Singapore

Answer to Prayer

The responsiveness of the educated continues to be a strong trend. The perception of Christianity as a progressive belief system, coupled with the positive influence of mission schools and effective campus ministries, draw many of Singapore’s educated to the faith. Nearly one-third of English-speaking Chinese university graduates are Christian. As a result, believers have a strong impact on Singaporean society, with great potential for tentmaking missionary service.

Challenge for Prayer

The increase of the Church’s size and impact brings challenges. Pray for the following concerns:

a) Coping with affluence. There is the threat that believers mistake riches for spirituality and trade discipleship for wealth management. Many young Christians become inactive once they marry and become enmeshed in the materialistic “rat race” for the “five Cs”: career, cash, car, club and condo.

b) Spiritual pride is a constant temptation for such an influential, affluent Church. The same traits of sophistication and success that draw much of cosmopolitan Singapore to Christianity could be the very things that cripple and undermine it. The poor and working classes (heartlanders) are significantly under-reached and marginalized. Pray for urgent correction to this imbalance. Pray for transformed lives inside and out – for humility, continued brokenness and greater dependence on God.

c) Fear of control and intimidation in a closely governed and multi-religious society. Legislation against overt proselytism exists, but the only force preventing effective outreach is the Church’s own unfounded fears. Pray that Christians would know how to maintain inter-religious harmony without compromising on evangelism.

     For an additional 5 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.