Faith@Work Fellowship: 2012

Faith@Work Fellowship

through

Asia Seminary for Ministry

(Seminary without borders)

Reaching Nationals for Nationals

December, 2012

Hi friend,

Training Nationals for Nationals

in integrity and skills

(Psalm 78:72)

God-blessed Christmas and a better New 2013 !

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Reason for Christmas Season! The angels declared the good tidings of great joy - (Luke 2:11) “For unto you is born this day in the city of David the Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” If our greatest need be information, God would have sent an educator. If technology, He would have sent a scientist; if money, an economist. But our greatest need is for salvation, for forgiveness, so God sent the Saviour of the world.

His Name shall be called Jesus – Emmanuel, God with us, the saving One from all our sins (Matt. 1:21-23). The Name of Jesus is the saving Name as He saves us from the penalty, power and presence of sins. The Name is also the sanctifying One, setting us apart for Him and good works and words, as we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 3:13). His Name charms our fears and bids our sorrows cease. His Name is therefore music to our ears, bringing forth life, health and peace.

Above all, His Name is the sovereign Name, above all names: “At the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow ... and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.” (Phil. 2:10,11). Yes, the Baby in the manger is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, who shall reign over all in righteousness and peace (Isa. 9:6,7). He will wipe away all tears from our eyes. There will be no more death, sorrow, crying and pain. He will dwell with us and we with Him forever. In His Presence will be fullness of joy; at His right Hand, pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11).

Therefore, the most important thing, this Christmas, is to make sure that we come to Jesus by repentance of our sins and by faith in Who He is and What He has done for us by paying for our sins. Truly, we have a debt for our sins that we could not pay. Jesus paid for us our debt that He did not have. The very moment we turn our life to Him, we will know and have pardon, peace, power, provision and place in Heaven with Him. Then we have much to praise and worship Him and share this Good News to others. May this be a real Christmas to you, your loved ones and friends!

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God’s Faithfulness at Anniversary Dinner

Praise the good Lord for His faithfulness in bringing in some 128 partners and co-laborers to celebrate in thanksgiving to God for five years of ministry through Faith@Work Fellowship, especially through Asia Seminary for Ministry (ASM), the training arm. This was our first thanksgiving so we went into it with some trepidation. The good Lord did not fail us, and He glorified Himself in our weakness and fear.

Pastors and members of churches, loved ones, friends (old and new) got together around good food, sweet fellowship, heart-felt praises through testimonies by Nationals from Indonesia and Myanmar, and up-lifting challenges through music and songs by a team of singers from Moriah Bible Presbyterian Church. There were a good number that gave freely and sacrificially, not only towards the payment of the expenses but also towards the on-going ministry. Thank you, one and all, for sharing your life with us. We are honoured by your presence, fellowship and partnership.

One heart stirring challenge and burden came from a chorus from the song sung “Here I am, Lord.” as we train Nationals for Nationals:

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?

I have heard You calling in the night.

I will go, Lord, if You lead me.

I will hold Your people in my heart.

Here are some Praise-notes or Fact-notes:

FAITH AT WORK FELLOWSHIP, PRAISE-NOTES (Nov. 2012)

1. Begun some 5 years ago, by a group of like-minded pastors and leaders, the Fellowship’s Reaching Nationals for Nationals is now embraced by churches, more pastors and leaders that have provided prayer, teaching, resource and financial partners.

2. The Fellowship is manned by Rev. Tan Eng Boo, Rev. Tan Choon Seng, Rev. Robert Chew, Rev. Mark Tay, Rev. Simon Nagarajan, Rev. Yap Beng Shin, Rev. Goh Seng Fong, Rev. Andrew Tan, Ong Beng Hong, Michael Lim, Amos Hoon, Jeff Tan and Daisy Koh. Membership is by prayerful invitation. It has two purposes.

3. One purpose involves community projects in which we have facilitated mercy relief for Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, goats for 35 pastors and some other widows in Nepal and scholarships for Bible College students. One immediate concern will be the start of an educational centre in Yangon, Myanmar.

4. The other is the training arm: Asia Seminary for Ministry, registered with Ministry of Education, Singapore, as a religious training school: “Training Nationals for Nationals” for integrity and skills (Ps. 78:72). It is a seminary without borders, providing cutting edge training for character transformation and ministry skills with personal follow-up and mentorship.

5. For ASM certificate training, we have trained 143 in Nepal, with 23 already graduated in September, 2011, and 130 in Medan, Indonesia, with 49 already graduated in Sept. 2012. Some 40 subjects were taught altogether.

6. Our trainers are also involved as adjunct teachers in countries such as Malaysia (Kuching), Indonesia (Medan, Bandung, Nias Island), Myanmar (Yangon, 2 colleges; Mandalay, 1 seminary, Maymyo, 2 centres), Vietnam, Cambodia (Life University), China and Tanzania. We also up-grade our trainers. Four trainers are undergoing Doctor of Ministry training.

7. Funds (about $45,000 annually) are raised by faith for college scholarships and for board and lodging for the participants of the training. The volunteer-trainers (pro bono) raise their own support through churches and friends or they pay their own way. Please visit our blogspot for further news:

http://faithatworksfellowship.blogspot.com

8. Forward into 2013:

(a) Web-site for the Fellowship – will need prayer and help.

(b) Start of Diploma of Christian Ministry program in Singapore – 3 modules per year for 3 years.

Time table for one module: Thur., 7pm to 10pm; Fri., 7pm to 10pm; Sat., 9am to 5pm.

Project for ministry and mentorship will follow. We will begin in March, 2013. More details will be forth-coming. Please pray and indicate your desire. Limited vacancies.

(d) Tie-up or link-up with some Bible college or Seminary as resource partners.

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Thanks again for your prayers and support in so many ways. Please visit

FaithatWorks Facebook

or our blog at

http://faithatworksfellowship.blogspot.com/

Be sure to bookmark it.

If we can be of any help to you, please let us know. The good Lord bless you and all yours this Christmas and for many more to come!

Yours always in Christ and for Christ,

Rev. Goh Seng Fong
(John 12:24)

Hdphone: 9820 7783

+65-9820 7783

Name and Address:

Faith@Work Fellowship,

9, Kalidasa Avenue,

Singapore 789389

People involved in the Fellowship include: Rev. Tan Choon Seng, Rev. Tan Eng Boo, Rev. Yap Beng Shin, Rev. Simon N., Rev. Robert Chew, Rev. Mark Tay, Rev. Andrew Tan, Ong Beng Hong, Michael Lim, Amos Hoon, Jeff Tan and Daisy Koh. Trainers include Dr Rev. Yap Kim Sin, John Ching and Ding Yew Soong.

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Pictures: At the Thanksgiving Dinner

Faith@Work Fellowship

through

Asia Seminary for Ministry

(Seminary without borders)

Reaching Nationals for Nationals

October, 2012

Hi friend,

Training Nationals for Nationals

in integrity and skills

(Psalm 78:72)

(2Co 11:26,27) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

The great missionary Paul traversed the known lands of his days, preaching, teaching, planting, edifying and equipping churches. He encountered and endured much sufferings from people and circumstances, as he learnt to enter into the fellowship of His Master’s sufferings (Phil. 3:10). As long as Christ was magnified, he rejoiced (Phil. 1:18,20). Yes, to him, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil. 1:21). Very few are like Paul in his dedication and sacrifice.

In our modern travels, we face some unique challenges. One concerns the reliability of the plane service. Once we had the privilege to travel in an old plane in a certain country. This same plane crashed into the hills a month later. God preserved us! As we were returning home from Nepal the September trip, a plane crashed and killed all on board some hours earlier. Our comfort was the reminder that God knows best and is in control and that, one way or another, we were going home – that is, going home to be with the Lord forever or go home to our loved ones on earth. Also it was re-assuring to know that as we were on the plane, God’s everlasting and great arms were underneath us (Deut. 33:27). If the plane were to go down, we would go up, to be with Him forever. Yes, safe in the Almighty and loving Arms of Jesus all the time and in all places. The good Lord knows all that are His. And once His, always His. Praise the Lord. Yes, for us to live is Christ, to die is gain.

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I. NEPAL TRAINING (21 – 28 Sept)

Thanks for your continued prayer and support as we trained 66 pastors and leaders. Though we had graduated 23 earlier, God still provided some new ones. We praised the good Lord as we taught them how to connect, communicate and care for themselves and others. Here are some blessings:

“I have received many skills of caring and connecting that I have never experienced before.” (Peter Shahi).

“I usually tried to connect with people but they would not listen. Now I learn how to connect and care in biblical ways.” (Shambhu Prasad Chaudhari).

“Caring is the foundation of Christian ministry as our Saviour is our role model. My church will begin to grow when I as the pastor begin to care in the way God wants.” (Tej Prakash).

II. FORAYS INTO MYANMAR – prayers needed for safety and blessings

A. A team of 3 led by Ps. Yap Beng Shin will be in Yangon, Mandalay and Maymyo. Oct. 15-25.

B. A team of 3 led by Ps. Tan Eng Boo will be in Mandalay and Yangon, Oct 31 to Nov. 5 with God’s wonderful pastors and leaders, from all over Myanmar.

C. Philip Wong and wife team will be in Mandalay, Bagan and Yangon, Nov. 3-10.

D. Four pastors on exploratory trip to visit God’s ministries (colleges and orphanages) in Mandalay and Yangon, Nov. 5-9.

III. MEDAN, INDONESIA (19 - 23 Nov)
Our last training for 2012 will be taken by Dr Yap Kim Sin (Book of Joshua) and by Pastor Robert Chew (Book of James). Although we had graduated some 40+, yet the good Lord continued to bring others in. Two graduates have started training schools in their areas. Let us pray for great times of training in that week.

IV. 5^TH THANKSGIVING DINNER (Friday, Nov. 30, 7.30pm)
We praise the good Lord for His faithfulness in using and blessing us all these five years. We pray and desire that you pray and do join us to celebrate His goodness and grace. Please read the attachment for more details. Please let us know if you are coming so that we can prepare for your kind attendance.

Date: Friday, 30th November, 2012
Time: 7:30 pm sharp
Venue: Bliss Garden Restaurant,
1 Expo Drive #02-01
Singapore 468150

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Thanks again for your prayers and support in so many ways. Please visit