Dear friend,
During the Christmas season, SYFC volunteered with Celebrate Christmas in Singapore (CCIS) again to share the Christmas story with the passersby in Orchard Road. Thank God for the opportunity to meet with people from all walks of life and from different parts of the world.
I was involved in the Immersive Christmas booth and before every presentation, I will greet the visitors “Merry Christmas,” before saying, “I do not know what Christmas means to each of you, but for Christians, it is a day when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Let me bring you back to the day Jesus was born more than 2000 years ago!” I had to say this repeatedly more than 100 times each day but it is something I gladly do because some visitors to the booth did not know Christmas and what it is all about. One volunteer shared her encounter with a mother of two. Although the mother is a believer, she has been telling her children that Christmas is about Santa Claus. The volunteer felt really sad but she was also thankful that through the booth, she could share Jesus’ birth with the family. For many of our foreign friends who visited the booth, this is also the first time they heard about Christmas. Therefore, I am so thankful that I can be used by God to “tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.”
Some of my colleagues were involved in the Christmas Fun booth where they invited children to play some simple games and share the Christmas story with them.
Other than the above-mentioned booths, SYFC also participated in the Gift of Love booth to not only share the Christmas story but to raise greater awareness for autism. In collaboration with an autism centre, the booth was set up for the public to better understand the struggles of persons with autism and their families. Visitors to the booth were invited to be part of an empathy simulation where they journeyed through an interactive introduction of a day in the life of a person with autism. Visitors were then encouraged to give and support the cause of the centre. One staff shared that a student from the centre was so happy to see his drawing on the wall of the booth and his family was also very glad that the public could have a chance to better understand the challenges persons with autism and their families go through. I am thankful that this was a practical way for us to show Christian love in a season where we celebrate God’s love for humanity.
Blessed New Year and a wonderful 2024 to you!
All Glory To God,
Richard Tan
National Director
PS: Thank you for responding to my appeal for the staff’s 13th-month salary in the November Communique. Right now we still have a shortfall. I understand that cost of living has increased for all of us but if you are able to, I ask that you consider giving to meet the shortfall. Thank you for your kind consideration of this request.
