From our living in Malaysia and Hongkong, we have made a lot of good friends. Once in a while we have opportunities to meet up and re-connect. We are glad new friends are silver and old friends are gold. We treasure them all.
L-R: Richard, Tek, Ben, Goldie, Puay Cheng, Mary, Yeo Teck Thiam
FRIENDS FROM BATU PAHAT
By Tek & Goldie Chong
On 3 January we met up with the Toks from Batu Pahat whom we knew long ago in Malaysia. They have been serving the Lord in leadership positions for years. They had their family reunion in Perth. Richard & Mary Tok have a remarkable spiritual journey. Richard has worked hard as the church planter of his church, and is a well-respected leader among many Christians both within his Presbyterian denomination and outside. Mary, his dear wife has a ministry with the autistic children in Batu Pahat. The outstanding fact is she could mobilise not only the Christians but people of all faiths and races in the community to be involved in providing facilities and resources for her ministry. Talking to her we can feel the loving compassion she has for those whom she ministers to. We wish she will share her experience and insight in helping church leaders to identify the often not understood ‘unusual’ behaviour of children in families and Sunday schools.
The Toks recounted some interesting stories of how their early overseas Chinese grandparents worked hard when they landed in Malaya with only a few dollars and established successful businesses and built up the community. Coupled with this is also how many now well-known Christian family groups in Batu Pahat came to know the Lord Jesus, starting from their illiterate grandparents.
At our lunch was Richard’s sister Tok Puay Cheng who amazed us when she said she has been reading Asian Beacon since she was a student and the first page she usually turned to was “Dear Goldie”. Another special treat was to meet up with Richard’s son Ben Tok, one of our active university youth when we were pastoring Full Gospel Assembly. Also present was Yeo Teck Thiam, Richard’s brother-in-law who is one of our regular writers in our blog on science and Christianity. From the Tok family we discovered their particular family communication skill in sign language because their mother was born deaf mute, yet this remarkable woman brought up her family of five children to love the Lord. We hope to hear more stories from this interesting family. 
January 2018 Feedback from readers for: Issue 36
Thanks Tek and Goldie.
Praying these verses for you both…that you may be lovers not only Of God but one another until the end…a long long way off.
Psalm 91:16
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation .”
Psalm 92:12-15 NIV
[12] The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; [13] planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. [14] They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, [15] proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him …
Steve & Sara Oh