Pastoral visitation

Each day is a gift from God. That is why it is called 'present.' We wanted to share this present with others, so the week began for both of us with a day of pastoral visitation.

We began with our usual end of the month visit, the last Monday of the month, to Gracehaven. We enjoyed the time spent with Captains Raymond and Cathy Aloba and the staff. We had a good singalong, then a time of prayer and devotions. I've been doing the Beautitudes and came to the part where our Lord talked about Christians being the 'salt of the earth.' We went to minister to the staff but in turned were ministered by them for they were such a blessing to us.

After lunch, we went to Territorial Headquarters and did our pastoral visitation. We started from the fifth floor and saw our old friend Major Wasagam. You know she is now on Facebook! Please connect with her. Then we went to visit Captains Lim Chee Kwee and Annie and Lieut. Colonels Tan Thean Seng and Pat Tan. On the way we met Captains Julian and Jane Wong near the lift and share a prayer with them.

We moved down to the third floor and visited our Chief Secretary and his wife, Lieut. Colonels Bob and Wendy Lee and shared prayers with them. They need our prayers especially during this time when there is no Territorial Commander. We pray for them everyday. We saw the staff in their offices and prayed with them. Sorry there was not enough time to visit every floor.

It was a day of sharing God's precious gift of time with our friends. While we still have the physical and mental strength we'll do what we can to share God's blessings with others.

The next day, we visited two handicapped ladies both in their seventies. Many years ago they used to attend Central Corps in fact Mary was a member of the Songster Brigade. We usually see these two ladies, Grace and Mary near their birthdays and Christmas and Chinese New Year period. It's not easy for them to get around, so we bring church to them.

By God's grace we shall continue to do what we can in visiting the folk particularly the 'shut in' ones. And we've been blessed in return. That's our way of sharing the blessings God has lavished upon us. We've been wonderfully blessed all through the years.

I should be preparing my Bible lessons, instead here am I blogging. I'm getting back to preparing Revelation which will begin on the 16th May at our church - the Adult Bible class which I am privileged to conduct.

Deep in our hearts we know God has called us to be pastors of His flock.

Back on track

Last Sunday in the absence of our Corps Officer, pastor, we did the meeting at William Booth Corps. I spoke on the subject "Getting back on track" referring to Peter and his conversation with Jesus on the beach.

Peter and his fishermen friends were back to fishing, back to their boats and their nets. The wheel of events had turned full circle in the space of three years. They were fishermen whom Jesus called to be fishers of men. Now they were back to being fishermen, but their effort met with failure. After a night's hard work, they caught nothing - empty nets and empty life.

That's when they encountered Jesus on the beach. At His command, they threw the nets on the right side of the boat and caught a large number of fish - 153 to be exact. Through the years there have been those who tried to interpret the significance of that number. I'm not interested in mathematical gymnastics as it serves no purpose.

The atmosphere changed when they recognised Jesus. They then had breakfast on the beach. Breakfast over we read of an interesting conversation between Jesus and Peter. It was not about making plans for the future of the church, nor about mission or church buildings, or fund raising, but about the relationship of love. Love must take priority in all relationships. That's basic. Jesus wanted to get Peter back on track.

The message was divided into three sections:

1 Back on track to loving Jesus
2.Back on track to living for Jesus.
3 Back on track to labouring for Jesus

Aren't we glad His grace is always sufficient to meet all our needs? We believe in the gospel of the second chance. Failures are not final. We can always begin again.

We thank God for the privilege of sharing the word with our people. To God be the glory.

Thanksgiving Service - Colonel Keith Burridge

The Service of thanksgiving was held on 21st April at William Booth Corps. Many friends around the world were able to view this meeting, thanks to modern technology.

Those interested can still view this service of thanksgiving if you log in to

http://tinyurl.com/tsasmmtc

Hundreds of people attended this meeting and paid their respects to this humble Servant of God, our beloved Territorial Commander.

Colonel Beryl Burridge

Last night my wife and I joined our many friends to bid farewell to Colonel Beryl Burridge. It was a sad parting to such a wonderful saint of God who will be greatly missed. Wonderful to see this woman of faith who remained so calm and composed throughout the ordeal. She has been mother and grandmother to many people in this territory.

We thank God our prayers were answered. Planes can now fly to Heathrow Airport. At the time of writing the plane would have just landed.

We thank and praise God for giving us Colonels Keith and Beryl Burridge for a period of three years. They will always be remembered with love and affection.

Colonel Keith Burridge

What a loss to our Territory! A man of God who has done so much in so short a time for so many people. Colonel Keith Burridge is gone from us, but his influence lives on and will do so for many more years to come. We give thanks to God for sending him and his godly wife Beryl here to Singapore.

Life is full of the incomprehensible, but we learn to accept the fact that God never makes a mistake. Our Heavenly Father needs Keith Burridge in Heaven now and when we get there, He will tell us the reason for taking this wonderful man of God home so early. Our timing and God's timing does not always synchronise.

Keith Burridge has left us a wonderful example in Christian living. We honour him by honouring God and living the Christlike life like the Colonel did.

I count it a privilege to be invited to give the message at a Service of Thanksgiving last night. I quoted General Albert's song, "My life my be Christ's broken bread, my love His outpoured wine." Keith Burridge's life was truly Christ's broken bread and outpoured wine. That's the reason why he was such a blessing to so many people. A truly committed Christian is a sacrament of consecration.

The combined band of William Booth and Central corps supported in the meeting. Quite a number of the bandsmen who are university students are in the middle of their examination, but they made their way to William Booth Corps to take part in the meeting. I know this for sure for two of the players are our own grandchildren.

What a touching scene, as the band played "Safe in the arms of Jesus" to see the people filing past the coffin, many of them wept uncontrollably. The man we all loved so dearly is gone from us.

Lord, thank You for sending the Keith and Beryl Burridge to us. To You we give glory!

Colonel Keith Burridge

Today Singapore Casket brought the coffin containing the body of Colonel Keith Burridge to our Salvation Army Hall, William Booth Corps at about 1.30 p.m.

Since then many people have been coming to the hall to pay their respects to the man greatly loved by all. Many sat in the hall weeping. He was always very courteous and caring. He was truly a man of God. He will be greatly missed in this territory, and certainly at our Corps.

We all pray for Colonel Beryl, a very gracious motherly woman. It has been very hard for her, but she is bearing it very well with the support of many friends in Singapore.

We pray that the air situation in Europe will improve soon so that flights out of Singapore to UK resume. The funeral will be held in England.

God bless the family in England.

Colonel Keith Burridge promoted to Glory

We were shocked to receive news this morning of the Promotion to Glory of our Territorial Commander, Colonel Keith Burridge.

Only yesterday, Sunday 18th April, he and his wife Beryl were at William Booth Corps to join us in worship. As usual they were going round shaking hands with the people. They joined the folk during fellowship time at the Social Hall.

That evening they hosted a dinner at their home, 80 Sunset Way for the Singapore Officers and heads of departments of Territorial Headquarters. We had a wonderful evening.

And this morning he was gone to be with the Lord.

We first came to know the Burridges when we were appointed to International Headquarters, London in 1993. We lived in Beckenham, South London and the Colonel was the Divisional Commander.

I recall the day when we travelled together in his car to Croydon Citadel to attend a Soldiers' Rally where I was the speaker.We met on many other occasions when we visited Corps in his division. He and his wife Beryl were always very kind to us.

How delighted we were when we received news of their appointment to our Territory first to be the Chief Secretary and later promoted to be the Territorial Commander.
They chose to soldier at the William Booth Corps and when they were not conducting meetings elsewhere would join us in worship at William Booth Corps.

The Burridges were looking forward to retirement in England where they would be near the the Colonel's parents - His father is now 92 years old.

Colonels Keith and Beryl Burridge are greatly loved by the people of this territory. We pray for Colonel Beryl Burridge and their two children, Kevin and Dawn and grand daughter Mollie.

On auto pilot

Some months ago someone wrote that he and his family have gone on 'spiritual auto roam' in other words they are not attached to any church. Well, he is entitled to his views as God gives to each individual the freedom of choice. But think of what the family is missing - the fellowship and support of local church.

Last Friday, during our discussion at our cell group, we came to another one of those 'auto' expressions - running on 'auto pilot.' Can we survive spiritually on such a way of life? Certainly not! A spiritual life cannot be programmed to run on 'auto pilot.' All of us need that daily refreshment of God's presence and blessing or we degenerate into spiritual habituation.

Daily communion with God, reading and reflecting on His word, plus meeting in fellowship with other believers are essential for our spiritual survival and progress. No, we cannot be programmed to go on auto pilot.

God has made us with minds to think freely, hearts to love freely, and wills to obey freely. He does not want to programme us to be His followers. We are free to accept Him and worship Him and also free to reject Him.

This is my story - 26

Ministry in Kuching Corps

In May 1962 we packed our personal belongings and moved to Kuching, East Malaysia.It was new challenge to travel a thousand miles seemingly to the other side of the world. Our two children Gladys and Stephen were only two years and six weeks’ old respectively.

We left Penang on the ferry (this was before the new bridge was built) and took the train from Butterworth. We changed trains at Kuala Lumpur and arrived in Singapore but there was no one to meet us and I had to make a phone call to Lieut. Colonel Thelma Watson the General Secretary.

The Public Relations Secretary, Brigadier Geus a Dutchman was supposed to meet us at the Tanjong Pagar Railway station but he was celebrating his birthday and forgot the assignment given him! It was the responsibility of the Public Relations Secretary to meet all visitors in those days.

Lieut. Colonel Thelma Watson was quite unhappy with him. She came herself to the Railway station to pick us and we piled into her car with all our hand carried luggage! She took us to Dhoby Ghaut, the home of my wife’s uncle and aunt.

The next day Lieut. Colonel Watson came for us again and took us to Clifford Pier where we took a launch to the outer shores to board a cargo boat called the Bentong. My wife carried the baby while I carried our two year-old daughter up the ladder from the launch to the ship. It was scary climbing up the ladder with one hand carrying Gladys and the other holding a bag. But the Lord was with us. Besides were we young then – I was only 30 and my wife 26. There were only two cabins – we placed our luggage in one and slept in the other.

There were no other passengers so during meal times we lunched with the captain of the boat. Let me add that in those days, all officers including the Officer Commanding and General Secretary travelled by boat as air fares were very expensive.

It took 36 hours to sail from Singapore to Kuching. This cargo boat docked at Pending some distance from the town. There we were met by Brigadier Elsie Willis of the Children’s and Elderly Home and Captain Robert Webb of the Boys’ Home. They took us to the Corps at Sekama Road where Mrs. Captain Thelma Webb was waiting for us.

The next day, 1st May 1962 was the commencement of the Annual Appeal leading to the combined Sale of work. No rest for us. Our luggage had yet to arrive. Anyway, we joined our fellow officers to go round from shop to shop collecting donations in cash and kind.

Kuching Corps had a full programme. Sunday morning Directory class at 8. 30 a.m. Holiness meeting at 10.00 a.m. Sunday School at 3.00 p.m., Open air meeting at 5.00 p.m.and Salvation meeting at 6.00 p.m.

During the week we had Scouts, Cubs, Girl Guides, Brownies, Joy Hour and Soldiers’ meeting, Home League, Youth Fellowship, Band practice etc. Almost every evening there was corps activity.

Most of the folk who attended the Corps were from the neighbourhood, plus children from the two Homes. Only the Children’s Home had a van. The Boys’ Home had no vehicle. Captain Robert Webb and the bigger boys rode bicycles. The Corps owned two rickety ladies’ bicycles.

Every morning Monday to Friday we had the kindergarten. We were the only teachers with one assistant to help us. We were still raising funds to pay for the new building.

There was an excellent team of officers who worked well together. We held regular officers’ fellowships and we took turns to lead in worship and host the monthly meetings. There was good bonding among the group - Brigadier Willis, Captains May Merritt, Janos Wasagam, Robert and Thelma Webb. Brigadier Willis, Captain Webb and Mrs. Webb were local officers holding the positions of Corps Secretary, Bandmaster and Home League Treasurer respectively.

Among the soldiers were the Tok family. Mr Tok owned a pepper farm, a sundry goods shop and small rice mill. He was very frugal, lived very simply and always dressed shabbily. Every Sunday morning, he would bring his family to the meeting in his lorry. They were good supporters of the Corps.

One day he turned up at our quarters in his old rickety bicycle and asked me to go out with him to the bicycle shop in town. He said to me in Chinese “Bok Su (meaning pastor) I want you to choose one of the Raleigh bicycles. I want to give it as a gift to the church.” I protested as I could not accept such a gift when he himself was using an old bicycle. But he responded, “You are my pastor, and you must have a good bicycle to get around visiting our people. You are doing the Lord’s work.”

One day a group of robbers broke into the home of Mr. Tok and forced him to sign a cheque for a large amount of money. The next morning, Mr. Tok reported to the police and the culprits were caught. Investigations revealed that it was his own son-in-law who had instigated that crime! So this young man was put into prison. I visited him in prison regularly and also got permission to start a Bible class in prison. This opened up prison ministry for me.

In 1963, I was a delegate to the International College for Officers in London. I didn’t feel comfortable for my wife to be alone with two small children. She had to run the Corps and kindergarten as well. But the Lord wonderfully arranged for a young girl by the name of Ee Hong who was helping out at the Kindergarten to stay in our quarters during the time I was away. Ee Hong was very good girl and helped to look after the children as well. She was very much involved in Corps activities and later became a Salvationist.

One of the soldiers of the Corps Sim Peng Kim was an electrician and whenever we had any electrical problems, Peng Kim, a very handy man was always there to help us out without charging the Corps. Whenever he came to fix things at the Corps or quarters. Ee Hong always made him a cup of tea. To cut the long story short, they fell in love and later got married and raised up a lovely family.

In retirement during one of my visits to Kuching, I was able to visit Peng Kim and Ee Hong and their family. They lived quite a distance from the Corps. Peng Kim is now retired and in poor health.

Rejoice, Relax, Rest

"Rejoice in the Lord always...the Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4: 4-7

Rejoice! The word occurs many times in the Bible. "A joyful heart is good medicine" Prov. 17: 22 Look on the positive side. I rejoice because the Lord is near, in other words His presence is with us all the time. "If every circumstance finds us abiding in Christ. we will find Christ abiding with us in every circumstance" (Our Daily Bread 6th April 2010)

Relax! Let your gentle or forbearing spirit be known to all others. It speaks of contentment, graciousness towards others, humility or to sum it up Christlike virtues be shown to others. The Lord is near.

Rest! We don't have to b uptight and uneasy. We can cast our burdens upon the Lord. Or as the hymn writer says in "What a Friend we have in Jesus" to take to the Lord in prayer"

The Lord is at hand! Praise the Lord! We used to sing this beautiful chorus.

"God is with us all the time,
In the morning when joybells chime,
In the evening when lights are low;
Our God is with us everywhere we go."

Keep hope alive

'And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" says Paul in 1 Cor. 13: 13. If he were alive today, he might have added 'And the most neglected of the three is hope.'

I'm spending a lot of my time doing two things - writing my memoirs and preparing Bible studies. As one gets older memories fade, so it is imperative that I write as much as I can recall. It's been a time consuming exercise, but most interesting and encouraging too when people write to thank me.

I've been conducting the Adult Bible class at our Church for the last six years. I've done a lot of research and reflecting on the word of God. Now I am in the midst of preparing lessons on Revelation - a very challenging exercise. The series will begin first week in May.

What have these things got to do with hope? Writing memoirs means looking back to the past. At times I must admit, I'm concern about the future and like all who are getting on in years (78 in May) I am tempted to look back to the good old days! Things have changed; the Army has changed for better or for worse, it depends on how we look.

The Army is facing some challenging times. Experienced leaders are retiring or leaving this world, new ones, sadly too few are coming in. God bless them. But I must not despair, I must keep vision and my hope alive. I must possess that Biblical hope. God raised up the Army through William and Catherine Booth. Surely He will not let it die! We must do something and keep that hope alive!

I read, meditate on Revelation I wake up thinking of Revelation, go to bed with visions of angels, scrolls, seals etc. recorded in Revelation. There is that eschatological hope, the perspective of eternity, the dimension of heaven. There is hope. There is that resurrection hope. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4: 16.

This is it - it gives us an element of joy and of steel to our discipleship. Without this element we flag, grow weary, despair and give up.

If you are not optimistic then you must have a misty optic! Friends press on. Keep on believing - Jesus is alive and He cares for us each one. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Let's keep faith, hope and love alive.

Prayer: "Lord, renew my spirit. Let me keep that hope alive and share this hope with others."

Christ reigns supreme

Many years ago when I was still in my teens I used to sing a song called “Let me ride to the wide…Don’t fence me in.” The funeral bands, strangely enough used to play this tune when accompanying the hearse in the procession to the cemetery! They used the same tune for weddings too!

None of us like to be fenced in! We want to be let loose, have freedom to do our own thing!

They put Jesus in the tomb and thought that was the end of everything. But He rose from the dead walked out of the grave and remained on earth in bodily form for forty days. He appeared many times to His friends. He would appear and disappear at will.

In John Masefield’s drama – “The trial of Jesus” there is a striking passage. Longinus, the Roman Centurion in command of the soldiers of the cross returns to the palace. Pilate’s wife beckons to him and begs him to tell her how Jesus died. After hearing the story of the last hours of Jesus, she suddenly asks, “Do you think he’s dead?”

“No, lady” answers Longinus. “I don’t”

“Then, where is he? She asks.

“Let loose in the world, lady, where neither Roman nor Jew can stop his truth.”

It is bewildering to the unbeliever and unenlightened! But it’s a fact. Jesus is alive. Last Sunday we celebrated Easter. In fact every Sunday when we meet to worship the Lord, we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. He is here in our midst alive forevermore.

Don’t try to fence Him in, let Christ reign unconfined in your life, in the community and in the world.

This is my story - 25

25 – Kuching – East Malaysia

In April 1948 at the invitation of the Sarawak Government, a team of officers visited East Malaysia to explore the possibility of commencing Salvation Army work there. Much negotiation with the British authorities governing Sarawak followed. The Army was convinced there was a genuine need for its presence. Earlier investigations confirmed the Government’s concern over problems of delinquency and prostitution among young girls. Our leaders were also assured of Government support.

Lieut. Colonel Frederick Harvey the Officer Commanding made it plain to the authorities the mission of The Salvation Army. The Governor Sir Anthony Abell clearly understood our evangelical mandate and gave the assurance of his Government’s support in our integrated ministry catering for the physical, mental and spiritual. General John Gowans summed up our mission so beautifully – to save souls, grow saints and serve suffering humanity.

The Army was offered the lease of the land at Sekama Road for church and community service on payment of a pepper corn per year! (I cannot recall making that payment! I suppose it was just a legal term that the land leased to us belonged to the Government)

In 1950 Major Bertha Grey and Captain Willis arrived on the Raja Brooke and stayed at the Government boarding house. Government officials were very keen for the Army to begin operations and gave full support. A building at Jalan Haji Taha was placed at the disposal of the Army and the Army began taking in residents. Within a short period of time the Home was full to capacity.

Captain Joan Sharman was appointed from England to assist Captain Willis. I recall meeting this young captain when she passed through Singapore. She attended a meeting at Balestier Corps gave her testimony at the open air meeting at the corner of Mandalay and Balestier Roads. Captain Sharman started Salvation Army Guards and Sunbeams at the Home (these groups were later renamed Girl Guides and Brownies and affiliated to the international movements) Sunday School and spiritual meetings were held in the Home for the girls and staff.

The Girls’ Home, as it was called then, was officially opened in October 1951 by Sir Anthony Foster Abell, Governor of Sarawak. Lieut. Colonel Frederick Harvey the Officer Commanding was present for the occasion.

The Corps (church) started to hold meetings in May 1953 in a small room above a mechanic’s workshop at Petanak Road at Padungan and Captain Agnes Morgan was appointed to take charge on 17th September 1953 – the first pastor of church.

Earlier in 1945 just after the war, the captain was among a team of New Zealand officers sent to Singapore and Malaya to hold on the work here while the officers who had been interned during the war years (1942-45) could take their homeland furlough. After a short term in Singapore she went to China and served there for a number of years until ordered to leave the country by the Communist Government.

She was fluent in Mandarin and commenced work among the Chinese educated in the Padungan area. Quite a number of Chinese speaking youths and children were attracted to the Army and many became soldiers. So Kuching began as a Chinese speaking Corps. Despite the lack of facilities the work expanded very quickly and there was a thriving Corps.

In October 1954 after the commissioning, Lieutenants Fong Pui Chan and Chan Chin Chai were appointed to the Corps and Girls’ Home respectively as assistants. Lieutenant Fong served till she was appointed to Malacca in 1957.

In 1958 Kuching Corps moved to its present location at Sekama Road. The larger and modern worship hall and YP Hall made it more convenient to add programmes to serve the people. The folk from the Padungan area continued their association with the Army and helped in the outreach to the people in the Sekama and Chawan Road area. New people started coming to the meetings and more members were added to our roll.

In 1958 the Army was requested to take over the running of a Boys’ Club and Hostel at Song Kheng Hai. The name was changed to The Salvation Army Boys’ Home and moved to the present location – a bungalow with a large compound to allow expansion. This was provided by the Sarawak Government. Captain and Mrs. Robert and Thelma Webb were appointed to take charge of this Home.

In 1961 Captain Robert Webb initiated the opening of a carpentry workshop in the compound of the Home. This carpentry workshop served a two-fold purpose – training boys with a skill and at the same time generating income for the Home. The Government even built quarters adjoining to the Boys’ Home for the officers in 1964.

The Girls’ Home was catering for children and girls who needed care and protection and elderly without family support. The building was inadequate for our needs. The Government encouraged the Army to expand our work and in 1959 provided the Army with a purpose built building at Uplands, Ong Tiang Swee Road. One section was for the nursery, another area for children and girls and the third section for the elderly.

My wife and I took up our appointment as Officers of Kuching Corps on 1st May 1962 and we spent three very happy years ministering to the people there.

Easter

Christ the Lord is risen today! Hallelujah! We were about to begin our sunrise service in the open air space facing the main road, but it started to drizzle and for the first time since the Corps opened, we had to change the venue for our service. We moved to the front porch which is under cover. Anyway we had a very good crowd who attended this service. The band accompanied the singing of Easter songs. the rain could not dampen the enthusiasm of our people who had gathered to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We moved to the social hall for our breakfast and fellowship. We were spoilt for choice - Chinese food, salmon porridge and meat dumplings; Indian food of chapati; local Singapore nasi lemak with ikan bilis and peanuts, friend egg etc and western food of bread, butter,corn flakes, sausages, bacon and ham. Thank God for the cooks who must have spent the whole Saturday night preparing such delicacies.

At 10.00 a.m. we had our Easter Celebration of Worship. The hall was full. Immediately after the last song "Thine is the glory" was sung and the benediction pronounced, we got into the hired bus and the whole congregation moved to Bukit Panjang Family Centre at Fajar Road for the dedication of the centre. This centre has been in existence for 20 years and from 1st April, it will come unto the supervision of the Corps. This gives the corps the opportunity to reach out to the community.

After the dedication of the centre, we returned to our corps for lunch and more fellowship. It was a glorious Easter day and we thank and praise God for His manifold blessings. To God be the glory!

Good Friday

Last evening our Corps (church) held Maundy Thursday meeting. It was good we were able to share fellowship and to be reminded of the sufferings of Jesus. We pondered over scenes of the Upper Room and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

This morning we joined our brothers and sisters in a Combined Service at Central Corps Bishan. The theme of the meeting was "Were you there?" The service began with the band piece "Passion Chorale" beautifully played by the combined bands of Central and William Booth Corps under the leadership of Bandmaster Bruce Gale. It really touched my heart.

This beautiful German hymn "O Haupt voll Blut und Wundun" was written by Bernard of Clairvaux and translated by James Alexander into English. I cannot recall this beautiful hymn used in a Salvation Army meeting since we returned to Singapore thirteen years ago. It's a pity such gems are not used any more by the younger officers. I've used this in my private devotions often for my own spiritual benefit.

We sang a number of the old songs associated with Good Friday. The Territorial Commander Colonel Keith Burridge gave the message 'Were you there?"

It was a beautiful service that ended with the singing of the old hymn "Man of sorrows..Hallelujah what a Saviour.