This morning, BOTH the Mandarin & the English congregations surprised Pastor Kueh by celebrating his birthday EARLY. Much thanks to the love and planning by Pastor Cheng and the elders who had "conspired" the events today many weeks back ;)
We want to give thanks to our Abba Father & our Lord Jesus Christ for the faithful service of Pastor Kueh over all these years. Like Pastor Kueh said: "Should I boast, let me boast in the LORD. Only by His grace."
Below are some pictures taken this morning. Enjoy!
1) Gifts from a thankful church:
2) The Cake(s): *Bro Peter PERSONALLY baked this cake!
3) Thanks Giving & Prayers:
Lastly, since there are many new ones in the congregation over the years, a short video was done to introduce a bit of EBC's history, as well as Pastor Kueh's "path" to ordination.
Once more, thank you Jesus for Pastor Kueh, a vessel of honour chosen to feed & guide the sheep in EBC.
This morning the church celebrated Father's Day at ACS Hall with our invited speaker from Penang, Ps KB Chan.
Ps Chan is known as the Pastor without the kidneys. A dialysis patient for more than 14 years and yet serving the LORD actively full time. Ps Chan is especially gifted in the music ministry. Do check out his anointed songs here.
As a side note: praise the LORD for brother Phang, a pioneer of EBC who left the church for a season pursuing his career, but now is back and is serving as an Elder in the Mandarin congregation. This morning he served as the translator, and I must say, he is a WORLD CLASS English-to-Mandarin translator. Praise the LORD!
Ps Chan shared a message of hope & encouragement to all especially those who are going through a time of trial & suffering. Perhaps the best Scripture to sum up the message this morning is:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)
Drawing from his own great sufferings, Ps Chan also experienced God that paralleled Job's ultimate "prize" - TRUELY knowing God - when Job confessed:
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye SEES you. (Job 42:5 emphasis mine)
Beloved, just as prophet Habakkuk questioned God's "questionable non-response" to the invasion of Israel by the wicked Assyrians, ultimately Habakkuk understood that God has His own sovereign purpose, timing and will. Our part is to BELIEVE that our God is a good God. That He only has the best of intentions for His children who are bought by the blood of Jesus.
Our part is to rejoice and to hope in His Words.
Just as God answered Habakkuk: The righteous shall live by his faith. (Hab 2:4)
Let us too have faith and believe in the many promises of God in the Bible when we are going through trials. After all, didn't Jesus also comforted us saying:
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Hallelujah!
A short video of this morning's service at ACS Hall:
To all the mothers in the Church - Happy Mother's Day!
The Mandarin Service was honored to have Pastor Ivan praying for all the mothers.
St. Augustine, one of the greatest Theologian in the history of the Church, and who had a most profound conversion story - in part due to the diligent prayers of his mother who never gave up hope - had this to say about his mother: "If I am Thy child, O God, it is because Thou gavest me such a mother."
