Reaching out with the love of Christ

SANDAKAN – Being doers of the word and not simply hearers, once more the Star of Yahweh Covenant Community (SYCC) compelled themselves to spend their monthly fellowship with the Christian students from Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) and Sekolah Seni Sandakan Feb 22.

 As usual the young and old members of the community worked together hand in hand to make the monthly program run smoothly. It is one of the ways SYCC ministers to others while strengthening the family bonding within the community.

They divided themselves into two groups; the seniors and youths, each having their own tasks to do. The senior men arranged the chairs at the hall and the senior women cooked for the students, while the youth prepared the music instruments and the setting up of the LCD for the singing, praising, games and group sharing.

Since its inception five years ago, SYCC has unceasingly reached out to the students, especially to those who are far from their families and who thirst for Christ’s love.

The program provides an opportunity for the community to teach their youth how to give without receiving, and the importance of being a light in the dark world, recalling God’s promise in Acts 2:39 “For God’s promise was made to you and your children, and to all who are far away – all whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Phillip Mosinoh, who is the presiding elder of SYCC maintained that the community in doing so lives out the vision and mission of the Sandakan Diocese, that is, to share the good news to others.

In serving the students, they not only provide them with physical food, but more importantly spiritual food for their spiritual formation.

Veronica Chai, a pioneering member of the community underlined “Doing this kind of service has become a ‘family day’ which provides a happy time for the community to work together, sharing and supporting one another with Christ’s love.”

Timothy James, a SYCC youth, revealed that he was happy to give his very best for the Lord when doing this kind of service for the students monthly.

“It has been always a privilege to help and care for the students. It is through God’s grace that I am able to share God’s love with the students. I felt blessed and glad that I could experience joy in doing God’s work. I feel that I am called to give ‘one more’ to Him,” shared Timothy. The students shared with the community that they have enjoyed the fun activities by the SYCC youth. They asserted that the praising and singing, as well as the games, have built a close rapport with them, and the devotional time has given them the opportunity to ask questions on faith. – Susan Cordova