Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 11
Remembering Dr Tow
Our pastoral advisor Rev Dr Tow Siang Hwa went home to be with the Lord on 8 March 2019 at the age of 93. I thank God for Dr Tow who prayed over the phone on a Saturday in August 2013 where he committed to the Lord the beginning of Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church, the last church that he has an active part in planting at the age of 88.
Dr Tow holding the Revival Hymns and Choruses
(1) A Heart for the Lost
Dr Tow preached ten times at BHBPC. His first message was on 12 January 2014 entitled “The LORD is my Shepherd” (Psalm 23). His last message was on 8 February 2015 entitled “The Old Hundredth” (Psalm 100). He also administered the Lord’s Supper periodically and for the last time in September 2015. Dr Tow baptised ten of BHBPC’s members. My wife and I were baptised by Dr Tow in December 1993.
Dr Tow had a great love for souls. He often related his conversion under the ministry of Dr John Sung in 1935 and his consecration vow to serve God full-time in 1938 where Dr John Sung laid hand and prayed for him. He had an unquenchable zeal to preach the gospel even at 89 years old. I recalled organizing the last Gospel Meeting for him at BHBPC on 25 February 2015.
(2) A Hymnal for the Church
On the 3 September 2014, with Dr Tow’s permission, the Revival Hymns and Choruses he compiled was reprinted. Thank God for this blessed hymnal which BHBPC is using today for our worship. This is our spiritual heritage. Thank God for leading Dr Tow to compile it for the edification of the church.¹
¹ https://www.blessedhope.sg/2014/07/12/lords-day-vol-2-no-28/ ; https://www.blessedhope.sg/2014/09/07/blessedness-of-trusting-in-the-lord/ )
(3) A Hymn for Such a Time
Dr Tow’s life was energized by the imminence of Christ’s return, the blessed hope of the church. It undergirded his ministry with a sense of urgency to preach the gospel and to defend the faith. Dr Tow penned the hymn “The Last Last Hour” after the tune of “O Master Let Me Walk with Thee” by H Percy Smith (1825-1898).
The sunset burns in western sky,
Upon the air a warning cry.
The siren wails from tower to tower,
O brethren this the last, last hour!
The souls that Christians might have won,
Now crowd the hour of setting sun,
Publishing abroad His saving name,
To ends of earth Christ’s power proclaim!
For dying souls my brethren weep,
O tardy workers go and reap!
Forsake the world and all its fun,
The battle must be fought and won!
Hark, hear His footsteps on the way!
O work, burn out while it is day!
Constrained by love, endued with pow’r.
O brethren in this last, last hour!
This hymn was sung in the Far Eastern Bible College night class in February 2001 on “Eschatology” led by the late principal Rev Dr Timothy Tow where I heard the call to the full-time ministry. This was just before the infamous 11 Sept 2001 attack on the twin towers in New York City.
It impacted my life so greatly studying the Book of Revelation, realizing the imminence of Christ’s return and the consummation human history. Indeed, we are living in such a time as this.
(4) A Heralder’s Legacy
Dr Tow Siang Hwa edited, translated and compiled the choruses of Dr John Sung in a bilingual hymnal entitled “Every Home Sings! – John Sung Songs and Old-Fashioned Hymns for Every Home” to rekindle the revival days under Dr John Sung. He aptly sums up the charge of the Great Commission in this end time, one of biblical separation, in the chorus “Only Jesus, Always Jesus”. I believe it must challenge and inspire a new generation of Christian leaders to earnestly contend for the faith in these last days.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Thank God for a little glimpse of the spiritual legacy of our beloved pastor. May the Lord’s Name be praised! Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee