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Growing up, my parents modelled for me what a life of servitude looks like. When I was younger, I would always follow my parents whenever they served. I’d remember sitting in one of the purple seats reading or revising while watching my dad at his band rehearsals, and helping out my mum whenever she served in HopeKids Guest Relations.

Watching my parents give their time, energy and comfort to serve God showed me that we should honour Him above all else. So when I was approached to serve as a HopeKids Junior teacher, I jumped at the chance.

Though it meant significant lifestyle changes, the choice was clear: I wanted to honour God with my life, the way my parents did.

As the youngest teacher with no experience in taking care of children, I had my fears and insecurities. Yet as I gave my best to serve Him, God showed me that He saw my effort. Despite my young age and limited skill, He still used me for His purposes.

Being raised as a Christian meant that I would hold different values and live different lifestyles as my friends. Yet, I have never regretted being raised in a Christian family. Every struggle, insecurity and pain, I could bring to God.

If not for being born in a Christian family, there would be little else for me to turn to. I’m thankful to my parents, who taught me how it’s okay to be in the world but not of the world.

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My wife and I have always tried to model our faith at home. During the COVID season, we opened our home to a single mum and her two boys in need of shelter, and remained hospitable even though it meant changing our entire lifestyle. By modelling servant leadership, we pray our children will cultivate a servant’s heart too.

We make family decisions together, giving our children a voice in the decision-making process. We hope that by doing this, they will understand the “why” behind family decisions, creating a platform for their faith to move from being “their parents’ faith” to their own personal walk with God.

Christian parenting isn’t easy. There are many things we cannot control, and occasionally, we question if the things we do are being captured in our children’s hearts. From time to time, we also wonder if we have done enough to model the life of Christ.

Yet each time we turn to God, He reminds us to simply trust that He loves our children just as He loves us; our children are His just as we are His. We just have to be faithful in stewarding the gifts God has given us and pray that they will continue to walk on in this journey of faith.

During her teenage years, Faith once shared with us a friendship issue she faced in school. We felt helpless and could only uphold her in prayer. Then one day, she shared with us how God spoke to her regarding this challenge. Though there was no resolution, she received her own revelation from God! That truly lifted our spirits knowing that Faith has slowly learnt to go to God herself and find solace in Him during times of trouble.

My hope for my kids and their generation is for them to discover that there is a God who loves them and loves the world. May they grow up experiencing God’s love for themselves and carving out their own personal faith journey with Him.

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我是欧先荫。看到我的两个孩子 Geoffrey 和 Gerald 信主之后，他们的行为举止和生活态度与一般的青少年有很大的不同，变得更有规矩、有爱心。同时，我也看到他们在主里的弟兄姐妹都非常友善，是一群敬老尊贤的年轻人。这一切都深深感动了我的心。

就在2010年12月24日圣诞节前夕，牧师在台上发出呼召，我的二媳妇陪同我走上台前，跟着牧师做了决志祷告。从那一刻起，我就认识了主耶稣基督。

在信主之前，我不太爱说话，不喜欢与人打交道。别人约我吃饭，我常常都会避开他们。我也比较容易发脾气，对人生感到迷茫，没有方向，而且比较以自我为中心，常常与朋友争论。

但信主之后，我的生命有了很大的改变。我找到了人生的目标，我的人生观也被更新了。我明白上帝爱人，并且是透过我们去爱人，因此我开始学习主动关心别人，约人出来交流，学习爱人如己；在基督里，我也学习饶恕那些曾经伤害过我的人，操练谦卑、忍耐与爱心。

这样的改变也实际地体现在我的生活中。前年，我还组织了小组一起去海南岛旅行，我们一行人加起来都快1000岁了！但看到大家仍然一起爱主、服事主，我深深感受到生命是很有意义的。

我今年已经86岁了，但是因着上帝所托付的使命，我还在担任一名小组组长。我深感荣幸，能够继续服侍主，如果我在这个年纪可以，年轻的一代更是一定可以。不要浪费你们的青春，要把握机会，在能力范围内忠心服事上帝。