Elder involved with preaching, evangelism, pastoral care
Tell us more about yourself? (Family, hobbies, previous life, something interesting)
Hi I’m Wei Xiang, I’m married to Geri. We’ve been married 11 years. We now have 3 kids – Benji who is 9, Toby who is 5, Daniel who is 3. They’re all boys so it’s… boisterous (get it?) at home. I used to enjoy investing, which was what my previous job about. But I now tell people about a much more secure and valuable investment – eternity with Jesus. I like cooking. I like playing tennis. And… I have a Youtube channel (an experiment from Covid times) that is now defunct.
How did you became a Christian?
My journey to becoming a Christian was a gradual one. I didn’t grow up in a Christian family. I started exploring Christianity as a young adult grappling with the meaning of life. I found that the Bible gave lots of coherent answers to the big questions of life. Nonetheless, I went on my own way and sought to find meaning myself – I thought meaning would come in financial freedom and the ability to do whatever I want in life. Graciously, God showed me that my desire for my own riches and luxuries were completely self-centred, disregarding him as God. That is sin, and this would lead me down the path of destruction. I sought forgiveness and prayed for help to live for him. I’m grateful that he provided the solution to sin in the death of Jesus. My life has since changed. Although life as a follower of Jesus is not an easy one, it is one marked with great joy as I live in relationship with him. I want to testify to the goodness of God the rest of my life.
What is one thing you love or keeps you going in gospel ministry?
One thing I rejoice in is seeing people turn to Jesus and live for him. There is great joy in seeing things “click” in lives, and seeing people moved by the grace of God. It is so encouraging seeing fellow believers make difficult and costly decisions for the gospel when we realise just how much more valuable and desirous our Lord is. Witnessing God transform lives this way keeps me going in proclaiming him, so that many more will grow to maturity in him.
What is one thing that you're praying for God to work in you?
One thing I want to grow in is being more prayerful. I’ve struggled with prayer all throughout my Christian life. There has been growth, but I desire a richer and fuller prayer life. I would want to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thes 5:16-18)
What do you look forward to at the plant?
There are so many things I look forward to at the plant! I look forward to partnering fellow planters to welcome new people into our community. I would love to get to know them, walk with them through life, and grow under God’s word together. My prayer is that through this, Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, so that rooted and grounded in love, we may have strength to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph 3:17-19)
Sermons (log in as member required):
Hebrews 7:
Singapore Idols 2 (money):
Stuart
Elder involved with training CGLs, PLT, pastoral care
Tell us more about yourself? (Family, hobbies, previous life, something interesting)
Hi, I’m Stuart, married to Chew Chern. We’ve been married for 11 years. We have twin six-year-old daughters- Samantha and Elizabeth. Before I went into ministry I studied history at university for almost eight years gaining a PhD in 2008, but after that I devoted myself full time to telling other people His story. I enjoy sport and spent lots of time at uni practicing ju-jitsu, but now my spare energy goes to devouring TV series on Netflix, occasionally running, and supporting Arsenal.
How did you become a Christian?
I didn’t grow up in a Christian family. While I was at university a stranger walked up to me and asked if I would be willing to go to a Bible talk. I ended up reading the bible 121 with her husband. Slowly God convinced me I was who Jesus said I was – not a moral person, but a sinner- and that Jesus was who he said He is – Lord and Saviour. From that point onwards I have sought (with God’s help) to follow the one who loved me and gave himself for me.
What is one thing you love or keeps you going in gospel ministry?
The church I was converted in was very big on the importance of putting God first in our lives, but that emphasis meant the way the gospel motivates us was small. Christianity was about what we do, not what God has done. A few years later I moved to another church where the focus was on what God is saying through his word and that meant the glory of Christ’s gospel of grace was made very big. That filled my heart with joy. When I began working for a church, that earlier experience gave me the conviction that what Christians need most is to hear the Bible taught faithfully because that will give them a bigger vision of the glory of Jesus and his wonderful good news; that is the engine that should drive us to put God first in our lives. I love getting to train and equip people to serve others by showing them the good news God declares in the Bible.
What is one thing that you're praying for God to work in you?
One thing that has been striking me repeatedly recently as God has been speaking to me through the Bible is that I need to grow in prayerful dependence upon him; that far too often, though I know I need to rely on Him, I am far too prayerless. So I’m praying God would bring home to my heart, as I sang with my girls this morning, ‘It’s like an earthworm trying to do press-up, like a potato trying to swim, like a mountain trying to brush its teeth when we don’t rely on Him.’
What do you look forward to at the plant?
The vision of the Crossing to see gospel-centred Bible teaching churches multiplied across Singapore and beyond so that many many people would be evangelised and discipled to follow Christ has always struck me as fantastic! It led me to leave England and come here back in 2010. Now it is thrilling to play a small part in that vision advancing as God establishes another community of people who delight in the Lord Jesus who loved them and gave himself for them.
Clifton
Staff involved with congregation work, some preaching, kids
Tell us more about yourself? (Family, hobbies, previous life, something interesting)
Hi! I’m Clifton. Currently, I am studying in Bible College and running the church’s Soldiers And Students ministry. Previously, I worked at SMUCF for 5 years. For leisure, I enjoy playing chess and tennis (but not as good as WX or Andre).
How did you become a Christian?
I was raised in a Christian family, but I never took my faith seriously. I also attended Christian schools (affiliated to ACS (Tengah)). But, there, it seemed like Christianity was about praying for good grades and for the rugby team’s victory.
A significant turning point was in SMU. There, I joined the SMU Christian Fellowship. Some seniors and the staff workers read the Bible with me. From there, I started to see how precious Jesus is and why I should follow him.
What is one thing you love or keeps you going in gospel ministry?
There have been many moments in ministry when I have felt overwhelmed, inadequate, tired, anxious, or weak. But it’s comforting to know this: our God delights not in the strong but in the weak and lowly. This knowledge fills me with strength and joy to continue helping others to know him more deeply.
What is one thing that you're praying for God to work in you?
Things are likely to get busy at school and church (especially as we prepare for the plant). Please pray that, amidst the busyness, I will still prioritise my relationship with God. Pray that I will be less like Martha and more like Mary, sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him.
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:41-42
What do you look forward to at the plant?
I look forward to seeing you there at the plant!
Zoe
Staff involved with women’s work, kids
Tell us more about yourself? (Family, hobbies, previous life, something interesting)
Hello I’m Zoe from the 9am service, currently a year two student at ETCAsia. My family consists of my parents (who attend mando!), an older sister who’s based in Melbourne along with her husband and my favourite 4 year old nephew. Before joining ministry, I worked in the arts and culture sector with an aim to use the arts to create social good. But now, the arts has been replaced with God’s word, which brings lasting good for people! When I’m free, you can either find me cooking in the kitchen, enjoying a drink with friends, reading a novel or soaking in art at museums or cinemas.
How did you become a Christian?
I didn’t grow up a Christian, but when I was a teen my dad’s boss brought all of us to church. I continued going to church, seeing it as a Sunday social club. But when I was in JC, a few challenging things happened that led me to question life. It was then that I attended a Bible talk that really brought home how powerful and loving God was. Something clicked at that moment and God spent the next two years answering the many questions I had in my mind. There was never a clear point of conversion. Instead, it’s like God laying down small bricks in my heart over the years to form a strong conviction in His grace and love towards a sinner like me.
What is one thing you love or keeps you going in gospel ministry?
The one thing person that keeps me going in gospel ministry is God. haha it sounds like the 10/10 answer but it’s the truth! Ministry has had it’s fair share of joys and heartaches. But in exchange, God has grown my appreciation and love for Him. His sovereignty, His goodness, His justice, His love, His kindness, His generosity… the list goes on and on. As I keep growing in seeing these traits and enjoying God more and more, I’m confident that He is who I need to keep going in ministry.
What is one thing that you're praying for God to work in you?
In this season, I’m praying to grow in thankfulness and joy. Seeing the brokenness of this world and the sad things in ministry can sometimes weigh me down and rob me of joy. Please pray that I would keep seeing how glorious God is and not to let evil and darkness crowd that out. Pray that as I meditate on His gracious providence seen in Christ and the day to day things He gives, that my heart would sing for joy and I would always be thankful no matter the circumstances.
What do you look forward to at the plant?
The photo with my family taken during an unexpected storm accurately summarizes how I feel about the plant. There will be much chaos and uncertainty. It will definitely be messy and we’ll have to bear each other’s burdens. Despite that, it will be great fun doing life together! There will be big smiles on our faces not because it’s easy, but because we’re in this together as a family in Christ. And I’m confident that God will work all things for our good, to make us more and more like Christ!
Andre
G360 involved with congregation work, ops, kids, teaching
Tell us more about yourself? (Family, hobbies, previous life, something interesting)
Hi, I’m Andre Tanzil, from 1030am service. I have a lovely wife, her name is Khai Yin, we have been married for about 5 years. Prior to G360, I was working in my father’s business, we were selling cosmetics in Indonesia.
I’m from Indonesia but my first language is not Bahasa Indonesia, or English, it’s actually Hokkien. But it’s not the vulgar, for-curses kind of Hokkien that you see at the kopitiam downstairs. Our Hokkien is rather famous/infamous in Indonesia, ask your Indo friends and they’ll know.
I love playing tennis also. Unfortunately the new church plant pastor is an almost unbeatable beast for me on the court. He has a certain aggression and competitiveness that surfaces when he holds a tennis racket, don’t be fooled by his smiley demeanor on the pulpit.
How did you become a Christian?
I was born into a Christian family and thought I was a Christian until I went to SMU, it was there I encountered God in a real way in SMUCF. In SMUCF, I learned that we could read and understand the bible on our own; there was a systematic and “scientific” and rational way of reading the bible, instead of relying on the interpretations of the pastors on Sundays. That was a lightbulb moment and there was no turning back, I wanted to find out more and more about God in His bible and that shapes my life decisions.
What is one thing you love or keeps you going in gospel ministry?
The thing that keeps me going in ministry is that eternity beckons. Eternity awaits. Eternity…is…eternal. Eternity hits hard when I see illnesses, disabilities and death happening to people or friends of friends around me. Therefore, if I’m convinced that eternity is real, then I want to work towards a better eternity, one where my family and friends, as many of them as God allows, will be there with me to enjoy God and each other for…eternity.
What is one thing that you're praying for God to work in you?
I pray that God will help me to work on my personal relationship with God first instead of hurling myself towards church work. I have heard from esteemed predecessors that the workload of a G360 trainee is rigorous. Hence the temptation to keep abreast of all the responsibilities will be real. This is why all the more I need to be prayerful to God to be reminded that without a real and sincere personal relationship with my Creator God, all my works will be mechanical and devoid of God’s blessings.
What do you look forward to at the plant?
I look forward to working with Weixiang and a small team at the plant. It feels like the early days when I started the family business with my father; the challenges seem daunting and we are so small in terms of resources and capability. But God is certainly advancing His gospel in our region, we are on the winning side, this is going to be an exhilarating and rewarding ride.
I also look forward to the day I can go to service and confidently ask someone, “Hi, my name is Andre, what’s yours? You are new to our church, welcome!”