As we celebrate OYP’s 7th Anniversary, we look back on the wonderful things that the Lord has done in the lives of our beloved young people and express gratitude for how the Lord is indeed raising up a generation for Christ. We share one of their stories here with you.
by Francis Yong (SOW 2017)
A significant moment I had with Jesus, during my time with OYP, was when I attended a Nox Gaudii Session in 2019. It was a simple moment, but powerful nonetheless as it was then that I once again experienced the powerful and abundant love that God has for me.
During that time, I considered myself rather distant from God and felt unworthy of His love. My time in National Service had been influenced by a toxic culture, and I fell into a lot of old and bad habits, like using vulgarities and gossiping about others. But despite being in that state of mind, I decided to attend Nox Gaudii anyway.
As it was nearing the end of the annual School of Witness (SOW19), many of us who attended knew that the participants of the school would be expressing and testifying to their love for God.
So when the participants came out to perform a dance as an expression of their love of God, and watched them dance, I began to see the real and profound love of God and how much they too, love Him. This brought me to tears, as it reminded me of the love that I too once had for God. An overwhelming sense of freedom and joy filled me and I started to allow myself to be loved by God again. It was as though the love that they expressed flowed into my heart, and I was freed from the lies and fears once again.
A sense of victory filled the place, as I saw the power of God working through so many of my fellow brothers and sisters who also were affirmed of their faith that night. And this is the experience of which I am thankful for. The experience that I was able to see the love of God present, not just in me, but in everyone who was there as well.
This is the hope I have for the young people of Singapore. That they may come to experience the love and power of God in small moments like these. That they may experience the joy of the Lord alongside their brothers and sisters. That they may be freed from their fears and insecurities and know that they are always loved by God who is always with them.
