Dear friend,

June holidays just ended and as usual we were the busiest when our students were the most available. And it was such a joy to see the students in Emmanuel House (EH) participating actively in the different activities that we have planned for them during their holidays.

Youth Guidance (YG) Ministry have been working with another organisation to reach children whose parents are incarcerated. In June, they brought these children to EH for archery and floor ball. Reuben Chua, one of YG’s newest staff, was very glad that we could share our facilities with others who are also reaching under privilege youth. He felt that EH provided a conducive environment for the mentors to get to know the young people they are helping and to share the gospel with them. Two youths who started joining YG’s activities more than five years ago, came to help in the June events. Reuben recalled that the two boys used to have trouble managing their emotions, but they were very patient with the children in the events. He thanked God that over time, the two boys have learnt to look beyond their needs to care for others who have similar backgrounds.

During the three Holiday Hangout (HH) sessions, Secondary School and Junior College Ministry (SJM) held a variety of activities that their students enjoy. At the carpark, students took turns to play badminton, table tennis and basketball. Some who wanted to try out rock climbing also had a go at our rock wall. One Christian student, J, invited her friend S who is a very good climber for the second HH. S is very resistant to hearing the gospel and if not for rock climbing, she probably would not have responded to J’s invitation. And while we did not manage to share the gospel with S during the event, S enjoyed herself so much that she is willing to come for future climbing programmes.  

I had the opportunity to host students in the Immersive Room for HH. This room features floor to ceiling projection on the left, centre, and right walls that students could interact with. Every batch of students that visited the Immersive Room heard the story of a Christian brother, Nicholas, who was involved with gangs and got into trouble with the authorities in his younger days. He only turned around after encountering God later in his life. After the video, I asked the students to share about moments where they felt really hopeless. One of the students, R, was in tears as she recalled being bullied in school and feeling abandoned by God. Initially, she did not want to talk about God but her group leader gently helped her to see that God has not abandoned her. In fact, through the gospel, R learnt that God loves her very much. After attending all three HH sessions, R wrote a prayer to God, confessing her disobedience and thanking Him for the new life she can have in Him.

The work of following up students we have met during the holidays continues. Please pray:

• That every gospel conversation that was started will lead to the full gospel being shared with the young people.
• That those who heard the gospel will seriously consider its implications for their lives.
• For God to soften S’s attitude towards the gospel.
• For R that her heart will be like the good soil, hearing and retaining God’s Word, and producing food for His glory.

All Glory To God,

Richard Tan

National Director