Two Years Now

With Li Chuang on Feb 3

 Today Dinah and I celebrate the two year anniversary of landing in Hong Kong with 611 Bread of Life Church! Tomorrow we go to the Gardens by the Bay to celebrate, pray and bless the land : )   

 Yesterday I realised that February 2 this year is the day that marks  the beginning of a “new year” for trees in Israel. Known as Tu Bishvat, this day marks the season in which the earliest-  blooming trees in Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin   a new fruit-bearing cycle.

 Its origins come from the laws of agriculture found Scripture. God's people needed a way to calculate the age of trees for tithing and agricultural laws so the sages established Tu BiShvat as the 'birthday' of trees. It marked a point when new fruit-bearing trees were considered to be a year older for the purposes of offerings.

 In Israel today, Tu BiShvat has taken on a new significance. It is celebrated as a day of tree planting, environmental awareness, and thanksgiving for the land of Israel.

Gardens by the Bay on Feb 3

One beautiful tradition of Tu BiShvat in Israel is the planting of trees. This practice fulfills biblical prophecy! God promised to restore the land of Israel, turning its once-barren landscapes into fruitful fields in Isaiah 35:1-2.

We remember that Lucifer has assaulted the earth since he fell from Heaven. In his hatred for life and the Life-Giver, he seeks to de-create and ultimately desecrate what was made to be beautiful.

God promises that life wins. The biblical story that started in a garden with two trees will come full circle with restoration and the Tree of Life, “whose leaves are for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 22:2). 

Today - two years later - my bride and I are back in Singapore. And planting the tree of life here. This new tree will grow and become a forest of trees of life. A garden city!

Commissioning

 

Isaiah 61:1

 Dinah and I are so happy to welcome our twins to HK on Friday. They rest a little before we join the rehearsal for this Sun. This is followed by dinner and Fortress Prayer. This starts off a very memorable weekend!

 Crystal and Eunice take the twins shopping on Sat as Dinah and I catch up with Michael and Kerry. Afterward the twins finalise their testimonies as Dinah and I join the Sat service. Our family reunite at dinner in Ting Kau villa. Later Dinah refines their testimonies as I firm up my sermon.

Starting from Punggol

Sunday morning starts with makeup then we rehearse and pray. The first service get going when the Nkhoma's are being commissioned. In the second service, we get right into the re-enactment segment. This is the first time we serve together in HK! It's super enjoyable : )

This is immediately followed by Deborah sharing her testimony. Then Daniel shares his testimony. Both their sharing touch me deeply. I am moved as I go to preach. Then I see my brother with his wife and their son on the second row. Now I'm choking as I start preaching.

Re-enactment

 I'm so excited to have my family and my brother's family present. I  speak from Isaiah 61. Then our spiritual papa, Pastor Joshua comes up to wrap up the sermon segment. He then invites our entire family onto the platform. He addresses Deborah and Daniel. Then we are invited to kneel. Each person from the leadership team prays for us one by one. I feel impartation upon impartation as pastor after pastor lay hands on me!

Pastor Deborah prophesies for us and our new church. It's so inspiring. Several areas are similar to the prophecy we received on 28th Sep in Macau.

Commissioning

Our spiritual mama C-Mo presents us gifts. Each one is meaningful. She addresses Dinah on her new role as C-Mo of Garden City. Pastor Joshua addresses me. The entire time is filled with joyful moments. There is much laughter : ) This commissioning is super unconventional.

A joyful affair

 We take photos together with the congregation. This is our family in Hong Kong! Our commissioning service ends with a song and a benediction. I'm still so moved!

 Right after, the Eagles team rush up to take photos with us. Friends come up with gifts. Our former cell group come to take photos. My brother's family just join in. Cos the next service is starting!

Family celebration

We join the third service where the Masons will be commisioned. Afterward there's an official photoshoot. Then photos with various ones. Incuding our cell group.

Finally we bid goodbyes, gather gifts and go back in a taxi. We leave the suits and gifts at home. We breathe then go celebrate with my brother and his family. And later with our housemates. 127 is a special, special day!

One year mark

First time

 Today is our one year anniversary in Hong Kong! We made it so far! Celebrations come later. 

 First we need to preach - four times! And this weekend is our debut at the Mercy Seat. After our first sermon on Sat afternoon, four pastors gave feedback. So we reworked our entire outline. Boy are we tired that night.   

 After the first Sun service, Pastor Joshua ask us to throw preaching notes away. With fear and trembling we did. And preached with freedom the next two services. First time without notes! 

Taiwanese Steakhouse

Are we glad it's all over at 230 pm : ) We change into civilian clothes and jump on a coach with Stella, Mimi and Miho. The coach takes us north to Shenzhen Bay in Guangdong

Well our 1-year training visa expires today. Our new work visa has been approved. But it needs to be activated.

Visa activated 

First we celebrate our one year anniversary : ) Stella, Mimi and Miho celebrate with us. It's all our first time at a Taiwanese steakhouse. The girls are happy. Dinah and I are also happy, but also exhausted.

  

 We finally make it back to Hong Kong late on Sunday. So touched that our friends go with us on this cross-border trip. Here's our photo right after getting our new visa activated. Now we really need some sleep. 

  It's been a long and very challenging weekend! And it's been a challenging but a very good year in Hong Kong - with our new spiritual family. 
 

Unlocked

 

Locksmith Basil

 It's Mon so I go to to the rooftop to hang laundry. Then I turn the knob but the steel door will not open. I don't have my phone. I shout but no one hears.  After a long time I see Rose - Eben and Sau Wing's helper - on their balcony one floor below. I shout: "I’m stuck. Please call my wife." She nods. Soon Dinah knocks on the door but I have the key. We arrange that I throw the keys down so Dinah can get it to open the door from the inside. 

 Dinah and Rose try. But it will not open from the inside too. Our housemate Pei Er try. She calls the maintenance guy but the door just wil not open. Initially I felt calm and did not panic. But the overhead sun is very glaring since it is noon. I am feeling cold.

Spiderman Hong

As time passed I feel worried and felt like smashing the old lock. It is cold at 16 C and I am in a t-shirt and shorts with slippers. I put on Dinah’s tiny washed jumper which is dry by this time. 

Our top floor neighbour Mr Yan hears the noise and comes out. By this time Basil and Hong arrive responding to Dinah's call for help. Mr Yan opens his window for Hong to climb up to the roof then down to where I am. 

I feel exhausted at this point but am so glad to see Hong climb to the roof top carrying a ladder.

Unlocked

 Basil works on the lock from the inside whilst Hong works on the lock from the outside. Exhaustion is setting in but I no longer feel alone up here. 

 The door is finally unlocked after 2 hours. I am cold, dehydrated, sunburnt and quite traumatised. But feel so glad to be rescued. So happy to see Dinah, Pei Er, Rose, Basil, Hong and Yan! 

 Basil hugs me. He says that these things happen when we are about to preach. He means that distractions happen but we also get a true story to share with the people : ) 

The moment

Earlier Pei Er wisely asks Dinah to take photos because she like Basil knew that Holy Spirit is doing something. So we have photos now : ) 

After everyone leave, Pei Er, Dinah and I reflect over lunch. We are thankful to be planted in this Tree of Life community. Our plans were disrupted - PeiEr was on her way to play badminton; Basil was hosting lunch; Hong was on his way for an appointment. But each came without hesitation. And it was the first time we met our neighbour. I just felt so thankful. 

Rose & Pei Er

  After lunch, Pei Er starts to worship. Then she says this must mean something. It dawns on us that 27th Jan is the day Dinah and I are supposed to leave HK after a year here. Our return flight is scheduled to depart at 2:10 pm. 

 It's significant I'm unlocked at 2 pm, rescued by our new family. It's symbolic I'm unlocked - from old paradigms of pastoring, from suppression and fears. And launched into a new destiny - becoming a Tree of Life for the nations.

We're home

Weimin muscles

 30th of Dec is a special day. Prior to this, Dinah and I have been preparing our new place in Ting Kau Villa (TKV). Hong and our new housemeates helped. Plus Dinah and I were packing up our service apartment.  

 Two Mondays ago Jason helped move some items. Today Weimin and I make three trips in his car to move our belongings to our new home. Moving is hard work. He, Dinah and I have a nice meal in Gold Coast!  

 Inside, our new housemates Catherine and Pei Er welcome us : )  Leora is still in Taiwan attending to her dad.

Welcome party

Dinah and I unpack till late. And she is still recovering from our overseas trip back from Tai Chung.  

We awake on Tue, 31st Dec with our backs rather sore. Turns out that we are not used to sleeping on hard mattresses. We discover that mattress pads can help and we dont need to get new mattresses : ) 

First we go to our service apartment. Our lease ends today. We are in suite 770 for the final time. I look out into the cove and admire the view. Then we give thanks to God for our 11 months here. We say goodbye. And go to return the key.

We say goodbye to the staff whom we know. They wave us off. A new chapter begins. 

Goodbye Suite 770

 Off we go to Ikea to order a mattress pad. And we bump into Jojo who travelled to Tai Chung with us!  The three have an impromptu catch up right here in Ikea : )

 Dinah and I head back to Ting Kau. We meet up with Justin and June. They take us to a tai pai tong for dinner. Always nice local food with them!

 After dinner we head off to the Fortress prayer. It's Dinah and I my first time at this New Year Eve prayer time. Everyone worship and pray all the way into the New Year.

 After prayer, we wish everyone Happy New Year and take photos. We get a ride home and it's already early the next day!            

Welcome Meal

Wed is a holiday here : ) Us housemates have an impromptu brunch together. This becomes our first meal of 2025 - with our new family! After an extended brunch, we go collect our mattress pad.  

At night Catherine and Pei Er organise a welcome dinner for us. We enjoy an extended dinner together : ) 

Looking back, we felt we were home in Hong Kong once we moved in to TKV!

The Day

Send off

Dinah had not slept much the past 3 nights, busy packing. I did not sleep well those same nights with my mind on the move. Today we awake early. And said to each other: "It's real!" This is really happening. 

We loaded luggage onto Teck Huat and Linda's car. And boarded Suzanna 's car to the airport. There was a sendoff party. And they prayed for us. We're touched and hug each one goodbye. As we walk into the secure area, the officer asked why there are so many people in the send off party : )   

My son and I

Dinah is so tired and falls asleep onboard. I feel glad to have shared my heart with the people earlier. 

Now we're onboard relocating to a Chinese city to immerse in a Chinese church! What will this 1 year be like?

Suddenly I experienced a moment of panic and felt like going back. Holy Spirit calmed my heart.. Then I prayed for a love for the Hong Kong people.

Weimin & Purple

 Boy was I glad to see Weimin and Purple at the HK airport! It's winter and the temperature is a nice 20C : ) We stop for a brief transit at his place to get a lugagge of ours that we sent over earlier. Here we meet Aleph, Jolyn, Basil, Ruby and Goodness : )

 Next Aleph and Purple bring us to check in to our service apartment. It's suite # 770. Aleph or Purple said: "Perfect! Perfect!" And it is just beside Ting Kau bridge, lit up with a red line. I said: "We're under the blood!"

We go in. The view of the cove is breathtaking! What a welcome sight : ) Going to enjoy this!   

Aleph & Purple

Then Aleph and Purple take us out to dinner. It's our first meal in our new home city! After a yummy local meal with long-time friends, we unpack. There are 6 large luggage to work through. Now we realise we do need groceries and household essentials. Plus there are tonnes of texts to reply. Exhausted, I sleep at 1:30 am and Dinah at 3 am.  

Grace upon Grace

Two Sundays ago, we were on the way to my sister-in-law's place for dinner when Dinah asked how I felt about the upcoming commissioning. This triggered a flashback. Memories started flooding my mind. I was brought back to 1996 when we discovered that Dinah was pregnant – with twins. We were going to be first-time parents. Everything was going to change. Just 1 month later, I was asked to serve as Senior Pastor of our former church. I had just turned 28. And this invitation came out of the blue. Everything was going to change for our church. After much prayer, my pregnant wife and I stepped into this assignment with fear and trembling. Looking back, God’s grace was on us as parents and for the ministry assignment.

In recent years, I was led to pioneer sexual wholeness and then whole life discipleship. Working with different churches was new. Again, there was grace. It was serving here when Dinah and I got reconnected with RiverLife Church through Pastor Lionel. Eventually Pastor Lionel and Elder Aaron would invite Dinah and I to serve with them in RiverLife. You can read that story here  http://benkclee.blogspot.com/2018/03/another-transition.html. Once again we were not expecting this – but it happened. Here is another perspective of the same story  http://www.riverlife.org.sg/leadership-succession.

After 5-10 seconds of flashbacks, I answered Dinah - "I feel God’s grace again being invited to serve as Senior Pastor the second time." (The difference this time: Dinah is not pregnant and I am no longer 28.) The moment I replied was when I realised the date of the commissioning was 05/05. Right then it struck me that the number five is associated with grace and redemption. There were two fives on the date so double grace. That's what I told Dinah - double grace. She replied, “grace upon grace”. And so we both came to this Scripture.

"For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace" John 1:16 (ESV)

Today is 05/05. This morning I was commissioned by our elders and senior leaders to serve as Senior Pastor. Our outgoing Senior Pastor Lionel Goh was smiling radiantly. He has been very happy for quite a few months. In his final message today as our Senior Pastor, he smilingly said that he and I are the happiest persons present. He was certainly very happy. The emotion I felt leading up to this morning and this morning was not quite happiness but a range actually.  

I do feel a sense of excitement for what's ahead that's mixed with the realisation of what's needed.This might have been how I also felt in 1996. I am sure there is happiness in there somewhere : ) Today I felt very encouraged. Our close friends were present, standing with us. Our twins could witness today's commissioning. They missed the first time because they were still in the womb during March 1996. Then the commissioning service today was very authentic and very honouring. Both services moved many hearts deeply. It felt like something shifted today.

In my message as incoming Senior Pastor, I encouraged our people that when everything seems to be changing, Deuteronomy 31:2-3 (from Pastor Lionel's message) reminds us that God remains the same. He never changes. He is faithful, and that:

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” John 1:16 (ESV)

With this assurance - I called our church to join hearts and walk together to prepare the Bride of Christ for the imminent return of the Bridegroom.