By Rev Dr Forest Koh

Have you ever felt lonely while serving God? Especially during this Christmas season, you may find yourself overwhelmed with endless tasks during the day, and as night falls, as you recline in your bed, if sleep eludes you, have you ever been gripped by a sense of loneliness, forcing yourself to sleep just to escape that fleeting moment of solitude?

As I read the account of Jesus' birth, one character in Luke chapter 2 caught my attention: Anna the prophetess. Her husband died after they had been married for seven years, and she then lived in the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day. When she met the baby Jesus, she was already 84 years old. Did she ever feel lonely in the temple after all those years of service, considering Luke 2:37 says, "she did not depart from the temple"?

By Rev Dr Forest Koh

When someone said that one of the purposes of church membership was for discipline, I was taken aback. Was joining the church formally merely a gateway to correction?

This left me initially shocked and, admittedly, somewhat amused. It seemed almost laughable. It sounded like we signed up to be part of a community just to be reprimanded when we stepped out of line.

By Rev Dr Forest Koh

In pastoral ministry, building relationships is not just part of the job - it is the job. We are called to love our flock as Christ has loved us. 1 John 4:19 reminds us that “we love because He first loved us.” This love flows from Jesus, through us, and into the lives of those we serve. There is nothing quite like the experience of watching a church grow in love - seeing people care for one another, lift each other up, and support each other through difficult times. As pastors, we get to witness the beauty of community - a community that reflects God’s love to the world.

By Rev Dr Forest Koh

As I reflect on my 24 years of pastoring, I find myself filled with gratitude. When I first felt the call to ministry, I had no idea just how transformative and fulfilling this journey would be. Today, I want to share with you why I believe pastoring is the best job in the world.

By Rev Dr Forest Koh

Children’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the joy and wonder of childhood. It’s also a reminder for us as parents, teachers, and caregivers to reflect on how we nurture and support the growth of our children. In our fast-paced society, where academic achievements often take centre stage, we sometimes forget that children need space - space to breathe, to explore, and to simply be themselves.

I heard children say this, "I need time to chill. Don’t fill my day with work after work. Life isn’t just about study, study, and more study." And they’re right! Children have a natural curiosity and love for learning, but they also need the freedom to choose how and when they learn. When we force them to learn or spoon-feed them with constant information, we risk turning their curiosity into fatigue.

By Rev Dr Forest Koh

How many mooncakes have you eaten so far? Do you celebrate the Mooncake Festival, or do you just enjoy the mooncakes without celebrating because you think it's a pagan festival? While some may see the festival as a time to worship the moon, others view it as a celebration of reunion, family, and togetherness - a moment to reconnect with loved ones. It’s this latter aspect that resonates most deeply with us as believers, offering a beautiful opportunity to love one another, as Jesus commands us to do.