Passing the Baton

The time has come for Pastor David Yap to pass the pastoral leadership baton to Pastor Rick Toh. We are very thankful to the Lord for His guidance. Over the past four years, following Ps David’s expressed desire to complete his term serving on the pastoral staff team, the elders of the church sought the Lord for His choice of a successor. It is with great joy that all the elders were led of the Lord to invite Rick to serve in the pastoral team. Rick was also similarly guided by the Lord. We praise the Lord that He has clearly affirmed to us His choice. Rick has had the opportunity of working closely with David over the past two years. With effect from 1 July 2012, Rick assumes responsibility as Pastor-in-Charge. The elders have asked David to serve as Advisory Pastor. He will be serving in an honorary capacity. David continues serving on the Board of Elders.

Shi Pau Soon, Chairman

Board of Elders  

 

Still Building, Still Growing

"For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building." – 1 Corinthians 3:9

More than a year ago, one of our under-shepherds shared 1 Corinthians 3:9 with the others. It was a reminder that our Lord is always working to accomplish His purposes in the church. We are simultaneously God’s field and God’s building and God’s fellow workers. This precious word from the Lord eventually become the theme verse for this year’s church camp, which took place earlier this week.

This camp is an important milestone in YCKC’s “intentional disciple-making church” process. Our journey thus far has already brought about a new mission statement and core values, new ministries and outreach platforms, and new partners in kingdom work. We are as a church conscious that our Chief Shepherd is in the renovation business (Rev 21:5)!

A faithful servant of God and a friend of YCKC, Pastor Daniel Foo, ministered powerfully to nearly 150 of us at the camp.

We worshipped God in Spirit and in truth, with greater fervency than ever before.

Our leaders prayed for the church, and the members in turn prayed for the leaders. Hearts were stirred and challenged, tears were shed, and minds were provoked. Many have returned with joyful testimonies of having encountered the Lord, receiving healing, affirmation or a personal message from Him. In the weeks ahead we will share individual testimonies with the church.

Praise God! What we are seeing is new life being infused into YCKC. It cannot but cause change, growth, transformation – call it what you like. Awe and anticipation are appropriate responses to what God is doing. We know that He already has the blueprint and He is doing the work. In His good time and by His good pleasure, we will become a church befitting the term “bride of Christ”. Each of us should arise to be ready, diligent and faithful partners of God in this adventure. To Him alone be all glory, honour and praise!

- Elder Aaron Lee

NEW! Saturday Service from 5pm to 6.30pm

Come join us for the new Saturday worship service. All are welcome!


We meet at Capernaum Room on the 3rd floor of the church on Saturdays, 5pm to 6.30pm.

For more information, email admin@yckc.org.sg or call 62881675.

2012 - A New Chapter

Dear church,
Beginning a new year is like turning over to a new chapter of an exciting adventure story. There will be challenges, some new, some carried over from previous chapters. Fresh opportunities will be presented… Opportunities to develop and strengthen that which was begun earlier... Opportunities to start anew. It is particularly exciting because God is writing His story, and we are included in this story.

“The LORD saves sinners – the world must listen and respond!” This is our theme for 2012. We resonate with this theme because we have experienced this message. We are sinners saved by God's grace. Each of us can testify of our 'before' and our 'after', just like what several of our fellow members have eloquently shared at our Christmas Service. Some testimonies tell of dramatic turnarounds. Others convey more gradual 'discoveries' of newfound purpose and joy. But all speak of God's loving and continuing work of grace in their lives.

The prophet Isaiah carried this message throughout his life. He went about preaching this important message with urgency. Despite being ignored or rejected, he persevered on, for he knew the message that was entrusted to him was given by the LORD, the Creator, the Sovereign, the only God! And this glorious message brings hope to all who would respond!

We are bearers of this same message. As people who have been touched by God's grace, we have been charged to go and tell. We are God's ambassadors, given that awesome responsibility and privilege to convey this glorious message to the world around us.

We will be studying the Book of Isaiah. As we work our way through this Book over two years (2012 & 2013), we will hear clearly the LORD’s heartbeat and respond as people placed to fulfill His purpose in this generation. The theme verse we have chosen for this year captures this thought succinctly:
“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22)

We will also be having special emphases Sundays, where we will consider together issues relating to discipleship, missions and evangelism, family life, and the church. And, through our mid-sized groups (i.e. Children’s Ministry, Youth, Young Adults, Palm Green, Indonesian Fellowship, Filipino Fellowship, Tamil Fellowship and PRC outreach Ministry) and small groups, there will be active engagement in outreach and discipleship.

It is exciting to be on this adventure with God. The next chapter is being written, with you and I featured in that story, being molded and at the same time given opportunities by our LORD to fulfill His glorious purpose. What a grand privilege! Thank you Lord.

May 2012 be a year where we in YCKC grow in knowing and serving the LORD, actively listening and obeying Him. Only then will that urgent and important message be relayed with conviction to the world around us.

With God’s blessings,

David LT Yap
Lead Pastor & Elder

Christmas Changes Everything - Cardboard testimonies

At our special 'Christmas Changes Everything' Christmas Service on 25 Dec 2011, we had 21 people of different ages and backgrounds testify to how knowing Jesus has changed their lives!

Check out the video of the inspiring 'cardboard testimonies' at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150485897670762

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YCKC's 57th Anniversary - Remembering God's Agenda for the World

It was in 1954 when several believers living in the Serangoon and Yio Chu Kang vicinity gathered at 140 Yio Chu Kang Road to break bread together. This was Yio Chu Kang Chapel’s humble beginning.

Today, we celebrate our 57th anniversary, grateful to the Lord for calling us, establishing us as a local church and commissioning us to fulfil His purpose.

On this special occasion, it is good for us to ponder over this question: what is God’s agenda for the world and how is it relevant to us in this local church?

God has an agenda for the world

Indeed, God has an agenda for the world, a plan that He has put in place. This is expressed so clearly in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” In a nutshell, God’s agenda is given in the glorious gospel. This is the message that everyone must hear.

This was the message that Paul preached passionately to Jews and Gentiles (for a concise record of his sermon, refer to Acts 13:16-49) declaring that God’s plans are fulfilled in the risen Christ. Through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is promised. Through Him, everyone who believes is justified. What glorious good news for all!

God pursues His agenda

Recently, Dane Ortlund, Senior Editor of the Bible Division at Crossway Books invited a group of theologians and Bible scholars to summarise the message of the Bible in one sentence. The following is an interesting sample:

• God has made promises to bring His people to Himself and He is fulfilling them all through Christ. (Mark Dever)

• Jesus is the promised Savior-King.(David Helm)

• God is redeeming His creation by bringing it under the lordship of Jesus Christ. (Kent Hughes)

• God, who made us and everything else, loves us and gave Himself for us that we might live forever with Him as new creatures in a new creation—the news is good! (Phil Long)

• The message of the Bible is the transforming grace of God displayed preeminently in Jesus Christ. (Sean Lucas)

• The Lover of our souls won’t let the romance die, but is rekindling it forever.(Ray Ortlund)

These one sentence summaries of the Bible message indeed bring to our attention that the loving God relentlessly pursues His agenda. And we are beneficiaries. We can testify of God’s redeeming grace and the blessedness of being His people.

This gospel is bearing fruit and growing

As I reflect on God’s agenda, our theme verse for this year comes to mind:
“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth” (Col 1:6).

Each of us is a fruit of this gospel message. We have received the good news, and have come to Jesus, acknowledging Him as Saviour and Lord.
And amazingly, as He has called us to Himself, He has also given us the privilege of joining Him in His work.

We can never fully fathom all that God is doing throughout the world and through the ages. But we do know that our purposeful God who caused this church to be established 57 years ago desires us to be involved in His glorious gospel work.

Prior to the church being established, in 1953, Mr and Mrs Cook from Canada were busily moving about the Chia Keng Village, gathering children and all who would hear, to tell them the gospel of Jesus Christ. The faithful witnessing of this couple gradually led to a group of believers coming together for worship as a congregation and to use that location as a base for witness in this vicinity. The work has grown through the past decades.

Today, as we mark our 57th anniversary, we look back with thanksgiving to the Lord and look forward with expectations mindful of our calling as a church. This is captured in our mission statement. We exist to glorify God by living the gospel and making disciples to reach the world for Christ.

May we be true to the mission that the Lord of the church has entrusted to us.

- David LT Yap, Lead Pastor