We met at Balestier Corps for the Memorial Service for Brother Andrew Ong on Saturday 7th December. The hall was quite full with relatives and friends of Andrew. The three children - Janaine, Aaron and Amelyn paid tribute. They spoke about their father's love for the family. Janaine played the piano for the meeting and also paid her tribute in singing a solo "Amazing Grace."
Andrew's sister Janet and her two children from Canada were at the meeting. Jocelyn the daughter read tributes from Andrew's eldest sister Ruth who was not able to be present.
Because of my connection with Balestier Corps and the family, I was asked to give the devotional message and conclude the meeting with the song "When the roll is called up yonder I'll be there." I then pronounced the benediction.
The folk proceeded upstairs to the social hall for a meal provided by the family.
We were pleased to meet many old friends, some we had not seen for years. It seems to me that's the time we meet - as weddings, funerals and wakes! We hope some of these folk would return to The Salvation Army.
I knew Andrew when he was a baby and played with him when he was a toddler. I was a teen ager then after the war.
Later in 1957 as Lieutenant I returned to Balestier to be the Corps Officer (pastor), Andrew was about 11 and I used to sign his Boys' Brigade card to prove that he had attended our Sunday School.
Fast forward to 1970 when my wife and I were Corps Officers of Central Corps, Andrew used to join Central for Torchbearers. It was at Central that he met Irene and they fell in love with each other. I signed the transfer note for Irene to take to Balestier. Later they got married and had three children. Now they are grandparents!
When we were in England, Andrew came with Janaine and prior to entering University in the United Kingdom, stayed with us for a short while. Andrew one day took Janaine to the see the grave of William Booth. At the graveside, he said this to his daughter "Janaine, remember the Lord and his servant William Booth the founder of The Salvation Army. Had it not been for William Booth, I don't know where we would be today. He was a man of faith and vision. The Salvation Army spread to Singapore and your grandparents were among the first to accept Jesus as Saviour."
Andrew was a godly man. His roots sank deep in the Army. Pastors came and went, but Andrew remained faithful.
Andrew was very musical and loved his guitar and today he is enjoying heavenly music in heaven with the Lord.
It was a good to arrange the Memorial Service on the Saturday. I do not think it right that we should give up our Worship Service on a Sunday to hold a memorial service, especially when we have only one meeting on a Sunday. No family should expect the pastor to replace the Sunday service with the Memorial Service.
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