Stepping Out With God - Pasir Panjang Church of Christ Singapore

A Matter of Legacy
This past week I celebrated my 63rd birthday. I have been a member of the
Lord's church for over 48 years. In 13 days' time, I will begin my 45th year
of full-time ministry with PP.
It is the most needed job in the world
Paul says in Philippians 1:23-24 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a
desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to
abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
When I entered full-time ministry with PP on May 1st, 1966, the few preachers
of the churches of Christ were older men, converted in the latter part of their
lives. As support for church work is inconsistent, I was the only one to enter
the ministry out of the 10 graduates of the first class of the Four Seas Bible
College.
Today, all the older preachers have gone to receive their reward in heaven.
Most who took a stab at the ministry have dropped out. Only a handful are
in full-time ministry. More than ever, there is a great need for workers in the
ministry.
It is the most important job in the world
Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38 The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers
are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth
labourers into his harvest.
When I was baptized into Christ on 10th February, 1962, there was only one
congregation of the Lord's church at Moulmein Road. The attendance on
Sundays numbered around 50 persons. Even though the church was small,
it had the important task of preaching the gospel to a young nation which
had just gained independence from the British.
Today, there are about a dozen congregations of the church of Christ in
Singapore. Less than half of this number have full-time workers. As a result,
most of these congregations have less than a hundred members and some
are not growing as they should.
It is a life long commitment
57