Sunday School
Sunday, 5 September 2010
9:30AM
Glory Presbyterian Church, Various Locations
Sunday School classes from Pre-Nursery, to Kindergarten, Primary Schools to Youths.

Fellowship of Indonesian Domestic Helpers.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
9.30 – 11.00 AM
Glory Presbyterian Church, Room 04-06
The fellowship will be conducted in the Indonesian language and run by volunteers and full-time workers of Esther Network of the Fellowship of Evangelical Students (Singapore). All GPC worshippers with Indonesian domestic helpers in the church premises during worship time may encourage them to attend this fellowship.

Church Wide Bible Study
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
9:00 AM or 8:00 PM
Glory Presbyterian Church
A church wide Bible Study program is available. The study is based on “2 Timothy”. Please contact Eld Jimmy Wong for details.

Youth Fellowship
There is no YF this week.

• MEMBERS PHOTOGRAPHY EXERCISE. The Photography Exercise has ended. Members who wish to update their photographs can email their photographs (single or family) to gloryphotos@glorypresbyterian.org. Please provide the full names of family members and indicate their position in the photographs to facilitate updating.

Pr Moses Lim

Missions month has different effects on different people. In a positive way, it inspires and challenges some. In a negative way, it produces “guilt” for the majority who stay behind when the oft repeated call is to “GO OUT into all the world to preach the Gospel.” Some years ago whilst visiting a church, I overheard a lady who just came out of the service telling her friend, “Ah, die. It’s the time of the year (missions month) where pastor “scolds” and makes us all feel very guilty.”

Two issues have been observed amongst Christians in regards to the emphasis of missions in local churches: (a) The geographical implications of missions have been redefined and (b) The definition of who is a “missionary” has been blurred. There are evidences to support these two observations.

Firstly, Christians begin to redefine the geographical scope of missions as described in Acts 1:8 (and many other passages) by saying that God did not literally mean that we should leave our home countries to go overseas to preach. I absolutely agree with slogans that says “missions begins at home”, in our “Jerusalem”. But what is not healthy to see is that most Christians remain at home, in their Jerusalem, most, if not, all their lives. Did Jesus intend for His Twelve Apostles to take Acts 1:8 literally by going out into all the world? YES HE DID! Early church documents reveals that ALL the Twelve Apostles died outside Jerusalem, with Thomas travelling to our part of the world, as a missionary to India. (More information – http://www.ichthus.info/Disciples/intro.html)

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)

“Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” (1 Chronicles 16:23-24)

To be true and faithful to God’s Word, one cannot and dare not replace the emphasis on “the world or earth” and substitute it to mean “in our home countries”.

Secondly, Christians begin to say that “all Christians are missionaries wherever they are”. Robertson McQuilkin said, “By calling every true Christian a missionary… the intent is good, but confusion reigns because the earnest seeker for God’s will is lead to believe that there are no distinctions amongst Christians, that every Christian vocation is of equal value. … role distinction is blurred and all roles appear of equal significance.” (The Great Omission, page

75) Patrick Johnstone, speaking at an OM conference in UK which I attended in August 2003 said, “In the Church, there is confusion as to who is a missionary.” After the meeting, I spoke to Patrick personally about this issue (we were once colleagues) and he confirmed that the Church needs to address the two issues highlighted in this article.

Kindly allow me to suggest a solution in helping us emphasise world missions (the need to go out or send others out) without making the majority of Christians feel “guilty”, without blurring the lines in the definition of “missionary” and missions’ geographical implications.

Firstly, let us use the term “mission field” and the concept that missions is “out there” – remains unaltered. Secondly, let us use the term “harvest field” to apply to the Christians’ responsibility to share their faith “wherever you are” – to their family members, relatives, friends, working colleagues and neighbours. “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13–16). ^“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

God wants us to be involved in both the mission field and the harvest field. For those remaining behind, God has brought the overseas “mission field” to our doorstep, giving us the opportunity to share the Gospel to the immigrant population that numbers over a million people. Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School, with a student population of 2,000 per year, is a big harvest field we cannot ignore. Three chaplains are ministering to these students on a full-time basis while several church members serve as volunteers to pray, do Bible studies and counsel these students. Some are serving in the BB and GB ministries. In November, PHPPS is running a 3-day “ONE ROCK” outreach program for its Pri.6 students before they leave to continue their Secondary education. We need 30 facilitators (minimum 18 years old) and 30 helpers (minimum 16 years old), experience is not necessary as you will be briefed on what you are to do.

Jesus said that “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Luke 10:2)

Be it the “mission field” or the “harvest field”, overseas or locally – let us do our part to share the Gospel to those who need to hear it.