1. Baptist Centre - Update

We are entering into the crucial period of completing the purchase of the Baptist Centre by 22 December 2011. These are exciting days as churches tallied the donations received from church members and send us the consolidated gifts. We are eagerly looking forward to receiving the funds within the next two weeks to work out the detailed project costing. We trust in God’s faithfulness to provide all that we need to enable us to enter into the Promised Land.

I am thankful, grateful and encouraged to see Baptists stepping up their donations and spiritual support. Share my joy and thanksgiving to God for:

• Mama Seow (Calvary Baptist Church) who offered her own hand-made quilts for sales to raise funds for the Baptist Centre told me excitedly that as soon as she finished her first piece for a single-bed, it was grabbed by a church member who offered $500 without hesitation. She would have completed a few larger pieces (Queen and King size) by this week. Call me if you want to place an advance order for a piece of her works.
• BTS students raised $11,414.00 during their Thanksgiving Service held on 4 Nov 2011.
• Japan Baptist Convention came to know about the Baptist centre and donated $10,000.
• This morning I was thrilled to find a cheque for $20,000 for the Baptist Centre on my desk from a donor who had given several times in the past to the Baptist Centre, with this encouraging note: “Praise God that He has enabled us to work together to further His Kingdom here on earth”.

The target is an additional $3.5 million to complete the purchase by 22 December 2011.

To date, we have received pledges and donations of about $1,900,000.

Every donation, big or small is received with gratitude and praise to our Heaven Father who richly blesses all who call on Him. (Rom 10:12). Cheque should be made payable to Singapore Baptist Convention – Baptist Centre. Regular update of the pledges and donations received is posted in our website at www.baptistconvention.org.sg and www.bts.org.sg

2. Baptist Pastors Day, Sunday 20 November 2011 (20112011)

20 November (Sunday) is Baptist Pastors Day, a concerted effort to appreciate our beloved Pastors. They are often in the front lines caring for us and nurturing us in our faith. We ought to hold them before the Lord in thanksgiving and prayers. They are there for us when we are down but seldom remembered when we are up.  We owe our pastors a debt of gratitude that we'll never be able to pay for their devoted labour of love for us. God teaches us to hold them in the highest regard. “Now we ask you, brothers to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” (1 Thess 5:12-13)

Surprise your Pastors with ……

• Flood your Pastor’s mailbox, e-mailbox, FaceBook with cards and messages of appreciation and special offers
• Plan a special appreciation service on 20 Nov 2011. Work with the Worship Leader to create a memorable service, such as dedicating certain songs to the Pastor, read appropriate scriptures, select a few individuals to share a tribute to the Pastor, etc. Toward the conclusion of the service, allow your pastor some time to respond.
• Register your Pastor for an annual membership with a Fitness Club to toughen muscles and be moulded to tip-top condition.
• Fulfill your Pastor’s dream of pursuing post graduate theological education by paying for the course fees. The BTS / Union University Doctorate of Ministry programme is a worthy choice.
• Pastors feel appreciated when their families are cared for. Take the Pastor's kids for an outing to the Zoo, Bird Park or Sentosa; or to a movie with lots and lots of popcorns included.
• Renoaid - repair or paint the pastor's house. Some pastors are skilled at home projects. Some are skilled and enjoy home projects. Some just enjoy home projects but unskilled. Then there are Pastors who are neither skilled nor enjoy home projects.
• Get your Pastor an iPhone or iPad to keep him connected with church members and able to access resource information for sermons while waiting or relaxing.
• Bring the Pastor and family out to a special evening at the theatre or movie complete with a sumptuous meal.

360 Lay Leaders and Pastors will be treated to a sumptuous dinner held in honour of Baptist Pastors on Sunday, 27 Nov 2011 at the Yunan Garden Restaurant, organized by the Baptist Lay Leaders Network. BLLN is also presenting specially designed blazers to 134 Baptist Pastors and fulltime Ministry Staff in recognition and appreciation of their selfless service as servants of the Lord in our Baptist churches.

3. Welcome On Board!

We welcome Rev Dr Timothy Lim as the Pastor of Hope Baptist Church with effect from 1 Oct 2011.
We welcome Pastor Michael Ting as the Pastor of Bauhinia Baptist Church (English Congregation) with effect from 1 Dec 2011.

4. Beyond Happiness: an Evangelistic Outreach by Grace Baptist Church

The Speaker, Dr Ramesh Richard is the founder and president of RREACH – a global proclamation ministry, reaching leaders worldwide. He is an inspirational speaker, a spiritual philosopher, a renowned educator and a practical author, who speaks on the ultimate issues of life to thousands of people around the globe each year.

From Harvard to Haiti; from Presidents of nations to the masses in them; from small, intimate gatherings to large, filled arenas he has clarified God’s message of peace and hope to wide-ranging audiences in over 80 countries.

Watching his father leave a lucrative airline career for the ministry, Ramesh Richard knew as a boy that Christian ministry would become his vocation. While still a teen, Ramesh started publicly presenting news about the Lord Jesus Christ in the crowded open markets of South India. In 1987, six businessmen in Dallas, Texas, came together to form RREACH - an acronym for Ramesh Richard Evangelism and Church Health. A global proclamation ministry, the vision of RREACH is to change the way One Billion Individuals think and hear about the Lord Jesus Christ. Its mission is to “implement God’s calling to promote the Lord Jesus Christ  worldwide” with a strategic burden for evangelizing opinion leaders and strengthening pastoral leaders, especially those of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

For more information, contact Rev Bobby Lee at Grace BC: 6747 7788

5. Gloria Lim

Thank you for standing with Peter Lim & Li Keok from Calvary BC in prayers for their daughter, Gloria. Pastor Edwin gave this update on Wed: “Gloria seems to be stable at the moment but she is now running a slight fever (37.6 degrees). Her blood pressure continues to be fine without the heart support machine which is itself a great news. The doctors are also weaning her off the balloon for heart  and ventilator in stages. This morning, Gloria was even able to respond a little to her Mother, Li Keok. Praise be to God! Please continue to bring her before the throne of grace and I am sure God's abundant grace will be sufficient for her”. Yesterday, she had her brain scanned. Your continuing prayers for Gloria and the parents are deeply appreciated

peter tang
for Christ and baptist unity