Back in 1988, I served on board the mission ship Doulos and spent a short period of time away from home. At first, I was excited, but one month into the journey, I began to feel lonely and questioned what I was doing there. 

Then as a mature student, I left my hometown in Penang to study in a seminary in KL for four years. However, brothers and sisters in the seminary took care of me and I experienced what a true family was like, even whilst I was away from the warmth and love of my own family.

Later, after I became a pastor, I made sure to look out for students from out of town, especially those from East Malaysia. I knew what it was like to be away from home, so I made our church a “home away from home” for them. We took extra care of them, not just spiritually, but physically. That’s because love is practical. Instead of saying, “Don’t worry, God will take care of you”, we went the extra mile.

My wife would say, “Oh, these poor kids, they don’t have a full meal to eat!” They were not eating a balanced diet, so we took them out for a proper meal every week. We also hosted them during the Christmas holidays when they couldn’t fly home. I spent most of my time with the students and the congregation began to grow.

When we feel lonely, we can root ourselves in God’s family and be a family for others. And because I received the same care and warmth when I was a student, I can now give back to the younger ones coming our way. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)