Covenant Vision Christian Church turns 1!

Written by Trisha Khoo

As a mother, I understand the significance of the first birthday. When my son John turned one, we had celebration one after another. We were celebrating John entering a new stage in his life, toddlerhood. But more than that, we were celebrating our being parents for a whole 365 days, having gone through the good and the bad, the ups and the downs. It felt like a real achievement hitting that one year mark.

For us at Covenant Vision Christian Church, we celebrated our 1^st Birthday, or anniversary, as some would call it, on the 1^st of November this year and what a celebration it was!

Even before the church started, Rev Francis had waited on God for three years before he got the “go ahead”. There were many questions and uncertainties going through not only in his mind but also in the minds of the whole Covenant Vision Ministry team. Rev Francis shared during the Anniversary Service that the Church was birthed through pain and perplexity. It was definitely not an easy decision. We had to really count the cost.

But right about the same time, the whole team had the stirring that it was the right time and like a constellation of stars lining up, we all stood behind Rev Francis and the decision was made - we were to start a church. Since then it’s been all systems go!

We commissioned 3 full-time pastors; we had our first service on 2^nd November 2008; we had our first outreach and social concerns project with Celebrate Christmas @ Tyrwhitt just more than a month later; we baptised not one, but 2 batches of believers, we received our first batch of members, we held our first church ‘camp’… the list goes on. Truly, there was much to commemorate.

But most of all, we were celebrating God’s goodness, grace and mercy. Just like how James and I celebrated our own reaching of a milestone, having gone through a whole year as parents, we were celebrating how God our Father had brought us, Covenant Vision Christian Church, through our first year.

We held this special service at Parkroyal on Beach Road. 240 people turned up to witness this milestone. We worshiped like we never worshiped before and God turned up in an awesome way. As we belted out THANK YOU GOD, there was an overwhelming sense of unity in our giving awe to God. Even the time of communion was heartfelt and special. The children also had their time to present a dance offering. We couldn’t have missed them out!

Dr Bruce Allen was the invited speaker for the service. He shared with us what it means to be a Church in the Last Days. He also released a word for us as a church entering our 2^nd year. He shared that the number 2 is the number of witness and in our 2^nd year, we are going to witness some of the most astounding things that God has ever done. 2 in scripture also means “pay attention” and we must pay attention to what God is saying and doing. He also said as a church, we are entering a season of tremendous fruitfulness and God is going to bless beyond what we could ever ask or think. How awesome is that! Glory!  To hear the full message, please visit our media centre.

When Rev Francis took the stage, he shared with much honesty and sincerity about the church, how she was birthed through pain, perplexity and with a price. And it was God who brought the promotion.  He then called up Ps Henson Lim.

Ps Henson was to be ordained. To be promoted to the title of Reverend. Rev Ho Chee Sin and Rev Dr John Tay were there to make that happen. Together with Rev Francis Khoo and Rev Wilfred Png (who couldn’t be present), they represented the Credentials and Ordination Committee and presented him for Ordination. After which Rev Francis prayed and appointed him as Deputy Senior Pastor of the church. Another milestone for CVCC.

The 1^st of November was also the day we launched our church website together with our brand new media centre. We gave away Covenant Vision Christian Church umbrellas dawning our URL as doorgifts for the day. It was definitely a hit!

And what birthday or anniversary celebration is complete without a cake? Before the end of the service, hotel staff wheeled in a massive cake bearing our CVCC logo. Rev Francis invited all those born in November to celebrate with us on stage and when we had at least 20 mouths blowing out ONE candle. It was funny but endearing at the same time.

And what is a Covenant Vision celebration without the food? Sis Shirley arranged for a sumptuous buffet lunch after the service and we all got a chance to mingle and fellowship as a community.

There’s no doubt that it was only by God’s grace we made it thus far and if this first year is anything to go by, we can look forward to so much more in the coming years.  Hallelujah!