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Hope Church (Singapore) is now 18. Our first worship service was on Sunday, 17th February 1991. The first ones were Seh Cha, Andrew, Dinah and I, together with one guest. Soo Feng joined a little later. We were all so glad to be a part of this pioneering church. We joined Hope because we desired to fulfill the Great Commission (Genesis 28:18-20), to make disciples and to plant strong Biblical churches.
Passion to reach the world
In 1995, Dinah and I were asked by our leaders to relocate to Perth for missions. We agreed but this decision was later reversed. So we have stayed in Singapore since. Barely a year later in 1996, we assumed the leadership of Hope Church (S) and in that same year, our twins arrived!
In 1998, we were asked to extend our care for our churches in Europe and Africa. More traveling ensued in 2002 when we began looking after our South America churches as our Singapore teams arrived.
[Photos: Ministry in Hope Singapore]
I (Ben) have shared numerous times at Discovering Membership that I am a one-church man and a one-woman man. My prayer was to serve one church all my life. It seems that God has other plans.
Full time ministry in the Americas
We were first asked to look after our North America churches in 2005. Then in November 2006, the elders of our movement asked Dinah and I to consider a full-time role over the Americas and to be based in Los Angeles.
[Photos: Ministry in North America churches]
We were quite shocked initially. The Americas are so far away. LA is 14,134 km away. Our family and our loved ones are all here. Besides, life is simply great in Singapore. Everything, so to speak is established here: a staff team, church facility, devoloped church systems and practices are in place and you could say we were all set for a good life of active serving and living in this first-class city!
So for close to two years, Dinah and I embarked on our faith journey - beginning with much soul searching and conversations with God. At the same time, we have also been in close discussions with Pastor Simon Eng as well as our local leaders in Singapore.
But deep inside our hearts, we know better to respond to this challenge of extending God’s Kingdom where Hope churches are yet to be developed in many countries in this continent of the Americas. As our Hope adage says: We will serve God where we can maximise the extension of God’s Kingdom.
Our movement has origins in Asia and is rather developed in this side of the world but the Great Commission is to impact all continents and countries of the world.
The vast harvest field in the Americas
There are over 907 million people in 35 countries (and over 20 territories). Spanish is spoken by 320 million people, English by 300M, Portuguese by 185M, French by 12M, Quechua by 12M, Haitian Creole by 6M and Guarani by 6M. Indeed we have an exciting challenge ahead of us. We are trusting God to generate a greater impact in the Americas with our move. We truly believe that without a doubt, we are all serving in the end times. These are also times of opportunity when people are more open to the Gospel.
As we reflect, for more than 18 years, Dinah and I have been serving in Hope Singapore. It has been a joy to pour all that we have into this church family over all these years and these have also been the most rewarding years in our lives.
[Photos: Ministry in South America churches]
We would like to thank everyone at Hope Singapore - the staff team, leaders and members for all of your love and support.
Our twins who are now teenagers have literally grown up with the staff team around them and the church office, has been like their second home. You are our beloved family and we will miss you all very much.
Obeying the Great Commission
The twins and us are going through this big life transition. There have been many conversations over this cross-culture, faith venture. We are thankful for family and friends who have been coming alongside to support, encourage and pray for us. We hope to relocate in August when the visa is approved.
[1. Hope Quito, Ecuador - Sunday service. 2 Hope Santiago, Chile - Water baptism]
Our heart-felt prayer is that we will obey the Great Commission, claim the Great Promise (Genesis 12:1-3) and believe God for the Great Multitude (Revelations 7:9).
Pastors Ben and Dinah
