Pastoral Letters

Giving Thanks and Fulfilling God’s Good Will

September 15, 2019 Author:Elder Liu Kerh Li
Thank God! We can come together to our new premises at Mega@Woodlands for worship and fellowship is indeed something worthy of thanksgiving!  That’s 100% God’s grace! The church committee first explored the idea of moving to a new location on 15th November 2018. Whether or not to stay put or to move out, we had only one objective in mind, that is, to fulfil the Lord’s Great Commission effectively, to share the gospel with our brothers and sisters’ friends and relatives who are yet to be saved, and with the residents in the neighborhood. On 30th Dec 2018, the church held an Extraordinary Meeting with her members to discuss the possibility of moving or staying put. Another meeting was held on 1st Jan 2019, and our brothers and sisters decided to to move. The church committee was hence tasked with finding a new premises, and ways of raising funds. Beginning 24th Feb, brothers and sisters started giving loans and gifts to the church. As of 17th March, the church collected  a total of $519,800 worth of gifts and loans. We sold the property unit #07-07 in mid-April 2019; by mid-April 2019 we had given a deposit for the two new properties. We started the search for a contractor in mid-June 2019. At the end of June 2019, we received the keys to the new premises and appointed our contractor. Renovation works started at the beginning of July and were completed in end August 2019. On 8th August 2019, funds collected totaled $944,860. On 28th August the church moved out of Bukit Batok where it has been our place of worship for the past seven years. We had our first worship service at our new premises on the 1st Sept 2019, during we also performed various forms of system testing for smooth operation. On 15th Sept 2019, which is today, we thank and praise God for leading us to Woodlands, which begins a a new chapter.

In a span of 10 months from the time that the church committee in November 2018 raised the motion to begin a new outreach or move out in, we could not imagine that the plan to move out could have proceeded so seamlessly! God is indeed a God who answers prayers! When we were uncertain if we should stay put or move out, He made known to us His will to move to Woodlands through the church’s collective resolution; when we were unsure if funding was sufficient, He moved our brothers and sisters to give and lend with a generous heart, and brought about the successful sale of The Spire, unit #07-07 to ease the cashflow problem; when we thought we had found the right unit, He brought us to a better one; when we were unclear about meeting various government regulations, He provided us with professionals from various fields for free consultation; when we did not know how to design the sanctuary, He gave wisdom to brothers and sisters, and contractors who were willing to provide us inexpensive and good deals; when we were in need of manpower to do the actual move and cleaning, God moved the hearts of our brothers and sisters to help with zeal, each doing what they could to beautify the church. Many things happened that were beyond what were anticipated, which humans could not have orchestrated. Only God could have guided us, and His guidance is the best. “‘For your thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

God led Tree of Life Christian Church to Woodlands, and settled us in this new sanctuary. We must fully utilise its uniqueness or advantages to do the Lord’s work: to spread the gospel and build lives. This is our next task. Of course, we need time to adjust and adapt to our new place. We welcome feedback from our brothers and sisters to make it a better place, and to make it conducive and accessible for all including new friends to come for worship and fellowship activities. At the same time, we may have to make small changes to our habits and adapt to the new environment and schedule. Nevertheless, regardless of what the situation may be, having experienced God’s past guidance, I am certain that God will lead us in the path ahead. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation” (Phil 2:13-16). Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.  And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.” (Philippians 2:13-16). Let us unite our hearts to build up God’s house. Let Tree of Life Christian Church be used greatly by God to expand His kingdom!