I guess as the dust truly starts to settle. I now have some time (Though I should be sleeping) to think about the adventure that is Operation Broken Wing. Seemingly like the simplest of CrossFit events in Singapore truly made headlines over the past few weeks.
For one, I dare say it's the biggest congregation of CrossFit athletes over an event in Singapore (190 athletes, no I do no exaggerate). The CrossFit Community came together to do good, to raise funds for youth at risk and to spend 17 minutes of their Saturday afternoon performing a workout for them. The cool thing is that money is raised by the athletes, I mean, how kickass is that? The athletes, no matter how new or senior, become a super hero in their own right. They have their sponsors rooting for them, cheering for them, asking them to go all out because it's a completely different race altogether.
Next staggering fact which completely blew me away, was that with the help of the government, we've managed to have a pledged amount of close to $200,000! I mean, stop and let me think about this figure. THATS A HUGE SUM! Coming from a mere 190 athletes? Okay, if I stop and really think about it.... Every athlete raised close to $1000! That's no simple effort guys, it's a whole lot of push and heart from the entire community. Were there people who didn't find their sponsors for their reps? Yeah for sure. Were the complains about convenience of donation etc etc? Definitely. But sorry, you can't take that pledged amount away from the community. They single handedly raised that amount and would be making a great difference in the lives of many youths!
Okay, now that the awe and amazement is all said and done....
I guess here comes the slightly more sentimental part. Which is why? Why Operation Broken Wing in the first place? I mean, I could do so many many things, I could've spent much time growing CrossFit Kids and Teens, reaching out for the Silvers or Self Defence or cold calling for CrossFit but why OBW? This year, and hopefully every year from now on, I championed this cause and helmed the push for OBW. I had the biggest of help from so many people, I mean, I was really grateful to all who chipped in, in a big or small way. But I guess alot of the event, the pre planning etc rested on me and I took the burden to carry it out. It wasn't easy at all, there were moments I had the real thought of throwing in the towel and calling it, "I don't care what happens who shows up or what sponsors come, I'm just gonna sit and see what happens". Thankfully I didn't do that. But it took a big drive on my part to keep that from happening. A big part of that drive... was the reason for this all. And that reason was simple.
A Heart for the Youth.
I'm not gonna kid anyone. I'm pretty much one of the most privileged guys out there. I grew up on a great home, had my needs taken care of. I didn't need to worry about my next meal or where i was going to sleep at night. I had an awesome childhood and was brought up in a great family with caring and genuine friends all around. And so this heart didn't come from a typical story.
Instead, this passion or heart for the youth came about one day, way way back in 2005 (I THINK!), it was none other than Emerge. I will always remember Pst Kong preaching a simple message about the fervency, passion and impact of the youth. That you might be young but so long as your heart burns strongly, the presence and power is carried by you. That the youth changed the World in so many ways! That the trumpets of salvation are sounded at every turn of the tide and now that trumpet is in our hands. That youths are perhaps the most impressionable group of people in the World today. That revival happens through these youths. Knelt on the ground, I realised that yes, it is my call, to make sure that youths deserve a better tomorrow.
Fast forward to 2010. The other game changer was a combination of 2 events. First, I was enrolled in the School of Theology. and it was some time in mid July. We went for our mission trip to Kuching and there, our team cranked up a storm! Praying for people, seeing people get saved and encouraging the church. But one thing struck me and stayed with me. There was one occasion, we went visiting the households of the youths that they were trying to reach out to. Many of them lived in houses which were almost impossible to live in, many had broken families or were having an extremely hard life. There, my heart broke. I was rudely reminded that I was to use these hands, to make these lives better, to give them a future and a hope. To give them a better tomorrow. There were no signs and miracles, though we prayed but I knew deep down inside I was armed with a passion, that if we helped these youths now, at this extremely vulnerable age where they are so moulded, then yes, their trajectory in life will be changed so much. During this time in SOT, it was also the Cultural Mandate that was being taught and I fondly remember feeling very uneasy about something, that there was a big nudge to do something totally radical for God. Note that at that time, I was going to enter University and had planned to enter the engineering sector with no second thoughts.
The next moment occurred immediately after that mission trip. We landed early at the budget terminal of Changi Airport, the entire team decided to go our separate ways and get some rest. This was at 5pm. Back then, I had just started CrossFit, in my 2nd year or so. So I was hooked, gosh those were the days. I wanted to get my workout in and so without thinking twice, in my mission trip outfit, I grabbed a cab and went straight to the box. Back then, CrossFit Singapore was a singular unit, pretty small and very "underground" still. Rocked up to the box and got changed for the 7pm class. Deep down inside I recall telling myself, "I'm quite a badass and hardcore to be doing this straight away." Naturally, the folks around me didn't want me to implode or anything so Coach told me to take it easy.
The 7pm class was done and dusted. I was somehow the last to leave cause I wanted to shower, my stuff was everywhere from the mission trip and thus needed to pack a little. After such a long few days, or revival, praying and now a workout, I was pretty exhausted and ready to sleep. Then I caught wind of this thing... This event called "Operation Broken Wing". Coach was talking to someone about it and being the busybody I was, I asked about it. Then came the flood / God Moment. He told me about the true plan for CrossFit, how it was meant to help the youths. That CrossFit wasn't just for us but to help the many people around us. How OBW was a platform to help these youths and change their lives. That this was truly just scrapping the tip of the iceberg. That CrossFit was truly God's blessing to him and to the community around.
It was probably a very simple conversation we had which is unlikely to be remembered but I recall it very fondly and somehow, everything was aligned. That truly, this is what I'm meant to do. To use CrossFit, to help improve the lives of others, yes. But more specifically, to help make a difference, to use Constantly Varied, Functional Movement executed at High Intensity to be a blessing to others around me via the Cultural Mandate. That was how the purpose was found. That is why OBW and in fact, Innervate CrossFit has been such a dear to me. There was no clear audible voice from Heaven shouting towards me, no dream or so. But I guess, I saw the need, a real need. And as they say, the need is the call. I felt that need so strongly that I followed the call.
It's more than just a business or an event. It's more than just raising money. It's to give others a future and a hope.
Was the whole OBW period tough? Yeah, for sure. Would I do it again? Without a doubt yes.
Finally, I want to encourage everyone reading this (Pardon the sloppy language etc), to always heed the call. That no matter how rational certain things might seem, always always follow the call. NOT YOUR HEART, follow the word, follow the call, follow Jesus. Lastly, Thank You Jesus for this opportunity, it is truly your grace that has carried me. I am extremely extremely blessed.
For one, I dare say it's the biggest congregation of CrossFit athletes over an event in Singapore (190 athletes, no I do no exaggerate). The CrossFit Community came together to do good, to raise funds for youth at risk and to spend 17 minutes of their Saturday afternoon performing a workout for them. The cool thing is that money is raised by the athletes, I mean, how kickass is that? The athletes, no matter how new or senior, become a super hero in their own right. They have their sponsors rooting for them, cheering for them, asking them to go all out because it's a completely different race altogether.
Next staggering fact which completely blew me away, was that with the help of the government, we've managed to have a pledged amount of close to $200,000! I mean, stop and let me think about this figure. THATS A HUGE SUM! Coming from a mere 190 athletes? Okay, if I stop and really think about it.... Every athlete raised close to $1000! That's no simple effort guys, it's a whole lot of push and heart from the entire community. Were there people who didn't find their sponsors for their reps? Yeah for sure. Were the complains about convenience of donation etc etc? Definitely. But sorry, you can't take that pledged amount away from the community. They single handedly raised that amount and would be making a great difference in the lives of many youths!
Okay, now that the awe and amazement is all said and done....
I guess here comes the slightly more sentimental part. Which is why? Why Operation Broken Wing in the first place? I mean, I could do so many many things, I could've spent much time growing CrossFit Kids and Teens, reaching out for the Silvers or Self Defence or cold calling for CrossFit but why OBW? This year, and hopefully every year from now on, I championed this cause and helmed the push for OBW. I had the biggest of help from so many people, I mean, I was really grateful to all who chipped in, in a big or small way. But I guess alot of the event, the pre planning etc rested on me and I took the burden to carry it out. It wasn't easy at all, there were moments I had the real thought of throwing in the towel and calling it, "I don't care what happens who shows up or what sponsors come, I'm just gonna sit and see what happens". Thankfully I didn't do that. But it took a big drive on my part to keep that from happening. A big part of that drive... was the reason for this all. And that reason was simple.
A Heart for the Youth.
I'm not gonna kid anyone. I'm pretty much one of the most privileged guys out there. I grew up on a great home, had my needs taken care of. I didn't need to worry about my next meal or where i was going to sleep at night. I had an awesome childhood and was brought up in a great family with caring and genuine friends all around. And so this heart didn't come from a typical story.
Instead, this passion or heart for the youth came about one day, way way back in 2005 (I THINK!), it was none other than Emerge. I will always remember Pst Kong preaching a simple message about the fervency, passion and impact of the youth. That you might be young but so long as your heart burns strongly, the presence and power is carried by you. That the youth changed the World in so many ways! That the trumpets of salvation are sounded at every turn of the tide and now that trumpet is in our hands. That youths are perhaps the most impressionable group of people in the World today. That revival happens through these youths. Knelt on the ground, I realised that yes, it is my call, to make sure that youths deserve a better tomorrow.
Fast forward to 2010. The other game changer was a combination of 2 events. First, I was enrolled in the School of Theology. and it was some time in mid July. We went for our mission trip to Kuching and there, our team cranked up a storm! Praying for people, seeing people get saved and encouraging the church. But one thing struck me and stayed with me. There was one occasion, we went visiting the households of the youths that they were trying to reach out to. Many of them lived in houses which were almost impossible to live in, many had broken families or were having an extremely hard life. There, my heart broke. I was rudely reminded that I was to use these hands, to make these lives better, to give them a future and a hope. To give them a better tomorrow. There were no signs and miracles, though we prayed but I knew deep down inside I was armed with a passion, that if we helped these youths now, at this extremely vulnerable age where they are so moulded, then yes, their trajectory in life will be changed so much. During this time in SOT, it was also the Cultural Mandate that was being taught and I fondly remember feeling very uneasy about something, that there was a big nudge to do something totally radical for God. Note that at that time, I was going to enter University and had planned to enter the engineering sector with no second thoughts.
The next moment occurred immediately after that mission trip. We landed early at the budget terminal of Changi Airport, the entire team decided to go our separate ways and get some rest. This was at 5pm. Back then, I had just started CrossFit, in my 2nd year or so. So I was hooked, gosh those were the days. I wanted to get my workout in and so without thinking twice, in my mission trip outfit, I grabbed a cab and went straight to the box. Back then, CrossFit Singapore was a singular unit, pretty small and very "underground" still. Rocked up to the box and got changed for the 7pm class. Deep down inside I recall telling myself, "I'm quite a badass and hardcore to be doing this straight away." Naturally, the folks around me didn't want me to implode or anything so Coach told me to take it easy.
The 7pm class was done and dusted. I was somehow the last to leave cause I wanted to shower, my stuff was everywhere from the mission trip and thus needed to pack a little. After such a long few days, or revival, praying and now a workout, I was pretty exhausted and ready to sleep. Then I caught wind of this thing... This event called "Operation Broken Wing". Coach was talking to someone about it and being the busybody I was, I asked about it. Then came the flood / God Moment. He told me about the true plan for CrossFit, how it was meant to help the youths. That CrossFit wasn't just for us but to help the many people around us. How OBW was a platform to help these youths and change their lives. That this was truly just scrapping the tip of the iceberg. That CrossFit was truly God's blessing to him and to the community around.
It was probably a very simple conversation we had which is unlikely to be remembered but I recall it very fondly and somehow, everything was aligned. That truly, this is what I'm meant to do. To use CrossFit, to help improve the lives of others, yes. But more specifically, to help make a difference, to use Constantly Varied, Functional Movement executed at High Intensity to be a blessing to others around me via the Cultural Mandate. That was how the purpose was found. That is why OBW and in fact, Innervate CrossFit has been such a dear to me. There was no clear audible voice from Heaven shouting towards me, no dream or so. But I guess, I saw the need, a real need. And as they say, the need is the call. I felt that need so strongly that I followed the call.
It's more than just a business or an event. It's more than just raising money. It's to give others a future and a hope.
Was the whole OBW period tough? Yeah, for sure. Would I do it again? Without a doubt yes.
Finally, I want to encourage everyone reading this (Pardon the sloppy language etc), to always heed the call. That no matter how rational certain things might seem, always always follow the call. NOT YOUR HEART, follow the word, follow the call, follow Jesus. Lastly, Thank You Jesus for this opportunity, it is truly your grace that has carried me. I am extremely extremely blessed.
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