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Speaker Rev Oh Boon Leong

For internal circulation only

20 January 2019

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Last year, in May and December, Mt Carmel sent two teams to Lake Toba with two objectives. At the invitation of Water Mission, we went to Sampuran Village to explore the need for clean water for the residents. On our second visit, we went to explore opportunities for spiritual ministries through which Mt Carmel can contribute to the growth of the churches in North Sumatra. In this editorial, I would like to share about the opportunities that have been given to Mt Carmel to make an impact in Indonesia.

What is Water Mission? In 1998, George and Molly Greene were operating an environmental engineering company in Charleston, USA. In the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricane Mitch in Honduras, much polluted water was unsuitable for drinking. When they received requests for multiple water treatment systems and found none, they decided to start Water Mission in 2001. Discovering that many parts of the world lack access to clean water and drinking contaminated water gives rise to many illnesses, they felt that they could use clean water as a means not only to meet physical needs but as a door to minister to spiritual needs as well. Today, Water Mission is a non-profit Christian engineering organisation which operates in 52 countries with about 200 full time staff.

How did they get to know Mt Carmel? Water Mission responded to the need for clean water after the tsunami hit western Sumatra on 26 December 2004. Later, they discovered that many villages in Sumatra needed clean water as well. To meet the needs for clean water, Water Mission set up a branch in Indonesia (called Waha Mitra) based in Pekanbaru, Sumatra. Most of the funding for the clean water projects in Indonesia comes from USA. Water Mission felt that the time has come for donors closer to Indonesia to share in this privilege of providing clean water. Therefore, they searched the Internet for

churches in Singapore with a long-term commitment to missions works in Indonesia and found Mt Carmel. On 15 June 2017, Water Mission wrote to invite Mt Carmel to partner them both in providing clean water and in engaging the community in spiritual matters in a village in North Sumatra.

Where is the village located? Lake Toba has two islands. The bigger island at the centre is Samosir and the much smaller island at the southern part is Sibandang. In Sibandang, there are three villages. Water Mission has already brought clean water to two villages. The third village that has no clean water yet is Sampuran. It has about 110 households.

How do they assess the need for clean water? Water Mission has analysed the quality of water at Lake Toba and found it to be unsuitable for drinking. The Lake is used for the washing of cloth and utensils and bathing. Human waste from toilets is drained into the Lake. When ferries capsize and dead passengers are not recovered, the bodies are left to decompose in the Lake. Streaks of oils can be seen on the surface of the water – waste from boats and ferries. The residents at Sampuran have to boil the water in order to drink it from the Lake. On our missions trip in December 2018, Esmond Lee brought samples of water from the Lake back to Singapore. He used to work in a water treatment company and is currently working in a chemical company. He has analyzed the water and found that it contains the E. Coli bacteria. The conclusion is that the water from Lake Toba is not suitable for consumption.

Why can’t the Government fund the project to provide clean water? We posed this question to a government official (who works in an agency like Singapore’s Public Utilities Board, PUB), Pak Jonner Simanjuntak, in his office. He gave three reasons. First, there is a lack of budget. The Indonesian government’s priority is to help the locals in their farming to produce better harvest. The government has only so much money to spread over the 265 million people living in the hundred thousands of villages across Indonesia’s 17,500 islands. Second,

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there is a lack of human resources to get the clean water project going. Without funding, they cannot get experts and workers to do the job. Third, the local technology is not good enough. In Sintong Marnipi Village, the Government tried to provide clean water but failed repeatedly. In the end, they turned to Water Mission for help because of its superior technology.

What is Water Mission asking Mt Carmel to do? Water Mission is asking Mt Carmel to provide a one-time amount of USD$48,000 (S$65,000) for the clean water project at Sampuran Village. This amount is reasonably low because the residents will be contributing to the labour cost of the construction. There will be a total of 13 locations across the village where residents can get clean water. Once construction is completed, each family will be required to pay for their own water usage. The project is designed to be self-sustaining as money collected from the residents for their water usage will go toward maintaining the entire water treatment system for the next 20 years.

How will Mt Carmel raise the money? At our Missions Food Fest in 2017, Carmelites donated generously by giving S$63,367.85. This was the highest amount we have collected, probably due to our 50th Anniversary Celebration – we invited our missionaries and partners to Mt Carmel. The usual amount collected is about $20,000. That landed us with the healthy problem of how to use $63,000 in a meaningful way? The answer came when Dn Agus and I attended Eagles Leadership Conference on 4 August 2017. We attended a workshop called Leading Business for Societal Transformation by Dr Kim Tan. At this workshop, he promoted the idea of Societal Transformation, how every single person in a community can benefit and thus undergo transformation though a funded project. Then on 30 August 2017, Pak Jan Daniel, the National Director for Water Mission Indonesia came to Mt Carmel and presented the need for clean water in North Sumatra. From the collection of $63,367.85 at 2017’s Missions Food Fest, our Overseas Missions Committee has allocated $13,367.85 to the usual works in eight nations and $50,000 to the clean water project in Lake Toba. This leaves a shortfall of $15,000 for the water project. Once this project receives its final approval by Missions

Committee, Missions Board and Session, we will address the issue of the shortfall.

In addition to funding the clean water project, what else will Mt Carmel be doing? This is what Operation World (which provides valuable information on all the nations of the world and prayer guides on how to evangelise the unreached people) has to say about Sumatra: “Sumatra is the largest unevangelised island on earth. Most of its largest people groups are staunchly Muslim; many others practice folk Islam.”

When Water Mission first wrote to Mt Carmel, this is what they said about using clean water to reach the unreached people: “We would like the opportunity to introduce you to our ministry and explain how our unique plan of community engagement has consistently opened many Muslim hearts to the Living Water in so many regions.” In the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4, we see that He met her physical and emotional needs first before talking to her about her spiritual needs.

Likewise, we would like to believe that providing clean water will open doors for us to get involved in some of the spiritual ministries in North Sumatra. On our missions trip from 5-10 December 2018, we met with some of the leaders of HKBP (Huria Kristen Batak Protestan or Batak Christian Protestant Church) to explore collaboration and ministry opportunities in Sumatra. We ministered to 130 children, 80 women and 40 men at the compound of a HKBP Church in Sampuran Village. On Sunday, a Methodist Church invited me to preach God’s Word. We are sensing that there are spiritual needs there, and that Mt Carmel can contribute toward the churches’ growth and the spread of the Gospel to unreached areas in Sumatra. Our Missions Committee and Missions Board will make its final decision soon. We will also report this project to Session in February 2019. Let us pray that Mt Carmel will be courageous to accept the God-given opportunity to make a difference in Lake Toba and in this way, fulfill the Great Commission.

Ps Peter Teo

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Next Wednesday (23 Jan )

Chairperson: Ang Lee Luang

Come, join our prayer warriors in

Room #03-06 on Wednesday, 7.45pm!

WORLD

1. Brexit: Pray for stability, peace and wisdom for world leaders.

2. Singapore-Malaysia Relations: Pray for both countries to continue enjoying a close working relationship and cooperation.

Overseas Missions Ministry: Water Mission @ Lake Toba

A team from Mount Carmel went on an exploratory trip to Sampuran Village

from 5-10 Dec 2018 where they had meetings with heads of organisations, government departments and the village. Thank God for His protection amid harrowing experiences, His provision of manpower, and His grace as they ministered to the children, women and men. The Water Mission (WM) staff helped with translation and took care of the younger children.

Pray for a possible partnership with WM to provide drinking water to the village.

Though Sampuran Village is surrounded by water, the quality of water is poor and not fit for consumption. According to reports by the NGO and the government, the water in Lake Toba is unsafe for consumption. There is no firm plan from the government to solve this issue. The WM project would really help solve this problem.

Ask God for wisdom and direction as both the OMM Committee and Missions

Board discern and discuss adopting Water Mission.

Youth: The O-level results were released on Monday. Ask for God's guidance for the youth choosing junior colleges, polytechnics and other alternatives. Pray for those in Secondary One to settle into their schools and cope well with having to study more subjects. The 9 Discipleship Care Groups (DCG) started meeting last Sunday at 10.45 am. May the youth learn to cultivate authentic friendships through the DCGs, know God more personally and deeply, grow in love for God and one another and serve voluntarily.

Young Adults (YA): There will be a Town Hall meeting for YAs to pray and discern direction for the ministry—for growth and community service. Pray that many YAs

CHURCH

will come together on 27 Jan for this purpose. Pray with and for them on this matter.

Carmel Men for Christ (CMfC): Commit the new core team (Dn Andrew Tan, Benedict Leow, Soh Cheow Tuan) in prayer as they discern direction for the ministry. Pray for the second CMfC book which is in the editing phase.

Ladies: Give thanks for fine weather and a quiet, meditative and reflective time during the Walk & Talk, and for wonderful sharing of insights last Saturday.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPDATES

Next Sunday we rededicate ourselves in service to the Lord with a Dedication Pledge. Please take some time this week to reflect on what this Pledge actually means in terms of commitment.

“I believe the Lord Jesus has saved me to serve Him. As Jesus gave His all for me, so will I give my best to Him at all times. Not in my own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit; not by myself alone, but together with my fellow workers, I dedicate myself to the Lord for His service and His glory. Amen.”

Attention all ministry heads: The draft of the list of members and friends who are serving in the various ministries of Mt Carmel is included in today’s Weekly. Please inform the Church office by this Wednesday (23 Jan) if there are any omissions or corrections.

Ps Asst Marianne Wong is away from church office and ministry in Jan & Feb for a time of rest and renewal.

Calling all parents of youths! Your youth's DCG sessions have started for the year and our DCG shepherds would like to meet up with you on Sunday 27Jan after the second service in the Hope Sanctuary. See you there!

Date Speakers Topic Text

27 Jan Rev Daniel Chua A Healthy Church Member is Transformed by God’s Word

3 Feb Rev Jabez Chia A Healthy Church Member is Genuinely Converted

10 Feb Rev Daniel Chua A Healthy Church Member is a Gospel Witness

17 Feb Rev Oh Boon Leong Marks of a Healthy Church Member: An Authentic Friend

1 Samuel 18-20

Congratulations to Benjamin Long & Vivien Tham who were united in Holy Matrimony on Saturday, 19 January 2019.

Please be informed that as major lift equipment will be delivered to site on 21 Jan (Mon) from 3pm to 6pm, the CBC carpark will be totally closed to facilitate the equipment unloading and material move-in.

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Please make all cheques, including those for the Development Fund, payable to Mount Carmel BP Church Ltd (payee name must be stated on the cheque).

Please note that NO receipts will be issued for cheques received by the Church below $5,000 except upon request.

All offerings and pledges to Mount Carmel BP Church Ltd are not tax-deductible.

NEXT SUNDAY 27 January 2019

MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT 1ST SERVICE

MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT 2ND SERVICE

Ushers Suyen & friends Covenant CG

Refreshment Bt Batok CG

Worship Leaders Aaron Chong

Congregational Prayer Rev Oh Boon Leong

Musicians Week 4 Band

Welcome Corner Tan Choon Kiat/John Chua Dn Jonathan Lum/Sunny Yap

Scripture Readers Rumi Tan Kim Kijin

AVA Crew Chai Chin Loon/Fiona Chee Daryl Tan/Loh Kum Hoe/ Peter Liew

Librarians Chee Leh Tee

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3 ways to become better listeners of God’s Word:

I. A Heart’s Preparation

II. A Humble Acceptance

III. An Obedient Doing

James 1:19-27

Discussion Questions

In what way does it take humility to listen and accept the Word of God?

How is the Bible like a mirror?

How is a person blessed by doing what the Word of God says?

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Welcome! A warm welcome to all

newcomers and visitors with

us today. We hope that you

will have a meaningful time

of worship this morning. Do

join us for tea at the fellowship

hall after the service.

Worship Leader Chew Leong Ho Speaker Rev Oh Boon Leong Prayer Rev Jabez Chia Scripture Readers Lim Shi Cynthia Wee Ushers Clementi Woods CG West Bay CG Refreshment Jennifer Lim/Peck Hoon AVA Michael Teo Alan Tan Low Ek Yong Tan Chay Hoon Andrew Ong Thanksgiving Flowers Wedding -

Benjamin Long & Vivien Tham Timothy Ng Dorothy Wu

Worshippers are invited to come forward to the front

pew for personal prayer with our elders/pastors.

Behold Our God

Gloria Patri

Psalm 1

You Are My All in All Christ Is Mine Forevermore His Mercy Is More Wonderful, Merciful Savior

Doxology

James 1:19-27

Marks Of A Healthy Church Member A Listener Of God’s Word

Ancient Words

Three-Fold Amen

For a digital copy of this bulletin:

http://www.carmel.sg/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Weekly-012019.pdf

For recordings of past sermons, visit www.carmel.sg