Always Daddy’s litt le girl by Angeline Koh

My father suffered a stroke in 2001. For more than five years, I visited him about twice a week at the nursing home. On December 22, 2006, he was called home to be with Jesus.

Daddy had dementia and was mostly in a world of his own. For all those long years, I longed to talk to him heart-to-heart. Three weeks before he passed away, for about an hour, God miraculously opened up Dad’s “network” so that I could access his heart. Here’s the gist of our precious conversation at Tan Tock Seng Hospital… More

than just connecting with my Dad, I was connecting with my heavenly Father. He answered the cries of my heart to talk to my Dad heart-to-heart for one last time.

Daddy at the nursing home. (2006)

Angel: Dad, all my friends say I have a very good father.

Dad: Oh is it? (Teary, he beat his breast) No I’ve been no good.

Angel: (Surprised he was connecting) You have been, Daddy. You were always there for me. Remember when you came to see me in Los Banõs? (I served as a missionary with the Philippines Navigators High School ministry from 1996 to 1998.)

Dad: Oh, what did we do in Los Banõs?Angel: You met my friends, we went to see

many places. Dad: (Smiles) Oh. Angel: You came to see me when I was

in the USA. (I was on a year-long training programme at the Navigator headquarters.)

Dad: Oh, where in the USA?Angel: In Colorado Springs. We hired a

car and drove around... My friends were envious that I had a Dad who took the trouble to come and see me.

Dad: Where am I now? Angel: You’re in the hospital, Dad. You

were very sick. Dad: What’s wrong with me? Angel: You have lung infection. But you are

responding well to the medicine... You look so much better now.

Dad: Thank you… Where are we going?

Angel: We are not going anywhere.Dad: How long have I got to wait? Angel: It’s all in God’s timing Daddy.Dad: (emphatically) You are right. Angel: Daddy, one day God will take you

home. I want you to know that I will miss you very much. I love you so much, Daddy.

Dad: I will miss you too. I love you very, very, very much. (Points his hand on his heart, cries) I have you here.

Angel: What do you remember of me Daddy?

Dad: I remember... I remember a little boy. (He had trouble finding the exact words). Dad gestured like he was carrying a little child. He cried. He stroked the child.

Angel: (crying) You saw me being born, Daddy. You were there. Thank you so much for everything Daddy.

Dad: Yes I was. Since you were like that (he gestured like he was rocking a baby, then he made like he was petting a little child’s head), I loved you till now (emphatically, with tears).

Dad: You go home now, it’s late... (he glues his eyes on me as I leave).

Thank you God for Dad. Thank you for the time with him. Thank you for his love for me. And for letting me hear it. Full dialogue and a four-minute video clip at www.october8.net/dad

Los Banõs, Philippines. (1998)

2QuestionPonder

Father’s heartby Thomas Chua, National Director

When RL’s mother heard that he was going to Cameron

Highlands for the National University of Singapore (NUS) Navigator annual camp, she wanted to go along too. As it turns out, six mothers and aunties

went along as well. They had their own little escapade with the planning committee going out of their way to serve them, on top of running the annual camp for the students.

On the camp’s special night, the students surprised their mothers and aunties by paying tribute to them on Mother’s Day. RL’s widowed aunty broke down and spontaneously shared how thankful she was that God had given her the child she never had by giving her RL. One son, without inhibition, publicly apologised to his widowed mother for the years that he had taken her for granted.

Our heavenly Father cares for fathers (like our story Always Daddy’s Little Girl), mothers, and families. Missions and ministry are not just about going “out there” to serve, but also about individuals captivated by Christ and being transformed into his likeness so much so that all those around them cannot help but be blessed (see Asia and Beyond report).

Our gospel is good news!

How is your relationship with your father and mother?

Write to us if you have a comment or storyangel@navigators.org.sg

disc

iple

mak

ing

TOO

Lbox

Methods by Mike Treener, International President At the Asia Church Discipleship Consultation

How do we make disciples of all nations? What disciplemaking principles guided Paul?

What were his methods?

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1 – 2:131. Prayer (1 Thessalonians 1:2). “We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.” Paul was praying constantly for the men and women he reached out to. (Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21, Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). We appeal to the God who makes things grow, to work in the lives of people. Through our prayers we can as if hold a magnifying glass over someone’s life and focus the power of God into their lives.

2. The Word (1 Thessalonians 2:13). “… when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

Paul, like Jesus Christ, took every opportunity to share the Scriptures in all kinds of situation to people and set their hearts on fire for God. We should keep the word of God dynamic and central of what we do.

3. By example (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6; 2:10). “you know how we live among you…” This is a costly but powerful principle, because it means that if we really have to do disciplemaking, we have to be engaged in their lives and they have to be engaged in ours.

Jesus came and lived among us in the dust and dirt in Galilee. He set a pattern for disciplemaking – living among those we disciple so that the integrity of our lives can be seen.

4. Love (1 Thessalonians 2:8). “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”

People can tell whether you love them. Paul’s love led him to be deeply involved in a personal way in the lives of the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2:7,11-12).

These things are not new but we need to be reminded. Developing materials and methods are helpful but if we rely on those things alone, we will lose these weapons that have the power to transform lives. When we apply these great and powerful principles of disciplemaking, I believe by God’s grace, we will continue to see spiritual generations of disciples.

As you take stock of your disciplemaking, which of these four areas do you need to give special attention to at this point of time?

Lessons on Disciplemaking – Part 2 of 3

Th e gospel penetrating families and common folks in Malaysia

Printed by Seng Lee Press Pte Ltd

by Aurelia L. Castroasia and beyond

The calling of The Navigators is to advance the gospel of Jesus and his kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of labourers living and discipling among the lost. Views expressed in published articles are those of the individual writers and may not necessarily be the views of The Navigators Singapore.

THE NAVIGATORS SINGAPORE • National Director: Thomas Chua • Editor / Design & Layout: Angeline Koh • Writer: Aurelia L. Castro 117 Lorong K, Telok Kurau, Singapore 425758 • Tel: (65) 6344 4133 • Fax: (65) 6344 0975 • E-mail: admin@navigators.org.sg

www.navigators.org.sg

Case study – the gospel flowing through a network of relationships.Case study – the gospel flowing through a

Malaysia Navigator staff Tai Yuk Kiem and Chong Chung Fen shared at the

Into Your Neighbourhood conference May 26–27 how the gospel is flowing into their families, friends, and neighbourhood. Their stories were used as case studies for the group discussions.

“What we want to see is that the gospel will go places and won’t just stay in one person or group of people for years. It should flow to others as well,” Yuk Kiem said.

Chong Fen got involved in one of Yuk Kiem’s groups some years ago. “I had meals with them. I enjoyed their friendship. I saw how they trust God and I learn from them. After about eight months, I made a decision to receive Jesus in my life,“ he said.

Impacted by the gospel, the young man is now labouring for God. Through his

relationships, the gospel flew naturally to his families and friends and it continues to do so. His father is one of those who now partner with him to reach out to their network of relationships.

“Chung Fen’s aunty had a neighbour who was a pirated VCD seller-distributor. The neighbour was curious why there were people coming regularly to his neighbour’s house. Chong Fen’s aunty told him they were having Bible study. She invited him to see and hear what they are talking about. He got interested and even brought along another friend who sells spectacles in the market!” Yuk Kiem said.

Yes, even the poor can enter the kingdom...

In his trip to the Philippines, Asia Director Alan Ch’ng visited a Navigator group that

reaches out to the poor. “They do Bible study in a very poor area. About 35 people would come. They only have five Bibles. As they study, they would pass the Bible around so that all of them would have a chance to read the Scriptures. I felt guilty because I have many Bibles at home!”

“They were so thrilled when they looked at Scriptures because they learned that even the poor can get to know God. They rejoiced that they are included in the kingdom of God.”

Mike and Chris to meet with staff, pastors

Navigators International President Mike Treneer and his wife Chris will minister to Navigators leaders

and staff on July 20, 2007. Mike will share and interact with the men, while Chris with the women on the issue of partnering in the ministry.

“Pastors’ Breakfast with Mike Treneer” has also been scheduled where Mike wil l encourage pastors to lead their churches with boldness and faith to fulfill God’s purpose for their faith communities. – AK