Recently, Watermark members and their friends took a day to reach out to those who’re poor, vulnerable, and marginalised in our city. Our goal was not to “save” or change them, but to learn from and about them, and to allow God to open our eyes to see those whom He loves so deeply. Here are some testimonies from participants of the day*:
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“My family and I had a wonderful time reaching out to the elderlies. We were very humbled and touched by the way they responded. Our eyes were also opened to truly see how lonely they are, and the fact that so many of them expressed they’re now old and hard of hearing and seeing, caused my heart to go out to them even more. I feel many older people are so much harder to reach when they are advanced in age. That prompts me to not waste any time but to grasp whatever opportunities we have to share the Good News to those around us.” – Rachel
“I was reminded by others that my actions are a way of sharing Christ’s love to others, even though I might not have felt this way. We are serving God Himself by reaching out to others. And whether or not our actions have any impact cannot be measured by human standards. This is something I had completely missed out on because of how self-focused my thoughts were. Loving the city can be done in so many different ways, but none of this needs to be perfect.” – Vanessa
“Beyond imagining the discomfort and uncertainties they face; I saw their humanity: their warmth, smiles, and joy. And like each and every one of us, they desire relationships, care, love, and affection. Thus, there is a need for the gospel to reach them even in the midst of their difficult positions. They must also receive the love and grace of our Father. Even more, we can be His Hands and Feet to bring this truth to reality.” – Nsikan
“We felt so shocked when we heard about the other side of the city – the reality that sexual exploitation is everywhere in our city. As a new mommy and a woman, I feel so sad from those women’s stories, but I’m also cheerful that I know S&D is trying hard to approach these lost people and warm them through the love of Jesus. Maybe they can’t abandon the sex work right now, but they know they are not alone and they can be accepted as the sons and daughters of our Father God, who really takes care of them as the most valuable treasures and never gives up on them. Later, I shared with other friends and we all hope we can contribute more to help. Thank God for giving this opportunity to know where I can be a servant of him.” – Catherine
“We got to learn about the widespread sex trafficking scene in Hong Kong. The struggles of exploited sex workers are very real and it was heartbreaking, since in the eyes of Jesus, everyone is a beloved child. Sometimes life gets so busy that we forget what our Father has told us about loving others. I look forward to being more involved and help God bless and protect His beloved through us.” – Charis
“My family and I participated in Loving the City by assembling care packages and distributing them to refuse collection workers in Jordan – many of whom are Nepalese. The experience helped the children understand how God cares for everyone, particularly the less fortunate and forgotten among us. The children were delighted to help out and hopefully learned something about God’s grace towards outsiders and sojourners. Rather than becoming a ‘feel good’ activity, it reminded me that there are so many people in just this one city of ours who need to hear about the Good News and maybe these simple acts can soften their hearts and help bring them to the Lord.” – Nathaniel
“The experience really opened my eyes to the issues present in downtown, such as drug addiction, smoking, homelessness, and unemployment. I have only seen very little but it’s shown me that there’s a lot more to know about the issue. It encouraged me to be more friendly to these people I once found invisible. It can be daunting but it’s important as it is a big roadblock, for they feel like society won’t accept them even if they change. Strangely enough, the experience was quite relaxing and interesting, and didn’t feel like a chore.” – Augustus
“Due to COVID, we are getting less physical interaction with strangers. Yet in the Bible, Jesus touched lepers. During Loving the City, I put my hand on a refuse worker’s shoulder or touched their hands when praying; I felt that the gesture was powerful and a way of giving care to them. Also, inviting Pinky (my non-believing friend) was an answer to prayer. I never spread the Gospel intentionally in my circle, as I’m afraid my friends would think that I am too ‘hard sell’ and get offended. It turns out that there’s no harm to ask, and we don’t need to feel shy! The result was more than I could imagine! Though she will not join the Christmas service, I am praying for her continuously. Overall, there were some moments I wondered if that fire burning in me was just a ‘flash’, but joining Loving the City has once again confirmed my heart to serve. My heart is full when I serve my community.” – Alice
“The sincere and peaceful smiles of the staff at the refuse collection station impressed me. I, however, am sometimes baffled by the worries of life and discontentment arising from unfulfilled cravings. God loves humanity. He sends us to care for our neighbours and meanwhile be introspective about our hearts.” – Jerry
“If you’re like me, it’s easy to react to a ministry involving sex workers with chagrin and look for more shallow waters. Perhaps the prospect of confronting prostitution makes us gasp, or we disqualify ourselves due to the festering weight of our current/past sins. Yet in my seeming quest to have a Christ-like heart it’s worth asking: Could someone know what Jesus deeply cares about by simply looking at my life? Learning how God worked through S&D made clear there’s a mismatch between my passions and daily concerns, and God’s passion for the world and what breaks His heart. As Jesus stepped into my darkness to be my light, I’m called to do the same in our city (2 Cor. 5:20; Matt. 5:14-16) – where we, as broken vessels, sometimes holding a mere 5 loaves and 2 fish, are welcome and sufficient instruments in the mysterious calculus within God’s salvation plan.” – Albert
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*Testimonies have been lightly edited for clarity and conciseness