Reimagining OMF...being Tagalog, Cebuano and the Ilocano. While there are more than 170 different languages spoken across the Philippines, Tagalog is most used, followed by English.

REACHING THE WORLD, RIGHT FROM OUR DOORSTEP – Jan C

How can Singapore be involved in diaspora missions?

I visited the Singapore Bicentennial Experience recently, and left feeling very thankful for the amazing journey our country has taken over the past two hundred years. But what moved me most was one scene which describes how, in the years following 1819, “Singapore becomes a vibrant marketplace for people from everywhere. Inhabitants of the Malay world, The Javanese, Arabs, Armenians, Jews, Indians, Chinese, Scottish and English. People come from all over, adding their unique cultures to the melting pot1.”

Today we can add many more countries and ethnicities to the list. According to 2018 statistics, foreigners, permanent residents and new citizens make up over 40% of Singapore’s population. It is no exaggeration to say there are people from virtually every country in the world working, studying or living in Singapore.

The Lausanne Movement affirms that, “Every geographical move of every human being who ever lived happens within the overall will and sovereignty of God. The fact that God created nations (Genesis 25:23; Psalm 86:9-10) and languages/cultures (Genesis 11:1, 6, 7, 9), and determined the place and the timing of our habitation (Acts 17:26-29 ) implies that He not only “uses” the “diasporas;” but designs, conducts, and employs scattered peoples for His own glory, the edification of His people, and the salvation of the lost. Every dispersed person and people group has a place and a role to play in God’s redemptive history2.”

Knowing that God is sovereign over the nations, we know that it is no accident that so many people from the nations have come to Singapore. What is God’s plan for them? Could we, the church in Singapore have a significant part to play in His plan?

1 Reference from The Singapore Bicentennial Experience Multimedia Sensory

2 Reference from Logan, S. T. (2013). p. 174. Reformed means missional: following Jesus into the world.

Singapore is described as an “Antioch of Asia”, a city known for sending out many workers to mission fields all around. But within our country are also many different fields, with many opportunities, if we only open up our eyes to see them.

As the doors to certain countries are not as open as before, churches and mission agencies are rethinking the traditional approach to missions. Diaspora ministry is one window that God has opened, in fact for many years already. This ‘missions at our doorstep’ work has the potential to reach not just the foreigners here in Singapore, but their network of family and friends, and even entire people groups in countries closed to traditional mission work. It is encouraging to see more and more churches in Singapore and elsewhere starting up ministries to reach out to foreigners. The harvest is still plentiful, and the workers are still too few.

Imagine the possibilities if every church in Singapore were to reach out to at least one group of foreigners, to welcome them into our churches, homes and communities. To share God’s love and truth with them, to journey with them, laugh and cry with them. To disciple them to maturity in faith, that they would become disciple-makers themselves. Then, when they return to their home countries, whether for visits or permanently, they will have the passion, knowledge and faith to reach out to their families and communities, reaching those that foreign missionaries may not be able to do.

This is a very real possibility. I think of D, a lady who came to Singapore almost 20 years ago to work as a domestic worker. Her employers were a Christian couple who showed Christ’s love to her. She attended a fellowship started by some ladies in the church who had a burden to reach out to these helpers from overseas. She came to know the Lord, and grew in her faith. A few years ago, she started to feel burdened to go back home to reach out to her compatriots and family members. The church leaders encouraged her and offered to journey with her to discern God’s call on her life.

Recently, she was ‘sent’ by the church, to go back to her country and people, to reach out to them with the Gospel.

But what if churches want to start a diaspora ministry among a particular people group, but do not have the language, knowledge or skills to communicate effectively with that people group? This is where mission agencies can play a part. OMF’s Diaspora Returnee Ministry (DRM) partners with and equips local churches to reach out to and disciple foreigners in their midst, to build up the body of Christ among their own people and beyond.

One strategy of DRM is to have retired or furloughed missionaries use skills which they have gained on the mission fields to engage diaspora communities in their native languages and to help them build closer ties to the Christians of their host country. These missionaries can also provide training to help churches start or grow their diaspora ministry.

So let’s lift up our eyes to see the opportunities God has already provided here, and work together to bring the Gospel to the nations, right from our doorstep.

NATION FEATURETTETHE PHILIPPINES

The Philippines contains a diverse range of ethnic groups, the three largest groups being Tagalog, Cebuano and the Ilocano. While there are more than 170 different languages spoken across the Philippines, Tagalog is most used, followed by English.

It is encouraging that the Filipino church has strong missionary zeal with over 4,000 Filipino missionaries working outside the Philippines, But inland, with more than 20,000 communities still without a church, there are still many opportunities to share the Gospel.

PRAY FOR:• More believers to heed the call of the Gospel to share the Good News to the unreached people groups.

• The Gospel to make an impact on every aspect of the Philippine society through the partnerships of missionaries and the local churches in integrated ministries.

• Christians in East Asia to take opportunities to befriend overseas Filipinos residing in their countries and make Christ known to them.

• The leaders to lead the nation and communities well, so that people can live a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

For more information and how to pray for the Philippines, visit our website at pray.omf.org/philippinesFor details on opportunities to serve, please go to opportunities.omf.org/opportunities?search=philippines

Sources: factretriever.com/philippines/facts • joshuaproject.net/countries/RP Published by OMF SINGAPORE LTD, 2 Cluny Road, Singapore 259570 | Co. Reg. No. 198403067N | Design by FIREFLY MEDIAPage 06

Continued on page 02

Reimagining OMF — Sydney Witbooi

“OMF values relationships and people. You pray for each other and for the fields. There is a deep sense of spirituality, humility and dependence upon God. We are impressed by your servant leadership. We see that in the way you relate to each other and even in your body language. The trust level is high among all of you here. There is delegation of the ministry and a sense of equality as you serve the Lord together.”

SEP-DEC 2019

Mobilising Singapore for the Urgent Evangelisation of East Asia’s Millions

MCI

(P) 1

11/0

3/20

19

Over

11MILLION

Filipinos live and work overseas,which constitutes about 11% of the entire

Filipino population of 108 million.

Page 05

ENGAGEWITH US!Please take a look at available opportunities at opportunities.omf.org and let us know if any of them fits where the Lord might be calling you! If you have any inquiries or would like more information, do get in touch with us and we will contact you shortly! One way for you to be engaged with us is through social media! Use it to connect with us and God’s heart for the world. Invite friends to follow us for encouraging stories, prayer and call to action!

CONTACTS: [email protected]

6510 3130

WEB & MEDIA: OMF Singapore

omf_singapore

omf.org/singapore

pray.omf.org

MANILA

The Philippines is the only nation in Southeast Asia to be predominantly

Christian – about

90%

of which about 12% areprofessing evangelicals.

The Jellyfish Lake in the Philippines contains more

than 13 million jellyfish.

The first Karaoke system was patented by a

Filipino named Roberto del Rosario in 1975.

The Philippines hold the world’s longest Christmas season, spanning from

September all the way into January!

There are at least

92,000Filipino nurses working abroad, making up about 25% of overseas nurses.

The jeepney is an iconic transport of the Philippines sometimes referred to as the

“King of the Philippine roads.”

The world’s largest pearl was found in

the Palawan Sea in 1934, weighing

6.35 kg, measuring 24 cm long and

14 cm in diameter. It is worth over US$40 million

and believed to be

600YEARS OLD

Talk aboutthe parable Jesus told in Matthew

13:45-46!

The Philippines is entirely made up of a

total of

7,500ISLANDS

of which about 2,000 are populated.

The Philippines is the text capital of the world;35 million Filipinos send about

450MILLION

SMS messages every day!

It was the end of a three-day visit to the International Center by leaders of two partner organisations from India. Just before moving on to a field visit, they shared their heartfelt impressions with us. Of the collaboration between their organisation and OMF, one of the visitors said, “In partnering with you, we want to send you our workers to serve in East Asia. It is like we are sending our daughters into your family. Therefore, it was important for us to come and for the two families to get to know each other”. There was a pause, and then another added wistfully. “However, it does seem very difficult to join OMF because of your structures and processes!”

This was said contemplatively and with no reproach intended. Still, it was the

only discordant note in an otherwise harmonious interaction, and it caused us to reflect deeply on what God is saying to us through these brothers.

To be Heard and InvolvedWe talk about changing the organisational culture. Well, I know of one agency which has made the deliberate decision to appoint younger leaders. The average age of all their members is not necessarily lower than OMF. But the average age of their leaders is about 10 years younger. That changes the dynamics of that organisation. You see, Millennials want a flat structure. That does not mean there are no positions or titles. But it means

that there are no ranks to pass through if you want to talk to leaders two or three levels above you. Also, the purpose of the role is more important than the title. So, it’s not having no roles, but it is being less status-minded.

Millennials want to be part of a team, so if there is a work project, everyone pitches in, no matter what role or title they have. Everyone is part of the creativity. Everyone knows that their opinions matter. That’s important for Millennials. If they don’t perceive that their opinions matter to the older generation, then they won’t share openly even if we asked. But, if we take them seriously, they’ll open up to share, and be willing to listen to us as well.

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money and financial security? What’s going to happen to our children? Are we risking their future and jeopardising their chance to excel in life? Yes, we have many concerns and questions unanswered but we chose to press on.

JEHOVAH JIREH IN OUR CHALLENGESOn the first day of work in 2017, Homan briefly mentioned to his ex-boss about some upcoming change in our family situation. Then out of the blue, she said, “So what is it? Are you going to be a missionary?” Having never hinted this to anyone in the office, he nodded, wondering with disbelief. Feeling the excitement, she asked him to work for a few more months and wait for a rare opportunity to be laid off, and therefore be given a redundancy package. Though he waited, Homan had doubts whether it would happen in time before the commencement of his planned study at Singapore Bible College (SBC) later that year. But praise be to God for His faithfulness and graciousness; Homan’s department head agreed to release him with the redundancy package that provided a financial cushion to tide us through the period in SBC. When Homan eventually left the company he had worked for 18½ years on 30 April 2017, it was the exact date that we had committed to God back in 2015.

During the two years in SBC, Homan lamented that he had not read so many books in his life (his favourite subjects are maths and physics, you get the idea!), but he persevered and finally graduated this May. During this period also, I worked as a financial planner. It was a huge stretch on my personality but it also provided me an invaluable exposure to the marketplace. As for our two children, Samuel (12) and Priscilla (11), they have also gone through

their own journeys and learnt to look after themselves more and have grown more independent in many areas. How much pain has our decision caused them? Or was it pain? We wish to tell you that our faith has always been strong and we have not wavered a single moment with the decision we made. Human flesh and mind are weak. It is only because of God’s grace and His sure calling that we are still able to press on.

MINISTRY DIRECTION AND DESTINATIONPrior to SBC, Homan and I did not have any particular people group in our mind although we broadly had the idea that South East Asia would be a likely location. After all, after our response to God’s calling, God brought us from Scotland to Bangkok, and then, to Singapore, and our various mission visits have all been in this region. In fact, because of our time in Bangkok, some in the church thought that we would be serving there. We did not rule it out either and even discussed with our children about the possibility at some point.

In his first year at SBC, Homan learnt about Urban Missions as a focus in 21st century missions and embrace Community Development as a viable missions platform. He also began to develop a burden to serve among the urban poor through this platform. When asked by church friends about the mission

field and people group he would serve, he would reply that he was thinking only of the urban poor, with no specific country nor ethnic group in mind. He started to search OMF’s website for opportunities with the search terms ‘community development’ and ‘urban poor’. Literally the following day, we received a reply from the Candidate Coordinator, through whom we began the enquiry process. That was March last year.

Shortly afterwards, in May, our family joined Homan’s Bible School for his Community Development practicum trip to the Northern Philippines. We each had a glimpse of how this platform could bring a community together and equip and empower them to develop their community materially and socially. It enables missionaries to develop valuable relationships with community, nurturing their spiritual growth through the Gospel. Homan and I both felt we should explore serving in Philippines. Upon our return home, we enquired further with OMF regarding opportunities in Philippines and began discussions with the Philippine Field. We also had the opportunity nine months ago to go on a vision trip to visit OMF’s ministry in Manila. As we write, our application and four clearances have been approved and we’re all set to attend the Orientation Course (OC) at the end of October before moving to Philippines in December. Please cover us in your prayers that as we go and serve the Lord, that He will continue to reveal His plan for our family.

HIS CALLING TO FEED HIS SHEEPOur initial missions calling came to us in 2004 while we were in the first year of our marriage in Scotland. Despite having a stable job, Homan was dissatisfied with his work; the thought of going into full-time mission crept into his mind, but after sharing with others, he realised it was just an excuse to escape the reality of life. On one of his business trips to Manchester where I accompanied him, we attended a fellowship meeting in my home church. Through a Bible Study that evening on John 21:15-19 where God asked Peter three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? ... Feed my lambs, take care of my sheep,” we felt God speaking to us about serving Him in full-time ministry.

Seeking confirmation, we asked God that if it was His will, He would speak to us with the same passage two more times (we thought a total of three times would be fitting). Furthermore, we made a request to Him that both of us would have to hear the passage at the same time. In the next two weeks, God indeed spoke to us. On the first of these two occasions, it was a Sunday sermon in which I was the interpreter and the passage was literally spoken through my mouth. On the other occasion, it started off as a casual conversation with the pastor’s wife on our life in general, but then it took a ‘dramatic’ turn when she said, “if it is God’s will, He will ask you to feed his sheep”, which to us was clearly taken from the passage in John. Shocked and trembling, we knew God had clearly answered our prayer. Immediately, we drove to the church we married in and committed ourselves to God’s call.

RELOCATIONS, ‘WAITING’ AND THE DECISIONWe relocated to Bangkok in January 2006 as my husband took up a new role in the same company. We worshipped and served in a local church for the next 3½ years where we reconnected with one of the missionaries from a mission trip in 2003. We had previously joined a two-week missions exposure trip to Northern Thailand, which left us with a memorable picture of the mission field and the life of missionaries. We therefore sensed that the relocation was God’s next move. It was also during this time in Bangkok that we participated in another mission trip for further experience, and with our son Samuel who was about 11 months old. This

time in Bangkok further reaffirmed our passion for mission.

In 2009, our family relocated again, this time to Singapore with two young children (our daughter, Priscilla is 1½ years younger than her brother). We did not forget His call and our promise to Him. But we were wondering when would be a good time to proceed to the next stage of our response. To be honest, we weren’t sure whether we were “waiting” or just simply

“procrastinating”. Then, God graciously gave us an opportunity to visit the Thai missionary mentioned earlier. She has been faithful in serving in the field until this day. We clearly remembered she asked us about our plan for mission work and whether this was still our calling. She said to us, “If you know in your heart that God is calling you, yet you continue to wait until you reach old age and still you say that you are waiting for God’s timing, then you are just kidding yourself really.” We were so struck by her words and felt convicted that indeed we had waited long enough and it was time to take the next step.

In 2015, after much discussion and prayers, we decided that Homan would leave his job to pursue theological studies in preparation, and I would find work to support the family after being a faithful stay-home mum for ten years. It was definitely not an easy decision to make- our life was very stable, financially secure and my husband’s career prospects were bright. However, we were also convinced that moving to the next phase was only the right thing to do. Yes, God’s calling is precious, but human struggle in the flesh is equally real. Who doesn’t want a comfortable life? Who doesn’t want to have just a bit more

HOMAN & ALICE: MISSIONS TO PHILIPPINES – Alice

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONSGrace in Deep WatersBy Christine Dillon

‘Grace in Deep Waters’ is the third sequel to Christine’s first two books, “Grace in Strange Disguise” and “Grace in the Shadows”.

William Macdonald is at the pinnacle of his career. Pastor

of a growing megachurch and host of a successful national radio programme. Clever and respected, he’s a man with everything, including a secret. His wife has left him and he can’t risk anyone finding out.

Blanche Macdonald is struggling. Her once rock-solid marriage is showing cracks. She promised to love her husband for better or for worse, but does loving always mean staying? Blanche desires to put God first. Not William. Not her daughter. Not herself.

When is a marriage over? When do you stand and fight? Broken hearts, broken lives, only God can bring healing. Will the grace of God lead them back to Him?

Based in Taiwan, Christine Dillon is Australian writer who believes so much in the power of storytelling that led her to write fiction. Besides being a bookworm, she enjoys hiking, cycling and swimming.

OMF Singapore Calendar 2020

OMF Singapore is offering the 2020 Calendar in celebration of our 155th year as a mission-sending

organisation to realise the urgent evangelisation of East Asia’s peoples. This calendar traces the development of the China Inland Miss ion (CIM) to today’s OMF I n t e r n a t i o n a l . Each month is

accompanied by a watercolor painting hand painted by Ling Zi, Serve Asia Coordinator from OMF Singapore.

For order enquiries, please email to [email protected]. Orders for the calendar will be despatched from Singapore.

肥水流入天国田林顺利著

这是一本14天的灵修材料。透过经文、故事以及实际的见解，它探讨了宣教的真实情况 – 既是荆棘路，也是蒙福路。它是一本预备短宣必备的资料。

同奔天路（第一程）李永成著

作者以丰富的牧养经验，为初信者编写了这本十二周的灵修材料，以鼓励他们养成灵修的习惯，在属灵生命中扎根壮大。

1 Windle, Benjamin 2019. Eight Innovations to Leading Millennials. www.millennialswhitepaper.com

I was chatting with a young Singaporean friend. My questions to him revolved around what his generation found challenging about mine. “You don’t have to agree with everything we say,” he went on. “We’re not expecting that. Working together with us does mean that things will go awry sometimes. But many times, we will surprise you very pleasantly!”

The Common LineTwo very different conversations, with a common thread running through them. It’s no secret that there is a massive shift in the Christian world. The Church in the West is declining while in the Majority World, it is growing. Churches in Latin America, Africa, India and China are actively engaged in global mission, much more than ever before. A young pastor writes that by 2030, Millennials will make up 75% of the workforce and

asks the pointed question: “Will they make up 75% of the Church?1”

That same question applies to Mission agencies such as OMF International. Are we leaving our potential partners and the next generations with the primary impression that we are a highly structured organisation, or that we are a relational community pursuing effective kingdom ministry aligned with God’s purposes? We want to be a reimagined

OMF – a welcoming community which learns, journeys and serves with others to advance God’s kingdom. We want to be an OMF that holds onto our core Vision, Mission, Beliefs and Values, but holds loosely to our structures and systems. May God give us courage and wisdom to enter this new “creative space” for the further sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ in all its fullness with the peoples of East Asia – to His glory.

If you are interested to see more titles of the books we carry, please go to omf.org/singapore/resources/books/ for more information!