Looking foward in 2010

Newsletter from David Kou & Family

Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors,

Merry Christmas to you.

Indeed, time flies!  Soon the year 2009 is coming to an end, and we will be welcoming year 2010 in a few more days.

As the year comes to a close, it is always good for me to reflect on what the Lord has been doing in my life through the past year, and look ahead to anticipate with eagerness and faith what the Lord will do in my life.  I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some highlights so that you will be encouraged too, and you can pray specifically for me.

1.      Planting of a Church (March 09)

Over a year ago, with God leading and prompting, along with a few friends (some are pastor and preacher), we have been praying over the possibility of starting a Church.  Almost all of us are in someway or another involved in Mainland Chinese ministry.  As we prayed, God has led us to conclude that this Church we are planting will do more than Mainland Chinese ministry.  The key purpose the Lord has laid upon our heart is the Lord Jesus mission and purpose as stated in Luke 4:18-19: 

 ¹⁸"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
      because he has anointed me
      to preach good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
      and recovery of sight for the blind,
   to release the oppressed,
    ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

So after much prayer, we decided that it is God who has led us from various background to come together and to do something.  We began our first worship service together on 1^st March 2009, with 3 families, and few 3 other brothers.  Then the Lord led us to the name “Matheteuo Christian Church”, which we adopted as our Church name.  “Matheteuo” is a greek word meaning:

(a) to be a disciple of one-to follow his precepts and instructions

(b) to make a disciple-to teach and instruct.

It was the root word used in Matt 28:19,20, thus providing the meaning and concept of the Great Commission. Our Church’s chinese name is “大使命基督教会”.  We will be a Disciple-Making church.

I have been given the opportunity to preach once every month.  It has been a good training ground for me.  Being one of the founding members, I have been involved actively in the planning and leadership of the Church. 

Over the pass 9-10 months, God has been leading few others who have the same heart beat with us to join our Church.  We have also seen 2 mainland Chinese girls accepted Christ. To date, our church as made 2 mission trips to Indonesia and India.  We thank God for the ministry opportunity He has given to us in these two fields. There is much to be done, and we will continue to pray for God to avail to us all the resources we need to involve in these two fields.  It is exciting see God’s working among us.  More can be told of His great work which I will not be able to put it down in this letter.  If you are interested to know more, please feel free to contact me, I would be glad to share with you what God is doing.

2.      Training the Chinese Migrant Workers (June 09)

I have been part of a group called “Chinese Christian Fellowship” (中华联合团契). It was founded by a group of like minded Christians (both Singaporean and Mainland Chinese), to network, mobilize and motivate churches in Singapore to reach out to the Mainland Chinese in Singapore.

This year, we decided develop a training session to raise up more trained Mainland Chinese Christian who can lead small groups in Churches, and ultimately when they return to their country, can evangelized and disciples others. 

So in June this year, we started the “Timothy Training Session”, using “The Timothy Principle” from Training Evangelistic Leadership, a training material to teach basic Christian Living and discipleship.  In our first batch of students, 6 construction workers and 1 sister completed the course.  We have just completed another round of training recently.  Our second batch of students consist of 5 construction workers and another sister. This sister actually accepted Jesus only during our first session, when I teach the Bridge to Life (gospel presentation tool).  And I have seen her grow spiritually as she participates in the training.

As the training drawing to an end, I have challenged them to put into practice what they have learnt.  I also encourage them to join us in the second level of training, where we will teach them basic biblical truth, and skill in leading a group.

3.      Birth of my 4^th son (September 09)

On 7^th September 2009, God has added to my family another lovely baby boy.  What a gift from God!  It has been a long awaiting gift.  He is our 4^th son.  We named him Joshua Kou En Yu (许恩義).

Joshua has grown a lot over the past few months.  His 3 elder brothers love him a lot and enjoy playing with him.  Samuel (my eldest son) is learning to take care of his little brother while mummy is busy.  David （my second son） is learning to do some chores, and helping in tidying up their room. 

I thank God for giving me 4 boys, though there are times of frustration especially when they are playful.  But seeing them grow and learning to love one another, and especially learning to trust God, Ruth and I enjoyed and cherished every moment we had with them.

4.      Leaving the Navigators (Dec  09)

After serving the Navigators for more than 4½ years as the Property Executive, managing maintenances of the Building, Accommodation and conference facilities, and IT services, the Lord has showed me that it is time to move on, since my service is no longer needed there, after the change in leadership and restructuring of the office administration.

I thank God for the opportunity to serve in that capacity.  I have learnt much.  Through this I have learnt to be humble and to serve others willingly and joyfully.  The Lord has enabled me to acquire many handy skills in the process.

Leaving the comfort zone, and launching into the unknown can be a fearful moment, especially when this leaving means a lost of financial stability and income.  After much prayer and discussion with my Ruth, we felt led by the Lord that it is time for us to take the step of faith to move into full-time ministry, trusting for the Lord’s provision. 

Our Future Plan

TEL (Training Evangelistic Leadership) was the mission organization I have served when I served in China.  I have been asked by Don Klein, TEL Field Director, to consider Vn as the possible mission field instead of China. He wants me to develop a personal disciple-making ministry model there.

I told him I will not be able to move on now as I have just planted a Church, and I would need to help established the Church.  I requested that I will serve the Church during the next year or so, while praying and preparing by building up my support base here in Singapore.  I also wants my Church to work in partnership with TEL for this mission.

With this in mind, I will be serving in full-time capacity beginning 2010, serving the Church while raising support for my future mission ministry with TEL.  This is a bold move.  It requires great faith for my wife and my boys, as well as for my Church and my co-workers in Church, and also for me.

As I learn to trust God to provide for me, please join me in prayer for the following:

1. That God will show me clearly the possibility of the field in Vn, mode of entry and method of ministry.

2. That God will continue to grow Matheteuo Christian Church to accomplish His purpose.

3. That God will raise group of brothers and sisters who are committed to pray for me regularly.

4. That God will move people who are interested in my ministry be willing to support me financially.

5. For the Construction Workers Training, that through this God can equip workers for the ministry.

6. For my boys to continue to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, that they will be healthy both spiritually and physically.

Thank you for reading this long newsletter, and for your partnership in the gospel. Please feel free to write to me or contact me if you want to know more.

May God bless you..

Kou Tin Lur

(aka : David) with

Ruth, Samuel, David,

Daniel & Joshua