1 Oct 2024
Joy once again reverberated through the halls of CERC as the congregation gathered on August 17, 2024, to celebrate the wedding of Eugene Wong and Christine Yeo. The ceremony was conducted primarily in Chinese to accommodate the predominantly Chinese-speaking guests.
CERC poses for a photo with the newlyweds
Upon arrival, guests were greeted by vibrant decorations outside the wedding halls that beautifully told the story of Eugene and Christine’s journey. Their journey began when they met and formed a friendship during a church youth camp in Sarawak. Later, they both enrolled in the same university, where they continued to serve together in the university ministry.
As everyone eagerly awaited the bridal party’s entrance, Eugene was interviewed about his decision to remain in West Malaysia despite numerous challenges. Hailing from a small Chinese-speaking town in the suburbs of Sarawak, this decision meant giving up the comforts of his previous life, being far from loved ones, grappling with language barriers, and adjusting to the hectic pace of life in West Malaysia. Despite the challenges, Eugene was anchored by the gospel he had received during his university years, which ignited his passion for serving the church, while he learned to appreciate the city’s unique vibrancy.
The couple, deeply convicted by the gospel, wished for their loved ones to experience the same transformative message. They saw their wedding as the perfect opportunity to share this gospel, where all their loved ones from far and wide are gathered in one place to hear it.
Mr and Mrs Eugene Wong
Member Woo Kae Sheng (pictured below), the church’s most newly minted church minister, was chosen to preach at the wedding ceremony. Kae Sheng’s command of Mandarin and his two years of experience in full-time ministry made him the ideal candidate to preach to the predominantly Chinese-speaking audience. He spoke about the true blessing in life, drawing from the book of Genesis. He started by saying that all humans are created by God and are meant to live lives that give glory to God. However, such is no longer the case in our 21st-century world, as we attempt to find our own blessings in life. Therefore, we are not able to love one another rightly, which results in fractures in human relationships. He concluded the sermon by emphasising that true blessing in life is found in God alone and urged the audience to repent, and to fear and revere His Son, Jesus Christ.
Following the sermon, the groom and bride gave a heartfelt speech, expressing gratitude to their loved ones and family who have cared for them all their lives, as well as their apologies for not being able to spend more time with them. Drawing on the sermon’s message, the couple also took the opportunity to invite their loved ones to know God and live for Him as He intended, rather than trying to build lives in a world that will eventually pass away.
