I was listening to a pastor who was sharing his thoughts on what it means to “love one another”. He said that in his more than 30 years of ministry, he had preached countless sermons on this topic but the members in all the churches he had shepherd did not seem to be affected or changed by what they heard. He said that there are many Christians who know in their heads the commandment to love others but in their daily living, this was never practised. He pensively related that in his personal experiences, the only occasion when obedience to the commandment seemed to have bored fruit was when he personally showed love to some non-believing students living near the parsonage. These students were studying in a college located in a place far away from their residence. Each day, these students had to rely on the unreliable public bus service for transportation. He saw their plight and lent them bicycles and even his own motorbike. As a result, two of the students became Christians; one ultimately became a Church leader. He sighed and finally concluded that no amount of preaching, teaching and talking about loving others matter. It is only actual practical actions of showing love and kindness which we can leave an impactful legacy on others.

I recall an old Chinese missionary couple who were working among the villagers in Ampang, Malaysia They came from China to Malaysia just after the Second World War. There was great poverty and lack of food in the village then. Young children were undernourished and many suffered from poor health. The Church set up a Christian Service Centre which provided charity services as an outreach strategy. The couple went from house to house consoling the non-Christian villagers. They distributed milk powder, rice and other basic essential foodstuff to the needy. They would visit the sick and helpless. They even went to the Old Folks Home weekly to clean those inmates who were bed ridden. Every raining day, they would stand at the Bus Stand to distribute free umbrellas to descending passengers. As a result, they left such a strong Christian testimony and legacy of love among the villagers that they were held in high honour and respect by the unbelievers. Today, the Christian Centre has blossomed into a Church with a few hundred believers. Many, including my family, had benefited from their legacy of love.