Shine Jesus Shine!

Micasa Hotel Apartments, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

14-16 June 2002

Here are some of the comments we received (edited) regarding the retreat:

[Cyrus] The retreat has come to an end and we have to return to the real world to face whatever baggage we are supposed to have left behind. For me, that baggage was someone. I can't say I've done a good job at leaving that baggage behind, but the fellowship that I had with fellow Haveners was enjoyable and I guess that distracted me a bit.

[JasonY] First of all, I would like to thank God again for making this trip a very fruitful one for me, for making my eyes 'open' to see the true love and care displayed among the brothers and sisters in this church, and for ensuring a safe trip for everyone of us all.

Why did I cry during the communion last Sunday in KL? Because I found Him again during that instant when I decided to take the bread and wine — or rather I should say, I realized that He has always been there for me all this while, and that even if I had dared to shout and scream many times at Him in my prayers before, He has shown his grace and mercy and continued to guide me the way He had wanted me to go.

All along, being gay in an orthodox church actually became a stumbling block in my path of seeking Him and his words in the bible. I felt that I didn't belong, even though I was physically there. But when Jerry introduced me to Safehaven more than a year ago, it was like an entirely new world to me. But slowly, I became disappointed again, with Him, for I could see the elements which I do not like about of the gay culture in Singapore surfacing in this new church.

However, at this retreat, I finally came around my 'blindness' and God made me see that there are many people in this church who has done much to keep it going ... the efforts they put in, the sacrifices they made, and more importantly, the prejudices which they put aside ... Safehaven and Safehands has become very precious to me now. So that's about the answer … All these accumulated emotions just exploded into tears. Good night. God bless you all.

[Sam] The retreat was very uplifting, so much so I fear I miss the company that made the retreat so wonderful and blessed. Most importantly, I was really spiritually recharged from the trip. Without sounding clichéd, I think this trip truly made me want to serve God more, with a more joyous heart, and to get re-acquainted with God again. I'm now completely convinced that my ministry is with Safehaven.

There is so much that Safehaven can achieve in the next few years, and I've come to believe that it is a ministry that can be truly helpful to many who are still conflicted, unsure, or simply need support and love. And I want to be part of this ministry.

I've learnt many precious lessons, blessed by the countless incidences of grace, and touched by the sincerity displayed by the many members. At the end of the retreat, Moses came up to me to express how much he felt blessed by this retreat, and frankly, that really touched me. I think that at the end of the day, even if only one person felt truly blessed, I would still have felt that the retreat was a success, and reading emails of the thoughts of others just confirms it.

[AndrewW] That night, I was just staring blankly at the verses as everyone sang around me, Gerald taught and led us through a Chinese Psalm, 'The Lord is my strength, my refuge in the storm'. All my hidden sorrows came bursting forward, my tenuous control slipped and Thank God for Kenneth who simply held my hand. I realized that night what Safehaven meant to me, which I shared a little later that night when Clarence asked what the retreat had meant to us.

That night, just dancing in the winds, beneath the cavernous halls of the Back Room, my hands were raised just like many but they were raised towards the glorious God. I had originally planned to leave Safehaven after the retreat. I guess I got a little tired of everything, but the events leading up to it and the fellowship I felt during the retreat reminded me just how unwise that decision was.

Roger led Sunday worship and it was a spiritually thunderous moment. The power of the spirit resonated in each beat, each melody a hammer upon the walls I had erected around my heart. Jason had prayed for a revival the night before, and that was what I felt. We shared communion, and the final barriers broke. I wept, and I am not ashamed. It is all right to cry when in the embrace of your family. In the end, they are the ones who share your burdens, and carry your cross.

Even now, after reading what each individual had experienced, I am touched by the success of the retreat. If only one person had grown closer to God, the time and effort I had placed into the event is well placed. It was a time for us as a family to get together, not just within each group but also within the fellowship. Isolation with our people and with our God.

[Peggy] This KL retreat is my first both in Safehaven and in my Christian life … I never realized retreats can b so spiritually, emotionally & physically demanding! I have come away from this retreat with a better understanding of the future development of Safehaven, the necessary steps to take in order to keep the organization going for the next 5 years.

I have also gotten to know a few people better during this time, individuals whom I rub shoulders with every Tuesday but never got to learn their names. Ivan, Gerald and Sharon — my heartfelt thanks for bearing with Chris and I those few days in room 525. Hope we were satisfactory apartment mates to you guys.

Kenneth and Sam, both your calm & confident facilitating during the session with us girls was very admirable … when I grow up I want to be like you guys!