Dear Praying Friends,

OUT IN THE HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS OF LIFE made a deep impression

Another song is “JESUS – ROSE OF SHARON” which Ms Koay shared more than 40 years ago. And for last 40 years we have not heard it sung till now

And we will share it here to-night

When we arrived in Penang (Circa 1979 to 1981) a place where darkness is rife (or widespread)

One day we read in Isaiah 19:2

The People that walketh in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined”

The prophet Isaiah in Chapter 19 verse two said

The people that walks in darkness about 700 BC

After 700 hundred years later in the Gospel

Matthew 4:16 (KJV)

It read “The people which sat in darkness Saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death Light is sprung up

In Isaiah the people “WALKED” in darkness

After long weary years wandering in darkness they were totally worn out

and then they “SAT” in darkness

Read again

The People that walketh in darkness have seen a great light

“The people which sat in darkness

See how the Holy Spirit describes the progression

At first they walk in darkness and having find no light they then dwell in darkness

After long time being wearied and tired they have exhausted their strength and the sunk down and sat in darkness

the word “sat” in darkness was repeated twice for emphasis

See

The people which SAT in darkness saw great light; and to them which SAT in the region and shadow of death Light is sprung up

Praise to our Good LORD Jesus whose LIGHT FINALLY SHONE!

The People that walketh in darkness have seen a great light

“The people which sat in darkness Saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death Light is sprung up

YES, WHEREVER JESUS IS BROUGHT TO MEN “THEY SEE GREAT LIGHT”

And when men * women see JESUS and accept Him they are saved

And He then “APPEARS TO THEM AS “THE SWEET ROSE OF SHARON”

And Missioner Koay sung this song in Chinese back in those early days of old

Let us see the lyrics

  JESUS – ROSE OF SHARON

1. Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom within my heart;
   Beauties of Thy truth and holiness impart,
   That where’er I go my life may shed abroad
   Fragrance of the knowledge of the love of God.
   • Refrain:
     Jesus, Rose of Sharon,
     Bloom in radiance and in love within my heart.
2. Jesus, Rose of Sharon, sweeter far to see
   Than the fairest flow’rs of earth could ever be,
   Fill my life completely, adding more each day
   Of Thy grace divine and purity, I pray.
3. Jesus, Rose of Sharon, balm for every ill,
   May Thy tender mercy’s healing pow’r distil
   For afflicted souls of weary burdened men,
   Giving needy mortals health and hope again.
4. Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom forevermore;
   Be Thy glory seen on earth from shore to shore,
   Till the nations own Thy sov’reignty complete,
   Lay their honors down and worship at Thy feet.

All Glory & Honor Be to Jesus Christ

Dear praying friends,

This post is IN TRIBUTE TO MISSIONER KOAY GAIK KEE of Penang JSM Circa 1960s to 1980s

And Specially Dedicated to PENANG “TIMELESS FRIENDSHIP” group of brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ

2 Poems engraved in our hearts and memory all these 40 long years attributed to her

One of them we will share first this LORD’s DAY

Out in the highways and byways of life

Missioner Koay graduated from Singapore Bible College and joined JSM Penang. On 2 March 1968 1st JSM was started in Boat Quay Slum, Penang. JSM Rifle Range, Penang, Malaysia, was founded on 19 July 1969

Finally,  Yet another JSM station started in Tanjung Bungah in Penang on 25 July 1970. Here in Penang JSM we already posted about Missioner Koay’s battle against evil sprits in a rented haunted house which became the most blessed holy place on Penang Island during our short 2 years 3 months there. Read again

  AGAINST

POWER

  OF  DARKNESS

Now Penang is totally given to idolatry and a strong hold of Satan

This is the Testimoney of Missioner Koay Gaik Kee

Ms Koay said Penang Island  has the shape of a tortoise.

See Tanjong Bungah JSM Circa 1970 to 1980s

Sitting 4th from front right is Missioner Koay Gaik Kee

And this is her Story

When JSM started its Work in Tanjung Bungah there was an abandoned 3 room Bungalow Villa going for rent at the sum of Rm55 (yes only fifty five ringgit) as no body want to rent it. No body even dare to stay in it even if it’s free as it was a haunted place

Ms Koay said the 1st Night she stayed in that Haunted House She had to fight of the unclean evil spirits valiantly as a good soldier of Jesus Christ

Finally the evil spirits all left when Jesus Christ enters. Amen!

In Rifle Range where i stayed for two full years was a different story then

Every night was a battle just to get some good sleep

Because many a night evil spirits will disturb.

One night the piano downstairs (I slept upstair) would play on its own in the wee hours

One night a cat entered my room & with blood shot eyes looked at me.

“I bind you evil spirits in the name of Jesus!” and that black cat fled

I thought it very strange so I asked a convert called brother Bee Chong

He said evil spirits would turn his body upside down when he slept at night

Appalled I went to talk to people outside the Mission Church

At Gurney Drive I met a Malay man. Asked him if he slept well?

He said no in Malay “Banyak kacau” translated “very disturbing”.

Even in Noordin Street JSM there were disturbances

But not in Tanjung Bungah JSM

In this Villa there are 3 rooms

One on each side left & right. In the center a little woonden stair leads to the Sole Upstair Room where Rev Stephen Koe was the resident Pastor

So i used to visit him from time to time and slept very peacefully in that “Cleansed” Villa

Many years later after we resigned from JSM we visited Penang as Tourists: Stayed in YMCA, Several Hotels in George Town also the Penang Hill Hotel

Slept very peacefully

I think then I was in Full Time Service (Military) and a threat to the devil. Now I am a civilian (no threat to him maybe)

See full article (Click & View)

1979 to 1981 March Penang Rifle Range JSM : Missioner Koay’s Testimony of her fierce battle against the Powers of Darkness

I remember during our prayer time Ms Koay would sing

OUT IN THE HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS OF LIFE

It made a very deep impression in me to this day

Read again

Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Our leaving Singapore for Penang was akin to leaving the Highways (popular) of life for Penang the Byways (rural and seemingly deserted then) the Byways of Life

Song Taken from Book of Judges

Amplified Bible
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.

Weymouth New Testament
For ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood, but with the despotisms, the empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world–the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in the heavenly warfare.

SO THERE ARE RANKS IN THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS

The demon that possessed the Kavadi Carrier has rank. When he passes a Temple with demon of higher rank he must give respect and when he passes by the Temple with the demon of lower ranking than him he just ignore and pass on.

But in Penang DARKNESS IS RIFE OR DARKNESS IS WIDESPREAD

After Bro Bee Chong got saved and start attending Rifle Range JSM Satan stirred up his second brother Yee Keat Kong

He came one Sunday morning after Church to disturb. When we tried to explain and calm him down it was to no avail.

Then he wanted to fight. And as Christians we are peace loving and do not fight. After going out of the Mission for lunch and on returning Yee Keat Kong blocked my going in. So I stood there with him for a very long time. After long waiting he relented and went home. But he came again another day. This time charging into the Mission without reason and started to punch. Wow! His punches were very hard as if with all his might. Still we did not resist although we felt pain. And then at that time Brother John Khng and Sis Betty were visiting us. Yee Keat Kong started to go after them. At this a spirit of righteous indignation seized me and I fought against Yee Keat Kong.

A plain cloth policeman happened to be near by and entered the Mission, Keat Kong got detained with evidence of breaking the law. And he could be charged guilty for breaking the law and be detained.  So we were brought to a police station nearby. I told the police inspector, “If Keat Kong will admit his wrong we will not file charges.” At that things were settled

On returning I saw on my body the marks of blue, purple & black – the deep injury of the hard punches. But counted it all joy that my body bears the the fellowship  of His suffering.

In BHS Spore we faced opposition but we got this Bible Promise

Now in all the decades of serving Jesus we have not suffered like this one in Penang. Penang is Satan’s strong hold just like the Church in Pergamon

Revelation 2:13

“I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.”

In the midst of such darkness Ms Koay did her lifework first in year 1968 Noordin Street

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
Tell of His pow’r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True, every moment you live.

And among Ms Koay’s first convert over 50 years ago is Bro Jacob Hooi

Jacob testified that since a child he got saved when Ms Koay witnessed to him. And though he no longer attend JSM he is still very much a JSMer at heart – living a holy, separated life, devoting his time To help the poor and needy, visiting the sick and invalid. And he lived by his words. Since Ms Koay entered Old Folks Home Jacob has faithfully & regularly visited Ms Koay until her going home to glory

See

A happy Bro Jacob beside Ms Koay

For contentment or in want; in sickness or in health even during Covid 19 time Brother Jacob remembers the 50 years of good upbringing by Ms Koay

Well done Brother! Go on and Thy LORD be with Thee! Amen

And others like Ms And Seok Kim, Sister Bernice, Phebe Tan And many others also pay visit to Ms Koay

Please send Calvin photos, ok?

Above photo: Church members from Gethesamane Bp Church from Singapore visiting Missioner Koay.

Standing 2nd from right  in black blouse is Sister Eunice

Left most with Thumps Up is Sister Bernice Lim (resident of Penang)

Right beside Ms Koay to the left is Sister Jeannie Magdalene (Admin of “Timeless Friendship“ group, Penang

Photo below

Home going of Missioner Koay. Valiant fighter against “The Powers of Darkness”

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death (home going) of His saints(Psalm 116:15)

We will meet again at His Glorious coming again.

May we give our best as He first gave HIS VERY BEST & love as HE HAS LOVED

Give as ’twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.

Please listen with closed eyes below

And Sing in Prayer

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

YES DO PRAY THAT WE CAN BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE TODAY

AND ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES ON EARTH

Amen & Amen All For Jesus!

Dear Praying Friends,

Our hearts are full and tender as we make this latest post. At long last after more than 35 years long we reconnected with Brother Yee Bee Chong through Sister Sarah Ang of “TIMELESS FRIENDSHIP” Group, Penang.

Penang?

Yes, in year 1979 the Good LORD called us to serve in Penang Rifle Range JSM

And it was just after the Great Soul Winning time of Year End 1978 in BHS JSM, Singapore. During the final night of Sept 9 1978 see

From 1978 BHS EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN OF 2nd to 9th Sept, 1978

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 gaves 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 again: The stairs were filled.  Many others stayed outside the Mission to hear the Messages

As a result of extra 68 people made decisions for Christ the Mission Church was packed every Sunday & the wooden partition wall of the Mission had to be removed to contain a bigger congregation

We would have loved to stay on. But GOD has His Will

Note: 4 months later God called us to serve in Penang. To serve in Rifle Range JSM where we met Brother Yee Bee Chong

Now this is Rifle Range

Rifle Range Flats (GPS: 5.41114, 100.28939) are one of the Penang state government’s earliest low-cost housing projects. It is located at the junction of Jalan Padang Tembak with Boundary Road (some times translated as Jalan Sempadan). It is known as Phak1 Cheng1 Por1  in Hokkien, a direct translation of “rifle range”. The name hails back to the 1950’s, when the place was used for target practices. At that time, it was at the edge of town, next to the Batu Gantong Cemetery, which was also regarded as “rural countryside”.

The transformation of the area from a rifle range to a low-cost residential neighbourhood began in 1968. When Rifle Range Flats – comprising nine blocks with heights of 17 and 18 storeys – were completed in the early 1970’s, they were the tallest buildings in Penang. None of the units were big – they were almost like pigeon holes. Nonetheless they provided housing for many hardcore poor. Over the years, however, the general condition of Rifle Range Flats deteriorated rapidly. Eventually they were in Penang synonymous with squalor.

Perhaps the advantage of living in Rifle Range is that it is relatively close to town – just a little over 5 km from Komtar, the property is cheap, and if you are a single person living alone, the space is sufficient. However, for most people who live here, it is a mere temporary abode until they can afford to live elsewhere.

From a very hot revival to a place regarded as “rural countryside”

Yes! But perfectly all right “IF THE DEAR PRESENCE OF GOD IS WITH US”

And with us He was and is today.

One morning we went for visitation at the Rifle Range Flat to meet Yee Fook Keong. We spoke to Yee Fook Keong and exhorted him to come back to Church but he was non committal. After doing our best we left him.

Next Sunday Yee Fook Keong did not turn up. But to our surprise we saw a young man we have never seen before in Church

So after the Service we spoke to him. And this was what brother Bee Chong testified with words to this effect,

“That morning when we preached to Yee Fook Keong he was actually hiding behind the door and hearing every word (unknown to us)

The Gospel message was empowered by the Holy Spirit and created faith in him. He felt an unseen power. And the words were alive”

How strange and mysterious are the ways of God the Holy Spirit

So Brother Bee Chong became a very faithful convert.

Words cannot describe how deeply we were moved when Sis Sarah gave us Bro Bee Chong’s phone contact and our keeping in touch with him after these many decades

Below is the photo

On the right is Brother Elisha Yee Bee Chong (Faith comes by hearing the Word of God even behind hidden doors)

On the left is Sister Suzanne who is now a Full Time Church Counselor

Amazing is the grace of God

Standing last row Centre 4th  from either left or right is Bro Elisha Yee Bee Chong

Below is the latest current photo of our Beloved Brother Yee Bee Chong

He now lives in Rawang, Selangor, Malaysia

The Church and her members are the dearest people on earth and also in heaven for all eternity to eternity

Amen & Amen!

I LOVE THY KINGDOM LORD

By Timothy Dwight

1. I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
   The place of Thine abode,
   The church our blest Redeemer saved
   With His own precious blood.
2. I love Thy church, O God;
   Her walls before Thee stand,
   Dear as the apple of Thine eye,
   And graven on Thy hand.
3. For her my tears shall fall;
   For her my prayers ascend;
   To her my cares and toils be giv’n,
   Till toils and cares shall end.
4. Beyond my highest joy
   I prize her heav’nly ways,
   Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
   Her hymns of love and praise.
5. Sure as Thy truth shall last,
   To Zion shall be giv’n
   The brightest glories earth can yield,
   And brighter bliss of Heav’n.

Note: The Word comes like seed sown but our tears of prayer water it