By Nathan Punithen
On the first day of 2026, while much of Klang Valley was still waking up from fireworks and half-kept resolutions, Christ Evangelical Reformed Church gathered for Combined Growth Group. Fifty Growth Groups, students and young professionals, mothers and musicians, Chinese-speaking and Bahasa Malaysia groups, dramatists and people who claim they are “not creative” gathered with one goal in mind: reflect on 2 Timothy, Colossians, and Titus through prayer, skits, and performances.
Over the latter half of 2025, the church had worked verse by verse through these letters, hearing Paul insist in different ways that the Christian life is received, entrusted, and lived publicly. Combined Growth Group became the test. Sermons and Growth Group lessons had to survive translation into scripts, songs, and choreography, punctuated by pauses, missed cues, laughter, and nerves.
“This was not about being creative for creativity’s sake,” said Soung Hui of Taylor’s Tertiary Growth Group. “It was about asking whether Paul’s letters actually did anything to us, remembering what God had been teaching the whole church through the pulpit.”
The morning opened with a reworked pop song. Doubts were voiced aloud, such as “I cannot forgive him, I cannot live this way”. These were answered with reminders from Colossians and Titus that believers belong to God and are called to live accordingly.
Justin Yap, a student from TGG Taylors rapping truths from the Bible
Skits followed, some playful, some pointed. A few skewered consumer spirituality, the urge to treat faith as a product, while others lingered on quiet struggles: exhaustion, distraction, the slow work of endurance. Laughter often gave way to stillness, sometimes within the same scene. The congregation recognised itself more than once.
Combined GG attendees sharing a light-hearted moment
The Mum’s Growth Group offered a poem addressed to Timothy, showing Paul’s pastoral charge through the lens of a mother’s responsibility. “We wanted to show that our calling is to raise godly children, just as Eunice nurtured Timothy,” explained Jan Tie. “Faith is shaped and guarded through the daily, often unseen work of guiding the next generation, flowing naturally from what we hear in the sermons.”
“I expected this to be just light-hearted performances to meet other Growth Groups,” said Ryan Sia, 19, from TGG Mahsa. “I did not expect it to go so deep. My favourite was 3KGG, which reminded me of Colossians: we are built to be ready for every good work, no matter the challenges, because Christ is in us. Seeing the adult Growth Groups put so much thought and care into making their performances both entertaining and meaningful was really encouraging. Combined Growth Group helped me reflect on what it means to live faithfully in today’s world.”
By the afternoon, the energy shifted to CERC’s new building, a project representing the church’s growth in maturity and mission. This building is more than bricks and walls. It is a space for mission, growth and more ministries—a home to equip believers for every good work.
The auction put that vision into action. Members offered their own time and skills, including home-cooked meals by Melvin David, massage sessions by Chua Shu Yan, fishing lessons, knife sharpening, and piano tuning by Barney, coffee hosted by Jeremy Johnson, and singing lessons by Dorcas. Others contributed professional care through financial consultation by Rhakjesh, dental scaling by Jasper from Hospital Cyberjaya, and nutrition consultation by Melody Ng. Handmade cakes by Ernest and Melissa Johnson, ballet sessions by Xin Yuan, a make-up and hair tutorial by Mary Anne, and a day hosted at Sunway Club by Ilona rounded out the offerings. Laughter and applause accompanied every bid, and by the end of the hour, RM28,000 had been raised towards CERC’s new building.
Bolwin paid RM11,000 to get insight on how Pastor Jerome works through the book of Numbers
Bolwin Su shared that his bid was not for answers to the book of Numbers, but for insight into the preaching process behind it.
“What was offered was a journey into seeing how Pastor Jerome works through Numbers as a preacher, the questions he asks, and how he prepares to teach the book faithfully, not just the final message,” he said.
As a Growth Group leader with limited time, Bolwin saw the sessions as a meaningful investment in learning and teaching Scripture more clearly. He also noted that the proceeds support CERC’s new building, serving the church’s ministry in the long term.
Beyond the money, the day revealed something deeper. Every performance, prayer, and act of giving showed that God’s work is not in buildings alone but in the people He calls. Faith is guarded, passed on, and lived out in CERC. Generosity, service, and worship had been made tangible, and the church embodied what it means to be the body of Christ — holy, called, and united in mission.
Combined Growth Group concluded with a prayer led by Pastor Vanessa, committing the new building to the Lord, and God’s continued work in their lives. It was a quiet punctuation to a day that had been lively, reflective, and a reminder that every act of worship, service, and generosity flows from the God who calls His people together.
