Dear friend,

The first part of SYFC’s motto “geared to the times” reminds the staff and volunteers of the importance of being relevant in our outreach to the young people. However, that is not always easy since the young people’s likes and dislikes change very quickly. Therefore, in order for us to keep up with them, we try to be at where they are. One of the places that many young people are found today is in the cyberspace and we are thinking how to best reach them through social media platforms. 

With the help of another Christian organisation that has more experience with online engagements, the Polytechnic and Secondary School and Junior College Ministries reworked their social media strategies. The staff and volunteers from both ministries started focus group discussions with the students that they are reaching in order to find out the students’ life goals, challenges, values and interests.

One of the concerns that surfaced during the discussions was many students do not know how to have study-life balance. While they see the importance of doing well in their studies, many of the young people also hope to have meaningful relationships with others and to enjoy the finer things in life. However, many of them also admitted that they struggle to find time outside of school to spend with their friends and family or just to do something they like.
What the Polytechnic Ministry did with the findings was to then curate and post materials which address the students’ needs in their Instagram account. The staff not only invited seniors to advise the current students on time management, they also posted tips on building friendship, maintaining personal wellness and what career to choose after graduation. So far, the young people have found the contents interesting and helpful and the Instagram account is gaining more followers. The staff hope finally to be able to convert some of the online engagements with the followers to face-to-face meetings so as to reach them more effectively.

The Preteens Ministry has chosen not to engage the students directly through social media since the students are too young to open a social media account. The staff are also aware of the parents’ concerns about their child’s screen time and the type of contents their child is exposed to. Therefore, Preteens Ministry hopes to start a YouTube channel where the staff can put up wholesome contents that are suitable for the upper primary students. Quizzes relating to the contents will also be held and students who are interested to participate can seek their parent’s permission to do so.
While we are ramping up our capabilities to engage young people online, we are also mindful of the many pitfalls in the cyberspace and our call to share the gospel with the young people. Hence, we ask that you pray along with us that we remain “anchored to the Rock” in our social media endeavours. The second part of our motto reminds us of our distinctiveness as Jesus’ followers even as we seek to be in the young people’s world. Do pray that we will be able to use the resources of this world wisely to win the young people for eternity and that Jesus’ name will be glorified in our online engagements.

Thank you for standing with us in ministry in this uncertain time. In case you are wondering why you did not receive your hardcopy of Reach last month, our office was closed due to Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) restrictions. The next issue of Reach will be in your mailbox in August. Alternatively, if you are not on our email listing and would like to receive updates via email or WhatsApp, you can write to us at contact@syfc.org.sg. Thank you once again for your partnership in the gospel to the youth.

All glory to God,