Adventist Crossroads
March - April 1998

Joy In Heaven -- Five-Fold
Danson Ng, SAM
Evangelism Coordinator

Although the heat from the afternoon sun would drive many to stay indoors it could not keep some 250 members, students and families from attending the Amazing Facts Fellowship Rally on 21 March 1998. They packed the seats of the Singapore SDA Chinese Church. Heart-warming testimonies by those who studied the course attested to the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. A non-Adventist Christian, spoke of his joy in discovering the Sabbath truth. Another affirmed her faith in God that He will take care of her life even as she is battling with cancer.
In his message "The Day of Salvation" Pastor Toh See Wei spoke of the urgency of the time. At the end of his talk he appealed to those who want to respond to Christ and His Love. Seven requested for the Amazing Facts lessons. Three indicated their desire to be baptised and wanted to attend the nearest SDA Church.

Amazing Facts Rally, click here
The afternoon events culminated in the graduation and baptism of several students. Ten have completed 14 lessons (Level 1) and five the 28 lessons (Level 2) of the Study Guides. They received diplomas from Pastor Joshua Mok. The baptism of five students, a result of the Amazing Facts course and the evangelistic meetings held last December, was our greatest joy.We owe the success of the rally to many people. We praise the Lord for those who are actively spreading the Good News of Salvation. Our next rally will be held on 19 September 1998 at the Balestier SDA Church at 4:30 pm. We want to encourage more members to take up this work of soul-saving. You can introduce the course to others or help to follow up the interests generated. Time is running out . . . let us pray and work now!

AY2Y
John Tan
Coordinator Youth Ministry

Helping a friend quit substance abuse took on a new meaning for some San Yu Adventist School (SYAS) students who were participants in the Adventist Youth to Youth (AY2Y) Camp. Fifty students accompanied by four teachers and other youth leaders camped in the SYAS campus from 16 to 19 March for the first AY2Y camp organized in Singapore.
The AY2Y concept, first introduced in North America in the 1980's, approaches the problem of substance abuse from a peer prevention programme model. Its key components include leadership training, information sharing, fun events, family group activities and environmental change strategies. The underlying principle behind these components is a strong spiritual belief that God provides the power to overcome and abstain from destructive alternatives. Young people are being taught methods to lead and help their friends to either abstain from or quit harmful habits like smoking, alcohol abuse, drug-taking, sex, and gang activities.
A day before the camp started 11 students and 4 youth leaders were selected to attend an intensive 12-hour leadership course. Their main task was to lead the campers in small groups known as family groups. During the seven family-group sessions, these leaders were to help their groups bond together in trust and unity to enable sharing of problems. Many of the leaders were apprehensive of what seemed like a daunting task. However, by the fifth session there was evidence of bonding and a sense of belonging within the six groups. Campers who were strangers in the beginning left as close friends by the last session. The sense of spiritual bonding felt generally in the camp resulted in 15 students requesting Bible study. Another eight received Christ as their personal Saviour with four wanting to be baptized soon.
Remarked Yan Siew Ghiang, SYAS chaplain and camp coordinator, "We didn't expect such commitments. It was not the expressed intention of this camp to get the participants spiritually committed. I believe the Spirit of God moved in this camp and touched these campers' hearts. The results are similar, if not, better than a gospel camp."
The campers moved along a jam-packed schedule of activities in addition to family group sessions. Student-led worship sessions, health talks, preventive-education talks by the Central Narcotics Bureau and the CID Secret Societies Branch, seminars on goal-setting, self-esteem, mind management and parent relationships, group games, and a drama workshop filled the participant's timetable.
The camp ended on a high note with a closing ceremony that was topped by a special presentation from the different family groups. The realistic skits and entertaining items displayed the positive lessons experienced by the AY2Y campers.