Christmas Day Service - Ye Chow's testimony

This was my first time getting involved in preparing for a Christmas Service and this was also the very first time that the TNTs were organizing this Christmas Service. The theme for this year’s service was "This Christmas is About YOU".

To support the theme, we had a few performances lined up, which included Praise & Worship, choir presentation by the Children Bible Class (CBC kids), a retro drama presentation (depicting a 70s family) by TNT, Christmas Carols Presentation by father-child teams.

This year’s service was initially planned to be held in Canaan Hall. However, after we began preparing for it, we started to foresee a bigger crowd coming for the service because of the invitation cards that were sent out and all the publicity we had done. So, we had to make plans to hold the service at the Sanctuary. Personally, I was worried because to move to the Sanctuary, meant higher expectations... A bigger crowd pouring in also meant we needed more wisdom to plan.

I was involved in the preparation of newcomers’ gifts and God comforted my worries with this Scripture:


Psalm 18:32-35 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.

I realised from the verses that I have to depend on God’s strength and not mine. I also felt God had walked before us in this event. My worries came to a standstill as I cast my cares on God. Everything began to fall into the right places and I was enjoying the preparations for the event instead of being overtly stressed about it. The committee members were very fun to work with and I felt that it was definitely the unity of the team that has partially contributed towards making everything possible.

On Christmas day, we welcomed a crowd of 717 people (initially we were only expecting 400 – 500 persons at the most). Praise God – His hands were in control of the entire event.

Pastor James delivered a sermon which touched me deeply and I felt it also touched the hearts of all the people that were present – I was there for only part of the sermon, when he was speaking to us about loneliness. I felt the relevance in today’s world where people are so consumed by their careers and busy lives that they neglect their loved ones (be it children, youth or adults) Soon they begin searching for other things to fill this empty slot in their lives. The event was a success and we had enough food for everybody, in fact we had EXTRA. God is so good! A big HOORAY for everyone who worked extremely hard for this event.

All effort was worthwhile - especially when I saw people walking towards the stage, either to receive Christ into their lives or to renew their faith in God. And, I believed that those who came on that day, were there for a reason. I'm sure some were also there to seek for answers to life's questions. I believe all of them have been touched by God in some way.

To me, this is what Christmas is all about. It is the joy and excitement of looking at people coming back to be part of the whole big family of God again. Praise God that Yan's mum, Ke Tyng's dad and Apple's parents have accepted Christ on this Christmas!

Invitation card designed by J'ffrey

Pics courtesy of Seow Ching