From Johor Bahru to Moore: Kae Sheng’s Journey Towards Full-Time Ministry 

by Elsha Liew

Kae Sheng preaching a sermon during CERC’s 2020 sermon series – God’s Story: Old Testament  

When Kae Sheng first became a Christian at 17 years old, the question of whether he should pursue full-time paid ministry had already occurred to him. After all, he had discovered a love for teaching people how to apply the Bible to their lives. Yet the prospect of a lifetime of dedicated service came with an innate fear of suffering – and no settled answer as to whether this was truly the path God was calling him to take. 

Born in Johor Bahru, the capital city of the southernmost state in Peninsular Malaysia, Kae Sheng had grown up assuming he would one day join the many Malaysians who cross the Causeway to build a career in Singapore. The promise of earning in Singapore dollars – against the Malaysian ringgit – was a powerful draw, and one that tempted him, as he himself put it, towards remaining “a double-minded soldier in God’s war for the rest of his life.” 

For years, that tension remained – an unsettled question that offered no conviction for Kae Sheng. It was not until he came to CERC twelve years ago, as a second-year Monash student, that he was cut to the heart by the sheer worthiness of Jesus Christ through a sermon from Luke 9. Once he saw clearly that Jesus deserves every man to pick up his cross and follow Him, the question of whether following Him would be worth the cost simply faded away.  

It took Kae Sheng almost ten years from that moment of conviction to arrive at a fully formed decision to pursue full-time paid ministry under CERC. During this time, he was confronted by his own incompetencies and sins.

“It has been a difficult journey but definitely a sanctifying one that matured me as a Christian and a leader. The most meaningful part of my formation thus far has been learning to put my whole trust in God’s Word instead of in my feelings and experiences,” said Kae Sheng in a final interview with CERC Press prior to packing for Moore College. 

When asked how CERC’s Church Ministers’ Apprenticeship (CMA) programme had helped him grow as a future pastor – and what gaps he had identified – Kae Sheng reflected on both its gifts and its challenges. 

“CMA has taught me how to pastor people with God’s Word as I am being exposed and humbled by the very same Word. I have much to learn when it comes to pastoring people from different backgrounds, and having a clear theological mind from the Scripture is key. One of the main ministries I spearheaded during CMA was CERC’s Chinese Ministry. I learnt that I can be blind to my own cultural presuppositions if I am not actively working on shaping a Gospel perspective – that is, reading and working out ministry in light of who God is from the Old and New Testaments. Failure to do so would mean that I wouldn’t be able to preach and teach effectively as God’s minister, so it’s something I need to actively work on.” 

Kae Sheng with his fellow brothers in the CMA Programme, both former and current – Joel Tan, Cheah Wei Kin and David Kuok (front to back) – on a trip to Kuala Lumpur  

Reflecting on what he treasures most about CERC, Kae Sheng went on to affirm the distinctiveness of the church’s work – work he describes as “rare and unique, yet how every ministry should be,” in that it proclaims God’s beautiful gospel which calls people to live in holiness and to be zealous to do God’s good work. He went on to describe how the gospel shapes everything CERC does: from the way each Sunday’s sermon and weekly growth group gathering are woven together around the ongoing sermon series, to the way members are intentionally guided in their spiritual growth, the themed décor at events, and even the choice of songs – all without losing the clarity and centrality of God’s glory in their life together as a church family. 

Kae Sheng’s last address to the church before flying to Moore College on 26^th January 2026 

Speaking openly to the church at his farewell gathering on 26th January, Kae Sheng was questioned on why he was going away to seminary – at considerable cost – at a time when CERC is on the cusp of a 21-million ringgit building project. He responded on behalf of the whole congregation: 

“We (CERC) have never been about a building, but about building up a people for the Lord. That is why we are more concerned about raising up new leaders, training ourselves and each other, to be able to fight this war together. CERC is going to be here for a very, very long time until Jesus comes back, so the four years (that I will be away) and the money spent on theological education is part of the blessing we (CERC) can give to the Klang Valley. I do pray that this training will be worth it for the church.” 

He also acknowledged that he was leaving in the midst of CERC’s efforts to expand the ministry in the Klang Valley, but added that “my comfort lies in our great Sovereign God who wills all things for His own glory.” 

Kae Sheng also had a word of appeal for CERC’s supporters: “We need the support from many brothers and sisters who share the same Gospel vision and burden for Malaysia with us here at CERC. We can’t do this alone given the great gospel need and opportunity God has presented to us. So I pray that our gospel partnership can continue for many years to come through your financial support to keep this good work going, as we prayerfully plan and work towards the planting of many more churches to bring the gospel to all the ends of the Klang Valley, if it is the will of God.” 

As his final words to CERC, Kae Sheng said, “I’m thankful to God for putting me here in CERC… I want to encourage you to cherish what God has given us here in CERC. It’s really rare to have a church like this. Remember that we are the fulfilment of Numbers, in Christ. I hope when I come back, I will see the same beautiful church that I know, and I look forward to serving alongside you again.”