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FEBC Under Siege by Life BPC:
Pray for Peace and Unity Based on
Truth and Charity
PASTOR TOW'S TRUTHFUL ANSWER
The Board of Elders of Life B-P
Church, in “A Statement from the Board of Elders on the Relations of Life B-P
Church with Far Eastern Bible College” dated January 25, 2008, made this
objection, “We have been portrayed as rebels who ousted Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
and caused the church to split. The truth is that our founding pastor tendered
his resignation on 24 August 2003 and left to start True Life B-P Church.”
We hereby reproduce the testimony
of our founding pastor—Timothy Tow—on the circumstances which led to his
resignation from Life BPC to start the FEBC Worship Service (now True Life B-P
Church) as published in its very first weekly bulletin dated October 5, 2003 (http://www.febc.edu.sg/
assets/weekly2004/weekly1.htm):
Response to “Summary of Facts”
Relating to August 2003 Session Meeting and Other Issues
by Rev Timothy Tow
My truthful answer to Session’s
release of the Summary of Facts enumerated according to the numbering in the
“Summary”.
2. At the August Session Meeting
(20 August 2003), I was lambasted for one and a half hour by opposing elders
and deacons mostly for not restraining Dr Jeffrey Khoo from publishing his new
booklet KJV Q&A and not sticking to the terms of Reconciliation. As it is a
universal law that there must be freedom of speech and freedom of religion, I
have no right to bind him. Moreover, there were no such restrictive terms to
silence anyone in the Statement of Reconciliation. In view of the fact that
both sides have agreed that the KJV is the very Word of God and fully
reliable, his plea that we have a 100% Preserved Word should be quite
acceptable. I was taken to task on many other issues including my preaching
that Eld. Han Soon Juan protested, “You people are putting Pastor on trial”
and he walked out. It was so unbearable to me that I tendered my resignation,
three times, not preplanned as declared by Rev Charles Seet.
3a. I never used the pulpit to
attack any church member. This it is alleged relates to my message on 27 July
2003 at the 10.30 am service. I am said to have chastised a YAF member because
of an email to all pastors. As the YAFer did not like my sermons she would
switch to the 8am service. I wished her well to hear especially the two
assistant pastors. But I am accused of being “unbiblical” as it goes against
the parable taught by Jesus that a true shepherd will leave his 99 to look for
the lost sheep. The YAF member now has two better pastors to feed her, how is
she lost? The reason why I referred to her was her query about my preaching at
Christmas/Easter where more non-believers would come. Should I still preach? I
answered I specially appealed to non-believers to receive Christ at the 2002
Christmas Service. I called it an annual amnesty offer to them to prove I am
concerned about non-believers at Christmas or Easter.
3b. The double-talk of an elder who
does not hold to the Perfect Bible view, yet saying that he doesn’t say there
are any mistakes now accuses certain FEBC lecturers of teaching a Perfect
Bible as dogma. We agree either as personal preference. What’s wrong by saying
“Is the Preservation of Scripture a Doctrine Worth Dying For?” To comment such
a question for terrorism is malicious.
4. Since 1997, we have been paying
tax on the unauthorized structures I have constructed at the back of our
church under pressure for more living rooms. Now they are all taken down to
the happy satisfaction of the authorities. Apart from allowing one
unauthorised long open shed, three rooms attached to it are also permitted,
shows the compassion of our Government. To state that I threatened to resign
if these structures were removed is the first time I’m made aware of! And
where is the shame I have brought to our Saviour’s name?
5. The complaint that the ministry
of hospitality of Beulah hitherto exercised by me with meticulous care of
church warden Yiew Pong Sen is wrong because some are non-Christians. But the
Bible in Psalm 84 says unclean birds like sparrows and swallows have found a
nest in God’s House proves we are right. Our giving them a place at Beulah is
to bring them to church and our Saviour. I have personally baptized four,
three from Communist China and one Malaysian and three Chinese relatives by
Calvary (Mandarin). I have been deprived of this sacred duty now, as in other
areas, to my dismay.
6. FEBC was established in 1962
under British Law which has given us wide freedom in exemption from
Registration. For 42 years no one has bothered us. FEBC is not under Life
Church and it has its own Directors under Dr (Eld) Tow Siang Yeow.
Finally, following our Lord’s
Example, Lk. 4:25-32 and Matt. 13:57, 58 we are worshipping at RELC 10.30 this
morning. We say the sheep will come along, not forsaking them.
God be with you. Good-bye.
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