St James' Church

We are a little over the half-way mark in our fundraising for the new building. And indeed, thus far, the Lord has helped us (Ebenezer!). Keep up the praying please. This is a marathon project, to be worked on for the next 3 years. We will need the stamina and focus - on the finishing line and on Him who has called us to run this race in the first place.
This week, I met an old school friend whom I knew since my early secondary days. He was quite an unstable Christian then and I remembered spending a lot of time as a friend and helping him to grow. I recall meeting his older brother who seems more keen and stable but a ‘solid Brethren guy.” I used to debate with him on whether speaking in tongues is of God or the devil. It is strange, but we referred to the same book for our ‘proof arguments’ – the Bible. He was a lot older than me and referred to his Scriptures expertly. I was a young Pentecostal, trying to be coherent biblically but certainly not lacking in passion and conviction. I recall that he was encouraged by my zeal and faith, as I was by his commitment and bible knowledge.
Fast forward 30 years later. My ex-classmate is now CEO of a successful phone trading company with an Asian-wide operation. He attends church regularly in Hong Kong and seems stable in his faith. In our dinner conversation, he attributed his success to the Lord.  I also got to know that his brother has started a business in China. He is active in ministry and heading a house group which came together because they did Alpha. He heard that I was the ND of Alpha S’pore. We got on an overseas conversation together (using my friend’s iPhone which I saw for the first time). He spoke excitedly about Alpha and encouraged us here to keep promoting the ministry. If he is keen on Alpha, I suppose he must have since concluded that speaking in tongues is not of the devil.
What an amazing coincidence. After 30 years, I wonder where all my friends are or have become. Being Malaysians and going through a period of ‘scattering’ (due to local educational policies), we could hardly do anything to keep building on the earlier foundations of friendship and Christian fellowship. Yet, each can tell a story of how God can lead us.
And I thought of my own 30-year journey. Where I am, what I am doing and how blessed I have been – my life, my ministry, my family, my church (i.e. you!).
We can all pause can’t we and say, “Ebenezer - Thus far the Lord has helped us.”