By Ms Goh Yi Ling
It has been three years since we launched the Good Neighbours Initiative, with the mission of bringing the love of Jesus to the last, the lost, and the least. Over these years, our approach has evolved from short-term collaborations and ad hoc events to more sustained, long-term initiatives. These key initiatives include:
(a) Adopt-A-Family: Monthly visits to low-income families in Clementi and West Coast;
(b) St Luke’s Active Ageing Centre: Weekly Rummikub sessions with seniors in West Coast;
(c) Loving Gladiolus: Monthly baking and craft sessions with at-risk teenage girls at Gladiolus Place; and
(d) Kopi with Migrant Brothers: Monthly gatherings with the migrant brothers at Kranji Recreation Centre.
LOOKING BACK
The Good Neighbours Initiative has been a transformative journey for The Bible Church, pushing us beyond the comfort of our church walls to tangibly demonstrate the gospel to vulnerable communities. We thank God for the many groups who have joined us to be Good Neighbours – children, youths, young adults, seniors; individuals, families, CGs – everyone who stepped forward in faith to give their time and hearts. The work was not easy, often long suffering, and only sometimes rewarding. Yet, we believe that every visit, every conversation, was the sharing of life that planted the seeds of the gospel in the hearts of those God has brought into our fold – many of whom we would never have otherwise met. We believe that having given ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, our labour in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Yes, we believe that whatever we did for the least of these, we did for Him (Matthew 25:40).
A NEW VISION
In 2024, as we reflected and sought God for His plans for the Good Neighbours ministry, God revealed a fresh vision. One that focuses on making an impact on our geographical neighbours for as long as The Bible Church calls West Coast home. Call it “being salt and light in our community” or “community pastoring” or “community outreach”, it is one and the same goal: positioning The Bible Church in the West Coast community for effective evangelism – through both the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel.
Pastor Sarah Chan, a missionary in East Timor, shared this vision in Day 34 of LoveSingapore’s 40 Day 2024 prayer devotional. In it, God said: “I want my church to be the heart of every community, not just a part of it.” Indeed, the church must be the wellspring of life in the community, bringing renewal and infusing the hope of the gospel to transform the broken places.
This then is the vision – LOVE WEST COAST: Becoming the heart of the West Coast community. This vision is a long term plan (think 5-10 years) to build an ecosystem of touchpoints within West Coast that will allow us to reach our immediate community for Jesus. The driving force behind this vision is simple: loving our neighbours, with the same unreasonable love and hospitality that Jesus first showed us. This, we humbly learnt, from fellow churches further ahead in the journey of effectively reaching out to their communities.
As we begin to focus on Love West Coast in 2025 and beyond, the Good Neighbours team will be redirecting resources to outreach within West Coast. We will be scaling back our efforts with Gladiolus Place and the migrant brothers at Kranji Recreation Centre[1] in order to build our ecosystem in West Coast. Expect to see an expansion of our Adopt-A-Family and Homework Help initiatives, St Luke’s Active Ageing Centre connections, and Kampung Care/Block Distributions @ Clementi Peaks and West Coast Parkview. Additionally, we will be launching monthly home visits to befriend seniors in West Coast, which everyone is invited to join.
Church, are you ready for what God is about to do? Pray with us as we embark on this new journey together!
“…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
[1] Ad hoc events will nevertheless continue, albeit with reduced frequency (e.g. 2-4 times a year, instead of monthly connections).
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