My dear readers, 

 

At last, we have found a Pastor-designate for BPCWA!  It all started in the 1980s when brother Mr Seethor Wing said to me:  "Dr Tow, our family is moving (emigrating) to Perth, Australia.  When our house is ready will you come and start a church in our house?"

 

So we started a B-P Church in Perth in 1986 in the home of Mr & Mrs Seethor.  Since then BPCWA has "given birth" to four other churches in Perth and we have found a pastor-designate for BPCWA in the person of Brother Joseph Poon who had given up an appointment of excellent prospect to serve the Lord together with us at BPCWA.

 

Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew and team of Pastors have been examining Brother Joseph Poon.  Rev Quek’s letter follows hereat

We write with great joy that another servant of God will be ordained into the ministry in these last days. Preacher Joseph Poon Chew Khim graduated from FEBC in 2012. He served in Tabernacle BPC, Sydney BPC and to-date has been serving at BPCWA since August 2012 by God’s grace. The Ordination Council members were Dr SH Tow (supervisory pastor of BPCWA), Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo, Rev Dr Prabudas Koshy and Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew.

 

The papers that Pr Joseph Poon had to write for his ordination exam were: -

(1)   On Bible Inspiration and Preservation: (a) What is Bible inspiration? (b) What is Bible preservation? (c) Is the KJV the inspired Word of God? (d) Can God use the modern English versions of the Bible like the NIV to save an unbeliever from sin, and to edify a believer in the faith? (e) Would you allow your congregation to use other versions of the English Bible privately? (f) What are the dangers posed by modern Bible versions today?

 

(2)   On Reformed Theology: (a) What is Reformed theology? (b) What is Hyper-Calvinism? (c) How do you understand the 3rd point of Calvinism? (d) Write a sermon on John 3:16. (e) Why infant baptism?

 

(3)   On Biblical Separation: (a) What does biblical separation mean? (b) How can a church practise separation without being isolationistic? (c) What do you think are extremes in the practice of separation? (d) How would you carry out church discipline?

 

(4)   On the Millennium: (a) Defend your view on the 1,000 year reign of Christ (ie, pre-, a-, or post-). (b) Has the Church replaced Israel?

 

(5)   On Church Government: (a) What is the Presbyterian form of church government? (b) How does it differ from other forms of church government? (c) What are the criteria for the appointment of elders and deacons in the church?

 

(6)   On History of the B-P Church of Singapore: (a) The seven roots of the B-P Movement; (b) The founding ethos of the B-P Movement; The state of the B-P Movement today.

 

(7)   On Hermeneutics: (a) What is the literal method of interpretation as opposed to the allegorical? (b) What is Walter Kaiser’s hermeneutics? Do you agree with Kaiser’s hermeneutics? (c) What is your hermeneutics? 

 

(8)   On Pastoral Ministry: (a) What is a pastor called to do? (b) What are your views on music in the church? (eg, should the church sing only the Psalms?; Can musical instruments be used in worship?; Can certain selected contemporary Christian choruses be sung?) (c) Can the church celebrate Christmas and Easter? (d) Can a Christian eat out on the Lord’s day? (e) What kinds of ministry can a woman have in church? (f) Can the church practise cremation? (g) How do you prepare your sermons?

 

(9)   On Personal Matters: (a) Write a testimony of your salvation and call. (b) How can I contribute to the advancement of my church?

 

These questions were to be answered as thoroughly as he could, based on Scripture. The answers ought to be an honest reflection of his personal understanding and convictions. Pr Poon submitted the papers at the end of 2014 as requested by the Ordination Council. An oral exam was held on 21 January 2015 which lasted about 2.5 hours which he passed. God willing, Pr Joseph Poon will be ordained tonight (01 February 2015) at Calvary Pandan B-P Church @ 6.00 pm.

 

All are welcome and encouraged to attend the ordination of God’s servant as this is the most important time in a fulltime servant’s life. A person is first called personally and then publicly affirmed by other ordained ministers that he is truly called after being observed and evaluated in his doctrines, conduct and life. Please pray for Pr Joseph Poon as he begins his life as a fulltime minister of God’s perfect Truth. May Preacher Poon be found faithful as he discharges his duties and responsibilities with the fear of God in his heart and constrained by the mind and love of Christ.

 

Below is the testimony of Pr Joseph Poon:-

·              Born into Roman Catholic family background, I used to turn away people who approached me with the Gospel. But in 1980, God began to work in my heart when I was 16 years old to seek and understand who Jesus Christ is. The thirst was great but I could not find the answers in the RC Church. In the same year, the Lord brought a Christian to share the Gospel with me one Saturday morning in school. The first thought in my mind was that finally someone could tell me more about Jesus Christ.

 

·              I understood then that Jesus died to pay for my sins and He was the only way to heaven because salvation is purely by grace through faith in the finished work of the Risen Lord. I readily and wholeheartedly embraced Him as my Savior and desired to repent of my sins. I left the RC Church at the same time. I was soon baptized afterwards in Jesus Saves Mission.

 

·              A couple of years before 2008, the Lord began to put a strong desire in my heart to leave my work and study His Word.

 

·              But it was in 2008 that the urge to leave work and enter full time study of His Word became irresistible. The work which I enjoyed very much no longer posed any attraction. This was inexplicable because I was at the peak of my career, flying high in the corporate world at that time, and had already been assigned yet another big promotion.

 

·              The burden became overwhelming. Then I knew it could only be God working in my heart and I had to resign sometime soon and go study God’s Word. But I wanted to have God’s Word to direct me so that I can cling on to it if doubts ever arose. The Lord spoke clearly to me through the passage on the prodigal son and also Acts 20:24 during my devotions. The pleasures of the world will bring no joy in the end. But I will have true joy in this life if I did His will.

 

·              The preparations and the intention were to go to Foundations Bible College in the USA to study. My wife Sharon was fully supportive and was ready to go with me. I resigned from work.

 

·              But almost immediately after resignation, I was diagnosed with 1st stage lung cancer which required an immediate operation. Nevertheless, there was no fear in me because I knew if God has called me, then He has a reason for the operation. The operation was very successful. But because of the operation, I decided that it was not wise to go to the USA because of my weak physical condition and also the inconvenience of flying back for any medical follow up.

 

·              Providentially, someone suggested that we enroll in FEBC since it would allow me to study full time in Singapore. I registered and was accepted. On hindsight, the operation resulted in preventing us from going to Foundations. God held us back and we are deeply grateful to Him for the training we received in FEBC. When I meet a cancer patient, I am reminded of my calling.

 

·              It was in my final year in FEBC that thoughts about what had God called me to do began to occur in my mind. God gave me the opportunity to preach at Tabernacle BPC, BPCWA, and Sydney BPC, churches which were seeking to appoint a pastor.

 

·              Again, I wanted God to give His clear Word about where I should serve for fear of choosing because of personal preferences. Both Tabernacle BPC and BPCWA officially invited me to serve full time in their church.

 

·              Being unwilling to leave my very ill father in Singapore, the Lord convicted me during my regular devotion that I am not worthy of Him if I loved father or mother more than Him (Matt 10:37). His Word came clearly each time I was in BPCWA to preach, particularly through Matt 19:29 and Matt 9:35-38.

 

·              Finally, after my graduation, the verse from Josh 1:9 rebuked me at a FEBC night class for my reluctance to leave the familiar life in Singapore to follow His call, and especially for fear of being called to a challenging church. Hence, I yielded to God and accepted BPCWA’s invitation.

 

·              The Lord further made it clear by providing a very smooth and fast PR approval from the Australian Immigration despite my medical history and age. I submitted to His Word and leading Hand and have been serving in BPCWA since then.

 

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor