BRIEF HISTORY OF LIVING WATERS &
CORNERSTONE
LIVING WATERS was formed in 1976 while CORNERSTONE was formed in
1969. LIVING WATERS was since changed its name to Apex-LW'21 in
2005 recently. Although they still uses the old name, it is still a
church youth group member. 
As for the private fantasy bus companies, APEX BUS CO. was set up
in 1974 and LIVING WATERS BUS NETWORK in 1979. Both fantasy bus
companies were at Jurong Interchange in 1979. In 2004, finally
merged as Apex-LW'21 Bus Services in 2004 before the youth group
Living Waters in 2005.
PRISCILLA joined Living Waters in 2000 and elected as a President
in 2003 as the former president of Living Waters was retired on the
same year. He joined this group in 1986 and he has made the youth
group to be more enjoyable and have plenty of youth activities. As
the group looks into recruiting new members, all existing members
will have to go, with 20 ex-Living Waters members of 1984-1988 are
now at EDM.
As for Cornerstone in 1969, nothing to say about its history. I
honestly don't like the rules of Cornerstone in 1969, the members
were quite strict then. While the Cornerstone were helping out in
camps, they treat the participants very strict. If they failed to
observe the rules, they may be asked to leave the campsite.
Luckily, they had retired in 1981. Not until in 1997, all
Cornerstone members of 1980-1986 were retired and they are joining
another youth group in different parishes. The Cornerstone in 1969
were believed to be from Cheng Chi School and becomes a church
youth group in 1980.
As for Living Waters, formed in 1976 by Cheng Chi School (Stephen
Lee Rd), a group that was not so popular at that time. It started
with 40 students from Cheng Chi School and the president for this
group is one male Chinese teacher. They have to follow strict
curfews, attachments and other activities organised by the
teachers. If they were late for meetings, they may be punished
severely. If they don't listen to any meetings or to participate in
any youth activities, without giving any reasons, whether you have
family activities or whatever, they will also be punished.
In 1978, Living Waters became the youth group of Church of St
Anthony, the priest Fr Cyprien Huc (now deceased), was holding on
to this group. About 90 youths joined this group in 1978 and rose
up to 130 in 1981. As Cheng Chi School closed, the members
(including the president of this group) became the member of the
youth group of the church. It means that Living Waters is not
formed by the church when it first conducted its meetings in
1976.
Followed by the 1st Youth Walk in 1983 by CAYC, there are 50
Cornerstone members and 21 Living Waters members took part. As the
1st Youth Walk was not so adventurous, they had to walk and pass by
most villages (eg. CCK Village). They decided not to take part for
the 2nd time in 1984 until 1990.
Living Waters began to retire all 1976-1980 members in mid-1990.
This was to implement that more new members will be joining in this
group, by then the group cannot cope with about 140 members in
1990.
For Cornerstone, there are about 250 members in 1988. Due to large
scale of youths in Cornerstone, they were separated in
shifts.
Cornerstone & Living Waters began conducting meetings and youth
activities in English because very few youths from Mandai can speak
in Chinese or in dialects. It was only that in 1989, they stopped
conducting it in Chinese and its dialects. (It means that
Cornerstone & Living Waters were conducting its meetings in
Chinese & Teochew in the 1970s & the 1980s.)
In 1993, the new church-raising fund at Woodlands Ave 1 was set-up.
Living Waters had its last attachment on St Anthony's Feast Day in
Mandai. The group contributes about $32,840/= for the building fund
while Cornerstone donates about $57,385/=.
Cornerstone & Living Waters had its another retirement exercise
in 1997. 140 Cornerstone members in 1980-1986 and 74 Living Waters
members in 1982-1986 were retired in 1998. The ex-Cornerstone
members were allocated to EDM and some other youth groups from
various parishes.
In 2002, Cornerstone had to withdraw 61 members of 1987-1990 as
they want new members to join in and to open up to every youths who
don't belong to any youth groups.
In Apr 2003, the president of Living Waters was replaced by
PRISCILLA. This marked the start of the retirement of 159 members
in 1984-1988 with first 31 members in 1984 began to retire.
Until Nov 2003, AUDREY & AMANDA joined Living Waters. They
thought that it would be useful youth groups that will reached out
to people, while the 45 members of 1989-1996 were hibernating and
didn't do anything.
As for 2004, all 45 members (excluding the 71 members who
resigned), were withdrawn as since Fr Terence Pereira is looking on
to new members to join Living Waters. It is sad to see all their
friends were gone. Remembering one member in 1991, he thought that
he will be joining another group, EDM @ CAYC. There are about 20
members of Living Waters in 2004, since the Cornerstone celebrates
its 35th Anniversary.
In 2005, Living Waters had its name changed to Apex-LW'21. Apex was
a sub-group of Cornerstone, and it always gained some experience to
Living Waters. Apex-LW'21 is a merged group as if it is 'friends'
between the two groups. It is now a popular church youth group that
teaches us to write reports or to go for attachments, while the
name 'LIVING WATERS' still retains.
Followed by the 1st Youth Camp in 1988 and the 1st Mt Ophir Trip
(Gunung Ledang, located in Malaysia) in 1990, the trip was a
success for more than 15 years! About 75 of the members do
participate for this event, as well as the 1st Walkathon in 1984.
(Route for Walkathon 1984: From Stephen Lee Rd and loop at Chong
Pang Village, Sembawang)
Next year, Apex-LW'21 will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary.
