Adventist Crossroads
December 1998 - January 1999

Some Things Are Priceless
Aletheia Siew, Jurong SDA Church

With much apprehension I joined 21 others on a missionary trip to Sabah. During the briefing before the trip, Pastor Johnny Kan told us to expect the worst. "Worst" means having to dig a hole in the ground for a lavatory. It also meant having to take powder baths for a few days. I was not sure if a "city girl" like me could take this kind of "hardship." I was not disappointed. It was a good experience for me.
What effort I contributed during the trip was not very much but I felt I have done something really worthwhile at least once in my life. I started to see life from a different perspective. I began to really appreciate what we have here in the city—the toilet flushing system for one. Now I really feel thankful every time I flush the toilet!
One of the best things I learnt during the trip was the virtue of humility. I saw villagers in threadbare clothes living in small wooden houses without complaining. I thought to myself, here I was dissatisfied at times that I do not have enough nice clothes to wear and not have my own bedroom; yet those villagers were happy and content. If they were not complaining, should I have a reason to complain?
I also learnt patience. In a busy city like Singapore, few are patient. We are always on the go, rushing through life. I get impatient when my friends are late for even 15 minutes, yet the people in the villages were willing to wait more than two hours for a friend. For instance, because of some miscommunication on our way back from the village to the city, our driver had to wait for his fellow driver to catch up with us. Instead of being impatient or annoyed, he was amused by the blunder made.
I thought I might have to sacrifice a lot on this trip but in the end I was the one to gain the most. I might have given my time and energy but what I got back from this trip are priceless. It was an experience I would not forget for a long time!

Dunman Reaches Out
Danson Ng, Evangelism Coordinator

What the Bible Says about The End of our Restless Century was the theme of the evangelistic meetings organized and conducted by the Dunman SDA Church. Held from 26 to 28 November, 1998 at the Seaview Hotel and from 3 to 5 December, 1998 at the Church premises, the meetings attracted an average of twenty-five non-Adventist visitors nightly. Most of these visitors were listeners of the FM 105.5 progammes and students of the Amazing Facts Course.
Spicing up his presentation with the use of multimedia effects, Victor Lee, Mission Evangelist and Radio programme Manager of FM 105.5 kept his audience enthralled. Victor presented the Adventist message in the context of the current world situations. His topics included Our Restless Century, The Bible and the Year 2000, Behind, Above and Beyond the Crisis, Financial Security-Plus in Tough Times, and Rest and Assurance for the Next Millennium. Special programmes for the children were also conducted concurrently by the ladies in the church.
It was very encouraging to see members of the Dunman Church and their pastor, Michael Ho unitedly reaching out to the community. Follow-up meetings were held on every Thursday evening until the middle of January 1999.

Christmas Blessings
Chan She Wai, Balestier Seventh-day Adventist Church

For the first time during December 1998, the Balestier SDA Church had two choirs: The Advent Choir of about 30 people and The Balestier Filipino Choir of about 36 Filipinos.
Under the leadership of Anita Fong and Rumalyn Yap these two choirs had been practicing every week since September 1998. They were scheduled to sing Christmas carols from 19 to 24 December, 1998 for a total of seven sessions at the Bukit Panjang Plaza, the Paramount Hotel and the Hotel New Otani. A sense of joy and satisfaction resulted from the job well done.
Also for the first time we had a Christmas service with a decorated tree on Christmas day. Many visitors and friends including members who had not been to church for some time turned up for the special service. "It was a great service," one member remarked.

ASI Happenings
Danson Ng, Secretary, ASI

From the six local SDA churches forty-five members convened at the YWCA Lodge for a scrumptious Thai vegetarian dinner organized by the Adventist-Laymen's Services and Industries (Singapore) at its Annual General Meeting and Election of office bearer.
A devotional from Joshua Mok, ASI Secretary, SAUM was followed by the president's and treasurer's reports
The following were elected to a new term of office (1999-2000):
President: David J.Tan
Vice-President: Donald Hee
Treasurer: David Chin
Committee Members:
Pearlyn Ng (Balestier Church)
Kion Lam Keong (Chuan Hoe Church)
Eddie Ko (Dunman Church)
Adrian Png (Jurong English Church)
Oliver Oh (Jurong East Chinese Church)
Ong Peck Yang (SDA Community Church)
Choo Yoon Kian (Singapore Chinese Church)
Advisor: William Chng and Teo Seng Kee, Bob

Adventist Crossroads
December 1998 - January 1999

Some Things Are Priceless
Aletheia Siew, Jurong SDA Church

With much apprehension I joined 21 others on a missionary trip to Sabah. During the briefing before the trip, Pastor Johnny Kan told us to expect the worst. "Worst" means having to dig a hole in the ground for a lavatory. It also meant having to take powder baths for a few days. I was not sure if a "city girl" like me could take this kind of "hardship." I was not disappointed. It was a good experience for me.
What effort I contributed during the trip was not very much but I felt I have done something really worthwhile at least once in my life. I started to see life from a different perspective. I began to really appreciate what we have here in the city—the toilet flushing system for one. Now I really feel thankful every time I flush the toilet!
One of the best things I learnt during the trip was the virtue of humility. I saw villagers in threadbare clothes living in small wooden houses without complaining. I thought to myself, here I was dissatisfied at times that I do not have enough nice clothes to wear and not have my own bedroom; yet those villagers were happy and content. If they were not complaining, should I have a reason to complain?
I also learnt patience. In a busy city like Singapore, few are patient. We are always on the go, rushing through life. I get impatient when my friends are late for even 15 minutes, yet the people in the villages were willing to wait more than two hours for a friend. For instance, because of some miscommunication on our way back from the village to the city, our driver had to wait for his fellow driver to catch up with us. Instead of being impatient or annoyed, he was amused by the blunder made.
I thought I might have to sacrifice a lot on this trip but in the end I was the one to gain the most. I might have given my time and energy but what I got back from this trip are priceless. It was an experience I would not forget for a long time!

Dunman Reaches Out
Danson Ng, Evangelism Coordinator

What the Bible Says about The End of our Restless Century was the theme of the evangelistic meetings organized and conducted by the Dunman SDA Church. Held from 26 to 28 November, 1998 at the Seaview Hotel and from 3 to 5 December, 1998 at the Church premises, the meetings attracted an average of twenty-five non-Adventist visitors nightly. Most of these visitors were listeners of the FM 105.5 progammes and students of the Amazing Facts Course.
Spicing up his presentation with the use of multimedia effects, Victor Lee, Mission Evangelist and Radio programme Manager of FM 105.5 kept his audience enthralled. Victor presented the Adventist message in the context of the current world situations. His topics included Our Restless Century, The Bible and the Year 2000, Behind, Above and Beyond the Crisis, Financial Security-Plus in Tough Times, and Rest and Assurance for the Next Millennium. Special programmes for the children were also conducted concurrently by the ladies in the church.
It was very encouraging to see members of the Dunman Church and their pastor, Michael Ho unitedly reaching out to the community. Follow-up meetings were held on every Thursday evening until the middle of January 1999.

Christmas Blessings
Chan She Wai, Balestier Seventh-day Adventist Church

For the first time during December 1998, the Balestier SDA Church had two choirs: The Advent Choir of about 30 people and The Balestier Filipino Choir of about 36 Filipinos.
Under the leadership of Anita Fong and Rumalyn Yap these two choirs had been practicing every week since September 1998. They were scheduled to sing Christmas carols from 19 to 24 December, 1998 for a total of seven sessions at the Bukit Panjang Plaza, the Paramount Hotel and the Hotel New Otani. A sense of joy and satisfaction resulted from the job well done.
Also for the first time we had a Christmas service with a decorated tree on Christmas day. Many visitors and friends including members who had not been to church for some time turned up for the special service. "It was a great service," one member remarked.

ASI Happenings
Danson Ng, Secretary, ASI

From the six local SDA churches forty-five members convened at the YWCA Lodge for a scrumptious Thai vegetarian dinner organized by the Adventist-Laymen's Services and Industries (Singapore) at its Annual General Meeting and Election of office bearer.
A devotional from Joshua Mok, ASI Secretary, SAUM was followed by the president's and treasurer's reports
The following were elected to a new term of office (1999-2000):
President: David J.Tan
Vice-President: Donald Hee
Treasurer: David Chin
Committee Members:
Pearlyn Ng (Balestier Church)
Kion Lam Keong (Chuan Hoe Church)
Eddie Ko (Dunman Church)
Adrian Png (Jurong English Church)
Oliver Oh (Jurong East Chinese Church)
Ong Peck Yang (SDA Community Church)
Choo Yoon Kian (Singapore Chinese Church)
Advisor: William Chng and Teo Seng Kee, Bob