Cyclone Idai in Mozambique

(Image Source: UNICEF)

⠀

About Cyclone Idai and Cyclone Kenneth:

Cyclone Idai hit near Beira city, Mozambique, on March 14, 2019. The heavy rains and strong winds led to flash flooding, hundreds of deaths, and massive destruction of property and crops. Just under six weeks later, on April 25, Cyclone Kenneth hit northern Mozambique about 600 miles away from where Idai had dealt its blow. 

Cyclones Idai and Kenneth are one of the worst storms to have ever hit Mozambique. The catastrophic flooding that resulted from these cyclones has affected almost 2.2 million people in Mozambique and its neighbouring countries. 

Timeline:

(from https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2019-cyclone-idai-facts) 

March 3 – The tropical disturbance that would become Cyclone Idai develops and begins to strengthen near the coast of Africa.

⠀

March 5 – Heavy rains cause severe flooding across Mozambique and Malawi.

⠀

March 11 – Now a tropical depression, the storm builds in intensity between coastal Africa and Madagascar.

⠀

March 14 to 15 – Tropical Cyclone Idai makes landfall near Beira, Mozambique, as a Category 2 storm with sustained winds exceeding 105 mph.

⠀

March 20 – Heavy rains continue along with search and rescue operations and damage assessments.

⠀

March 21 to 27 – Governments and humanitarian aid agencies begin responding with life-saving relief supplies to the affected areas.

⠀

March 28 – The Mozambique government calls off the search for survivors of Cyclone Idai.

⠀

April 2 – Cholera cases in Mozambique top 1,400, according to health officials.

⠀

April 25 – Cyclone Kenneth hits northern Mozambique with winds above 125 mph.

How much damage was caused?

Cyclone Idai wiped out roads, bridges, and dams as it swept through Southeast Africa. According to the United Nations, Cyclone Idai and subsequent flooding destroyed more than an estimated $773 million in buildings, infrastructure, and crops. As a result of Cyclone Idai itself, more than 100,000 homes were also damaged or destroyed.

Additionally, Cyclone Kenneth is estimated to have destroyed about $100 million worth of homes, crops, and infrastructure, including boats and equipment belonging to coastal fishing villages.

What was the impact on the Bible Society of Mozambique?

As a consequence of Cyclone Idai, the Bible Society depot in Mozambique suffered huge damages. The violence of the cyclone winds washed away all the roof, thus destroying all Scriptural stock in the warehouse. Additionally, the roof of the office managing the Ndau Revision Bible was destroyed, and books and computers in the office were also damaged.

What is the death toll?

More than 1,000 people have died from the impact of Cyclone Idai and Cyclone Kenneth.

About Mozambique:

Mozambique is a country of 29 million people who live between 4 extremes, namely drought, floods, poverty and tropical cyclones. Apart from poverty, natural disasters are cyclical, leaving little room for the Mozambique people to restore their country.


Feature Article: Showing Love and Sowing Care

This article was originally posted in our December 2019 Word@Work.

Feature Article: Showing Love and Sowing Care

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
— Galatians 5:14 ESV

As a season of thanksgiving, Christmas reminds us of how the Word became flesh to dwell among us, experience our pain, and show us steadfast love. Just as Jesus walked and lived among people who were marginalised and faced discrimination—His ministry on earth taught us that it is through caring for others that we may outwardly manifest His love in us.

While such vulnerable communities may not be as visible in Singapore as in other societies, there are communities with unmet needs and abundant opportunities to sow care—such as with single parents, people with disabilities, low-income elderly and guest workers.

Guest workers’ needs, in particular, may often be overlooked as they are transient people group. In order that we may inclusively care for people of all backgrounds, The Bible Society of Singapore has actively sought to reach out to the guest worker community through our charity, SowCare. These efforts have included holistic care initiatives in partnership with the Alliance of Guest Worker Outreach (AGWO) and over 100 other voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), civil organisations, corporations, professional bodies, guest worker dormitories, and government agencies.

As we ministered to these guest workers, many of them shared their stories and challenges with us. Khomthong Khammai, a veteran guest worker from Thailand, shared how his wife had passed away while he was working overseas; this tragedy left him as a single-parent of a daughter who is now 21 years old. Struggling to make ends meet, he remains working in Singapore to support both of them. Like Khomthong, there are other guest workers who endure much hardship in order to provide their families with a better life. Through our acts of kindness, many more guest workers will be blessed as well.

In this Christmas edition of Word in Action, some of our partners and other prominent leaders in our nation share snippets of thought, on how the local community can care for the underprivileged and vulnerable among us, like Khomthong.

“What does Christmas as a season of love and care, mean to you?”

“Christmas reminds me of the kind of love that is unconditional and expects nothing in return. We can all strive to learn to similarly love especially the vulnerable in our midst. Action always speaks louder than words. Just do it. As John Wesley once advised, ‘Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.’”

— Ms Denise Phua, President of the Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), Minister of Parliament (MP) for Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency and Mayor of Central Singapore District.

“As a season centred on Christ, Christmas is the perfect opportunity for us to exemplify the love of God for vulnerable communities. Through our tangible expressions of care, the message of the Gospel is not just shared but lived out in life-transforming ways. “

— Rev Ezekiel Tan, General Secretary of The Bible Society of Singapore


“How do you think the Singaporean community can rise up to care for vulnerable communities among us?”

“There are many unsung heroes who reach out actively to assist those in need, and they have really done so quietly behind the scenes. For sure, there are people who might think that the government is doing its job of taking care of our vulnerable, but there is something that is difficult to be supplanted by the government, and that is the love and care from the community towards the vulnerable.

Simple things such as looking out for one another, lending a helping hand or even a listening ear can make our society much more caring and a much better place for everyone, especially our most vulnerable.”

— Ms Joan Pereira, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC and Advisor to Henderson-Dawson Grassroots Organisation

“I see the need to get kindred spirits to network and collaborate with each other. When there is sharing of resources and ideas, and when we work together, we do not need to reinvent the wheel; we can leverage on each other’s strength and do a better job together than alone. By working together, we can eliminate wastage of resources and make a greater impact for the good of these vulnerable communities. “

— Dr William Wan, General Secretary of Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM)

“Acknowledge and accept their presence in our midst in our daily lives, buy a packet of food for them and say “thank you” if we notice that they are regularly serving us in our neighbourhood.”

— Ms Neo Ling Ling, Associate Director of SowCare Ltd


“What is one verse that reminds you of the Christian call to serve our community?”

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 ESV

“To me, this verse signifies our call to love and care for the ones who are unable to do the same for us—it must cost us something.”

— Rev Samuel Gift Stephen, Chairman of the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach (AGWO)

Let us remain encouraged to sow care into the lives of those around us; fully assured that every effort will create an ever widening ripple of love—in the lives of individuals, their families and communities. 

We were blessed to witness such an impact in the life of Roopa, who is just 9 years old. In rural villages in India, young girls—like Roopa—take care of house chores as well as their siblings while their parents work. These children, who are forced to undertake heavy responsibilities at such a tender age, may experience loneliness and feelings of abandonment.

Recognising the needs of these girls, a local pastor in Roopa’s village sought her out, invited her to church and even gifted her with her own Bible. Transformed by the kindness that the pastor has extended to her, Roopa now desires to be a doctor so that she may save lives, help her community, and care for those in need. Indeed, the ones who sow bountifully will reap bountifully!

For more information on how you can join us in making a difference in our local communities by being a partner, visit www.bible.org.sg/take-action

 


Singaporeans bring festive cheer to guest workers and Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs)

This article was originally posted in our Tamil Murasu.

Singaporeans bring festive cheer to guest workers and Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) 

Widely celebrated festive seasons, such as Christmas, are especially meaningful because they bring families and loved ones together over shared meals and traditions. However, these occasions can often exacerbate feelings of loneliness among vulnerable communities in society, such as the homeless and guest workers, who may not be able to celebrate with their families. Such feelings may also often be more pronounced among guest workers in Singapore, who frequently experience homesickness from having to relocate and live in an unfamiliar environment.

In an effort to alleviate the emotional struggles of these guest workers, SowCare—a charity arm of The Bible Society of Singapore—and TSL Holdings Group worked collaboratively to include guest workers in their Christmas celebrations this year.

Gathering over 350 guest worker employees at TSL Holdings Group, on 8 December at the company headquarters, the ‘Christmas with the Nations’ event sought to appreciate and recognise the efforts of their migrant employees. In the spirit of Christmas, carols were sung and guest worker employees were gifted with presents as well.

Mr Tan Swee Lim, President of TSL Holdings Group, who was present at the event as the Guest of Honour, honoured the workers who were present in his opening address.

“I am very pleased and honoured to host this meaningful event. It is our way of expressing our deepest gratitude to all of you, who have worked hard to contribute to the success of not only my group of companies, but our nation. Your contributions have included laborious work and long hours, and we are truly thankful for the role you have played.”

The ‘Christmas with the Nations’ event follows a series of Feasts of Appreciation (FOA), which were launched by the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach (AGWO) in September this year. The FOA initiative seeks to invite the local community to tangibly appreciate guest workers here, by hosting celebratory meals for them.

Sharing his vision and ethos behind the FOA movement, Rev Samuel Gift Stephen, Chairman of the AGWO, said, “In a country where food is such an important part of our lives, sharing a meal with these guest workers goes a long way in showing them how we do not consider them to be alien and are truly appreciative for their role in our society.”

Seeking to include FDWs in the leg of celebrations, 300 FDWs have also been invited to attend an upcoming feast at Bible House on 15 December. The FOA for FDWs will also feature performances by various ethnic groups and a mini-bazaar, including photobooth and manicure stations.

Reiterating the role of FDWs in the Singaporean society, Mr Ezekiel Tan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SowCare, shared how, “while guest workers serve in public industrial sectors, the contributions of FDWs are close to home and to the heart. The role they assume is deeply personal and we must remember to remain thankful for the sacrifices they have made and continue to make every day.”

For more information on how individuals or groups can host a FOA, please visit hia.sg/AGWO.


Feature Article: Connecting and Caring for All

This article was originally posted in our December 2019 Word@Work.

Feature Article: Connecting and Caring for All

In one of his letters, C.S. Lewis wrote, “For the church is not a human society of people united by their natural affinities but the Body of Christ, in which all members, however different… must share the common life, complementing and helping one another precisely their differences.”

What does a united body of believers look like today?

Cultivating Community Connectedness


The Bible Society of Singapore (BSS) is committed to building communities of believers who are united by their common love for the Word of God, regardless of church, denomination and nationality. For it is only with a united church body that we may become an effective model of Christian love to the wider community—demonstrating the unconditional love lavished upon us by our Father in heaven, and leading them to Him.

With this in mind, BSS hopes to connect believers from different walks of life by encouraging them to engage with the Scripture in meaningful ways. In August and September, BSS organised the Colours of theBible Art Exhibition and the Bible and Chinese Culture Festival as opportunities for participants to express themselves with Scripture-inspired art pieces—illustrating how art and Chinese culture can be integrated with the Bible. (More information about the Bible and Chinese Culture Festival can be found on page 26.)

BSS also seeks to equip Christians with the Word to tackle various societal issues through the ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity—a research think tank formed in partnership with the National Council of Churches of Singapore and Trinity Theological College. ETHOS aims to engage believers in contemporary issues and trends from a Biblical perspective by offering free seminars, lectures, conferences, and resources for the public. Since its inception in 2014, the ETHOS website alone has seen nearly 50,000 visitors each year. (For more information about ETHOS events and publications, visit ethosinstitute.sg or read more on pages 25, 36 and 37.)

Apart from these initiatives, BSS also has a community of volunteers, who are known as our Sowers-In- Action. These volunteers constitute a very diverse group of Christians who regularly volunteer their gifts to support Bible Mission work in various ways—from photography and helping out at events, to administrative work. Gatherings are held at Bible House twice a year to thank our volunteers for their contribution, as well as to provide an opportunity for them to engage in fellowship. (If you would like to volunteer with BSS, visit bible.org.sg/volunteer for more information.)

By creating platforms for Christians to connect, BSS hopes to cultivate a spirit of unity among believers—so that we may labour together as one body, and fulfil God’s mission for us.

Cultivating Collective Care for All


“Jesus Christ did not say, Go into all the world and tell the world that it is quite right.” — C.S. Lewis

Fulfilling the Great Commission not only encompasses spreading the Good News but also requires the Church to first model the love towards others that Jesus exemplified in His ministry— reaching out to the least, the last and the lost.

Although Singapore has successfully transformed herself into a modern city-state, there are still vulnerable and underprivileged communities in our midst. Just as the Son of Man came to serve (Mark 10:45), we too, are called to extend a helping hand to these communities—by meeting their needs and extending God’s love to them.

To initiate a collective effort to reach communities in need, BSS has launched a new ministry, SowCare, which aims to reach out to the poor and needy in Singapore. To kickstart the outreach efforts, SowCare partnered with Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA) and over 100 organisations to launch the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach (AGWO). AGWO seeks to provide guest workers in Singapore with holistic care by meeting their immediate needs, and fostering a welcoming environment for them that is free from discrimination. From 20–29 September, Walking In Your Shoes—an exhibition aimed to provide a glimpse into the lives of guest workers—was held at Far East Plaza. Other AGWO events included a Banquet of Appreciation at the Fullerton Hotel on 13 October, as well as an AGWO Cricket Tournament on 28 October. (Read more about AGWO’s initiatives and events on pages 16 and 17.)

Beyond Singapore’s shores, BSS has also been involved in Holistic Mission work in multiple countries. The International Bible Experiences (IBEx)—a ministry of BSS—offers Bible Mission Trips, where participants are involved in meeting the locals’ needs for Scripture materials, and also their immediate needs where necessary. These efforts comprise of providing humanitarian assistance to countries, which have been affected by natural disasters or political turmoil, as well as providing opportunities for the locals to receive proper education.

Most recently, BSS was involved in mission work in Hainan, China, ministering to the local students and providing them with resources to facilitate their studies and improve their quality of life. (Find out more about IBEx and other BSS’ mission trips on pages 32 and 33.)

Cultivating Godliness within Communities


“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20)

With various avenues for Christians to be equipped and to serve, our ultimate aim is to connect different communities to and through the Gospel— so that we may all become disciples of Christ who share a deep love for God’s Word and people. As we remember the birth and life of our Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas, may we seek to embody the sacrificial love and care that He showed to mankind.


Reflections: Bible Mission Trip To Cambodia

This article was originally posted in our September 2019 Word@Work.

Reflections: Bible Mission Trip to Cambodia

“During the mission trip, I saw how God was working through each of us, bringing our individual talents together to serve His people as one body. ”
— Chan Keen Mun, Participant, Bible Mission Trip to Cambodia, 15 – 18 March 2019

In June 2018, I was praying for God’s instructions and direction for this Bible Mission Trip to Cambodia, which was originally scheduled to take place in September 2018. However, in July 2018, my father-in-law was called home to be with the Lord, and my mother was diagnosed with cancer and bleeding in the brain. Even though the trip had to be postponed to March 2019, I am still grateful for God’s faithfulness in bringing the team together.

While we were in the midst of preparing for the trip, God remained faithful by leading us every step of the way—through the planning of the programme, the rehearsals for reenacting the Bible stories and the planning of the teaching sessions. We had planned to teach the locals about the grace of God, with some reflections from Gideon’s life (Judges 6–7). As I was going through these passages with the intention of reaching out to the locals, never would I have thought that I too, would experience the grace of God firsthand.

A few weeks before the Bible Mission Trip, I found out that my mother—who had been given six months to live and was already receiving palliative care—had been completely healed from cancer! What a joy it was to receive God’s grace!

During the mission trip, I saw how God was working through each of us, bringing our individual talents together to serve His people as one body. As my team and I were ministering to the children in Tuolpongror with the Word, we were delighted and encouraged at how eager they were to receive Jesus into their hearts.

At the end of the programme, one of the teachers at the local school made the decision to re-commit her life to Christ. It was here our team realised that we had to continue to pray fervently for the rest of the teachers who had not received Jesus as their Lord and Saviour—so that they too could make a difference in the lives of the children whom they teach.

To conclude, my team and I are very thankful that we were able to accomplish the work in Cambodia by the immense grace of God. All of us have been blessed in more ways than one—it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive!

 


Bobby Sng SCHOLARSHIP FOR THEOLOGICAL STUDIES

BOBBY SNG
SCHOLARSHIP FOR THEOLOGICAL STUDIES

Bobby Sng Scholarship for Theological Studies

Terms of Reference

Background

On 29 October 2019, the President of The Bible Society of Singapore, Dr Lee Soo Ann, mooted the proposal to set up the Bobby Sng Scholarship for Theological Studies (BSSTS). The Board endorsed the proposal on 31 October 2019 and decided to launch the Scholarship during the memorial service of the late Dr Bobby Sng.

A meeting was held on 4 March 2021 to discuss the plans for BSSTS. The Bible Society of Singapore will help to coordinate fundraising efforts. A Scholarship Committee will be formed comprising of leaders from The Bible Society of Singapore and other invited organisations to make awarding decisions.

BSSTS was initially scheduled to be announced on 17 May 2021, however the COVID-19 situation and Heightened Alert measures delayed the launch. It was decided eventually to launch BSSTS on 15 October 2021, a day after the Anniversary of the late Dr Bobby Sng.

Scholarship Name:
Bobby Sng Scholarship for Theological Studies (BSSTS)

Rationale

The scholarship uses the name of the late Dr Bobby Sng to celebrate his life and ministry, especially in the three areas he is most passionate about: in Bible missions, in community service, and in youth work. Hence, the scholarship aims to fund students pursuing theological studies who aspire to serve or already involved in the above three areas.

Scope

Students pursuing theological studies involved in the following works:

  1. Bible Missions
  2. Community Service
  3. Youth Work

 

Awarding Conditions

The BSSTS is awarded to deserving persons who fulfil the following criteria:

  1. Wish to pursue first degree in theological studies (undergraduate or postgraduate) in a Singapore theological institution. The relevance of the chosen courses will be decided by the Scholarship Committee.
  2. The current approved Singapore theological institutions are:
    • ACTS College
    • Baptist Theological Seminary (BTS)
    • Biblical Graduate School of Theology (BGST)
    • Discipleship Training Centre (DTC)
    • East Asia School of Theology (EAST)
    • Singapore Bible College (SBC)
    • TCA College
    • Trinity Theological College (TTC)
  3. Commit to work or serve in the following areas for at least three (3) years after graduation:
    • Bible Missions
    • Community Service
    • Youth Work

Application Criteria

All applications to BSSTS must fulfil the following criteria:

  1. Applicant must be Singaporean or PR
  2. Applicant must be an active member of a local church
  3. Applicant must be in financial needs
  4. Applicant must complete the application forms and submit all the required documents

Application to BSSTS is open throughout the year, however the Scholarship Committee will usually deliberate and make the awarding decision at least once a year.

Detailed Terms and Conditions

  1. Scholarship is prioritized to be awarded to those who are about to enter their theological study. Exception will be decided by the Scholarship Committee.
  2. There is no age limit for the applicant. Grant will be given based on the applicant’s potential, character, and commitment to the scope of the scholarship.
  3. Scholarship will only be disbursed to those who are already admitted to the undergraduate program of one of the above theological institutions, either full-time or part-time (official admission letter is required)
  4. Scholarship will cover academic/tuition fees and book allowances, excluding accommodation, meal plan, and other expenses (like mission trips, insurance, etc.)
  5. The scholarship recipient must sign and undertake the following:

“I solemnly declare that should I be awarded a Bobby Sng Scholarship for Theological Studies (BSS TS); I will undertake the following:

  1. That on completion of the degree/studies for which the BSS TS has been awarded, I shall be involved in full time work in the area of bible missions, community service, or youth work, for at least 3 years, failing which I shall return the scholarship award in full to the scholarship committees
  2. That during the period of my studies, I shall send written reports to the Scholarship Committees at the end of each term/semester, informing of my academic progress as well as personal developments. The Scholarship Committees reserve the right to cease further scholarship payments or demand return of the scholarship award if academic results or other factors do not justify further support
  3. That I shall do my utmost, God being my helper, to complete with merit or better, the course of study for which the BSS TS has been awarded, so as to be a faithful and responsible steward of God’s gracious provision.
  1. The scholarship recipient is encouraged to do their ministry internship, as required by their theological institution, at the organizations related to the scope of the scholarship.
  2. The scholarship recipient is not allowed to change their theological institution or course of study.

For further enquiries, please write to scholarship@biblesociety.sg. Click here if you wish to contribute towards the Scholarship.

1936–2019

“And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above;
and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
— Daniel 12:3 (ESV)

Our beloved advisor and former President, Dr Bobby Sng, was called home to be with the Lord on 14 October 2019.

Leaving for missions only a year after graduating as a doctor, his life of 83 years was lived to the fullest for God as he served in many different ministerial capacities. In fact, he was on the committee which headed the Billy Graham Crusade in 1978, which was a defining chapter in the local Christian history for sparking revival in the local Church.

He was also a prolific author, having written many staples in Singaporean Christian literature. Some prominent titles—published by The Bible Society of Singapore—are ‘Changing Times, Unchanging Word’, ‘In His Good Time’, ‘Listen to Him! The Last Word of Jesus from the Cross’, ‘The Story of the Old Testament’, ‘The Story of the Church’, and ‘The Story of Jesus’.

As the President of The Bible Society of Singapore from 2002—2012, Dr Sng spearheaded the shift towards regional holistic missions that has heavily contributed to Singapore serving its call of being the Antioch of Asia.

In his own words, Dr Sng wrote, “It is my privilege to have been part of this emerging generation. Converted in the late 40s, nurtured in the Varsity Christian Fellowship in the mid-50s, and commencing an active ministry in the early 60s, I have never regretted embarking on this journey. It was a journey that has taken me from ministering in a rural church in Malaysia to engaging with students in tertiary institutions, from preaching to congregations in Singapore to addressing robust campus groups across the cities of Asia.”

“[The Christian community] is a thriving community, attracting worshippers from different ethnic groups, it is also actively engaged in community service and mission outreach. The Gospel has endowed us with a compelling message—love for God and love for our neighbours. The post-War generation of believers, most of whom hailed from non-Christian homes, have sought to remain faithful to God’s Word, addressing issues as they have arisen. But, our journey has not ended. New issues and challenges will present themselves and these must be met. May the coming years witness a new generation of believers who are equally determined to present God’s unchanging Word in changing times.”

Dr Sng was an inspiration to many local Christian leaders for his great passion and zeal for God, especially Rev Ezekiel Tan, General Secretary of The Bible Society of Singapore—who was mentored by Dr Sng.

“He was an anointed Bible teacher and preacher; what impacted me most about him was not his knowledge of the Word of God, but how he lived it out. His life was that of a godly role model. As my mentor, his wise words and fruitful ministry have shaped my life greatly. It was truly a privilege to have served alongside him while he was president of The Bible Society of Singapore.” — Rev Ezekiel Tan

“He has fought the good fight and gone to glory. May we all humbly follow his example, and keep serving his Master and ours until the Lord returns.” — Dr Ernest Chew, Honorary Chair of the National Museum of Singapore

Dr Bobby Sng's oral history interview with the National Archives of Singapore is available here

Bobby and I entered the university at the same but he to study medicine, I to study arts. We were both in the Varsity Christian Fellowship. However he was drawn to medical missions and after graduation and a year in a hospital, he went with his wife Ivy to the Cameron Highlands where he supported himself by setting up a clinic and also began a church which is still there today, very strong and active. His three children were born there but they returned to Singapore for their schooling. He carried his mission work by serving fulltime with the Fellowship of Evangelical Students. He was the one who challenged me to be the founding chairman of St.Luke’s Hospital. By then I had become general secretary of the bible society of Singapore. I invited him to join the committee, and he became president in 2002. His first love was the bible and he gave the society the privilege of printing his collection of bible stamps. God’s Word was preached in the stamps printed in many parts of the world which he meticulously collected. Besides advising and guiding students, he also preached. Twice he spoke at my home in the university: one was on making the mind captive to God and the second was on keeping one’s lifestyle simple. He obeyed both injunctions and was a role model of simple and sincere life as a Christian.

I served under him as bible society president which he continued when Khay Tham succeeded me as general secretary. Under his leadership, Bible House was rebuilt. Many gave generously because he was the president. Ezekiel Tan also served under him. Truly he has been our bible society leader. I am indebted to him for teaching me many lessons in how to preach effectively and write too. His “In his good time” book is a must for all seminary students on the history of the church in Singapore. The society also published another two books written by him.

It is challenging to follow in his footsteps but his example gives me the confidence to do so for he was always willing to help others. He was a man of few but effective words. He said that he was not used to writing as he was a medical doctor but that made him even more effective because of his wise choice of words. I look forward to re-reading what he has written to inspire me to serve our Lord Jesus Christ even better.
Dr. Lee Soon AnnPresident of The Bible Society of Singapore
Eulogy & Tribute delivered by Rev Ezekiel Tan, General Secretary of BSS
(At Dr Bobby Sng’s Wake Service at Wilkie Terrace Christian Assembly on 16 October 2019.)
A Student leader. Medical doctor. Missionary. Shepherd. Bible Teacher. Preacher. Theologian. Mentor. Social activist. Church historian. Christian statesman. Gentle spiritual giant. Servant of God. The late Dr Bobby Sng played many roles in his decades of ministry.

Although he did not receive any formal training in seminary, he was well sought after for his theological reflections. Although he was not an ordained minister, he had shepherded many pastors and leaders. Although he was a member of a non-denominational church, he was greatly respected by bishops and senior leadership across all denominations. Dr Bobby Sng was truly an extraordinary and exemplary follower of Christ!

In ancient times, priests were called the “cure of the soul”. Dr Bobby Sng was not only a medical doctor who administered medical treatment to those with physical ailments, he was also a physician of the soul—who had brought many to eternal salvation, and had helped restore many to spiritual wellness.

I have known Dr Bobby Sng for more than twenty years. And I was greatly privileged to have been mentored by him, and to have served under his leadership while he was the President of The Bible Society of Singapore. He had served for decades on the board of the Bible Society. From 2002–2012, he served as our President, and thereafter, he continued to contribute towards the Bible Mission as our Advisor to the Board—until he was promoted to glory and returned to the Author and Finisher of his faith.

As much as I have greatly benefited from the leadership skills, biblical knowledge and ministry values that he imparted to me, I was most impacted by his deep spirituality. St Paul exhorts the Corinthian Christians (1:11), “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Dr Bobby Sng was such a Godly role model—the most Christ-like leader I’ve personally had the honour of knowing. He truly imitated Christ in all that he did.

His humility and spirituality was not only evidenced in public areas, but they were especially visible in the private moments I shared with him. There were many seemingly insignificant encounters that I had with him—day-to-day experiences. These moments, however, have left an important impact upon me. Do allow me to relate some of these anecdotes with you.

While he was the President—and I was the General Secretary designate of the The Bible Society of Singapore—he would meet me privately on a monthly basis. Whenever we arranged for a meeting—despite my objections—he would insist that he take a bus to come to Bible House to meet me, instead of me going to his residence. Even though he was my boss and such a great figure in the Christian community. Thankfully, he did allow me to drive him back home.

During each of these meet-ups—beyond receiving a monthly report of the activities and events we were engaged in as a Society—he was always more interested in learning how he could support me in succeeding in my role.

Even after he had stepped down as President, we would continue to meet up—though not as regularly. Each time—without fail—he would make sure to enquire about my well-being: whether I was coping well and if there was anything he could do to support me. Time spent with him was always deeply edifying—he never failed to generously affirm me in my work. Dr Bobby Sng has been such a pillar of support—and his unfailing encouragement has given me confidence to pursue bold initiatives and changes, in order that we may be more effective and extensive in our Bible Missions.

For many years, I had repeatedly encouraged him to pen an autobiography of his ministry life. He would always decline. He would reiterate that he saw no merit in writing about himself and did not believe in glorifying his achievements. He would be more interested in making Jesus known. Only in his late 70s, at my insistence of leaving behind his spiritual legacy to inspire the future generations, that he reluctantly agreed to publish his collection of sermons tracing the stages of his ministry journey in proclaiming His Lord and Savior. The title of this book is ‘Changing Times, Unchanging Word.’ I have brought 200 copies of this publication, which is probably the last that Dr Bobby Sng—a prolific Christian author and beloved Christian statesman—authored, to be given out tonight for you to remember him, the inspiration and beacon of our generation.

In Philippians 1:23-24, St Paul lovingly related to the church in Philippi:
“I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.”

Several times I had the privilege to meet up with our saintly Dr Bobby Sng after his hospitalization. Knowing that his life journey here on earth was coming to an end, almost every time, he would echo the words of St Paul that he was ready and eager to meet Jesus. He was so certain of the eternity that awaits him. He was so confident of the destiny beyond this temporal dwelling place.

Like St Paul, Dr Bobby Sng has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he has kept the faith. (2 Tim 4:7) And He has now gone to be with His Lord in this final destination of his earthly pilgrimage. The legacy he has left will always be an inspiration to me—and to the many others he impacted—to live lives fully and wholly for Christ.

In fact, when I informed the Board of the Bible Society on the passing of our dearly beloved leader, one of them—the Rev Canon Louis Tay—quoted a Bible verse in tribute to this great servant of God, that encapsulates the unending impact his life will have.

(Daniel 12:3) "And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like stars forever and ever.” Truly, the life of Dr Bobby Sng counts for eternity!

My deepest condolences to the family of Dr Bobby Sng—his beloved life companion Mrs Ivy Sng, his daughters (Jen Hwei, Li Hwei and Ming Hwei), his sons-in-law (Nicholas Merrow-Smith, Mak Koon Hou and Francis Lee) and his six grandchildren (Daniel, Joshua, James, Claire, Esther & Grace).

Our heartfelt gratitude to you—for sacrificially sharing your beloved husband, father and grandfather with the larger Christian family. Your lost time with him allowed for him to be a fatherly figure to us, and that time has enriched many many lives—both the young and old. We are forever indebted to you.

Good bye, Dr Bobby Sng—my spiritual father, my leadership guru, my beloved mentor. Though you are no longer on this side of eternity, you will always live on in our collective memories. And one day, we shall meet again.
Rev. Ezekiel TanGeneral Secretary of The Bible Society of Singapore
If you have any testimonies or tributes of Dr Bobby Sng please email us at comms@biblesociety.sg

四 面 镜 子

 

因为只听道而不行道的，就像人对着镜子观看自己本来的面目，注视后，就离开，立刻忘了自己的相貌如何。(雅各书1:23-24)

圣经里有四处经文提到“镜子”（约伯记37:18； 哥林多前书13:12；哥林多后书3:18；雅各书1:23）。它们并不仅是生活中的镜子，更深藏寓意。

一、穹苍之镜，反映上帝的能力无限

“你岂能与上帝同铺穹苍，坚固如同铸成的镜子吗？”(约伯记37:18) 道明了受造者的有限性，绝不可能与创造者的无限性相比。宏观宇宙之存在与奇妙，不得不叫人相信和惊叹其背后必有一位智慧的匠心设计。难怪大卫向上帝感叹：“我观看你手指所造的天，并你所陈设的月亮星宿。人算什么，你竟顾念他！”（诗篇8:3-4）如今网络、都市的高楼大厦已经挤走了我们“仰望星空”的机会，忙碌的生活让人们再也无暇关注“穹苍之镜”所要告诉我们的信息了！仰望星空，让人从近处看到长远，从物质看到精神，从尘世看到永恒，从有限看到无限！

二、真理之镜，反映人的智慧有限

保罗在哥林多前书13:12说，“对着镜子观看，模糊不清”，这镜也如古时用的铜镜，模模糊糊，似明非明，没有后来的玻璃镜子看上去清晰。保罗清楚表明不单上帝启示人有一个渐进的过程，就是人对于真理的认识也是逐步深入的。人的智慧有限，需要一个渐进提高过程。人们有限的智慧，不可能穷尽真理，有些事现在不知，但以后必明白，有些事看似明白，实际上以后你会惊愕失色。信心的眼睛能穿越这模糊的世界，让我们走过生活沼泽，奔向永恒的喜乐！

三、听道之镜，反映人的本来面目

上帝的话语是我们行事为人的神圣准则，犹如明镜，既清楚显明上帝的心意，也真实反映人的本相（雅各书1:23），镜子面前，人会发觉自己相貌丑陋。信徒听道也是如此，总以为牧者所讲的与自己无关，一定是牧者讲错了！我们习惯粉饰自己，还乐意拿镜子反照别人，为他人听道“光照别人”。信徒有时也会有触动，发现自己内心的不洁和软弱，也有悔改的心意。可是，一旦离开教会或把圣经合上，便忘了“自己本来的面目”。信徒“惟有查看那完美、使人自由的律法，并且时常遵守的，他不是听了就忘，而是切实行出来，这样的人在所行的事上必然蒙福。”（雅各书1:25）

四、生命之镜，反映上帝的荣耀形像

“既然我们众人以揭去面纱的脸得以看见主的荣光，好像从镜子里返照，就变成了与主有同样的形像，荣上加荣，如同从主的灵变成的。”（哥林多后书3:18）人是按着上帝的形像造的，但因为罪的缘故这原本存有的荣耀已经被损，以至于人亏缺了上帝的荣耀。基督救赎的最终目的是为了让人与上帝和好，恢复上帝的形像，获得上帝儿女自由的荣耀。我们之所以能成为“世上的光”，就是因为主的荣耀。生命之镜能够反光，让人们感觉到你的光、你的热。我们需要拥有属天生命，才能活出新我，活出见证！

 

 

 

 

 

单渭祥牧师
中国基督教协会副会长兼总干事


Making The Word of God Known—Through The Lenses Of A Bible Missionary

This article was originally posted in our September 2019 Word@Work.

Making The Word of God Known—Through The Lenses Of A Bible Missionary

“That Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations.”
— Psalm 67:2

Since 2017, The Bible Society of Singapore (BSS) has been honouring the selfless service of individuals who have helped further the Bible Mission in their own unique way, through The Sower Awards. One of the categories of awards is The Sower Award for Bible Missionary of the Year, which honours a dedicated individual who has persevered in fulfilling the Bible Mission, in spite of facing challenges and possible persecution in the mission field.

The Bible Missionary of the Year for 2019 is Mr Eui Hyun Kwon, President and CEO of the Korean Bible Society (KBS), whose determination has driven efforts to increase the availability and accessibility of Bibles throughout the nations. While the Bible has been translated into 692 languages, Bible Mission work is far from finished. Nearly 1.5 billion people still lack access to the Word as it has yet to be translated into their native language. Working towards fulfilling the Bible Mission of making the Word known to every tribe, nation, language and people, Mr Kwon has led the KBS to aid the production and distribution of over 6 million Bibles in 217 languages, in 2018 alone.

Under his leadership, the KBS has also donated more than 700,000 copies of the Bible to 77 countries—36 countries in Africa, 20 countries in the Americas, 15 countries in the Middle East and Europe, and 6 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

REACHING THE MINORITY TRIBES

 

Mr Kwon has played a vital part in ensuring the completion of these projects, especially where there are heavy restrictions on Bible distribution efforts and missionary outreach activities— such as in Myanmar, where Christians constitute only four percent of the population. While Christianity is growing among the tribes living around the borders of the country that has over 200 spoken tribal languages, projects to translate the Bible into their native languages have been limited. In the midst of these difficulties, Mr Kwon’s perseverance through the years led to the successful completion of the Cho Chin Bible and the Remy New Testament text in 2018.

Similarly, Mr Kwon also paved the way for the completion of the first-ever Bible translation project for the nomadic Blin tribe in Eritrea, Africa. One of the local church leaders had recalled how he had experienced great difficulty and resistance in sharing the Word with the Blin people without having a Bible in their mother tongue. The native language of the tribe is also especially close to the hearts of the people as they have continuously fought to protect and preserve the dialect and their culture.

Through Mr Kwon and the KBS’ determination, the pioneering translation project was completed and the first copies of the Blin New Testament Bible were distributed in September 2018. Through the availability of the New Testament to the Eritrean people in their native tongue, a reverence and love for the Word was unlocked—even among the older generation. 82-year-old Kudusan, who had waited 30 years to receive Scripture in her own language, shared, “I can’t read but my grand daughters and sons will read to me from this golden, newly-translated New Testament!”

 

EMPOWERING THE VULNERABLE

 

Apart from bringing the Word of Hope to minority tribes, Mr Kwon has led the KBS to partner with sister Bible Societies to reach marginalised communities facing discrimination. One such project was with widows in India— to strengthen them with the knowledge that God is close to the brokenhearted.

Esther, one of the Indian women who received a Bible through the KBS, faced discrimination from her own family and local community amidst the pain of losing her husband. As she pored over the Word, she found her identity—one that could never be shaken or taken away—in Christ. Emboldened with a renewed sense of self-worth and value, she now preaches and shares the Gospel in the very same village.

 

THE WORD AMONG ALL NATIONS

 

This year, Mr Kwon and the KBS have successfully met their Bible distribution plans in 23 countries. Let us keep them in our prayers as they continue to work to fulfill the Bible Mission. Deeply encouraged by the dedicated missionary service of Mr Kwon and the life-transforming impact the Word has had in these communities, we are reminded of our call to bring God’s Word to the nations. As it is written, ”how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?” (Romans 10:15). It is our prayer that we too will work to send forth His Word, so every nation will come to know His glory and salvation!

We must say that the strongest motivation driving our support for minority groups is our own experience as a relatively young church. Our churches may be known for their explosive growth and size, but the situation 130 years ago will give you a completely different impression of our country. The Korean people were Bibleless, living under total darkness of poverty, corruption, and heightened inter-country tension to which the existing systems could not offer any answers. It was only when the Bible in the Korean language was finally translated and distributed to the Korean people that our fate took a turn. During the hardships brought about by the Japanese occupation and the Korean War, God's Word enabled the Korean people to preserve our cultural identity, while instlling hope and helping us persevere for a better future.
— Mr Eui Hyun KwonPresident and CEO of the Korean Bible Society


Scan the QR
code to watch
Mr Kwon’s story!

 

 

 

 

 

 


Empowering and Equipping to Edify

This article was originally posted in our September 2019 Word@Work.

Empowering and Equipping to Edify

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…”
— Ephesians 4:11-12

In his letter to the Church in Ephesus, Paul exhorts the Church to use their spiritual gifts to equip her members to do the work of ministry. As an inter-confessional missions organisation that seeks to serve the Church, The Bible Society of Singapore (BSS) works to build up the Body of Christ by providing resources to empower and edify all her members. It is our hope that they in turn, will go out into the world to spread the Gospel, with the aim of transforming and impacting the lives of those around them.

 

Empowering Local Communities

 

We live in a fast-changing world, where values and morals are constantly shifting. As disciples of Christ, we need to equip others within the Christian body to face these challenges. BSS works to empower the local Christian body through our Centre for Advocacy, Relations and Engagement (CARE). CARE aims to bring about the transformation of lives and society through the Word, by making the Bible credible and relevant (Advocacy), working with others through partnerships (Relations) and making the Bible understood and lived out (Engagement). Through this holistic approach, we hope to nurture Christians who will bear fruit for His Kingdom (Matthew 13:23).

This year, CARE has organised various programmes catering to different people and language groups, creating opportunities for them to engage with the Word. From 7 to 10 June, DECLARE, a 72-hour-long Bible proclamation initiative was held at the Bible House, where believers from different denominations and churches came together to participate in collective worship. The Bible was read by participants who spoke different languages— showing how believers of different denominations and churches are united by the Word of God. (Read more about the event on page 23.)

 

Empowering Families

 

Although worship is a key part of the edification of the Church (1 Chronicles 16:29), disciple-making involves much more. Family also plays an essential role in enabling believers to grow in spiritual maturity. This is why BSS also believes in the importance of equipping families to disciple members of the Body of Christ.

On 26 and 27 July, the D6 Family Conference was held at Faith Methodist Church. This year marks the fourth run of the conference, with the theme Church + Home. The goal of the conference was to equip participants with strategies for effective family ministry. With the success of past years’ conferences in English and Chinese, D6 expanded this year, catering to Tamil-speaking congregations. A similar conference was also held in Hainan, China in August. (More information about the conference in Singapore can be found on page 24.)

 

Edifying Christian Communities

 

Scripture engagement is not limited to reading and learning about the Bible. That is why BSS also encourages creative forms of engagement
with the Word. To provide an opportunity for budding artists to engage themselves with the Bible, BSS partnered with the Embassy of Israel to hold the annual Colours of the Bible art competition. This year’s theme, Hope and Promises in the Bible, encouraged participants to use their talents to share their interpretations of God’s Word. The art competition took place from February to July. In August, an art exhibition was held at Far East Plaza, showcasing the winning entries and some of the remarkable submissions.

 

Empowering the Underprivileged

 

As it is the aim of BSS to empower and edify the Church, we also aim to extend our reach beyond the local Christian communities. Just as Jesus came to serve others (Mark 10:45), BSS also serves the wider society by reaching out to the vulnerable and marginalised
among us.

This year, BSS launched a new ministry, SowCare, which aims to serve the underprivileged. In partnership with the Alliance
of Indian Ministries (AIM) and Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA), SowCare is actively involved in a new initiative to reach out to guest workers in Singapore— the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach (AGWO). AGWO hopes to provide guest workers in Singapore with holistic care and provide a platform for organisations to partner and collaborate to care for these guest workers.

To kickstart this new initiative, AGWO has organised a series of events such as Walking in Your Shoes, an exhibition that will take place from 19 to 29 September at Far East Plaza, a Feast of Appreciation on 13 October at the Fullerton Hotel, the AGWO Cricket Cup on 28 October, and Guest Workers’ Appreciation Day on 18 December. (Read more about AGWO events on page 26.) By working with different organisations and communities for a myriad of causes, BSS hopes to foster relationships so that we may not only build up the Body of Christ, but also make a difference in society.

 

Equipping to Edify and Transform Lives

 

At the heart of our work is also our aim to carry out the Bible Mission—to bring the Word of God to all peoples. It is not enough to merely serve the local Church; the Body of Christ extends far beyond the confines of geographical boundaries. This is why BSS is also actively involved in overseas Bible Mission work, in countries such as Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh and many more. BSS supports these countries by providing humanitarian aid where necessary, such as in the case of the Rohingya refugees, as well as supporting various Bible translation projects in these countries.

In undertaking the Bible Mission, bringing the Bible to peoples is just the tip of the iceberg. The ultimate goal is to edify God’s people, which involves empowering and equipping believers. This means making the Word of God engaging and relevant to them, allowing the Word to transform their lives, and ultimately enabling them to cultivate a sense of missionmindedness— so that they may go out into the world to do the works that God has prepared for them (Ephesians 2:10).


History of the CUV Bible and it’s Impact on China & Chinese Society

This article was originally posted in our June 2019 Word@Work.

History of the CUV Bible and it's Impact on China & Chinese Society

The Chinese Union Version (CUV) Bible is the most predominant translation used by most Chinese Christians and Chinese-speaking churches across the globe. Translated as the result of a need for a unified version of the Bible among Christian missionaries of varying denominations in China, the CUV Bible not only contributed to the exponential growth of the Chinese Church in the world, but has also shaped Chinese theological vocabulary.

Published in 1919, the CUV Bible was the largest translation project in the history of the Chinese Protestant Church—involving 16 missionary Bible translators hailing from different denominations and nationalities, as well as mission societies. The project would not have been made possible without the help of countless Chinese translators, assistants, and the support of various Bible Societies, the latter which funded most of the translation costs and helped to print them at a low cost. These Bibles would then be distributed by hundreds of colporteurs throughout the different provinces in China.

The timely publication of the CUV Bible also coincided with the May Fourth Movement; it propelled China into adopting Mandarin as their national language, and became a medium for Chinese Christians to acquire literacy skills in Mandarin. One century later, the CUV Bible is still regarded as a prominent symbol of the spread of Christianity in China.

Special Edition CUV Bible

In celebration of this, Sower Publishers, a ministry of The Bible Society of Singapore, has produced a Special Edition CUV Bible, a replica of the original CUV Bible texts that were first published in 1919. This Bible is a limited global edition, with only 1,000 copies available. Each individual Bible also includes a serial number. The cover of this special edition Bible is made from bamboo, a material that is highly valued in Chinese culture because of its versatility. In ancient China, bamboo was fashioned for various purposes—paper, tiles, hats and even shoes. Chinese culture also interpreted bamboo as a symbol for gentleness, one of the beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:5). The Bible also features three-dimensional engraving of the cross on the cover of the box, made from special wood.

Donations of $500 and above made to The Bible Society of Singapore will
receive one copy of the special edition CUV Bible (while stocks last).
All proceeds will go towards the furthering of the Bible Mission and
ministry work in China.

 

Each Bible comes with a pre-assigned serial number.
If you wish to have a specific serial number please contact missions@bible.org.sg for more info.

The CUV Bible at our recent CUV Bible 100th Anniversary Event