All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.” —Psalm 22:27-28
The celebratory spirit is high this year as Singapore marks 60 years of independence in 2025, with a nationwide campaign called SG60, themed “Building Our Singapore Together.”
At the soft launch of SG60 celebrations, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said: “As the country approaches its 60th birthday this year, there is much to be grateful for. This is amid an era where there is a lot of complexity and turbulence... We are very blessed and fortunate that a lot of these negative elements are not here in Singapore.”
This puts into perspective the blessed position we have been placed in—to celebrate all that God has done for our nation and to continue building ourselves up as the Antioch of Asia. The Bible Society seeks to unite God’s people through a shared mission and commitment to Christ that transcends race, language and geographical boundaries. Through Bible engagement and advocacy—two of the Bible Society’s core pillars of the Bible Mission—this vision is carried out. Our annual flagship events, which engage people with the Bible in meaningful ways, have been well received, with participants and organisers sharing how impactful these events have been.
God’s Word for the Nations
Paul Khoo, who has been part of the organising team for DECLARE, says, “Since 2017, we have seen over 50 nations joining DECLARE as one collaboration across the Body of Christ. We've been very encouraged to see over 150 languages, tribes and tongues be part of this.”
DECLARE is an annual Bible declaration movement uniting diverse tribes and traditions as one voice, reading the Bible from cover to cover, bearing witness to God's light of truth and love in a dark and despairing world.
He adds, “We’ve seen the Word take root in many nations. Countries like Mongolia, Thailand and China have responded to His Word as it is lived out by the Body of Christ. Similarly, we believe that every single believer is a unique witness of who God is to carry into the world around us.”
This year, DECLARE takes on a new format where the focus is on fellowshipping around the Word, with participants gathering at a table as families and groups to proclaim a passage of Scripture, culminating in a shared meal, reflecting the Jewish tradition of reading the Word together over a Shabbat meal.
God’s Love for the Church
Proven beneficial to ministry leaders and parents, the annual D6 Family Conference that celebrates its 10th anniversary this year is dedicated to equipping families for discipleship.
Rev Andrew Xu, Senior Pastor at ECF Holy Word, says, “This is my second time attending D6. I learnt so much from the conference last year that I bought five tickets this year, wanting to encourage my church members to come as well. I have attended many family conferences, but D6 stands out in also dealing with the how, as well as bringing people and resources together to help us implement this within our sphere.”
“As a ministry leader, I learnt that discipleship is about building deeper relationships with each member and taking time to listen to their stories. Even though the conference focuses on family, I found it very applicable to pastoral work as well,” he continues.
Young parents Troy and Linxin learnt what to expect on their parenting journey from experienced speakers and other parents. “D6 brings very applicable concepts into our journey as (young) parents by putting together Biblically grounded resources with a holistic lens on how Godly parenting should be,” they share.
God’s Truth to His People
Sower Institute for Biblical Discipleship, a ministry of the Bible Society, is fuelled by the passion to transform lives through teaching and applying God's Word. With a focus on equipping the Body of Christ locally and globally, Sower Institute equips and empowers the lives of many including Tian Boon Si, one of Sower Institute's active attendees.
Also known as Tian, he shares, “One time I was flipping through the Bible Society's newsletter when I felt the nudge from God to stop and look at a page that features Sower Institute’s courses. He encouraged me to attend, so I obeyed. But when I realised I couldn't afford the fees, God reassured me that He would provide. The next day, I found out that as a staff with the building department, my fees were waived. I was so happy knowing that God kept His promise in a way I never expected!”
Tian attended several Sower Institute courses, including Walk Thru the Bible, The Gospel Series, and psychology counselling. “The Gospel Series was my favourite. Rev Dr Malcolm TH Tan taught the Books of the Gospel in such depth, and I learnt not just about the Bible but also the heart of Jesus. Now, I’m trying to model Jesus' patience and humility in my own life,” he shared.
As someone who has overcome addiction, he shares how God transformed his life: “I wouldn’t be here if not for God. He saved me and made me a better person. God's love keeps me from going back to my old ways. He’s a loving Father who never makes me feel alone.”
At the Bible Society, we embrace God’s mission to share His Word to all people as His ambassadors. By partnering with us, you will be vital in impacting more lives in Singapore and beyond through His Word, bringing lasting change and transformation.
