The Myanmar community in Singapore numbers about 200,000, comprising students, domestic helpers, healthcare workers, and skilled professionals. Given their significant presence in Singapore, we see this as an opportunity to reach out to them spiritually.

The opportunity arose when sister Jenny Teo, who has a burden for Myanmar maids, asked if the Church could start a Bible Study for them. At the same time, an FEBC student who conducts an online Bible Study for Myanmar believers working in Singapore asked if I could serve them Holy Communion, as some had not received it for months and others for years since arriving in Singapore.

Seeing the need, and with these two requests in mind, I felt the Lord was opening the door for us to reach out to these precious souls. This could also serve as an evangelistic outreach to those who do not yet know the Lord. In January, the Church Session discussed the possibility of starting this new outreach and unanimously decided to support this work. The name given to it is simple and descriptive: Myanmar Christian Fellowship. Its theme verse is from Hebrews 13:14-15: “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

The inaugural meeting was held on 9 February 2025 at FEBC Hall in the afternoon, with about 20 people attending (including True Lifers). The meeting on February 23 morning at Godhill saw 45 attending (including FEBC students). To begin, I spoke on the topic “Why Myanmar Christian Fellowship?” from Hebrews 13:14-15. The Lord’s Supper was served. The attendees were glad and grateful, rejoicing in the opportunity to gather physically for fellowship and service.

With nine Myanmar students at FEBC, the MCF provides an excellent avenue for them to minister to their own people as part of their training.

Meetings are held twice a month to accommodate domestic helpers who can only take a day off on Sundays once a month, either on the 2^nd or 4^th Sunday. They take place on the 2^nd Sunday at 2.30 pm at FEBC Hall and on the 4^th Sunday at 11 am at Godhill. Pray that the Lord will bless this new ministry.

Testimonies

Htin Htut

First of all, I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to serve in the Myanmar Christian Fellowship (MCF). While studying at Far Eastern Bible College, the Lord placed a burden on my heart to minister to female workers in Singapore. The majority of those attending MCF are from the Rawang tribe of Kachin State, Myanmar. Most of them are female domestic workers in Singapore, with only one male member.

On May 1, 2021, we launched a Bible Study via Zoom with 32 members. Since the participants have only one off-day per month—typically on a Sunday—it was challenging for us to meet in person. On May 15, 2021, we held a meeting to form a five-member committee and named our Bible Study The Way of Calvary Church, as we desired to function as a church. However, since we could only meet remotely via Zoom, it did not feel like a true church. We longed to gather physically at least once a month, but we had no venue.

The Lord led me to approach Dr Jeffrey Khoo for a place to conduct our Myanmar Bible Study in person. By God’s grace, Dr Khoo granted us the use of the FEBC Hall once every three months. For the remaining weeks, we continued meeting on Zoom. Sadly, many members had not partaken of the Lord’s Supper for months or even up to a year. Recognising this need, Dr Khoo conducted the Lord’s Supper at our Bible Study a month ago.

Understanding the difficulty many members faced in regularly partaking of the Lord’s Supper due to their irregular off-days, Dr Khoo graciously offered to host our meetings twice a month at the FEBC Hall and at Godhill. During both in-person gatherings, he administers the Lord’s Supper to accommodate the varying schedules of our members. We recognise that this provision is made possible solely by God’s grace and providence.

Currently, we thank God for about 40 members, many of whom are new, as some of the original members have returned to Myanmar. By God’s grace, I have been able to teach on topics such as the doctrines of Heaven and Hell, Angelology, and the Epistle of Jude. At present, I am teaching on The Sins of the Tongue from the Epistle of James via Zoom.

We praise God for His continued guidance and provision for our fellowship.

Dakum Buram

First of all, I thank God for His grace and goodness upon my life. My name is Dakum Buram. I came from Kachin State, Myanmar. I arrived in Singapore in 2016 as a domestic helper. Even though I am here for nine years already, for about five and six years, I did not attend any church to worship God. And it was also very difficult to meet with friends to go together to have fellowship. So, the time was just passing by for many years.

However, as I am a child of God, the Lord never forsakes me. The Lord knows that I need Him. Thank God, brother Htin Htut came to study God’s Word in Singapore. Through him, God provided us with our Myanmar fellowship. By the grace of God, we were able to meet via Zoom and learn God’s Word. Moreover, God prepared for us a place at the hall of Far Eastern Bible College to gather and meet to worship Him in person. And now, thank God, we are very privileged for the place through Dr Khoo and True Life B-P Church for allowing us to gather and meet twice a month. This is all by His providence and grace that we can worship Him at least twice in a month and can partake of Holy Communion. From the church members, I receive warm welcome and God’s love.

May the Lord bless His church more and more.

San Naing Chang Bay

My name is San Naing Chang Bay. I am from Kachin State, Myanmar. Firstly, I thank God for His grace and mercy upon me. I have been in Singapore for five years working as a domestic helper. Initially, due to language barriers, my job was challenging and stressful. However, with God’s help, I managed to overcome these difficulties.

When I first arrived in Singapore, there was no church where I could worship. Even though there are churches that conduct services in English, I faced difficulties with the language. So, I had to read the Bible on my own and listen to God’s Word online.

However, thanks to the arrival of brother Htin Htut to study God’s Word in Singapore. He started to gather us to study God’s Word in Myanmar language via Zoom and to meet in person for fellowship. Moreover, by God’s providence through Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo, we were also able to have Holy Communion. I am very thankful to God for Dr Khoo and the members of True Life B-P Church for supporting our Myanmar fellowship meetings. This experience has shown me the depths of God’s love and provision in my life.

ORDINATION OF SHOBASTIAN

“Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly” (Acts 6:6-7).

Pr Shobastian of Getsemani GAPPI (Gereja Alkitab Presbyterian Protestan Indonesia) will be ordained as a Minister of the Gospel today at GAPPI Batam (Calvary Batam) at 4 pm.

The ordination council—consisting of the Rev Dr Haposan Siregar (Moderator of the GAPPI Synod), the Rev Kiantoro Lie, the Rev Agus Siregar, the Rev Peter Yoksan, and the Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo—having examined him on 17 February 2025, is fully satisfied with his qualifications for the sacred office and has unanimously approved his ordination.

Shobastian is supported by True Life BPC. We pray that GAPPI Getsemani will continue to be blessed with a sound pulpit ministry and the faithful administration of the sacraments for the spiritual health of the church. The Session has approved a love gift of $10,000 for a parsonage on the church premises, which will save on rental in the long term. It is also good for the pastor to live within the church.

May the Lord bless us as we do our best to fulfil the Great Commission (Matt 28:19–20).

Myanmar Christian Fellowship @ Godhill, 23 February 2025