What can I say, SPM is REALLY over! =DDDDD
:'S
30 Nov 2011
1 Nov 2011
I just got back from Mission Possible - a programme on Logos Hope. The ship is pretty cool (I didn't get to walk around but it looks good from the outside) =P
So where do I begin? WOW.
Ok. We went into a room and had a little chit chat. Got to know some people and I have got to say that the people there are so hospitable and welcoming, I can hardly get over it! Their joy is absolutely contagious! And when they talk to you, it's like you've known them forever. Aaanyway, after we settled down, we had a short worship session and a guy (I don’t remember his name) from Germany spoke about how he got on board Logos Hope. As he was halfway through his testimony, the lights went out.
Boom.
Pirates/kidnappers (well, I’m not sure what you call them but they were ‘bad people’) came in and ‘roughed’ us up and made us kneel. They blindfolded us and made us get into some type of prison uniform/one piece suit. I was in a blue suit and they shuffled us out the room.
I was the first in the line that was led out.
Then I got questioned.
"What are you doing on the ship?"
"What did you come here for?"
"Who are your friends?"
"What are their names?"
And when I eventually figured we were getting questioned by 'persecutors of Christians', I stopped answering their questions. Zipped my mouth. They threw a bucket of water on my back and that totally opened my eyes to realise something. (Note: It was just a little splash though my hair and shirt got slightly wet because the water went through the suit)
It hit me that I may not be persecuted right now. But there is someone, there are people, out there in the world getting persecuted for their faith this very moment. From then onwards, I tried to take in every feeling to try to understand or catch a glimpse of what persecuted Christians go through. To know just one tiny bit of what it feels like to be questioned, threatened, tortured.
Our 'captors' yelled really loud and scolded us and did a pretty good job scaring some people with their "cut off his fingers" or "put 'em in the tank" lines. Of course, the actors/crew didn’t treat us roughly, much less torture us, but being led, pulled into unknown places in the ship and made to kneel with our hands behind our heads definitely showed us just a small part of what some of our brothers and sisters in Christ go through everyday.
Eventually the simulation ended and we were made to sit in a circle that turned out to be our discussion group.
I have brain knowledge about these things. I read books on how people are persecuted and killed for believing that Jesus is Lord. I read about how they are questioned and how they choose to not rat out their fellow believers despite getting beaten etc. But only today did I realise the fact that it is not easy at all to not deny Jesus! Without God’s strength, it is not possible! At this stage, I can honestly say that I THINK I am not ready yet. It is quite difficult (in my opinion) to not deny being a Christian if you know your fingers are going to get chopped off. But thank God, He is merciful. Like what the group discussion leader said, God gave us emotions and we are allowed to feel afraid because we are humans. We are not bad Christians because we feel scared. But I do pray that God will help us grow and mature so that if and when we are put into these situations, we will be able to go through it with His strength.
After the discussion, we had cookies and fellowship (the cookies were huge!) and later we had Jocelyn Poullaouec share. He kept repeating this sentence: God is always with you, always with us, always! And it is true! It's a good reminder because I personally tend to forget.
So that's about it. We talked some more till I had to leave and it was realllllyy a great experience, I'm not sure if my words managed to convey it properly but yeah.
Ima just leave you with a couple verses.
Luke 21:14-15
Make up your minds ahead of time not to worry about how you will defend yourselves, because I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to refute or contradict what you say.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Oh, and don't forget to pray for the persecuted church! If you don't know where to start, Google the Open Doors World Watch list. God bless.
So where do I begin? WOW.
Ok. We went into a room and had a little chit chat. Got to know some people and I have got to say that the people there are so hospitable and welcoming, I can hardly get over it! Their joy is absolutely contagious! And when they talk to you, it's like you've known them forever. Aaanyway, after we settled down, we had a short worship session and a guy (I don’t remember his name) from Germany spoke about how he got on board Logos Hope. As he was halfway through his testimony, the lights went out.
Boom.
Pirates/kidnappers (well, I’m not sure what you call them but they were ‘bad people’) came in and ‘roughed’ us up and made us kneel. They blindfolded us and made us get into some type of prison uniform/one piece suit. I was in a blue suit and they shuffled us out the room.
I was the first in the line that was led out.
Then I got questioned.
"What are you doing on the ship?"
"What did you come here for?"
"Who are your friends?"
"What are their names?"
And when I eventually figured we were getting questioned by 'persecutors of Christians', I stopped answering their questions. Zipped my mouth. They threw a bucket of water on my back and that totally opened my eyes to realise something. (Note: It was just a little splash though my hair and shirt got slightly wet because the water went through the suit)
It hit me that I may not be persecuted right now. But there is someone, there are people, out there in the world getting persecuted for their faith this very moment. From then onwards, I tried to take in every feeling to try to understand or catch a glimpse of what persecuted Christians go through. To know just one tiny bit of what it feels like to be questioned, threatened, tortured.
Our 'captors' yelled really loud and scolded us and did a pretty good job scaring some people with their "cut off his fingers" or "put 'em in the tank" lines. Of course, the actors/crew didn’t treat us roughly, much less torture us, but being led, pulled into unknown places in the ship and made to kneel with our hands behind our heads definitely showed us just a small part of what some of our brothers and sisters in Christ go through everyday.
Eventually the simulation ended and we were made to sit in a circle that turned out to be our discussion group.
I have brain knowledge about these things. I read books on how people are persecuted and killed for believing that Jesus is Lord. I read about how they are questioned and how they choose to not rat out their fellow believers despite getting beaten etc. But only today did I realise the fact that it is not easy at all to not deny Jesus! Without God’s strength, it is not possible! At this stage, I can honestly say that I THINK I am not ready yet. It is quite difficult (in my opinion) to not deny being a Christian if you know your fingers are going to get chopped off. But thank God, He is merciful. Like what the group discussion leader said, God gave us emotions and we are allowed to feel afraid because we are humans. We are not bad Christians because we feel scared. But I do pray that God will help us grow and mature so that if and when we are put into these situations, we will be able to go through it with His strength.
After the discussion, we had cookies and fellowship (the cookies were huge!) and later we had Jocelyn Poullaouec share. He kept repeating this sentence: God is always with you, always with us, always! And it is true! It's a good reminder because I personally tend to forget.
So that's about it. We talked some more till I had to leave and it was realllllyy a great experience, I'm not sure if my words managed to convey it properly but yeah.
Ima just leave you with a couple verses.
Luke 21:14-15
Make up your minds ahead of time not to worry about how you will defend yourselves, because I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to refute or contradict what you say.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Oh, and don't forget to pray for the persecuted church! If you don't know where to start, Google the Open Doors World Watch list. God bless.
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