MichellePhong

I was a teenager when I first came to FGT 28 years ago. So, I literally ‘grew up’ here. On my very first Sunday Service, God spoke to me through the music played on the keyboard saying, “This is the Church I want you to belong”. That morning, I made the decision to belong to FGT.

I started getting involved and serving in the Youth Meetings. Christmas was coming and I was enlisted to join the choir. We sang carols in a shopping complex in KL, dressed in red and white!

As I grew, I started playing the piano and singing in the Worship Team. I was also part of the Dance and Tambourine team. It was a youthful time, full of energy.

During that time, God spoke to me, “I have called you to be a WORSHIPPER in this house”. His word was so clear. I began to see my calling to be a ‘worshipper in the house’. From then, I made sure during worship my concentration is on GOD alone. I purposed NOT let anything distract me from WORSHIPPING HIM. Worshipping Him would be my priority and my calling. So, worship LEADING is just my sideline, a part time job 

I would also like to share the importance of husband and wife serving together. When my husband needed to lead the cell, go out to share the gospel, visit people or take care of things, I will be there for the boys. But when I had my duties, my husband will take care of the boys. It was team work. No one’s ministry is greater than the other.

Also, taking leave from ministry was never an option for us. I was back on duty the 2nd month after both sons were born. Maternity leave was just 1 month. It helped that my husband was very good with kids. We will bring the pram to church. During worship, we kept the kids awake. Before sermon started, we lulled them to sleep with their milk. We heard each sermon clearly and did not have to bother with them during sermon times.

Looking back at these 28 years, I have grown a lot. To be molded from an in-disciplined teenager to a soldier was not easy. There were years when I was ‘put on the shelf’. Hidden – so that God can discipline me through the leaders of the church. Those were tough times. Lots of letting go of my own will to listen to those in leadership above me. When I learnt those lessons, I became a better person. Today, not only have my ministry grown, I have also grown in character. Thanks to God and leaders who helped me see what I need to improve on, let go and hold on to.

I have grown a lot in the last few years. 6-7 years ago, I would tell Ps Hock Huat “I cannot lead worship AND conduct the choir on the same service”. I could ONLY do ONE thing a day. However, this year at FGT’s 35th anniversary, I not only led worship, I also ran down the stage to conduct the choir and coordinated all the items. Running through the program hundreds of times in my head, making sure everyone involved knew where to go, what to do, which part of the stage to go up and down, who to hold what, when to switch off the lights, the CD, the spotlights and a few hundred more details. And making sure the youths knew the exact moment to shoot the confetti. Before this event, I didn’t even know how to spell the word ‘confetti’!

God has been good and kind to me. He is more interested in our spiritual growth, character and personality than what we can do for Him. He used the leaders in FGT to teach me. I want to thank the leadership of FGT for investing in me.