L O A D I N G

Spiritual Formation - Companions In Christ

WHAT IS COMPANIONS IN CHRIST (CIC)?

It is a SMALL GROUP EXPERIENCE IN SPIRITUAL FORMATION over 28 weeks. In simple terms, spiritual formation is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ by the gracious working of God’s Spirit for the transformation of the world. Over the 28 weeks, you will experience something of this process together with several others.

WHAT DOES CIC OFFER?

CIC offers small groups a powerfully transforming experience in opening yourself to God’s presence and guidance over 28 weeks.

It will take you on a journey to:

  • EXPLORE classic ways of meditating on Scripture, learn to listen to God through it and allow your life to be shaped by the Word;
  • EXPERIENCE new dimensions of prayer, try fresh ways of opening to God and learn what it means to practise the presence of God;
  • REFLECT on God’s call in your life and discover anew the gifts that
    God is giving you for living out your personal ministry;
  • GROW TOGETHER as a Christian community and learn how small groups in the church are to be settings for spiritual guidance.
  • Christians who are wondering if there is “more” to the Christian life than what they already know.
  • Those who desire to bring a deeper dimension to their faith, who desire and are serious about deepening their relationship with God.
  • Christians who long for a safe small group to share their journey of faith and are committed to growing together.
  • Christians who are experiencing transitions in life and are wondering where God is in faith journey.
  • CIC is not an introductory course for new Christians.

CIC begins with an INTRODUCTORY/PREPARATORY SESSION.
It covers a period of TWENTY-EIGHT WEEKS.
It is divided into FIVE PARTS.
It ends with a CLOSING RETREAT.

PART 1: THE WAY OF CHRIST: Embracing the Journey (5 weeks)
A basic exploration of spiritual formation as a journey towards holiness and wholeness, individually and in community, through the grace of God.

PART 2: THE MIND OF CHRIST: Feeding on the Word (5 weeks)
An introduction to several ways of meditating on and praying with scripture with guided practical experience.

PART 3: THE HEART OF CHRIST: Deepening our Prayer (6 weeks)
A guided experience of various forms and styles of prayer.

PART 4: THE WORK OF CHRIST: Responding to our Call (5 weeks)
A presentation of vocation or call: giving ourselves to God in radical obedience and receiving the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

PART 5: THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST: Exploring Spiritual Guidance (5 weeks)
An overview of different ways of receiving and offering spiritual guidance, from one-on-one relationships, to spiritual groups, to guidance in congregational life as a whole.

CIC will take you through a rhythm of:

  • Individual reading and daily exercises throughout the week,
  • a weekly two-hour group meeting and
  • keeping a spiritual journal.

It will be from 25th January to September 2025.

Please feel free to indicate your interest to join CIC 2025 by 24 Nov 2024 here. 

For further information please email Soo Hoong at soohoong@plmc.org.

Amy Cheong
CIC Participant
Companionship from my CIC group

We learnt to hear and see God in everything, and, amazingly, even in each other, the latter being something that could never happen in private devotion. I realised that while we revelled in our similarities and shared experiences, we were equally blessed by the differences and diversity the Lord has blessed each one of us with. 

Chan Choon Seng
CIC Participant
Affirming and building each other

This CIC journey also helped me experience and recognize the need and benefits for companions in our spiritual pilgrimage. We should never walk alone, that's not God's plan. As Companions-in-Christ, we affirm each other and build each other up. We exercise holy listening and help each other discern God's will.

Tan Ee Hong
CIC Facilitator
Strengthening of my inner Soul

CIC helps me to embrace God’s purpose for my life with contentment and freedom. There is clarity, strength, and fulfilment in ministry when my inner being is cared for. The strengthening of that inner soul by God energised me to serve in CIC and other ministries with purpose, freedom and love.

Carolyn Lee
CIC Particiipant
He is the anchor of my soul

I thank God for my facilitators, Lois, Ee Hong and Samuel, who are encouraging us through this journey, and my fellow sojourners, who share their lives with me so openly and deeply. I have learnt so much from them. The Lord convinced me of the calling and refreshed me, from within.

Testimonies of CIC Participants (2024)

Testimony by Sng Miow Ching

Psalm 27:4 was what I started the course with. To have a deeper relationship with God was all that I was looking for.

I thank God I came away with a deeper understanding of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, an awareness of my own position with God (beyond what I was expecting ) and the icing on the cake was the companions in Christ from the reading material and the real life companions in the small group.

Of course, I started with reservation as to how I was going to stick with a 28-week commitment .

At times, it was difficult to be disciplined (especially completing the five daily exercises). But there were gems in the resources that spurred me to rush to read the following chapter to look for the next bounty of treasures. It was so encouraging and comforting to know from the book that many people face the same struggles, doubts and questions on the journey of faith. There were introductions to practices to draw me closer to God – they were new to me but most of them have been used by disciples of the past like St Augustine. Even as I did the exercises obediently, I did not do so with the same passion for each question. The questions were mostly leading questions that often caused me to pause and look within myself with honesty. Some were stuff I am not ready to use but God could show me if and when He wants me to carry on with the practices.

The second icing was really the life companions in Christ – I thank God for every one of them. We were mostly strangers to each other at the beginning but yet we were willing to share deeply and personally and be vulnerable to each other. We had different backgrounds and experiences, yet we were united in our hunger for God and in God’s pursuit of us. We were all going on the same journey to the same destination but plagued with challenges, struggles and our limitations. We helped each other along with encouragement, affirmation and new perspectives .

Whilst I am still very much work in progress, the course opened my eyes, mind and ears. I feel  more liberated and confident in my standing with God and richer from Jesus’ feeding through the companions.

I had just retired due to a saga at the office. I decided to attend CIC since I had time on hand. When I flipped through the CIC book, my first thought was, “Wow!” The book was difficult to read, and I was worried if I could complete the course.

My CIC journey began with a group of eight members including three facilitators. I did not know most of the members in my group – and we were to venture into the CIC journey together for next 28 weeks. Again, I doubted if I could pull through the course with members I hardly knew.

The daily exercise was not an easy task. There were struggles to stay focused and awake, to resist the temptation to watch Korean drama over praying or meditation of Scripture. There were feelings of triumph when I had overcome the many temptations, and prayers of repentance to God when I failed badly. Both perseverance and endurance are needed to complete the course.

While I had to fight the many temptations. I was broken due to my office saga. I had withdrawal syndrome. I did not want to see anybody. I had no tolerance towards anyone. I was sad and angry. I had lost confidence in mankind. Yet I could share with my group openly week after week. Now I see that those moments were indeed miracles. Thanks to God, I was healed of my brokenness. I was back to normal and started serving in church.  I did not realise I was healed, though my group did notice the change in me.

My group and I had established a close friendship through our authentic sharing, prayers and seeking God’s purpose together. I believe my healing was fast because all members had listened to me patiently without judgement, allowing me to heal as I started to forgive those who had hurt me. I thank God for the wonderful experience of removing my baggage of unforgiveness. I felt lighter and happier thereafter.

I hope anyone who enrol in CIC will have a heartwarming experience with God and friends just like me! God bless!

I still remember meeting Amy Cheong for lunch last year. I was sharing some personal struggles with her, and she asked me, “When David was desperately chased by Saul, where did he go?”

Not long after that, the registration intake for Companions in Christ was announced. I was juggling school and work, and wondered if I could take on more. During my quiet time, I sensed God saying, “Give me your time.” Without fully understanding what CIC was, I signed up, thinking it would just be some alone time with God, and little interaction with others.

Even when the sessions started, I was still unsure what CIC was all about. We met online as a group, and deep inside, I questioned how relationships could be built this way. But after completing Lesson 1, I realised CIC is about more than just my personal relationship with God. It’s a community—a companionship with fellow believers.

Despite my initial hesitation, I remained obedient, and God truly guided me. As we progressed through CIC, God started answering questions I had been wrestling with for years. He provided clarity on things like breath prayers, the prayer circle, and more.

Understanding the spiritual aspect came naturally to me, as I grew up as a staunch Taoist with strong connections to the spiritual world. However, the theoretical and theological aspects were always a challenge. CIC balanced practical exercises with solid biblical teaching, and through this, I experienced both revelation and healing.

Midway through our CIC journey, my counsellor decided to discharge me from therapy, which I had been attending since the previous year. She had noticed a change in me, that my mind had become clearer, and I could manage my time and tackle work issues more effectively.

In CIC, I learned that building spiritual strength is like training at a gym — it is developing spiritual “muscle.” As Paul says in 1Corinthians 9:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable… I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1Corinthians 9:24-27, ESV)

This journey has taught me the value of perseverance, discipline, and community, and I’m grateful for the spiritual growth and healing I’ve experienced through CIC.

I am always thankful for the sisters I had met in this programme. 

I entered CIC not knowing what to expect. The first few sessions were tough. Slowly but surely, i grew to thoroughly enjoy the group experiences and interactions.

With CIC, I slowly learnt to develop new daily patterns in prayer and reading God’s Word. CIC also helped me deepen my relationship with God. Each week in the group setting, it was through God’s amazing grace that I was able to have new revelations of God. The fellowship with my companions in Christ was what I enjoyed the most. Our facilitators conducted each session in a very relaxed way, even as they supported us with lots of guidance. I also learnt more about church life during CIC and how I could contribute. I hope to use what I learnt in CIC to enable me to continue to listen to God and allow my life to be shaped by His Word. CIC also helped me practise the presence of God. I will definitely recommend CIC to those who not only want to deepen their walk with God but also to do it in small group intimate settings.

I have found CIC to be a rich resource for spiritual formation and beneficial for seeking a deeper and more abiding relationship with God in my faith journey.

Over the 28 weeks, I discovered so many gems in the inspired notes and exercises, as well as through our small-group exploration and sharing together.  The duration seemed rather off-putting at first, but the weeks passed swiftly when as a group, we learnt and grew in warm and open fellowship.

CIC has deepened my awareness of God’s presence and grace in every situation. It has helped me to reflect on my prayer life and to discern spiritual gifts and the prompting and guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

It has helped me to examine my faith journey in the light of God’s call to discipleship, and  to better understand the way,  the mind, the heart and the work of Christ.

The first time that I came across Companions in Christ was in the church bulletin. I was in the midst searching for God’s teaching. The context of 28 weeks struck me. Therefore, I did some research and was convinced that I should give it a try.

I embarked on CIC with an open mind about what I could learn. The material that I was exposed are generally easy to read, though it offered lots of insight. which amazed me. It gave me an opportunity to reflect on my walk with Christ. The sharing of our experiences in the group, including those of the facilitators, broadened my understanding of the faith  journey.

I also learned how to approach God’s Word with a listening heart, and to look at ourselves and our relationship with God with fresh eyes. It requires discipline on my part to continue this spiritual practice in my ongoing faith journey with God.

It had always been my desire to draw closer to God, but I needed a disciplined approach and some spiritual guidance. When PLMC announced that Companions in Christ was open for registration, the first thing that caught my eye was that it could be done online via Zoom, at least partially. Then I realised it was offered on Monday evenings – I had no excuse not to sign up, since Monday was my day off. Although the many weeks of commitment looked daunting at first, by God’s grace, I was able to attend most of the meetings.

It has been an amazing journey of new discoveries about God and about myself, as my fellow companions and I spent time reading, listening and sharing with each other. The Deeper Exploration segment in our weekly gathering definitely helped me to understand God’s Word at a deeper level. The experiences during the on-site meetings were very memorable too. I am very grateful to the facilitators and fellow companions for making this journey so enriching. As I continue to seek God’s will for my life, I know I can always draw on this precious resource.

I had never heard of Companions in Christ till a sister from St Andrew’s Cathedral shared how much she had gained after attending it. So when PLMC announced the new intake of CIC, the Holy Spirit prompted me to sign up without hesitation. I intentionally set aside 28 weeks to attend it faithfully and diligently.

 

The quiet contemplative start of each session led me to a deeper personal relationship with God, experiencing His total presence in the still, quiet moment, waiting upon Him. letting go of whatever thoughts and worries I had and making room for the Holy Spirit to fill me.

 

I am thankful to the dedicated facilitators who had a deep passion to help us through the journey of spiritual growth and discovery. They were always ready to share their personal life experiences during the sessions. I looked forward to the session every week. We were told not to be afraid of silence during the sharing and to be led by the Spirit. The Spirit illumined my mind to see what God was disclosing in my experience. It helped me to wait patiently upon the Lord. There were times when I did not have anything to contribute during the session, but with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the words would just come out of my mouth. I praise God for the experience in CIC.

This CIC journey was very interesting. Most of the weekly readings were linked to questions I had or things that were brought up in conversations I had with people. I saw how God answered some of my questions and also gave me more things to be curious about that deepened my relationship with Him. I remember at the half way mark,  I mentioned that I had not seen any significant turning point in my CIC journey compared to camps where I would have one big encounter. However, I realised that CIC was like climbing one step every week with the journey continuing after CIC too. I have become more consistent in my quiet time  and have been enriched by the different ways of reading and meditating on God’s Word. CIC really helped me expand my horizon. I have learnt to ask, “Where is God in this person’s life?” or “What is God trying to say?” or “What is God’s heart for this person?” in my day-to-day conversations with people.

Being in a group also helped. They pointed out God’s presence in our conversations and life, which set an example for me to learn and apply.

Lastly, being the youngest in my group really humbled me a lot and encouraged me to still have the heart to want to know God more and more even as I grow older.

I had just stopped attending Bible Study Fellowship at the  end of 2023. God is good and cares for my spiritual growth, leading me to sign up for the CIC course through my cell leader. I signed up in faith without knowing the full details of the course as God had answered my prayer for a replacement for BSF, which was held on Mondays.

 

The 28 weeks together with brothers- and sisters-in-Christ has benefitted me in many ways. The small group was meaningful. Through sharing our faith journeys, we got to know and encourage each other, even as the bond of love was strengthened in the group. We could then bring love and touch others.

 

I had also benefitted from the various prayer exercises and prayer remains a primary means of grace that will stay with me in my faith journey with God.   

 

The challenging part of CIC was to set aside time and be still to sense God’s presence in this busy world. But I am assured that God is always by my side. His presence is always with me – I just need to be more aware of His presence in many ways.    

 

I am thankful to the facilitators for their faithful service to the Lord and the group amidst their own personal challenges.

I have learnt to listen to God through CIC, to try new ways of opening to God and discovering new gifts that God has given to me for ministry. The experience in CIC has helped me to be more anchored in God. I appreciate the openness and trust from this group of companions. I am thankful to my three facilitators who had taken the time and effort to guide me through this journey of 28 weeks.

To me, CIC has been a journey to know more about the Christian life and to grow in Christ as a community. It helps me in my relationship with God as I open myself to God’s presence and guidance, and to listen to Him.

It was a challenging yet enlightening experience as I went through the disciplined daily routine of doing the reflective exercises from Scripture. My challenge was to complete the 28 weeks. I had wanted to give up the course quite a number of times due to work, time, space and understanding the material. But the sharing and experience as we gathered together each week was enlightening.

What I have learned through CIC is to press on, to never give up, be it the course, or on life which is not just singular experiences but a journey. What I found helpful was the practice of noticing and examining our thoughts, feelings and experiences of how God was present and how we were responding to Him. It led me to a greater awareness of God’s presence and faithfulness, and an  attitude of thankfulness on my part.

I came into CIC with much excitement as to what God would be able to do in my life. I was ready for big and radical changes. However, through the many weeks of reflection and journeying with one another through 28 weeks, I realised the transformation was not a radical one but was already taking place the moment I gave my life to Christ. CIC was a platform for me to see the fingerprints of God in moulding me into His image, refining me, while burning away the impurities in my life. CIC was a place I could learn to slow down and give thanks to the Lord for His goodness in every aspect of my life. Lastly, I learnt to be more sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, guiding and leading my way. I think it has been a simple, yet transformative, journey for the past 28 weeks. In time to come, what I learnt will be useful practices I put in my daily life to continue my walk with Christ!

Longing to connect with God, I signed up for CIC.

Sharing life journeys and experiences with facilitators and fellow companions, I formed a faith community.

Feeling distracted, grappling with loss, struggles and disappointments.

Yet,

God remains constant and true

God loves and sees me

God wants to connect with me

Resting in Christ

Letting creativity flow

Jesus sees into my heart

Receiving visions, dreams, and revelations

Establishing a deeper intimacy with God

Understanding God’s heart and my own, correcting my prejudices and mindsets – I received clarity, peace, joy and love.

I had been feeling a lot of rage at how my life was turning out. At 35, it looked nothing like what I had expected. I knew that there was a cost to following God. Jesus had already said, “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). But it was one thing to know this and quite another to live it out. The cost hurt, especially when it seemed like everyone else was getting what I wanted, even those who didn’t believe in God. The more I focused on what I had to give up, the more the cost started to outweigh the joys of following Him. I grew resentful and mistrustful of Him, convinced that He would only ask me to do things that I didn’t want to do, and keep taking away that which I loved. And because He’s God, I had no choice but to obey or suffer the consequences.

Three years was a long time to wrestle in rage with God. I was tired. I had become my own obstacle to knowing Him. And I could feel the dryness in my soul from refusing to engage Him. Out of sheer pragmatism, because I felt I couldn’t carry on like this for the rest of my life, I joined CIC as a last-ditch attempt to work through these feelings. I decided to put myself in the way of grace, in the hope that even if I couldn’t find God, maybe God would find me.

Initially, I did the exercises out of sheer discipline and to honour my group’s and our facilitators’ time. If I’m honest, I wasn’t expecting much. The rage felt so deep that it seemed impossible that anything would help. But slowly, maybe once a fortnight, one of the exercises would surprise me. I would see familiar passages in a different light. It was like God was gently laying a truth about Himself in front of me, inviting me to reconsider the lie I’d believed about Him.

The battle wasn’t between me and God (He isn’t the enemy); the battle was between me and evil(Ephesians 6:12). He wasn’t a God who abuses His power to force me into compliance; He is a God who uses His power to love me and ensure I know He loves me (Ephesians 3:16–20). These truths didn’t magically transform my heart overnight, but they were stepping stones that gave me a path out of a blindingly painful place.

As the months went on, I discovered something even more unexpected. Having been a Christian for more than half my life, I’d been exposed to many of the spiritual formation techniques that CIC introduced. But working through them with other believers added a new richness to kingdom life that I just couldn’t have known from doing them alone. We all brought our own wounds, questions, insecurities, and uncertainties when we met each week. Yet, there was something peaceful about bringing them before God alongside each other, something almost sacred about witnessing each other encounter God in quiet ways. Being in the constant company of those who had a much higher opinion of God than I did was a way that He lifted my head (Psalm 3:3). If the truths from the Word were stepping stones towards Him, their hope in Him spurred me on to look for the next step forward.

I’m not all there yet, 28 weeks later. But I am far less angry… and a little more hopeful that there will be a way out of this place for good.

I have gained useful insight from the CIC course that will help me to develop a more personal and intentional relationship with God.  

I have benefitted from the journaling and reflection exercises which was a new experience for me. I became more aware of the need to spend time in quiet reflection and hearing God through His Word amidst all the noise and distractions out there. 

I am also grateful for the opportunity to meet the companions in my group who were very authentic in sharing their joy and challenges in their faith journeys which was an encouragement to me. 

I have benefitted in several ways from joining Companions in Christ. I experienced the help of the Holy Spirit bringing to remembrance the past as I reflected on the daily reflective and challenging questions we had to do. The companions in the group became new friends as we went through CIC together. May we continue to be companions, bearing each other’s burdens after CIC has ended.

Although it was a challenge to commit to 28 weeks of daily devotion and meditation, I realised the process has led to a growing of my inner being to be more Christ-like.

My experience with CIC was an amazing 28 weeks of knowing God deeper in a small group setting. It was a journey of trusting and walking closely in faith with God. In our group, there was mutual support and shared commitment. I was encouraged most through our praise and worship and the vulnerable sharing of our life stories at our own comfort levels. The group maintained confidentiality, and discovered and affirmed each other’s giftings with respect. We helped each other towards the direction of growing spiritually.

During the 28 weeks, there were times when the journey was not smooth for me. However, in those moments, I could feel the presence of the Lord with me so faithfully throughout. I appreciate my CIC members who were there to listen to my sharing patiently and for their prayers.

The participant booklet was comprehensive. I received so much out of this course especially on how to feed on the Word, deepening my prayer life, and also dependence on the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit identified by my group for me were new gifts and scary to me.Today, these gifts have been put into practice in the new vocation He has placed me in. Spiritual practices which I had not done in the past such as breath prayer, meditation and daily journalling have now been applied in my daily devotion.

 

I thank our three excellent facilitators for guiding us so patiently through this course. They created an environment that was non-pressurising but encouraging, relaxing and safe.

It was an amazing journey and I was glad I signed up for it.

Firstly, I want to thank God for the opportunity to attend CIC this year.  I would also like to thank the facilitators who had painstakingly prepared the lessons each week and for their dedication and love in ministering to the group.

Initially I thought CIC was like a cell group supporting one another.  Later, I realised that it was about my spiritual walk and growth with the Lord together with my companions in Christ. I would also like to thank the companions in my group who were very open in sharing their challenges and victories as they saw God working in their lives.

The CIC manual is filled with gems and handles to practise the different ways we can spend time with God and centering ourselves in His presence.

I would like to practise what I have found helpful in my devotion time with God and allowing God to speak to me through His Word.

CIC has also taught me to be diligent in keeping a journal.  It has also taught me to be conscious of God’s grace in my and my family’s life as I do ‘the Examen’. I may not get answers all the time but His grace is sufficient for me.

My desire is to be able to pray more effectively and be more intentional, not allowing my own impediments to be an obstacle in walking closer with God.

As I go through the manual again, I pray it will impact me more as I sometimes rushed through the homework and was not able to take in the gems for my own growth.

I thank God for His timing in getting me to attend this course.  I wanted to attend earlier but due to family commitments, it would have been a disruption. God is good all the time.

CIC has been a multi-faceted diamond for me. As with the rest of the companions, I went in seeking for a deeper level of communion with Abba Father. While we all have that relationship and walk with Abba, there is another level that we all desired in our inner space. The liberating truth along the way (fortunately in Part 1) was that it is truly His grace that He speaks and we hear. The fear of not being able to hear Him through all the noise that was in my mind was quickly dispelled.  I did not have to be under stress to hear Him or ‘pretend’ to hear Him!

I learnt the beauty of settling into the rhythm of pausing and re-centering in His presence, reading and soaking in the Word, exploring the different ways of listening to the Holy Spirit, learning and practising new ways of prayer for self and others.

I am thankful that the course is not a form of self-absorbed ‘spirituality’. I am reminded that my walk is never alone. We draw strength and learn as we listened to the others reflect, served others by listening, and learnt to discern for each other and to others in our wider family.  One of the gems that I picked up was that discernment was to recognise where God is and where He is not, and not just what is right or wrong. I am still on the journey of learning this, what it means to know the mind of Christ in a deeper way. How much richer my daily communion is now. I thank the facilitators for their labour of love and service!

I traced back my steps to where I first started CIC. I responded to a pull in my heart and a call to join CIC 2024 and now, here 28 weeks after, I had chalked up 100% attendance, and 60-65% journal homework done. This is Grace to me !

I would not have been able to do it in my own strength and determination  as I know very well  how I love conveniences, short-cuts, the easy way out and not facing the giants in my life. I trust and believe in God’s trust and confidence in me and my heart’s cooperation with the leading of God and the Holy Spirit.

CIC offers a safe, welcoming environment. Like-minded fellow church worshippers who love God made this journey less lonely and less difficult. We had willing hearts to journey together, embracing our  faith journey together in confidentiality, respect and humility.

One of the challenges for me was journalling.  Doing that five to six days a week is both a pain and joy. I actually found each time to be a healing experience and a step closer to God, renewed hope, refreshed strength. This is Grace to me!

One of the CIC covenants was to read and complete the daily exercises diligently and journalling is part of it. I struggled with it, especially with the daily journalling.

How did I go through the 28 weeks? For the closing session, when I reviewed my journal and the study notes in the manual, there were many nuggets of truth that seemed new to me even though I had read and highlighted them.

The 28 weeks introduced me to new ways of praying and approaching  the Word, as well as to the call to the work of Christ, affirmation of God’s gifts, and spiritual discernment. I thank the Lord for His means of grace. CIC provided different and various aspects to my spiritual formation. I can choose to adopt certain life patterns, habits, and commitments to grow spiritually. I am learning to be conscious of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my daily doing and living. Though CIC is over, I continue to apply the different ways of praying. I know  this is a continuous process of journeying with my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit and my prayer is for the Lord to open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and my heart to be illumined to know and to love the Lord.

My aim of joining CIC is to have a more intimate relationship with Father God.

CIC has offered me various ways of opening myself to God. It led me to learn more about God and gave me the opportunity to apply what I learnt in my daily life to grow slowly in my relationship with God. I am a work-in-process.  

I saw how grace is a major part of my faith journey and learnt various ways of approaching God’s Word, of prayer, the call of God and the gifts given to live out that call. I became more conscious of the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the midst of life’s experiences. I realise the Holy Spirit is our brilliant teacher and to follow His promptings so as to have a more intimate relationship with the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Spirit.

Testimonies of CIC Facilitators (2024)

Testimony by Amy Cheong

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” – St Augustine

Towards the end of my CIC journey as a participant in 2023, I felt I wanted to do it all again as I had found rest in God through the 28 weeks of seeking His presence in my life. My group facilitators helped me discern and confirm God’s call to me to facilitate in the next CiIC programme in 2024.

Here I am at the end of that seven-month odyssey and what do I feel? Privileged to have journeyed with my group of companions and fellow facilitators, joy in seeing how they had grown and transformed, relieved that the journey has ended well, and ever thankful to God for His grace and leading throughout.

Most of all, I feel rested in the Lord again. Rested because He showed me the way when I was totally clueless on how to facilitate a particular session. Rested because He provided the courage to help others on their journey. Rested because He expanded the time when there were too many things to do. And Rested because of His Shalom peace, knowing He is our Advocate, Banner, Healer, Provider, and Shepherd.

What touched me most about CIC was listening to the companions sharing, being blessed when they testified to God’s presence in their lives, and holding space for them in their struggles. CIC truly lives up to its vision of spiritual formation in small groups, where participants and facilitators alike are formed and transformed as they do the prayer exercises, listen to and support one another with encouragement and prayer, participate fully in the group activities, and learn to rest in God.

I look forward to resting in the Lord again in 2025 as I facilitate another group of companions. I pray that as I offer myself to be a companion to others that the Holy Spirit will continue to grow and transform me more and more into Christ-likeness.

Will you join me on this adventure of seeking the presence of God in our lives?

From Silence to Strength: My Journey with Companions-in-Christ

I was a CIC participant in 2022, and that experience was pivotal in deepening my walk with Christ. It allowed me to clarify my understanding of the cost of discipleship and how to embrace God’s will through challenges and joys. After a year’s break, I decided to pick up the spiritual discipline again to be a facilitator.

I never realised how powerful silence could be until I became a facilitator for Companions in Christ. In the past, impatience clouded my ability to hear God’s voice, but through this journey, I learned to embrace silence as a space to listen to the Spirit. It was in these quiet moments that I began to hear God more clearly.

During difficult seasons that felt like the wilderness, the silence allowed God to speak to me. God reminded me of His presence. Even in moments of emptiness, He was there, guiding me. Isaiah 30:21 (NIV):

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

 

This verse resonates with me because faith often requires trust even in uncertainty and being sensitive to that still small voice.

What has been most transformative, though, is learning to hear God in others. Being a facilitator has helped me discern God’s presence through Holy Listening to others’ stories and experiences, which has deepened my connection to Him. It was in listening deeply and compassionately that I witnessed how God speaks uniquely through each person’s journey.

The hymn, Blest Be the Tie That Binds, captures this journey beautifully:

“Blest be the tie that binds,
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.”

This journey of faith has taught me to move from anxiety to trust, from hearing God alone to hearing Him in the community of believers. Together, we walk as pilgrims, guided by His presence every step of the way.

I invite everyone, especially youths and young adults, to reflect on how God might be calling you to listen deeply – to Him, to others, and even to yourself – and be part of the CIC journey!

To God be the Glory!

As I completed my Companion in Christ journey last year, I was prompted to go for the training to become a facilitator.  Going through the program for a second time helped me to have a deeper understanding in the spiritual practices and I became more aware of the presence of God in my daily walk. It involved sensing the means and the flow of God’s grace and seeking to respond in faithfulness. I learnt about meditation and contemplation, abiding in Christ and discerning the guidance of the Holy Spirit both as an individual as well as in groups.

God has blessed me with experienced, gifted and talented co-facilitators. It has been an enriching experience of spiritual formation despite my weaknesses. There are many areas that I am still trying to become more competent at. In the body of Christ, I found growth in the company of companions in Christ. I was encouraged as I heard the sharing of other companions and how God had been working in their lives. Looking out for themes and patterns gave direction and focus on our journey. Indeed, God is real and is working in the world, in His church, and in different individuals. God’s prevenient grace is always present in the form of His never-ending love.

I have been blessed with skills and disciplines that help me in my study of God’s word, in my communion with God in prayer and in discerning God’s good, pleasing and perfect will. This empowers me to exercise my gifts to build up God’s church in His Kingdom by seeking to present everyone perfect in Christ Jesus. There were challenges in my journey but I seek to have the faith of trusting that God has overcome the last enemy, even death. So, I can continue to walk in peace and with joy in order to complete the good works that He has prepared beforehand so that I can walk in them. Spiritual formation is a journey of growing in righteousness, Christ-likeness, wholeness and holiness so that God can reign in my life as I finish the race as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven among companions in Christ, to honour His holy name and to bring Him all the glory.

By the grace of God, I have completed another 28 weeks of Companions in Christ, this time as a facilitator!

At the end of my first attempt at CIC in 2023, I was very encouraged that the exercises to encounter God through reading the Scripture for formation (not just for information) and the conscientious awareness of the presence of God in my daily living, had enriched my spiritual life. However, there was a longing for more. Hence, I opted to be a facilitator in 2024 so that I could go through CIC a second time.

There was a sense of awe that familiar Bible passages became rhema when the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, revealed and illumined my heart during contemplation. I was also encouraged to see the personal growth in the companions’ sensitivity to the presence and workings of the Holy Spirit in their lives, especially those eureka moments when familiar Scripture passages shed new meaning. 

I thank God for the openness in the sharing of the companions, which encouraged others to stand firm, persevere, rely on God’s grace and the support of the community of believers. 

The partnership with co-facilitators who are experienced, wise and encouraging has been a blessing in my spiritual journey over the eight months.

Interested to join CIC 2025?

Do indicate your interest by 24 Nov 2024!

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Ministry Contact

Teo Soo Hoong

pastoralcare@plmc.org