By Lionel Chan

By the grace of God, we do all we can to stay relevant to today’s young people while anchored to Him. Without fail, the staff team comes together weekly to study God’s Word and consider how to live it. We started 2023 looking into Acts. Here’s a snapshot of what some have gleaned from it.

Geared to the times, Anchored to the Rock

Our YFC Motto

Tee Ee Han, of EDGE is amazed that the author so beautifully and succinctly penned the events of Acts, all encapsulated in Acts 1:8. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” He is reminded God uses even non-believers like Felix, Festus and King Agrippa to fulfil His sovereign will.

Quoting Wong Su Yu, of Youth Guidance, “The Holy Spirit draws people far and wide… transforms their hearts in the most unbelievable ways, regardless of nationality and social status.” And while the Holy Spirit is actively working, he recognises the work of making disciples requires patience and perseverance on our part.

Peter and John’s courage before their persecutors impressed Joan Eng, of STEM. She notes that out of the mouth of the very same Peter, who not too long ago denied Jesus three times, were these words, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge!” (4:19).
Joan was equally impressed with Paul’s single-mindedness to enter Jerusalem: “the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.” (20:23). She desires to be sensitive, discerning and obedient as the Holy Spirit prompts and to remember, whom God calls, He enables!

Like Joan, Joey Tay, of Poly Ministry, cited Acts 20 as the chapter that most gripped her.First, she learned of Paul’s determination to obey the Lord despite trials and tribulations, leaving the people he loved. Second, God’s Word was central in his ministry. Third, to fulfil Acts 1:8, he was willing to pay the cost, take the suffering. With God’s help, Joey seeks to “set her heart right and not be deterred by trials and obstacles” from what the Lord calls her to.

Jessica Tan, who works with preteens, travels outstation every month by coach for ministry. She found chapter 27, with the details of the storm at sea, most intriguing. “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved… in the darkest moment, Paul was the light.” (v20-26). Jessica saw that Paul, even when staring death in the face, found his hope and assurance in Christ so much so that he articulated his faith and miraculously brought hope and life to the 275 others on board. What a timely reminder that even though at times when all seems lost, God is still in control!

SJM staff Soh Wei Ern shares, “In Acts 16:22-33, I see the transforming power of the gospel in the jailer. His eyes were opened to his need for salvation. His life changed immediately – he washed Paul and Silas’ wounds, welcomed them to his house for a meal and his whole household came to the LORD.”

Wei Ern’s resolve sums it up for us: “Though it can be very difficult to reach out to today’s ever-changing youth, my faith is not in my words or methods but in the power of the gospel and of the Holy Spirit who brings salvation to man in the first century, and also now and beyond.”

We anticipate “stormy waters” ahead in 2024 and want to stay on course. It is our prayer that we imitate the conviction, courage and selflessness of God’s servants in Acts, for we can easily turn our eyes away from Jesus, go adrift and lose our direction.