By Lionel Chan

In our June 2022 issue we marvelled at how, upheld by God, SYFC swung to everything online amidst strict no in-person gatherings with young people. Today, thank God, we have made U-turns and arrived at new destinations.

During COVID restrictions, all Preteens Ministry (PTM) activities had to go online, creating multiple challenges. The children had very short attention span and were easily distracted. To amuse themselves during Zoom meetings, they would “explore” and play with the annotation and background features.

With limited number of computer screens at certain venues, it was not uncommon to see five or six children huddled around one screen. Moreover, the systems would lag because it was unable to cope with the network traffic. On a positive note, Bible study via Zoom was good for children deterred by the distance they had to travel or whose parents preferred them to stay home.

As our DORSCON (Disease Outbreak Response System Condition) level changed, PTM leaders and volunteers adjusted accordingly. Meeting online allow volunteers studying or working from home to continue meeting the children.

Wang Qiuyue, who oversees our outreach to preteens, commented that hybrid sessions did not turn out as well: ““…we could gauge the engagement level of the children present, but could not do so for those online.”

To date, the PTM team have U-turned to pre-COVID approach in all programmes. Qiuyue recalls, “It was great to see the children in person after having built rapport with them online!”

For the Secondary School and Junior College Ministry (SJM) team, weekly online LIFE Group meetings were not a bed of roses. Younger students could not be persuaded to turn on their screen camera, while others were distracted on multiple devices or playing games. The online person-to-person engagement was weak.

However on the flip side, 150 upper secondary and college students were more regular in Bible study on Zoom in the first two years of COVID. When they returned to physical LIFE Group meetings, although the attendance dropped, those present felt a deeper appreciation and excitement in the study of God’s Word.

Going hybrid (50% physical 50% online) is also useful for students who are always caught in a time crunch. Victor Lum, SJM Coordinator, shares how going hybrid relieves the stress for those taking the “O” levels who are constantly hard pressed for time for revision and yet needs to find encouragement in God’s Word. SJM working volunteers and tertiary volunteers could avail themselves on Zoom even at night to keep up with students who aren’t as keen to meet in person.

With LIFE Groups now gathering more regularly face-to-face, SJM has the option to activate their 50-50 mode if and when the need arises.

Poly students, on the other hand, took to hybrid meetings like ducks to water. They just love the flexibility to either meet online or physically. So it was a “no brainer” for the ministry to run Mind Brewing Café, a safe space for Christian students and their non-Christian friends to discuss and dialogue about God in either of the modes they prefer.

Mind Brewing Café is a time for talks and discussions related to the poly crowd like “The Crooked Life” or “Vibe Check Jesus.” This non-threatening environment paved the way for staff and volunteers to meet up for evangelistic Bible study with those who indicated their interest, again virtually or in-person.

It has been quite a journey for us from offline to online to hybrid. God saw it fit to bring us through, overcoming each hurdle or floundering over each obstacle, together. As you prayed alongside us through the COVID years, God has strengthened our commitment to do more and better to reach this youth generation.

The road ahead may still be bumpy. May we ask you to keep praying for us.