11 & 12 July 2026 (Pastoral Page) FINDING MY SECOND WIND IN THE HARVEST FIELDS

by Elder Tan Chin Tiong

There are seasons of transition that many of us face, especially in midlife as we approach early retirement or enter our retirement years. During these seasons, our perspective begins to change. For decades, we may have climbed the corporate ladder, managed projects, and sought the approval of our bosses. Yet one day, those achievements no longer bring the same sense of fulfilment. What once motivated us begins to lose its appeal.

I remember when that shift happened to me in my late forties. The corporate ladder I had spent much of my life climbing no longer held its magic. Instead, I sensed a quiet but persistent whisper from God, inviting me to make myself available for new assignments while I still had the health and energy to serve.

At first, I resisted. I even wondered if God was preparing to send me to Africa! My career was at its peak, and I was comfortably settled. Stepping out felt as daunting as pulling teeth. Yet one verse kept returning to my heart: "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6).

With open hands, I prayed, "Lord, I am here. Use me while I am still able."

God did not ask me to resign immediately or move overseas. Instead, He led me on a journey of exploration. A significant milestone came in Nov 2008 when I planned a family holiday to Nepal. Beyond the tourist attractions, I met a friend from Singapore who was serving there as a missionary. For the first time, my eyes were opened to the realities of global missions.

Rather than waiting for God to reveal His grand plan, I simply took the next step. I used my annual leave to return to Nepal over the following few years. I visited local churches, orphanages, and urban slums. In the slum, I saw children studying on a garbage dump site in makeshift classrooms built from broken zinc sheets and straw mats. During the rainy season, the area flooded; during the summer, the classrooms became unbearably hot. Seeing their situation, I lamented and asked God, "Lord, why is it like this?" His response came quickly: "You do something about it."

On a subsequent trip, together with Rina, a school principal from Singapore, and in partnership with the local pastor, we decided to build a simple, safe learning space for about 50 children living in the slum. Later, through a Korean missionary, Rina, Jiak Choo and I connected with a Christian school that needed support. Together, we encouraged the school leadership, helped train the teachers, and later hosted the principal in Singapore to learn about effective school leadership and management. Through this initiative, a few youth teams from our church were sent to reach out to the students.

In the years that followed, God led me to the Philippines and Cambodia. There, He enabled me to use my corporate experience in gospel outreach, community development, and discipleship. Together with Gift Daniel, I worked alongside a pastor in Cebu to establish a church in a cemetery slum, bringing hope and light to a community often overlooked.

During my first visit to our missionaries in Prey Veng, the second poorest province in Cambodia, God once again opened my eyes to the harvest fields. Guided by the mandate of Proclaiming the Good Word and Engaging in Good Works, I began working with a group of young adults who were already serving faithfully in discipleship ministry. With the help of our missionaries, we developed livelihood programmes and practical life-skills training to help restore dignity, confidence, and hope as they worked and served. These initiatives were carried out both on-site and through digital platforms.

More recently, together with a small group of brothers and sisters from our church, I had the privilege of building affordable homes through a local NGO as part of its community empowerment initiative. It brought me immense joy to hand over these newly built homes to poor and marginalised families. These simple acts of love opened doors for us to share the gospel with the homeowners, their families, and others in the village as we dedicated each home to the Lord.

There were challenges, disappointments, and setbacks along the way. Yet the weariness I once experienced in corporate life was replaced by a renewed sense of purpose. I discovered my second wind in the harvest fields. I realised that these were not the twilight years of my life but the beginning of a new adventure of faith.

When I turned 58, I submitted my resignation. Since then, I have experienced the deep joy of serving in the assignments God has prepared for me. It was not Africa, and it was certainly not as painful as I had imagined. Instead, it was much closer to home, and the journey has been deeply fulfilling and life-giving.

Today, I want to extend the same invitation to you. Do not allow the comfort of routine or retirement to dull your response to God's call. The opportunity to offer our strength, wisdom, and resources for His Kingdom becomes more limited with each passing year. Whether you are a young adult, a mid-career professional, or enjoying retirement, God has a unique place for you in His global mission. Start small. Start now!

Here are four ways we can respond:

• Consecrate your professional experience. Global missions need more than willing hands. They also need mentors, planners, managers, and strategic thinkers. Your years of experience can make an eternal impact.

• Use your finances purposefully. Financial resources can strengthen frontline ministries, support long-term missionaries, and provide practical help for communities in need.

• Offer your time and energy now. Serving across cultures often requires physical strength. Don't postpone obedience until "someday", only to discover that your health or opportunity has passed.

• Step beyond your comfort zone. The longer we remain comfortable, the harder it becomes to respond to God's call. Ask Him to soften your heart and make you sensitive to the things that move His heart.

Let us offer our lives to God today—while we are able, while we have breath, and while the harvest is plentiful (Matthew 9:37). Rediscover your second wind for the Lord!

Note: If you wish to know more about the work of Missions, do look out for our coming Missions Engagement Meeting. Meanwhile, if you wish, you can have a chat with any of the Missions Board members, comprising of Gift, Yeong Fai, Rina, Le Li and myself.