Our dear friend and brother Christopher Tan was called home to be with the Lord at 5.25am on Tues, 17 May 2005, after battling with leukaemia for the last year. How he lived his life was reflected in the way that he was sent off. I have never seen so many people at a funeral wake before, and I have no doubt that each and every one of the friends and relatives who turned up were touched in some way, big or small by this incredible young man.
How does one remember a life that was so vibrant, so full of zest and truly larger than life? As I write this, my mind is filled with snippets of Chris in action, running the church watchnight, escorting the BB colours down the aisle, preparing to go overseas on his mission trips.
I remember when he first shared with Elena and myself his intention to go on staff with Crusade. Being former Crusaders ourselves, we were overjoyed to see this dynamic young man laying down his life for God, and we truly believed that God would use him to do mighty things.
I remember when he organised and ran the church watchnight service that we had one year, where there was karaoke in the canteen, and he was so enthusiastic and so proud to introduce Winnie to us.
I remember a conversation I had with him, which left a very deep impact in my mind, where he shared with me that he would not give to God something that would cost him nothing. As I remember him now in life, I realise how much he lived by this creed. He never did anything in half measure, and in everything that he did, he would pour his heart and soul into it. As I watched the video of him, nowhere was it more evident that even in his illness, he would seek to glorify God.
One of my last conversations with him earlier this year was when we were discussing the triathlon, and we were talking about doing it together next year when he got better. Those of us who knew Chris would know that he loved doing these things, from biathlons to runs and other such gruelling events. He loved challenging himself. I may not get to do the triathlon with him, but I know that he has run a far more significant race, and run it exceedingly well, that God is well pleased with him.
This year, as I do the triathlon, I will be thinking of Chris, and I know that he will be with me in spirit. Meet me at the finishing line, brother.
To Auntie Doreen, Uncle Desmond, Frederick and Winnie, we share your grief at Chris' departure, but we rejoice knowing that we will meet him again in the company of angels. You should be very proud of him for the way that he lived his life, and for the lives that he touched. We will certainly miss him too, for he was such a big part of our lives in church, but we know that he lives on in each one of us.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Thursday, May 12, 2005
The Mad Month of May
As usual, my apologies for the lack of updates, but so far its been a fairly crazy few weeks. Enrolment service was on 27 April, and it was very well attended; we managed to fill the church to the brim with parents and members of the Boys and Girl's Brigade. We estimate that we had about 400 guests on that day, not including the BB/GB members. Sandra and Nai De did a good job of being MCs and Rev Keith's sermon was well received. Service was followed by parade where awards were presented, and then lunch which was catered.
The following week, being Labour day weekend, my cell group was away for our CG retreat; we were in JB, in this fantastic big house with 5 bedrooms and huge living rooms. It was a good time of enjoying time with each other and spending time with God as well; some of the highlights of the retreat were the daily QT and devotionals, our own CG prayer meeting where we prayed for ourselves as individuals, as a Cell Group and also the church. Of course, there was also the standard water bomb fights (how can we have a retreat without this....), except that this time round it was even better. The house came with a pool, so we were just sitting on opposite sides of the pool tying water bombs and flinging them at each other! In the midst of that, Elena and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary...how time flies!
Last weekend was the Mother's Day celebration dinner, which was very well attended. We had 32 tables in total, and it was held at Noble House Restaurant. The kids and the youth each put up entertaining items, but the highlight of the night was surely the sharing and testimonies by the various members of Breakthrough ministries. Breakthrough are a group of rehabilitated drug addicts whose mission it is now to share the good news, and they were truly anointed as they shared their testimonies. Every eye in the restaurant was riveted to the speaker as one of them shared, and another testimony was shared by one of their mothers, and last but certainly not least, when Pastor Simon Neo shared a short exhortation too, to cap a meaningful night. First feedback is that 5 people prayed to receive Christ, and another 12 indicated that they would like to find out more. Thank you for praying for this event with us!
Finally, AGM has been postponed to last weekend of June, and there will be the election of three new deacons and also three more elders from the current church committee. The three new deacons standing for election are Melvin, Nai De and myself. After much prayer and seeking God, Elena and I felt that God was prompting us to step up in areas of service, and so we agreed to running for election. I saw we, because as with all things that we approach, it is a joint ministry, because everything that I am involved in takes time away from Elena, and so it is a decision that we have to make jointly. Likewise in my new role as deacon, there are also expectations of her in her role as a deacon's wife. So, yes, it was a decision that we made jointly.
Please pray for us, and the church committee as a whole as we work together in serving the church and shepherding God's people in a way that pleases Him. Do let us know how you guys are doing too!
The following week, being Labour day weekend, my cell group was away for our CG retreat; we were in JB, in this fantastic big house with 5 bedrooms and huge living rooms. It was a good time of enjoying time with each other and spending time with God as well; some of the highlights of the retreat were the daily QT and devotionals, our own CG prayer meeting where we prayed for ourselves as individuals, as a Cell Group and also the church. Of course, there was also the standard water bomb fights (how can we have a retreat without this....), except that this time round it was even better. The house came with a pool, so we were just sitting on opposite sides of the pool tying water bombs and flinging them at each other! In the midst of that, Elena and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary...how time flies!
Last weekend was the Mother's Day celebration dinner, which was very well attended. We had 32 tables in total, and it was held at Noble House Restaurant. The kids and the youth each put up entertaining items, but the highlight of the night was surely the sharing and testimonies by the various members of Breakthrough ministries. Breakthrough are a group of rehabilitated drug addicts whose mission it is now to share the good news, and they were truly anointed as they shared their testimonies. Every eye in the restaurant was riveted to the speaker as one of them shared, and another testimony was shared by one of their mothers, and last but certainly not least, when Pastor Simon Neo shared a short exhortation too, to cap a meaningful night. First feedback is that 5 people prayed to receive Christ, and another 12 indicated that they would like to find out more. Thank you for praying for this event with us!
Finally, AGM has been postponed to last weekend of June, and there will be the election of three new deacons and also three more elders from the current church committee. The three new deacons standing for election are Melvin, Nai De and myself. After much prayer and seeking God, Elena and I felt that God was prompting us to step up in areas of service, and so we agreed to running for election. I saw we, because as with all things that we approach, it is a joint ministry, because everything that I am involved in takes time away from Elena, and so it is a decision that we have to make jointly. Likewise in my new role as deacon, there are also expectations of her in her role as a deacon's wife. So, yes, it was a decision that we made jointly.
Please pray for us, and the church committee as a whole as we work together in serving the church and shepherding God's people in a way that pleases Him. Do let us know how you guys are doing too!
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