The church in our region started when Christian missionaries of different denominations were expelled from China in the early 1950s. These missionaries had spent time learning the Chinese language and culture, so they began looking for opportunities to work among the Chinese in the diaspora. At the same time, The Lutheran World Federation convened a […]

The church in our region started when Christian missionaries of different denominations were expelled from China in the early 1950s. These missionaries had spent time learning the Chinese language and culture, so they began looking for opportunities to work among the Chinese in the diaspora.

At the same time, The Lutheran World Federation convened a meeting for missionaries in Malaysia, the first Southeast Asia Lutheran Consultative Conference, which was also looking at ministry among the Chinese living outside of China.

At that time, British authorities in Malaysia were struggling against communist Chinese insurgents along the border areas so they decided to build so-called New Villages and relocate local people there. They saw religion as a good deterrence against communism, so made available free land for the construction of churches, schools and clinics. Half a year later in 1953, the first Lutheran missionary arrived in Malaysia and began developing congregations, both in those rural villages and in urban areas where people migrated for education and employment.

Our country became independent from Malaysia in 1965. After that, many entities began to separate including some churches, but we continued to operate as one, remaining as part of the church’s southern district.

Over the years though, practical differences in the education system and increased government control over finances flowing in and out of the country, began to create administrative challenges for us.

There were no conflicts between Malaysian and Singaporean church leaders, but there were more and more regulations making it difficult for us to operate as one. So, we felt that perhaps it was time to begin to separate along national lines, but we will still remain in partnership and support each other, as and when we can. The Lutheran Church in Singapore (LCS) was therefore established in 1997. I was one of the first two Singaporeans to be ordained as Lutheran pastors in 1987.

Today we have 24 ordained pastors, six congregations- five Singaporean and one Thai congregation and around 3,000 members. When I became bishop in 2009 there were seven, because tensions within one of the churches had led to a breakaway. I saw the need to clear up that conflict and had conversations with their leaders and, thanks be to God, a few years ago the council of the breakaway congregation decided to go back to where they came from. So, we have lost a congregation, so to speak, but not its members!

Every church has at least two ministries, one in English and the other in Chinese, while some also include one of the major Chinese dialects, Hokkien, usually spoken by older people who have not learned Mandarin or English. These different ethnic ministries have their own pastors and council to support them, but also work together on a joint council.

They are quite stable in size. If you look within last the last four or five years, you will see that we have lost some members to other churches, but we have also had some baptisms and so overall, we have seen a very small increase in numbers.

As a young pastor in Singapore, I discovered I had a gift for promoting dialogue within divided congregations. It is a gift I have continued to develop and use to great effect during my ministry as bishop of the Lutheran Church in Singapore (LCS) and as a leading figure for ecumenical and interreligious relations in Singapore.

Singapore as a small island city state has its advantages. The heads of denominations meet regularly in the Governing Board of Trinity Theological College, Executive Council of the National Council of Churches besides meeting for prayers once a month.

We had also organised joint events with the most memorable being the National Jubilee Thanksgiving as well as the Celebration of Hope rally at the National Stadium.

I am part of an interfaith organization committed to promote understanding and friendship between people of different faiths. There was a grassroots organization initiated by an insightful Muslim, Abdul Aleem Siqqique who called other religious leaders together to respond to communal tensions. It was called the Inter-Religious Organization (IRO) and it began with five faith communities, but now we are 10 registered religions.

In all my years of ministry, I have been assigned to many different places, but always with one thing in common, that is the need to bring reconciliation. Early in my ministry, I was used by the Lord to ease tensions between congregations in the same church. After that I was assigned to a church that had issues between charismatics and others before serving in a congregation where there were great tensions between the older and younger generations. For ten years, I also worked on church planting overseas in Thailand before being called back to Singapore in 2006 and elected bishop in 2009.

In all my years, I had always submitted to the call and assignment of the church according to her needs. Once I finish my term as Bishop in May 2021, I am willing to serve in any congregation or ministry that the church would assign me, including overseas mission.

The NCCS has created a new post of interfaith ambassador for me, which I see as being a bridge of peace and understanding between Christianity and other religions and the IRO is hoping that I can continue to serve in leadership with them too. I enjoy it all and I will continue to go wherever God is calling me to serve.

Many of our partner churches are working in new territory for the kingdom of God; therefore, spiritual attack is their everyday reality. As a member of a congregation, school, or family, or a couple or individual, you are invited to commit to praying for our partners in mission. For regular prayer point updates, go to www.lca.org.au/international-mission/act-now/pray

Read more stories about our partner church in Singapore at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/singapore/