Pastoral Letters

Reflecting on the Bukit Batok Community Work

December 18, 2016 Author:Elder Liu Kerh Li
On 10 December, the church successfully completed the “Reading Corner” activity for the year.  On this final session, we also held a simple Christmas celebration with the children.  Besides the usual singspiration and story-telling, the Young People Fellowship also presented a Christmas skit specially for the children.  It told the origin of Christmas in an interesting way.  After that, we gave out presents to the children which communicates the joy of Christmas.   This skit of only 6-7 minutes duration involved more than 10 youths and tens of hours of hard work.  The outline of the skit, the characters, dialogue, background music, background PPT slides were all prepared by the youths.  We give thanks to God for these youths.  Doubtless, any presentation carries with it a degree of pressure and challenge.  With a concerted effort, however, these various challenges were all overcome.  By serving together on this occasion and serving the residents, I believe that they got to know each other better.  They also enjoyed the fellowship.

As we reflect on the work done in the “Reading Corner” headed by the Residential Committee, I am filled with thanksgiving to God for giving us this opportunity to serve and thereby getting to know the residents.  Had it not been for God who opened a way for us through the help of Fei Yue, we would probably be still figuring out as to how we could do community work amongst the Bukit Batok residents.  We would also not have an appropriate platform for the residents to get to know us.

Through this present “Reading Corner” activity, the person-in-charge of the Residential Committee, the volunteers, the person in charge of “KidsRead” of the National Library, and also the member of parliament are getting to know our church.  More importantly, the children who attend these sessions have a good impression of the “Reading Corner” that is conducted by the church.  They always come with an expectant heart.  By reaching out to the children, we also get to know their parents.  All glory goes to the Lord!  We sincerely hope that our involvement would instil in the children from young a reading habit.  Also, by building up a trusting relationship with the residents, we hope to be able to share with them the blessings of the gospel.

Furthermore, we thank God for a group of brothers and sisters in Christ who, regardless of rain or shine, would faithfully serve in the work of the “Reading Corner.”  These brothers and sisters in Christ pay a price to serve.  In order for them to participate in the “Reading Corner,” they had to make special adjustments to their own programs and family time.  Sometimes, they also had to set aside time during the weekdays to prepare the handicraft and reading materials.  The Lord repay the sacrifices that you made!

Although you need to a price and make sacrifices to serve, we are always filled with joy each time we serve.  This joy far exceeds the sacrifices!  The joy comes from seeing children happily participating and the approval of the parents.  It comes from being able to bear a good testimony among the residents, being able to instil in the children a reading habit, the fellowship amongst brothers and sisters in Christ, etc.  It is as what Jesus said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). 

Doing community work in Bukit Batok is part of the church long term plan.  The “Reading Corner” is a start that familiarises us with this community and allows the residents to know us.  Next year, we would continue the “Reading Corner” project.  The person-in-charge is hoping that we can increase the frequency of involvement.  Hence we are exploring if we might increase our participation from once to twice a month.  At the same time, we are hoping that more brothers and sisters in church could help in this work.  Perhaps, next year, we could arrange for cell groups and fellowship groups to help, as the YPF did just recently.  In addition to that, we are also exploring with Fei Yue other areas of community service.  May the Lord use TOLCC in greater measure so that we can shine for Him in Bukit Batok or other neighbouring communities.