April 2023
A third of the year has gone by. The recent Lent season leading to Good Friday reminds us to keep our eyes on the Cross and Christ crucified for us. We also lift our eyes to see Christ risen and coming for us.
GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER SUNDAY. We thank God for the decentralised Good Friday services held at nine locations with one theme and guest speaker Pastor Simon Murphy of Redemption Hill Church. Onsite attendances came to 2,447 (last year: 1,497), and offering for BPCIS: was $38,092.52 (last year: $27,594.35). Easter Sunrise Service resumed at MacRitchie Reservoir with 220 present and offering of $5,824.90 for Turkey earthquake relief given through Operation Mobilisation.
God willing, we will have a combined onsite Good Friday service next year. Pray for us as we look for a suitable venue that is central and accessible by public transport. Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon will be our speaker.
PASTORS AND LEADERS RETREAT. Our next “main event” will take place at Frasers Place, Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru. This is our annual Leaders Retreat, 10-11 July, with the theme, “Strengthening Our Churches: Discipling & Mentoring” and speaker Pastor Benny Ho of Faith Community Church, Perth, Australia. All pastors and elders, ministry staff and leaders, especially from our younger generation, are encouraged to attend.
After the Retreat last year, Janelle Yeo wrote, “Thank you for organising this Retreat, and bringing back together all the BP churches. I left the Retreat feeling so proud to be part of this BP community. I have never really understood the significance of the BP Church until coming for this Retreat, especially during the sharing of brief history of BPCIS at the start.”
SECOND PRESBYTERY. “Presbytery of Singapore Bible-Presbyterian Churches” (PSBPC) comprising Abundant Life, Life, New Life, Calvary (Jurong) and Sharon BP Churches, was registered with Registry of Societies on 3 Oct 2022, with public announcement made on 19 Feb 2023. BPCIS extended our congratulations and hand of fellowship when General Secretary Ps David Wong met the new Presbytery’s Protem Moderator Ps Peter Chua for lunch. They were roommates in Bible College and were ordained on same day in 1977.
MOUNT GERIZIM. Our 11th BPCIS member and only Chinese-speaking church voted at the recent congregational meeting, 23 April, to take steps to acquire an industrial unit to grow the church’s ministries. Mount Gerizim is a congregation of 50-60 members worshipping at 1pm at Hebron BP Church in Choa Chu Kang. As we have done in the past, BPCIS churches will rally around with prayer and practical help.
VISIT WEBSITE. Please visit www.bpcis.org.sg for pictures of Good Friday and Easter Sunrise services, as well as stories of God at work in the lives of our members.
Pastor David Wong
General Secretary, BPCIS
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