When COVID-19 struck, our younger staff and volunteers struggled in almost all aspects of life in the ‘new normal’. How did they stay steadfast and immovable in the Lord?
For 25 year-old SJM volunteer Low Hui Lee, working from home in her new job was challenging when the boundary between work and personal spaces became blurred. The increased online interaction with students cut into her daily time with God. Hui Lee then intentionally started each day by listening to a devotional series by her church held via Zoom. To deepen her understanding of God’s Word, after work, she listened to Bible teaching series via podcast. She shares, “In 2021, I started a prayer journal to remind myself of God’s faithfulness and grace in my daily walk with Him.”
Polytechnic student and SJM volunteer, Kang Yi Jin, could control his time but overworked till he thought less about God and being Christ-like. However, his habit of journaling his devotion takeaways regularly as a form of accountability to and encouragement for his small group and other Christian friends helped him set time aside “to remember and enjoy God.” Brothers who read his sharing encouraged or rebuked him where necessary. He says, “… because I lose sight of God so easily, I try to implement habits to keep me rooted in Him daily.”
Yi Jin served with us since his Project serve days a few years ago!
Titus Wong, EDGE staff, found himself “sinking deeper into isolation, especially during Circuit Breaker.” For this 29 year-old, true Christian fellowship was redefined in 2020. When his ministry team met via Zoom weekly to read and ponder God’s Word together, on top of the staff Bible teaching and consolidation, he was really glad. Though a “digital native”, adapting to virtual Bible studies with youths was hard. But “what changed for me was being intentional in my Bible study with youths, and thereby getting a grasp of what fellowship could look like in a digital age.”
Titus is one of our staff in EDGE.
It was a “huge challenge” for Don Tan, 26, our new Youth Guidance staff to engage with youths online or on social media platforms. Being not so tech-savvy, he preferred to meet them face-to-face but could not. To conduct events online brought the challenge to another level for him. By God’s grace, with a mindset to help and serve the harvest,” Don was able to adjust. He could give “time to reflect on ‘why am I serving here?’ and to read deeper into the Word and pray.”
Even though Don just joined us as staff, he has been serving alongside us through his polytechnic years.
Just as when a ship is safely-anchored to a rocky seabed and thus held in a secure spot amidst strong wind and waves, Hui Lee, Yi Jin, Titus and Don have deliberately sought to anchor themselves to the Lord, our Rock during COVID-19. Yet it is the Lord who holds each one to Himself as Yi Jin shares, “I’m so compelled to say that the Lord has never forsaken me and my entire being is deeply indebted to Him.”
Though the Lord never let us go, each one has the responsibility to draw near to Him daily. Yi Jin wants to work on “more intentional getaways with God,” reading the Bible with conviction and praying earnestly. Hui Lee longs “to recognise God as my ultimate treasure, to know my identity is secure in Christ.” Loving those he serves with and bringing the gospel to youths in sincere love are two areas of fruitfulness Titus hopes to see in his life and ministry. Don seeks a “constant dependence on God in prayer and joy in serving Him.”
All four, along with the rest of the SYFC team, are trying new, relevant ways to reach more youths with the gospel. In the rough, uncharted waters of the pandemic, we pray more youths will come to trust in Jesus, the Anchor of our souls and Rock of our salvation.
