7979 E-杂志 E-MAGAZINE

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Year 2020, when COVID-19 pandemic hit, everyone practised “Self Quarantine”, there was a group of people in this critical period of time, saw their neighbours lost their jobs due to MCO, decided to walk out of their “Safety Zone”, and into neighbours who were in trouble and cared for their needs, this group of people are the church members of JB New Life Christian Fellowship, one of our 7979 Holistic Care Station. “Due to MCO, we are giving out food and this helps us to mingle into our community. Before MCO, we are not aware at all that there are people around us who do not have food to eat…” Pr. Kok Chye told us that when everyone has their own job, we tend to think that everyone is doing well in their own life, so nobody needs special attention. Only until MCO takes effect, many people around us started to lose their job, only then we are aware that actually many people are living in really tough condition all these while, situation became worse when they are hit with the crisis.

New Life Christian Fellowship is situated in JB at Bandar Baru Permas Jaya. Majority of the residents here work in Singapore, this town is one of the pit stop for them to travel back and forth between Singapore and Malaysia. The minority works locally, residents with less living advantage are poorer. In the past, with the intention of mingle into the community, the church will organised carnival for residents in the community to participate and have fun together. However, the relationship built with the community always faded quickly just like the fireworks in the carnival.

In October, 2020, New Life Christian Fellowship with a vision of “The church mission is to serve the community”, they decided to partner with HISTEAM and became 7979 Holistic Care Station, by systematic and organised plans walked into their community. In order to go deeper into the community, the church started “Let’s Love Move” operation, assigned different Cell Group (CG) to care for different families. Ever since 7979 Holistic Care Station is being established, the church 14 CG, 70 church members of age between 20 to 60 year olds participated in this operation. Even though, not everyone can commit themselves for long period of time, but everyone still did their part in their own capacity. This kind of caring through passing on love, did not just passed on love to their community, it is also passing on a wholesome faith living example to the church members, allowing them to experience the blessing of giving is more blessed than receiving. Sis. Daphne Wong even commented: “If we can’t live out this kind of life, then it is a waste that we are even born in this world.” She continued to point out that social care can help new believers to deeper understand the complete Christian belief – not merely love ourselves and participate in church’s activities, but to spread Jesus Christ’s love, and care for the needy around us.

Lastly, Pr. Kok Chye shared this bible verse.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35

Since 2019, this bible verse kept appearing in his mind. He has been teaching his church with this bible verses to love each other, so that others may recognise you as Christ’s disciples. “When you care for one family, his or her neighbour sees it, and they might be wondering why people are caring for that family. When they come to realisation, then they will know that this group of people are ‘Christians’.” Community will receive true blessings only when we deliberately build relationship with practical actions.