Dear Brethren,

There are 5 categories of people in the Church who have problems :

1. Wayward – try to run away
2. Worried – fear of everything
3. Weak – easily fall into temptation
4. Wearisome – people who never get it
5. Wicked – do evil and harm others

In the Church, we must have a heart of compassion to deal with such people who struggle in their sins. We ought to help and support them in mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering and forgiveness. Learn from God’s Word in 1 Thess. 5:14-15 the biblical way to help people who struggle.

Wayward Members – try to run away

“Warn them that are unruly” (1 Thess 5:14b) – The unruly people are those who are out of line and wayward in their ways.  This is how we deal with the wayward in a biblical manner :

(a) Do not pounce on them judgmentally; do not condemn them; do not wreak havoc on their lives by abusing and alienating them.

(b) Come along with them like a loving parent to a child. Understand where they are going wrongly and call them back and do it with compassion.

Worried Members – fear in everything

“Comfort the feebleminded” (1 Thess 5:14c) – Feebleminded are the worried people who are faint-hearted. In the Church. We have people who fear the unknown, worry about everything and see the downside of everything. These people need our comfort and encouragement.

Weak Members – easily fall into temptation

“Support the weak” (1 Thess 5:14d) – people who lack spiritual strength in temptation. Some people are weak in continually losing to the same temptation. The Bible calls it “besetting sin” (Heb 12:1). We must support and not condemn them. Pray fervently for these people.

Wicked Members – do evil and harm others

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man” (1 Thess 5:15a) – the word “evil” refers to people who do wicked things. There are people who attack the Church with their gossip, slander and evil speaking. They do harm by shutting someone out of fellowship, by being jealous, hateful and bitter. They lead people into sin to pollute the Church. What should we do to such people? No personal vengeance (v.15a) and do what is good (v.15b). Show acts of love in the face of hostility. If someone mistreats you, do good to him. Do everything possible so that he can be brought back to God. Of course, the sin must be rebuked and corrected.

Conclusion

Our Church is not a gallery but a hospital with many “problem people” who need special care and compassion. We must show compassion, tenderheartedness and kindness especially to those who are wayward, worried, weak, wearisome and wicked. May we be a Church not only known for our sound doctrines but also known for our compassion and care to those who are struggling spiritually.

Elder John Leong

Thank God for Spiritual Revival

Thank God for the youth camp that I did not fall sick throughout the whole camp. Thank God for spiritual revival and for all the lessons I have learnt. One important lesson I learnt is that if a Christian has iniquity in his or her heart, God will not hear his or her prayer. This can also cause us to be a stumbling block to others. Thank God for the games led by brother Bo Hao that were very fun and for safety during the amazing race.

Brother Wei Xuan

Our Christian Walk with Christ

From this youth camp I have learnt a lot of things. I felt that after this camp I am closer to God and understood a lot more things that a Christian should actually posses. This camp taught me a lot about sanctification, I felt that this topic is very good as now that we are all very caught up with our studies and friends, sometimes we just forget about God. This camp put me back on track and allowed me to stop giving in to worldly temptations. I find that after this camp when I go to school I try my best to actually watch my behaviour as I want to be a better testimony to the non-Christians in my class. Most importantly, I learned that in our Christian walk with Christ we must always trust and obey and to always seek forgiveness from God. I feel that this youth camp was very edifying and I’m looking forward to the next camp!

Sister Sarah Chng
(Niece of sister Keturah Wong)

Truly, the LORD is Merciful

This being my first youth camp, I was very excited at first as I enjoyed all of my children camps and I reckoned this Ebenezer Camp would be no different. I was right. Thank God for the ability to go to the camp and learn His Word. This camp we were very blessed to have two godly men of God to come and minister His Word to us, Preacher Ko Ling Kang and Rev. Dr. Quek Suan Yew.  They spoke on Purpose to Purity and Purity in Practice respectively. The camp theme verse was, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, ’For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.’

This camp was a spiritual revival for me as I was slackened in my spiritual life before the camp. I had very good fellowship with the brethren from Ebenezer, especially brother Bo Hao who was my roommate. 1 John 1:3, ‘That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.’

In the camp, God blessed me with the opportunity to chair for the first time. I was very nervous as I was scared I would do something wrong. I thank God for His guidance throughout the chairing. If not for His help I would surely have failed. I was also entrusted with the duty of morning exercise I/C and Dorm I/C. I was so nervous that I forgot to open the morning exercise in prayer for the first two days. Despite my grievous mistake, God showed mercy and helped me throughout it. Truly the LORD is merciful. Usually on school days, I am not able to wake up in the morning but God helped me to wake up at 7 a.m. to get myself ready for the morning exercise. God had guided me throughout this camp and I truly thank Him for the opportunity to serve and to worship Him.

Brother Javan Koh