We faced several challenges in the process of preparing for this year’s gospel rally.  First, the choir.  The second song “My Jesus Fair” was a difficult song.  The choir had only a total of 8 practices.  Not a few are singing in a choir for the first time and are not musically trained.  The ladies’ soprano was struggling to reach a particular high pitch note.  The men’s base was also struggling.  Our choir conductor jokingly asked: “Can we postpone the Gospel Rally?”  Everyone worked very hard and trained on their own using audio recording of the part they were singing.  Then at the last session, the soprano hit the right pitch and we could hear the beautiful base.  That night, our choir master graded the chior’s presentation 200%.  The audience and I were very warmed by the singing.  Thank and praise the Lord.

Second, the last few nights had seen much rain.  Not only does rain make ushering and directing friends to our church premises (situated in an industrial park) difficult, traffic jams on the road and highway could be expected.  Thank and praise the Lord.  The skies started to pour only after all the invited guests arrived.

Third, this time, as in the last two years, almost the whole church formed the choir, from the oldest 70+ to the youngest 13 years old.  Many of us, including myself wondered:  who would make up the audience?  With almost the whole church up there singing, and if only a few non-Christian friends who make up the audience turned up, the situation would be so awkward.  With 105 chairs in the main sanctuary, almost all the seats were taken up, with half or so of the seats taken up by non-Christian friends that night.

Many of us had worked hard at inviting new friends.  For the past many weeks, we had been praying regularly over the names to be invited during the Tuesday Church Prayer Meeting.  Many rejected us or did not turn up.  But many also attended the rally: friends, colleagues and relatives.  Thank God.  The gospel message was powerfully preached and not a few souls were saved that night.  For those of us who invited friends, whether or not they turned up for the rally, you have been faithful to God.  Do not stop caring for them.  This year, not a few who were invited numerous times for the last few gospel rallies, finally attended last Friday’s gospel rally: “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psa 126:5).  Don’t give up on them.  Love them.  Pray for them.

Fourth, a car that was supposed to fetch new friends broke down that afternoon.  An important lift at The Spire broke down at that time too.  Then minutes before the Gospel Rally was supposed to start, the keyboard did not work.  We had noticed that over the past few years, on the day of the Gospel Rally, problems somehow suddenly surfaced.  This year was no exception.  But thank God, Jesus says that when we do gospel work, He “will be with you to the very end of the age” and will give us “all authority in heaven and on earth” to do gospel work (Matt 28:18-20).  The lift was repaired in time.  Someone lent us a car.  The keyboard managed to work in time.

Finally, for the past months, all had been working hard and with one spirit praying, inviting, visiting new friends, tracting, planning, practicing the songs, encouraging each other, etc.  The effort was intense.  Not only did many non-Christian friends turn up for the gospel rally, the past few months of working together have bonded us in love and spurred us to serve the Lord more.  To one and all, I say: well done!  Praise the Lord.  He is kind and good to us.