xtravagantworshipper

“Jesus Never Fails” is my first item, officially I suppose, if you do not take into account the Christmas show at Orchard last year.

Frankly, I struggled with the rhythm of the song, and the parts of the song.

It was only until that night, when all of us received a surprise ‘gift’ from Wendy that I have a better ‘grip’ of the song and the parts.

To be honest, I thought we deserved that ‘gift’ from Wendy, or at least, I think I did deserve it.

I was absolutely delighted to be involved in the item. I didn’t mind serving the four services. I think at the end of it, all of us felt great. I know I did. I enjoyed the awesome presence of the Lord.

And yes, to think we managed to get it right after only three weeks of practices, it had to be the Holy Spirit.

I received an SMS from Nic (who’s away on long leave) after the fourth service – I guessed most brothers did. It was a message of encouragement – a pat on our backs. Really, I think God deserves all the glory.

And to think just a week ago, I was still struggling with the song.

Singing the item was a personal testimony to the fact that, as the title of the song says, “Jesus Never Fails”.

I think I have to share this now. I have shared with a few brothers and sisters in church, including Mervyn and Jefri, and they were all bugging me to share it at the end of the choir practice.

I guess I was just not comfortable with sharing in front of such a large crowd. I guess it’s better to pen it down here then.

Several brothers and sisters in choir knew that I had been without a job for more than three months.

I used to work in public relations in SIA but I resigned in the first week of January.

To cut a long story short, I felt the calling to go full-time sometime in October last year. At first I dismissed it and never really bought into it.

But the urge became stronger by the day, and a series of negative experiences at work, and at the same time, there was a call from the Publications Ministry (where I’m serving as a writer) for full-time writers.

I couldn’t believe how the string of events just seem to fall into place like that. Of course, I continued to pray about it and not rush into a rash decision.

On hindsight, I did make a rash decision. I sent in my application to church and tendered my resignation to SIA.

I couldn’t explain but there was a peace when I did what I did.

Well, as it turns out, there has been a change in the ministry structure, and they decided to close that position in favour of adopting an alternative approach. Simply put, the position that I previously applied for, was now closed or made void.

I want to be honest and say that I was disappointed. I'm not gung-ho and you know, be hypocritical and say that I'm not affected.

But I believe that if it's God's calling, my portion would not be taken away. I just have to trust in His season and timing.

I took a one-month break and it was only after Chinese New Year that I resumed my search for a job. And the results had not been promising.

Frustration was starting to build and get to me, especially when you have a nagging mother at home.

By God’s grace, I have caring brothers and sisters in choir who kept on encouraging me. Mervyn, Jefri, Leonard, Kok Leng, Clarissa, Belinda and Min have all at one point or another, extended their caring arms. (Not literal of course!)

Leonard and Clarissa went one step further by helping me keep a lookout and sending me ‘job ads’.

Okay I think I better cut to the chase and describe how I got my present job.

It had to be God, just God. In the beginning it was just one of the many companies that I decided to have a shot.

So I think it was in mid-April, when I was called up by this Green House Design and Communications. It was for the position of Copywriter.

The interview was all the more intriguing. This guy who interviewed me (he would turn out to be my boss), well, when he came to the part of asking me what I do in my free time.

I just said I spent quite a bit of time in church, serving in the choir, caregroup, etc. And he asked which church I came from and I said: “New Creation Church.”

And he said he’s also a Christian and he also listens to Pastor Prince’s tapes that his friend from New Creation get for him on a regular basis. He himself plays the drums in the worship team in his church.

And I don’t have to tell you the direction the interview went. I don’t know how but I just got excited and started sharing with him about how Pastor has been preaching on resting in the Lord and how he must come for our services should he be free.

And then I said I also watched soccer, and it turned out, we supported the same club, and again, we started chatting about Liverpool Football Club.

Of course, aside from the chat, he did ask the usual questions, but I walked away from that office that day, feeling very pleasant. Just felt good.

I don’t know if I was going to be called back for a second interview but I chose to not worry about it. Rest in the Lord - that was the message for those two weeks.

So my boss did call me back for a second interview, where I got to meet his other senior partners of the company. And he related how there were many applications and he’s still reviewing the others.

I tried to stifle my disappointment on hearing that. Then he started showing me around the office, introducing me to his colleagues.

I thought to myself: “How weird? Didn’t you just say you have other applicants to review? Then why are you showing me around the office, as if I have already been accepted?”

I can’t control my curiosity and just had to pop that question: “Didn’t you say you are still reviewing the other applicants?”

To which he sat me down back at the meeting room and said: “Personally, I’m very keen to have you on. I choose to go with my heart and I think it shouldn’t be a problem to have you in by Thursday if everything works out.”

I just sat there dumbfounded as the words filtered through. It must be God, I keep mumbling to myself as I made my way to the bus-stop to take the bus home.

And so it was, the interview ended at slightly past 11 a.m. that Tuesday morning, and at 3 p.m. the same day, he called me and said: “Good news bro! You’re in but there’s a catch! We need you to report for work tomorrow!”

Praise the Lord! How could I say ‘no’? It’s a dream job!

When you think of it, they are looking for a copywriter with experience and I had none. And for one with no experience, I’m getting paid $2k month – very unusual for someone with no experience.

In the first place, you would be thinking you don’t stand a chance at all. Because I have no portfolio, just the compilation of news articles I wrote during my stint as a reporter at TODAY newspaper. But that had absolutely nothing to do with copywriting and the work involved in a creative agency.

And what did I do at SIA? Public relations - and for only three months. How much experience and relevance can that amount to?

It’s got to be His grace and His favour. Nothing less.

I’m really enjoying my work now. And my company is in Chinatown, a blessed location - a few stops from Little India, and near to Suntec as well.

Since 2001, when a friend brought me to New Creation for the annual Christmas service at the National Indoor Stadium, the first thing that attracted me was the choir.

Of course, I was still actively serving in my previous church at that time, so changing church never crossed my mind.

But I guessed God moved in His own special ways. I made a huge decision to leave my previous church after six years. It was very trying because of the many deep relationships I have formed with some brothers and sisters there.

I never regretted that decision. Neither the decision to join the choir. That was the first thing that occurred to me – that I finally can join the choir in New Creation (I had to wait six months of course).

I remembered this item “Via Dolorosa” that the choir performed some time back. It was just so awesome, and I remembered sitting in my seat, speechless, not moving, and the tears just flowed. I want to be a part of it.

I recalled how a caregroup leader once shared with me: “Do you know what so-called ‘sets apart’ worship leaders from the rest? Worship leaders are like the keys to unlock Heaven’s doors. They help to call down the presence of the Lord into the congregation.”

We are all worship leaders in our own right, I recall Wendy telling us one day after practice. And yes we are indeed. When we stand on stage, we are not just going though a routine. We are calling down the presence of the Lord into the congregation.

Something special happens when you stand there on the platform. I once shared with a sister from choir who was going through some difficult times. I used the exact words of what the caregroup leader said to me.

And I reminded her of the fact that we are Levites. I was listening to one of Pastor Prince’s old sermons one day, and he talked about how King Jehoshaphat sent the Levites in praise and worship in front of his troops as he set forth to battle with the Ammonites and Moabites.

And the Bible says, his enemies just started killing each other, and King Jehoshaphat and his troops ended up collecting spoils.

Pastor said: “Can you imagine these people approaching the enemies and singing ‘He’s good and His love endures forever!’ How do you have the courage to sing as you edge closer to evil, to your enemies?”

And yet, this is what the Levites did, the Bible says. Everytime I take to the stage, I just want to be filled in the presence of the Lord. Something special happens when you stand there. You tend to experience first-hand the awesome presence of God.

And I feel, praise and worship is the easiest way to get intimate with God, and for Him to just reach into Your heart and touch you on the inside. It’s a touch like no other.

I had to apologize to Mervyn one day after the fourth service. Because I felt Him just touch me, like an invisible hand reaching into your heart and touch me.

Tears just flowed down, I couldn’t project my voice properly because my throat is choked, and my face was a tearful wreck. I’m sure some of you have similar experiences too. Of course, I’m quite an emotional person myself, so maybe I’m more susceptible.

I cannot explain it – that intimate love of God that I’ve felt on so many occasions during praise and worship. That’s what the choir means to me.

Apart from the fact that I now know how to sing better, but that I’ve learnt and grown with fellow brothers and sisters.

And I have experienced good things, and be drawn closer to God through serving in the choir. I’ve never taken for granted the chance to serve in the choir. It is a privilege, and I will not have anyone or anything take this chance away from me.

Thank you Jesus. For indeed, You are good, and Your steadfast love endures forever. Amen.

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