Dear Brethren,

Kovan Double Murder Case

We must be very shocked to read of the double murder case of car workshop owner 67-year-old Tan Boon Sin, and his son, Tan Chee Heong, 42, on 10 July 2013. It was brought to my attention that this car workshop is where our Church van is sent for our regular servicing and maintenance. I then took a careful look at the photo of the car workshop owner Mr Tan Boon Sin in the newspaper and indeed he was the person I had interacted with. In the recent years, I have been sending the Church van to this workshop, Soc Leon Motor Workshop, at Kaki Bukit. The owner Mr Tan was usually not present but in a few occasions, he was around and we even chatted.

I could still vividly remember that Mr Tan said he would give our van a discount as we are from a Church. He was gentle and kind-hearted. Someone asked me whether I shared the Gospel to him or not. Usually when a person passed away, we always wondered if he or she had heard the Gospel. Perhaps we would feel ashamed if we did not exercise our duty to share the Gospel while the person was still alive. We had the opportunity but did not seize it. Perhaps we gave ourselves the excuses that we are fearful and there will be another opportunity in another day. In the case of Mr Tan, it was so sudden and unexpected with all opportunity over now.

I want to thank God that I gave Mr Tan our Church Gospel tract and shared the Gospel briefly to him about 1-2 years ago. I sent the Church van for repair and Mr Tan was present at the time. God knows everything and nothing happens by chance. The Lord gave me the courage to talk to him about his soul and salvation in Jesus Christ. I invited him to our Church too. Salvation is of God and I can only trust God the Gospel shared and tract given will fall on good ground. If I had not shared the Gospel to Mr Tan, I would have felt guilty today. I know that there are occasions that I have failed the Lord too. Let this verse in Ezekiel 3:18 be a strong rebuke to our cold heart in failing to share the Gospel :

When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Sharing Gospel in the Taxi

Last Sunday I preached at Calvary Batam BP Church. It was an early morning ferry to Batam from Harbour Front which I needed to be there by 7.30am. I took a taxi from my house. As I was nearing the road, I was so happy to see a taxi coming. But suddenly, this taxi turned away into another street. Perhaps he did not see me coming. I waited a short while and another taxi came. I took the taxi and did not think much of it.

The taxi driver was a lady driver and she asked why I was going to Harbour Front. I told her I was going to Batam to a Church to preach. Thne she asked me if I was a “Father” or “Priest”. This started our conversation and she told me that she went to Church in her younger days but had left God. I encouraged her to come back to the Lord Jesus Christ and gave her our Church tract. Again, the Lord had His purpose why I should take this taxi and not the earlier one that almost came to me. I am reminded that when God opens the door of opportunity for me to share the Gospel to someone, I must not waste it away.

Follow Me and I will make you Fishers of Men

This is our Church theme this year 2013. These are the words of Jesus speaking to each one of us who are His children. How is your evangelistic zeal this year? Have you shared the Gospel to anyone this year? How about giving a tract to someone this year? Have you invited anyone to Church so they can hear God’s Word? We know the answers in our heart. The Lord also knows the answers. Before the year ends (we already passed the mid point of this year), I sincerely hope the answers to the questions will not be a “No”. We are accountable to God!

Let us be challenged to go and share the Gospel. God will give us the opportunities but we must not let them slip away and give ourselves excuses after excuses. Remember one day there may not be any more opportunity for the person whom you wish to share the Gospel to. Do not delay. Let us say like Apostle Paul in Romans 1:16a :

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.

Elder John Leong