Dearly Beloved,

Our visiting speaker Dr. Alan Cairns is a close friend, fellow-minister and a co-labourer in the Gospel with Rev. Ian Paisley for many years.  Rev. Ian Paisley, in 1951, founded the Free Presbyterian denomination in Northern Ireland. On the 27January 2012, more than 3,000 people were gathered at the farewell service in Martyrs’ Memorial Church, to mark the end of his 60 years of full-time ministry. In his last sermon, he spoke of preparing for the day of everlasting rejoicing in the afterlife. And on the 5 February 2012, he was admitted to hospital and has remained critically ill, having suffered from a serious heart condition. We thank the Lord for Rev. Ian Paisley, an example in modern times for having lived a purposeful life by serving God and others. As Christians, we should seek to have a purpose in life. The Lord has given talents to each one of us and He expects the talents to be fully invested for His sake and glory. Jesus told the parable in Matthew 25 that has to do with talents given to the servants. And to one of the servants who failed to fulfill the purpose of being given the talent, Jesus said, Matthew 25:28 and 29, “Take therefore the talent from him and give it unto him which had ten talents. For unto every one that had shall be given and he shall have abundance but from him that had not shall be taken away even that which he had.”

It is in the Bible that we can find out what God wants us to do with our lives. Proverbs 16:3, “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established,” is to commit our plans together with other petitions and supplications in prayer to Him. God knows the end from the beginning and He will direct our paths to succeed with our plans and to achieve our goals for His glory. Setting goals and accomplishing goals are pleasing before God’s sight. May the following two questions be asked when we are setting goals in the Christian life :

i) Will it glorify God? 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

ii) Can I do it without murmuring? Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

In the goal that we pursue, the ultimate purpose from accepting the challenge is to complete it, to glorify God in the end. And if the Christian life is liken unto a race, we are challenged to do our best to finish it with God’s help. I end this article with the words from the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

Elder Douglas Ho

Testimony of Mrs. Alan Cairns

It hardly seems like six weeks since we landed at Changi Airport. In a few days’ time I will, God willing, be returning there to make the trip back to Northern Ireland. Elder John Leong asked that before I go I would share a brief word of testimony with you, which I am happy to do, for it is a glorious thing to have a testimony to Christ’s saving power and to be able to tell it to others.

With the psalmist David I must say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and that all that is within me, bless His holy Name.” I had the wonderful privilege of being born into a Christian home. Both my parents were saved by God’s grace long before I was born, the youngest of 10 children, three of whom died very young. For as long as I can remember I knew I was a sinner and that I needed the Lord to save me by His grace. When I was 12 years old the Lord answered the prayers of my parents and I accepted the Lord Jesus as my personal Saviour. When I was fifteen years old I came into contact for the first time with the Free Presbyterian Church when I heard Dr. Ian Paisley preach. I had never heard preaching like it. After a little while my father gave me permission to attend an outreach church of the Free Presbyterian church. It was there that I started to grow in grace and to have a desire to know more of my Saviour and walk in closer fellowship with Him.

The Lord has blessed me greatly through the years and to Him I give my praise. With the hymn writer I can truly say, “All the way my Saviour leads me, what have I to ask beside?” I never expected I would ever be in Singapore and here I am completing my second trip! It has been a joy to meet again with the congregation at Tabernacle BP Church. I have greatly enjoyed your fellowship and friendship and will always remember with fondness your many acts of kindness and encouragement to me during these weeks of worshipping with you.

May the Lord be magnified in your lives individually and in the witness of the church. And may He give you great and gracious answers as you continue to pray for His blessing on all your labours for His glory.

In the bonds of Christ’s love,
Joan Cairns