Chinese Construction Workers’ Outreach

“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31

Yesterday marks my first embark into another ministry which I will be involved in for at least half a year – Chinese Construction Workers’ Outreach. I no longer get to serve behind the scene in helping out with serving food or administering to whatever had to be done in the backdrop work as in my past 2 visits. We, the few gentlemen had to be in more direct contact with the Chinese Nationals. The first task assigned for us was to usher the people into the hall at the appropriate time in a gentle and firm manner. Thus, in the most gentle manner possible, we had tried to usher the people into the hall. It was successfully in a small number but not in a large number. It was a test of dependence in Him for me as I had to ask the Lord for His love as culturally, they were different in background and manner of speech as in accents even though we do speak a common language – Mandarin.

The second task after ushering might have been a greater challenge. Asking the crowd to maintain their silence during worship and when the Word of God was preached. Yes, to the crowd who had a reluctance to proceed to the hall, asking them to minimise disruption. Interestingly, we were assigned to go to the upper floor which makes it more challenging as the worship is in the ground floor. My first reaction on the upper floor was to pray, “Lord, may You do a work in all their heart that they will fixed their eyes upon You!” as I recognised it will not be easier to keep them from talking.

Before the worship started, one of workers actually asked for my attention and we briefly exchange names. I addressed him as Brother Wang. When worship was about to begin, he had actually signalled to his friend beside that there is no need to stand up as instructed. I just briefly smile at them and proceeded to face the hall to worship God. I had also wanted to get myself familiar with the Mandarin Worship songs as soon as I can for the future tasks I was briefed about earlier. Slightly before I turned to face the Worship Leader to worship the Lord, I managed to catch a glimpse of Brother Wang. He had changed his mind and stood up together in worship though he actually did the hand sign of a monk when standing up and looked at me. To my amazement, by the grace of God, I don’t think he was being funny and just return with a smile. I didn’t feel offended at all as this probably might be his first visit to a Worship Service. Frankly, I am thankful for how the Lord saw me through that moment as I continue to be able to worship the Lord in peace and joy. This is because I know how as human, we can get irritated at the smallest issue or the ignorance of people in life.

We had a little dinner break when the sermon started. After dinner, we went back up to the upper floor and I was standing at the opposite end from where I was standing. My eyes brought me to Brother Wang and to my gladness, he was perhaps one of the most attentive listeners on the upper floor as some of the crowd was already getting restless and chatting away. Three quarter to the end of the sermon, I noted that Brother Wang was no longer in his seat. I started to wonder for a short while where he went to but assume perhaps he had proceeded to the ground floor instead.

The sermon had come to an end and the preacher did an Alter Call. The responses were mostly from the ground floor. The first batch of the people who responded was brought to another area so as to clarify any questions or if need to, even to present the Gospel to them again. The preacher pressed on for more decisions during the worship and we see two more people responding, both from the upper floor. One of them was Brother Wang. ^.^

Due to some questions that Brother Wang had, we had to set Brother Wang apart and I got to share the Gospel in Mandarin to him. Brother Wang made a decision to receive Christ as his Lord and Saviour. Praise the Lord! I can only thank God for His goodness in using me in my weakness (as I wouldn’t say my Mandarin is good) which is made perfect in Him. For Him being so gracious for showing me the fruit of labour which I so do not deserve. Surely, what God can do, prayer can do.

Regardless of the major or minor differences between people, I only know one thing – Jesus loves them all. Indeed, I had to ask the Lord to teach me to loves as He loves. Apart from the Lord, I know I will not be able to see people as He sees them. Or to loves people as He loves them.

It is also encouraging to see some of the youths there. We have Claudia, the prominent youngest hair stylist; Dominic, the medicine assistance; Pat, the eggs server.

Stepping into this Ministry will be a journey of dependence for most of us as we will have to move out of the comfort zone which we are used to, especially in language. However, I am glad to be able to be a part of the Ministry.

Do keep us, those who have started our journey in this Ministry in prayer as we proceed to take little step of faith of our dependence in Him.

How about you? Will you take a step of faith and be a part of the Ministry in reaching out to the poor who have travelled to a distant land just to earn a living?

A short account of my service in Him,
A servant of God
(Not from the Nameless, just borrowing his account)