After attending the talk on M25 in church, our JOYN Life Group leader was eager to rally our group members to form a group to go to Pulau Ketam, a small fishing village off the coast of Klang, Malaysia. One needs to take a 40min ferry to reach this island.

Lynne, our Life Group leader, has been to this island a few times with Paster Koh from the Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church (PLCMC). Pastor Koh has been leading a monthly group from Singapore to Pulau Ketam to conduct a Teochew Christian Service there, supporting Pastor Joanne and her team from Good News Community Church (GNCC).

Finally, a date has been set, 25-28 April to embark on a short mission trip to Pulau Ketam via Klang, and Kuala Lumpur. Five of us (Lynne, Agnes, Renee, Sharon and me) departed on the early morning of 25 April to Klang. When we reached Klang for lunch, we met up with the group of five mission trippers from PLCMC.

We continued to make our way to the Klang port to take a ferry over to Pulau Ketam. It was already 5pm when we arrived at the island. We quickly freshened up for dinner and to attend the Teochew Service at GNCC at 8:30pm. Most of the islanders are elderly and speak Teochew. A walk around the island revealed that many of the residents are ancestor worshippers and idols can be seen from the walkway. We had home cooked dinner in GNCC, blessed with a big serving of fresh clams from the island and traditional Teochew “png kueh” specially ordered a week in advance for us to try. Sharing meals and fellowship with new friends was uplifting for me.

At 8pm plus, islanders started streaming into the worship hall of GNCC. Service was led by Brother Tay Liang Meng with praise songs and Sister Catherine, both from PLCMC. I shared my salvation testimony in Mandarin which was translated to Teochew by Sister Catherine. In my testimony, I shared about my job as a nurse, of how I am constantly reminded to serve the patients, however difficult at times, with love as per the Bible. Jesus said He “did not come to be served, but to serve” people. I also invited the pre-believing islanders to come forward to accept Jesus that night, to personally “taste” and experience the best gift – the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus!

That beautiful Friday night, we witnessed the collaboration of Christians from various churches at the GNCC night service. We trust that God will continue to touch all present that night. What a blessing to be a part of it! We pray for the unsaved souls in Pulau Ketam and may the good work by GNCC continue to bless the islanders.

The next day, we left the island and made our way to Kuala Lumpur to attend a fundraising Dinner Concert Night, which was to raise funds for GNCC to buy a bungalow for use as its church building. We are also praying that God will provide funds for renovation of the bungalow to fit the requirements of GNCC for church services and other uses.

Brother Gurmit Singh (aka Phua Chu Kang!) was the special invited guest for the night. That night, we met up with many sisters and brothers in Christ from Malaysia. The loud singing of praise songs echoed throughout the banquet hall. Speeches from Pastor Joanne also warmed our hearts as we heard testimonies of God’s continuous blessings. The highlight was the testimony of brother Gurmit Singh, how he was saved and how, by God’s grace, dhis critically ill mum live for another 16 years after a stage 4 stomach cancer diagnosis. Indeed God hears our prayers. God listened to Gurmit Singh’s prayer when his mum was critically ill and granted his wishes to let his mother see him get married and have children. God is indeed faithful.

“Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40

What a splendid evening to be in the companion of brothers and sisters in Christ, with everyone worshipping together and doing good work for God’s kingdom. The Lord had stretched out His hands to enable the church to reach out to the poor and the elderly. We believe God will bless all the people who have contributed in any ways to GNCC Church Building Fund and God will reward all with good compound interest.