In Review 2021: The Jubilee Year Edition

MINISTRY

A Missional Outlook This exemplary group of faith-filled, God-focused disciples has learnt to look beyond themselves, finding their anchor in His unchanging grace and sure promises.

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Above: Congregation members having fun at one of the last big gatherings they were able to have, back in 2019.

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the Filipino Ministry has come a long way in its 30-odd-year history: from a small volunteer group of staff and laity ministering to domestic helpers who accompanied their employers to church, to a congregation of 100 comprising domestic workers as well as PMET expatriates, with a fulltime staff pastor. Membership tends to be transient, but its leaders and servers are committed to do whatever they can to disciple and equip their flock in their spiritual walk.

“COVID-19 pushed us to internalise our faith and personal relationship with God,” says Juanita Dicen, Congregational Pastor. “In fact, our Discipleship Group has come out stronger, finding ways and means for members to reach out to one another.” This includes praying and trusting God for favour with and understanding from domestic workers’ employers, especially — seeing almost full online attendance at both worship services and cell meetings, which have largely been held over Zoom, has been heartening.

But not everything has been easy or smoothsailing. “It is heartbreaking when members’ families back home experience crises, like illnesses or deaths,” Juanita shares. “Many Filipinos working in Singapore are parents, wives, and husbands, who have not been home for more than a year or so.

A number of them have lost loved ones but been unable to return home due to restrictions related to the pandemic.” Gathering in church (though this is more difficult now) and having fellowship with and support from brothers and sisters in the faith has made a big difference to them.

Members have also found the capacity to look beyond themselves and their immediate families. “A number of us have started partnering and helping churches, and starting ministries, in our hometowns via online platforms. This has also allowed us to continue supporting the three churches that members of our congregation planted years back,” says Juanita.

“Going forward, we need to continually refresh ourselves in the Lord. We’re called to disciple and equip Filipinos working in Singapore, so that they can serve God and also do likewise with others that they meet at their workplaces; we’re also part of the Lord’s work in the villages we come from, back in the Philippines — so that our families and communities back home will know Jesus as their Saviour. It’s a high calling and we intend to honour it.”