The ordination of Preacher Tan Kian Sing into holy office was held on April 24, 2005 at the Sunset Gospel Bible Fellowship Hour, Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church.

Tan Kian Sing was born in Singapore in 1957. He is married to Swee Luan. They have 4 children: Grace Tan Shu’ en (17 years), Joel Tan Wei’ en (14 years), Joshua Tan Rong’en (13 years), Faith Tan Xin’en (8 years). He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour in 1974 and was baptised in 1978. He graduated with an engineering degree in 1982 and worked for 17 years as a professional engineer before the Lord called him to fulltime service. He entered Far Eastern Bible College in 1998 and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2001. Since 2001, Preacher Kian Sing has been pastoring Berean Bible-Presbyterian Church. In 2004, he began lecturing in the Far Eastern Bible College.

During the Life Church Camp at Awana in 1996, when Rev Tow called for those who felt convicted to offer themselves to the Lord for full-time service, I felt compelled to go forward. But I stopped when I wondered how my family would be supported. I was already a father of three children then. Altogether I had six mouths to feed including my parents. How could I just leave all and go? With the livelihood as a full-time servant would I be able to support my family and dependants? Such cares of life held me back. I felt sad for not having taken the step of faith. However, the desire to serve the Lord full-time persisted in my heart.

Towards the end of 1997, again the thoughts of whether I was living a life in accordance with His will flooded my mind. I was in deep search for God’s will for my life whether I should be serving God than serving men. Soon after, there was a call to join a mission trip to Myanmar. I responded without any hesitation. During the trip to Myanmar, the Lord gave me opportunity to seek the counsel of His faithful servants. When I heard Rev Jeffrey Khoo sharing with a brother on God’s call to serve Him in full-time ministry, I was very interested and joined in the discussion. Later, I also had the opportunity to share with Rev Das Koshy concerning serving in full-time ministry. I thank God that through the sharing by both servants of the Lord I was given very wise and encouraging counsel from them on God’s call and service in full-time ministry. Rev Das Koshy shared from the Word of God, "Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men" (Luke 5:10) when he was counselling me. He prayed with me committing me to the Lord. I was thrilled because, the Word of God he shared from Luke 5:10 was also highlighted by Rev Tow in Life weekly. He wrote, "Who knows, some might also hear the Master’s call? Will one of my 20-member contingent come full-time into His service? ‘Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men’ (Luke 5:10)." After seeking the counsel of both Rev Khoo and Rev Koshy, I asked the Lord to give me a third counsel just as He charged Peter thrice to feed His lambs and called Samuel thrice in his sleep. Praise and thank God for His providence. He answered my prayer. While we were waiting at the departure hall of the airport on the last day of the mission trip, Rev Tow walked up to where I stood and encouraged me by saying that it is always wonderful to serve the Lord. He then quoted the Word of God, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt 11:30).

After the Myanmar mission trip, I continued to search the will of the Lord earnestly. In order to be very sure and to confirm God’s call, I spent more time seeking the Lord in prayer and in searching His Word seriously. The more I sought His will and confirmation, the more He convinced me from the Holy Scriptures that I should let the world go and follow Him fully. The Lord so wonderfully revealed to me His will through many passages from His Holy Word clearing all my fears, doubts and excuses. He specifically revealed to me His call as I prayed to Him for a particular revelation one late night on 19 June 1998 at 11.30pm. He spoke to me from His word, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Pet 2:21). "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). As I continued to seek Him through His Word in the early hours of 20 June 1998, He led me through the Scriptures to affirm His call. "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" (Luke 9:23-25). "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour" (John 12:26). My heart was so at peace but excited. I could not sleep till 3am on 20 June 1998. As I woke up early in the morning, the verse 1 Peter 2:21 was on my mind. I was humming the song "Follow Me" in my heart.

The Lord continued to confirm His call by providentially leading godly men and women to encourage me in very special ways. The Lord brought to me these godly men and women so that I could seek their godly counsel. Many of the messages preached over the pulpit by preachers of the Word seem to speak to me specifically on the matter of serving God in full-time ministry. On Sunday 15 Mar 1998, just before worship, I prayed to the Lord to speak to me. The Lord answered my prayer right then. Rev Tow actually chose to read John 21:15-22 on the account of our Lord asking Peter three times to feed His lambs and to follow Him. I was so encouraged. Also pastor’s sermon was on Romans 12:1-2 in which he challenged us to offer ourselves to serve God as a living sacrifice. Many of the Christian books I was reading seem to apply directly to me and add to the conviction in my heart. I thank God for the timely publication of John Sung’s revival sermons from which I have received deep conviction. I have never felt His providential guidance so real before. I could feel the peace of God that passes all understanding ruling in my heart. I realise that I could not hold back any longer but to yield to His call. "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful" (Col 3:15).

The Lord is good. As He confirms His call, He also assures my family and myself that He will take care of all our needs as we serve Him in full-time ministry. The words from an RPG work-book have helped us cast away our worries and to take God at His Word. "Now we who belong to the household of faith have God to be our Father. He who cares for the common things, the flora and fauna at large, shall He not care for His own? What need is there to fuss and fret over daily necessities? These things ought not to dominate our thinking. ‘But rather seek ye first the Kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ The promise is also a challenge: put God and His Kingdom first; strive your utmost to promote it, at all times, with all your means, and for all your life! God says: I will supply all your daily necessities with no lack!"

The words of a favourite hymn "Living for Jesus" said it all for me as I answered God’s call to serve Him in full-time ministry. "Living for Jesus who died in my place, Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace, Such love constrains me to answer His call, Follow His leading and give Him my all. O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee, For Thou, in Thy atonement, Didst give Thyself for me; I own no other Master, My heart shall be Thy throne, My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone."

The charge to
Rev Tan Kian Seng
made on behalf of the ordaining council by the
Rev Quek Suan Yew
on the occasion of his ordination to the ministry at
Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church
on April 24, 2005, by the hands of
Rev Dr Timothy Tow (presiding minister),
Rev Dr S H Tow, Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo, Rev Prabhudas Koshy,
Rev Ronny Khoo, Rev Wee Eng Moh, and Rev Quek Suan Yew

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith. ... Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Tim 4:12-16).

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" (2 Tim 4:1-5).

Brother Tan Kian Seng, as you seek to make full proof of your ministry, may you endeavour to serve the one living and true God, and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by:

May you remember Berean Bible-Presbyterian Church which God has called you to nurture with the Word of God, and defend the Faith and the Far Eastern Bible College which has established you in the most holy faith, and trained you for the sacred ministry of His Word. Do not forget to pray for them and to hasten to their aid in time of need, doing all in accordance to God’s will and to the glory of His name. Amen.