2008 An Introduction to International Student Fellowship
Eugene Kwek,
Outreach Committee
On 7 November 2008, a new outreach initiative to reach out to foreign students in Singapore, led by our Outreach Department, held a briefing for PLMC worshippers who have a heart for this area of ministry. We praise and thank God for the 17 worshippers who signed up to serve in this ministry that evening.
In the last year or so, God has placed a burden in the hearts of PLMC pastors and leaders to reach out to foreigners in Singapore. As we sought the Lord for His will in this area of outreach, it became clearer that He was leading us to connect with international students studying in Singapore.
We began to notice the international students who had begun coming to our church. We also realised that there are several international and commercial schools and hostels for foreign students in our neighbourhood.
The newly formed International Student's Ministry, made up of a committee of members from The Next Generation (youth ministry), English and Mandarin cell groups, hopes to befriend foreign students and share the Gospel with them, so that when they return to their home countries, they will bring the gospel back with them. The foreign students that they will focus on reaching out to are those from China, Indonesia and Thailand. Most of the committee members have been on our missions trips and have a passion for the people in our missions-focussed areas.
At the briefing session on 7 November, Steven Ng, Ng Vern Shion and Eugene Kwek, Outreach Executive, shared on the directions, needs and activities of this new outreach ministry.
As PLMC begins to reach out to the foreign students studying and living near our church, we would like to invite all PLMC worshippers who feel that God is leading them to consider serving in this new outreach ministry to join the International Student's Ministry team. If you would like to know more about this ministry, contact Eugene Kwek at 6285-1234 ext 156 or email: eugene@plmc.org.
What is ISM?
The new International Student's Ministry seeks to reach out and befriend international students, as well as provide a social network where we can share the love of Christ and the Gospel with them through social and community activities.
The International Students' Ministry (ISM) was officially launched on Saturday, 17 January 2009. 10 international students joined the inaugural ISM Gathering, which had a Chinese New Year theme, where they enjoyed themselves in a lantern-making activity and tasting Chinese New Year snacks. The event was a good opportunity for our PLMC befrienders, who had signed up to serve in this outreach ministry to international students, to foster friendships and build relationships with the guests.
Some of the international students were from the nearby Parry Hall, a hostel for international students, where the ISM committee members had gone to distribute publicity flyers on our ISM activities. Others were guests invited by members from our TNG (Youth Ministry) and Mandarin Service.
From this first event, the number of international students who attended the second ISM Gathering on 31 January 2009 grew to 15 guests. We praise God that some of the students from Parry Hall who attended the first event invited more of their friends to the second event. The guests were introduced to different cultures in Singapore through the different cuisines such as Malay and Peranakan food. They were also given different types of food and materials to decorate tables as stalls to “sell” their products. Another interesting activity involved the guests making a rainbow out of coloured paper over Noah's ark and the opportunity for us to share the significance of the rainbow and God's promise to mankind.
We also praise the Lord that one of the students from Parry Hall, who had received a publicity flyer about our ISM activities, came to our church on Sunday, 1 February 2009, and gave his life to Jesus. All glory to God!