Cindy Ng, Dorcas Xu and Naomi Lee are no strangers to the SOT alumni. Having been around for more than a decade, they are one of SOT’s longest-serving staff! Here are some snippets of their journey as staff of SOT.
Cindy & Dorcas
Q: How did you come on full-time ministry?
Cindy: Since I was saved and started attending Ekklesia Ministry (which later became City Harvest Church), I’ve always felt a strong calling to enter full-time ministry. It was a simple desire to serve the Lord, doing anything. Since the days of our youth, Pastor Kong often taught us to live with eternity in our hearts—we only have one life to live, hence, we must live it to the fullest. To me, the best way to live is to give my everything and every single day of my life serving the Lord. Nothing is more fulfilling to me than serving my Lord and Saviour.
Dorcas: When I was young, my parents bought me books about the lives of missionaries who would go to a certain country and commit their entire lives to serve God and the people there. This inculcated a deep desire to one day give my life to God and do His work in a full-time capacity. After graduating from the university, I enrolled in SOT and my constant prayer to God was to open a door for me to have a full-time job in church. However, by the time SOT was over, there was no open door. So I went on mission trips when the church needed volunteers. Then one day, in October 2008, Ps Bobby gave me a call and asked if I was keen to work as an SOT staff and the rest was history.
Q: Why do you enjoy working in SOT?
Naomi: I love it when the Japanese students share with me how they were blessed or the revelations they received through the SOT lessons. It is a privilege for us to see how God is moving and changing the lives of these dear ones.
Cindy praying with the worship team before class
Cindy: Before working in SOT, I was serving in various departments in the church, such as administration, pastoral and hospitality. I finally found my calling in 1998, in SOT. SOT is a unique blend of administration, missions and pastoral work. I enjoy setting up procedures and getting everything efficient and organised. I also enjoy the people element where I get to build relationship, counsel, minister and interact with the students. It is very fulfilling to see their lives touched and transformed for the glory of God. The most meaningful aspect of SOT is being in the presence of God—daily Praise & Worship, morning prayers and ministry time. Each day leaves me wanting more of God. During the annual SOT graduation, I find myself always in tears as I see the students step out in faith to song lead, preach, share their testimony, and more. SOT is indeed a very special place. I’ve been here for 23 years and I will continue to stay for as long as the Lord wills.
Q: What is the most memorable moment in SOT for you?
Naomi during SOT class interpretation
Naomi: I started Japanese interpretation for SOT in 2007. When I first started out, it took me hours to prepare for the interpretation of each lesson. One day, I was so tired that while I was interpreting, I dozed off! I don’t know how long I was nodding off but I was woken up by my own voice! I was so worried that I might have uttered unintelligible words so after the lesson, I checked in with the Japanese students. To my relief, it was all good. Till today, I shudder at the thought of what might have happened if I had dozed off longer.
Dorcas during a Team Leaders’ Briefing
Dorcas: Administrative work, especially if it is challenging, is very enjoyable to me. In SOT, I also help with the missions aspect of SOT. Part of the SOT curriculum is missions and I help the students to prepare for the mission trips they get to go on. As I curate their sermons, offering messages and testimonies, I am blessed and humbled by their convictions and how they overcame difficult life struggles. I am touched by how God has led them so far. I love this privilege of having a glimpse into the students’ lives; it always ignites in me a greater love for people and reminds me that people really need the Lord.