This article is written in Christian love with regards to the challenges of the Wangsa Maju church in works of charity for Christ. The church will continue these works that God has given us to do without hypocrisy to the praise and glory of Christ.

When we live our lives with closefisted, self-seeking, stingy, pitiless and hardhearted attitudes, nothing we do can glorify the Lord. We as Christians are to show concern for the welfare of those in the household of Christ and to all fellow man. Paul exhorts us to embrace every opportunity to do good will, and not lose hope or even get weary in working for the Lord. Too often we grow weary carrying out works of charity due to encumbrances from brethren or from outside resistance. Nevertheless, when we are given opportunities we must fervently sow the gospel seed so that Christ’s love will manifest.

‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers’. (Gal 6:10)

Since 2006, the Wangsa Maju CoC leadership has had the vision and desire of reaching out to the sick and poor in spirit. We were encouraged with the enthusiastic support of members who gave a helping hand in hospital visitations for the last two years. We were impressed with the willingness of the children who participated and forsook their playtime at home to join their parents. They provided comfort the children in the pediatric ICU ward at the hospital. Our young ones shared their love through singing followed with bedside prayer for the sick children in the ward. This event was truly a great experience in building up the young in benevolence work. The Wangsa Youth truly made the ailing young hearts merry for a day. We at Wangsa Maju gave all praise and glory to God for this wondrous occasion.

In spite of this, there are others who are quick to pass judgment! What the Wangsa church did last year was the same as this year, simple works of charity. The difference this year was that the press (being invited by a secular sponsor) featured our good work on the front page of the local paper and labeled us as carolers. This was beyond our control. We as representatives of the church sang praises to God in the midst of downhearted unbelievers and the sick during the season known as Christmas. Surely this does not implicate us as to celebrating Christmas as part of our religious practice! The tradition of Christmas is celebrated throughout the world in as an annual festival on December 25, in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ, or as a public holiday when people traditionally exchange presents and greetings of love and good will. If we sang praises on any other festival occasions, I wonder what the press would call the ‘Blue Dolphins’ then.

The church established ‘Blue Dolphins’ -being a choir comprised mostly of children and youth- gave their first performance for the Children’s ward 17^th December 2006 and again on the 22^nd December 2007. The hospitalized and suffering children were made merry by the gospel hymns and songs that were shared to all races and religions. The sole objective of this group is to use music as an outreach and offering of cheer, peace and goodwill to those who are lost or poor in spirit. To put it more simply, to share the love of Jesus! Though it was not of our doing or request to appear in the Star, especially the font page, we at Wangsa Maju gave all glory to God! Sound not a trumpet! ‘Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven’. (Mt 6:1)

The challenge for 2008 is to visit the sick, orphaned, less privileged. This challenge is knocking at the door for every one of us. “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distressed and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Visitation to the less fortunate who are in afflictions is a religion of Christ”. James 1: 27. We must show our care to others! Even in our last leadership meeting of 2007, a commitment to intensify such good deeds through church assistance and visitation was raised. How many of us in the brotherhood, will and can commit to such a call? Are we willing to spare the time, energy, money and manpower needed? Who is willing to devote the time to make such a visit? This is the challenge for us in Wangsa Maju CoC in the year 2008. If Christianity what we profess, the only way to have a home in heaven, then we must be like Christ and be friends of the orphaned, the widowed and to keep ourselves unblemished by the world.

The burning desire to do benevolent work, such as visiting the sick in hospitals, has already begun. Will this ‘fire’ continue to glow and glorify Christ? Such good deeds require a great deal of planning, and such plans need to be executed in order to bear fruits. A huge amount of patience and strength is needed to continue these efforts. Let us commit ourselves to ministering with mercy to those widowed, hospitalized, or orphaned. While we make the time to spread good deeds to all people, let us continue to make Christ’s love evident. Let’s commit to helping those in need with all our means and strength given through Christ. Will such benevolent activities lead us to financially support an orphanage or a nursing home? If God wills then we shall. Works of charity and kindness are the fruits of Christianity. True religion is not merely just giving, but visiting, caring and speaking to the hearts in distress. If your faith is in God, from God, and it springs up from the Father of Lights then, put it into practice. But, be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22) Christians, let us to take thought for things honorable; to do that which is good; not to be weary in well doing (Gal 6:9); be zealous of good works (Tit 2:14); to devote ourselves to good works (Tit 3:8); to bear testimony by them (1 Pet 2:12). Christians, we have been redeemed by Christ who gave himself for us. Christ paid the ransom to set us free from our sins. Thus redeemed, we are to be zealous for good works! These good works do not limit us to only doing acts of benevolence, but we should embrace all holiness of life. We are the light of the world. The closest examination of the world should lead them to the conclusion that we are upright; our conduct of life should be pure and holy. Such practices of good conduct of our religion will then lead others to honor Christ.“Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Mt.25: 34-36)May the Lord continue to give us the strength, wisdom, and patience in doing works of charity for the glory of God through Christ.

Wangsa church let us MAJU for Christ!

Written by: VC