I would like to share with you a brief testimony on how the good Lord has directed me to be a shepherd of the Vancouver Bible-Presbyterian Church. It was in the year 2005 when I first told my family in one of our family devotions that I would like to go back to the mission field to finish the last lap of my ministry. I told them that I wouldn’t be standing for the Church Election in April 2008 at Life. Subsequently, I shared this with the pastoral team and certain close friends in and outside the church.

My desire to move on for the Lord became stronger and compelling as the days went by. I began to pray fervently to the Lord for open doors. The Lord deemed fit to give me an answer on 14 July 2007. I received an email from Pastor Isaac Ong requesting me to consider prayerfully coming over to Vancouver Bible-Presbyterian Church for a short period of ministry. I was very astounded and at the same time believed that God had indeed opened a door for me in Canada. I shared this with Phoebe and surprisingly, she did not have any objection (Maybe she was too shocked to respond). To me, that was a good sign.

Pastor Isaac returned to Singapore for a short holiday. I met up with him for lunch on 23 July 2007. I shared with him in greater details what I had been praying for these many months. He told me that he had been praying for me also. He told me that two of his deacons separately requested him to approach me to consider coming over to pastor the church. Strangely, they did not talk to each other about it. In the course of our conversation, I asked Isaac a very personal question – Do you have peace and assurance from God that I am the one whom God has called to serve in Vancouver BPC? His answer was affirmative. I thanked God for it and uttered a silent prayer to Him, "O God, you have opened a door for me to serve in Vancouver. May you continue to show me the way so that I may walk in it! In Jesus’ Name! Amen." Both of us agreed that I should leave for Vancouver on 21 December 2007 to end of March 2008 for a short visit. The rest I will leave it to the Lord to show us in His good time.

Meanwhile, I continued to seek the Lord. On 21 September 2007 I was reading the Word and praying to the Lord at past midnight. While waiting for the Lord to speak, He brought together some incidences that happened recently. When I put all these incidences together, I began to realize that Pastor Isaac was looking for a man to do the ministry, and not a man full of giftedness or talents.

Since it has been my practice to ask the Lord to give me scriptural references for guidance and confirmation whenever I have to make a major decision for my life, I asked Him specifically to show me His way. As I waited on Him in the wee hours of the morning, He directed me to Proverbs 3:5 and 6 – "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." What was the Lord saying to me at 1.45 am? I believe this is what He was saying to me – I am going to a new place to serve Him and therefore, everything will be new to me. That is why I need to trust Him with all my heart and must not rely on my own understanding. I must always acknowledge Him and He will show me the way.

Then I asked the Lord to summarize these verses into one sentence. While waiting on Him in earnest expectation, these words came to my mind – "God wants me to trust him wholeheartedly to run my last lap serving God’s people at Vancouver Bible-Presbyterian Church."

Since 1977, Acts 20:24 has been my life verse for Christian ministry. Now, what if something unpleasant happens to me while serving the Lord in Vancouver, will I still be happy? Yes. I shall be happy because I know that I am in the will of the Lord. If I were to die, I die in His will and I finish well. That is what I want – to be in the will of the Lord all the time and finish well (Colossians 4:17).

On 25 September 2007 Phoebe asked me, "If God calls me to the ministry, he also calls his family." The Lord directed me to Acts 16:9 and 10. When God leads His servant to move on in the ministry, does He also speak to his family? Yes and no. In Acts 16, Paul saw a vision, not his co-workers. When Paul related to them about the vision, they all concluded that the Lord had called them to go into Macedonia to preach the Gospel. I sought the Lord for His direction and I believe the Session and members of Vancouver Bible-Presbyterian Church also sought the Lord for confirmation. I cannot say that it is God’s will for me to pastor the church if God has not spoken to them. It must be both ways. God calls me, not my family. Some say that if God calls you, He must also call your family. I would say it is not necessary. It’s all about following Jesus. To follow Him means to follow Him as an individual (Luke 14:25-27).

On 5 October 2007 at 10:15 am, the Lord further ministered to me in my devotion. He gave me a ministry verse in Ezekiel 34:16 – "I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment." Jesus is my Model. He did whatever the Father told Him to do (John 5:19). So likewise, I will do whatever God calls me to do for Him and His Kingdom.

On the morning of my departure to Canada (21 December 2007), I read Proverbs 21 in my devotion. Three verses caught my attention – Proverbs 21:1, 2 and 30 – "The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD." I asked myself three heart-searching questions: 1) If it is God’s will for me to shepherd the flock in Vancouver, will He not also grant me the work permit? (1), 2) Is my heart right? Do I have any ulterior motive ministering in Vancouver? (2), and 3) If it is God’s will for me to be in Vancouver, can anyone hinder His will for my life? (30). I shared this with Lifers who came to the airport to send me and Phoebe off on that same morning and urged them to pray for us that the will of the Lord be done (James 4:13-15).

Will the will of God come to pass in my life? We shall see when He reveals it in His good time. Truly, God makes every thing beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). May His Name be praised! Amen.

Three months later…

Phoebe and I thank God for a fruitful ministry at Vancouver Bible-Presbyterian Church. We had many opportunities to serve God and His people. We are blessed by the love, care and concern of the saints. Though the congregation is small, we are greatly encouraged by the participation of the saints in the Lord’s work. However, it does not mean that the work of the Lord is without struggles and hindrances. Every church, whether it is big or small, has her strong and weak spots. Therefore, we appreciate your fervent prayer for us as we give of our best to the Lord and His people.

On 30 March 2008, Vancouver Bible-Presbyterian Church had her Annual Congregational Meeting and Church Election. The congregation voted me to be their pastor for the year 2008-2011. God has confirmed His call for me to serve Him in Canada.

Meanwhile, I am back to apply for my Immigration Visa at the Canadian Embassy. God willing, Phoebe and I will be returning to Vancouver on 6 May 2008. We appreciate your fervent prayer for us.

Lovingly in Christ,
Colin

Vancouver Bible-Presbyterian Church
1651 Lougheed Highway
Port Coquitlam BC V3B 1A5, Canada
Tel: 604 464 2000 (O) 604 468 2238 (H)
Email: colin.vbpc@shawcable.com

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All members of Life B-P Church are reminded to attend this meeting. The combined English worship service begins at 9.00 am.

Please collect the ACM package which will be given out before and after the morning worship services on Sunday, 6 and 13 Apr 08.

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