Bruce Lim has been serving at HVMC since February 2019 and is currently the Lay Ministry Staff for Outreach, Evangelism and Pastoral Care. His life is a powerful testimony of how God’s grace and love saved him, when he was on the verge of losing hope. Last year, Bruce graduated with a Master of Counselling, awarded by Flinders University in Australia, an achievement he never imagined he could have attained.

Tell us about your background and how it has motivated you to take up this counselling course?

My growing up years were not easy. I was a troubled youth right through to my young adult years, searching for the purpose of life and acceptance. I was living in darkness then, bound by drug addiction, gang involvement and even imprisonment for many years. But God, in His mercy, brought me into His marvellous light, turned my life around and gave me a new purpose in Christ. I could never have imagined that I would one day be able to complete a course like this, to be trained and qualified as a clinical counsellor.

God has used my troubled past and called me to serve Him in the ministry of reaching out to those who are lost, neglected and suffering. I believe counselling is an essential and effective tool to support individuals facing mental health challenges such as depression, addiction, trauma and anxiety. This course has been a vital step in equipping me to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives through compassionate and professional counselling.

How do you see the course helping you in your current work?

Studying counselling has taught me greater self-awareness of my mental, emotional and spiritual state. I have learnt to be more mindful, especially in practicing grounding and being fully present with others.

In my current work in outreach, evangelism, and pastoral care, counselling skills will help me in providing comfort, offering guidance, or simply being a listening ear to those who are hurting. I believe in the effectiveness of counselling as it is not about telling, advising or providing solutions, but about collaborating with and guiding clients to explore different pathways toward resolving their issues.

As the saying goes, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” By engaging with people, I have learnt that they feel heard, valued, and are more open to receive care.

Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” reminds me that counselling is not only a skill, but also a calling to walk alongside others, and serve as Christ’s vessel of healing and hope.

I also volunteer in the Singapore prison and halfway house as both a counsellor and a Bible teacher. In these settings, I have learnt to journey with individuals in their practical needs, offer care and support, and bear witness for Christ.

What were the challenges you faced during the course?

At 53, it was not easy returning to the classroom, sitting through full days of lectures, and fulfilling the required practicum hours. I also have full-time responsibilities in church, a family with two young sons, and an elderly mother to care for.

Before signing up, I prayed because I knew it would not be an easy journey. But, with God’s grace and strength, I was able to persevere, manage my time, and rely fully on Him to balance my responsibilities while pursuing this course.

I thank God for my wife, who has been a constant pillar of support. My two boys have also been very understanding, even when I was unable to give them the attention they needed. I am deeply grateful as well to HVMC, especially the pastors and the leaders, who have encouraged and supported me throughout this journey.

Above all, it is only by God’s grace and strength that I have been able to complete this course. To Him belongs all the glory.

What advice would you give to anyone keen on doing what you did?

If you have a heart for helping others and sense God’s call to serve, do pray and seek His guidance. I believe it is not just study, but also a journey of personal growth and equipping for greater service in the field God has called you to.

With God’s help, the challenges can be overcome, and the rewards, both in learning and in ministry, are deeply fulfilling.

Interviewed by

Caroline Ho
MOSAIC Team

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But for the Grace of God