The Need to Serve Others (Love makes the difference)

9 January 2013 by Natasha Kim-CM.

This past weekend I visited Puchong Tabernacle Assembly (PTA), the Church that held a fundraiser for Bethany Home (A training centre for disabled children and adults). Many would wonder how a humble Church at this distance would even know about a home located all the way in Teluk Intan, but somehow they did because God directed them there as He knew they would have the heart to help! The story behind it is interesting.

PTA was established in the year 1991. Located at Bandar Puchong Jaya, the church has been at its current location at Jalan Puteri for about four years now. At the beginning, the Church started off with a small group of people of less than 20. It then slowly grew to a total congregation of 120 people which includes children and adults.

Joining in their services, I see a small room but one that seats the biggest hearts one can imagine. As the praise and worship began they sang songs of joy for the New Year. There were also two guests in the crowd namely Director of Bethany Home, Pastor Jayasingh and Pastor Karthik.

 

Don’t get tired of doing Good

After Holy Communion and a time of offering, the Church Pastor, Alex Soh then invited Pastor Jayasingh to say a few words. Standing in front of the people who worked so hard for the home, he humbly said, “I’ve been with Bethany Home for the last 20 years, and looking back I can only praise God for what it has done to my own life and faith.”

According to him, when these disabled children were born, sadly not many parents would shout for joy and announce it to the world. They are disappointed, because the child is not the perfect child they dreamt of. However, God doesn’t make mistakes. Pastor said, “At the end of every creation, He says it is good and with that God is satisfied. They are here because God’s name needs to be glorified. The greatest joy is the fact that they have been sent out to announce the arrival of Jesus.”

In terms of these disabled children, it is sometimes hurtful to see that certain communities cannot accept that they are different. What is worse it that sometimes, the parents of these children react by trying to hide them from the world. He then commended the congregation saying, “The days that you have helped out in IOI mall, I think you were worshipping God and doing something that really pleased God.” Love has no price.

Honour God and God will honour all that you do!

Matthew 25:34-36 ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Pastor Karthik then came to the front to share with everyone. He will be taking over as Director of the home after the end of this year. As the story goes, Pastor Alex first heard about the home through helping out in the Special Olympics that was held last year. From there, he had an inspired idea to hold a charity fund raiser for the home. A man with an aim, he was persistent as he sent e-mails, called and left messages to the office clerk. Unfortunately, he was trying to make contact at a time when they were very busy.

Pastor Karthik humourously said, “Pastor Alex did not wait for me to return his call and really wanted to do this good job. I was in the Church hall one day doing some work when I received a call from him saying, “You have to tell me, yes or no?! Funds will come in!”

He was anxious as he had already started making plans and was in fact standing in front of the IOI management office having to give an answer immediately. Now, Pastor Karthik said at that time he did not actually know who this man was who called, but by faith he said “yes!” when normally he would have to wait and go through the Director of the home first.

In addition, he shared that it just so happened that the home had just recently managed to put up their website a few months before the fundraiser, this definitely allowed people to easily find out more about the cause or where the money that was being raised was going to at that time. Pastor thank God for that! Also praising those who helped out.

Close to the end, Pastor Alex then shared a few words and thanked every single one who helped before finally ending the service with a closing prayer. On this blessed day, he passed on the cheque of more than RM 30, 000 to Bethany Home in hope that they will be continually blessed.

To find out more about Puchong Tabernacle Assembly please visit, www.pta.org.my, and to find out more about Bethany Home please visit http://www.bethanyhome.org.my/.