Ho Jia Hui’s desire to serve the Lord full time among young people grew while volunteering in the Secondary School Junior College Ministry (SJM). Struggling to meet the demands of school work and needs in ministry work was tough. After graduating in December 2019, she decided to devote her time fully to the work of the gospel. In spite of initial fears and inadequacies, she joined the SJM staff team in early 2020.

What is your role in SJM?

Currently, I lead a team of volunteers and encourage Christian students in the southwest area to share the gospel in the harvest God has given us.

What has been tough for you?

It is discouraging when Christian students do not progress in sharing the gospel after journeying with them for a long time or when they stop meeting up because they have other priorities over God’s kingdom.

Could you share an encouraging encounter with a young person?

I first met Z.C three years ago. After I shared the gospel with her, she was willing to find out more. I fondly recall rushing to meet her weekly at Jurong Point after classes. We read a lot from the book of Mark and talked a lot about the gospel. After every session, her response was, “I’m not sure if I can believe that Jesus rose from the dead”.

As we talked about following Christ, Z.C read God’s Word more, asked more questions and seemingly thought more about the reliability of Jesus’s resurrection. Last December, I invited her to my church youth camp. She prayed to God, asking Him to show her if she should go. And she came! She continued to come and two months later, she trusted in Jesus. Today, she is in a small group and serves as a guitarist!

What do you think you need to make a difference for young people, in the light of the current times?

I pray for a deep love and compassion for them, for my sinful heart tends to love myself more than them. It takes Christ’s love to be all things to young people, willing to be where they are, trying out new things and going into their world.

What’s a personal area of growth so far?

Due to the unpredictable nature of the ministry (like last minute changes to meetings because students cannot make it), I am learning to be more prayerful and more dependent on the Lord. I’m thankful for the many times when fruitlessness drove me humbly to my knees, knowing this work belongs to Him, not me.