What Happens When the Preacher is Sick?

It was the day before the Sunday gathering on 22 January 2024 when the operations team received worrying news – Pastor Robin would not be able to preach the next day due to a severe throat infection. Despite the circumstances, the congregation was still able to be edified through the preaching from Pastor-in-Training (PIT) Jerome as he preached the Youth Church sermon in the AM Sunday Gathering. 

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PiT Jerome preaching the Youth Church sermon on Genesis 1-4 in the main Sunday

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In God’s sovereignty, Jerome had been preparing a sermon on Genesis for Youth Church which was supposed to start on the same day. Youth Church was initially scheduled to run concurrently with the AM Sunday Gathering. Due to this situation, CERC Youth gathered with the main gathering under the sermon preached by PiT Jerome. 

This was not the first time that CERC had to adapt to unexpected circumstances for the growth of the church through Word ministry. For instance, on Christmas Eve of 2010, PiT Jerome (then an apprentice) had to replace Pastor Robin for a sermon on Isaiah 11, due to Pastor Robin’s family emergency. 

“In my life in CERC,” said PiT Jerome, “this is the second time I [have] preached a sermon on Robin’s behalf. The first time was scarier, as I was a Church Ministers’ Apprentice (CMA) at that time, and Pastor Robin had an emergency family trip in Malacca. I was 19 years old and I had to preach on Isaiah!”  

In 2016, Pastor Robin fractured his shoulder due to a bicycle accident. He continued to preach despite his arm being in a sling.

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Pastor Robin preaching “The Eschatological Spirit (28.2.2016)” with his arm in a sling

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Similarly, to ensure that the church remained edified by the ministry of the Word despite social distancing regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic, preachers had to adapt by wearing masks and recording the sermons from a studio or even their own homes.

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 A masked-up Jerome preaching  “The Gospel in Galatians” on 19.9.2021

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Elder Mark Leong preaching from his own home on “Leviticus: Be holy, for I am holy (Part 2)” on 5.4.2020

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CERC prays for Pastor Robin to have good health and a speedy recovery in order to resume serving God at full capacity as he continues to preach on the Genesis series.