How true the saying, “The days are long, but the years are short.”
Much work goes into planning every Jesus Club (JC) meeting, and beyond the meeting, caring for our members. Couple that with the rigour of work, family, other church commitments and well, just life, and the days can feel very long indeed. Yet as the JC team at Leng Kwang Baptist Church will attest, it doesn’t feel like a year’s gone by since the launch of JC@LKBC. By God’s grace, and with the tireless commitment of its team of volunteers, JC@LKBC turned 1 this July!
We ask a few members how this past year has been for them.
Surya, a member of the core team at JC@LKBC
Q: What are some joys and struggles you’ve experienced as you’ve led JC this past year?
It’s been a joy to see relationships forming between volunteers and members. As our members come to know us better, they’ve begun to feel less anxious around us.
A struggle I have is sometimes I’m not sure whether our members fully understand the Bible teaching. We’re still learning how to pitch the lessons to their level of understanding.
Q: What’s your biggest learning point?
My biggest learning point is that every event – from our fortnightly meetings to our socials – needs detailed planning for it to run smoothly.
Q: How do you feel as you enter a second year of running JC?
Well, it certainly does not feel like it has been one year. I’m encouraged by members who attend JC regularly. I’m also encouraged by my team of volunteers, many of whom go the extra mile to serve our members, for example, by driving members to and from each JC meeting and by visiting members who are in hospital.
Q: How can we be praying for your team?
For our team of volunteers to be united in heart and mind as we serve our members with intellectual disabilities.
For younger people in LKBC to serve alongside us in JC.
For us to have the fruit of the spirit of joy as we serve in JC.
Brian, a member of JC@LKBC
Q: Who’s one friend you’ve made at JC?
Uncle Surya.
Q: What do you like best about JC?
I like the food.
Q: What’s one thing you’ve learnt from the Bible talks?
Jesus is God.
Esther, Brian’s Mum
Q: What does Brian enjoy about JC?
The songs, overall activities, and social events outside JC.
Q: Has Brian benefitted from coming to JC?
People engage with him and this helps with his communication and social skills.
Q: How can JC better support your family as we enter a 2nd year of running?
Perhaps through house visits for socials.
Rickie, Tony’s Dad
Q: Your family moved to Singapore from Hong Kong in end-2023. Has JC helped in any way to make Tony feel more settled in Singapore?
I think that having a meeting to go to every other Wednesday, which is something that Tony looks forward to, is good. The volunteers at Jesus Club are very nice Christians. I too have interacted with some of them — we’ve had lunch and dinner together sometimes, gone hiking, and I’ve even gone to one of their homes during Chinese New Year. In a way, we’ve been making friends.
Q: What’s the best thing about JC for you?
I particularly like the idea of giving them (participants) bible knowledge. I think it’s a good place to start, via these stories and discussions. A few activities outside of these Wednesday sessions are organised every once in a while, that Tony would enjoy a lot.
The warmth that we’ve felt from Jesus Club impressed me the most. The niceties that we talk about here are not just the common kind. I see genuine love from Jesus Club as a Christian, and I think that has impressed me the most.