God comes through once again!!

This is an update from previous prayer request by Sister Ching Yen.

Hi everybody,


Camper registered to date: 5216 (numbers are still growing, we have about 200 cards have yet to key in).

Well, we will normally cater for a 10-20% drop-out rate, but we foresee we will have some to turn up on the spot to register.

Funds received as at 11 Sep : RM1,074,681.00

Interestingly, the moment we invite God to help us on the week of 21 Aug, and send an SOS message to you all, the funds and numbers came in with a double - triple jump from last week.

The camp is on this Sat, and i am reminded by Him again to learn from Moses. "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here." - Exodus 33:15
Unless God goes with us, we will not move.

Tomorrow we will have a final staff brief, i will make it a point that we will keep this verse in mind. Some of us will have a prayer walk the day before the event.

And yes, i will fast and pray starting tomorrow onwards.

Thank you for all the prayers. May His will be done. =)

chingyen

Testimony from Esther Marikea Tan Su Cheng

Saturday, August 11, 2007

(Quietly, introspectively, as I sit here in the night, writing this story, may I be reminded that this is Your story of glory and of triumph, of how You have redeemed this person from a life of depression and doom that she seems to be destined to. This story is inspired by You, for You. May it bring You all the glory only You deserve. Amen.)

Allow me to introduce myself – I am Esther Marikea Tan Su Cheng. To some of you, I may be an unfamiliar face while to some others, you may know that I’ve been a part of the Forerunner/ AMKMC family for the past 3 years and you have been witnesses and partners to my journey here on earth. For that I give thanks to God for you have been such an integral part of my journey that I cannot do without.

I am here today to share with you the story of the past months of my life and I pray that through the sharing, you may be encouraged, wherever you may be in your walk with God right now, I stand here to testify that God is good and His perfect plans for you will come to pass.

This will be the first time I’m sharing this and it is difficult because it is not something I want to be talking about or to associate with me. I fear what you would think of me if I were to be so honest and transparent with you, especially if you do not know me well…Yet I must persevere and acknowledge where I come from, for it is by doing this that I bring glory to the One who has brought me out of the miry clay unto the sunshiny path I now walk on.

Let’s go back to 2001, after a failed attempt to pass my A-levels with flying colors so I may gain entry to the local university. I was despondent and felt that my life was over because I couldn’t “right the wrong” by getting myself to the university. I felt utterly lost and didn’t know what was to become of me.

I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep and I was diagnosed with clinical depression. Not long after, I was admitted to the hospital when the doctor deemed me too dangerous to be left on my own after I cut myself with a penknife.

There began the yearly admissions to the hospital because I got too suicidal to be without medical attention. It seemed like a never-ending cycle and a pattern of sorts that I had developed for myself.

I thought the breakthrough came in 2004 when I wasn’t admitted for the whole year and that I had found a job in spite declaring that I had depression on the application form. I thought that it was to be the year I would be healed from depression and the hospital admissions and the medication, but it was not to be for in late 2005, I was admitted to the hospital yet again.

And lesser than six months later, in 2006, I was hospitalized yet again for two weeks. I was working full-time at that time and I was also struggling with many issues which coupled with work stress, saw me taking a cocktail of medication one night because I wanted a good night’s rest which I wasn’t getting.

During the two weeks in the hospital, I rested well and in the second week, I had made friends with two other patients and by His grace, I was actually encouraging them and praying with them. That helped me see that in spite of my brokenness, God had His use and plans for me.

Fast forward to 2007, I was going through yet another slump in my life where I was jobless and all the interviews I attended essentially told me that it would not be possible for me to get hired because of my less-than-illustrious employment history. I was very depressed and was convinced that I was never going to get a job for the rest of my life.

After yet another depressive episode late at night, Jingting and Liwei spent the next day with me as I went for my appointments at the hospital and came over to my place to pray with me about the concerns I had about my future. And I know that they were not the only ones to pray that night.

What happened next is nothing short of a miracle – Jingting emailed me a link to a job site where I submitted my resume to an agency. The very next morning, I received a call from the agency to attend an interview! The interview went well and I went home happy.

While waiting for the result to that interview, the same agency called me to try for another job. She gave me the contact to the company and asked that I call the company right away. So I rung up the company and was asked about myself and I was quite sure that the person on the other line wasn’t quite paying attention to what I said. It was a relief actually because I had just woken up not too long before the call!

I was to start work two days later, but I wasn’t too keen as it was an administrative position. Now, if there’s something you need to know about me, it is the fact that I don’t like to do administrative work. Yes, I know it’s inevitable in every position that there is some administrative work involved, and I’m perfectly fine with that. Please, just don’t ask me to do solely that!

I started work two days later, not quite knowing what to expect, but as the days unfolded, I began to see why God had placed me there. I later learnt that my resume had been picked out of a handful submitted and the colleague who picked out my resume didn’t even look through it; she just went by her intuition.

My boss who conducted the phone interview with me, didn’t quite pay attention to what I was babbling over the phone either. If this wasn’t by His divine doing, I wouldn’t know what else to call it!

What is more divine is that I have a boss who also recognizes that God has a purpose for both of us while we are working together and she has recently committed to be my mentor for the next year! I have learnt lots of things from her and she has also given me many opportunities to do so many different things that I would not be given an opportunity to do elsewhere.

Besides that, she has also been a spiritual guide who would not hesitate to give me tough love if the situation calls for it. She has also been God’s voice in reminding me that I have a great destiny in Him and that my role in life is not that of a person who suffers from depression for the rest of her life.

For the first time in my life, I see a future for me, one that is full of light, purpose and endless possibilities. I no longer have to enchain myself to the limitations of my mind because I’ve seen Him work in my life! Every step I take now is one that will count toward my future and I see everyday with a greater sense of meaning than I ever used to.

I’ve also recognized strongholds in my mind that needs to be torn down because they were stopping me from fulfilling my purpose for Him. I believe that the evil one tries so hard to trap me with his lies because he knows God has a great purpose for me and he feels threatened by it. If he is able to trap me with his lies, I will be one less force to reckon with.

I may still be on medication for depression, I may still have issues I need to work out, His purpose for me remains unchanged. I may not be able to figure out where His big picture will be leading me to, His purpose for me remains unchanged.

What I do know is this – I will be faithful to every little thing He has called me to so it will build character for where He is leading me. I will be His light unto the world so that others may see Him in me and give glory to Him in the highest. I will stand and testify of His love for me that has never once failed.

Here my story ends, for now. Join me as my journey continues to unfold; I promise excitement and things you never imagined possible happening because I have seen it and tasted it for myself. 

In case you are wondering, yes, I’m back for good. I’ve disappeared for the earlier part of this year because I held a grudge against a sister in church. By His grace yet again, we’ve reconciled and I’ve also learnt the importance of bringing up issues early instead of allowing the evil one to use it to sow discord especially between sisters and brothers-in-Christ!

To my dear friends, Forerunners and Perdana cell members,

I am requesting for a personal prayer.

My work: 30-Hr Famine

• This year the planning of the campaign went totally out of hand. Initially plan to have it in Jul, was being postponed by the stadium to mid Sep that is clashing with major exams like PMR & SPM & some of the uni programs.

• We have an objective to raise RM1.5 million for KL Famine.... we still have less than a month, 26 Aug is the closing date, and we have only gotten 12%....

• Everything that was planned earlier went out of hand. Initial intensive promotion to schools went down to the drain.... we circulated nearly 2500 cards to interested schools, colleges and universities during Apr-May, so far only 191 returned (incl. 50 blank cards) when we initially plan for 31 Jul is the closing date for them. Reasons given are absurd, unexpected inccidents pop up that disrupt the flow. 26 Aug is the closing date and we have only 131 registered for the camp so far....and i am not sure why we still have 6000 cards floating in the market now and could not come back.

• Initial working initiatives with the media met with lots of difficulties & changes as well. We are facing difficulties in delivering effective messages to the public now. In the past, our media partners have always guaranteed good publicity exposure for this campaign.

• When we plan to rely heavily on the website, it fails us again by giving us poor website company that could not provide us with prompt and efficient services.

• The key success factors for the program: AV, Emcees and Group Leaders. We are facing problems in meeting the production deadline due to insufficient/delay info provided by our partners; lack of one bilingual emcee who could work well with chemistry. The initial 2 emcees that we have, one is good, another one could never make it for rehearsals due to tight schedule....we are frantically searching now for a replacement. Group leaders.... still in shortage and the quality cannot be guaranteed.

I am requesting this for prayer for i sense something not right. I am not sure if i should pray against the works of Satan now or i should pray for repentance now if we have been doing it by our own wisdoms and plans but not His. ( ok, something pop into my mind that says: "Not by wisdom, not by might, but by the power of the Holy Spirit" when i ask Him... pls help me to discern what He means. Is He withdrawing the blessings becoz of our disobedience or He is planning something for us to glorify His name?)

I received 2 verses on Hab. 2:3 & Psalms 27:14 in asking me to wait boldly... but i am not sure if He is refering to my personal prayers for my family, my friends, my future & my church OR my work now. I need help in discernment.

Lately doing the 40-day prayer plus preparing myself as one of the prayer ministers in the upcoming methodist prayer conference.... strange "God's inccidents" happened too that shows His mercy works on people, but i am no longer sure what is happening and discerning His voice for which prayers i had.

Well, i thought i can manage things alone with God through prayers... somehow this time round i sense that He wants me to get help?

If you have any impressions from Him while you pray, do kindly share with me what it is so that i could make adjustments accordingly.

Thank you for your precious time in prayers.

God bless,

chingyen

Adrian, Serene & Jenna

Just want to post our testimonies and thanksgiving through the last week. I pray that it'll be an encouragement to all who prayed, and sharing with us in tasting the Lord's goodness! :)

Our testimonies (too many to 'report' so I'll keep it to point form so that it's easier to read k?)

1. Adrian

• Yes the laptop is still crashed. But God gave him a new laptap replacement. (the best news is yet to come... read on.)
• The presentation he was working into the night for went very well. His boss' boss (who's the CEO) was impressed and happy with the work presented.
• The best news now- He got news that he has been promoted to the next ranking before his presentation!! Apparently his boss has been 'pushing' for his promotion for a while, and the confirmation came this week when all things seemed not to go well... but hey! God knows and He lifts us up when we hang on and give our best!
• So.... PRAISE THE LORD!

2. Jenna

• She recovered from her fever almost immediately after i sent out the prayer request!
• Despite cough and runny nose, she remained active and cheery.
• Davinia (my beloved sis-in-law), together with Robilyn, my helper, has been a blessing in caring for her.

3. Me (serene)... :)

• I surprised myself for being able to sit through 2 days of intense meeting without feeling sleepy at all!!
• I was also shockingly good tempered and joyful despite lack of sleep. (err... ask adrian, he'll tell u the horrors of living with a lack-of-sleep serene.) *thanks for praying for me to have a sweet and gentle spirit through this season... *
• God assured me time and time again of His promises and presence through your sms-es and reminded me during sunday service that I'm to constantly lift Jesus' name over my household- a precious lesson for me to remember.

Thanks for praying for us! I literally live through the week by your prayer-generated power! Let's continue to persevere in interceding for each other, cos there's really great power in united prayers!

Love you lots,

Serene

Rebecca's Work Testimony

TESTIMONY FROM REBECCA LEE (dated somewhere in 2006)

I would just like to thank you for all your support and love for me. Seriously, I thank GOd so much that you guys continually keep me in your prayers. YOu guys are soo awesome and God is good =)

I have some great news for you! After three every difficult interviews...I got the job! Jess, its a really long story of faith and trust in God, but I will try to keep it short =)

Sometimes its so hard to understand GOd and why he's closing doors on you, why certain things are happening in your life. Throughout this year, I felt like that. Rejection letter after rejection letter. I asked God why He had to put me through so much torture. I also hated the feeling of not knowing what I'm doing after graduation. THEN....one day, I get an email from Telus (the company I'm working for) telling me I've been selected for the 1st interview! I was SOO happy. Like I actually got a JOB INTERVIEW b4 graduation! That was all i wanted.

Two days after the 1st interview...the recruiter calls me for a SECOND interview. I was SOO happy =). I only could thank God for that. Then miraculously...I got a call again...and I made it to the FINAL round. All this was happening so fast. The last interview was the most terrifying and stressful experience I've ever had. It went from 2-6pm and I had to do a case study and presentation in 1.5 hrs then the remaining time the managers questioned me on my decisions and reasoning. I wanted to break down and cry, it was so difficult and I felt really incompetent because I did not have enough time to finish the case study.

I felt really discouraged from this interview, but I prayed to God telling Him that if it was His will that I get the job/or get rejected I would be at peace with it. However, I though it was so unfair because I was not myself that day and didn't have enought time! The next day, I get an email from the manager telling me she wanted to have a 15 min talk with me on the phone to hear about my thoughts on the last interview and clarify why I performed so differently from the 1st two interviews!

At this point, I was so happy. God had given me a "second chance" to explain myself. The manager told me she saw so much potential in me but wanted to know why I did poorly in the last interview. SHe really wanted to get to know the REAL me! So we had a really great talk and I told her the truth, how I didn't have enough time, how I was nervous...etc. SHe ended off asking me to convince her why she should hire me. God truely gave me this opportunity! I felt truely at peace knowing that she would be making a decision to hire me based on the REAL me, not because I screwed up on the last interview. I felt so at peace that day.

THEN...after 1 week, on my LAST day of school after *like 15 minutes* I finish my LAST essay. Telus calls me. I missed the call because I was in the kitchen. But when I saw that it was Telus, I knew this was it. Finally, I am going to see God's plan for me. If its yes, then I go to Toronto. If its no, then I go back home to Ottawa and look for a job. I prayed to God before calling Telus back. I was so scared, but I truely believed that He would provide, at the right timing. When I was truely ready I called them. The answer was YES!...

This is the cool part: Not only did God provide me with an interview, he provided me a JOB just as I finished my last day of school! Even better, I get to start in September! So I can have some bonding time with my family and say good bye! I can relax, travel, get my driver's license! Even all these needs in my heart were addressed by God. He took care of everything! Who am I to doubt God's greatness, His timing. This came at the perfect time. Now I understand why God made me go though all those rejections. He wanted to refine me, mold me into a woman of faith, of patience. And all I can say is: GOD IS GOOD! I give glory to Him and only Him for providing me with this job. Its totally not me! Its all God! I think this is one of those times where I can stand speechless, in awe of God, and only proclaim that He is good. I have no other words to describe how I feel right now.

So my story comes to an end. THe biggest lesson God wanted me to learn througout my university days was to have faith in Him. He wanted me to see his plan to completion right from the 1st day of school all the way to the last. When I look back, I wouldn't have wanted His plan to be any different. He has shaped me to become a strong woman of faith, I have a wonderful story to tell others, to encourage them. I feel free, finally from uncertainty. I can see this wonderful chapter has come to a beautiful end. Perhaps today is the happiest day of my life. But I know that God's faithfulness never changes. I want have unstoppable faith in God because I KNOW he is capable of providing MORE than I ever ask for! Now I must begin the next chapter of my life. =)

Thanks for all your prayers.

Your sister in Christ, Rebecca