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Blk. 10 B Braddell View#11-08

Singapore 2057

February 1991

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP i

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Doug, Robyn, Nicole, and Andrea

SINGAPORE CHRISTIAN CANAAN CHURCH

Back in 1969 a group of people from a local Methodist congregation decided to form their ownchurch and no longer be associated with the Methodist denomination. All these people spoke theCantonese dialect ofthe Chinese language. For manyyears they moved around to different placesofworship-other church buildings, a room at the YMCA-all the time saving their offerings withthe idea of eventually having a meeting place of their own.

One day they spied a small house; they decided to purchase and convert it into their churchbuilding. Because oftheir years ofmoving around, once they had their own place, they agreedtoname their church the Singapore Christian Canaan Church . . . from wilderness wanderings toentering the Promised Land!

In the late 70s, many of the children from this Church were in their teens or early twenties andhad been to Singaporean schools where English was the preferred language ofinstruction. Indeed,some ofthe children had a difficult time even in understanding the Cantonese their parents stillused for daily conversation and Sunday worship. Thesechildrenwanted to start an English-speaking service at the church. They did so, sharing the premises with the Cantonese-speakingcongregation.

For the next few years, the English-speaking congregation had a successionof helpers who led their worshipservices. The congregation grew to anaverage attendance of 30, while theCantonese group remained with about60 in attendance on a Sunday morning.

In 1987, the English-speaking congregation asked Rich and Jo Sheeley to servewith them as their preacher. TheSheeleys came from Kansas, and, afterhaving served for a short-term asmissionaries in Thailand, arrived inSingapore to work in evangelism. Thechurch began to grow to where, in littletime, they averaged 50 adults and a fewchildren. The Sheeleys introduced us tothe congregation and proposed the ideaof our becoming co-ministers of thechurch with them. The congregationagreed; so in August 1990, we beganour jtenure as co-ministers. ./

Singapore Christian Canaan Church's two congregations.(Doug and Robyn are missing, but see ifyou can find Nicole

and Andrea.)

The reason we serve with the Sheeleys as co-other ministries to perform in the larger Asic^iGrood News Productions International, Jopliii^,for Christian Missionary Fellowship.

Just before we arrived, the Church set out heithe Church would grow to an average adult ajend of 1991,105 by 1992, and 125 by 1993,60 adults, ^ptember and October sawthereaching 83 adults one Sunday morning. We

Doug and Rob}^ Priest

2/91

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIPP.O. BOX 26306,6674 CAITO DRIVE

INDIANAPOUS, IN 46226-0306

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

|]iilmsters is because both famiHes also havecontext. Rich heads up "Project Asia" for

Missouri, and Doug is the Asia Coordinator

long-range goals. Included was the idea thatsndance of 65 by the end of 1990, 80 by the

len we arrived in July, the Church averaged•chhaving its highest attendance ever,

fncluded the year surpassing our goal ofaveraging 65adults for the month ofDecember. About 45 ofthese are immersed members,the others are visitors and those who attend but have yet to become church members. Due tosurpassing our goals, we recently revised thei^ ... upwards.

Besides Doug and Rich serving as co-ministers, the Church has a full-time children'sworker, apart-time youth worker, and apartji^e secretary. The congregation is relativelyyoung in age with the married couples just b^inning to have children. (Would you believethat Dougis one ofthe oldest people in the chijprch!) Mostofthe people have attended at

Jeast_some college, the m£gority are_single, and the^average personal income_is higher thanthat of the average Singaporean. In short, ouijfi is acongregation oiyuppies.Doug gives about 15-20 hours a week to church activities. Robjmhelps with the children'sprogram, where Nicole and Andrea participate! aswell. Recently, Nicole attended aChristian Camp with one other child from th^phurch and our children's worker, Evelyn.Nicole was tiie only "foreigner" at the camp, and, of course, revelled in her novelty. Andreasits in her Sunday School class and valiantly aptempts not to answer first all of thequestions asked by the teacher. Boththe girlsj love the Church, as dowe. SingaporeChristiaii Canaan Church is our new home.

Many of you have prayed for our adjustment to Singapore and our new ministry assignment.We t.TinnV you for your intercession on our belialf.We feel God'sblessings in our Uves, andwe join with you, echoing the words of Jesus: Kingdom Come."

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dougand

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Blk 10 B Braddell View #11-08Singapore 2057 Doug, Robyn, Nicole, andAndrea

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FEllOmHl? PrayerNewsletter

October 1991

In the seventh month of thelunar year, Chinese people allover the world celebrate theHungry Ghost Festival. It is afestive, colorful season.Outdoor tables are coveredwith red tablecloths (signif5dnggood luck), places are set, andbanquets are held for severaldays in a row.

At the place settings are plates,bowls, drinks, snacks, andhelpings of food. However, it isonly on the final day of thecelebration that living peopleeat of the meals. On the otherdays the meals of food anddrink are set for the hungryghosts to come and consume.The ghosts are welcomed to thebanquet areas with largeincense or joss sticks, someover four feet tall and half afoot in diameter.

Traditional Chinese philosophy

Banquetsettingsfor theghosts.

suggests that there is a closerelationship between thedifferent forms of existence.There is a continuumencompassing humanity,spirits and ghosts, animals,and deity. When one diesand goes to theunderworld, it is possiblefor thesedifferent forms ^to move back and forth Ialong the continuum. If mone has lived a good life, mhe or she may become a Ideity or an important pperson in another life. ' •But if one has lived a iless thanexemplary life, |-he may become ananimal. L_i

paper money has inscriptionsthat say things like "Hell BankNote" or "Currency for theUnderworld." So that the

ghosts will be able to livecomfortably, other treasures

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Josssticks ready tobe lit for the Hungry Ghost Festival.This philosophy statesthat when a person diesthe soul is divided into threeparts. One part goes up toheaven, one part goes to wherethe body is buried or cremated,and the third part rests in theancestral tablets that are apart of the family shrine,usually in the living room ofthe house.

It is the responsibility of theliving relatives to provide forthe deceased spirits on theirnext journey. Thus, mock papermoney is burned to provide thespirits with finances to coverthe costs of the journey. The

are also burned. Paper replicasof homes, cars (usually RollRoyces or Jaguars), computers- and these days even videorecorders -- are burned.

The Hungry Ghost Festivalseeks to provide the ancestralspirits with food. If food is notprovided, then spirits will behungry and angry. Angryghosts are feared. It isimportant for the livingrelatives to care for theirancestors' spirits, for if they donot the spirits will be left toroam on their own. A good

"Children, obey your parents inthe Lord, for this is rightHonor your father and mother."Ephesians 6:1-2,

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Chinese person will take careof the spirits throughparticipation in such things asthe Hungry Ghost Festival, thedaily offering of incense, andthe care of an ancestor s tomb.

Many Chinese Christians comefrom families who continue

practices such as this HungryGhost Festival. Most riskdispleasing and dishonoringtheir parents if they choose notto participate in such rituals ofthe ancestors as prajdng at thefamily shrine or the burning ofincense in front of the door tothe home. These Christiansmust find acceptable ways toshow reverence and respect totheir parents.

Fortunately, some aspects of .filial piety, a major tenet ofConfucianism, find amplesupport in the Bible. So whileChristian sons and daughterschoose to abstain from acts ofworship directed towards theancestors, they may seek toattend to other non-religiousexpressions of respect, such asgreeting elders, studying hardso that their parents may beproud of their accomplishments, and contributingfinancially to their parents.

ChineseChristiansaround the worldface thechallenging taskof reconciling ' |their faith inChrist with boththeir traditional

culture and theculture of theirpresentcommunity. Prayfor their ,discernmentof God's willin difficult ||issues. Pray ithat they willbe able to

promote ireverence forChrist Ithrough their rrespect for itheir families.

Chinese currency for the deceased spriits.

Dougand Robyn'Priest

10/91

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIPP.O. BOX 26306, 5674 CAITO DRIVE

INDIANAPOLIS. IN 46226-0306

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

MISSION

rrOijoR IilON SERVICESfoRlAL DEPT!30 X 2427iviLLE TN 37901

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. Postage

Permit No. 2975

Indianapolts, Indiana