Upcoming Cell Series: Building Healthy Self for Lasting Relationships

In the 4 weeks while the EA Pulpit series touches on Family and Marriage, ONELife will be having 2 weeks of discussions on building a healthy self for lasting relationships in their cell meetings. It will be a DVD cum discussion approach.


Week of Feb 7-11 – “The Compulsion for Completion”

All of us have a tendency to shortcut to personal wholeness by looking to others to complete us. We think “If I find the right person, my life will be complete”. This discussion will look at what it means to develop personal wholeness


Week of Feb 14-18 – “Keeping Family ties from Pulling Strings’

Our biological families influenced the way we relate to others. How much do we bring them into our relationships? What should we change and what should we keep?


If you are a Young working adult in your 20s and early 30s and are not currently in any cell, you are welcome to visit one of the ONELife cells for this discussion series. Please go to the Cell Connection Counter today and sign up and one of the ONELife leader will get in touch with you.

And also a reminder that Relationship Conference “The Right Combination” is on Feb 26, 9am – 2pm. You can register online at http://elife.riverlife.org.sg/weblink/therightcombination/intro.htm or sign up at the Conference booth in the atrium.

Dalit Child Sponsorship

Today is the Mission Drive weekend. I thought it is good to share about how I came to sponsor one of the Dalit Child some weeks ago on 13th March. Before the CE course on that day, I saw the Dalit Child booths and the pictures of the Dalit children. There is a prompting within my heart to go to the other side of the booths and to look at one of the pictures in the middle row. I saw a little boy, he looks quite different from other boys, seems pretty mature for boy of his age? There is something outstanding about him. Then I look at the description, he had a elder sister who had paralysis and most of their family's income is spent for her treatment, they do not have enough to eat and pay for. When I read this, somehow it gripped my heart. I felt a prompting that I could be God's vessel to bless this family and this little boy by sponsoring him so that through education support, the family would be able to break out of current situation of poverty trap, also recognizing how tough it is for the family taking care of a young girl who is immobile. However I see a bright future ahead of this little boy as God will provide and bless even though I believe the situation maybe tougher than I could ever imagine. Therefore I really hope this little contribution will bring a little light into this little boy's life and his family, and he will be empowered to rise up to the calling God had put into his heart. Also I pray that the little boy and his family will witness God's love through the most simple way of giving and acts of love, may they see God's miracles in their life, especially his sister that God will cause her to walk one day! That many will testify the goodness of God and power of God at work! I thank God that I obey God when I felt prompting to be part of the Dalit Child Sponsorship program, it is always a blessing to give. It is also my first time involving in this program, felt privileged to give even though I had other concerns too. But I am glad I choose to put God's will above all in my heart. I hope I can pray constantly for the Dalit Child I am sponsoring, looking forward to exchanging letters and writing to encourage and show love, even though I am not quite sure what to really write. Also look forward to visit the Dalit Child maybe next year 2011, by God's grace and his good timing. As I ponder and share about the process of sponsoring the Dalit Child, is there anything God is prompting and challenging you in the area of mission? Dear fellow brothers and sisters, I urge you to respond to the call God had put in your heart. A little step of obedience will not only bless the lives of the individuals you are touching but will also bring you one step closer to the heart of God. It is all about God.

NLE Testimony

NLE (Men), now known as Divine Encounter (Men), is coming from 30 Oct-1 Nov @ Mercure Johor Palm Resort & Golf. Wonder any of you keen to go along together for a time of refreshing, healing and restoration? I do strongly encourage you to go if you believe that it would help or especially if the Lord is prompting you that you need further restoration. Just make the step in faith and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit.

I share with you here my concise testimony which I shared in church last year. I have previously shared my encounter in detail here.

Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)
¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, ³ he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

As I shared in my previous testimony, the Lord may be saying to some of you "the time for restoration and healing is now". May the Lord make you lie down on green pastures and lead you to quiet waters.

“An upgrading project”… that’s how I would describe my experience with the New Life Encounter (Men) last year. Just like an upgrading project, I have come to realize in the days following NLE, that God has begun a work of significant restoration through NLE. Having been through the beatings of life… I’ve experienced God’s healing, restoration and renewal. He is also slowly working in my life to make things better than before…

Hello, my name is James. I am from OneLife and am currently also serving in the cell ministry there. I thank God for the opportunity to be able to stand here to share with you about NLE (Men). Frankly speaking, when I was approached more than a month ago to share my testimony for NLE, I was very hesitant. I still remember and am very grateful for the work God did in me through NLE. But being the introverted me, I thought that “this is not for me, leave it to others”. And yet, a part of me battled with that thought and gradually, I became convicted of the need to testify to what God has done in my life, and to bless others as God has blessed me. So, I told God that I am going forth in faith, believing that He will use it for His glory.

I came to RiverLife in August 2005. At that time, I was going through some struggles in my work and personal life, everything seemed to be falling apart. I was deeply wounded by people and circumstances and badly needed respite. In addition to that, I was also burning out at work.

I had backslided for some 15 years. For years, I had rejected friends’ invitation to church, for fear of being looked down upon as a backslider. But this time round, my friend told me that RiverLife was having a service to launch her new building and so I thought I would just come by to visit.

During that service, I was ministered to and rededicated my life to Christ, and God began healing my hurts. It’s interesting how God brought me back during that service (which happens to also be RiverLife’s anniversary). So now every year, I am reminded of my own coming back to God as the church celebrates her anniversary.

Over the course of time, I began to be ministered by God through the weekly sermons, and it began to help nurse my past disappointments, emotional hurts and unforgiveness. But one day, I realised how I had not really gotten over some of my unforgiveness. God impressed upon my heart how I was overwhelmed by unforgiveness and bitterness towards the people who had hurt me, and this was affecting both my personal and spiritual life. And I thought, “It is by no fault of mine that I am this way!”

But my problems in trusting people persisted. Everytime I got emotionally hurt again, I would spiral downwards. It was as if I had hit a glass ceiling and could go no further… I was getting real sick and tired of always yearning to connect with people but yet battling my tendency to withdraw from them for fear of disappointment and hurt again. I was getting very frustrated and desperately needed a breakthrough! And so, I decided I would give NLE a try.

I can recall the day of departure to NLE at Harbourfront, I was waiting around with the other brothers-in-Christ. I remember “beating myself up” emotionally, asking myself “why did I subject myself to this, coming to this retreat all alone?” The introverted side of me was causing me to feel real vulnerable amidst all the unfamiliar faces. I remember asking how I was to survive the next 2 days. I uttered a short prayer to God to watch over me the next 2 days, and help me keep the focus of dealing with my issues.

I had always thought that I had forgiven people for how they hurt me. But on the contrary, I came to realize during NLE how the hurt was still pretty raw and painful. The sessions not only helped to surface my unforgiveness towards others but even towards myself for the things I had done to grieve God. Some of these things have been repressed for so long I had totally forgotten about them. Most importantly, I have come to learn and understand from the heart, how we have been commanded to forgive, how Christ Himself set an example of releasing forgiveness through His work on the cross, how we are all WIP (Works in Progress), and how God not only loves us but wants to be reconciled with us, and to empower us.

Immediately after NLE, I went back to journal about my experience and encounter with God. It was a good time of reflection as I came to full realization and appreciation of the work that God had begun in me. So, I have much to share and can really go on and on about my 2 days experience. But the main thing is that I am really here to encourage those who need a touch from the Lord- take a step of faith and come forth to let Him start His work of significant restoration in you. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”. And I believe that God is saying to some of you here that it is time for you to release and commit your struggles to Him…allow Him to breakthrough for you.

Are there any areas of unforgiveness and bitterness in your life now? Are there areas which you find difficult to let go? God is willing to work with you and heal you if you yield yourself to Him… Thank you.

James Lim Soon Leong
OneLife
RiverLife Church

Defining Moments

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Church-wide Synchronised Prayer Guide

Hi everyone, we will be having church-wide synchronised prayer and even though we are not meeting together as a church.

You can refer to the above prayer pointers to continue to pray for ourselves, our nation, our church, our leaders and our families. Click on the banner above to download the prayer pointers.

H1N1 Updates from Riverlife Church

Dear all,

Our Senior Pastor has released a personal note to all riverlifers on the H1N1 situation in our church. You can read the personal note and also updates from church on the church website at http://www.riverlife.org.sg.

Please also note that there will be a pre-recorded service for this week which you can access from the church website from this Saturday. 27 June from 7pm.

I will keep you all updated of things.

Thank God that most of the those infected are doing well and recovering. Let's continue praying for everyone during this time.

James

Personal note from Senior Pastor 主任牧师的话

RiverLife Church
Note from the Senior Pastor
25 June 2009

Dear sisters and brothers in RiverLife,

As you are probably aware by now, RiverLife Church has been identified as a community cluster of local H1N1 infections. Since 19 June, ten H1N1 cases have been linked to our church (please refer to attachment). We have contacted all adults and youths who came into close contact with them, as well as their household members, to quarantine themselves at home. Thankfully, all ten of them are recovering well and no new cases have been reported since. I wish to thank the pastoral staff, cell leaders and members for extending their care and support to those hospitalised or under home quarantine.

As a precautionary measure, the church leadership decided to cancel our youth service on Saturday, 20 June, and our children's services and classes on Sunday, 21 June. This is partly because children and youths are more vulnerable to the H1N1 virus. My sincerest apologies to those who did not receive the notice and came to church with their children. I thank you for your kind understanding and cooperation with our staff and volunteers. To keep yourself posted, please check out our website at www.riverlife.org.sg for updates and announcements.

Last night, the Elders’ Board met and a decision was made to suspend all church-based meetings and programmes until and including Saturday, 4 July. These activities will resume on Sunday, 5 July.

There are a few reasons behind the implementation of these measures. Firstly, as one of the first two “community transmission clusters,” our risk level should be deemed even higher. We are concerned for the health and safety of our people and those whom we come in contact with. Secondly, this matter has received extensive media coverage on TV and in the newspapers over the past few days. It is important that we assure the public that we are doing all we can to contain this local spread.

Although we have not had any new infections since 22 June, this time frame from now until 4 July may still be a high risk period. Furthermore, we are expecting the return of many Singaporeans from overseas holidays during this time. The Elders’ Board has decided that it will be wise and socially responsible to suspend all our church-based meetings and programmes until 4 July.

In addition, I appeal to all RiverLifers not to visit other churches over the next two weekends. We wish to be considerate about the health and peace of mind of the other churches in our city. To ensure that you receive spiritual input during this time, we will post pre-recorded English and bilingual services on our website, which will be available for download from 7pm on Saturday, 27 June. You can conduct a family service or have a personal time of worship in your home. I have a message that I believe God wants me to share with you, so be sure to tune in.

This has been an unusual and challenging week for our church, to say the least. I want to salute the staff and volunteers for their herculean efforts in coping with all the last minute changes. They have served with excellence and great attitude. I also wish to thank RiverLifers for your understanding, cooperation and prayers. I am sorry we have not been able to update you sooner and faster due to our overstretched resources.

Why is this happening to us and how are we to respond to it? I will share more in the pre-recorded service, but suffice to say that whenever God wants to move powerfully in and through someone or a church, He will first allow us to be shaken, and then awaken us to pray and seek Him. I have not seen such a commitment to prayer in our church for a long time. We are even more convinced than before that God is sending an outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon us.

The devil is obviously not pleased, and will do all that he can to distract and discourage us when we are rising up as an army to impact our society and bless the nations. Yes, we must do what is socially responsible but we must not be thrown off by distractions or doubt. Let us stand firm and stay focused on what God wants to do. Let us seek purity, pray like never before and be united in our passion for God.

Let me end with the words in 1 Peter 5:8-9, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

Amen.

Yours in Christ,
Rev Vincent Lun