SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

I had the opportunity to share a devotion and my testimony during the Churchwide Online Prayer on 15 Jan 2026. Rev Forest also shared about my testimonies during his sermon on 01 Feb 2026. I thought that I just wanted to fill in my wider church family through this Heart to Heart Series article.

This is not to serve as self-gratification, but I hope to use 2 stories in my faith journey that can be a reference to you in your service, or hopefully, it can be an encouragement.

The first story goes back to when I first started serving in Leadership. I first served as a Deacon back in 2013. When then Senior Pastor Rev Yap approached me to consider serving, my kids were still very young. Caleb was about three years old, and Charlotte had just been born.

Besides family, work in the SAF was highly demanding, similar to how our young adults probably feel in this season of their lives. I was serving in Sunday School but there was some slight adjustment, as I had to change from teaching Primary School to Secondary School as there was greater need for teachers at that level.

Honestly, all the above didn’t feel like the “right season” to serve more. But it was during that period that Elder Ang Jing Chai encouraged me with Matthew 6:33. The verse encourages us "to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." This verse will continue to be a guiding beacon as I make key life decisions in the future.

It is a reminder of who is seated at the throne and directing the order of your life. Who is seated on the throne of our lives — ourselves, or Christ who directs our decisions and paths?
 

This conviction continued to carry me through different seasons: such as taking the step to be ordained as an Elder in 2021; agreeing to take the role of BOE Chair in 2024; and answering the call to preach at the Pulpit in that same year.

God directs our paths in His unique ways.

When I was younger, I always said, “I will never want to be a teacher when I grow up.” And yet, my very first church ministry that God called me into was - Sunday School. One of the things I don't like to be a teacher is that I don't like to repeat the same lessons over and over again to different classes. And now, I was called to preach at three services on a Sunday, repeating the same sermon three times, over and over again.

Doesn't God have a sense of humour?

But jokes aside, trusting in Him allows Him to direct our lives and shape us, slowly, faithfully, over time.

The second story is about when I was thinking about the inevitable career transition when I retire from the SAF in 2031. Some of you will know that all SAF officers will have to retire at 50 years old. I am turning 45 this year.

Back around 2020/21, someone asked me what I was going to do when I retire. It was during the Covid period, so I had a bit more time to think about this topic. There are many common options. To convert to a non-uniform staff in MINDEF, to join other ministries, to join companies where people you know are working, and many more.

However, one of the answers that God had prompted me was – to go into full time ministry, to join GPC full-time, to serve as a pastor. Exploring full-time ministry is not a simple personal decision. I remembered telling Jean about this for the first time. Actually, there was no big reaction from her. She sort of was also prompted that this could be one of the paths that I will take.

I prayed with Jean for a long time, I think 1 or 2 years, and had multiple chats with my children. There was, however, always the temptation to take the easier path. But again, Matthew 6:33 stood out quite clearly to me while I was praying about this.

What I’m deeply thankful for is that this was never a journey I walked alone. Besides family, discernment also happens in the community that God places around you. I shared this with the extended family, with friends in church, to fellow leaders, and to Rev Forest as the Senior Pastor.

In the end, I took the leap of faith to start my part-time theological studies about 1 and a ½ years ago, after some help from Rev Forest who recommended Fuller Theological Seminary, which can fit my working schedule and commitments. I am currently taking 1 module per quarter. The entire Master of Divinity (MDiv) will take around 6 and 3/4 years to complete.

And actually guess what, totally not planned for, and definitely by divine arrangement, the whole course will end exactly the quarter that I turn 50 years old in 2031. When I was calculating this time taken, and I shared this with Rev Forest, both of us were amazed. Maybe this is an affirmative sign from God.

Even as I share these 2 stories, I just wanted to say that seeking first the kingdom of God doesn’t mean God promises that everything in my life is rosy. I always encourage people that sometimes in church, especially on Sundays, we usually see the positive side of people, including myself.

But I also struggle…

I struggle with parenting teenagers, although equally it is a lot of joy.

I struggle with(out) a CG that is quite dormant now, which is a pity, because we started as one of the more vibrant CGs as young adults.
I struggle with the ups and downs at work.
I struggle with pain and heartache in doing ministry work.

But what I have learned is this: God has not promised us an easy path. But He has promised us that He will be there for us. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
 
This year marks my sixth and final year of my second term as a Ruling Elder. After prayerful discussion with fellow leaders, I have sensed that it would be wiser not to be elected after the usual three-year break (2027–2029). This is to avoid any potential conflict of interest should I be considered for full-time staff service in 2030/31.

At the same time, in view of the calling I have received to be ordained into the office of Elder and my desire to serve faithfully these few years, I have shared with the leadership my willingness to offer myself for one final consecutive term (2027–2029), subject to the congregation’s discernment and election at the upcoming ACM.

Sometimes we plan and position, but ultimately, it is through prayer and petition that we present our works to Him, such that He can guide our paths. May we, as a church family, continue to seek Him first, trusting that He remains faithful in every season.

Building His Missional Community,

Elder Kelvin Zhu