of Luke Sin’s Calendar

In spite of a heavy schedule in junior college, Luke Sin attended LIFE group week after week for more than one and half years. Most of his peers dropped off halfway. What kept him faithful?

Describe your typical week and weekly Christian involvement in college.

I was quite a busy student – Tuesday astronomy CCA, Wednesday Philosophy enrichment, Wednesday and Thursday nights swimming training, Friday afternoon LIFE group, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday before school starts another Christian group.

LIFE group, a SJM activity, is a regular gathering of a few Christian schoolmates who together pray, look into God’s Word and seek to tell others about the Lord. LIFE stands for:

L – Lives That Inspire
I – Intercession
F – Fundamentals of Faith
E – Evangelism

In LIFE group, we covered the books of Mark and Philippians, among other things. After a week of school, the repeated emphasis on God’s Word was always a refreshing respite to reset and refocus on Him.

How long were you in LIFE group?

In year one, through a teacher (who happens to be from my church), my contact number reached SYFC staff, Ronica Chua, who called me and since April 2021, I attended LIFE group. For much of 2021, Jo-yang and I attended, with either Jeremy, Timothy or Daniel. In 2022, Caryn and SiQi came, which greatly enriched our sessions.

What was your greatest challenge in your Christian involvement and why?

Staying committed. In a secular system like a school environment, we need a community of like-minded Christian friends to walk through our faith with. But when examinations drew near and workload piled up, people had less time for Christian activities, which sometimes left me disheartened and wondering if I should likewise cut back too.

No matter how busy I was, God always honoured the time I set aside to Him. Truly, God’s plans prosper when I relinquished control and let Him be the Lord over my life.

Share an experience in sharing the gospel.

Jo-Yang and I had the privilege of sharing the gospel, using Christianity Explored, with two non-believing friends. Over six weeks, we debated and discussed the gospel. Both were discerning and thoughtful in their arguments, and seemed to have a favourable view of Christianity and the gospel. I pray their eyes may one day be opened to see God’s goodness.

What is a key lesson as you walked with the Lord in college?

While our walk with the Lord is personal and intimate, it is also not a journey to walk alone – we need community to encourage and mature us spiritually. Over the past two years, I am grateful to have journeyed with Christian communities in church, school and LIFE group, and for peer and older role models who stuck with me through my difficult times, spurring me to love God more and persevere in the faith.

How can REACH readers pray for you?

I enter a new chapter of life in National Service! Definitely lots of excitement but also some apprehension – will I be able to handle the stress? Will I get along with my peers? Pray for physical strength, mental fortitude and a heart of complete reliance on God to pull me through the toughest of times. Though a harsh and rather unforgiving environment, may the gospel be brought into a place that so badly needs the presence of God.

Luke (middle) was from a junior college in the central part of Singapore. He and his parents worship at Kum Yan Methodist Church. He enlisted in early January 2023.