Holding Fast to Hope

The Indonesian Fellowship has been a haven for its community, but much prayer and support is needed in these trying times.

WORDS ONG KUNG YEW

A LIGHT AND A GUIDEPOST

Since its inception in the mid 1990s, SJSM’s Indonesian Fellowship has provided a warm community and a family-away-from-home for Indonesians who work and live in Singapore. While there are exceptions, the majority of our members are domestic helpers for whom a safe place to relax and fellowship is hugely important. In fact, the Fellowship ministers to a combination of Christians and non-Christians. They come and go due to the nature of their work (many leave Singapore when their contracts end), but many of them remain in contact with us even after returning home to Indonesia.

Often, what matters is presence and being available: Prior to joining our Fellowship, one of our members had been in depression and had even been entertaining thoughts of suicide. But she chanced to see one of our church’s banners next to the bus stop on Dover Avenue, stating that the Indonesian Service was on at 11am. She decided to attend the service, and stayed with us for a year before moving on.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me ”— Matthew 25:35

PRAYER SUPPORT NEEDED

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a very challenging period for members of our Fellowship. Some of their employers do not allow them to leave their homes even on their days off, so even when we are able to have onsite meetings, they are unable to attend. During the months when services were being conducted online, not all our members could attend as many lacked Internet access; some of their employers were also not allowing them time off to attend.

We earnestly seek your prayers for these precious souls as they do their best to manage their work and their relationships with their employers during this trying period. Pray for their faith to be sustained, and to even grow stronger, despite the movement restrictions that they are facing.

Members of the Indonesian Fellowship are very relational. They love having fellowship lunches. Outings and picnics are important to them. Above is a snapshot from a picnic session to celebrate Christmas 2020 outside the Chinese Garden at Jurong Lake.