Dear BPCWAians, A fulltimer’s call to the ministry is an important part of the person’s life. It is a personal call but to a public ministry to serve among God’s people in His church. So this week, I am publishing Yew Jinn’s testimony of his call to the ministry. I remember that night more than 3 years ago, when Yew Jinn told me that he wanted to meet with me. He came to the parsonage one night and it was then that he told me that he had confirmed God’s call for him to the fulltime ministry. Unknown to him, the news brought much comfort to my heart that God had called a Chinese minister from our midst to serve Him fulltime, and especially at that time. Yet, it was important for me as a Minister that a call cannot be taken lightly and had to be duly examined. We do not want to immediately encourage someone to go full time just because we have a need and want to have a Chinese minister. I probed as to his reason and the circumstance, asking for confirmation from the Scripture, why he was so sure, and his understanding of a fulltime call. Only then did I counsel him to sign up for fulltime studies at Far Eastern Bible College to equip himself for his call. We all missed him very much particularly when he first left but knew that that training was important for him as a minister of God’s Word. As he approached his final year, I told Yew Jinn that he had to seek God’s will for where he should serve upon his graduation. Much as I desired that he return to BPCWA and while BPCWA had a great need for a Chinese worker, Yew Jinn himself had to be very sure. Our personal desires and needs cannot override God’s will in this matter. In November 2017, Yew Jinn wrote to me to confirm that he had ascertained God’s call for him to serve in BPCWA. As part of the necessary process, Rev Paul and myself, as BPCWA’s Board of Elders, conducted a rigorous interview of Yew Jinn’s call to the ministry, his call to BPCWA, his beliefs, and assessed how he would serve in BPCWA. At the same time, to preserve the unity of the church, we ascertained his personal beliefs and convictions to be aligned with what the church believes and stands for. Being satisfied of these matters from the interview, BPCWA’s Board of Elders then extended an invitation for Yew Jinn to serve fulltime with BPCWA upon his graduation, which Yew Jinn has accepted.

As such, we publish today the testimonies of Yew Jinn’s call to the ministry and to BPCWA and his personal beliefs and convictions, which were submitted to the Board of Elders earlier.

Yours in our Lord’s service Pastor

YewJinn’sTestimonies

Testimony of Calling

In 2006, I began my first-year university study in Perth. It was in the same year that I became a Christian through BPCWA. In July 2007, I had to relocate to Sydney to continue my course. During my days in Sydney, the Lord put in my heart an increasing desire for His Truth. And so, I made every effort to participate in all the Bible study classes in Sydney BP church. I also helped to bring some university students to church every Sunday and the University Fellowship.

Upon the final semester of my course in July 2010, as the typical overseas student would, I needed to consider taking up Australian permanent residency, job seeking, and where to settle down. By then, I was already working part-time as an intern at an engineering consultant firm. While waiting for my university results, the Word of God in Mark 8:36-37 convicted my heart, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” I also remembered the prayer of the Apostle Paul, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do (in my life)?” (Acts 9:6b). During this period of decision making, a few godly Christians in the church asked me if I have ever considered entering the full-time ministry, or rather if the Lord has called me into full-time service. I had no certain answer for it. However, one sister encouraged me, “don’t leave this out of your prayer”.

At the same time, my father had been asking me to return to Perth to look after my siblings who were still studying. The Word of God in 1 Tim 5:8 convicted my heart, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” If I could be very active at church, yet negligent of my duty at home, that would not glorify God. And so, I packed and left for Perth. The Lord was faithful and gracious to provide me with a job within a short period, and I also obtained my permanent residency through my employer later on. A few years later, the Lord also provided a house for our family.

During the time in Perth, I was also able to serve in the Chinese Young People’s Group (CYPG), Sunday worship service interpretation, preaching Gospel messages at old folk’s home ministry and other areas of service. When FEBC began to offer online courses, I also signed up for one or two courses every semester.

Though life seemed to go on very smoothly, I knew in my heart that my direction was deviating from the Lord’s will for my life. I had no real interest in my work and I could not imagine myself continuing in this job for the next 10 years. The same desire for the full- time service which I had since the days in Sydney was becoming irrepressible. However, I was afraid that it was just my self-assumed emotion and feeling. Like young Samuel, I did not know how one could recognise and confirm whether this is the Lord’s calling. Around that time, I read the Bible Witness Magazine on the topic of God’s call into full-time ministry, I learned about the biblical way to determine God’s call into full-time ministry. The biblical criteria of the external calling and internal calling seemed to be evident in my life. However, I was still unsure whether this is the will of God.

The struggle continued in my heart until one night, when the Lord convicted me through Ps 112:7, “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.” I knew I had to fix my heart and submit to the Lord. After all, it is only my reasonable service, as compared to what He has done to save me. I knew that the biblical criteria and evidence were clear in my life. It would be disobedience to the Lord if I were to deny or ignore them. Thus, I submitted my application to be trained in FEBC for the ministry.

Specific Calling to BPCWA

While undergoing my theological training in FEBC, I always assumed that I will be returning to serve in BPCWA because I am supported by the church. However, I realised that I am not called by the church, but by the Lord Himself. And He is merely using BPCWA to support my studies in FEBC.

So, I began to commit this matter to prayer and waited upon the Lord to direct me to the specific place He wants me to go. During the period of waiting, I was praying over a few possible options. 1) Return to serve in Malaysia where there are very few sound BP churches. 2) Go to China as a missionary since I am Chinese- conversant by my upbringing. 3) Return to Perth and serve in BPCWA from which I came from. While seeking God through prayer, the Lord slowly directed my heart’s desire towards BPCWA. However, I lingered on this matter for a period with much struggle, wanting to make sure that it is not my own desire, but the Lord’s leading. During one of my personal devotion, I was convicted by the Lord through Deut 1:6-8 that I should not delay and hinder God’s work by my indecisiveness. The Lord said to the Israelites that “Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey, and go…”.

However, another great fear and struggle I had was whether I am capable of feeding God’s people with the Word in BPCWA. I acknowledge that I am not as eloquent as others, neither do I have the natural gift of the gab. But the Lord again used the story of Gideon to convict me during one of the morning chapel messages in FEBC. I found myself fearful as Gideon, needing the Lord’s encouragement. When the Lord has called, He will enable me with the ability to accomplish the task. I thank God for directing me clearly to understand His will for me to serve in BPCWA.

Specifically, the burden which God has placed in my heart has always been the Chinese ministry. The Chinese-speaking congregation has not been properly fed with proper and sound doctrines all these years. It has also been a great struggle to source for sermons or Bible-study materials in Chinese that is in line with our BP faith. I pray the Lord will continue to guide and prepare me and my wife for the task that He has appointed for us.

I am thankful to the Lord for His guidance and calling in my life. 1 Thess 5:24, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” It is not going to be an easy road, so I pray that the Lord will keep me faithful unto death in my calling.

My Biblical and Theological Convictions Theological System

I believe in the “Reformed Faith” as represented in the BP Church Constitution as well as the Westminster Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechism.

I believe in Covenant Theology which promotes God’s sovereignty and faithfulness, and reject Dispensational Theology.

I believe in the personal, visible and premillenial return of Our Lord Jesus Christ to judge the world and to rule on earth with peace for a literal thousand years (Rev 20).

Bible

I believe in the divine, Verbal, Plenary Inspiration (VPI) and Preservation (VPP) of the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16, Matt 5:18) in the original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic & Greek) and is therefore inerrant (without mistake) and infallible (incapable of making mistakes), and is to be the sole, supreme and final authority of our life and practice.

I believe the perfect Word of God is providentially preserved in the Hebrew Masoretic Text and Greek Textus Receptus which underlies the King James Bible, and not the corrupted manuscripts of Westcott and Hort.

I uphold the King James Bible to be the Word of God, the best, most faithful, and most accurate translation of the Bible in the English language. I uphold the Chinese Union Version to be the best, most faithful, and most accurate translation of the Bible in the Chinese language. However, the translations of the Bible is still subservient to the Bible in the original languages. In using the CUV, the KJV should always be referred to and checked against, due to the KJV’s superiority in terms of its underlying text, translation technique, translators, and theology.

Sacraments

I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of Baptism for believers and their children, and the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper which are to be observed until He Returns. (Lk 22:14-29; Acts 2:42, 46, 20:7; Rom 14:19, 15:7; 1 Cor 5:6-8, 11, 23-26).

I believe infant baptism does not save the children, but it is for the believing parent(s) to claim God’s covenantal blessing upon the family. It is therefore the duty of the parents to bring the child to the saving knowledge in the Saviour at the earliest opportunity. (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-42; 8:35-38; 10:44-48; 1 Cor 7:14)

Biblical Separation

I believe in the doctrine and practice of biblical separation as taught in the Bible, which is based upon the holiness of God. (1 Pet 1:16, also 3:11; Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3; 2 Cor 7:1)

I believe the church of Jesus Christ should separate from sins and falsehoods at personal as well as ecclesiastical level.

I believe the Charismatic Movement, Ecumenical Movement, and Neo-Evangelical Movement and other unbiblical movements are not of God, and therefore every true church of Jesus Christ should separate from these movements.

Church Governance

I believe the church of Christ is to be ruled by a plurality of Elders (Acts 15).