Remain in Jesus and Be Fully Alive

Phyllis (front row, first from left) with members of her “Covenant” Group at Church Camp 2026.

This year’s Church Camp - Faith in Jesus, Life Restored - created space for us to reflect on our relationship with Jesus then, now, and going forward. Much was fed into our ears and hearts by camp speaker Rev Dr Jimmy Tan and our pastors.

Rambutans taste yummier at Church Camp!

My campmates fed me in other ways too - like pulling my luggage, peeling rambutans and mangosteens, and queuing for satay. I feasted from loving hands!

Since coming home, I have kept chewing on it all. I write so that you may know the faithfulness of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.

The Beginning of my Faith in Jesus  

Our introduction to Jesus varies. Some of us were born into Christian homes. I was born to a mother steeped in Chinese folk religion and a father whom I do not recall ever holding any joss sticks.

By the grace of God, my mother managed to get an elder sister admitted to MGS for Primary One, although our home was not near the school at Mount Sophia. By affiliation, the next daughter followed, and then me, the youngest. We entered school illiterate, able to speak only Cantonese. Three sisters struggled with their own challenges at school.

I met Jesus in MGS. Morning devotions were broadcast over the PA system in the classroom. Each session ended with this song:

“Into my heart, into my heart. 

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

Come in today, come in to stay.

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.”

Jesus entered into my heart and He stayed.

The first weeks of school were scary. I sat on the floor with 40 kids facing the blackboard. I couldn’t read. I prayed, “Jesus, help me.” The teacher held a yard-long ruler with which she would point at a child and then to the blackboard, “Read!”  Suddenly, the jumble of alphabets became words.

From that day, I followed Jesus. He became my secret friend who calmed my fears. Secretly, as I was afraid Mother would not allow it. The fruit of MGS in my life was academic and spiritual formation. Miss Gong Siew Hea, my Primary Six teacher, was a stabilising influence during the stressful PSLE year. Watching her sing was inspiring.During the two pre-university years, weekly Bible studies and youth fellowship sessions held after school hours were disguised as extra-curricular activities.

The week I earned my first salary, I told Mother, “Next Sunday, I’ll be going to church.” Surprisingly, she did not object loudly. From then on, I openly followed Jesus. When I reached 21 years old, I disclosed my upcoming baptism. She tried to dissuade me, wanting me to decide after marriage. I assured her that I understood and appreciated her concerns, but I proceeded with my decision. 

Faith in Jesus Is Built Over A Lifetime

Our camp speaker, Rev Dr Jimmy Tan, invited us to reflect on our personal graced history using a personal timeline exercise. Doing the exercise reminded me of the poem The Way It Is, by William Stafford:

“There’s a thread you follow. It goes among things that change.

But it doesn’t change… You don’t ever let go of the thread.”

My meaning-making of this poem is that life’s trajectory is tough and unpredictable. But if we hold on to God’s unfailing faithfulness and love, “the thread”, we cannot get lost.

Let us hold on together. My faith in Jesus grew in the winding journey of life – from fear to trust, from submission to gratitude, test by test at the crossroads of life.

Following The Good Shepherd Restores Life

Just as we need to exercise our bodies, we need to train our spiritual selves. Rev Dr Jimmy Tan shared with us a toolbox of spiritual practices, to position our hearts to a deeper relationship with God.

When we were back from Camp, Rev David Ho reiterated the importance of hearing the Shepherd’s voice in a noisy world.

Cracked pottery mended with gold may be beautiful. But God’s restoration is more than repair. His intent is for us to “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” — Colossians 3:10

I am reminded that my life redeemed by Jesus is a covenantal relationship – a grace-filled, two-way relationship with God, grounded in His promise of total forgiveness, internal transformation, and personal relationship.

We are empowered by the Holy Spirit, to live a life of love and gratitude in response to God’s grace. ‘Covenant’, serendipitously, became the name of my camp breakout group.

Therefore, as a community, let us build up one another, encouraging each other by our actions and words, bringing more sheep to the fold.

Unceasing Prayer for Our Heart’s Desire

At camp, some of us shared of loved ones who have yet to accept Jesus as Saviour. I am grateful to God that my mother finally believed in Jesus, after almost a decade of gentle urging. My heart’s desire is to see all my family members come to believe in Him. May God grant this desire of our hearts.

Dear God, 

Thank you for the gift of faith – a relationship that continues to grow in both the ordinary and the challenging moments of life. Lead us toward transformation to be like Jesus. Create in us a clean heart, and a right spirit; that our lives in Christ shine through us – to our families, to everyone we meet, and everywhere we go. In this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world, we shall overcome...‘Yet not I, but through Christ in me!’ Amen.

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Phyllis Wong worships at the 11am Service in CCMC. She enjoys writing, singing and painting. Once an accountant, she morphed into a medical social worker. Now, she is in the "write" time. She writes so that you may know: that God loves, and He is present always.

To find out more about church life at CCMC, visit www.ccmc.org.sg.