New website

You may find Faith EFC's new website here;

http://bit.ly/faithkl

No church service

Please be informed that there will not be a church service this coming Sunday (30 May) as most of us will be away at Harvest Haven from 28 - 30 May for our Inter-Generational Family Camp.

Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a

Blessed New Year

We welcome 2010 with

a new church theme...

"Effective Group Discipling"

(You'll find it at the bottom of this page)

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a
JOYFUL
and
BLESSED
CHRISTMAS

May you be filled with
PEACE
HOPE
and
LOVE

Click here for the real reason for the season

Lantern party @ the Tans

Jan and Chuan organised a lantern party & treasure hunt for the Sunday School kids recently and this is what Jan had to say...

"We had great fun at the 22 Aug lantern party with the Sunday School kids and their families (total about 22 adults and 12 kids) at our home. I hope the kids enjoyed their treasure hunt and the adults, fellowship time. We had the yummiest durian cake (made by TP) and celebrated Yin Ling's birthday.

We had some great looking lanterns and our judges (Lim Lee and Lee Lan) put on their "thinking caps" to select the winner. Most of all, we hope the parents and kids bonded in the making of their lanterns. One thing that I noticed from the treasure hunt, our younger generation is quite unfamiliar with nursery rhymes. But it is not too late to remedy that - parents go see Dana Ward, who had kindly compiled a small compendium of rhymes for the treasure hunt."


Sunday schoolers



Treasure hunt briefing



Solving one clue



Lanterns galore



Beaming with joy... winners of the best lantern

Best lantern... from the Yeo family

Here's the Yeos' story behind the making-of the winning lantern...

"Being the winner (of the lantern-making contest) was fun, but, what was more fun was actually the process that went into making our prize-winning lantern.

When we came home from church that Sunday CC announced the dinner cum lantern contest for Sunday School children (and their families), ideas, lots of crazy ideas flew around the lunch table. We were practically trying to out-do one another with out-of-the-box ideas, having a good laugh at the wilder ones. No, we will not divulge...who knows, we might just make that for next year's contest. Finally, Key said, "You all come up with the idea(s), and, I'll help to make it happen." We agreed on a biblical theme, it being a church spring-off event. A round lantern? A 4-sided one? Mom wants a burning bush.

Along came Monday, and, all of us were swept into the busy river of exams, baking, homework, practising music, cooking, working, phone calls, a tooth broke, another tooth ached, unscheduled dentist visits, rushing to classes, no time to think!! Uh-oh...is it Saturday already?!

A hurried and condensed brainstorming session took place over a late breakfast. We prayed for practical ideas, bringing down to earth the more flighty ones we had the previous week. Somehow, one idea after another fell into place. Plastic cover of egg trays were thought to be good material...Mel painted them while Dad made a stable frame from rescued clothes hangers. Kimberly!!! You do the burning bush, mom draw the fish, dad cut out Jonah. Nat picked up our mess.

As our lantern took shape, we felt a warm camaraderie from working as a family, as a team, each one contributing, each one giving his/her best. As ribbons were added as the final touch, whether or not it was going to be a winner that night, we were proud of our efforts and were surprised at how smoothly we worked as a team.

Thank you, Jan and Cheng Chuan, for giving us this opportunity...actually, forcing us...to put on hold our individual pursuits...and creating a good memory for our family. And, indeed, that is how we should work...contributing through our own abilities...but, together, to build up the Kingdom of God."

The Yeos' "Eco-green" lantern

Burning bush?



Another view

Thanks again Jan and Chuan, for organising the event and congrats to the Yeo family for coming up with the winning lantern.

Song session

This Sunday, 5th July at 9.00 am, come and join us for a special time of learning new songs. It is going to be an interesting session as the girls from the Shelter 2 home will be teaching us Tamil Christian songs. Wilson and Eddy will lead the session.

Special session

This Sunday 21 June, after the worship service, Dr Lim Kar Yong will continue with his teaching on "How to read the Bible".

Please remember to bring the outline notes given to you during the church camp.

Video show

This Sunday 14 June, we will be showing a video on the work of New Tribes Mission in Indonesia called "The Taliabo Story" & "Deliver from Power of Darkness".

It will be shown after the worship service.

Special session

Dr Lim Kar Yong will continue with his teaching on "How to read the Bible".

Please remember to bring the outline notes given to you during the church camp.

Date: 7 June 2009

Time: After the Worship service.

No church service

Please be informed that there will not be a service next Sunday (3rd May) as most of us will be away at Harvest Haven from 1st-3rd May for our annual Family Retreat.

Cat & Dog Theology - final session

Please take note that the final part of the video series on "Cat & Dog Theology" will be shown on Sunday, April 12th.

Cat & Dog Theology

The next three sessions on "Cat & Dog Theology" will be shown on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sunday of March immediately after the worship service.

Special video sessions

A series of videos on "Cat n Dog Theology" will be shown on every 2nd and 3rd Sunday of January and February 2009 after the Worship Service.




Here's a little info on the video:

Cat 'n Dog Theology is a high-impact experience that examines the heart of Christians in the 21st century and the typical modern message about Christianity being presented in today's churches. Through humor and scripture the presentation pricks our spirit and tickles our funny-bone resulting in an overwhelming sense of "joyful conviction".

Using an illustration of "cats and dogs" and how each relates to its master, Cat n Dog Theology challenges Christians to see how we tend, like a cat, to use our Master mainly for getting what we want. The illustration points out the difference between "us living for God" and "God living for us". The average Christian while saying he lives his life for God is actually living his life to get from birth to death in the safest, softest, easiest and most comfortable fashion possible -- and often just uses God to keep him safe, soft, easy and comfortable - and to keep the difficulties, trials, tragedies and adversities away. Cat n Dog Theology will help the people of your church switch from "Me-ology" to "Theology". Cat n Dog Theology focuses on the Glory of God as the primary motivation and purpose of our lives. It challenges the church to recognize that MISSIONS is one of the best ways to radiate God's greatest glory! Cat n Dog Theology takes missions off the back-burner and moves it to the front so your church will want to incorporate missions into everything it does. Your church will never do missions the same way again!

Source: http://www.catndogtheology.com/

We encourage everyone who is not involved in the Sunday School or Youth Fellowship to join us for these video sessions. The first video will be shown on January 11th.

Worship Rota for 2009

To all worship leaders, musicians and persons in charge of the PA system:

You can find the Worship Rota for Jan-June 2009 here or click on the link to the right.

Thank you.

There's A Fountain

William Cowper was born in Great Berkhampstead in Hertfordshire in November 1731.
His mother died when he was only six years old and this tragedy left a life-long scar of grief. When he was ten he was sent to boarding school and there his suffering was added to by the cruelty of the older boys.

However, he survived and at eighteen began to study law. Although he passed all the bar examinations he never achieved much success in his profession. In nine years of law practice, so-called, Cowper never once felt worthy to serve people nor could he manage to attract business for himself.

Next, a clerkship in the House of Lords was arranged for him, but still he felt unfit for the task and was in such misery that he made several attempts to take his own life. The failure of these suicide efforts, compounded by two unhappy love affairs, increased his feelings of self contempt; so that as he walked the streets he felt that all eyes were fixed upon him in scorn.

Because of his suicidal tendencies Cowper was confined, for a brief period, in St. Albans Asylum and, remarkably, it was during this time that his famous hymn was written.

A visiting relative sought to ease the sick man's depression by telling him of Jesus' power to save. Cowper burst into tears saying, 'It is the first time that I have seen a ray of hope.' When the friend had gone the poet opened his Bible at random and, in the providence of God, his eyes fell on those words in Romans Ch. 3 v 25: 'Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood.'

This scriptural account of Christ's redeeming work touched Cowper's heart, causing him to later testify thus:

'There shone upon me the full beams of the sufficiency of the atonement that Christ has made; my pardon in His blood; the fulness and completeness of my justification and, in a moment, I believed and received the gospel.'

So thrilled was he by his new-found hope that he described it in verse, basing it on the words of Zechariah Ch. 13 v 1: In that day there shall be a fountain opened up for sin and uncleanness.'

There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Loose all their guilty stain.

It was William Cowper's great hope that other troubled souls would be helped by his hymns.

Read more...

Visit to chocolate factory postponed

Please take note that the visit to Beryl's Chocolate Wonderland this Saturday (22nd) has been postponed to another date due to the insufficient number of participants. The new date will be fixed later.

Description of a Disciple

1. General Definition:

A disciple is a Christian who desires increasingly to be like Jesus by intentionally seeking to obey all that He commanded. He does this by giving priority to his relationship with God, his growth in Christian character and his ability to minister to others.

2. Phase One Description – “Come and See”

1. Major intent:

To help the person experience the saving grace and goodness of God by acknowledging Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. He will be helped to learn some basic truths about his faith so that he can have a personal relationship with Christ. This will be evidenced by his personal testimony and water baptism and commitment to pursue a new life in Christ.

2. Initial Commitment Required:

• personal devotion daily.

• occasional involvement with covenant group

• occasional participation at worship services

3. Final Goal:

The disciple has completed this phase when he

• has trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and has been baptized.

• grows in knowledge and understanding of God’s basic truths about his faith

• grows in knowledge of basic doctrines of the Bible that affect his life and behaviour.

• shows enough commitment to learn and practice some basic spiritual disciplines for his growing relationship with Christ.

• is committed to attend a covenant group, weekly worship service and personal time with disciple-maker.

• is willing to commit himself to the next phase of discipling.

4. Approaches used:

• Personal follow-up by disciple-maker

• Evangelistic Bible Study/New Believer’s Class

• Attendance at worship services

• Outreach events (example: Parents’ Appreciation Night) and retreats

• Invitation to home fellowship

• Attendance in covenant group

4. Duration: 6-12 months

Read the entire write-up here

Download a copy here

Faith EFC Philosophy of Ministry

Our Purpose:

The purpose of our church is to glorify God by making disciples equipping them for life and ministry.

Our Product

The most important aspect of our product is the kind of disciple we produce. We desire to produce a disciple who desires increasingly to be like Jesus by intentionally seeking to obey all that He commanded. He does this by giving priority to his relationship with God, his growth in Christian character and his ability to minister to others.

Our Philosophy of Roles and Functions

A. Pastor

1. His primary role and commitment is to give direction, train leaders, teach and preach the Word.

2. He is to model what a disciple is and to impart and keep the vision of disciple-making before the congregation.

3. He should seldom perform ministries lay leaders could do unless it is absolutely necessary.

B. Lay Leaders (Elders/Deacons/Deaconesses)

1. They are to model discipleship and to grow in their own ministry skills.

2. They are to assist the pastor in equipping the congregation for ministry.

3. They set broad policies, and together with the pastor provide direction and strategic focus for the church.

C. Other Key Leaders

1. They are to be faithful, growing disciples committed to the church’s philosophy of ministry.

2. They are to grow in their ministry skills and to equip those who are under their care.

D. Church Members

1. Their role and commitment is to grow as a disciple.

2. They are to be trained to use their gifts.

3. They are to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to directly minister to Christians and pre-believers.

4. They are to carry out the purpose, ministry and mission of this church by exercising the gifts given them by the Holy Spirit.

5. All regular worshippers are encouraged to be official church members. This will provide accountability, nurture, and encouragement to the body of Christ as well as to share responsibility for decision-making, service needs and finances.

Our Philosophy of Equipping

1. All staff, policy makers, Board members, and group leaders must be growing disciples committed to the church’s philosophy of ministry.

2. Leaders will be recognized by considering both character and giftedness.

3. We will recognize servant gifts as being equally important as leadership gifts in building a healthy, disciple-making church.

4. We will develop leadership skills by intentionally provide opportunities in ministry by placing individuals in an apprenticeship role with leaders.

5. All leaders of key ministries will take part in on-going leader training once a month to constantly improve the gifts God has given them.

Our Philosophy of Church Programmes and Structures

A. Purpose:

1. The purpose of every activity of our church is to produce and further develop disciples. We will evaluate every activity by its effectiveness in producing disciples, and will modify or discontinue activities that ineffectively do this.

B. Small Groups (Koinonia Groups)

1. Our primary method of making disciples is the decentralized small group. We see

one-on-one approaches as valid, sometimes necessary, but only as secondary

method for most in our church.

2. We will offer small groups and other ministries at multiple commitment levels to develop sequential growth for disciples.

3. We will develop our small groups to provide relevant Bible study, caring relationships and outreach that lead to personal accountability and discipleship.

C. Evangelism

1. Our evangelism will focus on multiple specific groups (examples: English speaking, lower/middle income family and children) rather than using a generic approach. This will provide different levels of opportunities for everyone to be committed and to be involved actively in evangelism.

D. Worship

1. The primary function of our worship services will be celebrational, God- exalting, and Christ-centred and where there is proclamation of God’s Word.

2. We will make sure all outsiders will feel welcome and comfortable and the committed disciples challenged and encouraged.

E. Structures

1. We will establish a healthy balance between large groups (for unity), medium-sized groups (for fellowship), and small groups (for intimacy) to provide the proper infrastructure for the disciple-making process. Consequently, our church will be structured at three levels:

   1. as a large group (i.e., more than 70 persons) primarily for the purpose of worship, inspiration and proclamation of the Word.

   2. as a mid-sized group ( i.e., 18-70 persons ) which will be a key outreach and assimilation point for church as well as a place for fellowship and teaching.

   3. as small groups ( i.e., 7-17 persons) primarily to develop intimacy which results in instruction, pastoral care, and personal development.

2. Our Church Board will be to set broad policies, macro-manage the church, and keep all ministries in line with the doctrinal statement, constitution and philosophy of ministry.

3. Our organizational structure and leadership styles will flex and change as we move through our life-cycle as a church.

Our Philosophy of Methods and Principles to Help Us Best Make Disciples

A. Intentional Strategy

1. We will, at all times, have an intentional strategy to accomplish each aspect of our purpose. At the same time, we believe that all we do must be saturated with prayer to express our total dependence upon God.

B. Discipling Process

1. We will primarily make disciples as a team, as a church, but not just a collection of independent individuals.

2. We are committed to the principles of multiplication of ourselves by evangelizing, discipling, training, and delegating ministry to others who are faithful, teachable and available.

3. We will multiply ourselves and train others using the method of apprenticeship.

C. Evangelism and Missions

1. We believe evangelism (including pre-evangelism) is the starting point and indispensable catalyst to all disciple-making.

2. Our evangelism methods will flex and change according to the type of people we are trying to reach. The gospel will never change, but our ways of presenting it will shift in response to our culture. Thus, many methods can be used at any one time.

3. We will encourage our members at all levels of the disciple-making process to make appropriate commitments to missions. This will be done through prayer, practical home-based involvement, participation in mission trips or to be sent as missionaries.

D. Ministry

1. The micro-management of all ministries will be delegated to leaders of those ministries and accountability will be maintained through leadership training meetings and normal discipling channels.

E. Finance, facilities and other resources

1. We will budget for growth and not maintenance

2. We will ensure that facilities and resources are only important as they serve to enhance the mission of making disciples.

F. Implementation and Amendments

1. This philosophy of ministry will be pursued with grace during the first 12 months and will take full effect on September, 2009.

2. The philosophy of ministry will be amended when appropriate by the Church Board with agreement from the congregation.

Click here to download a copy of this article.

Musicians' rota updated

Worship leaders and musicians please take note. Some changes to the musicians' duties have been made. Check the updated rota here.

Worship Rota online

For the convenience of Worship Leaders and musicians, the Sunday service worship rota is now available for viewing online here or use the link on the panel to the right.