CTM Church has not organised a wedding for some time now. The past week was truly a double blessing for all of us. September 22nd was the wedding of Andrew and Joyce. On September 23rd, both their parents and Andrew’s brother and sister-in-law, 3 sets of couples in total, were baptised.
Their journey started early last year. Joyce is one of our up and coming trained leaders of CTM. She is dedicated and gives her time willingly. She leads a small group, serves in the worship team, is loyal and committed. Her testimony is obvious to all – especially in the area of tithing. God has blessed her with divine favour at work – from an ordinary employee rising to becoming a team leader today, Joyce has been faithful in honoring God with her finances from Day 1.
Having reached marriageable age, Joyce desires to marry and start a family. She understands the importance of “seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” hence no matter how many modifications she has made on her match list, this priority stayed. He must first and foremost believe in and love Jesus.
Last year as she was traveling, one of her hometown relatives introduced her to a potential suitor. They soon connected one another and the first thing Joyce did was introduce him to Jesus. Andrew has never heard about Jesus and his curiosity turned into a serious pursuit. Even their long distance relationship did nothing to hamper his interest in reading the bible and many books on Jesus. Soon he surrendered to this truth and prayed to accept Jesus as Saviour and God. Not only that, he willing gave up his career in one city in order to move to where Joyce is, in order to start his journey of faith and to be with her.
I remember deeply the day we finally met Andrew for the first time – it was a Saturday noon in July. Somehow I felt I knew how he looked like. When he entered the door, I was surprised that he really fit my mental picture of him.
Not long after embracing Jesus, Andrew shared his faith with his mother. Captivated by her son’s message of God’s love, she told the good news to her two younger sisters. Because they were tormented by fear and uncertainty for a long time, the moment the Light of God was shared, they both felt liberated and free.
Andrew’s younger brother and sister-in-law also believed in Jesus because of their autistic son – Andrew’s nephew. Andrew told them that he and the church would pray for his condition to improve. Over time, his nephew did get better and was finally able to attend a regular school. Andrew’s father saw God’s powerful intervention and he, too believed in Jesus.
When Joyce’s parents came for her wedding, they witnessed her transformed life and were convinced that God is real. They accepted Jesus and with Joyce’s encouragement, agreed to undergo water baptism with Andrew’s family.
Marriage is a lifelong commitment to one another. Instead of letting differences alienate them, they would bind themselves together in love even more.
Baptism is a lifelong commitment to Jesus. All who are baptised do so because of their love for and commitment to Jesus, discarding their old ways and living out a new & good testimony.
Please pray:
- The newlyweds will have a happy marriage in the Lord. May they become a model for young people to follow, thereby giving glory to God.
- These six baptism candidates, our new family members in Christ, experience grace. As they return to their hometowns, that they have the opportunity to join a local church and to grow up faithfully
