Reverend Henry Khoo

Rev Khoo gave spiritual comfort to hardened prisoners for 38 years with his gentle ways

THEY were 'dead men walking', death-row inmates taking that journey towards the day they would hang.

As prison chaplain at Changi Prison, Reverend Henry Khoo's job was to give them spiritual comfort, help them come to terms with the state's penalty for their crimes and help heal the hurt relationships with friends and kin.

Often, he was the one amazed and humbled by how transformed these men were in their final days.

The 76-year-old retired chaplain, who himself amazed and humbled inmates and all those he met with his gentle, caring ways, died on Tuesday night at the Singapore General Hospital after a long battle with cancer.

(From "Prison chaplain dies", Straits Times Digital)

Singapore: Blind Man

Last Tuesday, I met Sijia to go look at guitars (she eventually bought a Yamaha CG-111S) at Davies. We were done and waiting for KC to call us, so that we could all go and have dinner together. While waiting, we went and looked around the shops on the upper floors in Peninsula.

And then, we met him - a blind man lost on the 3rd floor. He was clearly confused and he was saying, "Please help..." My heart went out to him. We found out that he had wanted to go to the first floor but was somehow led astray and ended up on the third - the elevator does not have Braille buttons.

He had merely wanted to get to the main road, but along the way I found out that he needed to get to Capitol to take a bus. Anyway, when we were reaching the road, he asked if we could bring him to the busstop. Of course! and we did not hesitate.

I gather from our conversation that he must have been blind since many years ago. I don't think he feels any self-pity, and that was good since we were then able to talk rather well. He asked me about whether Capitol is a cinema, about the sort of shops found there, and whether there were any interesting ones. I told him there are galleries along the street and then I thought, "Oh no, will he feel sad that he can't see the artworks? Did I just remind him of that?"

Then I remembered that some blind people like to know about their surroundings. Not being able to see, hearing about it from someone else is the next best thing. After years of being blind, most would have matured and not pity themselves but instead make the most of life. Indeed, it turns out that our new friend was in Peninsula because he works there! He's a foot reflexology therapist on the 2nd floor.

All this was while we were waiting for his bus. That took a really long time, so we got to talk more. We even talked topics like robotic cleaners and domestic maids! I also found out that at the other end of the journey, someone from his family will be waiting at the busstop, to bring him home. Everyday.

* * *

We are all blind to the dangers of this evil world. Problem is, some of us do not even admit that they are blind and want to go it alone. Danger abounds - they might get lost, or they will trip and fall. Still others realise their blindness but choose to wallow in self-pity.

Finally, there are those who recognise their own blindness and ask for help. Not only do they get led on the right way, all the dangers are pointed out to them in advance. With self-pity out of the way, and instead having humility in its place, there is so much that can be learnt, even in blindness. Life is also surely smoother, when you do not have to keep bumping your head into things, if only you would listen to those who can see.

Above all, there is always Someone who is waiting. Someone who will be waiting, no matter how late you meet Him. He will be waiting, even if you do not show up. But if you do, then He will bring you home.

(Condensed from "Blind Man", Just the Wei I Am)

Singapore: Love for a Prostitute

Although I had visited the clinic and knew the ministry there since abt 4 mths back, I had not mustered enough courage to "walk the streets" as they call it. To befriend, talk to and pray for the people.

The house church is located at Geylang Road, where they pray and meet daily. On Wednesdays, they have a worship time and then they walk the streets. After worshipping for abt an hr odd, we went to the street in 2 grps.

I went with a grp of about 8 to the "Indian" streets, unsure of what was to happen. We squeezed past crowds of migrant workers, walked past a street of gambling tables ( I swear I only saw those in HK TV dramas). Along the streets were rows of women standing/ sitting down. We came to a grp of ladies, and someone asked if they wanted prayer. They said yes, and another embraced one of them, and another held another's hand. And before long, we were all standing in the circle, in the middle of the dark dinky alley- Praying.

Jesus was there though. I felt like He was walking with us in the streets. He wasn't just there when we walked. He was there, walking with them daily.

I asked S if she wanted prayer. She hugged me and laid her head on my shoulders. I thought she didn't understand, and asked again. Again, she hugged me. I prayed for her- for healing, for God's love. And at the end of the prayer, I asked her to call to Jesus, to tell Jesus what is in her heart. Soon after she said she gotto go, as there was business coming. It stirred my heart with a mixture of feelings.

But I knew Jesus loved each one of these. The bible came alive as I read Isaiah that night when I got home- of healing broken hearts, of setting the captives free, of bringing light into the darkness. There it was, in the dark alleys, incarnate love. Jesus walked and fellowshipped with the tax collectors and the prostitutes on earth. Jesus came to die for these ones. God wants to redeem these lives, each woman created uniquely and beautifully in His image.

I have a feeling that this is how christianity is meant to be. Christianity, according to the bible, is radical.

(From "A story of incarnate love", My Spiritual Journey)