Articles by

Gabriel Ong

Finding Purpose

How I found my calling in helping others find theirs

Ever since I was a young believer, I always knew that I was called to point and guide others towards their God-given calling. I had no idea as to how that would take shape, but this I knew – God...

Worldview

What do we want to see at the end of our lives?

A recent conversation with a colleague got me thinking about life. She shared that her good friend recently passed away. As a responsible educator, this person devoted much of himself to work, often...

Discipleship

7 things you should be praying about (but probably aren’t)

So what have you been praying about lately? The usual petitions and praises — asking God to work in our circumstances or thanking Him for what He has done? Maybe some confession as well — laying...

COVID-19

Why panic-buy when you can have peace instead?

We’re not looking so good tonight, if my WhatsApp chats and reports from social media are anything to go by. I’m talking about the panic-buying and mass hysteria that have hit our little...

News

“Below 250 participants where possible”: Church leaders respond to latest advisory on social distancing

Most of the churches Thir.st spoke to are making plans to adjust their worship services in response to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s address to the nation yesterday and additional guidelines...

Music

Old man listens to Hillsong Y&F’s “Best Friends” and finally gets it

A few weeks ago I was told by a younger friend that Hillsong Young & Free had recently released “Best Friends“. I mean it when I say that the news was shared with me like the song was...

Sermons

Has the Great Commission become the “great commotion” in our churches?

A story was told of a group of executives who was being showed around a fancy oil refinery. The refinery was filled with some of the most state-of-the-art equipment that would transform crude oil...

Real Life, Real People

I loved heaven more than God

On Christmas Day 2010, I found myself thinking hard about life after a traumatic incident in school. I was involved in a conflict with an old friend, who was connected to some rowdy individuals in...

Mental Health

When suffering doesn’t make sense

In July, I received some bad news from relatives in Taiwan about my cousin. Her cancer had returned and, this time, it was terminal. I was shocked to hear the news, since I had just recently seen her...