Children’s Bible Day Camp Report
(6 to 8 June 2023)
By Arielle Ler

We thank the Lord for the Children’s Bible Camp held from 6th to 8th of June.
The theme of the Children’s Camp was on, “The Armour of God”, where the
children learnt about the different parts of the armour of God and how to apply
them in their lives.

Venue: The Children’s Bible Camp was held at Goldhill Plaza and we thank
God for providing us with a place where the children could learn of God’s Word
and have all their activities. We thank God for True Life B-P Church who
graciously opened up the venue for us.

Children: We thank God for 39 registrations this year – 9 pre-primary children
and 30 primary children. Among them, were many Koreans who joined our
Camp for the first time while they were in Singapore, and some children were
from other churches in Singapore.

Speakers: We thank God for the provision of speakers who could serve during
the Children’s Camp as well – Preacher David Chew and Sister Crayson Wong
who taught the primary and pre-primary children respectively. Both the Primary
and Pre-Primary children learnt of the armour of God from Ephesians 6:13-18
— the Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes of the preparation of
the Gospel of Peace, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the
Spirit. They were also given activity sheets which aided their learning of God’s
Word through interactive lessons. We pray that the children will remember the
Word of God and live out the different armours of God in the battle they go
through everyday.

Helpers: We thank God for the many helpers who came down to serve the Lord
and in caring for the children. There were no lack of hands, from pianists,
teaching assistants, buying food and drivers. The youths of Ebenezer assisted
during classes and planned the games. Sisters Shu Hui, Joyce and Crystle led the
Singspiration, with Sisters Angela and Crystle as the pianists. Sisters Dorcas and
Tammy prepared the crafts, where the primary children made a cube craft of the
armour of God and the pre-primary children made a wheel of the armour of God.
This allows them to remember the armour of God and prayerfully, we hope that
they will live it out in their lives. Brother Nathan and myself led in the time of
games where lessons such as how to use the armour of God in their lives were
reinforced during the games. Before the Camp ended, the children participated
in a quiz which helped them to recap and revise what they have learnt
throughout the Camp. We thank the Lord for the labour of all who served.

May the Lord continue to work in the hearts of the children who attended the
Children’s Bible Camp. May the Lord also grant us more opportunities to reach out
to the children through more VBS and Children’s Camps in the coming months
and years.

A FOOLISH OLD KING, A POOR WISE YOUNG MAN,
AND THE FICKLE-MINDED MASSES

Timothy Tow
Adapted and Edited from Original Message
Preached on March 6, 2001 Prayer Meeting

Text: Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
There is a Chinese saying, “The old relapses into childish foolishness.” When that
happens to an old and foolish king who refuses counselling, will he not bring the whole
kingdom into chaos?

Is Solomon speaking from his own experience? This is what is reported of him. “But
king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh,
women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2 Of the nations
concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them,
neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after
their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives,
princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it
came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other
gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David
his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after
Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the
LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon
build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before
Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise
did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. 9
And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD
God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10 And had commanded him
concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which
the LORD commanded. 11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this
is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have
commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy
servant.” (1 Ki. 11:1-11)

Could you ever imagine the depth of degradation into which such a wise king as
Solomon had fallen? Indeed, “better is a poor and wise child than an old and
foolish king in Solomon.”

Such a poor and wise child (or young man) who works himself out of prison
might refer to Joseph, how his God delivered him from false accusation to prime
minister of Egypt. Is not Joseph who kept his high station of life more to be
respected than Solomon, at first a great king, but ended up rejected of God and
man by his folly?

Solomon observes another matter relative to kings and people. This concerns the
foolishness of the common people. Their folly is that they are never satisfied.
They are continually fond of changes. This happens in every generation, to the
great grief of kings, even kings who try to please the people. Such a king is
David.

In spite of David’s high standing in his kingdom, when Absalom his son
rebelled against him, the majority of the people joined in the rebellion. See the
fickle-mindedness of the masses. This is vanity and vexation of spirit. Because
David was truly a good king, God overruled and overturned the plot. In God we
enjoy stability and security.

“Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no
more be admonished. 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he
that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15 I considered all the living which
walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 16
There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they
also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and
vexation of spirit.” (Eccl. 4:13-16)