I was born into a family of freethinkers until Aunty Fong Meng brought my sister to church from then on soon after my parents followed them to church too, and since I was a young boy they brought me along as well.

When my parents accepted Christ, I would see them pray everyday. when my father ask me if I wanted to accept Christ as my Saviour I would just say yes without knowing what I was doing. In my years of primary school I was no different from my school mates using words that were bad, lie, scolding teachers, and the list would just go on and on. Life was just dead boring and I always felt empty inside, whenever I would lie I would not get any satisfaction. Year in and year out, every children's camp, people would come and talk to me about the lord but I couldn't care less. I guess I was just too ignorant to everything.

It was in secondary 1 around June when Brother Darrell gave this sharing about his fear that some of us were, in truth, not Christian. That really struck me hard. From then on I started to look at things from a different perspective. I dearly regretted for all my actions in the past.

However this time when I prayed to God I did it with a serious heart not being a joker or anything else.

I decided to change for the good. It was never easy at the beginning. My status in school as a "bad boy" to me had to be maintained if not I will "lose face". But as time passed, with constant prayer and the reading of the bible, I gradually stopped using bad words. There was however always this lingering temptation there for me to say it.

It was even harder in secondary 2 because the temptations got even bigger and greater I backslided but got up again with Brother Darrell's help. I am really grateful towards him.

Through this cantata working with people which I didn't know exist in our church really opened my eyes. I am really encouraged that people are stepping up in church to help.

"Children obey your parents in the lord for this is right"

This verse is for people who are like the old me. Well.. all I can say is that being bad may be fun, however the consequences may not be so enjoyable in the end.

I really hope through this cantata you will get to know Christ and his love for us wicked sinners.

I was born into a loving Christian home, in this very church, and I thank the Lord for giving me wonderful parents and teachers who instilled good Christian values in me. However, behaving like a "good little Christian girl" did not necessarily make me one- I only received the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart during one of the yearly Children's Camps when I was 9 years of age.

In secondary school, however, I got entangled in the web of the world: the trappings of peer pressure and rebelliousness which so many youths fall prey to. In this generation, the world's message to us has been "It's All About You", and that is exactly what I struggled with through a major part of my teenage years.

I grew to be an extremely rebellious teen at the age of 15, and did outrageous things for which I thoroughly regretted, and paid for it by being forced to repeat secondary three. In a way, that was my 'Rock-Bottom' point, and in retrospect, I can only give praise to the Lord for my repetition of that year because I returned to my senses when I retained. At that point, I gladly recommitted my life to the Lord and trusted Him to lead me through, and He has thus brought me to Temasek Junior College- not by my own strength, but only by His Grace.

Even so, my life as a student has been rough, for it can be said that I have no love for studying, and I have often fallen into the ever-present traps of laziness and frustration which stems from not committing all to my Heavenly Father. However, I am growing and learning as I read His Word, and I know that He is my Lord: my Solid Rock on which I can lean on in times of trial!

The Lord has told us to

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Matthew 7:13-14

The world is undoubtedly full of seemingly endless thrills and pleasures for men, but how long can these pleasures last? Do we dare to take the straight and narrow road to follow the One who has given His life in exchange for ours, or will we instead mock at Him who bore all our sins on the Cross, and lie comfortably wrapped in the devil's lies and temptations?

There is a parable about building a house's foundations:

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell - and great was its fall."

Matthew 7:24-27

A simpler version of this might be the well-known tale of the "Three Little Pigs" - in the end, all of them would have been eaten up by the wolf, had the last pig not been so wise as to take time and effort to build its house with bricks. I know many who, when spoken to, brush the Gospel away, saying "I want to enjoy my life first: there is ample time to get saved." Do not wait any longer!

"Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near."

Isaiah 55:6

Truly, we do not know when Death will take hold of us. Do not wait until it is too late- Regret is such a terrible thing, but what is even worse is to know the Truth too late!

I also know countless people who, when asked, reply "I trust in myself". Have you ever taken time to wonder: How do we learn to lie, to disobey our parents, to cry in sadness and frustration? We are all sinners, born with sin.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

Romans 3:23

This same statement also means that when we say "I believe in myself", we actually believe in the devil, for the devil is unceasingly looking for ways to tempt us to sin; to occupy us with the temporarily blinding thrills of the world, so that we might not see and know the Truth.

I would just like to take this opportunity to tell you: I'm praying for you- that you might come to know our Lord as your wonderful Savior, Father and Friend. If you feel interested in this cantata and the Lord is working in your heart to go for it, I truly encourage you to go, and listen. Do not procrastinate anymore, but "Seek the Lord while He may be found"!

Love,

Sandra.

2Tim 4:1-4

The first time I had heard of the name Jesus Christ was during a show that I had attended when I was primary 3. When the show had ended, the cast members started to tell the audience about Jesus Christ and how He had saved us from our sins, and that we would go to Heaven if we just believed that he could save us.

Being a primary 3, my first thought was that if I did not believe in God, I would go down to hell. So, when they asked if anyone would like to be a Christian, I raised my hand, and mumbled a prayer that they had asked us to follow in, without meaning anything at all. I thought that I was saved, but quite obviously I was not.

The name Jesus Christ never surfaced again until I was primary 5. My sister brought me along to Baptist Fellowship Church, and I was stuck in the service hall with her. For most of the time, I could not make sense of what the pastor was saying at all, and it was boring trying to pay attention to a man "talking nonsense" for one hour. Needless to say, I did not feel like going again.

However, my sister continued to bring me to church, and soon, I loathed going to church, as I saw no point in wasting my time listening to things that I did not understand at all. I began to invent all sorts of excuses and even pretended to be deep in sleep on Sunday mornings so that I did not have to go to church.

All these changed when I attended the church's youth camp when I was in Secondary 1. My thinking had matured a fair bit from the past, and I began to understand more things about the Bible, and who God really was.

During the camp, God appeared to me in a way that I had never experienced before. When the pastor asked for an altar call, a heavy burden began to press on my heart, like a stone weighing down on it. I went up, and had a talk with another Christian, who told me more about being saved and prayed with me.

This time, as I prayed my prayer to God, asking Him to save me, it was totally different from the prayer that I had prayed when I was Primary 3. I prayed with all my heart, fully believing that Jesus Christ was my Lord, and that only He could save me from my sins. Immediately, the heavy burden that was pressing down on my heart went away, and I knew that I was saved there and then.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

2 Corinthians 5:17

This verse pretty much sums up my life before and after that youth camp. Since then, I had changed, and began to devote myself to serving God. I realised the reason for which I took so long to come to know God; I had not understood the meaning of being a Christian at all. Being a Christian does not just merely mean believing in God; being a Christian means to love God and to serve God, and that is what God had intended for us to do when He had created us. As I serve God, I know that He is there, constantly guiding each and every one of my step. He is the wonderful Guide of my life who will never let me go the wrong way!

Through this cantata, I hope that you will find out more about God's love for you, and how he can change your life if you would just accept Him as your Saviour!

I was brought up in a traditional Buddhist family, and my parents taught me that it was important to pray to idols and go to the temple every year to pray for good results in school. To me, it seemed like a good idea to go along with the flow; after all, your parents probably had good reason to do the things they did. But the thing that bothered me were the various different gods I had to pray to: I didn't understand why there were so many different looking gods, (some of whom looked very cruel), or why these gods were changing in appearances all the time. There was a god for everything! And each year, my parents would bring me to whichever god was in charge of the thing I needed, be it wisdom for my studies or wealth for my future.

It was in primary school when I first heard the gospel message. It was simple and clear. There was a God who loved us enough to send His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for all our sins. We did not need to do anything at all. Because the price was paid, all we had to do was to confess our sins and accept that gift of salvation, and we will be saved for all eternity! Even as a young boy, I understood the meaning of sin and the need for redemption. I know I needed Jesus and I asked Him to come into my life.

However, because of parental objections and on facing the pressures of "being cool", I made up my mind that I wasn't ready to be a Christian. After all, there were so much more things in life to enjoy, the thrill of being a teenager, and the "coolness" of being popular when you were "naughty".

I grew heavily addicted to heavy metal/death metal music. It was dark and angry and it seemed logical to blame everyone else for the sufferings of growing up. After a few upsets in my life, I became bitter at God as well, and the music only fuelled my hatred for God and all Christians. I tried to find a reason for life but I couldn't. True happiness eluded me, and despite trying to find happiness in people and various activities and vices, I was still miserable and lonely.

It was only after a major depressive episode in my life that I realised how meaningless my life was. It was then I remembered the loving Saviour who had died for my sins and I asked and begged God to save me from my misery. God answered my prayer.

It was in university that God sent Bro. Daniel Tan into my life. He spoke to me constantly about God and being a Christian, and eventually I agreed to pay a visit to Baptist Fellowship Church. There, I discovered more about God's love for me and how God has intended His children to live a life of abundant joy and peace.

My life began to change when I stopped rejecting God's plan for me and allowed God to change me and to use me. No longer did I need the thrills of my past life to sustain me. God has provided for every need in my life, even till today and He will continue to watch over me for the rest of my life. In Him, I've found true joy and I know that this joy will never fade away.

Being a Christian doesn't be that you will become perfect instantly or that all your sufferings will go away, but it means that throughout life's journey, there is a gracious and merciful God who will never leave you nor forsake you. We always want a friend who loves us unconditionally and who is faithful to the very end but I'm sure you'll agree with me that this kind of friend is impossible to find amongst men.

But there is One True Friend who loves us unconditionally. In fact, He loved us so much that He gave us His riches in heaven, to come into this world as a humble man, and bore all our sins on that cross at Calvary. He was faithful to the point of death and He remains faithful to those who would acknowledge Him as their Lord and Saviour.

This Christmas, may you discover for yourself, the One True Friend who gave Himself for you. There is no Greater Love than this, the Son of God who died for all mankind!

My sisters brought me to Baptist Fellowship Church when I was three. I vaguely remember how I felt at that time, but I know that I was immediately drawn to the melodious songs and the lively kids in church. Once (maybe when I was about four), the teacher was telling the story about David and Goliath. I listened with interest because I wanted to be like David, to have God to "back me up" whenever I was in trouble. I prayed with my Sunday School Teacher and asked Jesus to come into my heart.

Back at home, I was equally fascinated by the idol-worshipping that I was exposed to. My mother (a staunch idol worshipper at that time, now a born-again Christian, yeah!), would force me to kneel in front of the altar and pray to the 'goddess of mercy'. She would also take me to rituals where I had to walk over a bridge and chant some lines and later get a stamp on my back - a 'seal of protection'. In addition to these, I also had the experience of consuming water with burnt yellow paper - assumingly to ward off all evil, and I was also given another name, a name that supposedly identified me as an adopted child of one of the gods. I didn't feel right going through all the rituals at that time, but I also thought to myself that it wouldn't harm to have many gods watching over me. There were times though, when I felt confused. I wasn't sure if I was a Christian or an idol follower.

As time passed, our merciful Lord began to reveal Himself to me through Bible stories and verses. The verse that struck me was John 3:16. The simplicity of the words tells of God's Great Love for all of us. I was moved when I read that the same God who helped David against Goliath, loves me unconditionally and sent His Son to die on the cross for my sins. I began to realise that all those years I had been worshipping idols because I feared that something bad might happen. There was basically no love, no relationship between me and the idols. On the contrary, I felt relieved when I worship God freely, knowing that He has given so much for me despite my unworthiness and my sinful nature. I decided then, to follow God whole-heartedly. That night, I fell on my knees and prayed to ask God for forgiveness and to save me. I was about Primary 4 at that time.

Today, I am happy that I've made the decision to be God's child, to serve Him wholeheartedly because He has given Himself for me. Well, being a Christian does not guarantee a life that is a bed of roses all the time, but I have full confidence in God as He watches over me and comforted me in times of trials and tribulations. I pray and hope that you too, will be able to see the Great Love and Great Sacrifice God has for you and commit your life to Him. Don't wait any longer, accept Him into your life today.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

My salvation story went many years back to 1989, when I was just a young Primary Three girl. My aunt brought me to church every Sunday and through a Children's Camp, I trusted God to be my personal Saviour and Lord. I knew little about Christianity and simply believed with innocence of the heart that God loves me and one day when I die, I will meet Him in heaven.

However, as I grew older in Secondary School, I pondered over the trials in life and started seeking what Christianity was all about. Indeed, this was the turning point of my life where my perceptions towards Christianity changed. As I searched God's Word for the answers in life, I drew closer to Him each day. His Word touched my heart and convicted me of my sinful nature and attitude towards life. Life was no longer about excelling in life with good results and being successful with a high-paying job, but to love the Lord with all my heart, mind and soul. Christianity used to be just a Sunday affair, but at this stage, God became real and personal to me, convicting me to honour Him in my thoughts, actions and ambitions in life. While the world continued to tempt me to focus on earthly treasures, His Word convicted me of the heavenly treasures He had in store for me.

As I matured in Christ during this rebellious, forming period, the Lord challenged me in many aspects of my life and changed my heart, mind, perceptions and lifestyle. Rebelliousness was turned to Obedience and Submission, Hatred to Love and Forgiveness, Selfish Ambitions to Heavenly treasures. To me, God was not just the Healer for physical illness, but also a God who changed my hardened heart.

Indeed, since then, Christianity became a part of me and my life. Life is cruel and unpredictable, but the Lord is faithful. Through the trials in life, it is indeed sweet to dwell in the pressensce of God and simply enjoy His comfort and love. There is no one else who understands me better than my Lord, for He is my Creator, the One who knew me even while I was in my mother's womb. Through the storms of life, He is my comforter. Through the tears of prayers, He strengthens my steps and builds me up in His Word. I believe not in the goodness of this world and life, but in the faithful God who stands by me through the cruel reality and leads me through the burning flames.

My life verse:

" I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

2 Timothy 4:7

To me, life is a marathon filled with roses and thorns. The thorns of life draws me closer to the roses of God's love. I've watched many searching vainly for the roses in life, and watched many started well but slowly lost their direction in life. During my teenage years, I pondered over many questions: "Who am I?", "What do I live for?", "What is my life?", "What was I?", "What am I?", "What will I be?" It is comforting to know what we are only sinners saved by the grace of God. My past holds a rebellious, self-centred hardened heart of stone. Yet, God graciously moulded me and changed my heart. The pits of death had bent but not broken me. Indeed, I have died to my old nature and Christ is my new life. I have died and lived again. I treasure this new life that God has graciously given me and I hope that my present and future will be pleasing to God.

With this warm hearted muscial, I pray that hearts will be encouraged, convicted and blessed and discover the true significance of this race of life -- what you run for, where you run towards and most importantly: What keeps you running?

Although my parents are not Christians, I grew up exposed to Christianity very early, starting when my mum sent me to Sunday School, and also during my time in Fairfield Methodist Primary School. In fact, I received Christ as my Lord and Saviour while I was in primary 2, having heard the gospel during one of the weekly chapel services. Perhaps I could call it child-like faith, but I know the Holy Spirit was working in my heart back then.

The onset of puberty, along with its many challenges, saw the development of my intense, melancholic character. Then, I learnt about the history of World War II. While some would marvel at the heroics of the war, my mind was gripped by accounts of how people were killed, tortured and raped during the subjugation of each conquered nation's populace. I could not understand how man could be driven to such henious deeds against a fellow human, and soon shock turned into loathing, and then developed into a downright hatred for all humankind.

Harbouring this hatred and anger, I was instinctively drawn into heavy rock music. Its rage, violent lyrics and pounding rhythms were a natural expression of my inner turmoil, and I fed on this vicious cycle of anger. It was my only outlet for me, as I could not take out my anger physically on another, and my conscience knew that not all men are evil beyond redemption. I gradually fell into depression, feeling that life had no meaning.

One day, I found myself sitting on the kitchen floor, laughing hysterically for many minutes, not provoked, but just a maniacal laughter that I had no control over. When I came to my senses, I knew that I was going insane. Another time, I stood at a window, visually seeing in my mind's eye every detail of impact my body would have if I had jumped down. I wanted to jump, to relieve my pain, but when I attempted to, my body refused to obey me. It was not fear, I was too mad to be afraid, but now I know the Holy Spirit was the one who kept me alive that day.

I knew later, that my bitterness has alienated me from my Saviour, and my near-insanity was the result of not giving my anger and hatred up to God. That night, after many hours of struggle, I mustered up the courage to pray again, asking God to forgive me of shutting Him out of my life for so long. Immediately, perhaps for the first time in seven years, I cried. In that hour I spent crying in repentance, my anger and my bitterness dissolved in my tears. It was as if a great burden was lifted, and my suffocated heart could breathe again.

Sometimes in life, we face disappointment, we get hurt, and we resent or regret. As long as we live in this imperfect, sinful world, we will face troubles beyond our ability to handle alone. There is a God who loves you, and wants to make your life complete and perfect in His plan. The same God who preserved me from suicide and insanity can also heal the wounds of life that no human doctor can treat. My God was there for me in my darkest hour, and He will be here for you if you let Him be your Lord too!