As of January 2024, our church van is 13 years old, with 2 more years remaining on its current COE (Certificate of Entitlement). It is fast approaching the end of its lifespan. The van has been of immeasurable help to us in performing the work of the church, but more important than the van are the drivers needed to drive it. Many of us are familiar with the riddle: “How many ___________ does it take to change a lightbulb?” Today, I’ll like to adapt that riddle, and ask: “How many drivers does it take to drive a van?”
Currently every month, it takes 7 drivers (6 men and 1 woman) to drive sister Barbara to services from the Cheshire Home, and back again. These drivers have to wake up early to get to the church building by 0830H, to pick sister Barbara up on time. After the Bible class ends, they often have to eat a late lunch, for they have to first get lunch for sister Barbara and send her back to the Cheshire Home, before arriving back at Lim Ah Pin around 1330H. To the 7 drivers driving sister Barbara currently, as well as the many more who have driven her in the past (whether by van or by your own personal cars), we appreciate your tireless efforts.
Currently every month, it takes 3 drivers to pick up some of the brethren attending the Chinese services, bring them to the church building, and send them back again afterwards. These drivers have to make multiple pickups before and after services, and they can easily spend a total of 3 hours on the road every Sunday. By the time they arrive back at the building on Sunday evening, it is often close to 1900H. They are sacrificing time with their families, when they could be having a relaxing dinner with them, because they love the brethren. To the 3 drivers driving the Chinese brethren currently, as well as those who have helped out in this area in the past, we appreciate you.
Ernest and I also use the van throughout the week to go for Bible studies with members and prospects, to visit members in the hospital, to transport equipment for funerals, to help members shift houses (especially those with no other family in Singapore), to pick up overseas brethren from the airport with their luggage (especially during the Four Seas Lectureship season), and a whole list of other activities. To Ernest, my fellow-driver and fellow-labourer in Christ, I appreciate you.
How many drivers does it take to drive a van? A whole community of van drivers, who are willing to put their own needs aside to help others. For all these van drivers, both current and past and future, we appreciate you. And we also appreciate every single one of you who are labouring in one way or another in the Lord’s vineyard, no matter how insignificant you think you may be. God bless each and everyone of you.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:3-5)
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (Hebrews 6:10)