(SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE) “The latter rain will be greater than the former rain” if we continue to trust and obey the Lord – Lee Kong Wee
Lee Kong Wee shares with us his many memories of the early days, the countless blessings of God in his life and his aspirations for COR.
Pioneering Work
Kong Wee started attending the Church of Good Shepherd (COGS) in July 1973. The following year, the then Reverend James Wong called for COGS members to form part of the congregation of the Holland Extension Centre who met in a Holland Drive HDB flat. From a humble beginning of 12 members, the congregation grew to be about 65 strong in 1979. “The flat was bursting in its capacity” said Kong Wee. What an imagery of an abundant harvest.
Chapel of the Resurrection was birthed out of this pioneer house group together with Depot Road Extension Centre in 1979. The first COR service was held at the canteen of St Andrew’s Junior College in August 1979.
Fond Memories
Indeed COR held a special place in Kong Wee’s heart. Many of his fondest moments are in COR, from his wedding to Suat Ngoh in 1982, the birth of their daughter a few years later, the baptism of his mother in 1999 and the ordination of his brother Reverend Lee Kong Kheng as priest in 2006. The latest addition is the birth of Kong Wee’s grandson, Jason in 2017. COR is his extension of family.
Through the Valley
With the highs, there come the low points too. “My lowest point was from 1998 to 2001. During that period, I was almost consumed by my job. I was working for nearly 70 hours per week. I was totally exhausted during the weekends. I completely disengaged myself from all activities in COR except the worship services and cell group meetings.”
In mid of 2001, Kong Wee found spiritual strength through the newly started sunrise prayer meetings held every Saturday morning. This proved to be the turning point as he journeyed out of his valley with the COR family every Saturday on his knees.
Canon James Wong
When we asked him who in COR has impacted him the most, without a moment of hesitation, Canon James Wong came to Kong Wee’s mind. “He was my pastor for more than 27 years. I benefited greatly from his teachings. Till today, I could still remember many of the things he taught us at the 40-week Bethel Series Course (an overview of the whole Bible) back in 1974.”
Leader in Revival
With his many memories of COR, Kong Wee also held high hopes for the next generation. He recalled how in 2007, Bishop Moses Tay gave a prophecy for COR: “I sense the Lord saying, that I want to make COR a leader in revival. I plan for you, not for evil, but for good that you may know your future and your hope. Do not think of the revival of the past, because I am doing a new thing, that will blow the minds of people. I am going to do a new thing that will supersede all the past and you will rejoice…” Kong Wee truly believes that this prophecy would one day come to pass and that COR will once again be a leader in revival.
“后来的荣耀必大过先前的荣耀” 若是我们继续不断地信靠与顺服主
李光伟
李光伟与我们分享他许多早期在复活堂的回忆，上帝数算不尽的祝福，和他对教会的愿景。
开拓工作
光伟在1973年7月开始在善牧堂聚会。隔年，当时的黄锐觉牧师呼召一批善牧堂的会友到荷兰路分堂成立一个堂会，聚会地点在荷兰路道的一座组屋里。从一个区区12人的堂会，我们的人数在1979增加至65人。“房子简直是爆满到极点”光伟叙述道。这真是大丰收的景象。
复活堂就是从这开拓小组和德普路分堂联合而在1979年诞生的。复活堂的第一次聚会就在1979年8月在圣安德烈初级学院的食堂举办。
美好回忆
的确，复活堂在光伟的心中存留着一个特别的地位。许多他人生最美好的回忆都发生在复活堂，例如他与妻子雪娥在1982年结婚，几年后女儿的诞生，他母亲在1999年洗礼和他弟弟李光庆牧师在2006年被按立成为牧师。最新增添的是光伟的孙子,Jason，在2017年诞生。复活堂是他第二个家。
行过低谷
人生难免会经历高峰与低落的时候。“我在1998年至2001年是人生最低落的时期。那段期间，我几乎被工作吞噬。我每周工作将近70个小时。到了周末，我简直是筋疲力尽。我除了参加主日崇拜和小组聚会，我对复活堂其余的活动毫无兴趣也没有参与。”
2001年中旬，光伟在当时新开始的周六晨曦祷告会中重新找到属灵力量。这成为了他的转捩点，每周六与复活堂的家人在膝上寻求主，帮助他走出低谷。
黄锐觉法政牧师
当被问到谁在复活堂对他最具影响力，他毫无思索地联想到黄锐觉法政牧师。“他是我27年的牧师。我从他的教导中获益不浅。直到今日，我仍然记得他在1974年所开办为期40周的圣经纵览课程(Bethel Series Course)”
带动复兴的领袖
对复活堂抱着无限回忆的当儿，光伟对下一代也寄望深远。他记得在2007年，郑灵光主教对复活堂所说的预言：”我感觉主如此说，我要使复活堂成为复兴中的领袖。我对你的意念，不是恶，是美善的，要使你晓得你的未来和盼望。不要再回想过去的复兴，因为我将要做新事，且要震撼人的心思意念。我所要成就的新事将会超越过去所发生的事，而你必欢喜快乐...”光伟真实相信这预言总有一天必然实现，复活堂必定再成为带动复兴的领袖。
This article first appeared in Issue 19, April 2019 CHORUS Magazine.