Early this year, the younger executive leadership team with new national director, Richard Tan, officially took up responsibility for the work. It was a tough first year and COVID-19 made it tougher.
First Year, Firm Focus
Laurent Tan says, “The pandemic surfaced both challenges and opportunities but I thank God for the creativity and resilience within SYFC. At times the staff felt fatigued and frustrated coping with digital engagement, making changes to plans, understanding and complying with the Safe Management Measures (SMM) whenever there are new developments. Yet with clear leadership navigation and unity, by the grace of God, we attained our goals.”
FULFILMENT, GOD’S WAY AND TIME
At the end of 2020, each leader shared his or her desire for 2021. How did God answer? Secondary school, junior college and polytechnic young people James Lee is seeing a culture of personal evangelism at all levels, by God’s grace. Staff and volunteers journey with Christian students, building up conviction and momentum in their gospel sharing with their peers.
ITE young people and youth-at-risk
Laurent found the ITE and Youth Guidance ministry workers availing themselves in both physical or virtual spaces to serve the Lord. They took on the posture of reflecting Christlikeness, gave priority to conversations that led to the gospel and to create a safe space for interaction with youth, and adapted to emerging platforms like Zoom and TikTok in order to connect with students. The Lord brought hundreds of students to hear the gospel through a digital food hunt, community service, gaming and singing get-together sessions.
Preteens
Stephanie Tan and team developed ‘Life Matters’, a 20-lesson life skills curriculum and piloted it at three student care centres. SMM forced them to quickly adapt to onsite and online lessons.
Online reading became key in our English outreach to preteens in neighbouring countries. More local schools and parents embraced our online English lessons, with teachers and students giving much positive feedback.
EDGE (Evolving & Digital Generation Evangelism) Ministry
Tee Ee Han thank God that the EDGE team started the year with a bold “let’s try” mentality, and was willing to explore and invest time to familiarise themselves with new technology.
STEM (Support, Teaching and Engagement Ministries)
Under Eric’s leadership, a progressive digital migration of current internal processes in human resource, administration, accounts and database is underway.
We thank God that ex-national director, Christopher Tan, converted the SYFC History Book into e-version!
As A Whole
Richard’s willingness to embrace new ways sets the tone and direction, “we have to get out of our comfort zone to explore the ‘worlds’ where young people are (eGaming and Social Media) and use new forms of engagement to tell them about the Kingdom of God.”
THE GOSPEL, NEVER LOCKED-DOWN OR QUARANTINED
Through the waves of change and uncertainty due to COVID-19 since early 2020, the Lord has used this team to bring stability and courage to the ministry, and we connected with more young people than expected.
As Stephanie aptly puts it, “The pandemic is not a reason to slow down, it is an opportunity that God gives us to look to Him for new and creative ways to reach the lost.”
In the list of prayer needs for 2022 that follow, the ELT share where their “hearts are at” (in Ee Han’s words). Pray with us.
James
• Perseverance, tenacity and boldness for SJM and Poly Ministry staff and volunteers
• Equip more to befriend and build rapport with new contacts via digital platforms
Laurent
• Attention to ITE and YG Ministry workers and youth’s mental well-being in 2022
• Strengthen communication with volunteers and partnering agencies
Stephanie
• Open doors for Preteens Ministry to more student care centres and labourers. Safety of staff, volunteers and children we will meet onsite
• English outreach team can adjust quickly to hybrid lessons when the doors open again to travel
Executive Leadership Team
National Director
• Richard Tan, 46
CORE Ministry
Youth Guidance Ministry & ITE Ministry
• Laurent Tan, 43
Secondary School & JC Ministry, and Poly Ministry
• James Lee, 53
Adviser to Preteens outreach
(ex-executive director, not in the ELT)
• Stephanie Tan, 57
EDGE Ministry
• Tee Ee Han, 39
STEM Ministry
• Eric Teo, 40
MOVE AHEAD, FIRM HOLD
Dr Hoon Hian Teck, SYFC Board Chairman, affirms, “This executive leadership team is a tightly-knit team with complementary strengths and a deep commitment to the work of the gospel. During COVID-19, it was my great delight to see the team working together with staff and volunteers to find new ways to reach young people. They have demonstrated for their generation what it means to be ‘geared to the times, anchored to the Rock’.
I am assured this team led by Richard will effectively continue to bring the gospel to this digital generation of young lives deeply affected by the pandemic.”
Through our COVID-19 struggles, Richard saw “God faithfully providing, protecting and watching over the ministry. He allowed us to share the Good News through our online events and effort. Our eyes should always be on the Lord, and not the situation.”
