Seng ('74 MA, '76 MDiv) and Daisy ('74) Goh
Contact Information
Rev. and Mrs. Seng Fong Goh
Blk 305, Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
#08-1159. S(560305)
Singapore
Email: gohsengfong@hotmail.com
Telephone: 98207783
Mission Agency
Hope Baptist Church of Singapore
October 2009
Dear Friend,
Training Nationals for Nationals for integrity and skills (Psa. 78:72)
Thanks again for your prayer and labor of love in so many ways.
I. NEPAL TRAINING (Sept. 6-10)
This is our third year of training in Nepal for the MMin degree program and the students are doing very well. We have some 60 registered and at certain sessions, we have different numbers of participants. This time, we had 43 and three from Singapore. Ps BS Yap did a great job teaching prophetic studies in the book of Daniel. He will follow up on such studies with the book of Revelation in March 2010. I had the privilege and joy of leading in the study of leadership in the book of Nehemiah. A medical doctor, Dr. TT Yap was kept busy, visiting and ministering to people in an orphanage, a training center and a village. Prayer is requested for some health program for the folks in the remote villages. We do need doctors, dentists, nurses and medical supplies. Praise the Lord that He has privileged us, not only to train leaders but also to provide some community services. Next session will be on Feb. 28-March 4, 2010.
Here are some testimonies of the Nepalese pastors and leaders:
Ps. Ratna Bahadur Rai: As I am quite old in age, engaged in full-time ministry and with a family, it would be difficult and unaffordable to go for further studies. Asia Seminary for Ministry has provided me a good opportunity that I be able to upgrade my academic qualification, which is so necessary and helpful for my future ministry.
Ps. Shanti Prasad Dahal: The classes have given me, not only information, but also the teachings have transformed me and my ministry. One class helped me to set goals for my ministry which I did not know before.
Ps. NP Pradhan: I have learnt about Nehemiah’s prayer life and his positive attitude towards people and work. I must also not misuse my position as a pastor. Leadership is not lordship but servant hood.
Ps. Bir Bdr. Tamang: I am really blessed by Nehemiah’s prayer life. He was a man of prayer and a prayer addict. It is really a challenge for me to become more addicted to prayer. I am going to improve my prayer life and pray also for the ministry.
Hom Bdr. Tamang: I have come to a clear realization that serving God is not easy. It is a serious matter. It has to start knowing God and knowing where He is going and joining Him with others to achieve His purpose. My foremost aim this time onward will be attempting to know God more and investing my life in people so as to achieve what God has placed in my heart.
Saroj Magarati: I learnt from Daniel to be loyal to God in this changing world. I should be loyal to Him rather than the world. From Nehemiah, I learnt not to quit, but to go on persistently towards the primary purpose that God has given me.
II. MEDAN, INDONESIA (14-18 Sept)
Dr. Haposan Siregar, pastor and educationist, has always been burdened with training his own fellow-pastors and leaders in Sumatra. My trip in May to his good church people and fellow-pastors resulted in the challenge to begin a training program in Medan. We were to gauge and discern God’s will from the first session. Bro. John Ching taught there for a week with some 40 students. We see the good Hand of the Lord in this and so we desire to continue to help with this new endeavor. The next session will be from 14-18 December. The people there are so interested that that they desire 4 sessions per year. Therefore we are going to need your prayer for teachers as well as for the funds to feed the participants and to supply materials.
III. SINGAPORE
We have been blessed with good sessions in our Counsel-Life classes. We just have time to complete the 10 steps in counseling. Our last class will be held on Thurs. 29 Oct., 7.30pm, to be held in Zion BP Church in Bishan Street 13. God is good to us. Next year, we will begin to tackle some counseling challenges, like dealing with emotions, anger, depression, bi-polar, addiction, etc. Please pray for and with us as we equip our own people for Singapore.
Three of our participating teachers will embark on the Doctor of Ministry program to up-grade themselves. Rev. James from Mynamar will also join in the first session from 16-20 November. Praise the Lord for this unique privilege and joy for these. Please pray for and with Rev. Yap Beng Shin, Rev. Tan Eng Boo, John Ching and Rev. James. God will equip them so that they could equip others.
2009 has been an eventful and fruitful year with many firsts. We are very excited about the next year. We will be praying and introducing the program for 2010 soon.
The good Lord bless you and all yours greatly!
(Heb 6:10) “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Praying,
Rev. Goh Seng Fong (John 12:24)
Faith at Work through Asia Seminary for Ministry
Reaching Nationals for Nationals
Hi friends,
(Psa 78:72) “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.”
Wow, this July was one busy month. Praise the good Lord for all the opportunities and challenges.
1. 2-8 July – ministry to the Chinese. What a privilege and joy to be ministering to them. Two teams, one from the West and one from Singapore brought the Good News through the Evangel-cube. It was training time with practical witnessing. God worked in hearts.
2. 10-18 July – ministry to the Vietnamese. Our team ministered to some 40 over pastors, leaders and Bible College students for five full days, mornings, afternoons and nights. God’s presence and provision were felt as we studied together. We visited some friends that one of our churches had supported while they were studying in a Bible college in Singapore. One is a Pastor while the other is an assistant Pastor with his wife running a kindergarten of some 50 children. We also visited the potential site of a new ministry by a young couple that had just returned from Bible College training.
3. 23-25 July – Leadership Conference. Leaders from Nepal and Myanmar came for training. Praise the good Lord for the many that gave in many ways: scholarships, funds, clothing, time, effort and fellowship. Churches also open their great hospitality in housing them and in the fellowship of the Gospel. They would not be able to be trained without friends like you. For them, it was a once-a-lifetime experience. God knows how much transformation He had done in each of them. On their behalf, may I say a Big Thank You!
Course on Biblical Counselling I
(10 sessions beginning Thu. Aug. 6, 2009, 7.30pm - 9.30pm)
"In the multitude of counsellors, there is safety" (Prov. 11:14)
CounselLife should be the life of every Christian. We have a God-given responsibility to minister to one another. We must be willing to care and share with the needs of others. As we are privileged to share the Gospel and to lead others to faith in Christ, we are also entrusted with the emotional and relational care of others.
Too often, we have abdicated such care to the professional (they do have their place). We have failed to realize that we lay Christians do have more abilities that we have been credited with. Often we do get good results through individual care as well as self-help groups.
In this initial study, we will explore the important ministry we can perform as counsellors and the structure for that ministry. Our goal is to equip ourselves to be wise in meeting needs of our everyday contacts. The structure will include the process as well as the content of counselling. For example, we will seek answers to such questions as:
- What are the dynamics of a counselling relationship?
- How do I identify the real problems?
- What steps can I take to help a person make wise decisions?
- What biblical principles should be used in evaluating the probable outcomes of various alternatives?
- How can I help people change patterns of behavior?
Please pray and plan to participate as we journey together. Please bring your friends and loved ones too.
Coming Soon…
1. RecoveryLife - steps to recovery from trials and temptations of life
Two-day modular class in October, 09. Please pray and watch out for this great study.
2. Training trip to Nepal, 5-12 Sept. The MMin program is in its third year in Nepal. We praise the Lord for some 56 that had undergone the training. Please pray for a good number to attend. We will also have a doctor friend travelling with us. He will be doing some medical missions.
3. Training trip to Medan, Indonesia, 14-18 Sept. We will begin a formal training in Medan with Dr Haposan Siregar, his leaders and invited pastors and their leaders. This will be our first session. We are praying for His blessing as we venture, by faith, in training Indonesians for Indonesians.
May the good Lord bless you and all yours greatly!
Praying,
Rev. Goh Seng Fong
(John 12:24)
June 2009
Hi friend,
(Isa 52:12) For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward.
Thanks for your prayerful support and the many that put in their labor of love. God is in control and He has been really busy with us the past two months, since I last wrote. It is our unique privilege and joy to be co-laborers with Him and with you.
May:
1. We completed our night training classes in Singapore, on “Ministry of Paul” and “Psalms” (left). God gave us good lessons to be applied in our lives and churches.
2. (18–19 May) We had training in Leadership from the example of Nehemiah (below, right). A good number of leaders from various churches turned up for this modular class. We had friends from Batam and Vietnam too. We are praying that we will continue to learn how to lead in His will and way.
3. (21–25 May) God gave us some special times with Dr Haposan and his good people, in Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia. The new church building was up and we had a glorious Sat night of praises and decisions for Jesus Christ. A good number made salvation and dedication decisions. About 50 attended the two-day special training. Prayer and plans are made for formal sessions of training, beginning in September.
June:
1. Most of co-workers of Faith@work were involved in church camps. It was my privilege and joy to have fellowship with Hope Baptist during its camp, first week of June. What a refreshing time to learn to be gripped by the greatness of our Lord God and to enjoy the blessings of fellowship with Him and His people.
2. (9–15 June) God opened the door into Myanmar. I had a good time with some 50 Chinese Bible college students from Myanmar and China (right). I had the unique experience of preaching and teaching them for one night and a full day. God revived our hearts together and challenged us for greater personal commitment to Him.
3. While in Myanmar, I had good fellowship with Rev. James, Principal of a Seminary in Mandalay, Rev. Paul, President of a Seminary in Yangon and Dr. Hanly, President of another Seminary in Yangon, and his faculty. We prayed and looked to God for His guidance and help in the ministry of training their own people for their own. God will have His will and way, in and through our lives as we co-labor together.
(Isa 43:19) Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
July:
1. (1–9 July) A team will head for China for some ministry experiences. I had always been desirous to visit China, but God had closed the door till this opportune time. I had the joy to have ministered to Chinese leaders who were in Cambodia and Myanmar. But this will be the first time into my own homeland, though not into my own home province (Maybe God will lead me to that someday!). We are excited to see what the good Lord is doing and will do in the days to come. Please pray for safety and blessings.
2. (10–18 July) A team will visit Vietnam for some exploring and ministering. God will open this door into Vietnam as and when He sees fit. I had the privilege and joy to have been there some time ago and the good Lord has continued to lay His burden for Vietnam in my heart. Hope Baptist had been sponsoring a Vietnamese couple in their study at a Bible College in Singapore. The husband, Bao An graduated this summer with a Master of Divinity degree and the good Lord had provided the family a place to stay as well as to begin a ministry. We will be there to help them settle down and to pray and plan for their ministry.
3. While there, we will be training some 45 leaders for five mornings, afternoons and nights. The leaders are from Bao Ann’s father’s ministry. He had always wanted us to train his leaders. God has His will and timing and we believe it is His will and timing for us to be there this July.
4. (22–27 July) We will be helping to sponsor 10 Nepalese leaders and 10 leaders from Myanmar for a special conference on Leadership. The organizers have been willing to absorb the conference fees. We have to help them with their air tickets, to and fro Nepal, Sing $915, and to and from Yangon, Myanmar, around Sing $450. We will also have to provide accommodation, food and transport while they are here. All of us, here and abroad, are looking to the Lord to supply the needs. There are pastors and friends who have already indicated their desire to help. Praise the Lord for the supply of funds for the air tickets. Please let me know how and when you can help in other areas. If some pastors or churches will need to have some of these leaders to share their ministries to them on Sunday, July 26, please let me know. Let us count this a privilege and joy of training nationals to nationals. These leaders will go back and impact their own for our great Lord.
August:
1. (1 August - Sat) Gospel Light BP Church will be having an afternoon seminar on Parenting, so if you desire to attend, please contact Rev. Chin Meng (Tel: 62530706).
2. (6 August - Thu, 7.30pm – 9.30pm) New session for Singapore: “Biblical Counselling”, 10 consecutive Thursday night sessions this year. Our prayer is to concentrate on training counsellors, doing personal as well as church counselling. If you feel led to do such a ministry, please pray and commit to the 10 Thursday nights. We will be having counselling cases to discuss too. Prayerfully, we will continue to gather for the next 10 sessions in 2010 to further equip and to do hand-holding. Please pray and let me know of your desire. Praise the Lord for the permission of Sembawang-Moriah BP church's session for the use of Sembawang BP Church's facilities for these classes. Our studies will be held at Sembawang BP Church, 9 Kalidasa Avenue (Sembawang Teachers' Estate), Singapore 789389. If you need transport from Yio Chu Kang MRT or from any other place, please let us know. Please pray and register soon. We will have a limited number of participants.
3. (10 August - Mon) Grace BP Church will be organizing a whole day practical seminar on Evangelism. This will be held in Shalom BP Church, 4 Loyang Besar Close (Pasir Ris). Witnessing to children, adults, elders and other people groups will be discussed. My part will be on “Understanding the Post-modern Mind”. Please contact Grace BP Church for more information (Tel: 64422440).
September:
1. (5–11 Sep) Nepal training, MMin classes.
2. (14–18 Sep) New training times in Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia.
Please continue to pray for and with us. We really thank the good Lord for faithful friends that stand at the gap and support us in so many ways. If we can be of any help to you, please let us know.
The Lord bless you and all yours!
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Rev. Goh Seng Fong
(John 12:24)
Reaching Nationals for Nationals
April 2009
Hi friends,
I. Foray into Tanzania, Africa
Thanks for your investment in Missions of our Lord Jesus Christ. We appreciate every effort to get the Gospel out.
Clinton, a young man of 21 yrs old, and I invested two great weeks of March in Tanzania. We had two objectives. One is to visit churches and to get the feel of their life and ministries. The other is to help establish a training school for this fellowship of 60 churches. Of course, our greatest desire is to see souls saved and to help build the pastors and leaders.
The first week, we visited 8 churches and we prayed and preached the Good News. Hearts were tender to God's love and salvation. These folks left their livestock and farming and walked for some 2-3 hours to the churches on the weekdays. Such were the commitment and sacrifice. We were so blessed by their love for the Lord.
The next week, we had training for 4 hours each day, Monday to Friday, for leaders of 48 churches in five locations. We had to travel some 2-3 hours to and fro. These places were in the country-side and most people were farmers. They took the day off to travel and be with us. The biggest group was some 200, while the smallest was 50. The dedication in attendance, the hearty singing and the close attention paid to the preaching and teaching really thrilled our souls. Decisions were made for salvation and for dedication, when the public call was made and answered. God moved in hearts and we rejoiced with the Lord and the hosts of Heaven as many were swept into His Kingdom.
Rev. Eli was my student some 8 years ago, during my trip to Kenya. After that, he was trained in Singapore, where I had the privilege to have taught him again. He left home for Tanzania, some 4 years ago and the good Lord had impressed upon him to begin a school of training for his pastors and leaders. We helped him work out a curriculum and a schedule of studies, unique to his leaders. He will begin the school in May, 09. A member had given a piece of land of about 4.5 acres (about the size of 4-5 football fields) to house the head-quarters of the fellowship as well as the Bible school. Please pray that the good Lord will provide for their needs.
We will be praying and planning to visit Tanzania again, June 2010.
II. Report from Rev. James of Mandalay, Myanmar
Graduation: 21st graduation was held on Mar 1, 2009 with 11 grads. Thank God that 10 of them are entering in ministry as church pastor, church planter and teachers.
Marriage Conference: was held at 2 places with 10 couples of pastors from Mar 2 - 8. It is my vision to enrich pastors and wives from different churches, so that they might become good examples to their flock and impact their congregations.
Fellowship’s Spiritual Convention: 28th convention was held from Mar 18-22 at North Eastern part of the country. Our theme: " Love the Lord with all your heart and love one another" really touched our hearts and blessed our lives. I preached 6 sermons and another pastor preached 2 sermons. We honoured 36 people, ages from 60 to 89 years old, with small gifts. Some believers from China joined us too.
Summer Schedule: I have to mark assignments of our MA program piled up before me and will visit some churches for edification. I will visit one church to dedicate a church building.
Special needs: The Seminary needs sponsors for about 30 students, this coming June. For one student, it will be US$150 per year. Please pray and let us know how you would help.
III. Classes in Singapore
Rev. Tan Eng Boo (on Life and Ministry of Paul) and I (on Psalms) completed our 14 sessions with a good number from different churches. What a privilege and joy. We are looking forward for His direction and timing for further training of leaders in Singapore.
Two-day Modular Classes
Topic: Book of Nehemiah (On Leadership)
Date: 18 - 19 May (Mon - Tue)
Time: 9am - 0430pm
Venue: Life BP Church,
9A, Gilstead Road (Greek/Hebrew Room, next to Church Office)
Costs : S$20 for package lunch and notes.
Registration: Please reply by email (gohsengfong@hotmail.com) or call Rev. Goh at 98207783 so that we can pray and plan for you.
Leadership is influence. Every one of us has influence so we all are leaders in one way or another. Nehemiah was a plain and ordinary market-place man, but he was highly motivated. Thus he rose from obscurity to prominence. We will learn from him, the vision of a leader, the strategies used and the conquest of criticism and discouragement in the midst of impossible circumstances. We will discover timeless and reliable principles for our home, working place and church.
Please pray and participate and do bring a friend along too.
Coming Soon!
Topic: Practical Study on Biblical Counselling (10 sessions)
Date: July
We are praying for leaders that will study together and then apply the study in their own lives and ministries. The classes will have interaction with cases of participants so that we can pray and apply God’s Word together in our life and in other lives too.
Please pray for my travels:
May 22-25
Medan, Sumatra
To be with Rev. Haposan and with Famachoi (Nias). We will have training classes in Medan and will explore training opportunity with the leaders in Medan. We also meet with Famachoi concerning his ministry in Nias.
June 10-19
Mandalay and Maymo in Myanmar
To conduct training classes.
Thanks again. May the good Lord bless you and all yours greatly!
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Rev. Goh Seng Fong
(John 12:24)
December 28, 2009
Faith@Work Fellowship
Hi,
Jesus Christ is the reason for this season!
His Name is called Jesus, because He is the Savior and will save us from the penalty, power and presence of our sins. The wages of sin is death and so He was born to die for our sins. He came to pay a debt He did not owe because we owe a debt that we could not pay. His resurrection proves that the debt was fully paid and that He will save us to the uttermost as we come by repentance and faith in Him. May this Christmas be a true Christmas to us as we put Jesus Christ as the center of our lives!
Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, we have a debt to pay to others. We have been saved from ourselves and our sins so that we can serve others. Faith@Work Fellowship is now officially established as a society for the holistic ministry of preaching and teaching as well as of healing and feeding. The purpose is still Reaching Nationals for Nationals. The process is through education and through community projects. Faith@work Fellowship, as a community net-work, will act as a catalyst, facilitator and conduit for reaching out to Nationals.
We desire to build for stability and credibility for the next two years. We will need partners in the various areas. We need prayer partners that will uphold us before God for God’s presence and provision. We need teaching partners in the different departments of studies: Bible, management, computer science, English, nursing, etc. We need resource partners to help us with resources in the teaching and community projects. We need financial partners to fund the various projects as well as funds for National pastors and students. Every dollar counts! We will be accountable to God and to you as faithful stewards. Please let us know in whatever area you would be able to help.
Please also be reminded that we do have ministries in Singapore too. We will be having two night classes beginning this January 2009: (1) Monday nights (14 sessions), beginning 12 January on “Experiencing God in the Psalms”, and (2) Thursday nights (14 sessions), beginning 15 January on “Life and Ministry of the Apostle Paul”. Classes will be held 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Life BP Church, 9A, Gilstead Road (near Newton MRT), Singapore. You and all yours are cordially welcomed. Please let us know if we can help you with some enrichment classes on marriages, relating styles, parenting, conflict management, communication, etc.
May God’s presence and pleasure be upon you and all yours this holiday season! May 2009 be an exciting and challenging year for all of us! If we can be of any help, please let us know.
Your servant in Jesus Christ,
Rev. Goh Seng Fong (John 12:24)
September 2008
Training Nepalese for Nepalese!
Praise the good Lord for the privilege and joy of training Nepalese. A team of 4 minstered to various training centers and churches.
1. Asia Seminary for Ministry - two years had passed for such training. Two more years and some will receive MMin degree (Nepal Program). God had been faithful all these two years and we look forward to the next two.
(a) Dil and his fine team are being upgraded for their work among the illiterate in Nepal. They have two residential training centers of about 20 people each for 5month training. Also the team goes out where churches and people are to minister. With the MMin training, they can also upgrade their program.
(b) Other pastors and leaders are also training in their own residential schools and colleges. Again, we are training leaders so that they can train others.
(c) Pastors and leaders not involved in training schools, are further equipped to lead their own churches and othere para-church work.
2. We also provide avenues for pastors and churches to partnership with local pastors and church planters. Praise the Lord for some support already promised and provided by churches and individuals.
3. We have been helping some pastors with two goats per pastor family. This time, we brought up Sing $900 for six pastors in the poorer regions. Thus far, we have help 33 pastors. Thanks for your prayer and help.
4. This time, there was an urgent need for a second-hand bike for a worker to move around. God provided Sing $1000 for the immediate purchase. Again, we praise the good Lord for His provision.
5. We will be back in March 09 for another session of ministry.
Two trips will be taken in October. (1) 14-19 Oct will see a team into Cambodia for training in various areas: Bible, people skills, doctrine of the Holy Spirit, nursing, English, etc. Please pray for safety, wisdom and blessing. We also need His leading for the days ahead. (2) 29-31 Oct will be an exploratory trip into Laos. God will bring us into contact with local pastors and leaders and HE must lead and bless.
Myanmar, here we come, 3-15 Nov ... plse pray for God-chosen team members. We will visit three places of ministries. Pray for visas to be granted, trainers and teachers and for needs to be met. God will be praised. James of Mandalay is now in the Typhoon Nagris area for Yellow Flower project to minister to physical and spiritual needs of the people. Please pray for him and his team too in October.
Thanks for your prayer and the many other loving support.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Goh (John 12:24)
Prayer Letter
December 1, 2007
Dear Friend,
TRAINING NATIONALS FOR NATIONALS
1. Report on Myanmar: A stout-hearted team was all poised to enter into Myanmar for training in November, but the Lord God suffered us not (Acts 16:6,7). Visas were not granted during that period of turmoil. Nevertheless, prayer was offered to the Lord for the suffering people, especially for the pastors and their flocks. After a time, we were able to contact leader James and he assured us that he and his fellowship of churches were preserved from harm. Praise the Lord! Also many of God’s people gave so that we were able to send the gifts over to help the pastors to tide over these difficult times. They received our fellowship in the gifts with great praises to the Lord and with thanks for all those that had given. The Lord willing, we plan to be there March, 08. The annual Conference will be held the last week of March in one of the seven states.
2. Report on Indonesia: God, in His eternal wisdom and will, moved us into Indonesia, Nov. 07. The Lord of the harvest led and we simply followed.
A. Nias, Sumatra: Two teams, one after another, visited and ministered to the second largest city of Nias island of 700,000 (earth-quake- and tsunami- prone area). The first team was there to dedicate the kindergarten and youth Center. We had a great night of celebration of thanksgiving with Famachoi and Damai (our co-laborers – God’s chosen couple), their loved ones and friends. Official representatives from the government and Education department were there to offer their good wishes. The children Sunday School was well attended and the first fellowship service for adults and youth was started. Both teams also had the privilege and joy to be ministering to a group of about 70-80 teacher trainees concerning relating styles, principles of teaching and creative thinking. Education in the 3 Rs and in the fourth R in the religious Gospel message of Jesus Christ will well prepare the children, youth and adults of Nias into the future and into eternity. Another team will be there Dec. 25-31, 07. There are at present some 15 registered for the kindergarten. The Lord willing, we desire to add another building with two rooms to cater for Primary One and Two classes in the future.
B. Medan, Sumatra: Medan is the largest city in Sumatra and we had the privilege and joy to renew ties of fellowship and ministry with Rev. Dr. Haposan (one of students that I had the privileged to have taught). God had given him a great church and the flourishing kindergarten, primary and secondary schools. About 33 teachers gathered for a 3 hour teaching on the philosophy and laws of teaching. It was a real blessing to observe these teachers’ love for teaching and for the students. Questions were asked and we had a fruitful time together. God had been using our experiences in teaching to help these. We are planning for other teams to be there in 08 to train the teachers as well as to reach the hundreds of students for the Lord.
C. Batam Island: A good group of full-time workers and leaders from various churches attended training on attitude development in the morning, while another bigger group of teachers was taught principles of teaching. Again, there was hunger for skills training, based on God’s eternal Word. We had discussion times as well as interaction with one another on application. Visits will be made next year to train them further. A good group of 5 was interested in the projected modular classes to be held in Singapore, 08.
3. Asia Seminary for Ministry: The Seminary was dedicated on 6 Oct, 07 and we praise the wonderful Lord for the good turn-out of pastors and friends from various churches. Praise the Lord for Ps Tan Choon Seng, Session and members of Shalom BP Church that under-gird this new ministry. Thank you for those that had given to this worthy cause of the Lord. Our emphasis is on developing nationals on godly character and in ministry skills through mentorship. Our prayer is that we will complement training of the churches and colleges.
a. Continued Training will be held April and Sept. 08 in Nepal, and March and November 08 in Myanmar. New challenges are opening up in Cambodia.
b. In Singapore, Life Learning night classes (14 sessions each) will be held on Mondays and Thursdays (please see the attachment). Our prayer is to be a blessing to you.
(i) “Family Life” class, beginning Monday, 7 Jan. 08, 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Shalom BP Church, 4, Loyang Besar Close, Singapore.
(ii) “A Survey of Bible Study Methods”, beginning Thurs. 10 Jan. 08, 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Life BP Church, 9A, Gilstead Road, Singapore.
The fees will be $20 each to be collected on attending class. You may take these for credits or you can come and enjoy these for audit. Please pray and invite others too.
c. In Singapore, projected modular classes will be held in March and May 08, if we have at least 5 interested students. Each course will be on full day (8.30am to 5.30am), Monday to Wednesday. Please let us know of your interest so that we can pray and plan with you. We will write more of these courses as you express interest.
Thanks again for the privilege and joy of visiting with you through this letter. May the good Lord give you and all yours a God-blessed Christmas and a great 2008 ahead! The best is yet to be – our future as bright as His promises! Amen!
September, 2007
Dear friend,
Training Nationals for Nationals
“For who hath despised the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10).
God put into the hearts of five leaders in Singapore (Rev. Tan Eng Boo of Grace BPC, Rev. Tan Choon Seng of Shalom BPC, Rev. Yap Beng Shin of Olivet BPC, Rev Goh Seng Fong, Hope Baptist Church, and Deacon John Ching of Life BPC) the desire to train Nationals for Nationals. Other pastors have also shown interest in such training. We are praying for such collaboration with these pastors and for tie-ups with other seminaries and colleges.
With that mission in mind, Asia Seminary for Ministry was mooted and began its ministry in Nepal (March, 07, with 32 students) and Myanmar (Jan, 07, with 14). These pastors and leaders are in the Master of Ministry program. Most are in their 30s and 40s. What a great privilege and joy to be training future leaders for God’s vineyard!
We are also excited to see what the good Lord will have for us in Singapore. The Seminary is registered at Shalom BPC, under Rev. Tan Choon Seng, Pastor and Supervisor, and his great team. Beginning from Jan, 08, we will offer training for the Bachelors of Theology, Ministry and Religious Education. Two nights classes per week will be held to train other leaders of churches. We will keep you informed.
Please pray for and with us as we continue to wait on the Lord of Harvest for His will, timing and laborers. Do encourage others who desire to grow in the Lord and to be equipped for His ministry. We exist to serve you and all your loved ones and friends.
Please pray for me too as I desire to finish strong in 2007, in these Mission trips:
1. Nepal, with Rev. Robert Chew of Moriah, BPC, 16-28 Sept. Some 50 pastors will gather for the Master of Ministry classes, another 80 in Training center, and 100 from Central Region (in three locations).
2. Nias, off Sumatra, with Rev. Tan Eng Boo and team, 20-25 Oct. A new work is born in Nias with Famachoi and Damai. What an exciting opportunity! Dedication for the new building for kindergarten (14 students now), youth and worship hall will be held 21 Oct. Some funds will be needed to buy equipments for the Center and worship hall.
3. Mynamar, with Rev. Yap Beng Shin and team, 10-24 Nov. in three places of ministry, equipping pastors and leaders.
Thanks for your loving support in prayer and many other ways. May the good Lord visit with you and all yours in good health and strength for Him and for souls!
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Rev. Goh SF (John 12:24)__________________________________________________________________________________
December 8, 2006
Training Nationals for Nationals – "Equip and support for Ministry" (Eph. 4:12)
God’s vision for me is to train national pastors and leaders for multiplication of His Word and kingdom in third world countries. In the past 11 months, I have made 2 trips to Myanmar, 2 trips to Nepal and 2 trips to Nias, and also conducted training locally in Singapore. Thanks for all your faithful prayers and loving support to enable me to be God’s ambassador in these challenging times. Below are some highlights of 2006.
1. Myanmar (55 million population). In January, I had the privilege and joy to preach at the graduation services of two seminaries. One of them, I had been helping for the past 20 years. Also seminars and preaching were conducted at two places, one with 86 participants and another with over 400 at its Fellowship’s General Conference. In November, I taught at four seminaries with a total of some 230 students. With another fellow-pastor, we were adjunct teachers at one with over 70 students. Then there were two seminars, one for 120 pastors and leaders from 18 churches and the second for another 100 from 25 churches. There had been observable growth as a result and requests have been extended to us to return.
In 2007, we will re-visit these pastors and leaders, twice a year, with other training materials. Prayerfully, there will be a select group of 10-12 pastors and leaders for the up-grading of their ministry study and skills. The program will run for three and a half years, leading to an In-Ministry Master degree. In January, I will be involved with a Fellowship of Churches General Conference (Wed. 24th Jan. to Monday, 29th Jan) of some 400 people. I am praying for a medical and dental team as well as a team of teachers to help with the men, women and youth.
2. Nepal (26 million). Our vision is to train pastors and leaders in all the five regions of Nepal. In March, I trained some 100 each in two of the regions. In September, I covered the last two regions. The first region was covered last year. At all these training sessions, there were good attendances of about 100 each time. The West and Far West Regions, the poorest and hottest of the five regions also saw good turnout. The pastors and leaders were all hungry and eager to be equipped with God’s Word.
In March 2007, we will head across the next nation, to train 100 Bhutanese pastors and leaders. In Nepal, we will continue to go to the regions with new teaching materials. Also we are seeking God’s will and timing in doing up-grading for a select group of pastors and leaders for In-Ministry Master degree. God is raising up a new generation of pastors and leaders, and we praise the Lord for the privilege and joy of equipping them for ministry.
3. Batam, Medan, Indonesia. We had training sessions in evangelism and leadership in these places. It was great to see the hunger for fellowship and training among the leaders of churches. The Lord willing, we plan to visit these pastors and leaders more next year.
4. Nias, Sumatra (700,000). God led a trained couple, Famachoi and Damai, home to Nias. They have a piece of land in Nias that they are willing to use for God’s work. They have also put in S$10,000 of their own money for the work. Some funds were provided to help them build a kindergarten-cum-tuition center to reach out to the youth and children. The Lord willing, the building will be ready in the next few months. They have already established a core group of 10-12 and started a children’s ministry. The ministry will need our prayer and support. Mission trips can be arranged so that we can help them in their ministry.
5. COMING OUR WAY IN SINGAPORE, starting Thurs. 11th Jan, 2007.
Training Course on "Care Ministry" – the Church, the Community that Cares.
12 sessions on Thursday nights, 11th Jan. to 12th April, 2007 at Life BP Church (Chinese service Hall), 9, Gilstead Road. Please come and bring someone along! 7.30pm to 9.30p.m
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Think About these statements:
- "Churches can be lonely places where lonely people go so that they can be lonely together."
- "People do not care what we know, till they know we care for them."
- "Instead of caring, we usually react, resent, criticize, label and run."
Think about what God has done and is doing. God the Father so loved that He gave His Only Begotten Son. God the Son Jesus Christ so loved that He gave Himself in life, death and resurrected life for us. God the Holy Spirit continues to pour His love and power in and through us so that we can be like Jesus in all His love and care.
Jesus Christ Himself set the great example. He not only preached and taught for spiritual benefit, He also met the physical, emotional and all the wholistic needs. He "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38). He established caring as a great priority as He reminded us of the Great Commandment of loving God and people (Matt. 22:37-39). The early disciples followed their Lord as they cared and shared. "All that believed were together and had all things common" (Acts 2:44).
Our study together will be an interactive one to help us develop an understanding of the aspects of caring, along with some basic skills we will need to care for ourselves and others. This basic course will form the beginnings for anyone that desires to enter into Christian counseling.
Upon completion, we will be able to:
- Understand the basic ingredients of caring – to support, encourage and help to transform lives.
- Examine our own needs for personal growth and for others to minister to us.
- Learn some basic skills in the caring for others in certain conditions.
May the good Lord give u a God-blessed Christmas and a great New Year 07!
Praying,
Rev. Goh SF (John 12:24)