By Michael Yong

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. (Acts 11:19-20)

Something unexpected happened.

Christian Jews, driven out of Jerusalem, had spread the gospel to Jews beyond Jerusalem “as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch.” Then some took the gospel to the non-Jews at Antioch – a surprising development! And many “believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21)

In the context of Acts, this was the providential work of the Spirit. For up to this point, the preaching of the gospel was confined mainly to the Jews. It took persecution against believing Jews in Jerusalem to push them towards unbelieving non-Jews. This fulfilled Jesus’ command in Acts 1:8 for the good news to go beyond “Jerusalem…Judea…Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” directed by the Spirit.

At Antioch, the Spirit brought together Barnabas and Paul to teach God’s Word to build up the church, made up primarily of non-Jewish Christians. Here at Antioch, the followers of Jesus were first called Christians! It was also at the Antioch church that the first missionary outreach was initiated by the Spirit (see Acts 13:1-3).

What happened among the leaders in SYFC this year, as you will read about in this REACH, is no less a work of the Spirit in the Lord’s providential ordering. Our leaders have observed what is taking place in our various ministries and also in our youth scene. They sensed a burden to develop a crop of leaders who can continue to advance the cause of youth evangelism in Singapore and beyond. This crop of leaders cannot just ride on what had been done in the past but will need to chart new paths ahead in the ever fast-changing culture that envelops youth now and in the future.

We desire your prayers as we build leaders who last.