“Hearing, Following and Proclaiming Jesus” was our Project Serve theme in the last few years. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Project Serve 2021 was run slightly differently – in a hybrid format including virtual and face-to-face engagements.
Nonetheless, it did not deter 30 young people from joining us. Lee Jo-hann, a Secondary School and Junior College (SJM) volunteer who finished his National Service came for his second Project Serve because “I enjoyed my first Project Serve in 2017 and I wanted to pick up things that I didn’t back then.” Jo-hann invited three friends along hoping their faith could be strengthened in the process.
Hannah Lam, who finished her A-levels and a first-time Project Servant with SJM, said she joined because “it sounded like a solid programme. The first two weeks spent in understanding the gospel from the Two Ways to Live sessions were life-changing for me because I re-looked at the gospel for myself and for once truly understood what I believe in.”
Other than the Two Ways to Live series, we had the privilege of Craig Dyer, Training Director from Christianity Explored Ministries (CEM) teaching us all the way from the United Kingdom for the very first time. He shared, “I had the joy of meeting some SYFC members when we were delivering CEM training in Singapore and Malaysia in 2019, so when I heard about the opportunity to train the young people online, even though it meant starting at 0215 in the morning, I jumped at it! I think the challenge was getting over the idea that I was sitting in a spare bedroom in the middle of the night trying to communicate with bright, alert young people in what was mid-morning for them in Singapore. But, as always, the Lord never fails us. I think we all enjoyed the experience.”
Hannah is currently using the CEM material with a secondary school friend who is keen to find out more about Christianity. “I remember very clearly Craig telling us that the CEM material presents the Gospel of Mark as it is so as to allow the person going through it to understand the fullness and depth of the gospel. That has been my motivation – to present the gospel as it is.”
For the first time, Project Servants went on three mission trips digitally. It was a very steep learning curve for them and the planning committee. Titus Wong, one of the staff overseeing the organisation of the digital mission trips (DMTs) shared “it was unfortunate that we had to cancel the mission trips last year due to COVID-19 but in order to make it happen this time round, we had to tie up with various overseas partners and come up with a programme suitable for their young people, while keeping in mind their technological limitations. It was done with much sweat, tears and many late and sleepless nights.”
Hannah and Jo-hann, who co-led the mission team, also found that organising “the DMTs was hard” and felt like they were “thrown into the deep end.” However, both agreed they learnt much about themselves and the importance of depending on God. Altogether the team managed to bring 56 young people from three different countries on a virtual tour around Singapore and shared the gospel with them.
The three-month programme ended on April 10 with a virtual commencement whereby Project Servants invited their church leaders, parents and friends who had supported them. It was heartening to see many supporters standing alongside the Project Servants in their learning journey and to hear how the latter have benefitted from the programme. Please pray for these 30 young people to continue to hear, follow and proclaim Jesus all the days of their lives.
