises & hymns

Ha! This is the secret of his power. Power through prayer! A powerful praying pastor will also be a powerful preacher. Prayer & preaching power go hand in hand

But how was the Sermon prepared?

For that it will be another story when we enter SOM (School of Mission) in Singapore from 1975 to 1978

Today we will share the secret of Dr Peter Ng’s Sermon Preparation

Dr. Ng lectured and taught homiletics

 

The Secret is so simple and straight forward. The problem is the execution. Unless we have a Message there is nothing to “hit at”

My dear friends,

Every Friday Night we would go up to Mt Faber, Singapore, for All Night Prayer from Friday 10pm to Saturday 4am. Here i would pray as I used to do in KL. The SOMERs were by now used to my groaning in prayer audibly & openly

Something like this or in similar spirit of pleading and groaning in prayer

¹⁹ O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name

All the while a deep burden in prayer and sometime sobbing

But since Mt Faber Prayer is also opened to JSMers as well as SOMers & visitors from other Churches One Brother called Chin Seng with concern put his arm over my shoulder and said

“Are you alright brother? What’s wrong (with you)?”

I got startled & don’t know what to say as I was the only one then who prayed like this.

I felt totally out of place so there and then I stopped groaning in prayer. Prayer then became “normal” but I still enjoyed deeply the fellowship in prayer & in singing praises to God.

But looking back I think I had “lost” something very precious…. that constant burden and passion

Mt Faber Prayer Spots were not fixed and over the months and years we shifted from place to place and at one time to a small pavilion then finally to a row of shops which were deserted at night for prayer

Above photo (circa 1976) with brother Png Bee Hin on the right

At the back portion on the SOM Van was a Ground Sheet for us to Kneel and pray, about 30 lb weight (we took turn to carry it up Mt Faber)

I remember this song brother Bee Hin sung with deep passion then

Let Me Burn Out for Thee

Bessie Hatcher

O God, the world is lost in sin,
And so few that seem to care!
Many of whom profess Thy name
No burden will help to bear.
We need a passion, Lord, for souls,
To bring the lost back to Thee;
Our hearts must be stirred, till all have heard
At least once of Calvary.

Chorus:
Let me burn out for Thee, dear Lord,
Burn and wear out for Thee.
Don’t let me rust, or my life
Be a failure, my God to Thee.
Use me and all I have, dear Lord,
And get me so close to Thee
That I feel the Throb of the great heart of God,
Until I burn out for Thee.¹

How cold has been our giving, Lord!
How selfish our love has been,
Keeping from those who never heard
The gospel that saves from sin!
How often we have turned aside,
Neglecting to do our part,
Forgetting Thy tears and agony,
Forgetting Thy bleeding heart!

Meet us and break us up, dear Lord,
Until driven to our knees.
Bare to our gaze Thy cross and love,
Of blood-baptized Calvary.
Speak till we hear again Thy call,
And hold nothing back from Thee.
Oh, burn on our hearts the hopeless wail
Of souls damned eternally.

O God, with shame I humbly bow,
In tears and with contrite heart.
Forgive me for the broken vows,
And failure to do my part.
I heed Thy call and say, “Farewell”
To all that would hinder me
Thy grace and Thy love to lost ones tell,
And my life burn out for Thee.

Brother Bee Him is one of SOM’s 1st 3 Bth Degree Graduate. His thesis is “THE DIVINE ART OF SOUL KEEPING”

And two years later he spoke in the 1978 September Evangelistic Campaign (Combined Effort of PK Mission, Craig Road Mission & BHS JSM)

See the record from diary of 1978 September

September 8th 1978 (FRIDAY)

Tonight brother Matthew spoke a Hokkien message on HEAVEN AND HELL. Again felt the power of God in the Meeting. There was a better response tonight to the message.

There was a glorious liberty of prayer at Mt. Faber to-night.

WE STORMED THE THRONE OF GRACE & CLAIMED PSALM 2:8 AGAIN.  The Meeting seem to be terminated in a very short time. When we are truly in GOD’S PRESENCE we are unconscious of time.  To GOD time is not applicable, for He is Eternal.

Note: Every Friday JSM conducts An All Night Prayer Meeting on Mt. Faber lasting from 10 pm to 4 am – a 6th hour long Marathon Prayer. There’s where we get our power from God. Prayer Meetings are power meetings. A prayerful   christian is a powerful christian and a prayerless christian is a powerless christian. Same goes for preachers and Churches. However, the prayers at Mt. Faber have ceased.

SEPTEMBER 9th 1978 (Final Day of Campaign; Saturday)

Awakened this morning in the Mission. Was alone by myself because the students went for outing. To-night the whole Mission was packed with saints and sinners. The stairs were filled.  Many others stayed outside the Mission to hear the Messages. On the last minute chaired the Meeting in the place of James Foo. Felt a little liberty as we sang, “IN TIMES LIKE THESE”. Sister Lai Siong gave her testimony. The Choir sang “SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER “. Brother Bee Hin spoke on “IS THIS THE LAST GENERATION?” Felt the chill of deep conviction in the message. Many souls were saved to-night.

The eight nights of Evangelistic Campaign closed with a glorious power of God’s Presence in the midst of His Children. Amen & Amen.

.Note: Brother Bee Hin went on to become one of the Highest Ranking Officer in the Singapore Military – COL(RET) Png Bee Hin.

Note this

Brother Bee Hin spoke on “IS THIS THE LAST GENERATION?” Felt the chill of deep conviction in the message. Many souls were saved to-night.

How many souls were saved on the final night of the Evangelistic Campaign when the BHS JSM Mission was filled to overflowing? More than 10 people got saved

Looking back I really wonder how Great our God is in using unworthy young men barely 20 to 22 years old to preach His Glorious Gospel. Today most youngsters are still playing computer games; much less having passion for lost souls

MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON US

TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!

 

 

THE SOM ALUMNI OF 1976

These are the additions (New SOMERS) & Lecturers

 

 

Standing 1st from right is Rev. Dr. Peter Ng

I heard Dr. Ng (Principal & Lecturer in Homiletics) preached with power.

I must now relate how he taught us to preach.

We will talk about that later

Now 2nd from right is Mrs. Peter  Ng our Music Teacher. The 1st song I learnt to play on the organ “HOW GREAT THOU ART”

3rd from Right is Missioner Goh Geok Ling (Biblical Chinese Teacher)

4th from right is Sis Agnes Wong (Hebrew Teacher: Very tough as the word kill “qatal” in hebrew got more than 30 variations! A real killer learning Hebrews.)

As Charles Spurgeon said,

“Hebrew root as known to most

Doth thrive best on barren ground”

7th squatting from right is Bro Joseph Chin

8th from right is Bro Cyrus from Taiwan

9th from right is Bro Png Been Hin (See another separate post about Png Bee Hin and the 1978 Evangelist Campaign 2 years yet future then)

10th from right is Bro John Goh (He was from KL and first brought us to read Puritan Books) This is the seed which later progressed into a Book Ministry

Dr. John C Mincy left in 1976 (And it was Dr. Mincy who brought us into contact with SWORD OF THE LORD, BOB JONES  BOOKS. Also Christian Discount Book Stores in USA like New Religious Book Discount House & Puritan & Reformed Discount Books (From these we started Berean Book Centre (Book Book Club) years later

11th from right is Bro. Jee Huay

And finally 13th from right is Brother Matthew Khoo (Current Chinese Pastor) of Spore JSM

To be continued…

 

Dearly beloved praying friends,

1975 has arrived. My 1st year in SOM: School of Mission or aptly called “School of Mission Impossible” if not for the great grace of our Loving Saviour

4 Hours of Study. 4 Hours of Prayer & 4 Hours of Practical Living means a Whole Day engaged in the things of God.

See the Alumni of SOM (Circa 1975)

Squatting from Right 1st is Rev. Dr Peter Ng, Principle of SOM

2nd from right is Dr. John C. Mincy (Lecturer of Old Testament & New Testament : a par excellence teacher bring the OT book alive. We sat spell bound as he opened up Book after Book of the OT.

One important note: What is the difference betweeh Kings & Chronicles as they record similar events?

Dr. Mincy said

The Book of Kings were written from the Palace Perspective

The Book of Chronicles from the Temple Perspective

So Kings are political which Chronicles are religious and they compliment

4th from right Bro Joseph Seah (from Penang). 5 years ago Joseph gathered past SOMERs in Penang for a Reunion.  Esther Cheong, Pastor  Samuel Mak, Matthew Seow & his wife Dorcas Teoh, Philip Seow his bother, Ruth Chew, Eunice Leong and Timothy Lim from Spore who could not make it but offered to settle all expenses.

5th from right is Isaiah Choe

6th from right is Samuel Mak now a Pastor of an Independent Baptist Church (Spore)

7th from right is Sis Rachel Loh (a nurse by training; meticulous & neat)

8th from right is Sis Li Siong (assistant missionary to Sis Eunice Leong in Indonesia JSM)

9th standing from right is Sis Yong Fei Mee (Mrs Lim)

10th from right is Sister Rhoda Khoo (Wife of Rev Matthew Khoo)

11th from right is Sis Lee Li Nah (Wife of Rev. Daniel Khoo) Her sister Lee Onn Nah is married to Rev. Lim Chee Boon (Both Rev Daniel Khoo & Rev Lim are serving in Spore Life Bp Churches.

Finally standing 1st from left is Sis Liew Kwai Fong (Our Greek & Church History Lecturer). Dr. Ng used to say whenever SMs Liew edit a paper she never mention her own name just like St Luke who never mention his own name in the book of Luke or Acts.  And learning Greek from her is a memorable time.

With Rm80 Scholarship allowance for Food and other expenses we literally got to live by faith.

In SOM we learn to be punctual, pray 3 times a day & on friday night endured a 6 hour marathon 6 Hour All Night Prayer

Going up to evangelize in Malaysia with no proper housing.. many a night the Sisters slept in the Van while the brothers slept out in open park under the sky.

And SOM moved from PK Circuit Road (1975) to Craig Road JSM (1976) and then to Jalan Belang (Upper Thompson Road) 1976/77  & then to Admiralty Road East (1978).

The Desks we did our studies in the day became our beds at night. For blanket we used donated curtains. For shirts we picked them up from those donated for the “poor”

For food, we took turns to cook…. sometimes eating uncooked or half cooked rice from those who still learning..

Such were the times we lived in yet very blessed and happy

Note:

I had a hard time mastering NT Greek. Then bro Isaiah recommended Sanatogen Protein Powder (In year 1975 it cost S$5.00) and it worked!

In later years I posted an article on Intelligence

See

HOW TO HAVE VERY HIGH INTELLIGENCE IN LIFE (Calvin Tan)

https://klse.i3investor.com/blogs/www.eaglevisioninvest.com/2016-03-13-story92960-HOW_TO_HAVE_VERY_HIGH_INTELLIGENCE_IN_LIFE_Calvin_Tan.jsp

To be continued….