WELCOME TO SINGAPORE

Known as the cleanest and greenest city in Asia, Singapore is an island located just north of the equator in Southeast Asia and is one of the world’s most prosperous nations.  Singapore was founded as a British trade colony in 1819 and was under British rule until 1959. Full independence as part of Malaysia came in 1963, but after a short couple of years of unification, Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965 as a result of differences in political beliefs. Since then, Singapore has been led by the People’s Action Party which has dominated elections under a parliamentary government.

Singapore is known as one of Asia’s economic “tigers,” and its economy ranks second out of 41 countries in the Asian-Pacific region. Its large, free port is among the busiest in the world and contributes significantly to Singapore’s position as one of the greatest commercial centers in the world. Due to its booming economy, the nation is becoming increasingly materialistic, and many Singaporeans are preoccupied with pursuing the five C’s: career, cash, car, club, and condo. Family structures and relationships, traditionally strong, are suffering today because they are no longer a societal priority.

Singapore is a multi-religious society, with Buddhism (40 percent), Islam (13 percent), Hinduism (4 percent), and Christianity (16 percent) practiced.  Religious tolerance and harmony are government priorities and resolute action is taken when these are threatened. (There are many Hokkien people who live inside of Singapore.)

The Church is growing, though Christians struggle to maintain their spiritual fervor in the highly materialistic, competitive, and achievement-oriented culture. Associated with these is an underlying sense of insecurity, which also affects the Church. Many Christians struggle to prioritize spiritual riches and development over worldly riches and personal achievement. Excessive competitiveness within society has also sub-consciously crept into the Church, weakening unity among congregations.  The many achievements of the nation and the Church feed a sense of pride that at times seeks to withhold glory from God. Pray that Christians will have Spirit-led sensitivity and wisdom to present Singaporeans with a Christ-glorifying witness of vibrant and relevant faith in contemporary society.

PRAYER POINTS

• Pray for wisdom, boldness, and freedom to openly speak of Jesus Christ.

• Pray for more ministry directed to largely poor immigrant laborers.

• Pray for affluent believers to remain strong and not become ineffective material worshipers.

BEAUTIFUL MALAYSIA

Divided into two landmasses by the South China Sea, Malaysia is both physically and socially split by culture, language, and ethnicity.  The diversity of the Malaysian people is both a blessing and a curse.  It has aided the country in developing a cosmopolitan atmosphere that connects it with the many societies surrounding the small country, including India, China, Indonesia, and the Islamic world.  However, the multiplicity of cultures and religions has prevented the development of connection between the citizens.  In spite of the fractured national identity, unity is found in the continued development of one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Even in the face of financial success, piracy remains a problem within Malaysia.  Even more prevalent is sex trafficking, with an entire black market based on the buying and selling of human lives for sexual exploitation, prostitution, and forced labor.  Though the nation has developed a diverse and stable economy, it came with the heavy price of oppressive rule, human rights abuses, and social repression.  Malaysia is situated close to the “Golden Triangle,” where Burma, Thailand, and Laos produce and ship some of the world’s largest amounts of opium.  Though several peace accords have been signed and the majority of violence subsided in the 1990’s, bitterness between the various ethnic groups of Malaysia still incites discrimination and mistreatment towards minority groups, particularly toward the indigenous Indians.

Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity can all find followers within the borders of Malaysia.  Though freedom of religion is permitted and tensions between the various faiths is moderate, Christians are forbidden by the state from witnessing to Muslims.  Due to the diverse languages and dialects, there is a desperate need for Bibles and instructional materials to be translated.  Those same educational tools also need funding to be published and distributed to those who are in need of them.  Malaysians have themselves been metaphorically trafficked by their own leaders, who have cheapened, neglected, and abused their countrymen to build and maintain their own power.  But God has bought Malaysia at the highest price, and soon the people will see how valuable they are in the eyes of Christ.

 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.  – John 14:14

PRAYER POINTS

• Pray for religious freedom that would facilitate a loving and persistent witness to Muslims.

• Pray for the Malay people, one of the world’s largest unreached people groups, to be evangelized both at home and abroad.

• Pray for an end to the ever-increasing pressure on Malaysians to adopt shari’a law.

Ground Hog Day!

I’m sure most of you have seen the old movie, Ground Hog Day. It depicts a man who was forced to relive Ground Hog Day over and over and over again until he changed and kind of got things together for himself. You know, that story can easily become our story if we settle for the mundane and have no real dreams or hope for the future. However, in John 10:10 the Bible lets us know that God wants us to experience an abundant life. That definitely can’t be one that is just living life the same every day without any thought that God is a BIG God who still works miracles and changes lives.

In II Kings 13: 14-18 the Bible tells the story of the Jehoash, the king of Israel.

¹⁴ Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!”

¹⁵ Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. ¹⁶ “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.

¹⁷ “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”

¹⁸ Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. ¹⁹ The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”

Much like the king in that story, it is soooooo easy for us to settle for much less than what God desires or hopes for us or his people. We serve a God who has BIG dreams. Pray for our Hokkien Harvest leaders to have GREAT faith and DREAM BIG during the year of 2020. In the middle of the Coronavirus epidemic, persecution challenges, economic barriers as well as health issues and other things that hack away at our people, God has not forgotten us. We’re still praying for miracles. and #Hope4TheHokkien.

Thank you for praying with us during these days.

1. Pray for wisdom for medical teams all throughout Asia and the world as they deal with the Coronavirus.
2. Pray for visions for leaders in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines as they continue to pursue ways to love Hokkien people with the love of Jesus Christ.
3. Pray for Pastor S, L, L, A, L, C, L, N, O and their partners as they live in challenging days. May the Lord give them faith that will move mountains.
4. Pray for miraculous encounters that will speak into the hearts of Government Presidents and other leaders that will draw them to Christ.
5. Pray for God to remove the fear in the lives of Hokkien people who are so afraid of demons and have many superstitions. May God grant them peace. Pray especially for these families to come to know Christ: L, T, C, GD, K, T, X, IS

Beauty For Ashes

We are so often surrounded by challenges and stories that so often breed fear and despair. It is easy to allow ourselves to feel like we are on a treadmill going nowhere. BUT GOD. He makes all the difference if I personally will allow him to work in my life. Sunday I read a post from Our Daily Bread and it really hit the nail on the head for me. In Hokkien ministry we have asked you to join us in prayer for so many people. AND when we don’t see any change, it is so easy to get discouraged and give up. BUT GOD.

The post below is a reminder that God does make a difference in our lives. Today, we ask for you to join us and pray for:

1.  2 small children that were abandoned by parents. Pray for the children and these parents. The mother has made some changes. Pray for a miracle in this family and protection for these children.

2.  A young couple that has struggled in their marriage. Both are from dysfunctional families. Pray for salvation for both of these families.

3.  A young engaged couple preparing to marry. Pray that they will put Christ at the center of their home. Both also come from challenging backgrounds.

4.  A young couple recently married who don’t know each other very well. Pray for salvation of families members who don’t know Christ. Pray too that Christ’s love will penetrate this marriage bring these two into a close and loving relationship.

A Time for Beauty

A crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning. Isaiah 61:3

One January morning I woke expecting to see the same dreary midwinter landscape that had greeted me for several weeks: beige grass poking through patches of snow, gray skies, and skeletal trees. Something unusual had happened overnight, though. A frost had coated everything with ice crystals. The lifeless and depressing landscape had become a beautiful scene that glistened in the sun and dazzled me.

Sometimes we view problems without the imagination it takes to have faith. We expect pain, fear, and despair to greet us every morning, but overlook the possibility of something different ever happening. We don’t expect recovery, growth, or victory through God’s power. Yet the Bible says God is the one who helps us through difficult times. He repairs broken hearts and liberates people in bondage. He comforts the grieving with “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3).

It isn’t that God just wants to cheer us up when we have problems. It’s that He Himself is our hope during trials. Even if we have to wait for heaven to find ultimate relief, God is present with us, encouraging us and often giving us glimpses of Himself. In our journey through life, may we come to understand St. Augustine’s words: “In my deepest wound I saw your glory, and it dazzled me.”

Our Daily Bread – February 2, 2020

By: Jennifer Benson Schuldt