Getting out of the swamp


Hi IGNYTERs, this was the image I saw while we were praying for all the IGNYTERs on Friday night at the SP empowerment on 5 September 2008. I saw a picture of us rising up and stepping out of the swamp. Many of us have been taken a tow by the “swamp” - friendship, family, school problems, attacks of the spirit and mind. Struggling and pulling ourselves through in the mud, causing us to feel tired, aimless, hopeless and lonely.

But this day, the darkest season has faded, because the Lord has overcome it. For those who are still in the swamp, take heart, it's just a few steps away to the shore. Let's be encouraged by these verses:

Psalm 91: 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

We all can have the same Christian name, that's “Victor”, because victory belongs to the Lord and we are victorious sons and daughters of God! Let's get ready to charge and bring IGNYTE to a new level of victory together!

- Bro Zhihao

11:07 PM
(SALVATION)



Watching the different matches and competitions in the Olympic Games make me marvel at the strength and determination of the athletes. The most exciting event that I’ve watched is the swimming event where Michael Phelps won by a margin of 0.01 second. My jaw was literally dropping when I saw the scores as I thought that Milorad Cavic would have won the gold medal instead.

I would have imagined the amount of hard work and discipline that had gone into the training for this world event, such schedules that would have been too crazy for most of us to upkeep. However, the taste of victory was exhilarating. It is not just about the achievement of the individual, but a celebration of victory for the entire world as many cheered for their own nations or their favorite athletes.

We are also part of God’s exciting “Olympic Games”. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize”

We are all running a race, the difference is that we compete for something that is eternal and in this race, everyone is a victor! However, it requires us to go into “strict training”, through equipping ourselves with Word of God and seeking God in the times of prayer would give us the stamina and strength in running the race. It requires both discipline and perseverance to stay on the race. Sometimes, it also requires us to give up the things that are precious to us in order to achieve that goal or destiny that God has prepared for us.

My prayer is that we would not run this race aimlessly, going through life and school for the sake of it or just for our own pleasure, but to run with a goal and a mission in mind. Knowing that God is there at every part of the race and as we stay focus, let us not allow the devil to distract us or disqualify us from the His “Olympics”.

Let’s run to the end ya? (:

- Sis Joanna

3:39 PM
(SALVATION)


While I was having steamboat for dinner, I saw a crayfish in the pot. But when I flipped it around, what I saw, gave me quite a shock, and then, I felt sad for it. The image of a little scrunched up human-look-a-like crayfish was a reflection of pain, hidden pain. Its tightly shut eyes really depicted suffering.




Everyone has a ‘normal’ and good-looking side, and many times we look at our friends, thinking that they are so complete. They are confident, they smile, they laugh, they joke and take everything easily. They never seem to let their needs and pain surface. We think that they will not want to hear about God because they think that they do not lack anything.

But just like how the crayfish has its flipside, our friends have their sides of hurt and emptiness too. And these can only be healed and filled, by God. Beneath the happy faces, everyone yearns for a perfect love that truly cares for them.

Everyone needs compassion, a love that’s never failing, let mercy fall on me.
Everyone needs forgiveness, a kindness of a Savior, the hope of nations.

People Need The Lord

Everyday they pass me by
I can see it in their eyes
Empty people filled with care
Headed who knows where

On they go through private pain
Living fear to fear
Laughter hides their silent cries
Only Jesus hears

People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
When will we realize people need the Lord

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right
What would be too great a cost
For sharing Life with one who's lost

Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear
They must hear the Words of Life
Only we can share

People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
When will we realize that we must give our lives
For people need the Lord
People need the Lord

Let’s use our time wisely and find opportunities to share our God’s love with our family and friends. =)

-Sis Hannah

6:24 PM
(SALVATION)


Recently, we have all been hearing the words ‘Open Heaven’ rather frequently ya? But do we know what ‘Open Heaven’ means? Honestly, I’ve been pondering a fair bit over the significance of these words…

Early this year, I’ve been spending quite a lot of time with my cousin. He fell out of love when his girlfriend decided to end their 4-year relationship. My cousin and I have not been close (usually, we meet twice a year – Chinese New Year & Christmas). When I heard that he was feeling out of sorts, I decided to reach out to him. He was amazingly opened to the Gospel - he came for the Easter Guilty! Presentation as well as attended adult services, care cells and other church events.

Two months ago, I took a taxi home after TCA classes ended at about 10pm. As the taxi driver felt it weird to pick up a passenger (dressed in business attire) along the quiet street outside Trinity @ Paya Lebar, he asked me why I was out so late. I responded that my Bible classes just ended. He then shared that he is a new Christian and he was trying to search for a Chinese church where he can know more about God. We spent the rest of the journey talking about who God is and I invited him to visit the Chinese service at our church.

A few Sundays ago, I was out having afternoon tea with 4 business contacts from China. I don’t really know them well but I knew that God had placed them in my path for a purpose. I decided to spend time knowing them so that I could invite them to church eventually. Half an hour into our gathering, one of them started to share about how she was lonely and afraid when she first came to Singapore. But, things changed when she became a Christian. We spent the next hour talking about who God is and what Jesus did on the cross! I also had the opportunity to share my salvation testimony!

Last week, I had buffet dinner at a Japanese restaurant (Yum! Yum!) with a friend whom I met in New York last year. He has just moved back to Singapore. After knowing that I usually spend my weekends in church, he started asking me a number of questions about church. Finding it a bit strange, yet glad that he was curious, I decided to ask him – “Are you a Christian?” He told me that he used to go to church years ago but not anymore. Wow! I hope that I can care & connect him to church.

Through these encounters, I finally and truly realize what ‘Open Heaven’ mean.



'Open Heaven' is about flowing freely in God’s abundant grace and ministry power. God will open the doors and grant us opportunities to reach out to people around us (even strangers!) who are so open and ready to hear the Gospel or return to Him. Somehow, people will just open up to us AUTOMATICALLY. We don’t really have to toil the soil without much labor or sweat on the brow. We will also see prayers answered and miracles happen.

You know what?! For IGNYTE ministry, we see a total of 10 salvations and 2 rededications for the single month of July, at the FTV lounge itself! This is not including those who responded to the altar call during services. I believe that the whole of Singapore (and not only on the actions, fun and excitement in what God is going to do through you. Let’s desire our church/ ministry) is going to see a revival coming our way! As you can see ‘Open Heaven’ is already here!

Arise, Mighty Warrior - there’s gonna be ‘Open Heaven’ in your school, in your army camp, at our work place, in our families, on the streets etc. Let faith arise! I’m sure that you wouldn’t want to miss out to glorify God in all that we do! =)

Heaven is OPEN - Death is broken!

- Sis Cheryl

7:59 PM
(SALVATION)


Hi warriors of God!

First of all, I want to thank all of you for giving your best by inviting your friends for the event.

Last weekend, many people came for the first time and many gave their lives to Jesus. I manage to speak

To a young lady that God loves her very much. That was very much the order of the day as various ones

open their heart to the gospel.



I believed the reason for because the people believed and they prayed. It is because of your prayers that moved the hearts of your friends to Christ. The best part is, this is only the beginning. God gave us a mission, a mandate and that is to bring this generation and exit to the Kingdom of Heaven and not the pits of Hell. Remember, every word you spoke, every prayer you made has not gone unheard, unnoticed but they are accumulated according to God’s timing so that Ignyte can experience the greatest growth yet.



As many of us are preparing for the exams, tests, project, remember to stay close to God and draw deeper in Him! Give God all the glory!



Revelations 14:15 ‘Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe!

-Pastor Gary

5:46 PM
(SALVATION)