Singapore just celebrated National Day recently. I still remember attending my first National Day Parade in 1989. It was a time of great excitement. The catchy melody of “We are Singapore” still rings in my mind. The lyrics were striking. It reminds us of Singapore’s difficult past – “there was a time when people said that Singapore won’t make it.” It cherishes the present – “We built a nation, strong and free… this is my family, these are my friends. We are Singapore.” And it looks forward to the future – “reaching out together for peace and harmony, regardless of race, language, or religion”. The song takes us on a journey to relive the past, cherish the present, and dream of a bright future. 

The same recurring pattern occurs in scriptures. In Nehemiah 8, there was a great celebration for the Jewish Civic New Year.  It was a time of such great joy that it strengthens them. Nehemiah said “the joy of the Lord is our strength”. They ended the celebration with the Feast of Tabernacles. From the 18^th to the 25^th of the New Year, they built temporary booths out of branches and they lived in these booths.

Why end this great celebration with living in makeshift booths? There are three critical reasons to it.  I call them the three looks. 

The first look is looking back. Living in booths reminded them of the days in the Exodus/wilderness when they lived in makeshift tents. The booths called to memory what the faithful God did for them. God is the one who held their yesterdays.

The second look is looking around. The seventh month is the month of harvest and they are now in a land flowing with milk and honey. As they look around the harvest and the just completed wall, they are reminded of the awesome God who delivered them is the same God who will sustain them. God is the one who holds their todays.

The third look is looking forward. The temporary booths reminded that they were living in a temporary world that even the great wall they built was temporary. The booths reminded them not to trust in what they have – horses and chariots and walls. These will all come to pass. It is on our God that they must cast their future. God is the one who holds their future.

I have now been in BTS for two years. As I look back, I thank God for the gift of our vision two years ago “Serving Singapore, Blessing Asia”. 

As I look around, I thank Him that the vision had led to the newly developed AIM programme to serve the Singapore churches. Since its launch 14 months ago, we have been serving 100 leaders – 70 experienced and 30 emerging leaders from more than 10 churches. We just launched our 3^rd cohort with three new churches in July.

As I look ahead, I entrust these students to God that they will become servant leadership teams that will be a blessing to their churches and a source of revival to our denomination.

May God use this National Day celebration to serve us three reminders – to remember our individual humble past, to strive to become a people of thanksgiving (even in the pandemic), even as we firmly commit our future in His hands.

Will you also pray for us that we will never forget our call to “Serving Singapore, Blessing Asia” as we wait upon Him to see His detail plan unfolding in BTS’s life?

Rev Peter Lin
President