PLMC Stories
顺服上帝的医治 – 王荣弟弟兄见证
前年到去年我不断感觉头晕，看了好几个有关的专科，却一直找不出原因。去年年中，我在洗澡时，我感觉上帝叫我去检查我的眼睛。我当时心里觉得很奇怪，每年我都会去检查我的眼睛，为什么上帝又叫我去检查呢？但我选择顺服神，于是安排去做检查。
医生检查后说我有青光眼，也有一些白内障的症状。其实轻微的白内障不需要动手术，但因着青光眼的缘故，我必须尽快动手术来减轻眼睛的压力。虽然我信主很多年了，可当我要做手术时，我仍感到担心。但我相信上帝的应许，于是，请教会的弟兄姐妹为我祷告后，我就去动了手术。感谢主！去年9月和10月，两次手术都非常顺利地完成，我也不需要戴眼镜了。不过，我心里还是带着遗憾，因为医生说青光眼不能被治愈。只会隨着年龄的增长而恶化，眼睛最终会失明。这听起来好可怕！
今年7月11日，当我去复诊时，医生说我的眼睛康复得很好，青光眼也没了。我感到很吃惊。医生解释说，因为我及时发现并尽快动了手术，所以现在没有青光眼了。哈利路亚，感谢赞美主！
我回想起之前发生的一切，深切体会到上帝真的很奇妙。祂是真神！祂是活着的！祂对我说话，叫我去检查我的眼睛，并藉此使我的眼睛得到完全的医治！申命记3:16说：“你们要坚强勇敢；不要害怕，也不要因他们畏惧，因为耶和华你的 神与你同去；他决不撇下你，也不离弃你。”我深知道我背后的靠山是上帝，所以每当我作决定的时候，我选择倚靠祂。上帝也用诗篇46:1向我肯定祂给我的应许：“ 神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量， 是我们在患难中随时都可得到的帮助。”
我把一切的荣耀归于我们在天上的主！
Setting the Fires of Revival Aflame By Joseph Mok, Chris Cardano, Calvin Ng, and Rianna Cardano
After a five-year hiatus, Paya Lebar Methodist Church Camp was back. A total of 824 members gathered for the camp, which was held from 9-12 June 2024 at Hatten Hotel Malacca, Malaysia. Some 78% attended the English track, while the Mandarin track and Children’s Program each saw 11% of attendees. Most of the camp participants (65%) were working adults.
With the theme “Fires of Revival, Lord Do it Again!”, Pastor Philip Lyn, Pastor Eunice Choo and David & Cynthia Leong shared Spirit-filled and heart-transforming messages during the respective English and Mandarin sessions as well as the Children’s Program. Many were blessed by their messages and teaching.
It was a time set aside by the church family for the Holy Spirit to fan the flame in our hearts. The congregation lifted songs of praise from the beginning until the end of camp. Many campers came with hearts of surrender and witnessed the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. We thank God for many responsive hearts during altar calls and testimonies of miracle healings. Such was the hunger for the Lord that even the Sunrise Worship & Prayer attracted more than 100 campers, a turn-out that had not been seen since the bi-annual Ohana Camp started in 2009. To God be the glory!
This year’s camp also introduced new workshops such as Blessing Cast in Stones, Flagging, Prophetic Arts, In Rhythm In Scriptures (IRIS) and Missions talks, where we had the pride and joy in witnessing youths and young adults, our next generation, stepping up to lead. In each of the activities, God revealed prophecies and the works that PLMC would continue to do as a church. The attendees had a great time learning about spiritual gifts and the Giver.
One of the highlights of camp was Gala Night on Day 3, where we gathered in our athletic costumes for the theme: OLYMPICS. It was an amazing dinner program led by our energetic youths with games, videos and performances. Of course, there were also awards for the ‘Best Dressed’ of the night and other notable campers!
From games to great food, we had a jubilant time as one family, watching different generations showcase their talents and gifts. It has been the heart cry of the Camp Committee to mentor and raise up the next generation of leaders in PLMC to take the church to greater heights and glory in the expansion of God’s kingdom here on earth, and the Lord heard our prayers!
As the camp drew to a close, we took part in the Holy Communion, and honoured the Hatten Hotel staff and volunteers. Finally, we recognised our lovely and hard-working Committee Members who helped put this camp together. Fun fact: Did you know that the camp committee spent over 21 months planning every detail of the camp? We give thanks to the Lord for their hard and heart work!
We thank the Lord for a blessed and safe time before, during and after camp. We’re excited to see how God is continually on the move, bringing revival upon PLMC again and again. Indeed, Lord, Do It Again in Jesus’ Name!
“Will You not Yourself revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” – Psalm 85:6
A Time to Commune with God By Chua Chor Ling, Samuel Lim & ZH Cai
Three participants share how they sought and met with God at the recent Tending the Soul silent retreat (29 May – 1 June).
Chua Chor Ling
The retreat was a much-needed respite and the first time in many years that I was able to have time alone for days at a stretch with the Lord. Before the retreat, my mind was constantly preoccupied with the endless lists of things to do both at home and at work leaving me fatigued, both physically and spiritually. I was looking forward to a much-needed rest, spending time alone with the Lord and seeking His direction for whatever is ahead.
My first night was far from restful. The Lord brought to mind burdens I had been carrying, including things that I had put aside and tried to forget. I spent the night sobbing as tears flowed uncontrollably. It was a very difficult night and totally unexpected. I was looking for rest but ended up feeling even more tired!
The next day, during the one-to-one session with the facilitator, I realised I needed to release my burdens before I could receive from God. As I read 1 Kings 19 later, I was reminded of how when I was seeking God’s voice in my busy days, I felt distant and could not find Him. Just like how God’s voice was not in the great and powerful winds, earthquakes and fires in my busy life, I needed to find a quiet place and be still to hear God’s “gentle whisper”.
I enjoyed walking the meditation labyrinth at the retreat center, where God told me many times to trust in Him even when my path seemed to lead me away from my goal. All I needed to do was to take one step at a time, stay focused on the path He has for me and surely, He will lead me to my destination.
He also showed me a cracked section in the path, where a tiny plant was growing out. “You only see the cracks, but I see opportunity for new life,” the Lord said to me. I was taken aback by how true it was! I had been so preoccupied with doing things right and often beating myself up over my inadequacies. Yet God showed me how the “cracks” in me actually allowed opportunities for me to grow and bear fruit. God is so good indeed in His unfathomable ways!
God continued to speak to me through many wondrous and amazing moments during the retreat—that I could always depend on Him, to remember to slow down in my daily life, and to just praise Him whenever I get impatient.
By the end of the retreat, I felt very well rested spiritually and mentally. God led me to mold a little camera as a reminder of my retreat experience. Just like a camera taking photos, each moment captured is unique and will never be exactly the same again when the moment has passed. In order to capture the God-moments , I need to have my lens focused on Him, to be receptive and ready with my finger on the shutter for the moments that God wants to show me, to be well rested and recharged like the camera battery, and to have my memory card emptied just as He lifted and emptied my burdens, so that I can fill it (myself) up with all the wonderful new moments that He is going to show me.
Thank you, God, for a most wonderful experience. You have showed me so much love and taught me even more! This retreat far surpassed my expectations. God really knew what I wanted and needed even without my asking. I am also thankful to my cluster, cell and workplace fellowship for keeping me in prayers. I look forward to the many more moments that God will continue to show me in the future!
Samuel Lim
I was in a period of transition between jobs, and came with the intention to hear and seek God’s direction with regard to my career and a particular request in my personal life.
The time of silence was unfamiliar and uncomfortable at the start. All I could hear were my own thoughts playing inside my head. However, this made me more conscious that I had come to the retreat with much restlessness and anxiety on the inside, even though I was physically rested. That evening, while walking the grounds of the retreat centre, I conversed with God and could not help but lay down these areas causing anxiety before God in prayer. As i was gazing into the night sky after praying, i felt an inner impression : “Have faith and trust God”. I instantly knew that this was God’s voice speaking to me for my situation.
I felt more “settled” into the time of silence the next day and there was a certain clarity in my mind, as the thoughts from the night before were no longer re-playing in my head. I learnt that we often need to go through a process of “de-cluttering” or “emptying” before we can fully receive God’s love and what He has for us. While taking a walk in the garden that morning, an impression came into my mind that my restlessness was caused by worry about certain events in the future that were outside my control. This must have been the Holy Spirit revealing this to me, and I immediately surrendered these events to God in prayer and felt a sense of relief.
As the retreat drew to a close, I realised that I had learnt to hear and recognise God’s voice speaking to me, which I could have overlooked in the busyness of life. I also cultivated a posture of prayer by learning to bring my requests before God regularly. I came back from the retreat comforted and my relationship with God strengthened during these four days.
ZH Cai
This retreat experience was the second time that I had attended a 4D3N silent retreat. I was very much looking forward to this time away from the busyness of life, into the quiet and tranquility that I have not been able to experience elsewhere.
Coming to this retreat, I had some concerns that I had wanted to bring before the Lord and wanted to seek Him for a sense of direction and clarity. This was particularly in the area of my career trajectory and whether I should pivot out into something quite different altogether. Having had an experience during last year’s retreat, where I had sought the Lord for similar things and received a word to simply trust Him, I had a sense that God would give me a similar response.
Yet, God in his sovereign wisdom chose to respond quite differently and far more explicitly this time. Through the time of meditation and reflection upon both His Word and the book, Every Good Endeavour by Timothy Keller, I ended up leaving the retreat with a far clearer and sharper sense of what God had purposed for the next season of my life. I also left feeling a deeper sense of peace and with a renewed perspective of the meaning of work.
All this was only possible because of the calming and quiet environment that was offered at the retreat centre. It truly is a place that offers a very unique opportunity for us to be still and quiet before the Lord – for our souls to more easily find the rest it so desperately craves in the midst of a constantly noisy and overstimulated world. I was certainly thankful for this opportunity and have every intention to retreat annually and intentionally care for my soul and spirit man.
Chang Qing Outreach
– Lung Talk
长青外展 – “帅医生讲肺话”
PLMC’s Livingstones Mandarin Service often hosts outreach events through its various ministries to share the Gospel and spread God’s love to pre-believers. On the morning of 29 June 2024, in partnership with other ministries, 长青 Senior Fellowship held an outreach event, “帅医生讲肺话”, which included a talk on lung health.
Praise The Lord! Some 125 people attended this event, of whom a quarter were invited guests. We kicked off by welcoming newcomers, followed by a warm-up exercise which was accompanied by an upbeat tune. Radiance and laughter filled the room as the congregation moved to the rhythm of the music. It was fun indeed!
Then came the sing-along of worship songs to adore and praise our Lord. Thereafter, the guest speaker, a pulmonologist, gave an informative talk on the respiratory system. This was so well received that after his talk, there was a lively Q&A session with a flurry of queries from the audience. There was also a quiz with attractive prizes.
The most important segment of the event came, when Mandarin Service Director Judith Ng shared the Word centred on Ps 139. She also explained how one could secure salvation through Jesus Christ.
By the grace of God, her sermon touched the hearts of many and five persons accepted Christ! Praise the Lord! There could also others who could had quietly offered their hearts to God. It is our fervent prayer that these new believers will grow in Christ in the coming days.
Of course, the whole program could not end without exclusive door gifts and a sumptuous lunch, where members and guests enjoyed a time of meaningful and joyous fellowship. Indeed, all attendees were abundantly blessed and touched by the Holy Spirit that day.
To God Be The Glory!
长青外展
2024年6月29日上午，在与其他事工的合作下，长青举办了一场主题为“帅医生讲肺话”的外展活动。共有超过125人参加了此次活动，其中四分之一是受邀的嘉宾。
活动一开始，我们欢迎了新朋友，然后进行了一场伴随着欢快音乐的热身运动，大家都玩的很开心。接着，我们一起唱了敬拜歌曲，敬拜我们的主。随后，特邀嘉宾，一位肺专科医生，进行了关于呼吸系统的精彩讲座。讲座受到了大家的热烈欢迎。讲座结束后，观众们纷纷提出问题，医生一一解答。活动中还进行了有奖问答，参与者赢得了丰厚的奖品。
最重要的环节是雅春传道的分享，她以诗篇139篇为中心讲解了的神的话语，并解释了如何通过耶稣基督获得救赎。在神的恩典下，她的讲道触动了许多人的心灵，有五个人公开接受了耶稣。我们确信还有一些人默默地将心献给了神。我们热切祈祷这些新信徒随着时间的推移会在基督里成长。
当然，整个活动的最后少不了丰盛的午餐与精美的礼品。在午餐时间，成员和嘉宾们愉快地交谈，享受着有意义的交流。随着活动的结束，我们确信所有参与者都得到了圣灵的丰盛祝福和触动。
荣耀归于神!
God’s Word through Prophetic Stone Painting 先知性石画传达神的话 by Abigail Teo
My encounter with God through prophetic stone painting began during my Crossover in Secondary 3 leading the Primary 6 to the Youth Ministry. This was in 2019 when prophetic painting seemed only like fun and games to us teens. We would pray and ask God what was on His heart but turn to apps like Pinterest for ideas to reference and copy.
2019年，我就读中三时，参加了一个青少年营会，目的是迎接小六学生加入青少年聚会。营会中，通过先知性石画，我自己经历了神的同在。先知性石画就是通过祷告、寻求神的心意，在石头上画出的图案。当时，我们这群青少年把石画当作游戏。我们虽然有祷告神，却往往从网络抄下图案。
During the Crossover, we laid the completed painted stones along our makeshift Jordan River and one by one we would pick a stone in faith that resonated with us. I picked a stone with a painted rainbow with the words “The rainbow represents my never-ending promise” written on it. I knew this verse Genesis 9:16 where God said He would remember His covenant between Him and all living creatures of every kind, a covenant promising His everlasting and living presence in us.
就在那次青少年营会里，我们把画好的石画排成了一条假设的约旦河。我们每人照着自己的信心和感动，拿起其中一个石画。我为自己选择了一块画有彩虹的石头。那块石头上面写着：“彩虹代表我永不终止的承诺。”我知道这句子是神的话，取自创世记9章16节。上帝说，祂会记念祂与地上一切有生命的活物所立的永约，就是上帝永远活在我们里面。
Then 15 years old, I was unable to grasp the depth and breadth of the meaning of the verse. I wondered… what covenant? What promise did He give me? Little did I know that He promised to journey with me through my valleys and assured that He would never forsake nor leave me at all times.
当时15岁的我无法明白这节经文的真谛。我心想，立约是什么？神应许了我什么？我不知道的是，神其实就是在对我说：人生就算有低谷，神也一路陪着我走。祂永远都不撇下我，也不离弃我。
In my growing years, I struggled with fear, rejection, abandonment, loneliness and failure in many aspects of my life. The turning point came with the Holy Spirit’s manifestation when I saw that dusty painted stone rainbow parked in a corner of my room five years later. Somehow it captured my attention that afternoon. I was feeling anxious and overwhelmed as I was rostered in the band to play drums that weekend.成长过程中，我面对了种种挑战——惧怕、被拒绝、被丢弃、寂寞、失败。五年后的一个下午，这一切都改变了。在我房间的一个角落里，我看见了那个彩虹石画。经过五年，它已经被灰尘掩盖了。是圣灵感动了我，让我注意到彩虹石画。当时，因为周末需要在教会敬拜团里打鼓，我焦虑不安，压力极大。
God has gifted me a passion for music and I yearned to serve and worship Him. My fear is that I’m not good enough! Yet..,over the years, I’ve been given opportunities to serve and play drums in many ministries such as Silver Boxes, Youth and Filipino Services before advancing to the band at the main service.
上帝赐给我对音乐的热忱，我很渴慕侍奉主、敬拜主。其实，在圣殿大堂侍奉之前，我已经有好几年在主日学、青年和菲律宾聚会里侍奉了。但我还是担心我不够好。
I do feel inadequate in my drum skills and had started off poorly – once, the video camera had even captured me carelessly dropping my drumsticks while playing, much to my horror and embarrassment! I am thankful for some great leaders/mentors in our church family like Uncle Alex, Uncle Tach and Uncle Jamin who built me up with so much TLC, encouraging and comforting me, giving me constructive feedback to better myself. The church family has given me a safe place to be nurtured and refined so that I can draw close to God.
对于自己的打鼓能力，我起初就缺乏自信了。记得早期有一次打鼓时，我一时大意，掉了鼓槌，被摄影机拍到。好丢脸！感恩有几位教会领袖，如Alex、Tach、Jamin三位叔叔，一直以爱鼓励、安慰并教导我。这群教会家人给了我学习和改进的安全空间，让我能亲近上帝。
And I am thankful for the inscribed stone painting of God’s promise of His presence in life’s challenges. I have gained much confidence in my drum playing now. Working in partnership with the Holy Spirit has made me realise that it is not through my effort alone, but that every good and perfect gift truly comes from heaven above.
感恩有这一个彩虹石画，提醒了我，神对我的承诺是：人生就算有挑战，神也一路陪着我走。我现在对打鼓有自信了。与圣灵同行中，我明白，打鼓不只是靠自己的努力，因为，圣经说：“一切美好的赏赐和各样完美的恩赐，都是从上面、从众光之父降下来的。”
Prophetic stone painting is now not just about a simple art activity to me but also a powerful tool to edify and encourage. It reminded me of a truth that I did not see immediately but experienced many times over since.
现在，对我来说，先知性石画不只是艺术，也是个有能力劝勉与鼓励人的工具。我当初虽然无法明白，却一次又一次地亲身体会到上帝对我的承诺。那正是彩虹石画对我的提醒——人生就算有低谷，神也一路陪着我走。祂永远都不撇下我，也不离弃我。
Thank God I’m Now Pregnant! 感谢主，我怀孕了! by Nishanthini Tharmarasa
For over a year, my husband and I have been trying to conceive a child but had not been successful. Our hope began to wane, and the emotional toll was significant.
有超过一年之久，我和先生一直努力尝试生育，却没有成果。我们开始对生育失去希望，精神上的负担也很沉重。
One Sunday, I attended church feeling particularly disheartened. During the service, the pastor and the congregation prayed for a couple who had been trying to have a baby for five years. I saw this as a sign and prayed fervently for my own situation.
有一个主日，我来到教会，心里特别沮丧。聚会中，牧师带领会众为一对五年无法生育的夫妇祷告。我联想到自己的生育困难，也恳切地为自己祷告。
As the entire church prayed, I poured my heart out to God, crying and pleading for His blessing. I visualised the joy and gratitude I would feel if I were to become pregnant. That moment of prayer was incredibly powerful, and I felt a renewed sense of hope and peace.
整个教会同心地祷告时，我向上帝吐露心声，流着眼泪，呼求上帝的祝福。当时，我脑海里想象着一个美好的画面——要是我怀孕了，我会有多喜乐、多感恩。那次祷告的经历强烈地感动了我，我有了新的希望与平安。
Miraculously, the following Sunday, I received the joyous news that I was pregnant. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and disbelief at how quickly our prayers were answered. This experience has profoundly strengthened my faith and made me realise the power of collective prayer and God’s responsiveness to our deepest desires.
奇妙地，下一个主日，我就收到了喜讯——我怀孕了！我好感恩，也好惊讶，上帝如此快速地回应了我的祷告。这次经历让我的信心强壮起来。我也深深地感受到大家同心祷告的力量，和上帝对我们心愿的回应。
I now understand that when a community comes together to pray, God listens and acts. This journey has been a testament to the power of faith, prayer, and the support of a loving church family. I am eternally grateful for this blessing and for the prayers of everyone who supported us. My story is a reminder that God hears us, even in our most desperate times, and that miracles can happen when we least expect them.
我现在明白，当我们聚集在一起祷告，上帝一定垂听，上帝也一定会行动。这次经历让我看见了祷告与信心的力量，还有教会家人的爱心扶持。我衷心地感谢每一位支持我们、为我们代祷的弟兄姐妹。我这个故事是对我们大家的提醒：即使我们没有希望，上帝还是垂听我们的祷告。在我们最意想不到的时刻，神迹仍然可以发生。
