Week 1 (29 Dec - 4 Jan): New Year, Same First Love (or first things first)

Thank you for taking time at the start of 2026 to read our journal. 

Journalling definitely helps grow our faith in God’s goodness! I read our first journal entry of 2025, where I prayed for: 

1. God to send us more young people; and  

2. To continue to blur the lines between those who help and the recipients of help.   

He has answered both these prayers.   

The intake at TAVA has grown steadily and we have a waitlist for our tuition programmes. Our young people have also grown in maturity and many of them are actively serving in important roles. They were the key organisers of our 10^th and largest edition of Be a Star – our Christmas Party held on 13 December at the basketball court near Blk 210A. 

It was a resounding success, not because we had over 200 guests, but it was such joy to see our church members and volunteers work seamlessly with the residents to host the party. Truly the lines have been blurred. 

We welcome 2026 with a sermon series on our Statement of Faith. This allows us to be reminded of, and for the newer members to be acquainted with, our basic beliefs. It is essential that as we grow, we don’t lose sight of our core beliefs which form our identity.   

As we go back to basics, my prayer for 2026 is that we will eagerly desire to abide in Him. May we never lose our first love. The Bible promises that “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” We pray that as each one of us spends time in personal devotion, which could be reading the Bible, journalling and quiet contemplation, we will grow more intimate with God. We pray that during corporate meetings and worship, his Spirit will be with us and we will experience the reality of his presence. May there be signs, wonders, miracles, healings and transformed lives.   

We pray a traditional Catholic prayer that is said during Pentecost: 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. 

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. 

O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen. 

Ps Ben

All photos by Ninon Kong (@ninonkong on IG)