Missions

My wife, 11-year-old daughter, 8-year-old son and I began exploring missions as a family last year. Having previously served with Youth With A Mission, the core values of 'To Know God' and 'To Make Him Known' resonate deeply with me. Embarking on a mission trip felt like a natural extension of these values.

Last November, we joined the Short-Term Missions trip (STM trip) to Kolkata and Mumbai for 10 days. While my wife and I went on previous mission trips to India, it marked the first ever mission trip for our children. Despite common concerns about safety, hygiene and some objection from my in-laws, we placed our trust and assurance in God's leading. We reminded our children not to compare India with Singapore and to treat it as an adventure. The children were not bothered by the dirt, dust or smells. We are so thankful they recognised the humanity of the people as preciously made in God’s image, and everyone’s need for Jesus.

Throughout our journey, each family member encountered God uniquely. My son enthusiastically became chief balloon sculptor and got along so well with everyone wherever he went that many field workers asked him to stay behind. As for my daughter, her passion for teaching saw her joyfully assisting the children's ministry programmes. My wife shared a testimonial that God had put on her heart months before the trip which moved many mothers in the slum ministry. I was challenged to rely completely on God to deliver a last-minute message for the ministry to the blind, which was totally an unfamiliar area to me.

From young, we have intentionally instilled in our kids a heart for migrant workers and those forgotten, downtrodden or invisible class in society. But on this trip, they caught a glimpse of God’s heartbeat for the lost in nations out there! We are confident this trip has planted seeds of passion in our children's hearts for knowing God deeper and sharing His love. We pray that missions will become an integral part of our family's identity, and we look forward to serve as a family again.

I strongly encourage families to embark on missions together. As we strive towards becoming a missional church, let us begin by becoming missional families. Regardless of our age, experience, comfort level and time availability, if we are willing, God can use and will equip us in remarkable ways. “He is 'able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think'." (Ephesians 3:20)

We had our first Missions Awareness Event after the Covid-19 pandemic on 18 & 19 Aug 2023 and our hearts were encouraged when we had close to 70-80 attendees in each session. We asked ourselves this important question during this event: “How can we live out our missional call and be a missional community?”.

On Friday evening Rev Calvin Lee shared powerfully on our missional call as we are called to be “the salt and light of the world”. Many came forward to dedicate their lives to live missionally wherever they are.

On Saturday morning there was a call to be a missional community. Rev Calvin focused on the “why” question for the reasons of coming together as a community, especially from Acts 2:42-47. We also provided the platform to engage more people in  outreach work to the migrant workers and Missions Exposure Trips / STM Trips during the Q&A session. We had a powerful testimony shared by a mother and a child in how the family and cell group can be involved in missions as we move towards the Year of Engagement in 2024.

We invited 6 Missions Organisations (namely WEC, Pioneer, Habibi, Wycliffe, CCI) whom we partner with to set up booths to showcase their missions work and how we as a church can partner with them. We also had our own mission’s booth to engage our people in missions. It is encouraging that more people signed up after this Missions Awareness Event for the Missions Telegram Channel and asked to join MET/STM trips as we move together as a missional community!

If you missed the event, you can catch the recordings in the videos.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matt 19:14

“Mission trip, with a young six-year-old boy? … … Is he (Joshua, our son) ready? … … Are we as Parents ready? It is sure gonna to be so ‘tiring’ to bring Joshua along … … How to do the mission work when we as parents have to mind the young one? … … What can Joshua do on the trip being so young? He would probably end up being ‘burden’ or ‘distraction’ on the trip. … … The mission trip schedule is usually packed, and the days are long … … Will Joshua have the strength and energy to keep up? He won’t have his nap, mealtimes may not be regular and what if he throws a tantrum on the trip, that would be so stressful! … … I think better not; wait till he is older.” 

I can go on and on about the above - some of the thoughts that ran through my head. These were just the tip of the iceberg, the milder examples of my fears and concerns when PIC Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming addressed the congregation and encouraged us to take up opportunities of going on the many mission trips planned for in 2023, the Year of Empowerment. For families with young children, I suspect many parents may identify with what I have just loosely shared above. On reflection, I soon realised that there was only “I” and “Joshua” but no “God” in the thoughts above. Matthew 19:14 then came along to my mind. It took Matthew 19:14 and three Strikes to nudge us to sign up for the Mission Trip to Batam.

Strike One – The Need to Role Model as Parents. 

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”  Proverbs 22:6

As parents, the responsibility is on us to be good role models for our children. As they are growing up, our children observe and learn from us, absorbing every single little detail. In fact, they become ‘little mirrors’ of us as their parents, giving rise to the saying that “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”. As my wife (Alice) and I desire for Joshua to grow up knowing God as soon as possible, we are fearful for him to tell us one day, “But Dad/Mum, I have not seen you seeking God much, except for going to Church on Sundays”. Instead, we would wish instead for Joshua to say, “Dad/Mum, I recall that we had gone out together to serve when I was young, to bring blessings onto others, as a way of service onto God”. This gave an added boost and drove us as parents to be more conscious and deliberate in serving, hoping to be an example and to steer Joshua to know and experience God as he grows up. 

Strike Two – Exposing our Children from an Early Age. 

Let’s face it, we tend to give our best to our children and over time, they may become over-protected. Soon, they may come to treat what they have as expected or that being the norm. The feeling of being entitled soon creeps in, losing reality of blessings and appreciation of what they have. It was hard for us to explain to Joshua that there are places in the world where there is no air-conditioning to cool down if one was feeling hot in humid weather, where a fan is considered luxurious and even so, there may not be electricity to power it up always. Our attempts to show him via YouTube on less privileged places in the world did not help him understand much either. Somehow it seemed rather distant and once out of sight, out of mind. We realised that we had to find opportunities for him to be onsite to see and experience it for himself - that not everywhere is like Singapore. This is not about making comparisons between better versus lesser conditions, but a recognition of the larger reality in the world. We wanted Joshua to have better appreciation of the real conditions and difficulties that exists - and most importantly, in so doing, to build within Joshua the compassion to serve and to bring blessings to others. 

Strike Three - How Do I Grow in Faith?

Lastly as a Christian, I was constantly seeking the question of growing in faith, often lamenting that my faith was insufficient. This was when I connected back to all my fears that ran through my mind when I thought about going on a mission trip together as a family with Joshua. I soon realised that if I had all the answers and assurance to my fears, I would be going on my own strength. Why not let this be an exercise of faith? To make a commitment to go, then pray about it and leave the rest to God? This was the eureka moment when we decided to take the step of faith. Never mind that the deadline for signing up for the trip was already past. We enquired about it with our Cell Leader and of course the response came back positive – Hurray! We were still in time to sign up and be part of the team. The group then 8 trippers were thrilled to have three of us join the trip to increase the numbers and having Joshua as the youngest member of the team.

Was the Trip Easy and Smooth Sailing?

As we know, when we decide to serve the Lord, the enemy would not sit by idly but instead would be trying all its means to derail us. Personally, I suddenly experienced a sudden increase in workload and appointment schedules surrounding 4-5 Feb, the planned weekend of the Batam Mission Trip. As I attended the pre-trip briefing, I also realised that there were many things to prepare - ranging from personal logistics to Sunday School Worship Songs, Crafts, Games, Personal Testimonies and even opportunity to preach at the Sunday Youth Service there. I was initially quite overwhelmed and committed to the minimum when we were discussing roles and responsibilities. However, I had a nagging stirring within me that entire night after the briefing, asking me if I only wanted to serve to minimum after committing to the trip. It was a bit like having come so far but not maximising the opportunity! So, after lots of prayers and with a leap of faith, I volunteered myself to the Trip Leader the next day that I would like to take up the opportunity to preach at the Sunday Youth Service. On hindsight, both the Trip Leader as well as my Cell leader shared that they were thinking of “arrowing” me for the task that night during the meeting but decided not to place additional stress on me. It all turned out for the better in the end as God placed the burden and led me to take up the task voluntarily instead of being asked to. It was really a joy to be able to prepare and eventually deliver the message to the Youths at the Service on Sunday. All praise to God for the opportunity and experience to share forth His Word.

On the health front, all three of us fell ill in the week leading up to the trip despite taking all the precautions we could. We had bouts of sore throats, cough, flu, fever and even diarrhoea amongst us. My wife, Alice, even continued to be unwell during the trip and all three of us fell ill again after the trip upon our return. But at the end of it all, we were glad that God saw us through all the ailments and healed us steadfastly.

What was Most Memorable?  

It would be cliche but also true to say that everything was memorable. The joy of buying supplies together as a group and packing them into smaller goodie bags at a shopping mall was a unique experience. The ability to experience the fervour and gusto with which the children and youths we met worshipped God was humbling and left me much to think about my own worship. It was satisfying to be able to bring some cheer to the children and youths through our planned activities and goodie bags. It was heart-warming to see Joshua interacting and playing with the kids, in his own way of service. It was joyful to be able to experience the camaraderie of our small group of 10 adults and 1 child working together as one with the aim of serving God. We experienced the love and support of every member helping us to watch out for Joshua, and also helping to engage, take care and play with him during the trip. 

While we recognised that we were blessed, thereby seeking to go on the trip to bless those we came into contact with at Batam, we ended up coming back feeling even more blessed. God certainly is no debtor and provides returns in great multitudes! We hope that this account of our experience would encourage more people, especially families with young ones to take up similar opportunities and not let fears or doubts set you back, to experience even greater joy than what we had gone through. It was also great and meaningful to be able to go on the trip together with our cell members. We also hope that there would be more cell groups undertaking to go on mission trips together to serve. May we all step forth boldly in faith to all the opportunities that 2023, the Year of Empowerment, affords us.

In God’s Love,

Kelvin, Alice and Joshua Chew.

“Give a cup of cold water in Jesus name. Fill a bowl from the wells of salvation, but do not stop there, bow low and wash feet… Compassion that ceases with a handshake is limited. The water you have must be dirtied by the feet of others.” (Adapted from The Growing Pains of Peter by Terry Atkinson)  

There was an outpouring of God’s love as we washed the feet of the base staff. It was really a God moment; the Holy Spirit’s presence was immense. John 13 – Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. Our team slogan was ‘Here to Love, Here to Serve’, but throughout the trip, it really felt like it was ‘Here to Be Loved, Here to Be Served’. The warmth and hospitality the base staff showed us in spite of how ‘little’ they had overwhelmed us. We felt the Lord leading us in this prophetic act as a display of Christ’s humility and servanthood. Going through every crevice of their feet, washing away every single bit of dirt served as a reminder that the old is gone and the new has come. Our sins are forgiven because of His finished work on the cross. Matthew 20:28 – He came “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The humility expressed by His act with towel and basin foreshadowed His ultimate act of humility and love on the cross.

As we washed their feet, tears were shed, hearts were filled, joy overflowed. We prayed for them one by one, each as His precious child. Afraid, but we obeyed. God was not looking for ability, but availability and I was amazed that the prayers and visions received spoke to them. To each one, God’s word for them held a distinctively personal meaning. As I prayed, I received visions for two of the staff I prayed for. For one, it was a vision of a fire burning brightly for God. He mentioned how it encouraged him as he was moving into a new season in his faith journey with the Lord. The word reminded him to stand and fight for the Lord and that the Lord will use him in His perfect timing. 

For another, it was a vision of a lion; one that was bold and courageous, armed with strength for battle. He then shared that he actually had a lion tattoo on his back to remind him of just that same promise from the Lord! The word released really reaffirmed him of his call to go to the nations, to the unreached, to fight for the Lord even when it seemed difficult. Indeed, God is omniscient, all-knowing, to speak to us and through us at His own special timing. 

I believe that as we acted in obedience to what He has called us to do, to be willing to “get our hands dirty” as we learnt to love and serve even if it did not “feel convenient”, God empowers. Truly God does not call the equipped, but He equips the called. We might have felt afraid or awkward to wash their feet or even apprehensive to pray, but when God calls, we just have to go. He blew our minds, He delivered and He spoke. Indeed, He is the God who heals and the God who hears our prayers! 

The Cebu misson trip in November 2022 helped me understand how God loves us and what His love means, even though I didn’t even know that I lacked this understanding. It opened my eyes to the depth and quality of Jesus’ love through my interactions with the team, base staff, the people we met during ministry and especially the children at the base. 

I went into this trip from a season of mental and physical brokenness. I had been falling sick a lot more than usual in the past month or so and still had food poisoning when we left for Cebu. I had also been having anxiety attacks and episodes of very negative thinking that I didn't know how to control. God placed two good friends in my life whom I confided in about these episodes and revealed Himself to me through one of them before the trip, but my struggles were still unresolved. A lot of these moments stemmed from feeling unworthy and a fear of not being loved enough in the way that I wanted to be, and feeling that I wasn't special. My perception of God’s love before the trip was that He loved all of us equally and in the same way, which I believed was fair but made me think that I needed to pursue other sources of exclusive and special love because I was just another child of God out of everyone in the world, and there was no way I could be His favourite or uniquely loved by Him.

I have always loved kids a lot and seeing them never fails to make me smile, but I have never understood why because I don't have younger siblings or cousins whom I see regularly. I had received something like a calling related to children on two occasions a few months before the trip through a dream and during the church conference but didn’t quite know what to do with it. I think this trip was a confirmation that my love for kids was legitimate and also an explanation of why I love kids so much.

There are 3 kids on the base, Coyle, who is five, Colin, who is three, and Cattleya Faith, who is one. I got to know Coyle and Colin's mother first while washing clothes together and only started interacting with the kids after that. They’re really good kids, super smart and super sweet, and every moment of playing with them and talking and listening to them was truly a joy. They would drag me around and ask to be carried, or played in the back of the base’s pickup truck and seeing their smiles was really very precious. I got especially close to Coyle who would come and sit on my lap during base games or after meals. All three of them are some of the smartest kids I've met.

They did some really precious and adorable things that spoke to me a lot, like Coyle telling me “I missed you” after we went for ministry or Cattleya dragging a chair for me to sit on during word by heart and trying to give me water when I had a fever. I was super impressed and had big, big love for them after interacting with them for less than a day.

During debrief on the second night I was hit by a revelation that God loves me in the same way I loved the kids, but many times more. I very clearly felt a sense of Him telling me that “the love you have for these children is only a fraction of the love I have for you”. There were many, many ways that His love was similar or the same as what I felt for the kids, like the desire to spend all my time with them and protect them and have their attention and to see them be happy, the joy I felt when they chose to spend time with me, and the pride I felt looking at them navigate the world. I could only understand this because I had experienced loving the kids in a fierce and protective way. Everything I was willing to do for the kids and all I felt for them was what God felt for me as well, but many times more. It was super overwhelming to know that God’s love for me was so strong and so personal. 

I also received a vision of a pile of ordinary rocks with a diamond among them, and God picking up one of the small rocks instead of the diamond. I felt Him say that “this is exactly what I’ve been looking for” and rejoice. This changed my perspective of how God loves, and reconfirmed that He truly leaves the 99 in search for His children whom He loves personally and uniquely. It also reminded me that I didn't need to prove myself or make sure that everyone liked me, because I already had God’s approval.

There are many other instances when God revealed His love to me in very real and amazing ways, like through the stars on the rooftop, the worship, placing certain people in the team and base to tell me exactly what truths and encouragement I needed to hear and pray life over me, and the generous, welcoming and giving love from the base staff. The ministry was also filled with wonder because the children were so wonderful and joyful and trusting. I heard God’s voice unprompted for the first time during this trip, and even though what He told me was not something I wanted to hear, I realised that it was what I needed to hear to make the right choice. 

This trip was a turning point for me in terms of understanding the love of Christ and fixing my eyes on Him. My perspective of my life and future is now different and though I still struggle, I know I can plug into Him for comfort and encouragement. I'm super grateful to Him for the extravagant love, grace and mercy He has shown me through this trip and throughout my life, and for the people He has placed in my life, including the team leaders and the ones back home who were more supportive and loving than I could ever ask for. All glory to God!