By Yong Soo Li
In God’s timely arrangement, three teams took their first steps to reach a group of young people often marginalised in society.
It began in 2021. Joey Tay, a Poly Ministry staff, met a few students with learning challenges who later connected her to former schoolmates from Pathlight. Since then, she and her co-workers met others, and about 20 have attended our events.
In 2023, Preteens Ministry leaders prayed about reaching upper primary students with autism spectrum disorder. Six months later, God opened the door for Wang Qiuyue and her team to play games weekly with a small group of them.
Then in 2024, ITE Ministry staff Doreen Low got to know DL* through gaming. DL then brought 13 school friends, mostly with mild learning needs. Ministry leader Alvin Lim and team befriended them and brought them to LITE.
Struggles And Solutions
Joey observed that these young people had difficulties sharing what was on their minds and hearts. Love, gentleness and patience were needed to help them verbalise their thoughts and feelings. At events where the setting can seem too crowded and noisy, Joey’s team rearranged the seating to provide them a more private space.
To make LITE more inclusive, the ITE team added more pictures and videos to better engage these students. They also “gamified” their gospel tool into conversational cards so that they find it easier to share their deepest thoughts on questions about life and Christianity. Realising the students were sensitive to certain lighting and noise level, the team conducted activities in places that were quieter or had more greenery.
Beyond Their Hearts’ Longing
RT, one of DL’s friend, met ITE Ministry staff Mandy. RT said, “…I have like no other friends in my life, like not even once until I like met (Mandy)…it was more comfortable.”
AL, from a different ITE, has attended LITE for one year: “What I like is…the story of the Bible and then games. Also, we went out for meals. The (thing I) most dislike is embarrassment.” He is happy as “it is about improving ourselves, and…gaming. I like…their good idea, and strategy!”
For months, at every play session, Qiuyue tried to engage RS but he did not seem responsive to her. Then, once she sat next to RS but was talking with another student. To her pleasant surprise, RS turned to her and said, “I remember you.” She resolved not to give up connecting with him.
Qiu Yue had asked the Lord, “How can we share the gospel with these children?” At one play session, a student who attends church said, “Jesus is God. He died for our sins”. She asked if Jesus remained dead, he said “No”. Then as he said Jesus resurrected, he stood up slowly to show that Jesus rose again from the dead. God was reassuring Qiuyue that He will have His way of reaching them, He will show her and her team how.
After SPED* school, SM entered ITE in 2023. He could not find friends until he met the ITE Ministry team at a 2024 Christmas event. He went to Alvin quietly, looked him in the eyes and asked, “Can…can…I join you guys next time? Please invite me…” Thereafter, SM joined the evangelistic Bible study at LITE. In February 2025, he was still not ready to believe in Jesus, feeling frustrated about certain matters in his life. A month later, he read Psalm 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Convicted of God’s love, he let go of his anger towards God, humbly confessed his sin and need for Jesus.
Our encounters with these special, precious young people in the past four years cannot be coincidental. Is God showing us new grounds to reach more with the gospel?
We thank God we can be part of this specialised area of outreach which other Christian groups are already doing. There is much for us to learn. The path ahead may not be clear yet, but as God unfolds His work, SYFC continues to trust His perfect timing and look forward to seeing young hearts rise with their identity and dignity renewed in Christ, enjoying the embrace of their loving Creator in a relationship more beautiful and personal than they ever dreamed possible.
Are you involved with young people with learning needs in one way or other and can share with us insights and resources?
Keen to reach them for Jesus?
Know any young person who might benefit from this outreach?
- Joey Tay, Poly Ministry at joey.tay@syfc.org.sg
- Alvin Lim, ITE Ministry at alvin.lim@syfc.org.sg
- Wang Qiuyue, Preteens Ministry at qiuyue.wang@syfc.org.sg
