Support for the church in Brunei & Miri

My short visit to Brunei and Miri last week has burdened my heart to pray even more for fellow ministers serving there.

The Brunei Reformed B-P Church (BRBPC) has some kinship with Herald in the sense that the one who started with the church was the son of the late Mr Khoo Lin Sin (who recovered from a heart attack and was baptised in CGH in 2004). After his full recovery, both he and Mrs Khoo came to church faithfully until their home-going a few years later.

Their son, the late Mr Khoo Hwa Ann, who worked with an oil company, was one of the pioneers in establishing the church in Brunei in the late 1990s. His loving approach to win people to Christ and eagerness to hold Bible Study and Home Worship helped to gather a group of leaders to start a worship service in 1999. But before the church was established he had a massive heart attack and was received into the glory of Jesus Christ. Out of his witness for the Lord, a Reformed Church now stands in Brunei (which has a small population of 400,000). Praise the Lord for the testimony of this faithful believer was a member of Life B-P Church in Gilstead Road.

The need to find a successor for the pastor of BRBPC, Rev Peter Wong, is imminent as he will be 60 years old in a few months’ time. The retirement age in Brunei is 60 years, and a few in the church seem adamant about his retirement. I was asked to advise on this matter by the church committee. Rev Wong is not prepared to retire as he still has many responsibilities to carry out in the church and Christian community. His congregation is also not prepared to let him go as he is the main pastor there. After some discussion, thank God the committee members are willing to reconsider and let him extend his time in shepherding the flock till the need for another shepherd arises.

In Miri, Rev and Mrs Anyi introduced a Kayan preacher to me. Harrison, who joined the ministry in Brunei in the late 1990s, is one of my former students who had studied at the FEBC. His preaching ministry was disrupted by a stroke he suffered a few years ago. Praise the Lord, he has recovered with no apparent disabilities. His sincere trust in the Lord and keen desire to God moved Rev Peter Wong to encourage him to continue in sharing the Word of God. Currently, his memory lapses do pose some difficulties in bringing the Word to his people. Many church leaders are praying for him to regain his skill in ministering to the Kayan people. Do pray for God’s healing and strengthening for Harrison as he serves in the Miri Reformed Church.

TCM treatment in China

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28)

More than 2 years ago, I tore the meniscus in my right knee. Since then, I have sought orthopaedic help and advice. The doctor said that a knee-cap replacement was inevitable as time passes, but felt that it may be good to delay it. However, the grating (klicking sounds caused by rubbing of the bones and broken cartilage) in the affected area causes sharp pain. Although the pain is usually brief, the long term solution is to go for surgery.

In April, while teaching in the Bible Institute in Shandong, the Principal strongly recommended herbal therapy (instead of a kneecap replacement) in the new TCM centre started by some friends and relatives. With much prayer and consideration, I have decided to opt for it and delay the surgery, praying that the knee problem will not worsen with advance herbal therapy.

This trip to Shandong tonight will include the teaching of a 1-week course in Eschatology in the Bible Institute. The class will be attended by both undergraduate and graduate students. During the interval of each day’s teaching of 5 hours, some time will be allocated for TCM therapy in the Centre nearby. This trip thus allows me to fulfil two purposes, utilising the time more fruitfully. Do pray that God will heal my knee, and enable me to continue serving Him.

We thank God for Huiliang and family as they serve the Lord faithfully in the ministry of theological education. Let us continue to pray for his parents, and the spiritual growth of the students for the extension of the Lord’s Kingdom.

Pastor Bob Phee

Poems and hymns of praise to honour and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ

compiled by Stephen Ross

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Philippians 3:7-8a

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most–
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small:
Love so amazing, so Divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

—Isaac Watts